I had the occasion to speak with a young man the other day who had just returned from Afghanistan. I'm always in awe of the young men and women who choose to put their country first, ahead of their personal needs and wants. I find it easy to sincerely express my gratitude to them, and I hope I pass on the feeling that always overwhelms me when I'm in the presence of a true hero.
In our conversation he relayed some wonderful information. I was amazed that he found a teaching lesson being sent to another country to defend our freedom. His trip opened his eyes to the comforts we take for granted everyday. I had to smile as he described he'd never look at indoor plumbing and the sanitary conditions we enjoy the same.
His job in Afghanistan involved security of the caravans transporting soldiers and supplies across the country, so he got to see a great deal of the landscape and the culture. It impacted him that often he would see a water supply where a woman would be bathing her sheep or some other animal, then just down from her would be an Afghan bathing, and just below that someone drawing drinking water. I watched the passion in his eyes as he relayed this experience and realized how life changing his service had become. He had truly learned to appreciate what God has given us in this great country we live in. The freedom he fought for took on a whole new meaning.
It's a pleasure to meet a 20 something year old man with world experience. He was sincere when he expressed his feelings about how everyone his age should have that kind of encounter. His mind and his world view had changed, never to be returned, stretched by the travel of his service. He was happy to explain he felt we take to much for granted and his new appreciation for the freedom bequeathed to us by our forefathers. That young man understands our freedom is not a right, it's earned, and we have to fight for it everyday.
Encounters like this fuel my passion for freedom. After hearing his story and looking at the sincerity of that young man's eyes, it becomes intolerable to sit and watch as Washington legislates away our hard earned freedom. Big government and enormous taxation erodes our liberty. Entitlements and subsidies oxidizes the spirit our country was founded upon. I'm going to take a moment and relearn how blessed we are and stand against everything that threatens our God given rights granted to us by the sacrifices of our founding fathers. I have to thank that selfless young man, just barely out of high school, he reminded me that our country is based on what we can give, not what we can get!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
PS To my son and all the men of the 3/265th ADA in Camp Fenty, Afghanistan, Thank you for your sacrifice. Stay safe, and God Bless!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Overlooked?
The healthcare overhaul legislation proposal currently being batted around the Congress has an underlying issue I think we've overlooked. Critics are quick to point out that any of the options being considered will likely lead to managed care. Citizens could be denied coverage by age or lifestyle considerations. So you'd be more apt to get a knee replacement at age 50 than at age 70, or other expensive treatment might be denied at a later age to control costs. The President himself has orated it might be better to just be prescribed a pain pill rather than late stage treatment, any reasonable soul would find that absurd, and so will the legal community!
Enter the new form of litigation! A whole new class of lawyers emerging to protect your rights against the evil government overseen healthcare. Similar to the ads that infest your television now offering to protect your Social Security rights if you've been denied. Forget the healthcare worker shortage, we may have a bigger problem! Can our universities produce enough litigators fast enough to handle the newly created legal overflow?
This could be a major crisis. Social Security legal representation is a huge market. Can you fathom the need for qualified lawyers to handle the onslaught of denied care? I can't help but wonder if our learning institutions are up to the challenge of graduating qualified personal fast enough for this important emerging sector of our economy.
This of course is tongue in cheek humor; or is it? The above described scenario is a real possibility. The legal actions are inevitable. So I have to ask, isn't this going to contribute to the rising cost of health care? Has anyone else considered this? Are the lawyers we elected to represent us in Washington looking out for our health, or creating a whole new industry for their cronies? I believe the latter is a strong possibility, overshadowed by the guise of universal healthcare. Actions always have consequences....You decide!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Enter the new form of litigation! A whole new class of lawyers emerging to protect your rights against the evil government overseen healthcare. Similar to the ads that infest your television now offering to protect your Social Security rights if you've been denied. Forget the healthcare worker shortage, we may have a bigger problem! Can our universities produce enough litigators fast enough to handle the newly created legal overflow?
This could be a major crisis. Social Security legal representation is a huge market. Can you fathom the need for qualified lawyers to handle the onslaught of denied care? I can't help but wonder if our learning institutions are up to the challenge of graduating qualified personal fast enough for this important emerging sector of our economy.
This of course is tongue in cheek humor; or is it? The above described scenario is a real possibility. The legal actions are inevitable. So I have to ask, isn't this going to contribute to the rising cost of health care? Has anyone else considered this? Are the lawyers we elected to represent us in Washington looking out for our health, or creating a whole new industry for their cronies? I believe the latter is a strong possibility, overshadowed by the guise of universal healthcare. Actions always have consequences....You decide!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Random Inspiration
What others need from us, on an ongoing basis, is to know they are cared for, that their good deeds inspire gratitude, and that others love them. It's that simple! Just because they hear those sediments on Monday doesn't mean they don't need to hear them again on Tuesday. This is the primary reason words that heal and inspire must be repeated again and again!
-Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
You cannot receive a sincere compliment without feeling better...and just as important, you cannot give a sincere compliment without feeling better yourself.-Zig Ziglar
Powerful words, but a great reminder, and a wonderful way to begin a day. I'm setting my sights on random edification today. The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated. Today I'm going to fulfill someone, and honestly point out something I admire about them. The key to a strong relationship is developing the art side. I used to struggle with that until I learned this phrase. "Do you know what I like most about you?" When you lead with that question everything can't help but grow on a positive note!
Each of us goes through a time when we're at a cross-road and not sure what to do next. Then someone comes along renews our confidence and says just the right thing to get us through it! Words contain spectacular powers, use their magic to inspire someone today! The day will take on a whole new perspective after a smile of gratitude.
Dale Carnegie penned these words 60 years ago. "Any fool can condemn, criticize, and complain- and most fools do!"
Let's make a difference! Have a powerful day!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
-Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
You cannot receive a sincere compliment without feeling better...and just as important, you cannot give a sincere compliment without feeling better yourself.-Zig Ziglar
Powerful words, but a great reminder, and a wonderful way to begin a day. I'm setting my sights on random edification today. The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated. Today I'm going to fulfill someone, and honestly point out something I admire about them. The key to a strong relationship is developing the art side. I used to struggle with that until I learned this phrase. "Do you know what I like most about you?" When you lead with that question everything can't help but grow on a positive note!
Each of us goes through a time when we're at a cross-road and not sure what to do next. Then someone comes along renews our confidence and says just the right thing to get us through it! Words contain spectacular powers, use their magic to inspire someone today! The day will take on a whole new perspective after a smile of gratitude.
Dale Carnegie penned these words 60 years ago. "Any fool can condemn, criticize, and complain- and most fools do!"
Let's make a difference! Have a powerful day!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Food for Thought!
Lou Holtz, one of the greatest college football coaches ever, and motivational speaker, weighed in on the healthcare issue. He said; "The way I see it is you only have two things to worry about, one your sick, two your healthy. If your healthy no problem, if your sick you have two things to worry about. One your gonna get better, two your not. If your gonna get better, no problem, if your not you have two problems. Am I going to heaven, or am I going to hell? If your going to heaven, no problem. If your going to hell you better get a second opinion!" Now that's funny!
The pundits have been busy all week pointing out Sarah Palin's poll popularity drop. Critics rage on about how she has no future in politics after stepping down as Alaska's Governor. If she truly is no threat politically why are they focusing so much attention on her? Are they just mean spirited, or does she really have them worried?
If a black police officer pulls over a white man for speeding, and hands him a ticket, is he being a racist? Can they both be summoned to the White House for a beer?
If small business is required to insure employees, and it is cheaper to insure single young employees, would it be safe to assume older employees with families will be discriminated against because it will significantly increase the company's overhead?
Since Chrysler is offering to double the cash for clunker rebate, and the money they are working with comes from the government bailout, will GM follow suit? Isn't this unfair to Ford, who accepted no federal money? Isn't the government involvement in effect harming Ford's ability to compete in the open market place, creating a tainted playing field?
Isn't it hypocritical to be anti gun, but pro abortion?
Does it seem counter productive to remove prayer from schools, but complain about our youth's lack of morals?
How does taxing energy use make the world a greener place? If you can buy energy credits when you need them, doesn't that just increase the price of consumption, not reduce it?
Does taxing a cigarette smoker make him healthier?
Has taxing alcohol reduced alcoholism?
If we legalize and tax pot, won't they still buy it on the street tax free?
I have so many questions!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
The pundits have been busy all week pointing out Sarah Palin's poll popularity drop. Critics rage on about how she has no future in politics after stepping down as Alaska's Governor. If she truly is no threat politically why are they focusing so much attention on her? Are they just mean spirited, or does she really have them worried?
If a black police officer pulls over a white man for speeding, and hands him a ticket, is he being a racist? Can they both be summoned to the White House for a beer?
If small business is required to insure employees, and it is cheaper to insure single young employees, would it be safe to assume older employees with families will be discriminated against because it will significantly increase the company's overhead?
Since Chrysler is offering to double the cash for clunker rebate, and the money they are working with comes from the government bailout, will GM follow suit? Isn't this unfair to Ford, who accepted no federal money? Isn't the government involvement in effect harming Ford's ability to compete in the open market place, creating a tainted playing field?
Isn't it hypocritical to be anti gun, but pro abortion?
Does it seem counter productive to remove prayer from schools, but complain about our youth's lack of morals?
How does taxing energy use make the world a greener place? If you can buy energy credits when you need them, doesn't that just increase the price of consumption, not reduce it?
Does taxing a cigarette smoker make him healthier?
Has taxing alcohol reduced alcoholism?
If we legalize and tax pot, won't they still buy it on the street tax free?
I have so many questions!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, July 27, 2009
Becareful What You Stand in, er... For
The stereotypical perspective on the Democratic Party states that the Democrats are the party of the little person. Conversely, Republicans are painted as rich, bigoted, and intolerant. Neither of these stereotypes holds any water when analyzed. The myth of the charitable liberal seemingly knows no bounds. And I agree that liberals are infinitely more charitable with other people’s money. However, when it comes to their own money, a recent study reveals where the true charity resides Two quick examples come to mind, the present leader of our country reported a four million dollar income on his taxes, yet donated less that 4% to charity. Joe Biden's income was in the mid six figures but his reported charity was right at the nine hundred dollar mark.
Liberal democrats find charity dipping into your pockets. Passing out entitlements like candy off a float at the 4th of July parade, satisfies their need to give back. Redistribution of your wealth clears their conscience. A correct read on this startling revelation is that the liberal philosophy is more intrusive towards the individual and individual rights. When given the option to give on their own or allow government to dictate how others should give, the liberal philosophy on giving chooses to infringe on the choices of the individual in favor of big government
Most conservative politicians practice Christianity, they are taught from a young age to give back at least 10% to church and charity, and they do. A recent study by Syracuse University professor Arthur C. Brooks outlines the truth behind the conservative generosity. Brooks details how traditional conservatives are the most generous Americans, giving far more to charity than their more secular liberal counterparts
Conservatives also try to stand on a rigid code of morals, as sinners they sometimes stray! Radical Saul Alinsky points out; "No organization, including organized religion, can live up to the letter of it own book." He also notes liberals can club conservatives to death with their own book of rules. The pot calls the kettle black, if you will.
Liberals lose the moral high ground when they fail to act in the same manner in which they demand others act. This is another case of the vast liberal hypocrisy that is exposed when any of the great political myths that pervade this nation are examined. Liberals have been claiming they are the most virtuous members of American society. Although they usually give less to charity, they have nevertheless lambasted conservatives for their callousness in the face of social injustice.
I'm loving the view from this side of the fence!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Liberal democrats find charity dipping into your pockets. Passing out entitlements like candy off a float at the 4th of July parade, satisfies their need to give back. Redistribution of your wealth clears their conscience. A correct read on this startling revelation is that the liberal philosophy is more intrusive towards the individual and individual rights. When given the option to give on their own or allow government to dictate how others should give, the liberal philosophy on giving chooses to infringe on the choices of the individual in favor of big government
Most conservative politicians practice Christianity, they are taught from a young age to give back at least 10% to church and charity, and they do. A recent study by Syracuse University professor Arthur C. Brooks outlines the truth behind the conservative generosity. Brooks details how traditional conservatives are the most generous Americans, giving far more to charity than their more secular liberal counterparts
Conservatives also try to stand on a rigid code of morals, as sinners they sometimes stray! Radical Saul Alinsky points out; "No organization, including organized religion, can live up to the letter of it own book." He also notes liberals can club conservatives to death with their own book of rules. The pot calls the kettle black, if you will.
Liberals lose the moral high ground when they fail to act in the same manner in which they demand others act. This is another case of the vast liberal hypocrisy that is exposed when any of the great political myths that pervade this nation are examined. Liberals have been claiming they are the most virtuous members of American society. Although they usually give less to charity, they have nevertheless lambasted conservatives for their callousness in the face of social injustice.
I'm loving the view from this side of the fence!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Sunday, July 26, 2009
It's Good for What Ails Us!
We've dodged yet another bullet as another week ends and healthcare reform is still in turmoil. It maybe a small victory but a significant one as we move ever closer to the August break for legislators. The majority of people have turned on the proposals offered, and when their representatives return to their districts they'll be in for an earful. Make your voice heard!
Personally I'm having trouble with the government getting involved with any aspect of health reform. A report was issued that cited Medicaid was victim of 32 billion dollars of fraudulent payments in the 2007 fiscal year.
Just as a thought; Wouldn't it be prudent to resolve this issue before we jump into another healthcare program? Henry Waxman is the author of one of the pending proposals to "reform" healthcare, ironically he's also the head of the committee directly responsible for the fraud oversight and cleanup of Medicaid. Growing up I was always told nothing more could be added to my plate until I cleaned up what I was responsible for eating to begin with. Think about that, 32 billion dollars, over ten years. That'd pay for the current healthcare budget shortfall. We could insure all of the needy on that issue alone without raising taxes a dime. I have a suspicion Medicare and Social Security have similar issues. Let's get the home organized before we add more furniture!
We have a form of government run heath care to examine right now. The Veterans Administration supplies free healthcare for our nation's heroes. The V. A. reports there is currently 180 day wait for procedures. The process is riddled with bureaucracy and mismanagement. If this is how we treat the brave who risk their lives for our freedom, how can our seniors expect to be managed under government care?
I'm not in denial, we need reform. Let's start by making existing programs efficient. A working model would go a long way to comfort voters. Lowering healthcare costs begins with reducing overhead. Malpractice insurance is the single biggest expense the industry faces, driven by frivolous lawsuits and jury rewards. Were you aware Americans polled concluded that the three ways to wealth were, winning the lotto, inheritance, and winning a law suit? Not a hint of hard work, saving, and wise investment. What a sad testament to our society. Jury compensation is designed for pain and suffering, not personal wealth.
The government has plenty to focus on. Fix existing programs, then we'll talk about entitlements. The fact they are out of control is the major cause of our budget shortfall. Don't ask for more till you handle what exists. Bring some order to this chaos!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Personally I'm having trouble with the government getting involved with any aspect of health reform. A report was issued that cited Medicaid was victim of 32 billion dollars of fraudulent payments in the 2007 fiscal year.
Just as a thought; Wouldn't it be prudent to resolve this issue before we jump into another healthcare program? Henry Waxman is the author of one of the pending proposals to "reform" healthcare, ironically he's also the head of the committee directly responsible for the fraud oversight and cleanup of Medicaid. Growing up I was always told nothing more could be added to my plate until I cleaned up what I was responsible for eating to begin with. Think about that, 32 billion dollars, over ten years. That'd pay for the current healthcare budget shortfall. We could insure all of the needy on that issue alone without raising taxes a dime. I have a suspicion Medicare and Social Security have similar issues. Let's get the home organized before we add more furniture!
We have a form of government run heath care to examine right now. The Veterans Administration supplies free healthcare for our nation's heroes. The V. A. reports there is currently 180 day wait for procedures. The process is riddled with bureaucracy and mismanagement. If this is how we treat the brave who risk their lives for our freedom, how can our seniors expect to be managed under government care?
I'm not in denial, we need reform. Let's start by making existing programs efficient. A working model would go a long way to comfort voters. Lowering healthcare costs begins with reducing overhead. Malpractice insurance is the single biggest expense the industry faces, driven by frivolous lawsuits and jury rewards. Were you aware Americans polled concluded that the three ways to wealth were, winning the lotto, inheritance, and winning a law suit? Not a hint of hard work, saving, and wise investment. What a sad testament to our society. Jury compensation is designed for pain and suffering, not personal wealth.
The government has plenty to focus on. Fix existing programs, then we'll talk about entitlements. The fact they are out of control is the major cause of our budget shortfall. Don't ask for more till you handle what exists. Bring some order to this chaos!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I Have a Dream..A Victim Free Society!
I truly tried to avoid weighing in on this situation. Yet here it is 4:30 AM and if I'm ever going to get any sleep this is going to have to come to light. President Obama took the time to comment on it so I'm thinking it deserves my input as well.
As the story was told to me a Harvard professor arrived at his home after a trip to find he couldn't gain entry. It's not clear if he'd misplaced his keys or the entry was damaged but I can feel his frustration. He and his partner decided to enter the home using force instead of calling a locksmith. I'm not sure what the thought process was here as a service call from a locksmith has to be cheaper than repairing a doorframe on a house. Anyway a neighbor overheard them gaining entry and as any good neighbor would do called the police for assistance. Apparently this abode has been vandalized prior to this incident, so it was a reasonable assumption for anyone there was a crime being committed. Officers arrive to find two gentlemen inside the residence. Not being privy to their frustrating situation they question their right to be in this house. The Harvard professor assuming his tenure is worldwide becomes indignant and arrogant, causes a public disturbance, and the officer arrests him for disturbing the peace.
That's the story as it should of been told using the only information that is pertinent to the situation. For all men to be treated equal, as defined in the constitution, these are the only details that apply. You see society isn't ready for equality, or the story would end there. It turns out the professor and his counterpart are black, and the arresting officer is white. Because this difference in skin tone somehow the story gets skewed. The professor becomes a victim, and the law enforcement officer is accused of being racist.Let's examine this.
A highly educated individual is confronted with a frustrating situation. His home is locked and he cannot gain entry. Decision time, break in or call for assistance? I've already questioned the thought process, he chose to damage his residence in lieu of calling a qualified professional to assist him. Bad decision? The results say it was. A trained law enforcement official arrives after a complaint from the neighbor of a breaking and entering, reinforcing my bad decision assumption. The police officer is confronted with a loud, arrogant man, who makes another bad decision, he chooses to be uncooperative. The professor then makes yet another bad decision and accuses the officer of racial profiling. The officer happens to be an instructor for race relations. So far the only bad decision the officer has made was to come to work that day. It's determined that the professor is in fact the home owner and the officer attempts to leave. The professor makes his final bad decision, he pursues the officer outside and continues his disrespectful rant. The officer has had enough and makes a decision to arrest the professor for disturbing the peace, the only decision the officer is called into question about.
Here's why I can't sleep! There are so many life lessons in this story! First and most obvious is the decisions you make determine your results in life. The professor decided to become a victim, everything that transpired that evening was not his fault and a direct result of the color of his skin. He went into "self betrayal" mode. His actions from that point on were fueled by a rational that instead of the officer protecting his property, he was there to pick on him because of the color of his skin. He was faced with a choice, cooperate and end the issue or rational-lies his bad behavior with self betrayal. As I pointed out he wasn't making very good decisions that evening and it just continued.When you see a self-justifying world your view is distorted. He inflated his own virtue.
The second lesson is putting other people first. They were likely both guilty of not doing this. View the world from the other person's perspective! The officer was confronting a possible life and death situation. He couldn't have known if the two men he encountered were armed criminals or victims. A little smile and brief explanation of the frustrating situation would of gone a long way in this instance. The officer might of seen the situation with a clearer head had the intensity level been lowered by some understanding. Sympathy flows better when your not being screamed at!
Then there is accountability. Man, is this lacking in our society. Who created this situation? If you follow it back to it's root, it was inflamed by a series of bad decisions by the professor. The policeman wasn't responsible for him not being able to gain entry to his home. Truth be told a quick phone call to the local police asking for assistance would have been a good decision Look, I realize the professor was embarrassed and frustrated, but that is just an excuse. There is no excuse for bad behavior. It also speaks volumes to his character that he denies accountability for the incident and plays the victim card.
Here's what I really find disturbing. This learned man is teaching this behavior to our youth! He's been and is a mentor and an educator to impressionable minds. Harvard is touted as one of the highest academia in this country, and this is a representative of the influence it teaches? I'm thinking some people skills training is in order here,.along with classes about integrity, character, and accepting accountability. Enough said! The whole situation is just plain ugly.
Let's be accountable for our decisions. Something good can come of this! Your only a victim if you chose that path, and the decision is yours. We are all born with equal opportunity, our choices determine our outcome. Decisions have consequences! Your attitude is a difference maker!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
As the story was told to me a Harvard professor arrived at his home after a trip to find he couldn't gain entry. It's not clear if he'd misplaced his keys or the entry was damaged but I can feel his frustration. He and his partner decided to enter the home using force instead of calling a locksmith. I'm not sure what the thought process was here as a service call from a locksmith has to be cheaper than repairing a doorframe on a house. Anyway a neighbor overheard them gaining entry and as any good neighbor would do called the police for assistance. Apparently this abode has been vandalized prior to this incident, so it was a reasonable assumption for anyone there was a crime being committed. Officers arrive to find two gentlemen inside the residence. Not being privy to their frustrating situation they question their right to be in this house. The Harvard professor assuming his tenure is worldwide becomes indignant and arrogant, causes a public disturbance, and the officer arrests him for disturbing the peace.
That's the story as it should of been told using the only information that is pertinent to the situation. For all men to be treated equal, as defined in the constitution, these are the only details that apply. You see society isn't ready for equality, or the story would end there. It turns out the professor and his counterpart are black, and the arresting officer is white. Because this difference in skin tone somehow the story gets skewed. The professor becomes a victim, and the law enforcement officer is accused of being racist.Let's examine this.
A highly educated individual is confronted with a frustrating situation. His home is locked and he cannot gain entry. Decision time, break in or call for assistance? I've already questioned the thought process, he chose to damage his residence in lieu of calling a qualified professional to assist him. Bad decision? The results say it was. A trained law enforcement official arrives after a complaint from the neighbor of a breaking and entering, reinforcing my bad decision assumption. The police officer is confronted with a loud, arrogant man, who makes another bad decision, he chooses to be uncooperative. The professor then makes yet another bad decision and accuses the officer of racial profiling. The officer happens to be an instructor for race relations. So far the only bad decision the officer has made was to come to work that day. It's determined that the professor is in fact the home owner and the officer attempts to leave. The professor makes his final bad decision, he pursues the officer outside and continues his disrespectful rant. The officer has had enough and makes a decision to arrest the professor for disturbing the peace, the only decision the officer is called into question about.
Here's why I can't sleep! There are so many life lessons in this story! First and most obvious is the decisions you make determine your results in life. The professor decided to become a victim, everything that transpired that evening was not his fault and a direct result of the color of his skin. He went into "self betrayal" mode. His actions from that point on were fueled by a rational that instead of the officer protecting his property, he was there to pick on him because of the color of his skin. He was faced with a choice, cooperate and end the issue or rational-lies his bad behavior with self betrayal. As I pointed out he wasn't making very good decisions that evening and it just continued.When you see a self-justifying world your view is distorted. He inflated his own virtue.
The second lesson is putting other people first. They were likely both guilty of not doing this. View the world from the other person's perspective! The officer was confronting a possible life and death situation. He couldn't have known if the two men he encountered were armed criminals or victims. A little smile and brief explanation of the frustrating situation would of gone a long way in this instance. The officer might of seen the situation with a clearer head had the intensity level been lowered by some understanding. Sympathy flows better when your not being screamed at!
Then there is accountability. Man, is this lacking in our society. Who created this situation? If you follow it back to it's root, it was inflamed by a series of bad decisions by the professor. The policeman wasn't responsible for him not being able to gain entry to his home. Truth be told a quick phone call to the local police asking for assistance would have been a good decision Look, I realize the professor was embarrassed and frustrated, but that is just an excuse. There is no excuse for bad behavior. It also speaks volumes to his character that he denies accountability for the incident and plays the victim card.
Here's what I really find disturbing. This learned man is teaching this behavior to our youth! He's been and is a mentor and an educator to impressionable minds. Harvard is touted as one of the highest academia in this country, and this is a representative of the influence it teaches? I'm thinking some people skills training is in order here,.along with classes about integrity, character, and accepting accountability. Enough said! The whole situation is just plain ugly.
Let's be accountable for our decisions. Something good can come of this! Your only a victim if you chose that path, and the decision is yours. We are all born with equal opportunity, our choices determine our outcome. Decisions have consequences! Your attitude is a difference maker!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, July 24, 2009
YOU ARE HERE**
History has taught us that the world's greatest civilizations go through phases. The Romans, Greeks, French, Germans, and others have all followed this pattern. Our Republic has been the longest standing form of rule to date. For the past 200+ years we've maintained what our forefathers fought for while other nations have bounced around from socialism to anarchy, to communism and the like. There is a pattern that stands out and here it is:
Bondage is the beginning, people are repressed by a form of government that dictates how and what they do. This lack of freedom draws that society to spiritual faith, they are praying for strength and guidance. In prayer they find courage, this courage leads them to overthrow their tyranny and liberty steps in. They are a free people with choices. Freedom gives way to abundance, no longer restrained by a dictator, capitalism flourishes and the fruits of their labor is returned to the people. Abundance leads to greed and selfishness, man is flawed and without spiritual guidance, greed becomes his ruler. This leads us to where we are today, complacency, comfortable within our freedom. Complacency gives way to apathy, we take for granted our rights and we just don't care. Apathy is a footpath to dependency. We vote ourselves entitlement programs and become dependant on our Government, this is a dangerous situation, one we are teetering on. Dependency leads us right back to bondage, the Government has to tell us how to live and what to do. We gave them that right when we became complacent and took out freedom for granted.
Freedom is a gift, one we earn. We have to fight to keep it. Take it for granted and history proves you lose it. I see America dangerously close to the apathetic complacency that leads us down a road our forefathers fought so hard to defeat. Remember;
Bondage to
Spiritual faith to
Great courage to
Liberty to
Abundance to
Selfishness to
Complacency to **
Apathy to
Dependency back to
Bondage.
** YOU ARE HERE (like the road map says) Which route is America going down? We the people decide. Become informed, become involved. We can make a difference if we choose not to be dependent on Government.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Bondage is the beginning, people are repressed by a form of government that dictates how and what they do. This lack of freedom draws that society to spiritual faith, they are praying for strength and guidance. In prayer they find courage, this courage leads them to overthrow their tyranny and liberty steps in. They are a free people with choices. Freedom gives way to abundance, no longer restrained by a dictator, capitalism flourishes and the fruits of their labor is returned to the people. Abundance leads to greed and selfishness, man is flawed and without spiritual guidance, greed becomes his ruler. This leads us to where we are today, complacency, comfortable within our freedom. Complacency gives way to apathy, we take for granted our rights and we just don't care. Apathy is a footpath to dependency. We vote ourselves entitlement programs and become dependant on our Government, this is a dangerous situation, one we are teetering on. Dependency leads us right back to bondage, the Government has to tell us how to live and what to do. We gave them that right when we became complacent and took out freedom for granted.
Freedom is a gift, one we earn. We have to fight to keep it. Take it for granted and history proves you lose it. I see America dangerously close to the apathetic complacency that leads us down a road our forefathers fought so hard to defeat. Remember;
Bondage to
Spiritual faith to
Great courage to
Liberty to
Abundance to
Selfishness to
Complacency to **
Apathy to
Dependency back to
Bondage.
** YOU ARE HERE (like the road map says) Which route is America going down? We the people decide. Become informed, become involved. We can make a difference if we choose not to be dependent on Government.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Once Upon a Time.......................
Last night I watched as America was fed a fairy tale. President Obama spun a yarn Mother Goose would of been proud of. The first fallacy centers around the stimulus money. Investing money in police, firefighters, and teachers will have little to do with turning the economy around. While they are all important to the community, they represent the lower end of the pay scale. Salvaging 40k/year jobs that produce no increase in the gross national product will not improve our economic status much. The Federal Government (us) has lent the states stimulus money they've used to make up shortfalls in their budgets, and to beef up needed government paid employees. Now the best we can hope for as a return on our investment is the state and federal income taxes those workers pay. Their salary doesn't justify them being in a high tax bracket so the return is minimal. They produce safer neighborhoods and educated children but nothing to contribute to the tax base or the GDP except their salary. Is there a plan to fund their positions next year? Because I'm thinking that bail out money was a one time thing, and the real estate market that supplies property taxes to pay their salaries, isn't turning around anytime soon on this program. Stimulus money needs to be spent enabling businesses with a product and jobs to support the community tax base with hundreds of thousands of dollars and multipul jobs, not income tax on 40k.
The President is fond of citing personal stories to support his need to push his agenda. He usually names the example and the town they reside in. Not so last night, leading me to believe this example was ficticious. He described an unnamed middle age couple from an undisclosed location who's letter happened to reach his desk in the oval office. That alone strikes me as a miracle, but let me continue. This couple was distraught about their daughter diagnosed with Leukemia and their inability to finance her treatment. They feared bankruptcy and home loss to provide for her medical needs. A heart felt plea to our leader to repair our broken health care system. Lovely gut wrenching story, but I fear it's just that, a story designed to shift your sympathy to his agenda. Here's why.....
My daughter was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, moments after the diagnosis she was assigned a case worked and Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security took over her treatment and any expense. I mean any expense, travel was arranged and paid for, it was carte blanche. There was never any out of pocket expense for our family and the house we owned remained ours. She never had a medical need that went unanswered or unpaid for.
My son was misdiagnosed with Leukemia at an early age. We were sent to a children's hospital for further tests. As he was being examined, I was again ushered into a case workers office so finances would not hinder his care. Fortunately he was fine and it was unnecessary.
A close personal friend walked into an emergency room with a pounding headache. Turns out hours later she was undergoing surgery for a brain aneurysm. This forty year old woman was a home owner without medical insurance. She was appointed a case worker and had Social Security disability benefits and Medicaid and Medicare to pay for her recovery. Never was her house, nor her finances in jeopardy. There were no mounting medical bills or liens.
These are all great examples of our incredible health care system we need to reform. They also instill a doubt that unnamed middle age couple exists. I'm thinking it's a figment of the President's speech writer's imagination, designed to gain your sympathy and support. I'm tired of being lied to, How about you? If someone has to mislead me to accomplish their agenda, there is something very wrong with that program. If that couple does exist and isn't getting the proper guidance on financial programs in place to aid them, someone needs to enlighten them.
Don't get me wrong, health care needs financial reform. (See my previous post for solutions). The Washington plans are misguided, costly and hypocritical. We are not a Nation founded on penalizing a minority for the gain of others. 280 million citizens of this country are insured and happy with their health options. Don't ruin the world's finest health care system to pander to illegal aliens and the irresponsible uninsured. Reform the process, not the system!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
The President is fond of citing personal stories to support his need to push his agenda. He usually names the example and the town they reside in. Not so last night, leading me to believe this example was ficticious. He described an unnamed middle age couple from an undisclosed location who's letter happened to reach his desk in the oval office. That alone strikes me as a miracle, but let me continue. This couple was distraught about their daughter diagnosed with Leukemia and their inability to finance her treatment. They feared bankruptcy and home loss to provide for her medical needs. A heart felt plea to our leader to repair our broken health care system. Lovely gut wrenching story, but I fear it's just that, a story designed to shift your sympathy to his agenda. Here's why.....
My daughter was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, moments after the diagnosis she was assigned a case worked and Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security took over her treatment and any expense. I mean any expense, travel was arranged and paid for, it was carte blanche. There was never any out of pocket expense for our family and the house we owned remained ours. She never had a medical need that went unanswered or unpaid for.
My son was misdiagnosed with Leukemia at an early age. We were sent to a children's hospital for further tests. As he was being examined, I was again ushered into a case workers office so finances would not hinder his care. Fortunately he was fine and it was unnecessary.
A close personal friend walked into an emergency room with a pounding headache. Turns out hours later she was undergoing surgery for a brain aneurysm. This forty year old woman was a home owner without medical insurance. She was appointed a case worker and had Social Security disability benefits and Medicaid and Medicare to pay for her recovery. Never was her house, nor her finances in jeopardy. There were no mounting medical bills or liens.
These are all great examples of our incredible health care system we need to reform. They also instill a doubt that unnamed middle age couple exists. I'm thinking it's a figment of the President's speech writer's imagination, designed to gain your sympathy and support. I'm tired of being lied to, How about you? If someone has to mislead me to accomplish their agenda, there is something very wrong with that program. If that couple does exist and isn't getting the proper guidance on financial programs in place to aid them, someone needs to enlighten them.
Don't get me wrong, health care needs financial reform. (See my previous post for solutions). The Washington plans are misguided, costly and hypocritical. We are not a Nation founded on penalizing a minority for the gain of others. 280 million citizens of this country are insured and happy with their health options. Don't ruin the world's finest health care system to pander to illegal aliens and the irresponsible uninsured. Reform the process, not the system!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
A Taxing Situation!
Does anyone else feel like they are living in Bizarro World? The freest Nation in the world is proposing to tax itself in excess of what Socialist countries pay. There is currently legislation on the table to increase tax rates for the wealthy above 50% of their earnings. Socialist France and Germany are in the 45% bracket.
Freedom, what we represent, is about having choices. If you have a dollar in your pocket, you have a dollar's worth of options. If the Federal Government taxes 1/2 of that dollar and you now have fifty cents, you have 1/2 as many options, or 1/2 as much freedom. Every time anyone in this Republic is subject to a tax increase our freedom is diminished.
We are forfeiting our liberty in the name of security. Washington has deemed it acceptable to sacrifice the independence our forefathers fought for by making us inter dependant on social programs. Legislators have no business in health care nor the energy business. Their job description is defined in the Constitution. No where in that document is this implied. The Federal Government is usurping it's authority and destroying the principles this Nation was founded upon.
Healthcare is a problem in this nation? Fine, let's use the Constitution as it was intended. Protect the people from the malicious, that's in the Constitution! Punish the price gougers, hold the abusers of the court systems accountable for frivolous law suits, and use the powers as granted in this wonderful document. That's the intentions of our founders and the path to preserving our freedom and protecting our citizens.
Supplying health care services to our less fortunate is the job of church and charity. We have many great organizations serving in that capacity, the Shriners, and the Lions club for instance. Philanthropy will flourish if the Federal Government gets their hands out of our pockets. We are the most charitable Nation in the world, we prove it every time there is a need. Supplying the Nation with a Government programs to redistribute wealth is a page right out of The Communist Manifesto.
Do you enjoy having choices? Is this not the best health care system in the world? Don't other countries citizens come here for treatment of medical problems because we have the best? Where will these people go? Complain loudly people! They are trying to ruin our health care system and take away your choices. If we need a better mousetrap, let the private sector develop it. Don't sacrifice freedom for security.
God Bless
Capt.Bill
Freedom, what we represent, is about having choices. If you have a dollar in your pocket, you have a dollar's worth of options. If the Federal Government taxes 1/2 of that dollar and you now have fifty cents, you have 1/2 as many options, or 1/2 as much freedom. Every time anyone in this Republic is subject to a tax increase our freedom is diminished.
We are forfeiting our liberty in the name of security. Washington has deemed it acceptable to sacrifice the independence our forefathers fought for by making us inter dependant on social programs. Legislators have no business in health care nor the energy business. Their job description is defined in the Constitution. No where in that document is this implied. The Federal Government is usurping it's authority and destroying the principles this Nation was founded upon.
Healthcare is a problem in this nation? Fine, let's use the Constitution as it was intended. Protect the people from the malicious, that's in the Constitution! Punish the price gougers, hold the abusers of the court systems accountable for frivolous law suits, and use the powers as granted in this wonderful document. That's the intentions of our founders and the path to preserving our freedom and protecting our citizens.
Supplying health care services to our less fortunate is the job of church and charity. We have many great organizations serving in that capacity, the Shriners, and the Lions club for instance. Philanthropy will flourish if the Federal Government gets their hands out of our pockets. We are the most charitable Nation in the world, we prove it every time there is a need. Supplying the Nation with a Government programs to redistribute wealth is a page right out of The Communist Manifesto.
Do you enjoy having choices? Is this not the best health care system in the world? Don't other countries citizens come here for treatment of medical problems because we have the best? Where will these people go? Complain loudly people! They are trying to ruin our health care system and take away your choices. If we need a better mousetrap, let the private sector develop it. Don't sacrifice freedom for security.
God Bless
Capt.Bill
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Be a Goodfinder!
Just a quick one this morning about improving our environment. Everyone has to do their part these days and it has nothing to do with Cap and Trade, nor anything being proposed in Washington. The fastest way to do something for your environment is to smile. Share a random smile and the world becomes a better place!
We can globally disarm people with words of edification. Honestly tell people what you admire about them, then smile! Even the most stubborn person can be complimented. "You know I've always admired your persistence!" Be a good finder, even if it's a challenge. The one I love goes like this; "I can always count on you having an unusual perspective to share." It takes a little thought, but those are the kinds of thoughts that not only change your attitude but the ones you encounter.
The easiest way to defeat an enemy is to make them your friend. It's a win/win situation. We can make a difference, and the best part is, it's contagious!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
We can globally disarm people with words of edification. Honestly tell people what you admire about them, then smile! Even the most stubborn person can be complimented. "You know I've always admired your persistence!" Be a good finder, even if it's a challenge. The one I love goes like this; "I can always count on you having an unusual perspective to share." It takes a little thought, but those are the kinds of thoughts that not only change your attitude but the ones you encounter.
The easiest way to defeat an enemy is to make them your friend. It's a win/win situation. We can make a difference, and the best part is, it's contagious!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sold!
Yesterday President Obama sent Peter Orszag out on the media tour to sell his Universal Healthcare Reform package. Mr Orszag is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I believe he was given this task because some of the numbers just don't add up. I think we can agree from the biography below Mr Orszag is very well educated.
After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy with high honors (1987), he earned an A.B. summa cum laude in economics from Princeton University in 1991, and a M.Sc. (1992) and a Ph.D. (1997) in economics from the London School of Economics. He was a Marshall Scholar 1991–1992, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.[2] He is also a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science.
Unfortunately like most of his advisors, Mr. Orszag has no practical experience in the private sector. See below.
Orszag was a senior fellow and Deputy Director of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution, where he directed The Hamilton Project and (in conjunction with Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute) the Pew Charitable Trust's Retirement Security Project.
He served as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy (1997–1998), and as Senior Economist and Senior Adviser on the Council of Economic Advisers (1995–1996) during the Clinton administration.
Orszag was director of the Congressional Budget Office from January 2007 to November 2008. During his tenure, he repeatedly drew attention to the role rising health care expenditures are likely to play in the government's long-term fiscal problems—and, by extension, the nation's long-term economic problems. "I have not viewed CBO's job as just to passively evaluate what Congress proposes, but rather to be an analytical resource. And part of that is to highlight things that are true and that people may not want to hear, including that we need to address health-care costs."[6] During his time at the CBO, he added 20 full-time health analysts (bringing the total number to 50), thereby strengthening the CBO's analytical capabilities and preparing Congress for health-care reform.[
So you can see where one might take exception when Mr. Orszag states that the taxes proposed would not have a significant effect on small business. I've noticed he's never operated or even been employed by a small business, or any business for that matter. I'm finding his credibility a little suspect in this dept. How about you? Especially when the same people told us they "underestimated" the severity of the recession, that's why the stimulus package isn't effective. Numbers on paper and theories taught by professors with no practical experience are no substitute for hands on application.
I also had a problem with their math. If America was paying attention they informed us they planned to spend one trillion dollars over ten years to gain a savings of six billion over the same period, in the Medicare program. Yet they can't see why the Congressional Budget Office is telling them this program isn't budget neutral and will in fact increase the national debt over the next ten years. Now you know why Joe Biden is telling everyone you have to spend money to save money. They actually expect us to believe a trillion spent to save six billion is sound economic policy. Does anyone else wonder how these people have lived this long? They appear to be a danger to themselves. Do we send them all to Washington so they can be watched as a group?
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback about Sunday's post! I'm humbled that it made everyone think!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy with high honors (1987), he earned an A.B. summa cum laude in economics from Princeton University in 1991, and a M.Sc. (1992) and a Ph.D. (1997) in economics from the London School of Economics. He was a Marshall Scholar 1991–1992, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.[2] He is also a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science.
Unfortunately like most of his advisors, Mr. Orszag has no practical experience in the private sector. See below.
Orszag was a senior fellow and Deputy Director of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution, where he directed The Hamilton Project and (in conjunction with Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute) the Pew Charitable Trust's Retirement Security Project.
He served as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy (1997–1998), and as Senior Economist and Senior Adviser on the Council of Economic Advisers (1995–1996) during the Clinton administration.
Orszag was director of the Congressional Budget Office from January 2007 to November 2008. During his tenure, he repeatedly drew attention to the role rising health care expenditures are likely to play in the government's long-term fiscal problems—and, by extension, the nation's long-term economic problems. "I have not viewed CBO's job as just to passively evaluate what Congress proposes, but rather to be an analytical resource. And part of that is to highlight things that are true and that people may not want to hear, including that we need to address health-care costs."[6] During his time at the CBO, he added 20 full-time health analysts (bringing the total number to 50), thereby strengthening the CBO's analytical capabilities and preparing Congress for health-care reform.[
So you can see where one might take exception when Mr. Orszag states that the taxes proposed would not have a significant effect on small business. I've noticed he's never operated or even been employed by a small business, or any business for that matter. I'm finding his credibility a little suspect in this dept. How about you? Especially when the same people told us they "underestimated" the severity of the recession, that's why the stimulus package isn't effective. Numbers on paper and theories taught by professors with no practical experience are no substitute for hands on application.
I also had a problem with their math. If America was paying attention they informed us they planned to spend one trillion dollars over ten years to gain a savings of six billion over the same period, in the Medicare program. Yet they can't see why the Congressional Budget Office is telling them this program isn't budget neutral and will in fact increase the national debt over the next ten years. Now you know why Joe Biden is telling everyone you have to spend money to save money. They actually expect us to believe a trillion spent to save six billion is sound economic policy. Does anyone else wonder how these people have lived this long? They appear to be a danger to themselves. Do we send them all to Washington so they can be watched as a group?
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback about Sunday's post! I'm humbled that it made everyone think!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Sunday, July 19, 2009
I GET "IT"
Countless times I've had the discussion about the "AHA" moment. We look forward to the time when we "get it". "It" seems to elude a great deal of society in this day and age. Truth be told, "it" has been right at your fingertips waiting for you to discover.
You might then ask; if it's so simple why is "it" so elusive? After all the number of deep thinkers in this day and age are relatively small. Could you name a modern day Socrates, or a Plato? When's the last time you were in the company of a man possessing Ben Franklin's wisdom? I think we can all agree they are few and far between. There are certainly none in government! Shouldn't our leaders emulate the wisdom of days gone by?
Well I'm going to let the cat out of the bag. What's missing in today's society that keeps us from "getting it".
"It" begins with what and if, we read. It's the change in our educational system since the early 1900's when we entered the industrial age. We went from a community run school house, usually taught by a wholesome member of the community, to government operated school systems designed to teach you to get a job, not to think. Then we had a different design to our education, taught by an instructor with rigid values. Not true today.
Formerly we were taught to read classics at a young age. Aesop's fables for example, gave us life lessons designed to mold us. We then advanced to Mark Twain, Kipling, and Dickens. All with morality guides and examples of good and evil, and the consequences surrounding those decisions. "IT" was defined for us within those stories. Let's not forget the Bible, life's instruction manual. As we grow, the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Socrates, Plato, Franklin, and other great mentors are stepping stones to "getting it".
None of this has been present in modern schooling for some time now. These affects are obvious.The most challenging struggles in life are internal - the classics can help.We can let books teach us life lessons and avoid the pain of repeating them ourselves. Modern man educates himself thru TV and the newspaper. All written by products of an education system void of the wisdom hidden in the classics. All we need is a book and we can learn!
Today's prodigies are being molded by "Sponge Bob Square Pants", "Bevis and Butthead", and "The Simpson's", providing family values. Is it any wonder why no deep thinkers come to mind immediately?
Something clicks when your exposed to great thinking. The reader awakens, your mind is stretched, your ideas are bigger, your dreams are wilder, your faith is deeper, and your horizons broader! It's a challenge to discipline yourself to reading, like beginning a diet or a weight lifting regiment. Just like those examples, results will slowly begin to show. Then finally "it" will be apparent.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
You might then ask; if it's so simple why is "it" so elusive? After all the number of deep thinkers in this day and age are relatively small. Could you name a modern day Socrates, or a Plato? When's the last time you were in the company of a man possessing Ben Franklin's wisdom? I think we can all agree they are few and far between. There are certainly none in government! Shouldn't our leaders emulate the wisdom of days gone by?
Well I'm going to let the cat out of the bag. What's missing in today's society that keeps us from "getting it".
"It" begins with what and if, we read. It's the change in our educational system since the early 1900's when we entered the industrial age. We went from a community run school house, usually taught by a wholesome member of the community, to government operated school systems designed to teach you to get a job, not to think. Then we had a different design to our education, taught by an instructor with rigid values. Not true today.
Formerly we were taught to read classics at a young age. Aesop's fables for example, gave us life lessons designed to mold us. We then advanced to Mark Twain, Kipling, and Dickens. All with morality guides and examples of good and evil, and the consequences surrounding those decisions. "IT" was defined for us within those stories. Let's not forget the Bible, life's instruction manual. As we grow, the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Socrates, Plato, Franklin, and other great mentors are stepping stones to "getting it".
None of this has been present in modern schooling for some time now. These affects are obvious.The most challenging struggles in life are internal - the classics can help.We can let books teach us life lessons and avoid the pain of repeating them ourselves. Modern man educates himself thru TV and the newspaper. All written by products of an education system void of the wisdom hidden in the classics. All we need is a book and we can learn!
Today's prodigies are being molded by "Sponge Bob Square Pants", "Bevis and Butthead", and "The Simpson's", providing family values. Is it any wonder why no deep thinkers come to mind immediately?
Something clicks when your exposed to great thinking. The reader awakens, your mind is stretched, your ideas are bigger, your dreams are wilder, your faith is deeper, and your horizons broader! It's a challenge to discipline yourself to reading, like beginning a diet or a weight lifting regiment. Just like those examples, results will slowly begin to show. Then finally "it" will be apparent.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Accepting Responsibility!
Yesterday I began eluding to what's absent in Washington based on basic leadership principles. What I overlooked is incredibly important. Nothing you apply to secure a leadership role will work without building from a base of character and integrity. It's like trying to build a sky scraper out of a pile of marbles if you don't first possess the foundational integrity to be a leader. Example; If you had a family crisis, would you turn to former President Bill Clinton, or would you feel safer confiding in Mother Theresa? I'm thinking Mother Theresa is most likely to set me on the path to truth, and I'd sure feel better about her being alone with the females in my family.
We've given politicians a pass on character and integrity. Every relationship book written tells us we are responsible for giving others the permission to treat us as they do. So with that said, the arrogance and pompous attitudes of our elected officials falls squarely on the voters (our) shoulders. What we allow, we receive. I can't help but feel in today's society if your mate was as indifferent to your needs and desires as Washington is, we'd be in divorce court. We have a relationship with our elected officials based on trust. Trust is earned by serving with integrity, and leading with character.
You'll notice I wrote serving, our representatives lost that. They now collect a paycheck and are fed entitlements that far exceed any union benefits. Long gone is the servant attitude pubic office aspired to, now we have career politicians concerned with reelection. It's become what serves their agenda to get back in office, not serving the people's trust. They pander to the polls, not to principles or ethics. The ideals and foundation this country was founded upon have given way to entitlements that only serve the politician being reelected.
Our country used to be run by practical, experienced leaders who've proven themselves in the communities they represent. Now we have career minded college students, educated in theory, written by professors with no practical experience. While Utopia looks good in a textbook or while tossed about in a classroom discussion influenced by a liberal professor, it has no practical application. Would it surprise you that most of the Obama financial advisory team are classroom theorists who have no life experience applying what they believe? The whole economic plan is a lab experiment based on classroom theory! Does it seem unusual they underestimated the scope of the economic problem? How could they foresee troubles in a plan they've never applied except in a classroom? The kicker is the arrogance and the lack of accountability. They ignore historical examples, convinced the outcome isn't their responsibility. After all, they inherited this problem!
I know I heard our current elected officials say they had the solution to this during the campaign. They ran on the premise they had the answers. Apparently driving in the rear view mirror, finger pointing is their solution. I for one will be a leader and accept responsibility. I allowed this to happen! I can also promise you I will do everything in my power to see it doesn't happen again. Please join me!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
We've given politicians a pass on character and integrity. Every relationship book written tells us we are responsible for giving others the permission to treat us as they do. So with that said, the arrogance and pompous attitudes of our elected officials falls squarely on the voters (our) shoulders. What we allow, we receive. I can't help but feel in today's society if your mate was as indifferent to your needs and desires as Washington is, we'd be in divorce court. We have a relationship with our elected officials based on trust. Trust is earned by serving with integrity, and leading with character.
You'll notice I wrote serving, our representatives lost that. They now collect a paycheck and are fed entitlements that far exceed any union benefits. Long gone is the servant attitude pubic office aspired to, now we have career politicians concerned with reelection. It's become what serves their agenda to get back in office, not serving the people's trust. They pander to the polls, not to principles or ethics. The ideals and foundation this country was founded upon have given way to entitlements that only serve the politician being reelected.
Our country used to be run by practical, experienced leaders who've proven themselves in the communities they represent. Now we have career minded college students, educated in theory, written by professors with no practical experience. While Utopia looks good in a textbook or while tossed about in a classroom discussion influenced by a liberal professor, it has no practical application. Would it surprise you that most of the Obama financial advisory team are classroom theorists who have no life experience applying what they believe? The whole economic plan is a lab experiment based on classroom theory! Does it seem unusual they underestimated the scope of the economic problem? How could they foresee troubles in a plan they've never applied except in a classroom? The kicker is the arrogance and the lack of accountability. They ignore historical examples, convinced the outcome isn't their responsibility. After all, they inherited this problem!
I know I heard our current elected officials say they had the solution to this during the campaign. They ran on the premise they had the answers. Apparently driving in the rear view mirror, finger pointing is their solution. I for one will be a leader and accept responsibility. I allowed this to happen! I can also promise you I will do everything in my power to see it doesn't happen again. Please join me!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Friday, July 17, 2009
Leadership in Washington
What's lacking in Washington is a very simple, leadership. Pick-up an book, or look into any program that deals in leadership development and you'll find our legislators do just about the dead opposite. For instance........
Learning is listed as a top priority for any leader. You have to have something to offer the people you wish to lead that they don't already possess, or they don't need you. Isn't it ironic politicians appointed to oversee just about anything in Washington are seriously less qualified than the industry they were entrusted to be in charge of? Barney Frank comes to mind. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, beginning in 2007, Frank "sits at the center of power". Yet he's never had a job outside of politics. He graduated college and began his political career.
In 1972 Frank was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served for eight years. While a Representative he entered Harvard Law School and graduated in 1977. While in state and local government, Frank taught part time at the University of Massachusetts Boston, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and at Boston University. He published numerous articles on politics and public affairs, and in 1992 he published Speaking Frankly, an essay on the role the Democratic Party should play in the 1990's.
In 1979, Frank became a member of the Massachusetts Bar. A year later, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 4th congressional district, hoping to succeed Father Robert Drinan, who had left Congress following a call by Pope John Paul II for priests to withdraw from political positions. In the Democratic primary held on September 16, 1980 Frank won 51.3 percent of the vote in a four-candidate field. His nearest opponent, Arthur J. Clark, won 45.9 percent and finished almost 4,500 votes behind.[10] As the Democratic nominee, Frank faced Republican Richard A. Jones in the general election and won narrowly, 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent.
Not a lick of experience in banking nor the financial markets. From the looks of his education he might have something to offer a legal firm, but it's not experience. He may possess classroom theory on any number of topics, but no practical experience. So what qualifies him to lead our house financial services committee? There isn't even a degree in finance listed in his education! Yet Mr. Frank "sits at the center of power"; is it any wonder Washington is in the state it's in?
In 2003, while the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, Frank opposed a Bush administration proposal for transferring oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from Congress and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to a new agency that would be created within the Treasury Department. The proposal reflected the administration's belief that Congress "neither has the tools, nor the stature" for adequate oversight. Frank stated, "These two entities...are not facing any kind of financial crisis.... The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."[48] The two companies, which together own or back more than half the home mortgages in the US became "hobbled" by loan defaults.[49] Frank clarified in 2009 that Fannie and Freddie were not in crisis at the time and many financial institutions, like Lehman Brothers, also fell into crisis from 2003 to 2008. All on his watch! When asked about his participation in this collapse he arrogantly replies that it was the Bush administration's fault. Not only is he inept, he's not accountable, just ask him!
Politicians like Mr. Frank get elected to "serve" us because of ignorance and apathy. It's also the key reason Mr. Frank retains his current job. If you dig further you'll also see he's got some moral issues as well as integrity problems. None of which qualify him as a leader or to "sit at the center of power" in Washington. As citizens who care about our country it's our duty to inform voters and get this country on the right track! Be a leader, educate others!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Learning is listed as a top priority for any leader. You have to have something to offer the people you wish to lead that they don't already possess, or they don't need you. Isn't it ironic politicians appointed to oversee just about anything in Washington are seriously less qualified than the industry they were entrusted to be in charge of? Barney Frank comes to mind. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, beginning in 2007, Frank "sits at the center of power". Yet he's never had a job outside of politics. He graduated college and began his political career.
In 1972 Frank was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served for eight years. While a Representative he entered Harvard Law School and graduated in 1977. While in state and local government, Frank taught part time at the University of Massachusetts Boston, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and at Boston University. He published numerous articles on politics and public affairs, and in 1992 he published Speaking Frankly, an essay on the role the Democratic Party should play in the 1990's.
In 1979, Frank became a member of the Massachusetts Bar. A year later, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 4th congressional district, hoping to succeed Father Robert Drinan, who had left Congress following a call by Pope John Paul II for priests to withdraw from political positions. In the Democratic primary held on September 16, 1980 Frank won 51.3 percent of the vote in a four-candidate field. His nearest opponent, Arthur J. Clark, won 45.9 percent and finished almost 4,500 votes behind.[10] As the Democratic nominee, Frank faced Republican Richard A. Jones in the general election and won narrowly, 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent.
Not a lick of experience in banking nor the financial markets. From the looks of his education he might have something to offer a legal firm, but it's not experience. He may possess classroom theory on any number of topics, but no practical experience. So what qualifies him to lead our house financial services committee? There isn't even a degree in finance listed in his education! Yet Mr. Frank "sits at the center of power"; is it any wonder Washington is in the state it's in?
In 2003, while the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, Frank opposed a Bush administration proposal for transferring oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from Congress and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to a new agency that would be created within the Treasury Department. The proposal reflected the administration's belief that Congress "neither has the tools, nor the stature" for adequate oversight. Frank stated, "These two entities...are not facing any kind of financial crisis.... The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."[48] The two companies, which together own or back more than half the home mortgages in the US became "hobbled" by loan defaults.[49] Frank clarified in 2009 that Fannie and Freddie were not in crisis at the time and many financial institutions, like Lehman Brothers, also fell into crisis from 2003 to 2008. All on his watch! When asked about his participation in this collapse he arrogantly replies that it was the Bush administration's fault. Not only is he inept, he's not accountable, just ask him!
Politicians like Mr. Frank get elected to "serve" us because of ignorance and apathy. It's also the key reason Mr. Frank retains his current job. If you dig further you'll also see he's got some moral issues as well as integrity problems. None of which qualify him as a leader or to "sit at the center of power" in Washington. As citizens who care about our country it's our duty to inform voters and get this country on the right track! Be a leader, educate others!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Mental Abuse
They used to hand out Pulitzer prizes for investigative journalism. The news media was like the fourth branch of the government overseeing that everyone in public service dotted their I's and crossed their T's. Where has that gone? What happened to the hard nosed reporters who uncovered scandals like Watergate? Could it be journalism students taught in a liberal institutions are being tamed to accepting spoon fed news reports handed to them by press secretaries? I don't know about you but I miss the reporters priding themselves on asking the difficult questions and sniffing out the real story!
Investigative reporters competed for the "scoop". First one on the street with the best news of the day sold the most newspapers. Could it also be the mullet wrappers have been bought up by giant entities who's main goal is to sell advertising, not report the story that's on everyone's tongue at the water cooler? The only thing I find different between competing newspapers these days are the opinion page. Not the national columnists but the opinions offered by the readers. Proud newspapers with strong traditions of reporting hard hitting news have become a thing of the past. I'm sad to say today's newspaper industry has been reduced to liberal pandering and mollycoddling politicians.
It's not a mystery they are in financial trouble. Liberals only represent a hair over 20% of the voters. Newspaper's target market traditionally is better at spending other people's money, not their own. Especially when they can peruse the Internet for free. Vanilla flavored news copy doesn't sell, readers are not buying the spin.Head lines sell newspapers, not coupons or garage sales! I'm ashamed to say the industry is going the route of the dinosaur, but it's extinction is self inflicted!
I was also amused to hear radio stations crying for support to shoot down a proposed tax imposed on the music they play. I remember hearing most of those same institutions promoting "change" during the election campaign. It seems change isn't as popular when it helps itself to what's in your pocket. I was a Liberal too, till I had to pay taxes. Entitlements you hand out cost money. Aren't radio stations owned by the higher income citizens? Robbing the rich to give to the poor has a different perspective when you fall into the rich category. Most of us are employed by the upper income bracket tax payers. Could the Liberal's ire for the evil wealthy be costing you a job in the near future?
Now for the golden haired one of the media industry, TV. My dear departed father had a description for television, he named it the idiot box! No truer words were ever spoken! Mistakenly we've grown to trust TV. In the past it has brought us facts and shown us the truth! Now it hypnotizes young and old, and teaches them morals aren't important. It spews government propaganda without objection. Insults the family institution, and mocks parental discipline. Yet it's invited into our homes every night to willingly dumb us down, and waste our precious free time. We are allowing it to create a society of apathy and ignorance concerned only with who's the next "American Idol." Viewers can tell you who's "Dancing with the Stars", but not what the three branches of government are. Informed voters are texting their votes to reality programs, but not registered to vote for the government that rules their lives. Television openly mocks viewer ignorance pointing out most are not in fact, "Smarter than a Fifth Grader".
It's time for change America, unplug the blue hue. Divorce yourself from spoon fed news media. Take control of your input. Challenge the ignorant and demand the apathetic to care about who's controlling our country.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Investigative reporters competed for the "scoop". First one on the street with the best news of the day sold the most newspapers. Could it also be the mullet wrappers have been bought up by giant entities who's main goal is to sell advertising, not report the story that's on everyone's tongue at the water cooler? The only thing I find different between competing newspapers these days are the opinion page. Not the national columnists but the opinions offered by the readers. Proud newspapers with strong traditions of reporting hard hitting news have become a thing of the past. I'm sad to say today's newspaper industry has been reduced to liberal pandering and mollycoddling politicians.
It's not a mystery they are in financial trouble. Liberals only represent a hair over 20% of the voters. Newspaper's target market traditionally is better at spending other people's money, not their own. Especially when they can peruse the Internet for free. Vanilla flavored news copy doesn't sell, readers are not buying the spin.Head lines sell newspapers, not coupons or garage sales! I'm ashamed to say the industry is going the route of the dinosaur, but it's extinction is self inflicted!
I was also amused to hear radio stations crying for support to shoot down a proposed tax imposed on the music they play. I remember hearing most of those same institutions promoting "change" during the election campaign. It seems change isn't as popular when it helps itself to what's in your pocket. I was a Liberal too, till I had to pay taxes. Entitlements you hand out cost money. Aren't radio stations owned by the higher income citizens? Robbing the rich to give to the poor has a different perspective when you fall into the rich category. Most of us are employed by the upper income bracket tax payers. Could the Liberal's ire for the evil wealthy be costing you a job in the near future?
Now for the golden haired one of the media industry, TV. My dear departed father had a description for television, he named it the idiot box! No truer words were ever spoken! Mistakenly we've grown to trust TV. In the past it has brought us facts and shown us the truth! Now it hypnotizes young and old, and teaches them morals aren't important. It spews government propaganda without objection. Insults the family institution, and mocks parental discipline. Yet it's invited into our homes every night to willingly dumb us down, and waste our precious free time. We are allowing it to create a society of apathy and ignorance concerned only with who's the next "American Idol." Viewers can tell you who's "Dancing with the Stars", but not what the three branches of government are. Informed voters are texting their votes to reality programs, but not registered to vote for the government that rules their lives. Television openly mocks viewer ignorance pointing out most are not in fact, "Smarter than a Fifth Grader".
It's time for change America, unplug the blue hue. Divorce yourself from spoon fed news media. Take control of your input. Challenge the ignorant and demand the apathetic to care about who's controlling our country.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thinking Outside the Box
Successful people usually don't conform and go with the flow. To find yourself in the top 5% you have to think and act differently than the herd. Otherwise everyone would be successful. This often draws criticism and mocking from the 95%. They just don't understand.
Here's a real life lesson. I mentioned in a previous post, the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin might have an underlying agenda resigning from her post. A "normal" Governor would of stayed ineffectively on the state's dime and collected a paycheck for the remainder of her term, despite the handcuffing by her opposition. Sarah realized that the constant attacks on her personally were generated by the left wing designed to harpoon her popularity with the nation and punish her for speaking out critically of their policies. This legal assault on her ethics costs them nothing to initiate and ties her up both financially and mentally to answer trumped up charges. She can make no headway as Governor and is distracted from the fracas in the lower 48. So as the pundits put it she committed political suicide and resigned her position. Something a 95%'er would never understand. To inspire a different result, you have to in fact be different!
Now with the constant dogging of the liberal's ethics attacks, advertised by a left wing media, off her back she is free to pursue her purpose. They cannot hamper her as a private citizen, a well funded private citizen, with a popularity rating well above our current administration. She has quietly put together a million dollar war chest funded by donations of under $200.00, that's a lot of support from the little people. It scares the left that 57% of that million comes from those small donations. Numbers that exceed the grassroots campaign donations of our current President. The Sarah Palin PAC (political action committee) is about to hit the road supporting like minded candidates and attacking the left efficiently without the constraints of office for the liberals to use as retaliation.
That's just the beginning! As an independent influence she can breech both sides of the isle and support conservative candidates. With a couple of years to campaign for like minded officials to gain office and her favor, she is amassing a support system that will give her unprecedented backing for a Presidential bid. She is well aware the majority voters are begging for a candidate that they can embrace not opting for the lesser of two evils. Independents and conservative balloters make up the bulk of the American electorate. With support from aided candidates on both sides of the isle, she can attract substantial backing. This is the only way to unseat the good old boys network currently making policy in Washington.
This network she's building will aid her if she's elected in passing legislation that can actually make changes. She currently is riding a popularity rating second to none in the political world despite the allegations and her resignation. Legislators want that kind of backing in their next election bid.
This woman is crazy like a fox for leaving her Alaskan post early! This is an example of forward thinking and the kind of change needed in Washington. To paraphrase Einstein...We cannot solve our current problems at the same level of thinking that brought us to this point!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Here's a real life lesson. I mentioned in a previous post, the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin might have an underlying agenda resigning from her post. A "normal" Governor would of stayed ineffectively on the state's dime and collected a paycheck for the remainder of her term, despite the handcuffing by her opposition. Sarah realized that the constant attacks on her personally were generated by the left wing designed to harpoon her popularity with the nation and punish her for speaking out critically of their policies. This legal assault on her ethics costs them nothing to initiate and ties her up both financially and mentally to answer trumped up charges. She can make no headway as Governor and is distracted from the fracas in the lower 48. So as the pundits put it she committed political suicide and resigned her position. Something a 95%'er would never understand. To inspire a different result, you have to in fact be different!
Now with the constant dogging of the liberal's ethics attacks, advertised by a left wing media, off her back she is free to pursue her purpose. They cannot hamper her as a private citizen, a well funded private citizen, with a popularity rating well above our current administration. She has quietly put together a million dollar war chest funded by donations of under $200.00, that's a lot of support from the little people. It scares the left that 57% of that million comes from those small donations. Numbers that exceed the grassroots campaign donations of our current President. The Sarah Palin PAC (political action committee) is about to hit the road supporting like minded candidates and attacking the left efficiently without the constraints of office for the liberals to use as retaliation.
That's just the beginning! As an independent influence she can breech both sides of the isle and support conservative candidates. With a couple of years to campaign for like minded officials to gain office and her favor, she is amassing a support system that will give her unprecedented backing for a Presidential bid. She is well aware the majority voters are begging for a candidate that they can embrace not opting for the lesser of two evils. Independents and conservative balloters make up the bulk of the American electorate. With support from aided candidates on both sides of the isle, she can attract substantial backing. This is the only way to unseat the good old boys network currently making policy in Washington.
This network she's building will aid her if she's elected in passing legislation that can actually make changes. She currently is riding a popularity rating second to none in the political world despite the allegations and her resignation. Legislators want that kind of backing in their next election bid.
This woman is crazy like a fox for leaving her Alaskan post early! This is an example of forward thinking and the kind of change needed in Washington. To paraphrase Einstein...We cannot solve our current problems at the same level of thinking that brought us to this point!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
That's what friends are for!
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.~ Ralph Waldo Emmerson.
The ultimate compliment from someone is the trust of friendship. I recently read that trust is like the framework of a painting, holding the relationship together. So it goes the trust earned from others begins within one's self. That's the eleventh commandment as defined by Authors Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward. Thy shalt not fake one self out! Self deception is also the antidote for personal growth. If you ever catch yourself using the phrase "Just this once." Your likely the victim of self deception. Shakespeare wrote, "To thine own self be true" It's time to take a look in the mirror and ask, can I trust this person? This is the solid foundation true friendships are built upon.
Chaplain to Queen Victoria, Charles Kingsley, said, "A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend, a human soul whom we can trust utterly, who knows the best and worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults". Beautiful words! Friendship is a journey, complete with potholes, highs, and lows. Never allow a situation become bigger than the relationship. That's the quickest way to bankrupt a friendship.
I've found it useful to learn the art of apology. Everyone has different needs when it comes to forgiveness. Learn the most effective apology for each of your friends, it'll come in handy and put your relationship back on track quickly!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Great read~ The five Languages of Apology, Chapman and Thomas
The ultimate compliment from someone is the trust of friendship. I recently read that trust is like the framework of a painting, holding the relationship together. So it goes the trust earned from others begins within one's self. That's the eleventh commandment as defined by Authors Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward. Thy shalt not fake one self out! Self deception is also the antidote for personal growth. If you ever catch yourself using the phrase "Just this once." Your likely the victim of self deception. Shakespeare wrote, "To thine own self be true" It's time to take a look in the mirror and ask, can I trust this person? This is the solid foundation true friendships are built upon.
Chaplain to Queen Victoria, Charles Kingsley, said, "A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend, a human soul whom we can trust utterly, who knows the best and worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults". Beautiful words! Friendship is a journey, complete with potholes, highs, and lows. Never allow a situation become bigger than the relationship. That's the quickest way to bankrupt a friendship.
I've found it useful to learn the art of apology. Everyone has different needs when it comes to forgiveness. Learn the most effective apology for each of your friends, it'll come in handy and put your relationship back on track quickly!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Great read~ The five Languages of Apology, Chapman and Thomas
Monday, July 13, 2009
Affirmative Action and Health Care!
Taking a day off put me way behind, so here's today's thoughts....
This week, Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor is going to face some tough questioning about her decisions. Just to catch you up Sonya Sotomayor is the first Latino woman nominated to the Supreme Court. One decision of hers in particular bothered me. The case of the fire fighters from Connecticut who were denied promotion for fear of discrimination bias. A clear case of affirmative action gone wrong. As a self proclaimed affirmative action success story, Sotomayor ruled against the firefighters who were claiming reverse discrimination. They had passed the exam for promotion but were refused the earned promotion because of the color of their skin. One of the firefighters is a Latino. Now I've been told justice is supposed to be blind, not stupid. So if she applied justice as she was sworn in to do, Sotomayor should have ruled with the firefighters. Her decision was overturned by the court she's nominated for.
Now I'm all about affirmative action, right after you clear some hurdles. First and in the firefighters case, it should not apply when lives are at risk. I don't know about you but if I need a fireman, or a police officer for an emergency, I want the best qualified individual. Not one who was given the job because of the color of their skin or their gender with an inferior test score. Same deal when I need a surgeon or a lawyer. Now, if the post office needs to use affirmative action principles for promotions, so be it. Truth be told, affirmative action doesn't clear my second hurdle. Equality for all parties involved. Now if affirmative action really worked, would Sotomayor have made a fair decision, or the bias one she handed down? Maybe the applicant for college she bumped because she was a minority would have made the right call. Slippery slope, no?
Washington attempts another assault on the Constitution this week as the Democrats in House of Representatives bring their plan to the table for universal health care. They plan to pay for this debacle consists of lowering the benefits for Medicare, and a tax hike for anyone earning over $280,000/year. Sounds innocent enough! Pfffffffttttttttt.
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria. Medicare operates as a single-payer health care system.[1] The Social Security Act of 1965 was passed by Congress in late-spring of 1965 and signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson as amendments to Social Security legislation. So to pay for the uninsured of this nation our Democrats in the House feel it's necessary to pick the pockets of the elderly, and deny them benefits they've paid for since 1965.
Let me remind you the uninsured consist of 46.5 million Americans, about 16% of the population, (According to 2006 census bureau figures). 9.5 Million are illegal aliens, and 17 million can afford health insurance and live in a home where the median income exceeds 50k/year. So better than 1/2 of the uninsured aren't deserving of an insurance handout.
Since I see figures are turning you on 70% of the insured workers in the United States receive benefits courtesy of their employers, or close to 200 million citizens. This is important because the rest of the Democrat's plan is paid for by taxpayers who earn over $280k/year., to the tune of a $550,000,000.00 tax hike (That's 550 billion with a "B," or 1/2 a trillion dollars). These taxpayers consist of mainly small business owners who supply said insurance to those 70% who are currently covered. The obvious conclusion of this burden on the already struggling small business owner is sending more workers to the unemployment line or dropping benefits to their employees. The result is the same, more people on the government health care plan, needing more tax dollars.
Now as I've said before Government doesn't produce anything but debt. They are already the largest employer in the USA and don't produce a profit. This proposal creates more dependents on the "system." History has shown us that Washington cannot manage social programs. I submit to you Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, all running seriously in the red and threatening our nations economy. Picking the pockets of the elderly and overtaxing the small business owners who already carry most of the burden insuring the work force of our nation, is simply absurd. All in the name of insuring less than 5% of the population.
Call you Rep. and voice your opinion!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
This week, Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor is going to face some tough questioning about her decisions. Just to catch you up Sonya Sotomayor is the first Latino woman nominated to the Supreme Court. One decision of hers in particular bothered me. The case of the fire fighters from Connecticut who were denied promotion for fear of discrimination bias. A clear case of affirmative action gone wrong. As a self proclaimed affirmative action success story, Sotomayor ruled against the firefighters who were claiming reverse discrimination. They had passed the exam for promotion but were refused the earned promotion because of the color of their skin. One of the firefighters is a Latino. Now I've been told justice is supposed to be blind, not stupid. So if she applied justice as she was sworn in to do, Sotomayor should have ruled with the firefighters. Her decision was overturned by the court she's nominated for.
Now I'm all about affirmative action, right after you clear some hurdles. First and in the firefighters case, it should not apply when lives are at risk. I don't know about you but if I need a fireman, or a police officer for an emergency, I want the best qualified individual. Not one who was given the job because of the color of their skin or their gender with an inferior test score. Same deal when I need a surgeon or a lawyer. Now, if the post office needs to use affirmative action principles for promotions, so be it. Truth be told, affirmative action doesn't clear my second hurdle. Equality for all parties involved. Now if affirmative action really worked, would Sotomayor have made a fair decision, or the bias one she handed down? Maybe the applicant for college she bumped because she was a minority would have made the right call. Slippery slope, no?
Washington attempts another assault on the Constitution this week as the Democrats in House of Representatives bring their plan to the table for universal health care. They plan to pay for this debacle consists of lowering the benefits for Medicare, and a tax hike for anyone earning over $280,000/year. Sounds innocent enough! Pfffffffttttttttt.
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria. Medicare operates as a single-payer health care system.[1] The Social Security Act of 1965 was passed by Congress in late-spring of 1965 and signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson as amendments to Social Security legislation. So to pay for the uninsured of this nation our Democrats in the House feel it's necessary to pick the pockets of the elderly, and deny them benefits they've paid for since 1965.
Let me remind you the uninsured consist of 46.5 million Americans, about 16% of the population, (According to 2006 census bureau figures). 9.5 Million are illegal aliens, and 17 million can afford health insurance and live in a home where the median income exceeds 50k/year. So better than 1/2 of the uninsured aren't deserving of an insurance handout.
Since I see figures are turning you on 70% of the insured workers in the United States receive benefits courtesy of their employers, or close to 200 million citizens. This is important because the rest of the Democrat's plan is paid for by taxpayers who earn over $280k/year., to the tune of a $550,000,000.00 tax hike (That's 550 billion with a "B," or 1/2 a trillion dollars). These taxpayers consist of mainly small business owners who supply said insurance to those 70% who are currently covered. The obvious conclusion of this burden on the already struggling small business owner is sending more workers to the unemployment line or dropping benefits to their employees. The result is the same, more people on the government health care plan, needing more tax dollars.
Now as I've said before Government doesn't produce anything but debt. They are already the largest employer in the USA and don't produce a profit. This proposal creates more dependents on the "system." History has shown us that Washington cannot manage social programs. I submit to you Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, all running seriously in the red and threatening our nations economy. Picking the pockets of the elderly and overtaxing the small business owners who already carry most of the burden insuring the work force of our nation, is simply absurd. All in the name of insuring less than 5% of the population.
Call you Rep. and voice your opinion!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Today's message
" And on the seventh day He rested." So shall we! See you in church! More tomorrow.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Plan to Close GITMO
Wow, thanks for all the great response and input surrounding yesterday's post! I believe we have something here we can work with that people support! I find it imperative we don't just offer criticism, but answers as well. So with that in mind, I'll offer my plan for closing Guantanomo Bay prison and dealing with captured terrorists.
Since September 11 and the ensuing war on terror, leaders have been plagued with what to do about captured terrorists. Former President Bush and President Obama don't want to hold them indefinitely, but how do you insure world safety if these zealots are loose? Here's my plan....
They cannot be tried in the USA as they would be entitled to rights we didn't afford to them when captured as enemy combatants. A military tribunal isn't an option as it could cause lawyers to ask for sensitive information that the government wouldn't want made public, but necessary to the captive's defense. So any attempt to give them a day in court doesn't appeal to world safety. Even if we found a way to rehab them, no one on the planet wants them as guests in their country. Perplexing situation!
Never fear! I have a solution, with benefits! Captured enemy combatants are injected with a GPS tracking micro chip. Something similar to what they place in animals to locate their owners if lost, but transmitting a tracking signal. Then release detainees to their country of origin. The military uses our fleet of predator drone planes to keep tabs on them. As soon as they meet up with al Qaeda leadership, our armed services go into action. Prior to them terminating the terrorists the say loudly (To satisfy the ACLU) "You have the right to remain silent!" and immediately launch the missile exterminating the problem and al Qaeda leadership. It's a win, win! The terrorists get their virgins, and the world is a much safer place.
Now I know this plan will draw criticism, but let's look at it objectively. If a released detainee is in fact innocent, he'll never find himself in the company of other known terrorists. So any suspected terrorist will in fact be free to lead a productive life if he's seen the error of his ways or we mistakenly captured them to begin with. We also have a built in covert operation to route out hidden operatives our intelligence hasn't been able to locate.
Khalid Sheik Mohammad, Abu Zubaydah, or Abd al~Rahim al~ Nashiri (Osama Bin Laden's chief operatives detained by us), are more than likely to resume operations terrorizing the world in Islam's name if released. I'll betcha one of those three finds himself in the company of Bin Laden himself shortly after they regain their freedom. What better way of thanking them for the insane attacks of 9/11 and other world wide terrorist acts, than by interrupting a planning session with a well place missile from a predator drone plane? Talk about a group discount! Crippling the terrorist efforts by disposing of their leadership will shorten our military stay in both Afghanistan and Iraq, saving billions of taxpayer dollars, and countless lives. All for the price of a microchip! Bin Laden's sudden departure for Utopia will also serve as a deterrent for future al~Qaeda operatives to plot evil in the name of religion.
I was humbled to hear that some of you felt yesterday's post was valid enough to forward to your representatives in Washington for consideration. Feel free to enlighten them with this ditty as well. Somehow the confines of elected office stymies free and open thought. Maybe some well place suggestions will find their way into the process and we can affect change. Change that doesn't come at a price. Your paying the bill, let your voice be heard!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Since September 11 and the ensuing war on terror, leaders have been plagued with what to do about captured terrorists. Former President Bush and President Obama don't want to hold them indefinitely, but how do you insure world safety if these zealots are loose? Here's my plan....
They cannot be tried in the USA as they would be entitled to rights we didn't afford to them when captured as enemy combatants. A military tribunal isn't an option as it could cause lawyers to ask for sensitive information that the government wouldn't want made public, but necessary to the captive's defense. So any attempt to give them a day in court doesn't appeal to world safety. Even if we found a way to rehab them, no one on the planet wants them as guests in their country. Perplexing situation!
Never fear! I have a solution, with benefits! Captured enemy combatants are injected with a GPS tracking micro chip. Something similar to what they place in animals to locate their owners if lost, but transmitting a tracking signal. Then release detainees to their country of origin. The military uses our fleet of predator drone planes to keep tabs on them. As soon as they meet up with al Qaeda leadership, our armed services go into action. Prior to them terminating the terrorists the say loudly (To satisfy the ACLU) "You have the right to remain silent!" and immediately launch the missile exterminating the problem and al Qaeda leadership. It's a win, win! The terrorists get their virgins, and the world is a much safer place.
Now I know this plan will draw criticism, but let's look at it objectively. If a released detainee is in fact innocent, he'll never find himself in the company of other known terrorists. So any suspected terrorist will in fact be free to lead a productive life if he's seen the error of his ways or we mistakenly captured them to begin with. We also have a built in covert operation to route out hidden operatives our intelligence hasn't been able to locate.
Khalid Sheik Mohammad, Abu Zubaydah, or Abd al~Rahim al~ Nashiri (Osama Bin Laden's chief operatives detained by us), are more than likely to resume operations terrorizing the world in Islam's name if released. I'll betcha one of those three finds himself in the company of Bin Laden himself shortly after they regain their freedom. What better way of thanking them for the insane attacks of 9/11 and other world wide terrorist acts, than by interrupting a planning session with a well place missile from a predator drone plane? Talk about a group discount! Crippling the terrorist efforts by disposing of their leadership will shorten our military stay in both Afghanistan and Iraq, saving billions of taxpayer dollars, and countless lives. All for the price of a microchip! Bin Laden's sudden departure for Utopia will also serve as a deterrent for future al~Qaeda operatives to plot evil in the name of religion.
I was humbled to hear that some of you felt yesterday's post was valid enough to forward to your representatives in Washington for consideration. Feel free to enlighten them with this ditty as well. Somehow the confines of elected office stymies free and open thought. Maybe some well place suggestions will find their way into the process and we can affect change. Change that doesn't come at a price. Your paying the bill, let your voice be heard!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Friday, July 10, 2009
Health Care Reform Proposal
Time to unveil my health care initiative. First let me begin by stating that health care is not a right guaranteed by the Constitution, nor should it be expected by any citizen in the United States unless it is financed by them. The whole reason we are considering this proposal is because former legislators instituted a socialist type Medicaid and Medicare plan for our citizens. It has since blossomed into a situation that may soon bankrupt not only our federal government but the states coffers as well. The correct thing to do is to abolish Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare programs entirely, as they are not rights granted by the Constitution, but entitlement programs. Try finding politicians with backbone enough to sell that proposal! It's not going to happen, so in lieu of that here's plan "B."
To resolve a problem you have to address the problem. The two largest drains on the health care system consist of uninsured illegal aliens and uninsured citizens who choose not to carry health care coverage but can afford it. (See last post, 2006 census bureau survey facts.) I'm totally against taxing responsible citizens who at their own expense cover themselves medically. If you're one of the 285 million responsible citizens with health care coverage, I'm sure you agree with that statement.
It just seems logical to me that if 9.5 million illegal aliens are breaking the back of our health care system, we address the real problem. Close the borders to illegal immigration. Here's a little ditty I'll bet you didn't know. Mexico has free health care for all it's citizens. All Mexican citizens are eligible for free health care regardless of their work status via a system of health care facilities operating under the federal Secretaria de Salubridad y Asistencia (SSA) agency. Should an undocumented person in need of medical care show up at a health care facility I suggest we deport them to their country of origin, for medical treatment. This may require we elect officials who actually uphold the Constitution and secure our borders as mandated within. Any politician who suggests otherwise should be charged with treason The outstanding side effect of this action is lower unemployment. Somewhere in the area of 9.5 million opportunities would be open for immediate employment lowering the unemployment rate by 1/3. I'd also like to point out Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank and a host of others would be in federal prison where they belong, serving time for the treason they commit daily by not upholding the duty they were sworn to.
Wait I'm not done saving the economy and the taxpayer yet! We still have a majority 17 million American citizens who reside in a household earning 50k/yr or more and not insured.(Again pointing to the 2006 US census figures popular with representatives in Washington). I find it unfair to suggest the responsible insured population enable them to continue this and propose taxing us so they can spend income on cable TV, cell phones, Internet service, and other pleasures instead of insurance. Let me inspire legislators to consider this option. Should you show up uninsured at any medical facility you immediately lose your personal and dependent tax deductions from your Federal income tax form. Thereby paying full income tax on your tax returns. This will also instantly enroll you in a private group benefit plan like the one I proposed in my previous post. It insures individuals for $199/month, couples for $299/month, and families for $369/month. Pre existing conditions are eligible and it also has dental, prescription and vision benefits. You may receive your tax credits back when you prove coverage of yourself and family. That generates the revenue to cover the irresponsible, and lightens the burden on Medicaid/Medicare.
Now we address the high cost of coverage for the remaining uninsured. The single biggest expense for hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies is liability insurance driven up by uncontrolled and frivolous lawsuits. Cap the lawsuits to reasonable awards, malpractice insurance drops and health costs decline. Lawyers are required to do a set amount of pro bono work, why not doctors? Offset the charity with tax deduction rewards for physicians. I'll bet they would love a tax break, most being in the top 5% income earners in the nation.
Last let’s address the fraud in the Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security entitlement programs. Audit every recipient and let's get the program doing what it was designed to do. Millions of dollars of abuse infect the system. The savings to the taxpayer would be enough to get these programs back in the black, and out of the deficit side of the ledger.
Let's review, we lowered unemployment, solved the health care issue, demanded Washington uphold the Constitution, saved Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, increased tax revenue, and finally not raised our taxes a dime. We might have even found enough money to lower them. No animals were injured in the designing of this program, and not one deserving person has suffered a loss of coverage.
How come the people we pay to solve these issues in Washington can't see the obvious? Hint: They are only concerned about getting reelected. So my last suggestion is impose term limits and resolve that issue too!
Tomorrow I will announce a plan to effectively close GITMO, and keep America safer!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
To resolve a problem you have to address the problem. The two largest drains on the health care system consist of uninsured illegal aliens and uninsured citizens who choose not to carry health care coverage but can afford it. (See last post, 2006 census bureau survey facts.) I'm totally against taxing responsible citizens who at their own expense cover themselves medically. If you're one of the 285 million responsible citizens with health care coverage, I'm sure you agree with that statement.
It just seems logical to me that if 9.5 million illegal aliens are breaking the back of our health care system, we address the real problem. Close the borders to illegal immigration. Here's a little ditty I'll bet you didn't know. Mexico has free health care for all it's citizens. All Mexican citizens are eligible for free health care regardless of their work status via a system of health care facilities operating under the federal Secretaria de Salubridad y Asistencia (SSA) agency. Should an undocumented person in need of medical care show up at a health care facility I suggest we deport them to their country of origin, for medical treatment. This may require we elect officials who actually uphold the Constitution and secure our borders as mandated within. Any politician who suggests otherwise should be charged with treason The outstanding side effect of this action is lower unemployment. Somewhere in the area of 9.5 million opportunities would be open for immediate employment lowering the unemployment rate by 1/3. I'd also like to point out Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank and a host of others would be in federal prison where they belong, serving time for the treason they commit daily by not upholding the duty they were sworn to.
Wait I'm not done saving the economy and the taxpayer yet! We still have a majority 17 million American citizens who reside in a household earning 50k/yr or more and not insured.(Again pointing to the 2006 US census figures popular with representatives in Washington). I find it unfair to suggest the responsible insured population enable them to continue this and propose taxing us so they can spend income on cable TV, cell phones, Internet service, and other pleasures instead of insurance. Let me inspire legislators to consider this option. Should you show up uninsured at any medical facility you immediately lose your personal and dependent tax deductions from your Federal income tax form. Thereby paying full income tax on your tax returns. This will also instantly enroll you in a private group benefit plan like the one I proposed in my previous post. It insures individuals for $199/month, couples for $299/month, and families for $369/month. Pre existing conditions are eligible and it also has dental, prescription and vision benefits. You may receive your tax credits back when you prove coverage of yourself and family. That generates the revenue to cover the irresponsible, and lightens the burden on Medicaid/Medicare.
Now we address the high cost of coverage for the remaining uninsured. The single biggest expense for hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies is liability insurance driven up by uncontrolled and frivolous lawsuits. Cap the lawsuits to reasonable awards, malpractice insurance drops and health costs decline. Lawyers are required to do a set amount of pro bono work, why not doctors? Offset the charity with tax deduction rewards for physicians. I'll bet they would love a tax break, most being in the top 5% income earners in the nation.
Last let’s address the fraud in the Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security entitlement programs. Audit every recipient and let's get the program doing what it was designed to do. Millions of dollars of abuse infect the system. The savings to the taxpayer would be enough to get these programs back in the black, and out of the deficit side of the ledger.
Let's review, we lowered unemployment, solved the health care issue, demanded Washington uphold the Constitution, saved Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, increased tax revenue, and finally not raised our taxes a dime. We might have even found enough money to lower them. No animals were injured in the designing of this program, and not one deserving person has suffered a loss of coverage.
How come the people we pay to solve these issues in Washington can't see the obvious? Hint: They are only concerned about getting reelected. So my last suggestion is impose term limits and resolve that issue too!
Tomorrow I will announce a plan to effectively close GITMO, and keep America safer!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Thursday, July 9, 2009
ENOUGH!
Let's examine the fraud and the lies we've been told lately in Washington.
We need to bail out the automakers or they'll go bankrupt.
Passing the stimulus package will save jobs and keep unemployment under 9%.
If you make under 200k/year you'll not see 1 cent in tax increase!
AIG is too big to fail.
Climate change from CO2 is an issue we need to address immediately!
Government sponsored health care is a crisis.
Okay I'm gonna stop with these, as there is enough fraud here to give the average human an aneurysm. Let's take a quick look at the highlights!
1. Two of the big three automakers had to file for bankruptcy. We threw good money after bad. Government has no place in private enterprise. Facts are you delayed the bankruptcy then used your position as the bail out czars to cut a sweet deal for the unions that campaigned to elect you. I smell collusion
2 The stimulus package was passed in haste without being read, because we needed it now! The money still sits on a shelf in Washington idle, and unemployment has surpassed the numbers you projected. You skewed the facts in your favor to apply more government and raise the national debt. The stimulus money has had no effect on our economy.
3. You've already raised taxes on the poor/middle class and propose more. There is currently legislation on the table that'll tax us well over the 50% bracket. This is not limited to the top 5% top income earners, as we were led to believe, taxes on energy, sugar, health care, etc., will effect everyone. The federal tax you imposed on cigarettes is directed at lower income and middle class voters.
4. AIG took the bailout money and directed a great deal of it overseas. How did that benefit taxpayers here? What happened to anti trust laws? Why are corps allow to become too big to fail? Esso oil was broken up into smaller entities to halt monopolizing of the industry.
If you want to regulate something try using anti trust legislation already in place.
5. CO2 has no effect on climate change. You tried this ruse in the late 70's with global cooling, You switched gears to global warming when that wasn't an issue anymore. Now your covering both bases with climate change. Studies show no correlation between CO2 levels and climate. Your inventing a crisis that doesn't exist to force more regulation and grow government. Your carbon credits and smart energy grid are nothing more than taxes in disguise. Stop the hoax, government cannot legislate mother nature!
6. Man, I can write a book on this one, and I will soon, but I'll try to be brief. In 2006 the Census Bureau reported there are 46.6 million people without health care insurance. 9.5 million are illegal immigrants. 17 million are living in households with 50k/yr incomes and could afford health insurance but opt out. I'll betcha all of them have-a car, big screen TV, cable, computers, and Internet service. Out of the remaining 20 million, 50% regain their healthcare within 4 months. The numbers we are fed to alarm us are again, skewed. I recently secured 2 pamphlets from competing insurance companies offering family coverage with no exclusion for pre existing conditions for $369.00/month, an individual could find coverage with the same firms for $199.00/month, and a couple $299.00/month. No deductibles, dental, vision, prescription drugs, office visits, lab, and hospitalization are included. Less than the cost of cable, Internet service, and auto insurance/month. Yet the government wants you to donate so they can bring you the same efficiency we enjoy from the Post Office, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. Oh, to enroll in this program call 866-248-0052, they also speak Spanish! We are being asked to pay for people who refuse to prioritize insurance over luxury items.
We are being led around by the nose by politicians feeding their agenda. I'll also bet if you dig deep enough these programs are supporting individuals who financially contributed and supported their bids for election. You may even find supporters of the legislation have a vested interest in those companies. It's time to start asking questions and demanding answers!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
We need to bail out the automakers or they'll go bankrupt.
Passing the stimulus package will save jobs and keep unemployment under 9%.
If you make under 200k/year you'll not see 1 cent in tax increase!
AIG is too big to fail.
Climate change from CO2 is an issue we need to address immediately!
Government sponsored health care is a crisis.
Okay I'm gonna stop with these, as there is enough fraud here to give the average human an aneurysm. Let's take a quick look at the highlights!
1. Two of the big three automakers had to file for bankruptcy. We threw good money after bad. Government has no place in private enterprise. Facts are you delayed the bankruptcy then used your position as the bail out czars to cut a sweet deal for the unions that campaigned to elect you. I smell collusion
2 The stimulus package was passed in haste without being read, because we needed it now! The money still sits on a shelf in Washington idle, and unemployment has surpassed the numbers you projected. You skewed the facts in your favor to apply more government and raise the national debt. The stimulus money has had no effect on our economy.
3. You've already raised taxes on the poor/middle class and propose more. There is currently legislation on the table that'll tax us well over the 50% bracket. This is not limited to the top 5% top income earners, as we were led to believe, taxes on energy, sugar, health care, etc., will effect everyone. The federal tax you imposed on cigarettes is directed at lower income and middle class voters.
4. AIG took the bailout money and directed a great deal of it overseas. How did that benefit taxpayers here? What happened to anti trust laws? Why are corps allow to become too big to fail? Esso oil was broken up into smaller entities to halt monopolizing of the industry.
If you want to regulate something try using anti trust legislation already in place.
5. CO2 has no effect on climate change. You tried this ruse in the late 70's with global cooling, You switched gears to global warming when that wasn't an issue anymore. Now your covering both bases with climate change. Studies show no correlation between CO2 levels and climate. Your inventing a crisis that doesn't exist to force more regulation and grow government. Your carbon credits and smart energy grid are nothing more than taxes in disguise. Stop the hoax, government cannot legislate mother nature!
6. Man, I can write a book on this one, and I will soon, but I'll try to be brief. In 2006 the Census Bureau reported there are 46.6 million people without health care insurance. 9.5 million are illegal immigrants. 17 million are living in households with 50k/yr incomes and could afford health insurance but opt out. I'll betcha all of them have-a car, big screen TV, cable, computers, and Internet service. Out of the remaining 20 million, 50% regain their healthcare within 4 months. The numbers we are fed to alarm us are again, skewed. I recently secured 2 pamphlets from competing insurance companies offering family coverage with no exclusion for pre existing conditions for $369.00/month, an individual could find coverage with the same firms for $199.00/month, and a couple $299.00/month. No deductibles, dental, vision, prescription drugs, office visits, lab, and hospitalization are included. Less than the cost of cable, Internet service, and auto insurance/month. Yet the government wants you to donate so they can bring you the same efficiency we enjoy from the Post Office, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. Oh, to enroll in this program call 866-248-0052, they also speak Spanish! We are being asked to pay for people who refuse to prioritize insurance over luxury items.
We are being led around by the nose by politicians feeding their agenda. I'll also bet if you dig deep enough these programs are supporting individuals who financially contributed and supported their bids for election. You may even find supporters of the legislation have a vested interest in those companies. It's time to start asking questions and demanding answers!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Purpose!
Enjoying a fruitful life isn't measured by the possessions you've attained but by the people you've influenced. Your possessions won't show up at your funeral to muse about what a blessing it was to have known you! Ergo if leadership is defined as influence, one of the keys to success is learning leadership principles. Personally I find it gratifying if I can reflect at the end of the day about someway I impacted another's life positively. That's a great day! If you can string seven of those together you've had a great month, and twelve of those great months consecutively defines a great year.
The biggest enemy of that is complacency. It never fails to twist my knickers in a knot when someone rational-lies to themselves mediocrity. Their battle cry resembles the phrase,"I'm doing pretty good." or "I've got everything I need." We need to serve a higher purpose, it's why were here.
So my proposal to you today is let's make excuses an orphan. How about we adopt a policy of purpose. Go influence everyone we can in a positive manner today, and watch how well we sleep tonight!
God Bless
The biggest enemy of that is complacency. It never fails to twist my knickers in a knot when someone rational-lies to themselves mediocrity. Their battle cry resembles the phrase,"I'm doing pretty good." or "I've got everything I need." We need to serve a higher purpose, it's why were here.
So my proposal to you today is let's make excuses an orphan. How about we adopt a policy of purpose. Go influence everyone we can in a positive manner today, and watch how well we sleep tonight!
God Bless
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Success Keys
I'm so blessed to be in the company of some very wealthy individuals on a regular basis. One of the most incredible things I've noticed is they all share common traits. First and most noticeable is their devotion. They all share strong religious faith as a common denominator. I don't think it's a coincidence that top wage earners have a strong relationship with the Lord. The old saying goes, "Dance with the one that brought you." Serving the Lord and others is a natural attractor, and professing your love for your Creator is far to uncommon an event. People are drawn to character, integrity, and the principles taught in faith.
The second thing I've noticed is successful people all have incredible people skills. Now you've noticed in the previous paragraph I said wage EARNERS. This doesn't apply nor exclude inherited money. I'm noting people who've risen from mediocrity to success. The consensus is the majority weren't born with the gift of people skills, they learned it.
That leads us to the third key to success. READ! Learn from other’s wisdom. There is no substitute for experience! Why not apply what others have learned and speed up the learning curve? Titans stand on the shoulders of others, expanding on wisdom passed down found hidden in books and audio material. You can harvest years of experience from other successful giants by cultivating the pages of their books.
The last shared trait is a servant attitude. To establish a financial empire that lasts, you need to care about your people. You reap what you sow. It's impossible to grow roses when you plant weeds.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
The second thing I've noticed is successful people all have incredible people skills. Now you've noticed in the previous paragraph I said wage EARNERS. This doesn't apply nor exclude inherited money. I'm noting people who've risen from mediocrity to success. The consensus is the majority weren't born with the gift of people skills, they learned it.
That leads us to the third key to success. READ! Learn from other’s wisdom. There is no substitute for experience! Why not apply what others have learned and speed up the learning curve? Titans stand on the shoulders of others, expanding on wisdom passed down found hidden in books and audio material. You can harvest years of experience from other successful giants by cultivating the pages of their books.
The last shared trait is a servant attitude. To establish a financial empire that lasts, you need to care about your people. You reap what you sow. It's impossible to grow roses when you plant weeds.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, July 6, 2009
Media Madness
This just in!!!!
Michael Jackson is still dead!!!
And in a follow up story....
Alaska's governor Sarah Palin has left her position.
I don't know about you but I've had my fill of Michael Jackson's untimely demise. I can't help but wonder what important legislation was pushed through Washington while every move in California was endlessly reported. It rivaled the Anna Nicole Smith debacle. I found myself wondering what news catastrophe knocked her out of the main stream media. Is it wrong to hope for something else to distract them?
Now to the Sarah Palin issue. Pundits speculated all weekend long about the whys of her decision. Rivaling Michael's air time everyone from the former presidential candidates to Alaska's janitor offered their opinion. Critics were quick to point out she quit her responsibilities, and that reminded me of a piece I'd recently heard from Napoleon Hill. He pointed out negative opinions were bias based. So how could they be objective? Would those same critics be so quick to judge if the reason was health or family based issue? Ms. Palin has a special needs child. Is her time best spent at home for his care or in a lame duck administration? I don't believe it's for me to judge, we all face that in the end.
Two of the wealthiest men in the world quit college because they realized their potential was better served doing something else. Michael Dell and Bill Gates felt their best interests were not listening to professors with no real life experience, touting theory from books, but freed from restraints that smothered their creativity. Was it selfish? You decide if the contributions they made to the world were worth putting on hold completing a commitment that they felt left them handcuffed. I'm sure they had their critics as well!
The Palin story is no where near complete. The only facts are her critics feel threatened by her conservative family values, her strong faith, and her popularity. That agenda threatens everything they stand for. Don't you find that also threatens her critics credibility? Like Dell and Gates, Palin's contribution will speak for her actions, or maybe she's just taking care of a family who needs her.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Michael Jackson is still dead!!!
And in a follow up story....
Alaska's governor Sarah Palin has left her position.
I don't know about you but I've had my fill of Michael Jackson's untimely demise. I can't help but wonder what important legislation was pushed through Washington while every move in California was endlessly reported. It rivaled the Anna Nicole Smith debacle. I found myself wondering what news catastrophe knocked her out of the main stream media. Is it wrong to hope for something else to distract them?
Now to the Sarah Palin issue. Pundits speculated all weekend long about the whys of her decision. Rivaling Michael's air time everyone from the former presidential candidates to Alaska's janitor offered their opinion. Critics were quick to point out she quit her responsibilities, and that reminded me of a piece I'd recently heard from Napoleon Hill. He pointed out negative opinions were bias based. So how could they be objective? Would those same critics be so quick to judge if the reason was health or family based issue? Ms. Palin has a special needs child. Is her time best spent at home for his care or in a lame duck administration? I don't believe it's for me to judge, we all face that in the end.
Two of the wealthiest men in the world quit college because they realized their potential was better served doing something else. Michael Dell and Bill Gates felt their best interests were not listening to professors with no real life experience, touting theory from books, but freed from restraints that smothered their creativity. Was it selfish? You decide if the contributions they made to the world were worth putting on hold completing a commitment that they felt left them handcuffed. I'm sure they had their critics as well!
The Palin story is no where near complete. The only facts are her critics feel threatened by her conservative family values, her strong faith, and her popularity. That agenda threatens everything they stand for. Don't you find that also threatens her critics credibility? Like Dell and Gates, Palin's contribution will speak for her actions, or maybe she's just taking care of a family who needs her.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Driving to the Goal Line
Henry David Thoreau wrote,"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live a life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.
That's a mouthful, but it's a clue to what's missing in most of our lives. As children we had great ambitions and wonderful goals. They were hard to focus on as they changed daily. If you queried a kindergarten class, How many would want to be president? You'd likely find every hand reaching for the ceiling. Change the poser to a pop singer or a fireman and I'm sure you'd get the same response. So that begs the questions. What happened to our youthful ambition? Would that bright eyed ambitious child be proud of the image that greets you in the mirror each morning? As a child nothing was unattainable.
Life easily slips into the mundane and redundant when we fail to set goals. A future vision can change that rut you mindlessly perform everyday, to a purposeful fulfilling existence. Football's contest has an objective, they call it the goal line. The offense drives toward that objective with everything they have, seeking the satisfaction of achievement. I submit life would be fulfilling and more meaningful if we take a page from that play book. When was the last time you analyzed your objectives, and saw the goal line? Have you written them down?
Vision written down becomes a goal. Take that goal and refine it into daily objectives, again, written down. I love to put my daily and long term goals on my bathroom mirror with dri erase marker so I face them every morning as a reminder of the direction I need to point. There is no greater satisfaction than to erase an accomplished objective. Vision without strategy is little more than a day dream. Plot your course! You'll need to course correct, but the reminder in the mirror will help you stay on track if you stray. Oh, get a BIG mirror, nothing is worse than aiming low and hitting your target. The mirror trick is a great tool and you'll find you accomplish so much more than wandering off daily trying to keep the purpose in your head.
It's never too late to find our like childlike innocence and ambition. Reconnect with your past and plan your future. Ask yourself some hard questions! Where will I be five years from now? What is my plan to get there? Long term vision is mandatory to overcome any short term setbacks (learning experiences). Vision+ Strategy+Venture=Achievement. That's the formula for success and happiness!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
That's a mouthful, but it's a clue to what's missing in most of our lives. As children we had great ambitions and wonderful goals. They were hard to focus on as they changed daily. If you queried a kindergarten class, How many would want to be president? You'd likely find every hand reaching for the ceiling. Change the poser to a pop singer or a fireman and I'm sure you'd get the same response. So that begs the questions. What happened to our youthful ambition? Would that bright eyed ambitious child be proud of the image that greets you in the mirror each morning? As a child nothing was unattainable.
Life easily slips into the mundane and redundant when we fail to set goals. A future vision can change that rut you mindlessly perform everyday, to a purposeful fulfilling existence. Football's contest has an objective, they call it the goal line. The offense drives toward that objective with everything they have, seeking the satisfaction of achievement. I submit life would be fulfilling and more meaningful if we take a page from that play book. When was the last time you analyzed your objectives, and saw the goal line? Have you written them down?
Vision written down becomes a goal. Take that goal and refine it into daily objectives, again, written down. I love to put my daily and long term goals on my bathroom mirror with dri erase marker so I face them every morning as a reminder of the direction I need to point. There is no greater satisfaction than to erase an accomplished objective. Vision without strategy is little more than a day dream. Plot your course! You'll need to course correct, but the reminder in the mirror will help you stay on track if you stray. Oh, get a BIG mirror, nothing is worse than aiming low and hitting your target. The mirror trick is a great tool and you'll find you accomplish so much more than wandering off daily trying to keep the purpose in your head.
It's never too late to find our like childlike innocence and ambition. Reconnect with your past and plan your future. Ask yourself some hard questions! Where will I be five years from now? What is my plan to get there? Long term vision is mandatory to overcome any short term setbacks (learning experiences). Vision+ Strategy+Venture=Achievement. That's the formula for success and happiness!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Saturday, July 4, 2009
All We Need is a Little Patience
Happy 4th of July! Today is a time to gather with family and friends to remember our independence. Parades, barbecues, and fireworks will be the bill of fare today, punctuated with interaction. Isn't it funny how there is always at least one at the party who invited thru marriage or peer pressure tests your patience and sanity? Just add alcohol and you have an instant application for sainthood, with you being the nominee.
I find humor is the best way to conquer these awkward situations. I've also been told (and like to think) a quick wit is a sign of genius!
Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter!
1. It has no negative side effects
2. It's available anywhere without prescription
3. It's free
4. It lowers blood pressure and relieves hypertension (It might be a cure for brother-in -laws)
5. It relaxes muscles
6. It reduces at least 4 hormones related to stress
7. It activates and strengthens the immune system
8. It's an aerobic workout, and increases your body's use of oxygen
9. It can reduce pain for long periods (The length of a bbq?)
When all else fails the words of Mark Twain may come in useful..."I can live for two months on one good compliment."
I'll close with this message from Lou Holtz, legendary college football coach and motivational speaker...
"To every person who has faced adversity, whether in their personal, business, or social life, and responded positively to it. I admire the person who says, Everyday someone does something great, today that someone will be me!"
God Bless and Happy 4th of July!
Capt. Bill
I find humor is the best way to conquer these awkward situations. I've also been told (and like to think) a quick wit is a sign of genius!
Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter!
1. It has no negative side effects
2. It's available anywhere without prescription
3. It's free
4. It lowers blood pressure and relieves hypertension (It might be a cure for brother-in -laws)
5. It relaxes muscles
6. It reduces at least 4 hormones related to stress
7. It activates and strengthens the immune system
8. It's an aerobic workout, and increases your body's use of oxygen
9. It can reduce pain for long periods (The length of a bbq?)
When all else fails the words of Mark Twain may come in useful..."I can live for two months on one good compliment."
I'll close with this message from Lou Holtz, legendary college football coach and motivational speaker...
"To every person who has faced adversity, whether in their personal, business, or social life, and responded positively to it. I admire the person who says, Everyday someone does something great, today that someone will be me!"
God Bless and Happy 4th of July!
Capt. Bill
Friday, July 3, 2009
Something to chew on at the barbecue!
When you examine the framework our forefather's founded this country on you can't help but admire the foresight yet the simplicity of the principles. Two hundred and thirty plus years later everything we inherited still applies. How could they'd have known in a country that wasn't fully developed or borders yet defined, that individual states would have individual issues and only a few simple mandates could govern them all? It was pure genius and the premise we celebrate every July 4th!
Initially federal law was designed to do for the citizens what they or the states couldn't do for themselves. Protect our borders, defend it's citizens, and oversee commerce between the states. Specific laws and the enforcement of them were left up to the individual states. That way if you didn't like the way a state was governed you could find one that agreed with your politics, move, and still be within the borders of the country you love. It would be ludicrous to assume anything more specific could apply across this great nation. For example, familles in California have higher living expenses than familles in say, Arkansas. So to apply a federal minimum wage, that would be fair to both, would be impossible and best left up to each individual state. Oops, wait that's a bad example, some legislators felt they knew better than the founders. Let me try again! Say a liberal state like Vermont decided to pass legislation to allow gay marriage, if that offended your morals you would be free to move to a more conservative state. The reverse applies, if you were gay and wanted to marry you could move to Vermont, fill your needs and still be in the country you love! Everyone wins! The same applies to taxation. California has a hefty state income tax, yet Florida does not. Citizens are free to migrate away from the states that they feel restrict their personal freedoms, and still be free, in the land of the brave.
Our founding fathers knew you couldn't govern everyone the same, and frankly didn't want to. They were fighting to stop that type of tyranny and oppression from England. They relied on the principles of natural law, the best way to solve a problem is at the lowest possible level. Federal laws restrict freedom, they don't enhance it.
The federal government has evolved from a light handed proposition, to the largest employer in our nation. Here's the kicker... They don't produce anything! Legislation produces taxes not profit! So the largest business in the United States is a non productive entity. Lately the output in Washington has been debt.
I submit to you the upper management of this company, er, country has usurped it authority. They have strayed from our mission statement, the one our founding fathers laid out. As the board of directors it's our responsibility to get this back on track! Let's use this celebration of our freedom this weekend as a board meeting and discuss bringing management back around!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Initially federal law was designed to do for the citizens what they or the states couldn't do for themselves. Protect our borders, defend it's citizens, and oversee commerce between the states. Specific laws and the enforcement of them were left up to the individual states. That way if you didn't like the way a state was governed you could find one that agreed with your politics, move, and still be within the borders of the country you love. It would be ludicrous to assume anything more specific could apply across this great nation. For example, familles in California have higher living expenses than familles in say, Arkansas. So to apply a federal minimum wage, that would be fair to both, would be impossible and best left up to each individual state. Oops, wait that's a bad example, some legislators felt they knew better than the founders. Let me try again! Say a liberal state like Vermont decided to pass legislation to allow gay marriage, if that offended your morals you would be free to move to a more conservative state. The reverse applies, if you were gay and wanted to marry you could move to Vermont, fill your needs and still be in the country you love! Everyone wins! The same applies to taxation. California has a hefty state income tax, yet Florida does not. Citizens are free to migrate away from the states that they feel restrict their personal freedoms, and still be free, in the land of the brave.
Our founding fathers knew you couldn't govern everyone the same, and frankly didn't want to. They were fighting to stop that type of tyranny and oppression from England. They relied on the principles of natural law, the best way to solve a problem is at the lowest possible level. Federal laws restrict freedom, they don't enhance it.
The federal government has evolved from a light handed proposition, to the largest employer in our nation. Here's the kicker... They don't produce anything! Legislation produces taxes not profit! So the largest business in the United States is a non productive entity. Lately the output in Washington has been debt.
I submit to you the upper management of this company, er, country has usurped it authority. They have strayed from our mission statement, the one our founding fathers laid out. As the board of directors it's our responsibility to get this back on track! Let's use this celebration of our freedom this weekend as a board meeting and discuss bringing management back around!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Thursday, July 2, 2009
God Bless America!
In 1776 our founding father's decided to create a Republic and play a game called freedom. The contest's rules were based on a foundation of Judeo-Christian principles. The playing field was covered with blood sweat and tears. Freedom did not come without a price, you had to ante up to play in this match. The buy in was high, but the reward for winning was priceless. Our ancestors were willing to pay any fee to shed tyranny and live free, many of them paid the ultimate price. The bequeathed us this game called freedom and asked that we protect it and it's principles with our lives if necessary, as they had.
The 4th is a celebration of that freedom. Parades, fireworks, and picnics will consume our day. Let not the spirit this country was founded on be overshadowed by the festivities. We still have a duty to maintain the blessings passed down to us. Our brave young men and women serve on foreign soil to protect our borders. Do our representatives in Washington give us the same commitment?
Discussions have revealed Americans feel this 4th of July has a special meaning. Reflecting, they expressed a concern, one I was able to sympathize with. Opinion has drifted toward feeling that our freedom is being threatened. It's not just the state of unrest in the world, the looming childlike behavior of tantrum throwing nuclear countries. This discomfort is felt from within. Leadership no longer serves the people. They have embarked on self serving agendas betraying the power gifted to them by the citizens. We are being dictated to, told what is best for us!
There has not been this type of unrest in America for a long time. Citizens are rising up enmass to protest this tyranny. Not since the 1700s have tea parties been part of our culture. There is an uncomfortable feeling surging in the bowels of America. Our freedom is being threatened by domestic terrorists in Washington with taxes and entitlement programs. I dare say treason is being committed on the founding principles of our nation. We are not now or ever been a socialist nation.
Mr. President, members of Congress, stop this madness. We love our freedom and will not trade it for security. The price has been paid by our forefathers, respect the sacrifice they made for us.
Be patriotic this weekend and honor that sacrifice! Drive safe!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
The 4th is a celebration of that freedom. Parades, fireworks, and picnics will consume our day. Let not the spirit this country was founded on be overshadowed by the festivities. We still have a duty to maintain the blessings passed down to us. Our brave young men and women serve on foreign soil to protect our borders. Do our representatives in Washington give us the same commitment?
Discussions have revealed Americans feel this 4th of July has a special meaning. Reflecting, they expressed a concern, one I was able to sympathize with. Opinion has drifted toward feeling that our freedom is being threatened. It's not just the state of unrest in the world, the looming childlike behavior of tantrum throwing nuclear countries. This discomfort is felt from within. Leadership no longer serves the people. They have embarked on self serving agendas betraying the power gifted to them by the citizens. We are being dictated to, told what is best for us!
There has not been this type of unrest in America for a long time. Citizens are rising up enmass to protest this tyranny. Not since the 1700s have tea parties been part of our culture. There is an uncomfortable feeling surging in the bowels of America. Our freedom is being threatened by domestic terrorists in Washington with taxes and entitlement programs. I dare say treason is being committed on the founding principles of our nation. We are not now or ever been a socialist nation.
Mr. President, members of Congress, stop this madness. We love our freedom and will not trade it for security. The price has been paid by our forefathers, respect the sacrifice they made for us.
Be patriotic this weekend and honor that sacrifice! Drive safe!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
There's a Stranger in my Life
I heard this piece read from stage at the major last month by Terri Brady and I fell in love with it! Since, I've been like a hound on a fox searching for it so I might share it with others. Low and behold my good friend "She Bear" sends it to me in an e-mail from Rex Barkers inspirations. I don't know who gets credit authoring it but here it is for your enjoyment!
A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.
As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me the word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger -- he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.
If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.
Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to her room and read her books (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)
Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home ... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.
My Dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in the home, not even for cooking. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely)! about sex.
His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked ... and NEVER asked to leave.
More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?...
We just call him, "TV.":
Isn't this so true? What a powerful statement! My father used to have a title for the enigma. He called it the "boob tube." It mesmerizes our children and keeps us from being productive. How much further along would our nation be if we stopped entertaining ourselves mindlessly and picked up a good book to learn from? How many relationships are damaged because people are glued to the "boob tube" and ignoring their family? How has this media infected our country, influenced our morals and political decisions? How much control does TV have in your life? I'm challenging America to swap 15 minutes a day of TV time for a great book!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.
As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me the word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger -- he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.
If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.
Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to her room and read her books (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)
Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home ... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.
My Dad was a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in the home, not even for cooking. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely)! about sex.
His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked ... and NEVER asked to leave.
More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?...
We just call him, "TV.":
Isn't this so true? What a powerful statement! My father used to have a title for the enigma. He called it the "boob tube." It mesmerizes our children and keeps us from being productive. How much further along would our nation be if we stopped entertaining ourselves mindlessly and picked up a good book to learn from? How many relationships are damaged because people are glued to the "boob tube" and ignoring their family? How has this media infected our country, influenced our morals and political decisions? How much control does TV have in your life? I'm challenging America to swap 15 minutes a day of TV time for a great book!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
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