"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greater dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding." - Louis Brandeis
Finally, there is a fifth reason tens of millions of Americans, many conservative commentators, support Israel and worry about America if American support for Israel wanes.
To the left in America and around the world, this reason is dangerous nonsense. But for a vast number of America's Christians, many Jews and even many non-religious conservatives, it is deeper than any military or political reason. The reason is based on a verse in Genesis in which God, referring to the Jewish people, says to Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you."
One need not be a Jew or Christian or even believe in God to appreciate that this verse is as accurate a prediction of the future as humanity has ever been given by the ancient world. The Jewish people have suffered longer and more horribly than any other living people. But they are still around. Their historic enemies are all gone. Those who cursed the Jews were indeed cursed.
And those who blessed the Jews were indeed blessed. The most blessed country for more than 200 years has been the United States. It has also been the most blessed place Jews have ever lived in. Is this a coincidence? Many of us think not.
Those who curse the Jews today seem to be cursed. The most benighted civilization today is the Arab world. One could make a plausible case that the Arab world's preoccupation with Jew-hatred and destroying Israel is decisive in keeping the Arab world from progressing. The day the Arab world makes peace with the existence of the tiny Jewish state in its midst, the Arab world will begin its ascent.
The converse is what worries tens of millions of Americans: The day America begins to abandon Israel, America will begin its descent.
If you get your news from the TV or the Radio, or a Newspaper, you would think the following about the Financial Reform bill:
- Democrats want to create a government solution, to lessen the damage caused by risky actions taken by rich bankers and Wall Streeters, so that the Average American (..."the taxpayer") doesn't lose their savings (investments, retirements). We should learn from the 'risky, greedy' actions that caused the current financial crisis, and make the system safer for the little guy, and not let the rich get richer.
- Republicans want a pure, free market. Survival of the financially fittest. Let the rich get richer, and let the trickling down begin. Get rid of government restrictions.
Here is my simple explanation of a complex problem, and what is going to happen:
Banks and financial institutions were freed from some regulation in the 90's. Congress then created rules that encouraged them to take on risky investments (mortgage backed securities, etc.) and used governmental and quasi-governmental organizations (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, etc.) to provide 'insurance' to the banks and institutions, so as to hedge the risk.
As problems occurred in one sector of the economy (real estate), it all started to fall like dominoes. Democrats AND Republicans decided that to stop it from getting worse, the government would bailout these banks and companies. (It's okay for Ford or GM, or Merrill Lynch to go away, but it is not okay for thousands of Average Americans to lose their savings invested in Ford, GM or Merrill Lynch, or so they thought).
Now, certain Democrats are proposing what is essentially a system by which large banks, companies, etc., that are close to failure from poor management or risky investments, will be automatically taken over and bailed out. We will be assured that rich Wall Street guys won't walk away with the huge salaries and bonuses, while the Average American loses his life's savings.
Problem #1: The 'system' starts with another huge 'account' funded by taking fees from proceeds from the banks, investment corporations, etc. But oops, oh yah, the banks get the money from lots of Average Americans, so the banks don't really pay, we do. Also, I'm wondering, will this account be held in a lock box, like Social Security?
Problem #2: If banks, investment corporations, etc., know they will be bailed out, they will be willing to take on more risk. (It didn't deter anybody at AIG, Lehman, or now Goldman Sachs to get huge payouts, knowing that the company was probably going down). So we will have institutionalized the very mechanisms that caused the problem we are trying to solve.
In my opinion, just like they do with the tax system, they are trying to help the Average American, by making the banks, investment corporations, and top wealth earners pay. But we all know that the banks and corporations will make a profit, or they won't exist. The Average American will be charged. And the top wealth earners will find away around it, that is how they got where they are.
Whether you think the system needs fixing or not, you have got to see that more government is not the solution...
Where should you get your news? Al Gore's Information Superhighway. Read an article. This article has nine links to nine other articles, comments, or sources. As you come across a referenced topic that you don't know about, or you want to confirm (Dan Rather) you can click on it. If there is something in the article you don't understand or know about, highlight it, copy it, go to the google machine, paste it, voila.
Can you imagine, watching Hardball with Chris Matthews as he makes some statement, you click on him, and get to hear an opposing opinion...
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
We have seen the images of Nazis in America, marching in parades, saying disgusting things, and we have learned that as long as they do it peacefully, they can not be stopped. They are protected by the First Amendment.
Then why this? Obviously there are some missing details, but insulting somebody is not against the law. I assume the case hinges on whether or not people actually felt they were being forced to leave the store...and I doubt anybody believed that. And, "Bias Intimidation"? Folks, you can intimidate all you want, as long as you aren't biased against those you intimidate. It's kind of like hate crimes . . . "not only did he kill him...he hated him!"
...during the 2008 presidential campaign, I remember hearing about a person fainting at an Obama rally, and how while Obama was in the middle of his speech, he stopped and addressed it, because he saw it. That day, I heard on the radio that it was not the first such incident. IT HAPPENED 16 TIMES.
Not that a person fainted at 16 different Obama rallies. That Obama stopped mid-sentence, acknowledged that a person 'may have fainted,' asked to get them water, asked for medical assistance, give the person room, give them some air, and then said that they would be alright. EACH TIME, get that - ALL SIXTEEN times, each one of those things happened.
As Medved pointed out, now during the trick, he says "she'll be okay," before medical assistance can be given. How does he know they didn't have a stroke, or are in diabetic shock?
(For those of you that are fans, this is a classic Buckaroo Banzai move. See this move on Penny Priddy in the club scene...I couldn't find the end of the scene? But its basically the Obama schtick).
This is the President of the United States. It may turn out that this is just a nervous tick, and since he is such a great orator (teleprompter), his 'ticks' are full episodes. But, I think he is starting to believe that he is untouchable.
In 1994, I graduated from college with a Bachelors of Science degree in Finance from the College of Business at Arizona State University. Last week I read Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell. I should have just read the book and saved the tuition.
The subtitle of this third edition of the book is, “A Common Sense Guide to the Economy.” The book provides a foundation for understanding the reasons why things happen in the economy. It explains why the money in your wallet has nothing to do with the gold stored at Fort Knox. It also explains why a person might choose not to spend money on a brand new backpack, when alternative use (slightly used, in need of repair) backpacks exist…in the closet. And you don’t need a college degree to understand or enjoy it.
Why do the Democrats say that a law, thousands of pages long, will lower our health care costs? Why do the Republicans say that the legislation will increase our health care costs? Why do the Democrats say that passing the bill will lower the national deficit, and Republicans say it will increase it? They both can’t be right. What is the national deficit anyway?
Thomas Sowell, like Ronald Reagan and countless other conservatives (Sowell considers himself more of a libertarian, as do many ‘conservatives’), was a person of the left earlier in his life, and even considered himself a Marxist, before the experiences of life, of reality, changed his way of thinking. Sowell’s work follows that of Milton Friedman. Friedman’s economic theories provide the basis for conservative economic policies for governments around the world. Friedman represents the right side of economics, while John Maynard Keynes represents the wrong, er, left side of economics. Friedman was a supporter of Keynes…until he saw the liberal ideas at work, prolonging the Great Depression.
Sowell, Friedman, and all economists today, stand on the shoulders of Adam Smith, the “Father of Modern Economics.” Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations, the first and greatest modern book of economics, which separated economic theory as its own study, and explained the value of the “free market.” It was first published in 1776. Smith wrote of free markets before there was a United States of America, the largest, longest lasting home of free markets.
What separates Sowell’s book from anything written by Friedman or Smith, is that anybody can read it. To read and understand Friedman, you really need that college degree. To read Smith, you have to have been born in the 18th Century, or at least it helps to have been born in the 18th Century.
Taxes. Republicans want to limit the taxes on the highest earners. “Tax cuts for the rich.” How does reducing the taxes on a person who makes $500,000 a year, help fund governmental programs designed to help the poor? The answer is in the book. Read the book.
Minimum wage. Good thing right? Why do Republicans fight minimum wage laws? Do they want people to work for $1 an hour? How does passing a law to raise the lowest wages in society - reduce the highest wages? Read the book.
America does not manufacture anything anymore! Go to a shoe store. The shoes, the boxes the shoes are in, everything is made somewhere else. America has lost all its manufacturing to foreign countries, and become a service centered economy. So, we have become a nation of hotels and restaurants! But…who is staying in those hotels, and eating in those restaurants? Rich Chinese and Ecuadorian factory workers? Read the book.
Illegal immigrants. They come here secretly, get a job under a false name, collect a paycheck, and send the money back to their country of origin. Legal immigrants do this too! With millions of immigrants coming here to work, and sending part of their paychecks to other countries, they are damaging our economy, stealing our wealth! How can they increase our prosperity as a nation by doing this? Read the book. (I admit that was a hard one for me).
One reviewer wrote, “Voters by the millions want to know basic economics, not for passing tests but for grading politicians, and for understanding how the world works. They do not need the equations, graphs, and jargon of textbooks, but the guts of the basic issues.”
Okay, my college degree has helped me out along the way. But Basic Economics taught me that one lifetime payment of $26.95, is much more valuable than $5,000 a semester for four years.
...I created this blog to separate family stuff from, well, my personal biased opinions on political-historical-sports-adventure stuff. I see and hear things every day that interest me, and I sit down at the Google-machine and want to blog about them. However, I think there should be a place to look at pictures of the kids with peanut butter and jelly on their faces after lunch, and not have to read about politicians, current events in law enforcement, or my latest workout.
The blog title and layout were kind of spur-of-the-moment, and I reserve the right to change them at anytime. I do like to fly by the seat of my pants, but mostly because flying while standing is much harder.
I also made the blog available to the general public, and so I will blog in semi-anonymity ...
A word about Race Bannon -
Roger T. "Race" Bannon is a Special Agent/Bodyguard/Pilot who has mastered the martial arts, all manner of firearms, and expert driving. Years ago, on Saturday mornings, you could watch him in action as he battled evil wherever he found it to the percussion-heavy big band jazz of the 1960s. Now, he blogs.
