You know, I love riding my Harley, especially to bike rallies. For just about every American biker out there, the ultimate destination is Sturgis, South Dakota for the rally of all rallies. My wife and I rode up to Sturgis this past weekend. Now before any bikers call me out on it let me say this, we did indeed go to Sturgis; we rode to Sturgis, Mississippi for the Sturgis South Rally. For one very hot weekend in August this sleepy little town in Northern Mississippi grows from a population of about 300 to a population of about 10,000 or more. I had said a couple of years ago I would never go to this rally because it is billed as a "family friendly" event; anybody who knows me just the slightest bit knows how I feel about bike rallies and "family friendly" ain't it.
The reason my wife and I rode up is because we have friends that live up in that area and a close friend of mine was riding up from the coast to see us up there. Saturday was almost unbearably hot and humid in Sturgis and with no beer for sale (dry towns and counties abound in Mississippi) I thought I was going to die. Looking around it seemed as if everybody and their brother was clamoring to proclaim their Christianity to the world...and some of those folks scared me. I am usually afraid of self-proclaimed Christians because their actions are almost always anything but Christian. That and their smug, holier-than-thou attitude just puts me off and turns me against them.
Something happened this Saturday, however, and I feel like you need to know this. On that hot, muggy, miserable Saturday were two Christian churches, one on either side of town, handing out free, ice-cold water to every passer-by...all day long. Not a one of them had that attitude I so detest, even though each bottle of water came with their own propaganda leaflet describing the virtues of Christianity. I watched as people took the water and openly threw away the literature...and nobody from either church had a cross-word to say about that...if they were upset you wouldn't know it. My attitude towards Christians started to change a little that day; I mean here they were, sweating and sweltering, handing out what had to be close to thousands of dollars worth of water to everybody and anybody and NOT preaching!
It was the same with the CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association); they were serving up free water and free Gatorade to everybody and NOT preaching! This is where our friends were; they are members of the CMA and are active in their community, not active as in preaching but active as in prison ministry, donating time, money, food, water and anything else they can think of that will help someone else. All I could do Saturday was stand there and marvel at the capacity for caring these Christians possessed...I started thinking, "Not all Christians are hypocrites or smug jerk-offs!" By the time we left on Sunday on our bikes, my attitude had done an almost-180 towards Christians and Christianity in general.
Then I met someone who brought me crashing back to reality. I didn't meet this person face-to-face, though. No, I met this person by reading their diatribe criticizing and ridiculing another very close friend of mine's views. My "brutha from anotha mutha", IronHorseCowboy, writes a blog titled, "The View From Downrange. We don't always agree on political viewpoints but we do hold so many identical beliefs that you wouldn't know we disagreed in politics. My friend wrote a piece concerning the Bible and the lack of physical evidence to prove its supposed veracity, particularly in the Old Testament. I read his piece and agree with what he wrote. The Bible is merely man's interpretation of historical events and not a solid book of law we must interpret literally.
My attention was directed toward comments made by one of his in-laws that changed my attitude back to its cynical snideness to self-styled "Christians". This pompous waste of space insulted my friend's law enforcement experience and excoriated him over his views of the veracity of claims in the Old Testament. This idiot offered no real rebuttal with solid facts; no, he took the road most conservatives criticize liberals for, focusing on conjecture and baseless opinion combined with insults for anyone who disagrees with their smug know-it-allness.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, yes, and everyone is entitled to voice their opinion. However, NOBODY has the innate right to belittle, shout down, or harangue people who disagree with their opinion. I do not like this person, not one bit...and I think if I ever met him I would probably punch him in the nose...even though I know I'd probably go to jail or be sued for it because this guy does NOT "turn the other cheek", as his idol, Jesus, preached.
18 August 2009
14 August 2009
Miscellaneous Observations...
You know, I have been thinking the past few days about several different subjects I wanted to talk about here. There are so many things running through my mind I may jumble some thoughts together here so bear with me.
This healthcare reform debate is confusing at best. On one hand we have the Demoncrats squawking about how dire our healthcare situation is and how many people are not insured. On the other hand we have the Repugnicans fanning the flames of fear by squawking about how this reform bill will create "death panels" to choose which citizens live and which die. For all I have heard I decided to try and make sense of it myself and this is what I found.
BOTH sides of the debate are right and wrong and both sides are lying and telling the truth.
Let's start with the Dems, shall we? Yes, it is true there are many citizens in our country that have no health insurance and the reasons are widely varied; some had coverage but lost their jobs in the recent economic meltdown and subsequently lost their coverage. Yes there are those who are working at minimum wage jobs or the like that do not offer health coverage. I think it is commendable the Dems wish to help as many as they can BUT we have to look at the other side of the coin. Part of the problem with healthcare is the sheer number of illegal immigrants who are overloading our emergency rooms...these people are NOT legal citizens of this country yet they are overwhelming our healthcare system. Another part of the problem is we have a disproportionate number of citizens who have never done an honest day's work in their lives yet they expect to be taken care of by the government. There are also those who dropped out of school, have no education to speak of, and work at minimum wage jobs because that is all they can get. These people are the greatest burdens on our country's health and welfare system. Another problem I foresee with this healthcare reform is this: they are grossly underestimating the sheer number of people who will flock to a government option and we will simply run out of money.
So now let's look at the Reps and see what they merit. As far as I can tell, they are telling the truth that this healthcare reform plan will indeed greatly increase the deficit. That's about it for where they are right and telling truth. The argument that reform will create "death panels" is a bald-faced lie. The provision we are talking about is doctors will be reimbursed for providing COUNSELING on end-of-life care and this COUNSELING is VOLUNTARY. So basically what it does is gives Grandma and Grandpa the FREEDOM to ask for COUNSELING from a doctor without having to pay for it. Wow, it provides increased FREEDOM and CHOICES, something the Reps supposedly stand for! So far I haven't heard or seen anything from the right that looks like a viable alternative...only their bashing of the Dems' plan. In fact just about the only thing I agree with the Reps on this plan is the need for tort reform and reasonable limits on malpractice awards.
So now, let's look at what I see is going on with this reform plan. While I think the Dems have a noble purpose in mind and have good intentions, I think they are grossly and tragically underestimating the impact this program will have. It's really not that hard to see; all you have to do is look at the digital transition converter box coupon program and cash for clunkers; both of these programs are failures because Congress grossly underestimated the response to these programs and RAN OUT OF MONEY.
What I think the Dems are missing is there is a huge number of deadbeats in this country who will take advantage of any entitlement program (i.e.- welfare, food stamps, healthcare) and this will cause a burden too great for our economy to sustain. All people...yes, ALL...will jump at a perceived "something for nothing" offer if it looks promising enough; if you don't believe me, look at how many people are STILL falling prey to Nigerian e-mail scams.
There is also the thought that companies in the US are hobbled because they pay through the nose to provide healthcare coverage for their employees; the result is US companies are not as competitive as their rivals in other countries. I am not sure if I agree 100% with that thought but I WILL say I believe that people who do not hold a job at all, have never held a job, or only hold minimum wage jobs, OR are in this country illegally are the biggest burden of all.
My proposed solution is to fix the education system first, get people EDUCATED and TRAINED to do more than minimum wage jobs...save the minimum wage jobs for teenagers looking for extra cash...then work WITH companies to SHARE the cost of healthcare for employees...and finally, CUT OFF the illegals in this country...they are not citizens so why should they be eligible for healthcare on our dime? Please note that I only advocate cutting off ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, not immigrants who legitimately and legally become citizens of this country. If we don't provide an incentive for our "working poor" to improve themselves we will never get out of this mess...why can't everybody see that?
This healthcare reform debate is confusing at best. On one hand we have the Demoncrats squawking about how dire our healthcare situation is and how many people are not insured. On the other hand we have the Repugnicans fanning the flames of fear by squawking about how this reform bill will create "death panels" to choose which citizens live and which die. For all I have heard I decided to try and make sense of it myself and this is what I found.
BOTH sides of the debate are right and wrong and both sides are lying and telling the truth.
Let's start with the Dems, shall we? Yes, it is true there are many citizens in our country that have no health insurance and the reasons are widely varied; some had coverage but lost their jobs in the recent economic meltdown and subsequently lost their coverage. Yes there are those who are working at minimum wage jobs or the like that do not offer health coverage. I think it is commendable the Dems wish to help as many as they can BUT we have to look at the other side of the coin. Part of the problem with healthcare is the sheer number of illegal immigrants who are overloading our emergency rooms...these people are NOT legal citizens of this country yet they are overwhelming our healthcare system. Another part of the problem is we have a disproportionate number of citizens who have never done an honest day's work in their lives yet they expect to be taken care of by the government. There are also those who dropped out of school, have no education to speak of, and work at minimum wage jobs because that is all they can get. These people are the greatest burdens on our country's health and welfare system. Another problem I foresee with this healthcare reform is this: they are grossly underestimating the sheer number of people who will flock to a government option and we will simply run out of money.
So now let's look at the Reps and see what they merit. As far as I can tell, they are telling the truth that this healthcare reform plan will indeed greatly increase the deficit. That's about it for where they are right and telling truth. The argument that reform will create "death panels" is a bald-faced lie. The provision we are talking about is doctors will be reimbursed for providing COUNSELING on end-of-life care and this COUNSELING is VOLUNTARY. So basically what it does is gives Grandma and Grandpa the FREEDOM to ask for COUNSELING from a doctor without having to pay for it. Wow, it provides increased FREEDOM and CHOICES, something the Reps supposedly stand for! So far I haven't heard or seen anything from the right that looks like a viable alternative...only their bashing of the Dems' plan. In fact just about the only thing I agree with the Reps on this plan is the need for tort reform and reasonable limits on malpractice awards.
So now, let's look at what I see is going on with this reform plan. While I think the Dems have a noble purpose in mind and have good intentions, I think they are grossly and tragically underestimating the impact this program will have. It's really not that hard to see; all you have to do is look at the digital transition converter box coupon program and cash for clunkers; both of these programs are failures because Congress grossly underestimated the response to these programs and RAN OUT OF MONEY.
What I think the Dems are missing is there is a huge number of deadbeats in this country who will take advantage of any entitlement program (i.e.- welfare, food stamps, healthcare) and this will cause a burden too great for our economy to sustain. All people...yes, ALL...will jump at a perceived "something for nothing" offer if it looks promising enough; if you don't believe me, look at how many people are STILL falling prey to Nigerian e-mail scams.
There is also the thought that companies in the US are hobbled because they pay through the nose to provide healthcare coverage for their employees; the result is US companies are not as competitive as their rivals in other countries. I am not sure if I agree 100% with that thought but I WILL say I believe that people who do not hold a job at all, have never held a job, or only hold minimum wage jobs, OR are in this country illegally are the biggest burden of all.
My proposed solution is to fix the education system first, get people EDUCATED and TRAINED to do more than minimum wage jobs...save the minimum wage jobs for teenagers looking for extra cash...then work WITH companies to SHARE the cost of healthcare for employees...and finally, CUT OFF the illegals in this country...they are not citizens so why should they be eligible for healthcare on our dime? Please note that I only advocate cutting off ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, not immigrants who legitimately and legally become citizens of this country. If we don't provide an incentive for our "working poor" to improve themselves we will never get out of this mess...why can't everybody see that?
04 August 2009
Islam Means Peace...NOT
Hello folks, I'm back again and the subject today is my ongiong study of Islam. We hear alot here in the States about how we are oppressing Muslims and we do not understand the true meaning of Islam. It has been suggested that we become better educated on Islam in order to understand it better. Well, I read a story today that perfectly describes the true meaning of Islam and I just had to share.
In Sudan, UN Media reporter Lubna Hussein was arrested on July 3rd by the Sudanese police along with 12 other women in an outdoor cafe. The charge was "indecent dress" because they were wearing PANTS in public. All but Hussein and two other women were flogged (flogging is when they take a whip or cat-o-nine tails and whip them across your bare back) at the police station and paid $120 fine. Hussein and the two other women decided to go to trial in order to draw international attention to their plight. Hussein is now on trial, a multitude of women showed up to protest the trial and were subsequently BEATEN by the police...for protesting what is considered the oppression of women.
You can read the article yourself, I have not made any changes to it nor have I ad-libbed any of this story. I just wanted to share yet another observation of a "peaceful" religion that does not allow women to wear pants and has them flogged 40 lashes for having the audacity to wear pants in public. Oh the horror!
Kind of reminds me of the Pentecostal religion here in the States...women are not allowed to get their hair cut or wear makeup or pants. These are the people the far right (GOP) seems to love so much...I heard a friend come up with a rather accurate term for them. I hope no offense is taken because I am going to steal it here...I propose a new name for the Republican Party...the TALIBORNAGAIN...kinda catchy, don't ya think?
In Sudan, UN Media reporter Lubna Hussein was arrested on July 3rd by the Sudanese police along with 12 other women in an outdoor cafe. The charge was "indecent dress" because they were wearing PANTS in public. All but Hussein and two other women were flogged (flogging is when they take a whip or cat-o-nine tails and whip them across your bare back) at the police station and paid $120 fine. Hussein and the two other women decided to go to trial in order to draw international attention to their plight. Hussein is now on trial, a multitude of women showed up to protest the trial and were subsequently BEATEN by the police...for protesting what is considered the oppression of women.
You can read the article yourself, I have not made any changes to it nor have I ad-libbed any of this story. I just wanted to share yet another observation of a "peaceful" religion that does not allow women to wear pants and has them flogged 40 lashes for having the audacity to wear pants in public. Oh the horror!
Kind of reminds me of the Pentecostal religion here in the States...women are not allowed to get their hair cut or wear makeup or pants. These are the people the far right (GOP) seems to love so much...I heard a friend come up with a rather accurate term for them. I hope no offense is taken because I am going to steal it here...I propose a new name for the Republican Party...the TALIBORNAGAIN...kinda catchy, don't ya think?
03 August 2009
Bulldog's Super Happy Fun Time!!!
Hey kids, do you know what time it is? That's right, it's time for another episode of Bulldog's Super Happy Fun Time! Today we are going to go over some recent events that will leave you scratching your head wondering what in the world is going on?
First, let me pose a question to you...it'll be easy, ready? Here we go: Which self-interest group has recently become publicly outraged over an inconsequential remark made by an equally inconsequential person? If you guessed Jessica Simpson pissing off American Indians (Native Americans for the PC Police) you would be right! Evidently, she was being interviewed and the question came up about if she would take back the expensive boat she gave her ex-boyfriend...the eternal loser Tony Romo. She answered with, "No, I'm not an indian giver!" Seems there are a few "Native American" self-interest (i.e.- special interest) groups who are outraged at the audacity of Jessica Simpson.
Wait a minute...is this true? Doesn't everybody know this is the chick who thought Chicken of the Sea was really chicken, not tuna? Isn't this the airhead who proclaimed her undying love for the other airhead Lachy only to divorce (as if that was a big surprise)? Come on people, this is NOT a smart, important person we are talking about here. As like Hollywood actors, musicans and professional athletes, this person is about as important to society as a mosquito...merely a small nuisance to be shooed away with a wave of the hand. So, why is it a group of "Native Americans" would get so upset at such an innocuous statement as "indian giver"?
Most of us grew up using that term to label kids who would take things back they gave you when you made them mad. The thought that indians would actually take back things they initially gave never occurred...ever. So why get so upset? Why did a group of advocates for "mentally or physically challenged people? get so upset at a stupid line uttered in an equally stupid movie (Tropical Thunder) where yet another inconsequential idiot (Robert Downey J.) said the dreaded word "retard"? Why why why?
Why is it there is always some interest group out there scrutinizing everything famous people say to find any type of offense? Why are becoming the United States of the Offended? For Pete's sake, people, grow some thicker skin!!! Come on, does it really hurt you?
Political Correctness has caused enough damage, wreaked enough havoc, and hurt more feelings than anything else in this country. We have become a nation that no longer values competition and the lessons learned in winning and losing. No, instead we have become a nation of whining, blubbering "me too" idiots. Nowadays kids get a trophy just for showing up! Go to a Little League Tournament and see what I'm talking about. Even the losing teams get rewarded! What is the value in that? What are these over-indulged kids going to learn besides the expectation that the world owes them recognition and appreciation even though they have done nothing productive?
Look at Hollywood, the music industry, and professional sports...hell, take a look at television! We have an entire CLASS of people who provide NOTHING to society except entertainment and they get paid MILLIONS to do it! Couple that with "helicopter parents" whose hovering and smothering reinforce the ideal that those are the people to emulate because they "deserve" recognition and fame and you have exactly what you see now...a "Native American" group angry because an airheaded dumbbell uttered the horrible label "indian giver".
Give me a break, people. Seriously, these entertainment types are not important to our survival as a nation...what they think and say means nothing. Try to remember that before you get your panties in a wad over them...okay?
First, let me pose a question to you...it'll be easy, ready? Here we go: Which self-interest group has recently become publicly outraged over an inconsequential remark made by an equally inconsequential person? If you guessed Jessica Simpson pissing off American Indians (Native Americans for the PC Police) you would be right! Evidently, she was being interviewed and the question came up about if she would take back the expensive boat she gave her ex-boyfriend...the eternal loser Tony Romo. She answered with, "No, I'm not an indian giver!" Seems there are a few "Native American" self-interest (i.e.- special interest) groups who are outraged at the audacity of Jessica Simpson.
Wait a minute...is this true? Doesn't everybody know this is the chick who thought Chicken of the Sea was really chicken, not tuna? Isn't this the airhead who proclaimed her undying love for the other airhead Lachy only to divorce (as if that was a big surprise)? Come on people, this is NOT a smart, important person we are talking about here. As like Hollywood actors, musicans and professional athletes, this person is about as important to society as a mosquito...merely a small nuisance to be shooed away with a wave of the hand. So, why is it a group of "Native Americans" would get so upset at such an innocuous statement as "indian giver"?
Most of us grew up using that term to label kids who would take things back they gave you when you made them mad. The thought that indians would actually take back things they initially gave never occurred...ever. So why get so upset? Why did a group of advocates for "mentally or physically challenged people? get so upset at a stupid line uttered in an equally stupid movie (Tropical Thunder) where yet another inconsequential idiot (Robert Downey J.) said the dreaded word "retard"? Why why why?
Why is it there is always some interest group out there scrutinizing everything famous people say to find any type of offense? Why are becoming the United States of the Offended? For Pete's sake, people, grow some thicker skin!!! Come on, does it really hurt you?
Political Correctness has caused enough damage, wreaked enough havoc, and hurt more feelings than anything else in this country. We have become a nation that no longer values competition and the lessons learned in winning and losing. No, instead we have become a nation of whining, blubbering "me too" idiots. Nowadays kids get a trophy just for showing up! Go to a Little League Tournament and see what I'm talking about. Even the losing teams get rewarded! What is the value in that? What are these over-indulged kids going to learn besides the expectation that the world owes them recognition and appreciation even though they have done nothing productive?
Look at Hollywood, the music industry, and professional sports...hell, take a look at television! We have an entire CLASS of people who provide NOTHING to society except entertainment and they get paid MILLIONS to do it! Couple that with "helicopter parents" whose hovering and smothering reinforce the ideal that those are the people to emulate because they "deserve" recognition and fame and you have exactly what you see now...a "Native American" group angry because an airheaded dumbbell uttered the horrible label "indian giver".
Give me a break, people. Seriously, these entertainment types are not important to our survival as a nation...what they think and say means nothing. Try to remember that before you get your panties in a wad over them...okay?
21 July 2009
I Believe...
You know, soon after the dust settled from my last post, someone asked me a question. The question was, "Your posts are all over the place. You say you are a Democrat and voted for Obama but your posts seem to lean right. So, what exactly do you believe?" I've been contemplating that question for a few days now and I think I'm ready to lay out what I believe.
I believe in an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. I believe if you are good in your profession, you should be rewarded appropriately meaning a paycheck and a benefits package.
I believe in education; I believe educational opportunities abound in this country and it is only the fool who doesn't see that. Even public schools offer opportunities to learn and get ahead, one just has to work a little harder to do it.
I believe one makes one's own luck; it is stupid to sit there and blame bad luck when bad things happen.
I believe religion is the opiate of the masses; I believe religion nowadays is nothing more than a tool used by unscrupulous people to manipulate the weak-minded.
I believe if there truly is a God, He will speak to me directly, not through some stupid email chain letter or prayer chain email or virtual candle emails. I do believe, however, in treating others how I would like to be treated.
I believe if one is going to CHOOSE to do drugs and later becomes addicted, it is not my fault nor my problem so I should not have to pay even more taxes to take care of that idiot.
I believe homosexuality is NOT a choice; marriage should be for EVERYONE.
I believe if one feels the need to advertise their Christianity by putting a fish on their car, obtaining a personalized license plate for their car, putting a bumper sticker from the local Christian music station, or placing the word "Christian" anywhere in their business logo is anything but a Christian.
I believe driving a vehicle is a PRIVILEGE, not a right and society should act accordingly, meaning HANG UP THE DAMNED CELL PHONE!!!!
I believe in helping the poor...to an extent; supporting the poor for their entire lives is NOT what we had in mind. I believe if one collects a welfare check or food stamps, one must act accordingly i.e.- with HUMILITY, not flashing credit cards while driving in a Cadillac Escalade or a Hummer yakking away on a damned cell phone!
I believe if a person decides to drop out of school for any reason (other than it is completely necessary to support the family) and therefore cannot find employment beyond a minimum wage job, one gets what one deserves; it is completely unfair to expect the productive members of society to pay more in taxes and increased prices because of the federal government raising the minimum wage.
I believe everybody should be able to expect to live a healthy life BUT I do NOT believe in paying even more in taxes and even losing some veterans' benefits to pay for the healthcare of the idiots I described above...you know them, they contribute nothing to society except a burden.
I believe ALL military veterans are due the benefits they receive and ANY attempt to reduce them is an egregious offense. Further, I believe teachers, police and firefighters should also be eligible for benefits like veterans because THEY put THEIR LIVES on the line everyday just like the military.
I believe the "tax the rich" ideology is inane; increasing taxes on the rich only means the rich will spend less in order to not have to pay extra taxes...much like the "luxury yacht tax" of the 70's...the rich simply stopped buying yachts which almost killed an entire industry.
I believe human beings should be expected to display at least some sort of modicum of common sense; tort reform, to me, means if one orders a cup of coffee one must reasonably expect the coffee to be HOT...as such, if said coffee is spilled one does NOT sue the server of the coffee.
I believe personal injury attorneys are a scourge on this nation; if one jumps a fence that has a WARNING SIGN and is subsequently injured as a result of jumping said fence and ignoring the posted WARNING sign, any attempt to sue should result in the offending personal injury lawyer being disbarred and then tarred and feathered.
I believe in the rule of law; I believe in the right to self-defense; I believe that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away; therefore I believe wholeheartedly in the Second Amendment. If one argues the need to repeal the Second Amendment "for our own good", said individual should be forced to live in the ghetto for six months with no bodyguards, guns, knives or anything else that could possibly be used for self-protection...they must only rely on the local police department. This way the sadly misinformed individual will learn a very hard lesson in the need for the Second Amendment.
I also believe in the following: opening gifts on Christmas DAY not Christmas Eve, there should be a law outlawing astro-turf and the designated hitter (yes, I loved the movie Bull Durham).
Lastly, I believe Huckleberry Finn, Atlas Shrugged, David Copperfield, Band of Brothers, Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Animal Farm, Moby Dick, Job:A Comedy of Justice, and Stranger in a Strange Land should be required reading for all high school students prior to graduation.
So there it is, the core of my beliefs; so why don't you sit down and really think about what you believe in and share with the group?
I believe in an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. I believe if you are good in your profession, you should be rewarded appropriately meaning a paycheck and a benefits package.
I believe in education; I believe educational opportunities abound in this country and it is only the fool who doesn't see that. Even public schools offer opportunities to learn and get ahead, one just has to work a little harder to do it.
I believe one makes one's own luck; it is stupid to sit there and blame bad luck when bad things happen.
I believe religion is the opiate of the masses; I believe religion nowadays is nothing more than a tool used by unscrupulous people to manipulate the weak-minded.
I believe if there truly is a God, He will speak to me directly, not through some stupid email chain letter or prayer chain email or virtual candle emails. I do believe, however, in treating others how I would like to be treated.
I believe if one is going to CHOOSE to do drugs and later becomes addicted, it is not my fault nor my problem so I should not have to pay even more taxes to take care of that idiot.
I believe homosexuality is NOT a choice; marriage should be for EVERYONE.
I believe if one feels the need to advertise their Christianity by putting a fish on their car, obtaining a personalized license plate for their car, putting a bumper sticker from the local Christian music station, or placing the word "Christian" anywhere in their business logo is anything but a Christian.
I believe driving a vehicle is a PRIVILEGE, not a right and society should act accordingly, meaning HANG UP THE DAMNED CELL PHONE!!!!
I believe in helping the poor...to an extent; supporting the poor for their entire lives is NOT what we had in mind. I believe if one collects a welfare check or food stamps, one must act accordingly i.e.- with HUMILITY, not flashing credit cards while driving in a Cadillac Escalade or a Hummer yakking away on a damned cell phone!
I believe if a person decides to drop out of school for any reason (other than it is completely necessary to support the family) and therefore cannot find employment beyond a minimum wage job, one gets what one deserves; it is completely unfair to expect the productive members of society to pay more in taxes and increased prices because of the federal government raising the minimum wage.
I believe everybody should be able to expect to live a healthy life BUT I do NOT believe in paying even more in taxes and even losing some veterans' benefits to pay for the healthcare of the idiots I described above...you know them, they contribute nothing to society except a burden.
I believe ALL military veterans are due the benefits they receive and ANY attempt to reduce them is an egregious offense. Further, I believe teachers, police and firefighters should also be eligible for benefits like veterans because THEY put THEIR LIVES on the line everyday just like the military.
I believe the "tax the rich" ideology is inane; increasing taxes on the rich only means the rich will spend less in order to not have to pay extra taxes...much like the "luxury yacht tax" of the 70's...the rich simply stopped buying yachts which almost killed an entire industry.
I believe human beings should be expected to display at least some sort of modicum of common sense; tort reform, to me, means if one orders a cup of coffee one must reasonably expect the coffee to be HOT...as such, if said coffee is spilled one does NOT sue the server of the coffee.
I believe personal injury attorneys are a scourge on this nation; if one jumps a fence that has a WARNING SIGN and is subsequently injured as a result of jumping said fence and ignoring the posted WARNING sign, any attempt to sue should result in the offending personal injury lawyer being disbarred and then tarred and feathered.
I believe in the rule of law; I believe in the right to self-defense; I believe that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away; therefore I believe wholeheartedly in the Second Amendment. If one argues the need to repeal the Second Amendment "for our own good", said individual should be forced to live in the ghetto for six months with no bodyguards, guns, knives or anything else that could possibly be used for self-protection...they must only rely on the local police department. This way the sadly misinformed individual will learn a very hard lesson in the need for the Second Amendment.
I also believe in the following: opening gifts on Christmas DAY not Christmas Eve, there should be a law outlawing astro-turf and the designated hitter (yes, I loved the movie Bull Durham).
Lastly, I believe Huckleberry Finn, Atlas Shrugged, David Copperfield, Band of Brothers, Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Animal Farm, Moby Dick, Job:A Comedy of Justice, and Stranger in a Strange Land should be required reading for all high school students prior to graduation.
So there it is, the core of my beliefs; so why don't you sit down and really think about what you believe in and share with the group?
16 July 2009
This is Justice???
As I type this, President Obama's pick for the Supreme Court is being grilled by the right and soft-balled by the left...big deal. Wanna know what I think? I think Sonya Sotomayor is a racist who has absolutely no business being in any courtroom as a judge, much less as a Supreme Court Justice! What is my reasoning, you ask? Well let's just say that the fire fighters in New Haven, Connecticut got a raw deal all they way around and this racist woman ruled against them BECAUSE THEY ARE WHITE. I can hear all my liberal friends yelling at me now about how I am the real racist...well let me break my opinion on that case down into detail for you, ok?
Say you are a fire fighter and you want to get promoted...more pay and bennies right? I mean who wouldn't want that? So you study diligently for months on end, drilling knowledge into your head so you can do well on the test. On test day you sit down and rock the test, I mean you scored up in the 95th percentile! You are feeling really good about yourself until the city announces they are throwing out all the results...not because they suspect cheating...not because they think the test was rigged in some way...but because not enough minorities scored well! It's not just minorities that didn't score well, though...there were white fire fighters who didn't score well either...just as some minorities rocked the test too, but there weren't enough of them so you can't have your promotion.
So you form a team, get a lawyer and sue the city and a three-judge panel rules against you BECAUSE YOU ARE WHITE! Don't tell me there was any other reason for Sotomayor's ruling. Don't tell me what she did was right or fair because it wasn't. Why else would this racist woman make a PUBLIC statement about how a "wise latina woman" would come to a better judgment than a white man. This is exactly the type of person we DO NOT NEED in the Supreme Court.
Just so you don't start thinking I am only picking on Sotomayor, the very same thing happened in Virginia not too long ago. The City of Virginia Beach had to dumb down their entrance exam for the Police Academy because not enough minorities were scoring well enough to get in. HOW IS THIS FAIR PEOPLE?!? IF you have never been a cop or a fire fighter, there is absolutely no way you could possibly understand the amount of brain power it takes to make quick-decisions in life-threatening situations. If you can't pass the test, you don't get in or you don't get promoted...and that's all there is. There is no "writing the test so only whites can understand it..." as I have heard the good Sharpton and Jackson spewing on the news.
If you cannot do basic mathematics or you do not understand the ENGLISH LANGUAGE well enough, how can you reasonably expect to do either of these jobs? I challenge every liberal I know to come up with a good answer to that question WITHOUT raising the race card! And please, don't answer on my Facebook page...answer it here, on my blog, so everybody else can read your opinion...after all that would be the FAIR THING to do, right?
Say you are a fire fighter and you want to get promoted...more pay and bennies right? I mean who wouldn't want that? So you study diligently for months on end, drilling knowledge into your head so you can do well on the test. On test day you sit down and rock the test, I mean you scored up in the 95th percentile! You are feeling really good about yourself until the city announces they are throwing out all the results...not because they suspect cheating...not because they think the test was rigged in some way...but because not enough minorities scored well! It's not just minorities that didn't score well, though...there were white fire fighters who didn't score well either...just as some minorities rocked the test too, but there weren't enough of them so you can't have your promotion.
So you form a team, get a lawyer and sue the city and a three-judge panel rules against you BECAUSE YOU ARE WHITE! Don't tell me there was any other reason for Sotomayor's ruling. Don't tell me what she did was right or fair because it wasn't. Why else would this racist woman make a PUBLIC statement about how a "wise latina woman" would come to a better judgment than a white man. This is exactly the type of person we DO NOT NEED in the Supreme Court.
Just so you don't start thinking I am only picking on Sotomayor, the very same thing happened in Virginia not too long ago. The City of Virginia Beach had to dumb down their entrance exam for the Police Academy because not enough minorities were scoring well enough to get in. HOW IS THIS FAIR PEOPLE?!? IF you have never been a cop or a fire fighter, there is absolutely no way you could possibly understand the amount of brain power it takes to make quick-decisions in life-threatening situations. If you can't pass the test, you don't get in or you don't get promoted...and that's all there is. There is no "writing the test so only whites can understand it..." as I have heard the good Sharpton and Jackson spewing on the news.
If you cannot do basic mathematics or you do not understand the ENGLISH LANGUAGE well enough, how can you reasonably expect to do either of these jobs? I challenge every liberal I know to come up with a good answer to that question WITHOUT raising the race card! And please, don't answer on my Facebook page...answer it here, on my blog, so everybody else can read your opinion...after all that would be the FAIR THING to do, right?
06 July 2009
Christian Machinists?!?
'We don't do that type of work, we're a CHRISTIAN machine shop!'
So went a phone a conversation I had with a local machine shop here in the bible belt. I'm sure you are wondering what in the world I am talking about. Well, as you may know, I am not very thrilled with the religious right in this country...especially down here in Mississippi. The level of hypocrisy I see around here is astounding; never before have I seen so many people call themselves Christians then go an do the exact opposite of what they SAY they do.
Recently, I have taken on a new project in my garage. For those of you just joining us, I am trying to build a 1975 Harley-Davidson Sportster. I found a frame and assorted parts and bought them with the intention of building a motorcycle from scratch. The main bearings and the cam bearings were in real bad shape so I had to replace them. If you don't understand, the main bearing is the thing that holds the crankshaft and flywheel in place so it can rotate and push the pistons up the cylinder...basically it is the heart of the engine and they needed to be replaced.
I bought the new bearings but I have neither the tools or the expertise to try this at home. So, I pulled out the phone book and started trying machine shops and motorcycle shops in the area. The answer I received the most was 'Sorry, we don't work on bikes older than 1988...' I was becoming very discouraged until I tried a machine shop down the highway from where I live. So I give them a call and a lady answers, '---- machine shop, how may I help you?'. 'Yes, I reply, I was wondering if you do bearing work. I have an engine case for a 1975 Harley-Davidson Sportster and I need the main bearing pressed out and a new one pressed in. Can you help me?'
After a moment of silence, the nice lady comes back with a disdainful tone in her voice, 'We don't do THAT type of work.' That left me with a question I had to ask, 'Well what type of work do you do?' This nice lady's voice then turns even more disdainful and with a very arrogant air she answered, 'We are a CHRISTIAN shop, we only do precision machining...we don't work on...motorcycles!'
I was taken aback by this response...whatever could she mean by this?! So, I replied to her with, 'I'm sorry, I didn't realize Christ hates bikers and bike builders...I didn't know this was such an un-Christian activity...I'm so sorry I wasted your CHRISTIAN time.' and I hung up.
I guess that lady has never heard of the Christian Motorcycle Association or various other religion related motorcycle groups. Well I will just have to burn in hell when I die...'cuz I aint givin up my bikes!!!
So went a phone a conversation I had with a local machine shop here in the bible belt. I'm sure you are wondering what in the world I am talking about. Well, as you may know, I am not very thrilled with the religious right in this country...especially down here in Mississippi. The level of hypocrisy I see around here is astounding; never before have I seen so many people call themselves Christians then go an do the exact opposite of what they SAY they do.
Recently, I have taken on a new project in my garage. For those of you just joining us, I am trying to build a 1975 Harley-Davidson Sportster. I found a frame and assorted parts and bought them with the intention of building a motorcycle from scratch. The main bearings and the cam bearings were in real bad shape so I had to replace them. If you don't understand, the main bearing is the thing that holds the crankshaft and flywheel in place so it can rotate and push the pistons up the cylinder...basically it is the heart of the engine and they needed to be replaced.
I bought the new bearings but I have neither the tools or the expertise to try this at home. So, I pulled out the phone book and started trying machine shops and motorcycle shops in the area. The answer I received the most was 'Sorry, we don't work on bikes older than 1988...' I was becoming very discouraged until I tried a machine shop down the highway from where I live. So I give them a call and a lady answers, '---- machine shop, how may I help you?'. 'Yes, I reply, I was wondering if you do bearing work. I have an engine case for a 1975 Harley-Davidson Sportster and I need the main bearing pressed out and a new one pressed in. Can you help me?'
After a moment of silence, the nice lady comes back with a disdainful tone in her voice, 'We don't do THAT type of work.' That left me with a question I had to ask, 'Well what type of work do you do?' This nice lady's voice then turns even more disdainful and with a very arrogant air she answered, 'We are a CHRISTIAN shop, we only do precision machining...we don't work on...motorcycles!'
I was taken aback by this response...whatever could she mean by this?! So, I replied to her with, 'I'm sorry, I didn't realize Christ hates bikers and bike builders...I didn't know this was such an un-Christian activity...I'm so sorry I wasted your CHRISTIAN time.' and I hung up.
I guess that lady has never heard of the Christian Motorcycle Association or various other religion related motorcycle groups. Well I will just have to burn in hell when I die...'cuz I aint givin up my bikes!!!
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