For the past 45 years the town of Pitman, NJ has hung a banner over Broadway every Christmas. This banner simply reads "Keep Christ in Christmas" by the Knights of Columbus. This has never been a problem and no one has ever complained...til now.
This year some "unnamed citizens" have taken exception to it saying that it violates the Constitution. They contacted an atheist organization in Wisconsin, the Freedom from Religion Foundation, to intervene on their behalf. And the liberals idiots complied by asking the town to take the sign down. The organization promotes the "separation of church and state" and cites that very idea saying that since the banner is over a public space so it goes against this principle. The problem is that this idea is a fallacy. It doesn't exist!!
I have personally read the Constitution cover to cover. The phrase "separation of church and state" exists nowhere in the document. This asinine phrase is a bastardization of Thomas Jefferson's ideas that became the basis of the First Amendment which reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
History Lesson:
In 1620 a group of religious outcasts left England and sailed across the Atlantic. They left their homes behind to escape the English throne forcing citizens to join the Church of England. They fled to the Netherlands but still could not escape the English Crown. In 1618, William Brewster published a paper criticizing the King of England and his state church. When the king sent men to arrest him, the Pilgrims realized they had to travel much further to be free of this religious persecution. They applied for a charter and braved the crossing to America.
They never forgot this treatment at the hands of the Crown of England and passed the tradition and history down through the generations. So, when the Founding Fathers met in 1774 this was fresh in their minds. Especially since the Crown was again trying to dictate their lives. They were adamant that they would not create a repeat of what their forefathers went through. They wanted to honor what they Pilgrims set out to achieve: a place where everyone could practice whatever religion they chose.
Hence the First Amendment. It prohibits the federal government from establishing and endorsing a state religion but also says that it can not prohibit the free exercise of it either. What Jefferson actually said was "... I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." He did not advocate that the government should have nothing to do with religion. Indeed, he and the other Founders referenced and drew on their Christian faith often when drafting the two most important documents in our history, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Apart from this there is a specific reason why the Founders tied our Rights to God stating that we are "endowed bu our Creator with certain, unalienable right." They did this specifically to put them beyond the reach of governments and men.
Lets face it. Humans are imperfect and fallible. Rights and laws conceived by Men can be equally fallible and suspect. On the other hand, by saying that these gifts come from God you appeal to a higher, infallible being. By stating clearly in the founding documents that our Rights come from the Almighty the Founders imply that to change these you have to know better than God which would be hubris indeed.
So, to change or take away one or more rights government has to first take God out of the equation...and that what the Left has been trying to do for the past 70 years. The incident in Pitman, NJ is just the latest assault in this effort. The American people would not have accepted an outright attempt to take all references to God out of government from the Pledge of Allegiance to the dollar bill. So they have done it little bits at a time starting by twisting Jefferson's words into this ridiculous idea.
The banner in Pitman is not even paid for or sponsored by the local government. It was commissioned by the Knights of Columbus which is an independent organization outside the influence of government which should exclude any discussion of "separation." Furthermore, it is not advocating that anyway else should or needs to follow the belief described in the banner, nor that anyone shouldn't or can't practice any other belief. It is simply stating the belief of one group.
Besides, what is so wrong with religious ideals and behavior influencing the actions of a government official? A code of conduct based on morals and decent behavior, the basis of which is the forbidding of such behavior as theft, murder and rape..in my opinion this is much more preferable to the miscreants that are currently running the government. I am willing to bet that if you look into any congressman who has a clean record you will find a strong faith.
And the response of the Freedom from Religion Foundation??? "Take it down in the name of 'tolerance.'" Why is it that groups and people that claim tolerance are the most intolerant of all? So far, the Mayor has refused to take the banner down...lets hope he continues to do so
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Cain's unfortunate departure
So, presidential candidate Herman Cain has pulled out of the race for president under an avalanche of smear and here say. And this is truly an unfortunate turn of events. He would have been a fantastic president. No, I do not think he is perfect. No one is and those who think they are (*cough* Obama) are the ones who are least fit for such important jobs.
His experience in the business world is invaluable. It means he understands things like cost and profit ratios, how to maintain a budget while still getting the most for your money. In short he understands fiscal responsibility which is sorely needed in Washington. His 9-9-9 plan, while again not perfect, is still a great step in the right direction. But more importantly, he knows that which all great men should know: That he doesn't know everything.
That's right! While the President of the United States is the most powerful office in the world it is still held by a mortal man, or woman if that is the case. A person, especially a leader, with an over-blown sense of self is just as dangerous as someone without enough experience, maybe more so. A good leader makes up for a shortcoming in one area by hiring, and deferring to, someone who does have the necessary experience. That is the point of the presidential cabinet. So what if Herman Cain had a few missteps in foreign policy? That is what a foreign policy advisor is there for. He has enough general knowledge, and enough wisdom to go with it, and the advisor fills in the specifics if Cain needs it. At least he is smart enough not to isolate and antagonize Israel, our only ally in the Middle East, while giving a reach around to countries like Iran who have publicly stated their intent to wipe everyone that is not Islam off the face of the Earth with the Us right behind Israel as a priority.
But I digress. As I stated at the beginning of the this post it is a shame that Cain was forced out of the race. But even more then the fact that he is out the smear campaign against him , and the hypocrisy it reveals, is even more troubling.
If you count up the accusations of sexual indiscretions among Conservatives and Liberals, the Libs far outweigh Conservatives. JFK was a well documented horn dog having several extramarital affairs. And let us not forget Bill Clinton and the little blue dress. How many affairs did he have? Three that were proven through evidence and many more that remained allegations. That is just two presidents. If you include Congress the accounts are staggering. Including Ted Kennedy whose car contained the body of a woman as they dragged it out of tidal channel and Rep. Barney Frank whose boyfriend was a male prostitute that was running a brothel out of their shared DC apartment.
But I am getting off track...
The treatment these cases got in the Mainstream Media was a shrug and "who cares?" They said JFK's indiscretions paled in comparison to his progressive achievements. We were told that it was none of our business what Bill Clinton did in his personal life. Despite the fact that he lied under oath and obstructed justice by preventing a woman genuinely wronged from getting the justice she deserved he was a great guy. Good personality. Besides, the public didn't really care about all that anyway.
Now lets fast forward to 2011. Herman Cain has been accused by five separate women of sexual misconduct. If these charges are true, then he deserves everything he gets. IF. That is a big word. Where is the evidence? Where is the blue dress in this instance? Ginger White, the latest accuser states that her affair with Cain lasted 13 yrs., during which they met at hotels and went to high profile events such as boxing matches. Where are the video tapes of them in the hotel lobby? Where are the ticket stubs for the boxing matches? For that matter, where are the accusers?
Of the first four, only one, Sharon Bialek, was willing to give her name. They were only barely mentioned and they haven't been heard about since. Ms Bialek went further by hiring the high-profile Gloria Alred. Now if, as Ms. Bialek says, she just wants to "get the story out," why hire Alred? She could do that just as easily with a nameless attorney. Indeed, there would be many a lawyer salivating to take the case to make a name for themselves. A person hires Alred for the publicity of the name. And even she has disappeared since that one and only press conference. If there was really anything to these accusations, the Media would be hounding these women down for the story and a chance to bury Cain. All of these women stated their accusations and then just went back into the wood work. Last I saw in this country we still had a tradition of innocent til proven guilty. But, no. The Media has been having a field day crucifying Cain.
So now, we have the latest accuser Ginger White. Again there is no evidence. She claimed to have evidence but has never provided it. Plus she has a very questionable background. Several evictions including a recent one that may have prompted her story. Previous sexual harassment suits filed, one being thrown out for lack of evidence, and a restraining order by a former business partner. But we are supposed to believe her word? Now, some of your Libs may say "where there is smoke, there is fire." Bull! Where there is smoke, there is smoke. Especially in today's world of lawsuit happy idiots. You make a complaint loud enough you can make a buck. I don't know about the rest of you, but before I ruin an honest man's life and reputation, I would make damn sure that the facts and evidence are there. And the sad part is that now that Cain has dropped out of the race, the accusations will never be disproved. It's mission accomplished in the smear campaign. The Libs will say no more about what they unleashed and there will definitely be no apology. they will let the accusations hang out there as a warning.
The point of this post is to point out the difference between being a Liberal and a Conservative. Clinton was accused of sexual harassment, with evidence and instead of exposing the truth the Media not only helped Clinton cover it up and dismiss it but they also helped his attack and destroy all three women that accused him. Where was the ACLU then? Where were the feminists and women's rights activists? They helped defend Clinton and destroy Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, and Monica Lewinski.
Herman Cain is accused of sexual misconduct. There is no evidence, just a lot of here say, the accusers are questionable at best and now AWOL when it is time to be counted so Cain can face his accusers, as is his constitutional right. In this case what is the Media doing? Crucifying Cain and supporting the accusers. The key to this shift in behavior is that Cain was a threat to not only Obama, but everything that Liberals hold to be true.
For decades the Libs have survived on the narrative that all Conservatives are evil, sexist, racist bastards. Obama rode to victory in 2008 on this sentiment. He was a charismatic black man who claimed that his would be a historic election for the first black president. The Libs over looked the fact that he knew nothing about leadership. All he knew was rabble rousing and inciting mobs. With Cain you have an intelligent, articulated, strong, conservative black man that actually knows what it is like to lead. And if he were to stay in the race he might actually split the black vote as they are forced to actually think for themselves and decided what is more important: color or substance.
So the decision was that Cain had to be taken out at all cost. Just look at the smear campaign directed at him before the sexual harasment allegations. Obama, because he is a liberal, was called a visionary, the epitome of what it is to be black in America, this messianic figure. Herman Cain, a black Conservative, was labeled an "Uncle Tom," a traitor, the "Tea Party's black friend." Harry Belefonte said he is everything tha tis false in the black community. He was told to get off the symbolic crack pipe.
And this coming from the party of tolerance...
His experience in the business world is invaluable. It means he understands things like cost and profit ratios, how to maintain a budget while still getting the most for your money. In short he understands fiscal responsibility which is sorely needed in Washington. His 9-9-9 plan, while again not perfect, is still a great step in the right direction. But more importantly, he knows that which all great men should know: That he doesn't know everything.
That's right! While the President of the United States is the most powerful office in the world it is still held by a mortal man, or woman if that is the case. A person, especially a leader, with an over-blown sense of self is just as dangerous as someone without enough experience, maybe more so. A good leader makes up for a shortcoming in one area by hiring, and deferring to, someone who does have the necessary experience. That is the point of the presidential cabinet. So what if Herman Cain had a few missteps in foreign policy? That is what a foreign policy advisor is there for. He has enough general knowledge, and enough wisdom to go with it, and the advisor fills in the specifics if Cain needs it. At least he is smart enough not to isolate and antagonize Israel, our only ally in the Middle East, while giving a reach around to countries like Iran who have publicly stated their intent to wipe everyone that is not Islam off the face of the Earth with the Us right behind Israel as a priority.
But I digress. As I stated at the beginning of the this post it is a shame that Cain was forced out of the race. But even more then the fact that he is out the smear campaign against him , and the hypocrisy it reveals, is even more troubling.
If you count up the accusations of sexual indiscretions among Conservatives and Liberals, the Libs far outweigh Conservatives. JFK was a well documented horn dog having several extramarital affairs. And let us not forget Bill Clinton and the little blue dress. How many affairs did he have? Three that were proven through evidence and many more that remained allegations. That is just two presidents. If you include Congress the accounts are staggering. Including Ted Kennedy whose car contained the body of a woman as they dragged it out of tidal channel and Rep. Barney Frank whose boyfriend was a male prostitute that was running a brothel out of their shared DC apartment.
But I am getting off track...
The treatment these cases got in the Mainstream Media was a shrug and "who cares?" They said JFK's indiscretions paled in comparison to his progressive achievements. We were told that it was none of our business what Bill Clinton did in his personal life. Despite the fact that he lied under oath and obstructed justice by preventing a woman genuinely wronged from getting the justice she deserved he was a great guy. Good personality. Besides, the public didn't really care about all that anyway.
Now lets fast forward to 2011. Herman Cain has been accused by five separate women of sexual misconduct. If these charges are true, then he deserves everything he gets. IF. That is a big word. Where is the evidence? Where is the blue dress in this instance? Ginger White, the latest accuser states that her affair with Cain lasted 13 yrs., during which they met at hotels and went to high profile events such as boxing matches. Where are the video tapes of them in the hotel lobby? Where are the ticket stubs for the boxing matches? For that matter, where are the accusers?
Of the first four, only one, Sharon Bialek, was willing to give her name. They were only barely mentioned and they haven't been heard about since. Ms Bialek went further by hiring the high-profile Gloria Alred. Now if, as Ms. Bialek says, she just wants to "get the story out," why hire Alred? She could do that just as easily with a nameless attorney. Indeed, there would be many a lawyer salivating to take the case to make a name for themselves. A person hires Alred for the publicity of the name. And even she has disappeared since that one and only press conference. If there was really anything to these accusations, the Media would be hounding these women down for the story and a chance to bury Cain. All of these women stated their accusations and then just went back into the wood work. Last I saw in this country we still had a tradition of innocent til proven guilty. But, no. The Media has been having a field day crucifying Cain.
So now, we have the latest accuser Ginger White. Again there is no evidence. She claimed to have evidence but has never provided it. Plus she has a very questionable background. Several evictions including a recent one that may have prompted her story. Previous sexual harassment suits filed, one being thrown out for lack of evidence, and a restraining order by a former business partner. But we are supposed to believe her word? Now, some of your Libs may say "where there is smoke, there is fire." Bull! Where there is smoke, there is smoke. Especially in today's world of lawsuit happy idiots. You make a complaint loud enough you can make a buck. I don't know about the rest of you, but before I ruin an honest man's life and reputation, I would make damn sure that the facts and evidence are there. And the sad part is that now that Cain has dropped out of the race, the accusations will never be disproved. It's mission accomplished in the smear campaign. The Libs will say no more about what they unleashed and there will definitely be no apology. they will let the accusations hang out there as a warning.
The point of this post is to point out the difference between being a Liberal and a Conservative. Clinton was accused of sexual harassment, with evidence and instead of exposing the truth the Media not only helped Clinton cover it up and dismiss it but they also helped his attack and destroy all three women that accused him. Where was the ACLU then? Where were the feminists and women's rights activists? They helped defend Clinton and destroy Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, and Monica Lewinski.
Herman Cain is accused of sexual misconduct. There is no evidence, just a lot of here say, the accusers are questionable at best and now AWOL when it is time to be counted so Cain can face his accusers, as is his constitutional right. In this case what is the Media doing? Crucifying Cain and supporting the accusers. The key to this shift in behavior is that Cain was a threat to not only Obama, but everything that Liberals hold to be true.
For decades the Libs have survived on the narrative that all Conservatives are evil, sexist, racist bastards. Obama rode to victory in 2008 on this sentiment. He was a charismatic black man who claimed that his would be a historic election for the first black president. The Libs over looked the fact that he knew nothing about leadership. All he knew was rabble rousing and inciting mobs. With Cain you have an intelligent, articulated, strong, conservative black man that actually knows what it is like to lead. And if he were to stay in the race he might actually split the black vote as they are forced to actually think for themselves and decided what is more important: color or substance.
So the decision was that Cain had to be taken out at all cost. Just look at the smear campaign directed at him before the sexual harasment allegations. Obama, because he is a liberal, was called a visionary, the epitome of what it is to be black in America, this messianic figure. Herman Cain, a black Conservative, was labeled an "Uncle Tom," a traitor, the "Tea Party's black friend." Harry Belefonte said he is everything tha tis false in the black community. He was told to get off the symbolic crack pipe.
And this coming from the party of tolerance...
Friday, December 2, 2011
OWS wrong thinking
As you may have guessed from reading this blog my personal views run in the complete opposite direction as the "Occupy" "flea-baggers." To be more blunt....I can't stand them. Nothing but a bunch of self-serving, entitlement momma's boys who have been told all their lives that they are special for absolutely nothing. Now that they are in the real world and find out that their twit mothers' were wrong and they really aren't special they don't know what to do...
But maybe I am wrong. So, just for a moment, lets play devil's advocate.
*waves magic wand* POOF!!!! you all got your wish. Every dollar that the so called "wealthy" have has been seized and given to the government. Right now the government costs tens of billions a day to run and you insects want to up that bill with more entitlement programs and nanny-state give aways. Let us say that there are several hundred "millionaires and billionaires" in this country. There are more millionaires in that category than billionaires. But let us again go with your best case scenario and say that every person in the "1%" is worth $1 billion. If you confiscate every cent they have and give it to the government that is only about $300, I'll even be generous and say $500, billion. That is enough money to run the government and its myriad of handouts for a month...maybe two. Who are you going to take money from next month to pay for your welfare?
The people who you call the 1%, the wealthy are the business owners, the wealth creators. By leaving them penniless you have eliminated their ability to make more wealth. Also, since you have now seized and liquidated their businesses you have also destroyed billions of jobs for others. Now since these are the innovators and risk takers of the country they could bounce back if given the chance. But what would be the point? As soon as they make a buck you idiots will demand they give that to you too. So not only have you destroyed the wealth that currently exists, but you have also eliminated the desire to make more...all for the sake of running an unsustainable system for two months.
I like this game! Lets do it again. Devil's advocate take two...
You say "Ok. Fine." Lets not give the money to the federal government. Lets still soak the rich and give all the money to "the people." Lets run the math again. You still have the same pool of money of the "1%." We will again go with the optimistic number of $500 billion. The population of the US currently sits at about 312,000,000,000. Congratulations! You have now increased every body's wealth by less than $2! And you still have the problem that you have now destroyed all ability to create wealth in this country and any incentive to to do so anyway.
That's two scenarios down...how about a third!
You say "OK...FINE!!!" Lets give the money to a select few "right people" that will use it properly. Who decides these people? And then how do they decide the "correct" way to use it? Also, these new owners of wealth are now the "1%" Congratulations!! Does your ideology suddenly stop just because you now have the wealth? That's a pretty shallow ethos. And if you still believe in your re-distributionist methods you should have no problem handing over your new gotten wealth when someone else says that you are now the 1% and they deserve to have your money, right? You are just going to give them your money with a smile and a handshake?
*waits for an answer and listens to the silence. Also sees the truth on your face* I thought not.
The truth you do not want to admit is that who has the money is not the problem. You are just jealous its not you. Instead of actually working to make your own wealth, you just whine and complain until someone gives you something. I'm sorry that your parents lied to you that doing nothing makes you special. Doing nothing makes you a lazy piece of shit! You don't deserve anything especially if it comes from someone who actually worked and earned what they have.
The biggest and original complaint of the "Occupy" crowd was their student loans and that they couldn't find a job. I agree with that much. Big Education is an eye sore and a drain on the country...but that is another blog. Maybe you shouldn't take such useless major's as Women's Studies, or Bi-sexual Asian Cultures, or whatever government approved degree you have. I'm in the boat with you. I took Anthropology/Archeology only to find a limited job market. Now, six years later, I am not even using that degree. The difference is that I'm not bitching! I don't think that anyone else should pay for my poor choice in education. I'm not asking for a hand out. I got a steady job to provide for my family while I go back to school for something more useful even though it will mean more student loans and debt. It is just the right thing to do. You make decisions and live with the consequences. If they are mistakes, you take your licks and pick yourself back up and try again.
**UPDATE!!** 1/06/12
I did some research and found some real numbers provided by the IRS, Dept. of Labor Statistics and other Gov't groups. Now the most current tax numbers available are from 2010, but the spending numbers for 2011 are available, so it will not be an exact comparison but it will be close enough.
In 2011, the federal government spent $3.789 Trillion dollars on all its entitlements and regulations which was $1.615 Trillion more than it raised. In 2010, the "1%" had a total gross income of $1.685 trillion from 1,399,606 positive returns, meaning that many people that made money instead of having a loss for the year. So, even if you Occupados get your dearest wish and take the "1%" for all they are worth, you are not even funding the federal government for half the year.
And, again, you run into the same problems afterwards (see above). Namely, if you take everything the "1%" has, you eliminate their ability to earn anything at all. So, in 8 months who are you going to soak next?
But maybe I am wrong. So, just for a moment, lets play devil's advocate.
*waves magic wand* POOF!!!! you all got your wish. Every dollar that the so called "wealthy" have has been seized and given to the government. Right now the government costs tens of billions a day to run and you insects want to up that bill with more entitlement programs and nanny-state give aways. Let us say that there are several hundred "millionaires and billionaires" in this country. There are more millionaires in that category than billionaires. But let us again go with your best case scenario and say that every person in the "1%" is worth $1 billion. If you confiscate every cent they have and give it to the government that is only about $300, I'll even be generous and say $500, billion. That is enough money to run the government and its myriad of handouts for a month...maybe two. Who are you going to take money from next month to pay for your welfare?
The people who you call the 1%, the wealthy are the business owners, the wealth creators. By leaving them penniless you have eliminated their ability to make more wealth. Also, since you have now seized and liquidated their businesses you have also destroyed billions of jobs for others. Now since these are the innovators and risk takers of the country they could bounce back if given the chance. But what would be the point? As soon as they make a buck you idiots will demand they give that to you too. So not only have you destroyed the wealth that currently exists, but you have also eliminated the desire to make more...all for the sake of running an unsustainable system for two months.
I like this game! Lets do it again. Devil's advocate take two...
You say "Ok. Fine." Lets not give the money to the federal government. Lets still soak the rich and give all the money to "the people." Lets run the math again. You still have the same pool of money of the "1%." We will again go with the optimistic number of $500 billion. The population of the US currently sits at about 312,000,000,000. Congratulations! You have now increased every body's wealth by less than $2! And you still have the problem that you have now destroyed all ability to create wealth in this country and any incentive to to do so anyway.
That's two scenarios down...how about a third!
You say "OK...FINE!!!" Lets give the money to a select few "right people" that will use it properly. Who decides these people? And then how do they decide the "correct" way to use it? Also, these new owners of wealth are now the "1%" Congratulations!! Does your ideology suddenly stop just because you now have the wealth? That's a pretty shallow ethos. And if you still believe in your re-distributionist methods you should have no problem handing over your new gotten wealth when someone else says that you are now the 1% and they deserve to have your money, right? You are just going to give them your money with a smile and a handshake?
*waits for an answer and listens to the silence. Also sees the truth on your face* I thought not.
The truth you do not want to admit is that who has the money is not the problem. You are just jealous its not you. Instead of actually working to make your own wealth, you just whine and complain until someone gives you something. I'm sorry that your parents lied to you that doing nothing makes you special. Doing nothing makes you a lazy piece of shit! You don't deserve anything especially if it comes from someone who actually worked and earned what they have.
The biggest and original complaint of the "Occupy" crowd was their student loans and that they couldn't find a job. I agree with that much. Big Education is an eye sore and a drain on the country...but that is another blog. Maybe you shouldn't take such useless major's as Women's Studies, or Bi-sexual Asian Cultures, or whatever government approved degree you have. I'm in the boat with you. I took Anthropology/Archeology only to find a limited job market. Now, six years later, I am not even using that degree. The difference is that I'm not bitching! I don't think that anyone else should pay for my poor choice in education. I'm not asking for a hand out. I got a steady job to provide for my family while I go back to school for something more useful even though it will mean more student loans and debt. It is just the right thing to do. You make decisions and live with the consequences. If they are mistakes, you take your licks and pick yourself back up and try again.
**UPDATE!!** 1/06/12
I did some research and found some real numbers provided by the IRS, Dept. of Labor Statistics and other Gov't groups. Now the most current tax numbers available are from 2010, but the spending numbers for 2011 are available, so it will not be an exact comparison but it will be close enough.
In 2011, the federal government spent $3.789 Trillion dollars on all its entitlements and regulations which was $1.615 Trillion more than it raised. In 2010, the "1%" had a total gross income of $1.685 trillion from 1,399,606 positive returns, meaning that many people that made money instead of having a loss for the year. So, even if you Occupados get your dearest wish and take the "1%" for all they are worth, you are not even funding the federal government for half the year.
And, again, you run into the same problems afterwards (see above). Namely, if you take everything the "1%" has, you eliminate their ability to earn anything at all. So, in 8 months who are you going to soak next?
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