SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ???

POLITICS.... Sometimes I wonder why I bother with it.

After spending many months supporting & endorsing NEWT GINGRICH for the GOP nomination;  thinking that he would be the person to fix the ailing system and be the one who would be able to resist the influences of the elite establishment and its biased media;  only to be suddenly, once again be dis-illusioned,  and disappointed in the public display of political corruption witnessed in this election cycle.
Having made many new facebook friends (as I'm sure many of us have)....some of which will certainly not agree with my views....I only say: "that's what our country is supposed to be about....freedom of expression, thoughts, ideas & opinions."  Those in disagreement are free to express theirs in their own way....so long as we don't infringe upon the rights of others to do the same.
I personally can not adopt a view of  "voting for the lesser of two evils" in comparing Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney.  I feel we must be able to resist being "force-fed" a philosophy that we disagree with.  Their ARE other choices!  WE MUST STOP THIS INSANITY !!

I honestly feel we have a long struggle ahead of us.
The two-party system is so powerful (money supported) and influential (media-driven)... that any progress toward fixing this will necessitate electoral reforms &; campaign finance reforms which will entail an uphill battle that must come...
but how and when???

I don't see either the RNC/DNC changing themselves and becoming "un-corrupt"; and for individuals at the ground level to work their way up...it is extremely unlikely with the "playing field" so "uneven" and dominated by BIG MONEY and the "good ole boy networks" that are in place.
 So, does it come through a 3rd Party??

The duopoly we now have has so embedded itself and thus dominated U.S. politics for quite some time now, that it, too is extremely difficult!!
The biggest hurdle is Ballot Access: National BALLOT ACCESS (http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/04/01/march-2012-ballot-access-news-print-edition/) for 3rd/independent parties in all states is the first step which can often take years.

THIS IS ONE REASON WHY I AM TRYING TO JUSTIFY A SERIOUS LOOK AT THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY. It has BALLOT ACCESS !!
They will, however, need to clarify some of their positions (policies/platform) if they truly expect to assimilate more of the INDEPENDENT VOTERS and CENTRIST-RIGHT MAJORITY in order to actually win elections on a national level.
For one, they DO A POOR JOB of expressing their "NEUTRALITY" on SOCIAL ISSUES !!! Often being labeled "pro-something, when they are NOT !!!
They DO A POOR JOB of expressing their actual views on National Defense & Foreign Policy !!! Often being labeled "isolationist" when they are really NOT !!!

I'm trying to weigh most of the admirable principles of the Libertarian Party against the risk of turning the nation into one of "Anarchy"...(where everyone just does as they please).
As an example...there is a fine line in being able to determine when one's choice of a "social liberty" infringes on, or does harm to another's choice.
Specifically, it becomes the inevitable problem of choosing...By who and when is such a determination of "harm" made? (by the Government...through a Law?????)
History has shown us that people can not rule themselves in a "civil society" without some kind of civil constraint.

The Libertarian Party does not seem to address this area very well. In order for their philosophy to work, people must be rational, and we're all too often not rational at all.
We need a system that will work for the good of the nation.....and my hopes that a "workable" methodology/system of allowing those liberties be adopted in the Libertarian platform.

Whether any "a party" includes or deals with SOCIAL ISSUES is always a critical problem (as it is often the major cause of disputes among the parties). Many parties choose to treat one or all social issues with a broad brush thus leading to internal bickering, while others become so restrictive that they exclude the overwhelming majority of those they wish to appeal to....look at the GOP for example !!
 Suffice it to say that trying to get "everyone" or, at least, a workable majority of constituents on the same page...on all or even most social issues; is a daunting if not impossible task.
It is the RESPONSIBILITY of the "individual, parent or family" to provide, develop and maintain a "moral compass". Why should it become the responsibility or job of your elected representative to provide, develop and maintain it??  If you don't like or agree with one's position on abortion...or gay marriage.....don't vote for that person!!   It's really that simple!
Again, it is when people are not "responsible"; or infringe upon the rights of others ...that it often FAILS. Therein lies the real issue!!!

NOW FOR VOTING......the REAL ISSUES:

Campaign Finance Reform:
Reduce or eliminate the influence of money and special interests groups in campaigns.
Establish public funding options for clean elections and shorten election cycles. Eliminate soft money from corporations, unions, and wealthy individuals. Prompt Internet disclosure of campaign contributions and voting records. Lobbyists provide information, not money.
Establish election spending caps on candidates in order to cover administrative/travel costs with annual adjustments tied to relevant national inflation/cost index.

Elections/Electoral Reforms:
Amend Constitution to provide Term Limits on Senate and Congress of no more than 2 consecutive terms in Senate and 6 consecutive terms in Congress. In doing so, term limits will minimize corruption, put and end to career power wheeling politicians, allow for quicker response to change in policy and direction of the country and reduce the possibility of a political class within the government.
All States must grant fair ballot access to qualified third party candidates and independents.
All TV, Radio or other media debates and forums must uniformly & impartially include ballot-qualified third-party and independent candidates. Publish uniform statewide voter guides in all national elections.
Eliminate "Gerrymandering" in the States or require courts, not State political parties, to construct equal legislative voting districts preventing the disenfranchisement of the voter
State primaries/caucuses/conventions for any & each party must be held on the same day with results not published until all states have closed respective polls.
Cumulative voting options, instant runoff.
NOTA (None of the Above) on the ballot line as a voter's choice.
Electorate Recall vote to remove legislators in their respective state.
Citizen initiative and referendum laws in all states.

For more info see: http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/sites/default/files/2010-pledge.pdf
http://www.publicampaign.org/

SO WHERE ARE WE NOW ???

If you are all extremely angry, and disappointed, not to say the least, FRUSTRATED with our government ....
WELL, the basic problem which I've stated many times before, REMAINS:
"No one in their right mind, or worth their salt wants to work in the corrupt cesspool of politics....even if they had tons of money; much less those that have to "prostitute" themselves for it!
So...sure....lets find a sharp person who has solid principles and is willing to face insane scrutiny of themselves and their family!"
Even if we could find one ...or even a few of them....WE NEED A MAJORITY TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED....and remove (bypass) the corrupt old style politicans that have plagued our broken system.

and THEN you have the problem of "EDUCATING THE IGNORANT MASSES WHO BASICALLY REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP !!!
Yeah, mostly those who are too busy with their personal lives; while 47% pay no income taxes and most enjoy relying on their handouts & entitlements. Just look, over 40~% still support Obama along with his mainstream media and most of the liberal-oriented Hollywood celebrities!!
My favorite quote describes it perfectly: "The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency."


So, there we are....one more good "flush" and we will be "down the toilet";
SO YES.....2012 WILL BE A MOST DECISIVE YEAR !!!!

REPUBS ARE "STUPID"-DEMS ARE "CHICKENSHIT" ! SO NOW WHAT??

Sure....that is a HARSH comment!! But, it unfortunately describes much of our current situation!

The Republicans have apparently chosen to put all their "eggs" into the sole effort called the "Ryan Plan"....the only "plan" out of the gate !!!
Stupid?? Yes, even early signs of election backfiring has shown itself in the NY26 upset !! It is obvious this plan needs work, further inputs and better explanations.

The Democrats, however, simply choose to ignore everything and won't even make an effort to put forth their own "plan" !!!?? Chickenshit?? You bet....they'd rather just beat up on anyone "opening their mouth" with real ideas!! Shrewd?...maybe.
I say just "Chickenshit" !!

SO NOW WHAT ????



Ryan's Plan probs:
One of the dissident Republicans was Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who objects that Ryan's plan — which would not balance the budget for decades — is not a serious response to fiscal challenges facing the country.
Other opposition:
Furthermore, it does not "reform" or "improve" Medicare. The congressman's voucher scheme ...prepares the way for the popular and necessary program's elimination in any form that Americans have understood or appreciated it. Instead of steering public funds toward the care of the elderly, the Ryan plan steers the elderly — via vouchers — into the clutches of the for-profit insurance companies that make their money by denying care to the sick, the disabled and the vulnerable elderly. At best, this plan would need a "transition" period to give seniors a "choice" between the standard Medicare and the New Voucher system...to see if it even works right!!
Simply put....Ryan's Plan needs serious WORK

Washington Democrats are in the midst of a nervous breakdown, turning on each other publicly as Americans cope with painfully high unemployment and record debt. Desperate to avoid being held accountable for their job-killing policies,

Now, with no jobs plan and no budget in sight, Washington Democrats’ infighting has broken out into public view. Things have gotten so out of hand that Democratic lawmakers are questioning the effectiveness of their trillion-dollar ‘stimulus,’ with one lawmaker dismissing it as a “fantasy jobs” plan and another accusing the White House of timing its implementation to the 2012 election.

POLITICS...the art of "RE-ELECTION & SELF PRESERVATION"

WHAT'S NEXT ?? ..... More compromise ?

John Ransom, a Townhall columnist recently said in reference to the budget cutting compromise:
"That’s the way our system was designed; for gradual change, not revolution. For those who feel the revolution has been betrayed somehow, I caution that revolutions in American politics are slow, fitful things that are evolutionary not revolutionary."
As he goes on to admit "For the first time in 46 years Congress has actually reduced the level of spending year-over-year. Without voters making it absolutely clear in townhall meetings, rallies and protests that they are taxed enough already, we’d be looking at higher spending most certainly."

So, we should be satisfied....Right ??

Well, this means that, at that rate .....if we had another 46 years, I can assume we would get another similar cut?? Hmmm?? Think about that!!??

Erik Erickson of Redstate explains: "the GOP is getting $38.5 billion in total cuts for the year. Additionally, of the $38.5 billion in cuts, several folks on the Hill tell me that $12 billion is from readjusting baselines in the budget and are mostly smoke."

But we’ll take it, I guess??

........"For perspective, the federal government spends $10.46 billion a day.
The Democrats and Republicans have now come together to cut out just under 4 days worth of spending out of 365 days."

He goes on to say:
...."For a year now the Republicans and Democrats have told us we have serious problems and need serious solutions. They’ve told us we have a serious budget deficit crisis.
However, on Friday night the two parties came together and decided the crisis they’ve been telling us about really isn’t worth dealing with." ......certainly not now anyway !!!

So, WHEN, I ask ????

Lorita Doan another Townhall columnist had it right when she said "Balancing the federal budget will require deep cuts to non-performing programs and will require changes to the existing budgeting process in future years." ......

so again, I ask.....WHEN do we do this ???

Allowing "our system" to work its way through whatever gradual change some think is acceptable is simply NOT AN OPTION !!!

April 11, 2011 | Posted by Speaker Boehner's Press Office:

This week, the House will vote on House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) FY 2012 budget: The Path to Prosperity. In USA Today, Speaker Boehner says The Path to Prosperity “is a powerful blueprint for economic growth and fiscal responsibility that will help our economy get back to creating jobs, stop Washington from spending money we don't have, and lift the crushing burden of debt that threatens our children and grandchildren.” And in the Weekly Republican Address, Chairman Ryan explains how “this budget is a jobs budget.”

And so, the rhetoric continues.....but what do we really know now?

Well, for starters, we know that the Dems still think "cutting" is not spending (or "investing") at the same increased rate that they have been; and that its still OK for wage earners (especially wealthy ones, who work harder) to pay for the needs of those who do not; and that Repubs can be made to "blink" when the time comes.
We've also come to understand that both political parties....especially the leaderships, still practice the age-old art of SELF-PRESERVATION "POLITICS" in that RE-ELECTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN STANDING FOR ANY REAL PRINCIPLES or representing "WE THE PEOPLE"....BECAUSE THAT'S THE WASHINGTON WAY!

The PLAN !!!

Barrack Hussein Obama.....the man acting as our President!!

He knows exactly what he's doing.

He is purposely overwhelming the U.S. economy to create systemic failure through economic crisis and social chaos -- thereby destroying capitalism and our country from within.

This so-called “peace president” starts wars without declaration.
The TSA "gropes and scans" while local agriculture is threatened.
Mandates, regulations and bailouts never seem to end while the Fed prints, and prints…and prints.

WHILE....OBAMA hides his "real" original Birth Certificate with a Doctor & Hospital signature verification.....along with most of his personal information regarding education & associations.
Nothing suspicious there, right !? Hmmmm...???

AND....YES !!
He is a devout Muslim; Do not be fooled !!

Look at his Czars...anti-business..anti-American.
Look at his actions at home & abroad....his global views.
As Glenn Beck correctly predicted from day one, Barack Hussien Obama is following the plan of Cloward & Piven (two professors at Columbia University). They outlined a plan to socialize America by overwhelming the system with government spending and entitlement demands.
It is a brilliant Machiavellian game plan to turn the United States into a socialist/Marxist state with a permanent majority that desperately needs government for survival ... and can be counted on to always vote for bigger government.

Universal health care . The health care bill had very little to do with health care. It had everything to do with unionizing millions of hospital and healthcare workers, as well as adding 15,000 to 20,000 new IRS agents (who will join government employee unions).
Obama doesn't care that giving free health care to 30+ million Americans (illegal or otherwise) will add trillions to the national debt.
What he does care about is that it cements the dependence of those 30+ million voters to Democrats and big government. Who but a socialist revolutionary would pass this reckless spending bill in the middle of a depression?


Cap and Trade.
Like health care legislation having nothing to do with health care, "Cap & Trade" has nothing to do with global warming.
But it has everything to do with redistribution of income, government control of the economy, and a payoff to Obama's biggest contributors such as GE, (which owns NBC, MSNBC and CNBC) along with the biggest labor Unions and many more.

Make Puerto Rico a state.... Why?
Who's asking for a 51st state?
Who's asking for millions of new welfare recipients and government entitlement addicts in the middle of a depression?
Certainly not American taxpayers. But Obama's plan is to add two new Democrat senators, five Democrat congressmen
and a million or so loyal Democratic voters who are, again, dependent on big government.


Legalize 12+ million illegal Mexican immigrants.
Just giving these 12+ million potential new citizens free health care alone could overwhelm the system and bankrupt America; but it also adds 12+ million more reliable new Democrat voters who can be counted on to support big government. Then add another few trillion dollars in welfare, aid to dependent children, food stamps, free medical, education, tax credits for the poor, and eventually Social Security.

Stimulus and bailouts.... Where did all that money go?
It went, of course, to Democrat contributors; organizations like ACORN, and unions like SEIU -- including billions of dollars to save or create jobs of government employees across the country.
It went to save GM and Chrysler so that their employees could keep paying union dues.

It went to AIG so that Goldman Sachs could be bailed out (after giving Obama almost $1 million in contributions).
A staggering $125 billion went to teachers (thereby protecting their union dues).
All done so that those public employees will vote loyally Democrat to protect their bloated salaries and pensions that are bankrupting America.
The country goes broke & future generations face a bleak future; but Obama's administration (big government), the Democrat Party, and the complicit unions grow more powerful.

The ends justify the means.

Raise taxes on small business owners, high-income earners, and job creators.
Put the entire tax & spend burden on only the top 20 percent of taxpayers, redistribute the income, punish success, and reward those who did nothing to deserve it (except voting for Obama).




FOR MORE FACTS & PROOF:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/overwhelm.asp
http://www.citizens4freedom.com/Articles/tabid/1387/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4430/TRUMP-UNCOVERS-TRUTH-ABOUT-OBAMA.aspx

"Islamapobia"....the new "McCarthyism"?

Is it National Security or National In-security??

I agree with having the Congressional hearings initiated by Rep King as a matter of examining national defense and security issues; its definately needed!! ... We certainly need to protect ourselves by solving the increased threat from radical muslim terrorist infiltration via promotion of Sharia Law especially right here in our own country!!
Much of the problems stem from our insistence to be "politically correct"!! If we just stood up for our American principles and laws, there would not be the sense of "panic" that seems to prevail nowadays!

I also regret, however, to see that too many of us jump to the "islamophobic conclusion" that all Muslims are radicals and follow Sharia Law! It's similar to the same mistake we made with Japanese-American citizens being interned in prisons right here in their own country "in the heat of the moment" right after the Pearl Harbor attack! ....and the onset of "McCarthyism"!

Those that refuse to acknowledge or accept that there is a peaceful
version of the Muslim faith (WITHOUT Sharia and WITHOUT the principle of "erradicating the infidel" aka "Western culture") are as wrong as those they wish to stop.
It is a given FACT that there are (and have been) peaceful Muslim-Americans co-existing for years....despite some wishing otherwise !
AND YES, THERE IS A MUSLIM RELIGION....even though many these days are promoting and using it as a means to promulgate a political & social ideology!

The issue is really: Stopping the spread of RADICAL ISLAM & THE PRACTICE OF SHARIA LAW, while still defending our American way of life and simultaneously preserving our American principles of freedom of religion!...

A fine line to walk indeed !!!

Let's TALK !!! ENTITLEMENTS !!!!!

Well, pull up a chair...sit down....and let's talk!!!

FIRST UP: Social Security



1. Raise the beginning eligibility age to 68....same for Medicare coverage.....for all persons who are now 50 or younger.
Make it 70 for those 40 or younger. Take away the upper limit payroll deduction restrictions for Social Security contributions.

2. Setup Social Security contributions to go into privately/personally-held funds which are restricted until eligible for withdraw.

3. Make it "means test" sensitive. That is, benefits are able to be received based on an income/asset qualification until reaching age 75....at which time, then all funds become available.






NEXT: Medicaid/Food Stamps and similar "welfare programs" such as Unemployment benefits



1. Make ALL these programs time-limited for specific periods of time only! Make all programs also subject to co-pays AND based on a "means test".



2. Make all programs subject to proper verification and monitoring by case workers (hire more case workers if needed). Include periodic testing of the "means" test as well as honest participation in self-help (work-seek, rehab) efforts. Include drug testing as necessary.


NOW WAS IT REALLY THAT BAD...OR UNFAIR??

DIDN'T TAKE LONG EITHER, HUH??