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They call us 'extremists', and in carefully measured tones, they assail our motives when we dispute their royalist agenda. We are said to be 'bigots', and 'small minded'. Our gatherings in protest go unmentioned or discounted in the national media. Dripping condescension, the political class, the royalty, chants it's liturgy of lies about the economy, health care, and global warming but make no mistake, fewer and fewer Americans are listening.
Across this great country, Americans are waking up to the realization that evil exists in this world, and has taken up residence in Washington. Congress has reached a new low. It has given to the President billions of dollars of 'TARP' and 'Stimulus' money that is now being used by the President to 'buy' their votes for bills which strip us of our freedoms one by one . Every member of the Congress has the blood of our founders on their hands. Shame on every last one of them.
We are not buying the lies about health care that the President is peddling. It's not budget neutral. It won't cover everyone. It won't drive costs down, and they are going to pull the plug on Granny. Do you realize that in this Health Care Bill, the wages, bonuses, and profitability of the Insurance companies are going to be regulated? Since when does the government have any role in deciding how a private company is run and what a private company pays it's employees? Where in our constitution does it say that the government can limit profits of a private concern? When President Obama says this is not in the bill, he's not mis-stating things, he's lying.
We are not buying the lies about Global Warming that the President is peddling. The reason America consumes 60% of the worlds energy is that America produces 60% of the worlds goods and services. Cap and Trade is just a way to take money from Americans who have earned it and give it to corrupt politicians in 3rd world countries. That's all it is,. It's a massive transfer of wealth from those who produce it to dictators and tyrants and when the President says other wise, he's not mis-stating things, he's lying.
What do you call someone who claims you're a bigot because you don't think the government should own car companies, banks, mortgage and insurance companies? What do you call someone who claims you are a dangerous extremist because you don't believe Terrorists have constitutional rights and question the validity of mans impact on Global Warming? What do you call someone who tells you that you don't need to know what's in a bill before you vote on it?
Right now, we call him Mr. President, but in three years, we'll call him history.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
A Far Away War
To be fair, Afghanistan is a tough problem. The Taliban is in the hills and is still a functioning force. Al Qaeda is hiding and festering in Pakistan. It's legend and message, it's decentralized cell structure and the internet make it yet a potent threat to the safety of westerners around the world. In this, the worlds first global guerrilla war, this combination of asymmetrical threats may well be our introduction to a new and deadly manner of conflict.
In the rugged hills of Afghanistan, theory is for corpses, and practical men triumph in the night. In this battle, symbolic victories are at once everything, and nothing. The perception of victory will foretell victory, and the perception of defeat will outweigh body counts. In many ways, your manner of fighting will determine how you are perceived, and that will determine your enemy's strength for the next battle. So, how do we look?
We are trying the 9/11 Terrorists as common criminals. Think of the trial as a 2 year recruitment infomercial for Al Queda.
Speaking only of an 'Exit Strategy' and without saying anything about victory, we have told Al Queda and the Taliban that we are leaving Afghanistan, and that they only have a year and a half to shoot more our soldiers. If I am Al Queda and the Taliban, I ramp up IED and ambushes to run up the US body count as much as I can because victory is only 18 months away.
In the mean time, we are sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, and we are begging Europe for 5ooo more. From the Al Queda/Taliban perspective, since the new troops are not there to 'win' the war, they are simply more targets. Their mission isn't to win the war. It is to protect President Obama from criticism for not pursuing victory in the war on terror. When you think about it you realize that we are asking young men to die so people don't say bad things about the president.
If we are not there to defeat Al Queda and the Taliban, we ought to leave tomorrow. If we are not there to achieve victory over forces who threaten us, then this far away war is not worth one more American life.
Not to worry, it's not really a 'far away war'. It's a global guerrilla war. It's coming to a shopping center near you! If we don't have the guts to win there, will we have to guts to win when it shows up here?
In the rugged hills of Afghanistan, theory is for corpses, and practical men triumph in the night. In this battle, symbolic victories are at once everything, and nothing. The perception of victory will foretell victory, and the perception of defeat will outweigh body counts. In many ways, your manner of fighting will determine how you are perceived, and that will determine your enemy's strength for the next battle. So, how do we look?
We are trying the 9/11 Terrorists as common criminals. Think of the trial as a 2 year recruitment infomercial for Al Queda.
Speaking only of an 'Exit Strategy' and without saying anything about victory, we have told Al Queda and the Taliban that we are leaving Afghanistan, and that they only have a year and a half to shoot more our soldiers. If I am Al Queda and the Taliban, I ramp up IED and ambushes to run up the US body count as much as I can because victory is only 18 months away.
In the mean time, we are sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, and we are begging Europe for 5ooo more. From the Al Queda/Taliban perspective, since the new troops are not there to 'win' the war, they are simply more targets. Their mission isn't to win the war. It is to protect President Obama from criticism for not pursuing victory in the war on terror. When you think about it you realize that we are asking young men to die so people don't say bad things about the president.
If we are not there to defeat Al Queda and the Taliban, we ought to leave tomorrow. If we are not there to achieve victory over forces who threaten us, then this far away war is not worth one more American life.
Not to worry, it's not really a 'far away war'. It's a global guerrilla war. It's coming to a shopping center near you! If we don't have the guts to win there, will we have to guts to win when it shows up here?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A New Strategy in Afganistan
On a small ridge above the intersection of two trails, two men lie motionless in the cold mountain air. Dawn is near when they hear the sounds of men coming down one of the trails. In the early morning light, two men carrying automatic weapons come carefully down the trail. They pause at the intersecton, then move on. A second group of armed men appear on the trail. One man is obviously being protected.
A single shot rings out, and the man who was being protected falls. A second shot sound, and another drops. A third shot echos across the barren land, and a third falls. The rest of the men dive behind rocks, and boulders and fire in all directions. In the brighening day, they dash one by one, back down the trail leaving thier dead lying on the frosty ground.
Two hours later, the post action team is on the ground at the intersection of the trails. The Marine sniper team is being debriefed, and has described the engagement. The dead are photographed and searched.
The comander of the post action team approaches the sniper team. The men stand to meet him.
"Did you shoot these men?", the post action commander asks.
"Yes, we did.", the sniper replies, and he describes the engagement.
"Did you command these men to stop, and drop their weapons?"
"No"
"Did you identify yourself as United States Soldiers?"
"No"
"Did you give them any opportunity to surrender?"
"No"
"Well, this is pretty clear cut.", the commander said. "Arrest them, charge them with murder."
What? Who are you guys?
NCIS: Kabul
Thia is the president's new strategy in Afganistan, and he is determined to bring the killers to justice.
A single shot rings out, and the man who was being protected falls. A second shot sound, and another drops. A third shot echos across the barren land, and a third falls. The rest of the men dive behind rocks, and boulders and fire in all directions. In the brighening day, they dash one by one, back down the trail leaving thier dead lying on the frosty ground.
Two hours later, the post action team is on the ground at the intersection of the trails. The Marine sniper team is being debriefed, and has described the engagement. The dead are photographed and searched.
The comander of the post action team approaches the sniper team. The men stand to meet him.
"Did you shoot these men?", the post action commander asks.
"Yes, we did.", the sniper replies, and he describes the engagement.
"Did you command these men to stop, and drop their weapons?"
"No"
"Did you identify yourself as United States Soldiers?"
"No"
"Did you give them any opportunity to surrender?"
"No"
"Well, this is pretty clear cut.", the commander said. "Arrest them, charge them with murder."
What? Who are you guys?
NCIS: Kabul
Thia is the president's new strategy in Afganistan, and he is determined to bring the killers to justice.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wrong People and the Bill of Rights
When the founding fathers laid down the foundation of our systems of government, they began with the phrase 'We, the People..'. For the first time in all of mankind's history, a nation was being defined by the people. State sovereignty came not to some man claiming 'Devine Right', but from the people. We, a free people, were chartering a government and defining for it certain tasks, and reserving for the people, all those rights not given over to the government.. In the first ten amendments to that document, the founding fathers specified a number of protections from the government that the people would enjoy. For two hundred years, these protections have served us well. Until now.
The United States Attorney General, in conjunction with the President of the United States, has decided that those who commit acts of war against American Civilians are entitled to civil trials.
Consider the problems this precipitates. If by virtue of the United States Constitution, a combatant has the right to remain silent, how does the military interrogate him? At trial, a defendant has the right to all the evidence that is arrayed against him. In order to get a 'conviction', must we now expose to the world our intelligence gathering methods? Considering all the legal technicalities that can be exploited by skilled attorneys, what is the probability that some cases will get thrown out? What do you do with a bomber you can no longer incarcerate?
The irony is that the founding fathers put together the Bill of Rights to protect us from the government. It has worked well for over 200 years. Too bad they didn't figure out a way to protect us from morons.
The United States Attorney General, in conjunction with the President of the United States, has decided that those who commit acts of war against American Civilians are entitled to civil trials.
Consider the problems this precipitates. If by virtue of the United States Constitution, a combatant has the right to remain silent, how does the military interrogate him? At trial, a defendant has the right to all the evidence that is arrayed against him. In order to get a 'conviction', must we now expose to the world our intelligence gathering methods? Considering all the legal technicalities that can be exploited by skilled attorneys, what is the probability that some cases will get thrown out? What do you do with a bomber you can no longer incarcerate?
The irony is that the founding fathers put together the Bill of Rights to protect us from the government. It has worked well for over 200 years. Too bad they didn't figure out a way to protect us from morons.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Something more important than Freedom
A year after selecting the most ill prepared man in history to sit in the Oval Office, America is sometimes still in awe of it's president, and often amazed by his decisions and actions.
This week, most of us will celebrate, or recognize in some way, the fall of the Berlin Wall. At the height of the Cold War, when the wall was new, John Kennedy went to Berlin. John F. Kennedy stood before that wall and proclaimed to the Soviets and to the world that he too, was a Berliner, that all free men were Berliners. America would stand by and in the hostage city because the only think keeping Soviet Tanks out of West Berlin was an American promise.
Ronald Reagan went to the wall and spoke. He said 'Mr. Gorbechove, Tear down this wall..and two years later, it fell. It fell as the Soviet Union began it's death spiral. The enslaved people of Eastern Europe began to shake of the shackels of Soviet domination and communism. Country after country kicked out it's Soviet masters. Soon, the Soviet Union itself splintered as it's conquered republics secceeded and chose independance over mother Russia.
This week, Germany remembers. Russia remembers. The world remembers. Everyone remembers, except one.
In Washington, a confused and overwhelmed man ponders his many problems and issues. Without the basis to understand the importance of this anniversary, he fails to recognize the it. He was busy. He was working on something more important. For the first time in history, an American President found something more important than freedom.
He was working on health care reform.
Welcome to the new America.
This week, most of us will celebrate, or recognize in some way, the fall of the Berlin Wall. At the height of the Cold War, when the wall was new, John Kennedy went to Berlin. John F. Kennedy stood before that wall and proclaimed to the Soviets and to the world that he too, was a Berliner, that all free men were Berliners. America would stand by and in the hostage city because the only think keeping Soviet Tanks out of West Berlin was an American promise.
Ronald Reagan went to the wall and spoke. He said 'Mr. Gorbechove, Tear down this wall..and two years later, it fell. It fell as the Soviet Union began it's death spiral. The enslaved people of Eastern Europe began to shake of the shackels of Soviet domination and communism. Country after country kicked out it's Soviet masters. Soon, the Soviet Union itself splintered as it's conquered republics secceeded and chose independance over mother Russia.
This week, Germany remembers. Russia remembers. The world remembers. Everyone remembers, except one.
In Washington, a confused and overwhelmed man ponders his many problems and issues. Without the basis to understand the importance of this anniversary, he fails to recognize the it. He was busy. He was working on something more important. For the first time in history, an American President found something more important than freedom.
He was working on health care reform.
Welcome to the new America.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This
As Congress struggles with Health Care Reform, no one yet knows much about what it's final form will be, but we do know the promises that the President and Congressional leaders are making. They say they are going to lower the cost of health care, but raise the standard of care. They say they are going to expand health care coverage without creating shortages, but they don't say anything about where the new doctors and nurses will come from.
In trying to lower health care costs, clearly not much can be done to lower the cost of treating a cold. Take two asprine, take fluids, and get plenty of rest. Not much fat in there.
No, the cost savings will come from denying expensive treatments to people. No matter how that decison is made, that is where the dollar savings will come from. The argument that the insurance companies exersize that power now is riddiculious because were that the case, this argument would be moot. Clearly the insurance companies are paying for a lot of expensive treatment that is saving and improving a lot of people's lives. This is the only place significant costs savings will come from because this is where the big money is.
If it is true that the health plan will introduce 45 million new people into the 'system', then even a moron can see that we will need to add health care providers or we will have shortages. Who will the new 'providers' be? Well, it's damn sure most won't be doctors, and many won't even be speak good English. And, if you think you spend a lot of time in the waiting room now, get ready. You haven't seen anything yet.
Consider the implications of this. Because you'll be treated more often by 'para' professionals, we will see a lot more botched diagnoses. A good diagnostician is produced by years of study, and years of experience. The coming wave of 'para' professional has yet to finish High School. "Last week, I couldn't spell 'diagnostician' and this week I are one."
Finally, because the incentive is being taken out of medicine, the treatments we now have will be as good as it gets. Well, that's not entirely true. Research into favoured diseases will continue with federal money. AIDS research will continue, but work on ALS may wellgrind to a halt. Work on acnea treatments will continue, but work on new Altzhimers will likely be greatly diminished.
Sadly, for all the promises from all the politicians, the reality is that even with all our present health care problems, it just doesn't get any better than this. When they tell you otherwise, they are lying.
In trying to lower health care costs, clearly not much can be done to lower the cost of treating a cold. Take two asprine, take fluids, and get plenty of rest. Not much fat in there.
No, the cost savings will come from denying expensive treatments to people. No matter how that decison is made, that is where the dollar savings will come from. The argument that the insurance companies exersize that power now is riddiculious because were that the case, this argument would be moot. Clearly the insurance companies are paying for a lot of expensive treatment that is saving and improving a lot of people's lives. This is the only place significant costs savings will come from because this is where the big money is.
If it is true that the health plan will introduce 45 million new people into the 'system', then even a moron can see that we will need to add health care providers or we will have shortages. Who will the new 'providers' be? Well, it's damn sure most won't be doctors, and many won't even be speak good English. And, if you think you spend a lot of time in the waiting room now, get ready. You haven't seen anything yet.
Consider the implications of this. Because you'll be treated more often by 'para' professionals, we will see a lot more botched diagnoses. A good diagnostician is produced by years of study, and years of experience. The coming wave of 'para' professional has yet to finish High School. "Last week, I couldn't spell 'diagnostician' and this week I are one."
Finally, because the incentive is being taken out of medicine, the treatments we now have will be as good as it gets. Well, that's not entirely true. Research into favoured diseases will continue with federal money. AIDS research will continue, but work on ALS may wellgrind to a halt. Work on acnea treatments will continue, but work on new Altzhimers will likely be greatly diminished.
Sadly, for all the promises from all the politicians, the reality is that even with all our present health care problems, it just doesn't get any better than this. When they tell you otherwise, they are lying.
Friday, October 16, 2009
When in the course of human events....
Is it just me, or is anyone else concerned about the increasingly domineering role that government plays in our lives?
In just the last week, a 6 year old cub scout was suspended from school for bringing an eating utensil to school, and an Eagle Scout with aspirations of attending West Point was suspended for 20 days because the survival pack he kept locked in his car contained a pocket knife with a two inch blade. Mindless but enpowered bureaucrats blindly enforcing draconian regulations designed to keep our kids safe. Who protects our kids from the bureaucrats?
Last year, a kid we know pants another kid at school. To most, a school yard prank that deserved at least detention, and at most suspension. The Vice-Principal handling the matter was required by ' school board policy' to contact the school's Police Liason officer because the act constituted an 'assault' and resulted in 'indecent exposure'. Both the kids involved were 12 years old. The vice principal was following a regulation that could have resulted in a 12 year old boy being branded for life as a 'sex offender' because he pants another kid at school. Under that criteria, most of my friends from Jr.High were chronic sex offenders. Who protects our kids from the School Board?
Following nearly every incident involving a gun that makes the news, the immedate reaction among legislators (federal, state and local) is to loudly demand stricter gun control laws. Are these people oblivious to the fact that the criminals are already ignoring the umpteen zillion gun control laws that already exist? Do these morons think that the thugs will read the new law, and suddenly decide that this one new law is the straw that broke the camels back, and that they will now abandon their criminal ways? Nope. You and I will be the ones who obay the law, whose effect is to disarm those who would be victims. The irony is that the thugs, when caught, often get leniency due to a life of deprivation and hardship, and having grown up in a bad neighborhood. Watch what happens when you or I, people who have jobs, pay taxes and participate in the community, violate a gun law that we didn't even know existed. Who protects us from our government?
When in the course of human events.....
In just the last week, a 6 year old cub scout was suspended from school for bringing an eating utensil to school, and an Eagle Scout with aspirations of attending West Point was suspended for 20 days because the survival pack he kept locked in his car contained a pocket knife with a two inch blade. Mindless but enpowered bureaucrats blindly enforcing draconian regulations designed to keep our kids safe. Who protects our kids from the bureaucrats?
Last year, a kid we know pants another kid at school. To most, a school yard prank that deserved at least detention, and at most suspension. The Vice-Principal handling the matter was required by ' school board policy' to contact the school's Police Liason officer because the act constituted an 'assault' and resulted in 'indecent exposure'. Both the kids involved were 12 years old. The vice principal was following a regulation that could have resulted in a 12 year old boy being branded for life as a 'sex offender' because he pants another kid at school. Under that criteria, most of my friends from Jr.High were chronic sex offenders. Who protects our kids from the School Board?
Following nearly every incident involving a gun that makes the news, the immedate reaction among legislators (federal, state and local) is to loudly demand stricter gun control laws. Are these people oblivious to the fact that the criminals are already ignoring the umpteen zillion gun control laws that already exist? Do these morons think that the thugs will read the new law, and suddenly decide that this one new law is the straw that broke the camels back, and that they will now abandon their criminal ways? Nope. You and I will be the ones who obay the law, whose effect is to disarm those who would be victims. The irony is that the thugs, when caught, often get leniency due to a life of deprivation and hardship, and having grown up in a bad neighborhood. Watch what happens when you or I, people who have jobs, pay taxes and participate in the community, violate a gun law that we didn't even know existed. Who protects us from our government?
When in the course of human events.....
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