One of the most wonderful things about living in this country is the ability to be an entrepreneur, if you can find a need, and fill it, your able to create an income, as others benefit. Let's examine how this applies to non profits as well! Non profit organizations find a need and fill it, in the process they also supply needed employment. As the government takes from the rich to give to the poor they are hampering the very thing our country desperately needs right now, job creation. How about we apply this principle to healthcare.....
Government run healthcare has a great example of inefficiency and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. They are not the only options. Years ago a couple of organizations,(nonprofit), saw a need and began to fill that need. St Jude's Children's hospital fills a need for youngsters stricken with health challenges that no family could be expected to fund. The Shriners have also created, out of need and compassion, a fantastic network that aids burn victims and other medical needs of deserving children. They all operate on donations. The charity and good will of your fellow man. Now these two examples are privately run and are models of efficiency. Guess what, there's not a lick of fraud in either organization.
So wouldn't it be a wiser course to get the government out of charity and let efficient fraud free private sectors fill the need, and supply much needed employment? With our spirit of entrepreneurship, don't you think ambitious Americans could recognize opportunity and privately fill the gap? Every time we take tax dollars and create entitlement we invite fraud, abuse and stifle the ingenuity of the private sector. That doesn't sound like the American way to me.
When people lack opportunity they:
Give as little as possible.
Look for excuses.
They become tired.
They miss out on innovation.
When opportunity presents itself people:
Sacrifice to succeed.
They seek ways to win.
They become energized.
They help others win.
They become efficient.
They confront fraud and abuse.
They feel better about themselves.
Or we could let the government continue to take over and get the same results we're seeing now.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
All Hands on Deck!
I'm amused at the recent push by the liberal politicians to introduce the "public option" into the new health care proposal. Their reasoning is to introduce competition into the market place, which should in their mind lowers health care insurance coverage prices.So by a show of hands.....Who fell for that idea?
First we need to look at how healthcare insurance currently works. State's oversee what a provider has to include in a policy. The levels of required coverage differ from state to state. For example, a consumer could walk into an insurance provider in Utah and receive a policy for as little as $1574.00 per year. If that same person was to purchase coverage in say, the state of Maine, the policy would cost $3688.00 per year. Now take the identical consumer and send them to get coverage in the state of New York and he'd have an out of pocket expense of $4734.00 per year. Better than three times the cost of the Utah plan. Why? The minimum coverage demands are more inclusive in the other two states, closer to Cadillac plans, if you were.
A more conservative approach has suggested we open up interstate competition so those in New York could have the option to purchase affordable insurance from a Utah licensed provider. Allowing for the free market to determine the marketable price of an insurance policy, there by lowering the prices through competition. The insurance regulators of those individual states are opposed to such folly as they claim it'll open the door for less than desirable coverage for their citizens. My guess is the insurance lobby is pulling their strings, or the state officials don't want to relinquish their "control" they grown so accustom to.
Enter the liberal idea... They want to establish a public option to compete. Now if the federal government was to offer insurance nationwide, wouldn't that be unfair competition as other companies aren't allowed to cross state line without complying with state regulation? Doesn't this also strip the state of "control" of their individual insurance markets? Wouldn't we accomplish the same thing by just allowing interstate insurance sales, without forcing the states to give up their regulation? Pssstt, it's a power grab by the federal government!
The federal government is power hungry. They've gained control of your school system by holding the purse strings, thereby dictating standards. They've even entered your car, now your required to wear seatbelts because if your state didn't enact legislation to that effect, the feds would cut of road funding. Now they are after your health care. Our founding fathers insisted that the states have the freedom to govern themselves. This power granted in the Constitution is slowly being eroded away by Washington under the guise of "What's best for us". A little side bar here: "What's good for the masses" is right out of the Communist Manifesto. The United States of America was founded on the principle of "individual" rights. If you concentrate on what is good for the individual, the masses will be just fine.
I hope the voters recognize this for exactly what it is! Complain loudly my people, our freedom is once again under attack by Washington. If they control your health care plan, they will be that much closer to controlling you. This is an assault on free market principles and your right to choose.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
First we need to look at how healthcare insurance currently works. State's oversee what a provider has to include in a policy. The levels of required coverage differ from state to state. For example, a consumer could walk into an insurance provider in Utah and receive a policy for as little as $1574.00 per year. If that same person was to purchase coverage in say, the state of Maine, the policy would cost $3688.00 per year. Now take the identical consumer and send them to get coverage in the state of New York and he'd have an out of pocket expense of $4734.00 per year. Better than three times the cost of the Utah plan. Why? The minimum coverage demands are more inclusive in the other two states, closer to Cadillac plans, if you were.
A more conservative approach has suggested we open up interstate competition so those in New York could have the option to purchase affordable insurance from a Utah licensed provider. Allowing for the free market to determine the marketable price of an insurance policy, there by lowering the prices through competition. The insurance regulators of those individual states are opposed to such folly as they claim it'll open the door for less than desirable coverage for their citizens. My guess is the insurance lobby is pulling their strings, or the state officials don't want to relinquish their "control" they grown so accustom to.
Enter the liberal idea... They want to establish a public option to compete. Now if the federal government was to offer insurance nationwide, wouldn't that be unfair competition as other companies aren't allowed to cross state line without complying with state regulation? Doesn't this also strip the state of "control" of their individual insurance markets? Wouldn't we accomplish the same thing by just allowing interstate insurance sales, without forcing the states to give up their regulation? Pssstt, it's a power grab by the federal government!
The federal government is power hungry. They've gained control of your school system by holding the purse strings, thereby dictating standards. They've even entered your car, now your required to wear seatbelts because if your state didn't enact legislation to that effect, the feds would cut of road funding. Now they are after your health care. Our founding fathers insisted that the states have the freedom to govern themselves. This power granted in the Constitution is slowly being eroded away by Washington under the guise of "What's best for us". A little side bar here: "What's good for the masses" is right out of the Communist Manifesto. The United States of America was founded on the principle of "individual" rights. If you concentrate on what is good for the individual, the masses will be just fine.
I hope the voters recognize this for exactly what it is! Complain loudly my people, our freedom is once again under attack by Washington. If they control your health care plan, they will be that much closer to controlling you. This is an assault on free market principles and your right to choose.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, November 26, 2009
A Thanksgiving Proclamation!
Reprinted from: Founders Quote Daily
with thanks to friend and blog reader Flight!
George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
with thanks to friend and blog reader Flight!
George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thankful to be American!
It's come to that wonderful time of year when we all reflect and give thanks for the blessings in our lives. Here are some I'm thankful for that just might be overlooked during this festive season...
I'm thankful the Christian leaders have united and composed the Manhattan Declaration, It's a statement that's long over due. (If your not familiar with this please go to this web site and review it http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/)
I'm thankful for the plethora of readers who enjoy this blog daily, and the common sense they exhibit. Your comments and advice are always welcome, they make this a better message.
I'm thankful we have held off the debacle of Universal Health care, and pray God guides our leaders to a better solution.
I'm thankful we've not been financially burdened by unwarranted Cap and Trade legislation.
I'm thankful someone is finally exposing the Global Warming farce.
I'm thankful the fraud and deceit of ACORN has been exposed. I'm looking forward to a future of ACORN and SEIU free government influence.
I'm thankful the current administration has finally waken the sleeping giant and our nation is responding in kind. It's about time we recognized our freedoms are slowly being eroded from underneath us. If they accomplish nothing else, (and this is my prayer), may they be the group of elected officials that are held responsible for us understanding how valuable our freedom is.
I'm thankful this term has exposed the underlying agendas of some of our prominent officials. My hope for the future is their constituents realize the constant embarrassment they cause their districts and point them toward the unemployment line.
I'm thankful we as Americans have realized that hope is sometimes disguised as "change". I'm hopeful we will demand "change" be better defined before we jump in with both feet.
I'm thankful we have learned to listen to what a candidate says when they speak. When they say they are going to "fundamentally change" the country we love we will take them seriously, and recognize that as the threat it's meant to be.
`And last, I'm thankful for this great free Republic we live in. Thankful, and grateful, for the men and women who serve and protect our freedoms. Stay safe!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
I'm thankful the Christian leaders have united and composed the Manhattan Declaration, It's a statement that's long over due. (If your not familiar with this please go to this web site and review it http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/)
I'm thankful for the plethora of readers who enjoy this blog daily, and the common sense they exhibit. Your comments and advice are always welcome, they make this a better message.
I'm thankful we have held off the debacle of Universal Health care, and pray God guides our leaders to a better solution.
I'm thankful we've not been financially burdened by unwarranted Cap and Trade legislation.
I'm thankful someone is finally exposing the Global Warming farce.
I'm thankful the fraud and deceit of ACORN has been exposed. I'm looking forward to a future of ACORN and SEIU free government influence.
I'm thankful the current administration has finally waken the sleeping giant and our nation is responding in kind. It's about time we recognized our freedoms are slowly being eroded from underneath us. If they accomplish nothing else, (and this is my prayer), may they be the group of elected officials that are held responsible for us understanding how valuable our freedom is.
I'm thankful this term has exposed the underlying agendas of some of our prominent officials. My hope for the future is their constituents realize the constant embarrassment they cause their districts and point them toward the unemployment line.
I'm thankful we as Americans have realized that hope is sometimes disguised as "change". I'm hopeful we will demand "change" be better defined before we jump in with both feet.
I'm thankful we have learned to listen to what a candidate says when they speak. When they say they are going to "fundamentally change" the country we love we will take them seriously, and recognize that as the threat it's meant to be.
`And last, I'm thankful for this great free Republic we live in. Thankful, and grateful, for the men and women who serve and protect our freedoms. Stay safe!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
This Just In Off The Wire!!!!
President Obama just returned from his Asian tour. His goals as a self proclaimed "first pacific president", were to ask China to reduce greenhouse emissions, have Japan cooperate with our navy in the Afghanistan effort, reevaluate the Chinese currency which has been kept artificially low, find cooperation in sanctions against Iran, promote human rights, and find some common ground in the discussions with North Korea. The Associated Press, generally a pro Obama media arm had this to say about the trip...
"The mood in Obama's foreign policy team is tense following an extended Asia trip that produced no palpable results." "The Asians smiled but made no concessions." "The White House did not even stand up for itself when it came to the question of human rights in China."
They went on to say this about his demeanor.....
Barack Obama looked tired on Thursday, as he stood in the Blue House in Seoul, the official residence of the South Korean president. He also seemed irritable and even slightly forlorn. The CNN cameras had already been set up. But then Obama decided not to play along, and not to answer the question he had already been asked several times on his trip: what did he plan to take home with him? Instead, he simply said "thank you, guys," and disappeared. David Axelrod, senior advisor to the president, fielded the journalists' questions in the hallway of the Blue House instead, telling them that the public's expectations had been "too high."
The liberal media seems to be jumping ship as the AP also reported this assessment....
"Obama's new foreign policy has also been relatively unsuccessful elsewhere, with even friends like Israel leaving him high and dry. For the government of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, peace is only conceivable under its terms. Netanyahu has rejected Obama's call for a complete moratorium on the construction of settlements. As a result, Obama has nothing to offer the Palestinians and the Syrians. "We thought we had some leverage," says Martin Indyk, a former ambassador to Israel under the Clinton administration and now an advisor to Obama. "But that proved to be an illusion."
Even the president seems to have lost his faith in a genial foreign policy. The approach that was being used in Afghanistan this spring, with its strong emphasis on civilian reconstruction, is already being changed. "We're searching for an exit strategy," said a staff member with the National Security Council on the sidelines of the Asia trip."
Then they issued the knockout punch.......
"Obama's advisors fear a comparison with former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, even more than with Bush. Prominent Republicans have already tried to liken Obama to the humanitarian from Georgia, who lost in his bid to win a second term, because voters felt that he was too soft. "Carter tried weakness and the world got tougher and tougher because the predators, the aggressors, the anti-Americans, the dictators, when they sense weakness, they all start pushing ahead," Newt Gingrich, the former Republican speaker in the House of Representatives, recently said. And then he added: "This does look a lot like Jimmy Carter."
When he entered office, US President Barack Obama promised to inject US foreign policy with a new tone of respect and diplomacy. His recent trip to Asia, however, showed that it's not working. A shift to Bush-style bluntness may be coming.
So perhaps it's time for the "change" to change back to a country that has posture and exudes confidence? We are the most powerful nation in the world, time to act the part!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
"The mood in Obama's foreign policy team is tense following an extended Asia trip that produced no palpable results." "The Asians smiled but made no concessions." "The White House did not even stand up for itself when it came to the question of human rights in China."
They went on to say this about his demeanor.....
Barack Obama looked tired on Thursday, as he stood in the Blue House in Seoul, the official residence of the South Korean president. He also seemed irritable and even slightly forlorn. The CNN cameras had already been set up. But then Obama decided not to play along, and not to answer the question he had already been asked several times on his trip: what did he plan to take home with him? Instead, he simply said "thank you, guys," and disappeared. David Axelrod, senior advisor to the president, fielded the journalists' questions in the hallway of the Blue House instead, telling them that the public's expectations had been "too high."
The liberal media seems to be jumping ship as the AP also reported this assessment....
"Obama's new foreign policy has also been relatively unsuccessful elsewhere, with even friends like Israel leaving him high and dry. For the government of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, peace is only conceivable under its terms. Netanyahu has rejected Obama's call for a complete moratorium on the construction of settlements. As a result, Obama has nothing to offer the Palestinians and the Syrians. "We thought we had some leverage," says Martin Indyk, a former ambassador to Israel under the Clinton administration and now an advisor to Obama. "But that proved to be an illusion."
Even the president seems to have lost his faith in a genial foreign policy. The approach that was being used in Afghanistan this spring, with its strong emphasis on civilian reconstruction, is already being changed. "We're searching for an exit strategy," said a staff member with the National Security Council on the sidelines of the Asia trip."
Then they issued the knockout punch.......
"Obama's advisors fear a comparison with former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, even more than with Bush. Prominent Republicans have already tried to liken Obama to the humanitarian from Georgia, who lost in his bid to win a second term, because voters felt that he was too soft. "Carter tried weakness and the world got tougher and tougher because the predators, the aggressors, the anti-Americans, the dictators, when they sense weakness, they all start pushing ahead," Newt Gingrich, the former Republican speaker in the House of Representatives, recently said. And then he added: "This does look a lot like Jimmy Carter."
When he entered office, US President Barack Obama promised to inject US foreign policy with a new tone of respect and diplomacy. His recent trip to Asia, however, showed that it's not working. A shift to Bush-style bluntness may be coming.
So perhaps it's time for the "change" to change back to a country that has posture and exudes confidence? We are the most powerful nation in the world, time to act the part!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, November 23, 2009
To Be Or Not To Be.............
Patrick Kennedy, a member of the House of Representatives elected by the state of Rhode Island, is in a quarrel with his church. The Bishop from his parish has asked him not to receive Communion as his support of the abortion inclusion in the health care bills is in direct violation of church policy. Kennedy had this to say.....
"While I greatly respect the Catholic Church and its leaders, like many Rhode Islanders, the fact that I disagree with the hierarchy of the church on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic," Mr Kennedy told Bishop Tobin in a letter. "I embrace my faith which acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity."
Now as a child I attended Catholic school for nine years so I'm somewhat familiar with what the church believes and how this all works. For those who don't know, Communion is a Sacrament offered during service as the replica of the body of Christ, who gave his life for our sins. The Bible mandates that you attend Confession, another Sacrament, and confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, and do penance to purify your soul. Only then are you worthy of accepting Communion as your soul is pure. It's pretty cut and dried. If you sin, and we all do, you atone, then you can receive the Sacrament. If not, then you pass. It's an honor granted by your behavior, not a right.
Abortion in the eyes of the Catholic Church is murder, murder is a sin, supporting abortion is aiding and abetting a sin, this ergo excuses you from eligibility of receiving the Sacrament of Communion. Mr. Kennedy and some of his family believe and support abortion. If your a devout member of the Catholic Church and respect it's hierarchy, supporting abortion is not a good idea, it shows disrespect for their doctrine and it's leaders. To complain about the church applying the rules after you made your decision to go against them is not accepting responsibility for your actions.
While Mr. Kennedy is not the king of bad decisions, he is certainly a prince! The doctrine of the church is not open to amendments. It's cut and dried. Your supporters were told your a practicing Catholic. Are you not misrepresenting yourself? Mr. Kennedy, your ideology is your own and a choice your entitled to by our Constitution, but don't complain when your church asks you to either support it's rules,(You know those pesky Ten Commandments), or not participate. Your either a devout, practicing Catholic, or your not. Accept responsibility for your actions, it's the first step to atonement and forgiveness.
This all speaks to Mr. Kennedy's character and integrity. You can't be somewhat Catholic. You either believe or you don't. If your a devout, practicing Catholic as you profess to the voters, support the doctrine as the voters would want, or drop the title Catholic.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
"While I greatly respect the Catholic Church and its leaders, like many Rhode Islanders, the fact that I disagree with the hierarchy of the church on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic," Mr Kennedy told Bishop Tobin in a letter. "I embrace my faith which acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity."
Now as a child I attended Catholic school for nine years so I'm somewhat familiar with what the church believes and how this all works. For those who don't know, Communion is a Sacrament offered during service as the replica of the body of Christ, who gave his life for our sins. The Bible mandates that you attend Confession, another Sacrament, and confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, and do penance to purify your soul. Only then are you worthy of accepting Communion as your soul is pure. It's pretty cut and dried. If you sin, and we all do, you atone, then you can receive the Sacrament. If not, then you pass. It's an honor granted by your behavior, not a right.
Abortion in the eyes of the Catholic Church is murder, murder is a sin, supporting abortion is aiding and abetting a sin, this ergo excuses you from eligibility of receiving the Sacrament of Communion. Mr. Kennedy and some of his family believe and support abortion. If your a devout member of the Catholic Church and respect it's hierarchy, supporting abortion is not a good idea, it shows disrespect for their doctrine and it's leaders. To complain about the church applying the rules after you made your decision to go against them is not accepting responsibility for your actions.
While Mr. Kennedy is not the king of bad decisions, he is certainly a prince! The doctrine of the church is not open to amendments. It's cut and dried. Your supporters were told your a practicing Catholic. Are you not misrepresenting yourself? Mr. Kennedy, your ideology is your own and a choice your entitled to by our Constitution, but don't complain when your church asks you to either support it's rules,(You know those pesky Ten Commandments), or not participate. Your either a devout, practicing Catholic, or your not. Accept responsibility for your actions, it's the first step to atonement and forgiveness.
This all speaks to Mr. Kennedy's character and integrity. You can't be somewhat Catholic. You either believe or you don't. If your a devout, practicing Catholic as you profess to the voters, support the doctrine as the voters would want, or drop the title Catholic.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Media War!
Many of you understand the passion I have for the media doing it's job. While bloggers like myself express their opinions, I feel it's the media's responsibility to remain un bias and report the events without opinion, kind of like the late Walter Cronkite used to do. He was a committed liberal but his political position never was reflected when he presented a story. So here's my beef.......
The AP reported on the passage of the vote to debate healthcare in the Senate yesterday. Let's look at the script as it went out over the wire.
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent – 2 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Invoking the name of Edward M. Kennedy, Democrats united Saturday night to push historic health care legislation past a key Senate hurdle over the opposition of Republicans eager to inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama. There was not a vote to spare.
Mind you, I'm going to reflect my bias here but I think it's obvious Mr Espo has misrepresented the Republican party here. I'm hopeful their dissenting votes were not out of spite, but a reflection of how disastrous this legislation would be for the country. Maybe some of them even realized this is authority not granted by the Constitution. Yet he insists on taking a pot shot at the group, and injecting his bias into the report. He goes on to say......
The 60-39 vote cleared the way for a bruising, full-scale debate beginning after Thanksgiving on the legislation, which is designed to extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny or dilute benefits and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally.
Now he comes across here ^ as factual and un bias, but I have to unleash some overlooked facts while the opportunity presents itself. 31 million uninsured is less than 10% of the population, (we have it reported 330,000,000 people reside in America), so after spending $1.2 trillion dollars to correct that, this bill reportedly covers 94% of the population. Six of the less than ten percent are yet uncovered. Is that really a wise way to spend $1.2 trillion dollars? I mean you'd think everyone would be covered then, not just and additional 4%. Would it be unreasonable to expect that? Just my little side bar, and the rest of the report reads.....
The spectator galleries were full for the unusual Saturday night showdown, and applause broke out briefly when the vote was announced. In a measure of the significance of the moment, senators sat quietly in their seats, standing only when they were called upon to vote.
Republican Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio missed the vote.
He finished the article as he should have begun it, with just the facts. Speculating the motive for the Republican dissent isn't factual, nor is it good reporting. He's a wire service employee, not a political pundit. Even my little rant on this ordeal is based on mathematical facts.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
The AP reported on the passage of the vote to debate healthcare in the Senate yesterday. Let's look at the script as it went out over the wire.
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent – 2 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Invoking the name of Edward M. Kennedy, Democrats united Saturday night to push historic health care legislation past a key Senate hurdle over the opposition of Republicans eager to inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama. There was not a vote to spare.
Mind you, I'm going to reflect my bias here but I think it's obvious Mr Espo has misrepresented the Republican party here. I'm hopeful their dissenting votes were not out of spite, but a reflection of how disastrous this legislation would be for the country. Maybe some of them even realized this is authority not granted by the Constitution. Yet he insists on taking a pot shot at the group, and injecting his bias into the report. He goes on to say......
The 60-39 vote cleared the way for a bruising, full-scale debate beginning after Thanksgiving on the legislation, which is designed to extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny or dilute benefits and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally.
Now he comes across here ^ as factual and un bias, but I have to unleash some overlooked facts while the opportunity presents itself. 31 million uninsured is less than 10% of the population, (we have it reported 330,000,000 people reside in America), so after spending $1.2 trillion dollars to correct that, this bill reportedly covers 94% of the population. Six of the less than ten percent are yet uncovered. Is that really a wise way to spend $1.2 trillion dollars? I mean you'd think everyone would be covered then, not just and additional 4%. Would it be unreasonable to expect that? Just my little side bar, and the rest of the report reads.....
The spectator galleries were full for the unusual Saturday night showdown, and applause broke out briefly when the vote was announced. In a measure of the significance of the moment, senators sat quietly in their seats, standing only when they were called upon to vote.
Republican Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio missed the vote.
He finished the article as he should have begun it, with just the facts. Speculating the motive for the Republican dissent isn't factual, nor is it good reporting. He's a wire service employee, not a political pundit. Even my little rant on this ordeal is based on mathematical facts.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Friday, November 20, 2009
A Race Case!
Today I'd like to applaud one politician and expose the cancer that infects the rest of them. I found this an interesting incident and I like to think concerned voters will to. It involves the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his incessant need to apply the race card to everything. I find him to be one of the biggest barriers to race relations. I also find it ironic that as a liberal he insists on mixing his church and the affairs of the state. Aren't they always crying foul when the other side introduces religion into any political conversation? Here's the scoop....
The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday night criticized Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) for voting against the Democrats’ signature healthcare bill.
“We even have blacks voting against the healthcare bill from Alabama,” Jackson said at a reception Wednesday night. “You can't vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.”
So in his eyes standing for your principles and defending the constitution is not a trait of the black man? Rev. Jackson; Are you American or are you black first? That is assuming the color of your skin has diddly to do with representing your voters and standing for what you believe in. I'd like to applaud Rep. Davis for stepping outside the pressure and voting his conscience. He was the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against the bill.
In a surprise twist of events Rep. Jackson-Lee a noted left wing liberal had this to say...
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) said each man was doing what he considered the right thing.
"People have a right to vote their constituency, and people have a right to speak their conscience," Jackson-Lee said. "Both happened."
Trust me I was shocked. That's totally out of character for her! But bless her heart for opining a political correct statement! Maybe there is hope that our leaders will put aside race and become American. It seems some feel it necessary to make race the ultimate special interest group. We are all members of the human race, anytime you hyphenate your status _______-American (fill in the blank), you leave your interests as a member of the human race and become a special interest lobby. Are we all as free men and women not granted inalienable rights bound by our creator? Think about that Rev. Jackson, and get back to me on if we are not all one in God's eyes? Maybe you ought to go reread Dr. Martin Luther King's speech, you know the "I have a dream" one. Then ask yourself if this is contributing in a positive manner toward that end?
Oh, and before you start your rant. Free healthcare is not a right granted by anyone. Not the Bible nor the Constitution, both handbooks for how we live. You're your brothers keeper, not Washington.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday night criticized Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) for voting against the Democrats’ signature healthcare bill.
“We even have blacks voting against the healthcare bill from Alabama,” Jackson said at a reception Wednesday night. “You can't vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.”
So in his eyes standing for your principles and defending the constitution is not a trait of the black man? Rev. Jackson; Are you American or are you black first? That is assuming the color of your skin has diddly to do with representing your voters and standing for what you believe in. I'd like to applaud Rep. Davis for stepping outside the pressure and voting his conscience. He was the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against the bill.
In a surprise twist of events Rep. Jackson-Lee a noted left wing liberal had this to say...
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) said each man was doing what he considered the right thing.
"People have a right to vote their constituency, and people have a right to speak their conscience," Jackson-Lee said. "Both happened."
Trust me I was shocked. That's totally out of character for her! But bless her heart for opining a political correct statement! Maybe there is hope that our leaders will put aside race and become American. It seems some feel it necessary to make race the ultimate special interest group. We are all members of the human race, anytime you hyphenate your status _______-American (fill in the blank), you leave your interests as a member of the human race and become a special interest lobby. Are we all as free men and women not granted inalienable rights bound by our creator? Think about that Rev. Jackson, and get back to me on if we are not all one in God's eyes? Maybe you ought to go reread Dr. Martin Luther King's speech, you know the "I have a dream" one. Then ask yourself if this is contributing in a positive manner toward that end?
Oh, and before you start your rant. Free healthcare is not a right granted by anyone. Not the Bible nor the Constitution, both handbooks for how we live. You're your brothers keeper, not Washington.
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Start Your List Early!
As this week begins to expire, and we venture towards the week of Thanksgiving, it might be a good time to begin to count our blessings. After all we don't want to be rushed on Thursday! I think now is a good time to examine your priorities, so you know what to give thanks for. Mine run like this...
God
Family
Friends
Work
etc..........
I know I'm thankful to have God in my life, and in the founding principles of this great nation! I still get chills down my spine when I recite the Pledge of Allegiance and come to the "under God" part. My prayer for America is we don't abandon the higher power that gave us the foundation to build this great country. I'm also thankful to all who currently and in the past have fought to protect those freedoms. I'm thankful for the leadership that realizes these Judeo principles and pray the others see the light.
I'm a blessed man when it comes to family. My sons have far exceeded any expectation of this proud father. I pray God continues them down this path and His will is to keep Jeremy safe while fighting for freedom. My sisters and their spouses provide me a great support system and plenty of nieces and nephews that generate awesome family stories! I can't overlook my step brother and his lovely wife who inspired this blog's publication.
My friends are many and they each add value to my life! It's great to know that the relationships I've formed reflect a vast diversity of cultures and opinions. You all keep me grounded and my eyes wide open. A man couldn't be blessed with a better network of com padres.
Work is yet another blessing. I have the honor to work side by side with two of the greatest mentors a man could ask for. They are the top in community building and character. They have also become dear and valued friends. Words can't fill in the blanks here and relay how grateful I am to both of you. You've made life's path clear!
Now to the Etc; You know who you are! The stories and experiences you provide! Etc.fuels this blog many times when I'm at a loss. Thanks for the humor and the lessons you teach....and please, don't stop!!!!!
God Bless
Capt, Bill
God
Family
Friends
Work
etc..........
I know I'm thankful to have God in my life, and in the founding principles of this great nation! I still get chills down my spine when I recite the Pledge of Allegiance and come to the "under God" part. My prayer for America is we don't abandon the higher power that gave us the foundation to build this great country. I'm also thankful to all who currently and in the past have fought to protect those freedoms. I'm thankful for the leadership that realizes these Judeo principles and pray the others see the light.
I'm a blessed man when it comes to family. My sons have far exceeded any expectation of this proud father. I pray God continues them down this path and His will is to keep Jeremy safe while fighting for freedom. My sisters and their spouses provide me a great support system and plenty of nieces and nephews that generate awesome family stories! I can't overlook my step brother and his lovely wife who inspired this blog's publication.
My friends are many and they each add value to my life! It's great to know that the relationships I've formed reflect a vast diversity of cultures and opinions. You all keep me grounded and my eyes wide open. A man couldn't be blessed with a better network of com padres.
Work is yet another blessing. I have the honor to work side by side with two of the greatest mentors a man could ask for. They are the top in community building and character. They have also become dear and valued friends. Words can't fill in the blanks here and relay how grateful I am to both of you. You've made life's path clear!
Now to the Etc; You know who you are! The stories and experiences you provide! Etc.fuels this blog many times when I'm at a loss. Thanks for the humor and the lessons you teach....and please, don't stop!!!!!
God Bless
Capt, Bill
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
And Justice for All?
I have to weigh in on the controversy surrounding moving the trials of the 9/11 terrorist suspects to New York City by Attorney General Eric Holder. Now first off I'm no legal expert but I have heard that all defendant's are granted the right of a fair trial by an impartial judge and an jury of their peers. So that begs the question....
Is it possible to find an impartial judge and jury in the shadow of the 9/11 terrorist attack? I am thinking that should have been Mr. Holders first concern. He stated openly that as a former prosecuting attorney he's reviewed all the facts and believes we can administer justice. So what jury and judge is he planning to seat that has not been influenced by the 9/11 attacks? Especially right where the worst of them happened! Any defense attorney worth his salt would make his first motion one to dismiss as there isn't a venue in the United States that can offer these men a fair unbiased trial, unaffected by the media. You have to think that denying that motion would open up an opportunity to appeal.
Now there are a myriad of other issues that surround the absurdity of this whole idea, and I'm sure someone will write a book about them. Like I stated, I'm no legal expert, but I like to think I'm a clear thinking individual. As such, this first obstacle seems insurmountable under the laws governing our justice system. This administration is fond of touting to the world how our legal system will shine for all to see. Perhaps they overlooked the obvious? Well with that said, I hope they are walking into this with eyes wide open!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Is it possible to find an impartial judge and jury in the shadow of the 9/11 terrorist attack? I am thinking that should have been Mr. Holders first concern. He stated openly that as a former prosecuting attorney he's reviewed all the facts and believes we can administer justice. So what jury and judge is he planning to seat that has not been influenced by the 9/11 attacks? Especially right where the worst of them happened! Any defense attorney worth his salt would make his first motion one to dismiss as there isn't a venue in the United States that can offer these men a fair unbiased trial, unaffected by the media. You have to think that denying that motion would open up an opportunity to appeal.
Now there are a myriad of other issues that surround the absurdity of this whole idea, and I'm sure someone will write a book about them. Like I stated, I'm no legal expert, but I like to think I'm a clear thinking individual. As such, this first obstacle seems insurmountable under the laws governing our justice system. This administration is fond of touting to the world how our legal system will shine for all to see. Perhaps they overlooked the obvious? Well with that said, I hope they are walking into this with eyes wide open!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, November 16, 2009
Staff Infection!
One of the biggest obstacles the Obama administration faces during this term is rising unemployment. There is a serious need for job creation, and true to form they are doing their part. Unlike past administrations there is an abundance of newly created job opportunities right within the White House! Let's look at the entourage' the first lady has assembled:
1... $172,200 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
3... $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary for Mrs. Obama)
4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $100,000 - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 - Lel yveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)
13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)
16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)
17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $43,000 - Tubman, Samanth a (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 - Jackson, Deilia A.. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)
(total = $1,591,200 in annual salaries)
Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe.
Now to the untrained eye this might seem extreme, so let's compare this workforce to other first ladies:
Mamie Eisenhower paid for her own personal secretary!
Jackie Kennedy had one assistant paid for by taxpayers,
Roseline Carter also had one,
Barbara Bush; one,
Laura Bush; one,
Hilary Clinton; three,
And in case you lost count Michele Obama has twenty two. I found it ironic there are so many it created yet another position; chief of staff!
Now that's job creation in a tough economy! Here's another little ditty, this information was exposed to us by the Canadian Free Press. Is anyone else wondering where our "watchdog media" is?
How's that for "change"?
God Bless
Capt. Bill
1... $172,200 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
3... $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary for Mrs. Obama)
4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $100,000 - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 - Lel yveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)
13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)
16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)
17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $43,000 - Tubman, Samanth a (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 - Jackson, Deilia A.. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)
(total = $1,591,200 in annual salaries)
Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe.
Now to the untrained eye this might seem extreme, so let's compare this workforce to other first ladies:
Mamie Eisenhower paid for her own personal secretary!
Jackie Kennedy had one assistant paid for by taxpayers,
Roseline Carter also had one,
Barbara Bush; one,
Laura Bush; one,
Hilary Clinton; three,
And in case you lost count Michele Obama has twenty two. I found it ironic there are so many it created yet another position; chief of staff!
Now that's job creation in a tough economy! Here's another little ditty, this information was exposed to us by the Canadian Free Press. Is anyone else wondering where our "watchdog media" is?
How's that for "change"?
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Stimulating!
I hate to be the one to point out the obvious, well not really, but has anyone else noticed the results of the stimulus package? One of the keys to providing economic recovery was to extend unemployment benefits. Now on the surface that might seem like a nice vote gathering offering to the out of work, but here's how I see it. Since the Stimulus package was enacted unemployment has been stimulated from eight point something percent to a recent high of over ten percent. Perhaps paying people to be out of work has become an attractive means of making a living? It seems to the untrained eye (that'd be me), that the incentive to find employment has been removed. You know being broke, hungry, and homeless goes a long way as a motivator. Having a check sent to your home for doing nothing, not so much!
Someone much wiser than me has said people will change, when the pain of staying the same, exceeds the pain of change. The weather is about to slide into winter up north, you know all that global warming and stuff. To go to work is soon going to involve leaving your house and facing that balmy ice and snow, so you can have 1/2 of your check stolen to benefit less fortunate people sitting at home and collecting a government provided income. Which do you find more attractive?
There is an old story that applies here: A salesman approaches a farmer sitting on his front porch. As the salesman begins his pitch the farmer's hound dog lets out a painful howl. The salesman takes note but continues on. A short time later the salesman is interrupted again by the dog's howl. Frustrated the salesman asks the farmer, "What's wrong with your dog?" The farmer replies,"Nothing, he's just lying on a nail." The salesman asks,"Well, why doesn't he move then?" The farmer leans back in his rocking chair and says knowingly, "It don't hurt enough yet!"
Just maybe it's time to remove the incentive to be jobless!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Someone much wiser than me has said people will change, when the pain of staying the same, exceeds the pain of change. The weather is about to slide into winter up north, you know all that global warming and stuff. To go to work is soon going to involve leaving your house and facing that balmy ice and snow, so you can have 1/2 of your check stolen to benefit less fortunate people sitting at home and collecting a government provided income. Which do you find more attractive?
There is an old story that applies here: A salesman approaches a farmer sitting on his front porch. As the salesman begins his pitch the farmer's hound dog lets out a painful howl. The salesman takes note but continues on. A short time later the salesman is interrupted again by the dog's howl. Frustrated the salesman asks the farmer, "What's wrong with your dog?" The farmer replies,"Nothing, he's just lying on a nail." The salesman asks,"Well, why doesn't he move then?" The farmer leans back in his rocking chair and says knowingly, "It don't hurt enough yet!"
Just maybe it's time to remove the incentive to be jobless!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Friday, November 13, 2009
Ignorance is Bliss!
Anyone who has worked in corporate America is familiar with the term "job description." It's the outline of your responsibilities at work, what they do and don't expect you to do. Our founding fathers had the foresight prior to any invention of a human resources department, to outline the parameters our various levels of government were responsible for. You know so like the chief of police wasn't out reading water meters. Government has always tried to push outside those guidelines and our current administration is no exception. When asked where in the constitution (their job description) it was written they had the power to enact health care legislation the following answers were voiced.......
When CNSNews.com asked whether the Constitution gives Congress the authority to make Americans buy health insurance, Sen. Akaka said: “I’m not aware of that, let me put it that way. But what we’re trying to do is to provide for people who have needs and that’s where the accessibility comes in, and one of the goals that we’re trying to present here is to make it accessible.”
When asked if there was a specific part of the Constitutoin that gives Congress the authority to make people buy health insurance, Akaka said: “Not in particular with health insurance. It’s not covered in that respect. But in ways to help citizens in our country to live a good life, let me say it that way, is what we’re trying to do, and in this case, we’re trying to help them with their health.”
Both House and Senate health care bills mandate that people buy health insurance, facing a financial penalty if they do not. Akaka said this mandate should not be looked upon as a penalty.
“It’s an idea of making it possible for people and this is what it’s all about,” he said. “I don’t look upon that as a penalty but as a way of getting help with health insurance.”
And you know there's more!!!!
When asked where specifically the Constitution authorized Congress to mandate that individuals buy health insurance, Sen. Jack Reed (D.-R.I.) said that he “would have to check the specific sections” but said that it was like making people “sign up for the draft.”
“Specifically where in the Constitution does Congress get its authority to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance?” CNSNews.com asked Reed.
“Let me see,” said Reed. “I would have to check the specific sections, so I’ll have to get back to you on the specific section. But it is not unusual that the Congress has required individuals to do things, like sign up for the draft and do many other things too, which I don’t think are explicitly contained [in the Constitution]. It gives Congress a right to raise an army, but it doesn’t say you can take people and draft them. But since that was something necessary for the functioning of the government over the past several years, the practice on the books, it’s been recognized, the authority to do that.”
Reed is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which is one of two Senate committees that wrote and approved a version of the health care legislation. Both House and Senate versions of the bill would require that Americans buy health insurance.
But I'm not done yet!!!!
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) told CNSNews.com that because he is not a constitutional scholar he was “not going to be able to answer that question” of where specifically the Constitution authorizes Congress to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance.
“Specifically, where in the Constitution does Congress get its authority to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance?” CNSNews.com asked Nelson.
“Well, you know, I don’t know that I’m a constitutional scholar,” said Nelson. So, I, I’m not going to be able to answer that question.”
The senator then turned away to answer another reporter’s question.
Would it be unreasonable to ask the people we send to Washington to represent us to understand the responsibility of the position the are elected to? Below is a list of the members of the house who voted for this health care bill and need to find another line of work, because they don't understand the responsibilities granted them by the constitution, ergo they don't know their job!
Here is the list of those who voted “Aye”:
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Andrews
Arcuri
Baca
Baldwin
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boswell
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Cao
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chu
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Dahlkemper
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Driehaus
Edwards (MD)
Ellison
Ellsworth
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Foster
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Garamendi
Giffords
Gonzalez
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall (NY)
Halvorson
Hare
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Heinrich
Higgins
Hill
Himes
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hodes
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kagen
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kilroy
Kind
Kirkpatrick (AZ)
Klein (FL)
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Luján
Lynch
Maffei
Maloney
Markey (MA)
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mitchell
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murphy (CT)
Murphy, Patrick
Murtha
Nadler (NY)
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Perriello
Peters
Pingree (ME)
Polis (CO)
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Rodriguez
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Salazar
Sánchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schauer
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sestak
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Space
Speier
Spratt
Stark
Stupak
Sutton
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Towns
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velázquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Welch
Wexler
Wilson (OH)
Woolsey
Wu
Yarmuth
The final slap in the face is this bill includes wording that requires a penalty of incarceration for not being covered by health insurance. You could be sent to jail for not buying health insurance. When the speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi was asked about this her comment was ...." I believe the legislation as worded is fair to all"
Maybe in The United Soviet States of Pelosi................
God Bless
Capt. Bill
When CNSNews.com asked whether the Constitution gives Congress the authority to make Americans buy health insurance, Sen. Akaka said: “I’m not aware of that, let me put it that way. But what we’re trying to do is to provide for people who have needs and that’s where the accessibility comes in, and one of the goals that we’re trying to present here is to make it accessible.”
When asked if there was a specific part of the Constitutoin that gives Congress the authority to make people buy health insurance, Akaka said: “Not in particular with health insurance. It’s not covered in that respect. But in ways to help citizens in our country to live a good life, let me say it that way, is what we’re trying to do, and in this case, we’re trying to help them with their health.”
Both House and Senate health care bills mandate that people buy health insurance, facing a financial penalty if they do not. Akaka said this mandate should not be looked upon as a penalty.
“It’s an idea of making it possible for people and this is what it’s all about,” he said. “I don’t look upon that as a penalty but as a way of getting help with health insurance.”
And you know there's more!!!!
When asked where specifically the Constitution authorized Congress to mandate that individuals buy health insurance, Sen. Jack Reed (D.-R.I.) said that he “would have to check the specific sections” but said that it was like making people “sign up for the draft.”
“Specifically where in the Constitution does Congress get its authority to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance?” CNSNews.com asked Reed.
“Let me see,” said Reed. “I would have to check the specific sections, so I’ll have to get back to you on the specific section. But it is not unusual that the Congress has required individuals to do things, like sign up for the draft and do many other things too, which I don’t think are explicitly contained [in the Constitution]. It gives Congress a right to raise an army, but it doesn’t say you can take people and draft them. But since that was something necessary for the functioning of the government over the past several years, the practice on the books, it’s been recognized, the authority to do that.”
Reed is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which is one of two Senate committees that wrote and approved a version of the health care legislation. Both House and Senate versions of the bill would require that Americans buy health insurance.
But I'm not done yet!!!!
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) told CNSNews.com that because he is not a constitutional scholar he was “not going to be able to answer that question” of where specifically the Constitution authorizes Congress to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance.
“Specifically, where in the Constitution does Congress get its authority to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance?” CNSNews.com asked Nelson.
“Well, you know, I don’t know that I’m a constitutional scholar,” said Nelson. So, I, I’m not going to be able to answer that question.”
The senator then turned away to answer another reporter’s question.
Would it be unreasonable to ask the people we send to Washington to represent us to understand the responsibility of the position the are elected to? Below is a list of the members of the house who voted for this health care bill and need to find another line of work, because they don't understand the responsibilities granted them by the constitution, ergo they don't know their job!
Here is the list of those who voted “Aye”:
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Andrews
Arcuri
Baca
Baldwin
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boswell
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Cao
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chu
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Dahlkemper
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Driehaus
Edwards (MD)
Ellison
Ellsworth
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Foster
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Garamendi
Giffords
Gonzalez
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall (NY)
Halvorson
Hare
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Heinrich
Higgins
Hill
Himes
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hodes
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kagen
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kilroy
Kind
Kirkpatrick (AZ)
Klein (FL)
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Luján
Lynch
Maffei
Maloney
Markey (MA)
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mitchell
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murphy (CT)
Murphy, Patrick
Murtha
Nadler (NY)
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Perriello
Peters
Pingree (ME)
Polis (CO)
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Rodriguez
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Salazar
Sánchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schauer
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sestak
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Space
Speier
Spratt
Stark
Stupak
Sutton
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Towns
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velázquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Welch
Wexler
Wilson (OH)
Woolsey
Wu
Yarmuth
The final slap in the face is this bill includes wording that requires a penalty of incarceration for not being covered by health insurance. You could be sent to jail for not buying health insurance. When the speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi was asked about this her comment was ...." I believe the legislation as worded is fair to all"
Maybe in The United Soviet States of Pelosi................
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sound Economic Advice!
Times have demanded some families make sacrifices financially, and if you haven't yet it may soon be coming. Inflated taxes and devalued dollars are likely in our near future. Declining real estate and tanking 401k's are affecting everyone.Upon further review we are on the cusp of financial chaos. A chaos few are prepared for. In fact I dare say most are confused as to how to prepare for this. Is the answer in gold, real estate, the stock market, or perhaps something else? Even the most prudent financial planner has to be concerned. What if inflation crashes the dollar? Will gold hold it's value? Can we afford to keep real estate if taxes rise to cover inflation? Will hyper inflation crash our financial markets? These are all valid concerns, and I wish I had a crystal ball to answer them. Trust me these are things that worry me daily.
Here's what I hold on to: I'm secure because God and my family loves me. There will be no need for therapy for depression with that in mind. You can offer no greater security for your loved ones but to let them feel your love, and to reinforce their creator will see them through. Material goods are never a substitute for a family's love! It's not what you have, but who you have that counts.
No matter what the level of disaster we should feel confident in our ability when surrounded by love and support. Successful people adapt to change, and thrive on it. The prize is always just the other side of adversity, and with each other's inspiration we can overcome.
In the bible Paul's letter to the Romans: Chapter 5, Verse 3-4, He wrote.....
"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Here's what I hold on to: I'm secure because God and my family loves me. There will be no need for therapy for depression with that in mind. You can offer no greater security for your loved ones but to let them feel your love, and to reinforce their creator will see them through. Material goods are never a substitute for a family's love! It's not what you have, but who you have that counts.
No matter what the level of disaster we should feel confident in our ability when surrounded by love and support. Successful people adapt to change, and thrive on it. The prize is always just the other side of adversity, and with each other's inspiration we can overcome.
In the bible Paul's letter to the Romans: Chapter 5, Verse 3-4, He wrote.....
"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
To All That Serve!
November 11th is the day we take pause to remember the sacrifice and service that all the men and women of our armed forces have contributed to our freedom. Without them I couldn't sit here writing this blog and speaking my mind! Thank you for making us the land of opportunity, and the most powerful nation in the world. My only hope is, we at home work as diligently to preserve our freedom as you have. Please take a moment and say a prayer for these brave and generous souls. It's by their selfless acts we enjoy this great nation. God bless our veterans!
One of the greatest things about joining the service is it's one of the few places you can learn success principles. When you sign up they allow you to pick your opportunity. You get to define your job title! They then set you on a course to learn everything you need to know about that job. Upon graduation they send you out to do the work you've dreamed of.
Define
Learn
Do
The principles of success! In the private sector most of us do this backwards, then wonder why our success is less than we desired. We come out of the learning institution and "DO" a job. We need to "learn" the details of the job while we work because we received a general overview in school. Our employer then "defines" our life style by the amount he's willing to pay to have that job done. Completely backwards from the success principles.
Do
Learn
Define
No wonder the Army advertises;"Be all you can be!" You don't see that slogan on a high school now do you? Their mantra is; "Hurry up and leave so summer vacation starts!" Is it any wonder employers seek veterans to fill opportunities? Anyway I got off topic...Happy Veterans Day!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
One of the greatest things about joining the service is it's one of the few places you can learn success principles. When you sign up they allow you to pick your opportunity. You get to define your job title! They then set you on a course to learn everything you need to know about that job. Upon graduation they send you out to do the work you've dreamed of.
Define
Learn
Do
The principles of success! In the private sector most of us do this backwards, then wonder why our success is less than we desired. We come out of the learning institution and "DO" a job. We need to "learn" the details of the job while we work because we received a general overview in school. Our employer then "defines" our life style by the amount he's willing to pay to have that job done. Completely backwards from the success principles.
Do
Learn
Define
No wonder the Army advertises;"Be all you can be!" You don't see that slogan on a high school now do you? Their mantra is; "Hurry up and leave so summer vacation starts!" Is it any wonder employers seek veterans to fill opportunities? Anyway I got off topic...Happy Veterans Day!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Politically Correct!
My dear long lost friend from school Terry brought up a great point about yesterday's blog. The last verse of America The Beautiful is worded; "A whiter jubilee." In these times that could be construed as a racist comment. Back in the day when it was composed, they weren't as politically correct nor as sensitive as folks are today. Perhaps a replacement of "whiter" with the PC "brighter" would be more appropriate!
Political correctness is getting all the headlines now a days. Trying to be sensitive to religious beliefs led to the Army and CIA not confronting the terrorist who just shot up Fort Hood. So it begs the question; Where do we draw the line? Every Muslim isn't a terrorist, yet every terrorist is a Muslim. It's quite a catch 22, one that makes me glad to be of a different faith.
I think we have to rely back on the blame game our liberal friends are so fond of using. Just as it's not the gun that caused the murder, it's not the belief that causes the terrorist. It's simply wrong thinking. It's how you interpret what is available to you that determines the outcome. If you interpret a gun as power and an offensive weapon, you're abusing the privilege to own one. If you read radical extremism into the teachings of the Muslim faith, you're also abusing our fellow man.
How do overcome this? Well, my father raised six kids around guns. Ammo and weapons were readily available and within reach, it was never abused. Why? Because we were taught respect for the weapons and the consequences of the improper use of one. We were taught how to safely use and act with a gun, from as early as I can remember. Same applies to the Muslim faith. Teaching the correct use of the principles outlined in their religion by the elders will reap responsibility. It's the radical teachings that spoils the flock, so we must insist Muslim leaders respect their responsibility to the world. Leadership is influence, good and bad. Leaders bear the responsibility of their followers and their actions. (See TEAM leadership and Orrin and Chris's blog for more on this subject).
Muslim religion is based on the same principles we all believe, The Golden Rule. The answer to the problem is to weed the garden so the fruit may blossom. Problem solved and not one tax dollar spent!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Political correctness is getting all the headlines now a days. Trying to be sensitive to religious beliefs led to the Army and CIA not confronting the terrorist who just shot up Fort Hood. So it begs the question; Where do we draw the line? Every Muslim isn't a terrorist, yet every terrorist is a Muslim. It's quite a catch 22, one that makes me glad to be of a different faith.
I think we have to rely back on the blame game our liberal friends are so fond of using. Just as it's not the gun that caused the murder, it's not the belief that causes the terrorist. It's simply wrong thinking. It's how you interpret what is available to you that determines the outcome. If you interpret a gun as power and an offensive weapon, you're abusing the privilege to own one. If you read radical extremism into the teachings of the Muslim faith, you're also abusing our fellow man.
How do overcome this? Well, my father raised six kids around guns. Ammo and weapons were readily available and within reach, it was never abused. Why? Because we were taught respect for the weapons and the consequences of the improper use of one. We were taught how to safely use and act with a gun, from as early as I can remember. Same applies to the Muslim faith. Teaching the correct use of the principles outlined in their religion by the elders will reap responsibility. It's the radical teachings that spoils the flock, so we must insist Muslim leaders respect their responsibility to the world. Leadership is influence, good and bad. Leaders bear the responsibility of their followers and their actions. (See TEAM leadership and Orrin and Chris's blog for more on this subject).
Muslim religion is based on the same principles we all believe, The Golden Rule. The answer to the problem is to weed the garden so the fruit may blossom. Problem solved and not one tax dollar spent!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, November 9, 2009
For Spacious Skies!
My flight was canceled Saturday night much to my dismay, but every cloud has a silver lining. I got to take a predawn flight out of West Virginia and as the sun rose over the mountains the words to this song came to mind.....
America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
I also couldn't help but wonder if we've forgotten the principles this country was founded on after running the words of this song through my mind. The morning sun rise revealed the purple mountain majesties, and as the plane crossed over rural Virginia the waves of amber grain were visible from the window. I saw the sprawling sea as we moved down the coast, and wondered how long God would shed his grace on thee. After all we've abandoned Him and the principles that America was founded on. The land of opportunity has evolved into the land of entitlements.
I'm convinced the biggest threat this nation faces is loose in Washington. No terrorist group could have a bigger effect on our economy, nor undermined the principles the founders endeared. Modern day legislation in the times of our forefathers would have led to cries of traitor and duels would have ensued.
The greatness of our country inspired the words to the above song. Has anything since 9/11 stirred that kind of patriotic emotion? I'm not aware of any current lyrics to that end. So what's missing?........
One Nation under God
Indivisible ........
Perhaps!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
I also couldn't help but wonder if we've forgotten the principles this country was founded on after running the words of this song through my mind. The morning sun rise revealed the purple mountain majesties, and as the plane crossed over rural Virginia the waves of amber grain were visible from the window. I saw the sprawling sea as we moved down the coast, and wondered how long God would shed his grace on thee. After all we've abandoned Him and the principles that America was founded on. The land of opportunity has evolved into the land of entitlements.
I'm convinced the biggest threat this nation faces is loose in Washington. No terrorist group could have a bigger effect on our economy, nor undermined the principles the founders endeared. Modern day legislation in the times of our forefathers would have led to cries of traitor and duels would have ensued.
The greatness of our country inspired the words to the above song. Has anything since 9/11 stirred that kind of patriotic emotion? I'm not aware of any current lyrics to that end. So what's missing?........
One Nation under God
Indivisible ........
Perhaps!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Football Feels Good!
Round trip ticket to #2 son's college game $200.00
Rental car 29.00
Gas for rental car 5.00
Dinner with Son after game 30.00
Being there when my Son signs his first autograph to the swarm of kids after his great performance.................PRICELESS!!!
5AM phone call from Afghanistan:... Worry-some
Watching #1 Son and his unit on Fox NFL Pregame Show broadcast from Afghanistan:........................PRICELESS!!!!
It's a great football weekend!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Rental car 29.00
Gas for rental car 5.00
Dinner with Son after game 30.00
Being there when my Son signs his first autograph to the swarm of kids after his great performance.................PRICELESS!!!
5AM phone call from Afghanistan:... Worry-some
Watching #1 Son and his unit on Fox NFL Pregame Show broadcast from Afghanistan:........................PRICELESS!!!!
It's a great football weekend!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Friday, November 6, 2009
Words of the Day!
These five sentences were forwarded me to my friend Mark. I find them invaluable whenever I'm discussing our current state of affairs.
"You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity."
"What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving."
"The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else."
"When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.""
"You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
These words reflect opinions of people who begin with the end in mind. The opposing view seeks short term gratification and ignores the long term effect. My favorite quote goes like this.....
"Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up"
God Bless
Capt. Bill
"You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity."
"What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving."
"The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else."
"When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.""
"You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
These words reflect opinions of people who begin with the end in mind. The opposing view seeks short term gratification and ignores the long term effect. My favorite quote goes like this.....
"Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up"
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Leading by Reading!
Everyone is called to leadership at some point in their lives. Sometimes it's as big as leading a nation or as small as directing a loved one down the right path. It's a huge responsibility in either extreme. Leadership is defined as influence, hopefully good influence. Many times our actions unknowingly influence others, it's called leading by example! When others come to you in times of need or indecision, it's a great sign your actions have impacted their lives in a good way. You've been out in front leading without knowing it! When people ask your opinion I find it to be the highest of compliments. They value and respect your input!
I've found it mandatory in order to live up to that level of responsibility it's key to improve my knowledge. Reading is a fundamental tool for leaders. You have to have something to offer. Classic education demanded you read, it required you to think. A mind expanded by reading cannot return to it's original way of thinking! Many have decided their education ended when they left school, I found it was just beginning. Formal schooling gave you the tools you needed to continue your learning as you faced the experiences of life.
With that in mind drink deeply from the knowledge pool. I've been told if your not learning your going backwards, not unlike rowing uphill. A great place to start is to study people and relationships. Unless you live in a cave you have to deal with people. Why not try to understand he subject? Mastering relationships is one of the major keys to success! Learn the laws of attraction, life becomes easier when people agree with you!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
I've found it mandatory in order to live up to that level of responsibility it's key to improve my knowledge. Reading is a fundamental tool for leaders. You have to have something to offer. Classic education demanded you read, it required you to think. A mind expanded by reading cannot return to it's original way of thinking! Many have decided their education ended when they left school, I found it was just beginning. Formal schooling gave you the tools you needed to continue your learning as you faced the experiences of life.
With that in mind drink deeply from the knowledge pool. I've been told if your not learning your going backwards, not unlike rowing uphill. A great place to start is to study people and relationships. Unless you live in a cave you have to deal with people. Why not try to understand he subject? Mastering relationships is one of the major keys to success! Learn the laws of attraction, life becomes easier when people agree with you!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Shame on You!
Following this piece is an example of journalism that flat ticks me off. This writer chose to take a news story that may actually have teeth and value then twist it to reflect her bias. It's a common practice as most of the media follows a liberal path. The author of this article took a possible valid news story and attempted to spin it into a political attack. There will be no Pulitzer prize issued here.
From day one journalists are taught to ask the five questions when writing a story. Who, what, when, where, and why. Let me guide you on how this story should have been written and then when you read it the difference will be apparent.
The story is about how a republican politician had a confrontation with an alleged rape victim at a town hall. The first clue to the writer's bias comes in her account of the meeting. She decides to label this a heated exchange between the two, where the video clearly show the politician calmly tries to present his point until the woman loses her emotional maturity, then he walks away.
Now as a competent journalist the first question you try to answer is who. Who is this woman? In this piece she is an unidentified rape victim. So we move to the why question. Why is she unidentified? Why is there a camera right over her shoulder? Is she hiding something? Is she truly a rape victim, or a plant? This speaks to credibility. The where question pops up now. Where was the rape? Was the rapist caught? When was the rape? Was it recent? Could this be the cause of her passion? What inspired her to attend the town hall and speak directly to the politician? These are the five questions competent journalists ask and answer to give their story credibility.Without them this looks like a bias smear.
Now I'm going to ask my five questions of the journalist. Where was your interview of the politician? Why didn't you follow up on this?Why did you voice the speculation of a democratic spokes person? What was the reason he voted down the bill and it's amendments? Does Vitter plan on introducing legislation to address this issue? When will that bill come to the floor? Who sent you this you tube clip to inspire this article? Those are the questions the responsible reporters would want answered.
The story might have merit, but not in it's present form. Don't spoon feed your bias to the public. Do your job and report.Here is the article and you tube video as reported by AOL for you to form your own opinion.......
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) had a heated exchange with a constituent over the weekend when she asked him why he opposed a bill that will protect the rights of some rape victims to take their attackers to court.
The bill stems from a 2007 case in which a Halliburton employee accused several co-workers of raping her when she was working for the company in Iraq. Her employment contract specifically required her to settle her complaint in arbitration rather than in criminal court. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) sponsored an amendment to the defense spending bill to block federal funding from government contractors with similar employment contracts. Vitter joined 29 Republicans in opposing the measure, which passed the Senate 68 to 30 in October. Republicans at the time said it would give Congress too much influence over Pentagon contracts.
At the weekend event, a woman, who has not been named in the media, approached Vitter after a health care town hall event that the senator sponsored in Baton Rouge. A video of the encounter shows her speaking to the senator as he is leaving, saying, "Senator, I am a rape victim."
Vitter stops briefly to speak with her, but the two begin to speak over each other once the discussion turns to the Franken amendment.
Eventually Vitter says, "You realize President Obama was against that amendment and his administration was against that amendment?"
She responds, "But I'm not asking Obama. I'm asking you."
"Do you think he's in favor in rape?" Vitter asks rhetorically. "No." He then walks away and leaves the building.
As he walks away, the woman calls out, "What if it was your daughter?"
A staffer from the Louisiana Democratic Party taped the exchange and posted on the party's YouTube channel. Kevin Francks, a spokesman for the Party said the woman is a New Orleans native who went to the event to protest Sen. Vitter's position on the Franken bill, but that the Democratic party did not coordinate her comments to the senator or know of her prior to this weekend's interaction. Vitter is up for reelection in 2010.
"I think it was disconcerting that Sen. Vitter did not appear to give this rape survivor the time of day," Francks said. "I doubt he would have turned his back if she had been a representative of Halliburton."
Sen. Vitter's office did not respond to requests for comment on the event, but the senator did speak with a local television station at the town hall, which he said was organized so that he could hear from his constituents about their concerns. "I think people's biggest frustration is that they think they're being shut out of the debate and they just aren't heard in Washington," Vitter told WBRZ-TV.
Video of Vitter's confrontation with the woman is below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6YZ1wP1978
God Bless
Capt. Bill
From day one journalists are taught to ask the five questions when writing a story. Who, what, when, where, and why. Let me guide you on how this story should have been written and then when you read it the difference will be apparent.
The story is about how a republican politician had a confrontation with an alleged rape victim at a town hall. The first clue to the writer's bias comes in her account of the meeting. She decides to label this a heated exchange between the two, where the video clearly show the politician calmly tries to present his point until the woman loses her emotional maturity, then he walks away.
Now as a competent journalist the first question you try to answer is who. Who is this woman? In this piece she is an unidentified rape victim. So we move to the why question. Why is she unidentified? Why is there a camera right over her shoulder? Is she hiding something? Is she truly a rape victim, or a plant? This speaks to credibility. The where question pops up now. Where was the rape? Was the rapist caught? When was the rape? Was it recent? Could this be the cause of her passion? What inspired her to attend the town hall and speak directly to the politician? These are the five questions competent journalists ask and answer to give their story credibility.Without them this looks like a bias smear.
Now I'm going to ask my five questions of the journalist. Where was your interview of the politician? Why didn't you follow up on this?Why did you voice the speculation of a democratic spokes person? What was the reason he voted down the bill and it's amendments? Does Vitter plan on introducing legislation to address this issue? When will that bill come to the floor? Who sent you this you tube clip to inspire this article? Those are the questions the responsible reporters would want answered.
The story might have merit, but not in it's present form. Don't spoon feed your bias to the public. Do your job and report.Here is the article and you tube video as reported by AOL for you to form your own opinion.......
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) had a heated exchange with a constituent over the weekend when she asked him why he opposed a bill that will protect the rights of some rape victims to take their attackers to court.
The bill stems from a 2007 case in which a Halliburton employee accused several co-workers of raping her when she was working for the company in Iraq. Her employment contract specifically required her to settle her complaint in arbitration rather than in criminal court. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) sponsored an amendment to the defense spending bill to block federal funding from government contractors with similar employment contracts. Vitter joined 29 Republicans in opposing the measure, which passed the Senate 68 to 30 in October. Republicans at the time said it would give Congress too much influence over Pentagon contracts.
At the weekend event, a woman, who has not been named in the media, approached Vitter after a health care town hall event that the senator sponsored in Baton Rouge. A video of the encounter shows her speaking to the senator as he is leaving, saying, "Senator, I am a rape victim."
Vitter stops briefly to speak with her, but the two begin to speak over each other once the discussion turns to the Franken amendment.
Eventually Vitter says, "You realize President Obama was against that amendment and his administration was against that amendment?"
She responds, "But I'm not asking Obama. I'm asking you."
"Do you think he's in favor in rape?" Vitter asks rhetorically. "No." He then walks away and leaves the building.
As he walks away, the woman calls out, "What if it was your daughter?"
A staffer from the Louisiana Democratic Party taped the exchange and posted on the party's YouTube channel. Kevin Francks, a spokesman for the Party said the woman is a New Orleans native who went to the event to protest Sen. Vitter's position on the Franken bill, but that the Democratic party did not coordinate her comments to the senator or know of her prior to this weekend's interaction. Vitter is up for reelection in 2010.
"I think it was disconcerting that Sen. Vitter did not appear to give this rape survivor the time of day," Francks said. "I doubt he would have turned his back if she had been a representative of Halliburton."
Sen. Vitter's office did not respond to requests for comment on the event, but the senator did speak with a local television station at the town hall, which he said was organized so that he could hear from his constituents about their concerns. "I think people's biggest frustration is that they think they're being shut out of the debate and they just aren't heard in Washington," Vitter told WBRZ-TV.
Video of Vitter's confrontation with the woman is below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6YZ1wP1978
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Anniversary of Change
Well today marks the anniversary of the biggest assault on American freedom and Democracy our country has ever faced. It was twelve short months ago American got sold change, and voted into a majority a progressive agenda. I find it ironic the worst threat to our freedom was a self inflicted wound. No nation has ever mounted an attack comparable to what we've done to ourselves. Ignorance and apathy are incredible weapons, more powerful than any army, navy, or nuclear threat.
On this day we have the opportunity to defend ourselves from this menace. We get to cast an informed ballot, and change the change. Americans have a chance to vote for freedom and put ignorance and apathy in it's place before it's too late! A conservative vote in the three major elections will hopefully send the message to Washington. We are not on board with this change, and if it continues we will make changes of our own, changes in personnel.
I'll encourage you to cast an informed vote today if you have an election to participate in. It's not so important you agree with anything I say as it is you do the research and vote responsibly reflecting your own personal beliefs. A great friend reminded me of something my Dad was fond of saying, it holds so true. "If you don't vote you've forfeited your right to complain."
A politician's job is defined as service to the people they represent, and to protect the constitution. Do you feel you're being served in Washington?
God Bless
Capt. Bill
On this day we have the opportunity to defend ourselves from this menace. We get to cast an informed ballot, and change the change. Americans have a chance to vote for freedom and put ignorance and apathy in it's place before it's too late! A conservative vote in the three major elections will hopefully send the message to Washington. We are not on board with this change, and if it continues we will make changes of our own, changes in personnel.
I'll encourage you to cast an informed vote today if you have an election to participate in. It's not so important you agree with anything I say as it is you do the research and vote responsibly reflecting your own personal beliefs. A great friend reminded me of something my Dad was fond of saying, it holds so true. "If you don't vote you've forfeited your right to complain."
A politician's job is defined as service to the people they represent, and to protect the constitution. Do you feel you're being served in Washington?
God Bless
Capt. Bill
Monday, November 2, 2009
Use What You Have!
I had an interesting discussion the other day with a technology savvy fellow. Maybe you've noticed also that states are trying to ban texting or cell phone use while driving. This peaked my curiosity as I always thought we have laws on the books to deal with this problem. Isn't that described in the offense, careless driving? Even when taken to the extreme where accidents are caused by cell phone use, reckless driving. So with that in mind, why are we legislating it? I asked the fellow would the laws look silly after we've move on to the next phase of technology? You know similar to the silly, out of date, laws on the books today. He replied that texting is here to stay and we'll never outgrow it.
The funniest thing happened the next day! I'm watching a Ford commercial and they announce voice activated options in their latest vehicles where,(if I understand it correctly) emails and text messages can be read by the auto and voiced to you while driving. This technology also allows the driver to send voice generated typed replies, like a stenographer.
So wouldn't proper enforcement of laws already on the books apply here? Instead of generating defined legislation that could be outdated in the future by social or technological advancements. The originators where kind of intelligent gents, they made laws vague but applicable to every situation. Here's another that sticks in my craw.....
Hate crime legislation! Follow me here, from the Declaration of Independence......
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
The first sentence says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident," In my mind that says, anybody should understand the following words. It's followed by:"that all men are created equal," Now that says to me, no one is any better or worse than another. It goes on to say; "that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights", So I'm thinking in God's eyes we all have an equal shot. SO..............
Explain hate crimes! If we are all in fact equal, doesn't the law apply the same to each of us? If a crime against someone is more heinous simply punish more severely under the same law's guidelines. Don't make special laws for special groups of people. Is a rape, murder, assault, or any other charge more distressing to it's victim because of race, gender,handicap, or age? Don't take existing laws that cover the offense and create specifics, it opens loopholes. Take that law on the books and beef up the penalties for the more socially offensive crimes. That's equal justice under the law! Never legislate for special groups, we are all equal in the eyes of our Creator and the law. Psssst, it's self evident, see above!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Check out Chris Brady's blog today!>>> Great stuff!
The funniest thing happened the next day! I'm watching a Ford commercial and they announce voice activated options in their latest vehicles where,(if I understand it correctly) emails and text messages can be read by the auto and voiced to you while driving. This technology also allows the driver to send voice generated typed replies, like a stenographer.
So wouldn't proper enforcement of laws already on the books apply here? Instead of generating defined legislation that could be outdated in the future by social or technological advancements. The originators where kind of intelligent gents, they made laws vague but applicable to every situation. Here's another that sticks in my craw.....
Hate crime legislation! Follow me here, from the Declaration of Independence......
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
The first sentence says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident," In my mind that says, anybody should understand the following words. It's followed by:"that all men are created equal," Now that says to me, no one is any better or worse than another. It goes on to say; "that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights", So I'm thinking in God's eyes we all have an equal shot. SO..............
Explain hate crimes! If we are all in fact equal, doesn't the law apply the same to each of us? If a crime against someone is more heinous simply punish more severely under the same law's guidelines. Don't make special laws for special groups of people. Is a rape, murder, assault, or any other charge more distressing to it's victim because of race, gender,handicap, or age? Don't take existing laws that cover the offense and create specifics, it opens loopholes. Take that law on the books and beef up the penalties for the more socially offensive crimes. That's equal justice under the law! Never legislate for special groups, we are all equal in the eyes of our Creator and the law. Psssst, it's self evident, see above!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Check out Chris Brady's blog today!>>> Great stuff!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Media Exposed!
This is what happens when the main stream media does it's job. Please take the 6 min. and 43 seconds it takes to watch this rebroadcast of a John Stossel report on healthcare played on ABC. It's important to note John was fired shortly after this aired and now works for the only news station that reports all of the news and gives both sides, FOX.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9GMKK_fWKg
It's also critical to note this Tuesday is a very important election day. There are three critical races happening, New York congressional seat, New Jersey governor, and Virginia governor. A independent or republican win for all three of these races will inform our misguided politicians in Washington that we are not on board with this type of change. That should convince them that a vote for this healthcare abomination will risk their reelection. If you live in one of these states I urge you to exercise your right to have a say and vote. Influence everyone you know to participate, how they feel about this is important!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9GMKK_fWKg
It's also critical to note this Tuesday is a very important election day. There are three critical races happening, New York congressional seat, New Jersey governor, and Virginia governor. A independent or republican win for all three of these races will inform our misguided politicians in Washington that we are not on board with this type of change. That should convince them that a vote for this healthcare abomination will risk their reelection. If you live in one of these states I urge you to exercise your right to have a say and vote. Influence everyone you know to participate, how they feel about this is important!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
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