My Opinions on People

I've been thinking about a couple of different individuals recently, so I thought I'd share my thoughts about them with you.

First, Muhammad Ali. How is this man the greatest who ever lived? In my opinion, he doesn't even deserve to live in this country - enjoying the freedoms that he refused to fight for fifty years ago. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Ali was a draft-dodger during Vietnam. He said that he had no fight with the North Vietnamese...I don't get it - he was happy enough to fight anyone who dared challenge him in the ring, but when our country was in a fight and death became part of the equation, he wasn't so bold....Not only is he not the greatest who ever lived, but I'd go as far as to say that he's not even on the list. All able-bodied male citizens of this country are required, by law, to register for the draft when they turn 18. They all know what that entails, and I think that any person who decides that our freedoms are no longer worth defending when it comes time to answer the call don't deserve to live in this country. That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Next, Miss California - Carrie Prejean. I've seen a lot of hate-postings about Carrie since her statements regarding how she believes marriage should be defined. I'm sorry to say it, but this is becoming par for those loons on the left - attacking a person for their views, rather than engaging in an ideological or philosophical discussion over the issue. Last time I checked, every person is entitled to their own opinion regarding anything they want...and in fact, most Americans AGREE with Miss California - that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman. In fact, that was the opinion of the majority of people from her state - a little thing called Proposition 8 proved that, and no amount of personal attacks will change that fact. To all of those who disagree with her view - respectfully say so, and leave it at that. Even try to justify your view, if you believe you can, but personally attacking a woman who was simply stating her view makes you less of a person and hurts your cause far more than you think you're helping. I happen to disagree with many people on many different issues, but that doesn't mean I hate that individual - as many have stated of Miss California. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Third, Legal Mexican Immigrants. That's right, I said LEGAL immigrants. Of all Americans, you should be the angriest about illegals flooding into our country. They give you a bad name by taking advantage of a system of which they are not legally a part. There are now so many illegal immigrants in our country, that people automatically think you're an illegal, even if you're not. Start policing your own ranks - it'll make things better for all of us.

Fourth, Arlen Specter. Arlen recently left the Republican Party and joined the Democratic Party. He says that the Republican Party has gone too far to the right. Gasp! TOO conservative? Are you insane? The Republican Party as of late has been betraying their conservative roots, drifting toward the center during this last election in a futile attempt to gain the independent vote. That's not what people are looking for - there is a VAST population of conservatives in this country who want a party who will represent their conservative values - so if the Republican Party is drifting back to the right where they belong, good for them. The party is better without Specter, as he's one of the moderates who is diluting the party. His leaving the party doesn't represent the fact that the Republican Party is losing touch with the American People - but actually that they're moving back toward their base. The real reason he switched parties was that he figured out he wouldn't even be able to win the Republican primary come next year. I sure hope he loses in the general election. The last part that really bothers me about this is the fact that President Obama welcomed Specter by holding a press conference to say how proud the party is to have him and how he's going to campaign for Specter. Great way to show bipartisanship - by holding a press conference to showcase one of the most partisan events that has happened since taking office. Wonderful...

Fifth - Waterboarding. I know this isn't a person, but it's my blog so I can do whatever I want. Waterboarding IS NOT torture. Torture is inflicting physical harm on a person. Waterboarding inflicts ZERO physical harm, but instead uses the fear of drowning to encourage terrorists to respond to questions. Any person who says they're against this - let me pose a VERY simple question. If your son/daughter/husband/wife/loved one was abducted by two men, and one of the men was caught - while the other man was still holding your loved one, what would you be willing to do in order to get the man who was caught to tell you where your loved one was? If you say you wouldn't want that individual waterboarded if it even MIGHT lead to getting your loved one back, you're lying. Not only would I be willing to waterboard that individual, but probably much worse, and I think the same is true of most people.

Sixth - Nancy Pelosi. Every time you open your mouth, I want to plunge a sharp object into my eardrums. Just in the last couple of months, you've called illegal immigrants "patriotic," you've lied about your knowledge concerning interrogation techniques being used by the CIA, and been arrogant enough to call yourself a Christian while being staunchly pro-choice. The Bible is very clear about protecting the smallest amoung us - and science has proven that life begins at conception. There will not be a happier day of television viewing than the day I no longer have to hear your voice or see your face.

That's all for now. More to come later...

But...It's All Bush's Fault!!!

NY Times, September 30, 1999:

Fannie Mae Eases Credit to Aid Mortgage Lending

Pretty amazing stuff...I've heard enough people say that it's all Bush's fault. It's time to remember who really caused the current financial crisis.

The Universal Healthcare Myth

So we've been hearing on and off about President Obama's plan for universal healthcare. In fact, he included about a $700 billion so-called "down payment" for his healthcare plan in his record-breaking budget. I've thought quite a bit about this, and had numerous conversations with others on this topic. I believe the direction our country is headed in regards to this issue demonstrates exactly what is wrong with much of our society today, which is that people believe they are entitled to certain things. This overwhelming sense of entitlement has been created through our out-of-control entitlement spending as well as a general attitude of apathy. In fact, while I was doing my student teaching I asked my class of 10th grade economics students who believed that the government should provide healthcare for all citizens. Almost the entire class emphatically raised their hands. Now, some of this may be due to their youthful empathy and drive to change the world, because, as we all know, any person who isn't a communist at age 20 has no heart...while any person who isn't a conservative by age 30 has no brain. However, I believe much of this has to do with the general sense of entitlement that is present in much of our society. It used to be generally understood that in order to achieve most things in life, a person has to work hard and earn it...however, it's not like that anymore. Attitudes are shifting, and it's really beginning to scare me. We're drifting more and more toward a socialized way of life - the way of life that says if my neighbor has less than me, then shame on me. That's not what this country was founded on, and that's not what capitalism is all about. Capitalism says that you should work hard to get ahead, and that your hard work should be rewarded, not punished. The Obama administration says otherwise, however. A glass ceiling has been put on success. Obama says that if you are too successful, your productivity and success should be punishable through taxation. How is this encouraging the American Dream? It used to be that a person's motive to work simply had to be that he and his family would starve otherwise. That motivation isn't there, anymore...especially when Obama is trying to give tax refunds to the majority of Americans who don't pay taxes in the first place. Take from the rich and give to the poor...this has been tried, and it was called the Soviet Union. It'll be great...everyone will be equal, except that some will be more equal than others.

Anyway, back to my discussion of healthcare...I get distracted easily. Universal healthcare has been tried in multitudes of modernized countries...from our neighbors to the north to our allies in the United Kingdom, and you know what - it doesn't work. Universal healthcare sounds like it's all about compassion - taking care of people, and I wish it were, except that the facts show otherwise. It's simply another way in which a government can gain control over its population. Look at the British - their healthcare is sub-par, and the government is now deciding that people with certain conditions are not worth saving. You may have seen this in the news - many women with breast cancer are no longer being given the drugs they need because the government sees it as cost-ineffective. People are no longer people, but simply dollar signs. Sure, everyone has "healthcare," but there are less doctors because of less incentives and lower pay and the healthcare is barebones to say the least.

Imagine if the government were going to provide all citizens a car to drive...what quality do you think that car would be? The answer is sad, but the explanation is quite simple. Government contracts almost always go to the lowest bidder, which means that the government usually favors low cost over anything else. I see this day in and day out in the military...equipment that can obviously be made better or improved, but it won't be simply because it's being made for as cheap as possible as it is. Healthcare would be the same way...the government would go with a low common-denominator and call it good.

Then comes the question of what other rights the government would claim. If they're now responsible for our healthcare, why not regulate what we eat...how much we exercise...etc., etc. Would it be their right to do so if they're the ones paying the health bills? I certainly would want to protect my investment if I were the government...shut down all the McDonald's, and people are required to work out 3 times a week at a local gym in order to continue receiving healthcare. This stuff really gets me pissed off....Healthcare is a privilege, not a right, and I'm not going to apologize for thinking so.

Granholm an Economic Advisor? What a Joke...

What a joke this is.

I'm really trying hard not to judge Obama before seeing what he actually does. I obviously know that his record doesn't match his rhetoric, which doesn't lend itself to much optimism. However, I'm trying my best to refrain from attacking the man and his policies too much until he actually enacts them and they fail miserably. But here's what I'm having a problem with...Obama has appointed Jennifer Granholm to advise him on the economy as he transitions to the White House. I really shouldn't have to point out what is wrong with this picture...

Here's the other problem...

As I already said, I'm trying my best...but when Obama's first appointed individual is Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff, I can't help but picturing the long list of broken campaign promises that is about to come. Obama ran his campiagn on a promise of bipartisanship, and the first person he appoints is a notoriously partisan Congressman who has actually told Republicans to, "Go F*$@ themselves." Wow...

A comment...

My dad seemed a little irritated, to say the least, when I told him I wouldn't be voting for John McCain. I'm sorry, but I just simply won't vote for someone who sounds like they will continue growing government beyond its means. If I knew Michigan was going to come down between Obama and McCain, I would probably come through for McCain, giving in to the fact that a vote for McCain is a vote against Obama. Unfortunately, though, it won't be close in Michigan (thanks for nothing, Detroit). The only good that comes from the fact that Michigan is going to Obama is the fact that I can now vote my conscience rather than my common sense. It's too bad that conscience and common sense don't always align, isn't it?

My Vote

By this point, I'm sure you've all assumed that I'll be casting my vote for John McCain on November 4. I'm sorry to disappoint all of you who thought you had me figured out. I in fact will not be casting my vote for John McCain come November 4. It is true that for the past few months I have been planning on voting for McCain. However, over the past few weeks John has done just enough to make me second guess myself. Of course I will definitely not be voting for Barack Obama, either, as his socialist policies of income redistribution and universal health care, along with his weak stance on foreign policy and complete lack of experience in everything besides campaigning are pretty good reasons to withhold a vote. That being said, I've got some thinking to do over the next 11 days about who I will cast my vote for, whereas I do have my mind made up about the rest of the ballot.

One of the largest factors that drove me away from McCain was simply his negative campaigning. Running for President is like interviewing for the most important job in the world. The potential employer that you're interviewing with is the American people, as it is us who will decide who to employ as the next President of the United States. In any other job interview anywhere in the world, a person with the interview skills of John McCain (or Obama for that matter) would be laughed out of the office. Interviewing 101: When interviewing, you want to describe for your potential employer what benefits you can bring to the company and how you will make the company more successful, both financially and socially. You don't go in there, sit down in front of the desk, and try describing why the other individuals applying for the same job shouldn't be hired. You don't point out their deficiencies, and you certainly don't point out what you believe to be their weaknesses. You leave figuring that out to the employer. All you do is lay out the facts about yourself, answer any questions the employer has, and go on your way. In this case, the call-back is the election. The results of the election reveal who the American people have hired as the next President of the United States. We should hire someone for proving their worth, not for proving the lack of worth of their opponent. Both candidates are guilty of this throughout the election, which is one reason why I will vote for neither of them. When I run for public office someday, I hope someone digs this writing up and calls me out on it if I go back on my values and resort to mud-slinging. It's killing what very little dignity our political process has left, and it disgusts me.

Along with the above reason, McCain's support for the ridiculousness that is the progressive income tax, along with his proposal that the government buy up mortgages from anyone who is struggling to make payments, coupled with the fact that he voted in favor of basically nationalizing our country's banking industry has proven to me that John McCain is no conservative (nice run-on sentence, eh?). Anyway, it's not that I think John McCain would necessarily drive our country in the wrong direction, but I definitely don't think that he would do much to take it in the right direction either. It's basically the stance that Jennifer Granholm has taken over the last 6 years...the idea that if I don't do anything at all, I really can't do anything wrong.

As for why I'm not voting for Obama, it should be fairly obvious at this point. Anyone who can think for themselves and do some simple math will see that Obama's policies don't add up. He's waffled on gun rights, he supports infanticide, shows weakness in foreign policy, wants to increase taxes on small business, redistribute wealth, socialize health care, and the list goes on. Both candidates are completely ridiculous, and I refuse to vote for either of them. I need a shirt that has portraits of each, with the words "dumb and dumber" stamped across their foreheads. I'll leave it up to you to decide which individual deserves each of the two fore mentioned adjectives.

Nicely said...

This is one of the best summaries on the implications of this election that I've found thus far. It's very, very long. It's also very, very good. If you care at all about voting on issues and based on rationality and reason instead of glamour and rhetoric, take the time to read this piece:

To the Undecided Voter