Are food, healthcare and shelter a right?

At gettingfoddstamps.org the headline is Getting food stamps. It's your right. If you meet the guidelines you may be entitled to them under the law but is it a basic human right? Squatters across the country are trespassing in vacant homes and setting up shop. They have been told that the home is not being used so they should not be denied shelter. Illegal immigrants come acroos the border for medical care because it's their right to be healthy.

For years rights advocates have tried to push their agenda in these areas. In 2004 An investigator for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights cited the US for "a range of violations" in a "dire reality" of "human rights denial" in the area of housing. Philip Mangano, who was the executive director of the federal Interagency Council on Homelessness said "It may very well be this wrong of homelessness will lead us to establish the right to housing. That would be consistent with our history of righting wrongs in this country, like slavery, and then creating rights afterward."

What right does the US or any government have to tell us that we owe a home, food or healthcare to someone else? Was this how our founding fathers saw the job of government? I wish someone could show me where those rights are laid out. Even as a Christian I would have a hard time finding the passages that would lead me to that conclusion. We are to help the needy but that does not mean we are to give to government so they can decide who is needy. We as individuals are to take the task upon ourselves of feeding and caring for the less fortunate.

If the government can make up rights that are not in our founding papers how long until the things that matter to you will be taken away or given to someone else? Elections do matter!

Is Rush bad for the GOP?

Drudge Headline: White House plots Limbaugh Coverage.
James Carville says he wants Rush to keep talking.
RNC head Steele says Rush's rhetoric is "incendiary and ugly."

So is Rush hurting the GOP? The majority of conservatives would say NO. Is Rush good for the liberal conservatives, NO. Will Rush scare away those who have no convictions. YES. Is the GOP a party that has it's values based on polling data or are it's values based on moral convictions which don't change over time?

The sad part of all this is: The Democrats and media are more afraid of a college drop out talk show host than GOP members of Congress. I think this says more about the state of the GOP than it does about Rush. Rush has the ability the inspire us. He himself is a success story. He is living the American dream and articulates the thoughts and beliefs of millions. Admittedly he has had some personal issues but who hasn't? Certainly not those bad mouthing him.

When Rush says he hopes the Obama plan fails anyone with half a brain knows what he is talking about. Obama's restructuring of America into a socialist state could possibly help in the short term but long run it is devastating. Allowing Government to tell us where our kids can go to school, what doctor we can see and how much money we can make is not the American dream our ancestors worked and died for. Once we allow Government to intrude into our lives we can't get them out. Those looking for quick solutions are narrow minded and selfish. They don't want to pay the price for their and governments mistakes. They are taking the handouts and leaving their kids and grand kids to pay the bill. Buy now and pay later!

How is Rush's statement any different then Reid's and Pelosi's about we support the troops but not the war? Rush supports America just not the direction it's heading. Reid called President Bush and idiot. It amazes me how blind society is. Give them what they want and they are kept fat, dumb and happy. It's like the boiling frog story.

So is Rush bad for the GOP? Not the GOP I want! I'm willing to lose a few battles to win the war. It may not always be easy, it may not be pretty but it's what is right for our future and our kids future. If I have to give up my convictions to make my life easier than I become a selfish, despicable human being who is just wasting oxygen and taking up space. I was born to be better than that.

Is Obama actually hurting the poor?

Didn’t Pres. Obama campaign on helping the poor and middle class citizens in this country? We saw person after person telling their sad story and asking how the government is going to help. Well, I guess the answer is to decrease the amount donated to charities which the poor may rely upon.

Obama has now stated that he wants to reduce the deduction percentage for charitable giving for those “rich” couples making over $250,000. That may be a great way to bring more money into Washington, but at the expense of the people that he campaigned to help?

The Indiana University Center on Philanthropy sees a sizable negative impact from the proposal.

President Obama's tax proposals -- including a limit on charitable giving deductions that could be taken by America's wealthiest people -- could cause giving by America's wealthy to drop by several billion dollars a year, according to estimates released today by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.

The center looked at how the proposals Mr. Obama released on Thursday would have affected giving based on 2006 data showing how much taxpayers deducted for charitable contributions. It said that if Mr. Obama's tax plan had been in effect, Americans with incomes of $250,000 or more would have decreased their giving by 4.6 percent or nearly $3.9-billion. People at that income level claimed more than $81-billion in charitable gifts in 2006...

... In a statement, Patrick M. Rooney, interim director of the Indiana center, said he worried about the effect of the tax change at a time when the downturn in the economy has put a squeeze on many donors and the charities they support.

"Tax incentives do stimulate more giving," Mr. Rooney said, "and the challenges facing the nonprofit sector in 2009 suggest that this might be a good time to provide additional incentives, rather than reduce the value of the tax deduction for high-income households, so that the donors with the greatest capacity to give have more reasons to do so."

Does the GOP need the black vote?

Much has been said lately about black America. We have a black President, a black Attorney General and the RNC has it's first black leader. There is no doubt that blacks are making great strides in society today. Instead of finally coming to terms with our past and moving on it seems the media focus has been even more on race than in the past. Because of this the evil Republicans are being grilled about their programs aimed at minorities. How much are they giving to minority causes, how many programs are they cutting that will benefit minorities? Is it possible for the GOP to keep it's core values and cater to the minority population?

If it's core values are smaller government, pro 2nd Amendment, anti abortion and lower taxes than I don't think it's possible to give blacks what the Democrats will give them. That being said do we need their vote to get Republicans elected? I don't think so. Do we want to include all races in the party? Yes, but not at the expense of our morals. No matter what we have promised the black population in the past we still only pull about 10% at the most in an election.

Lets look at numbers. Blacks currently are about 15% of the population and Hispanics slightly more. Asians are 5%. Whites are around 70%. The numbers don't add up because there is some cross over in the demographics. In 2050 it is estimated Whites will be 46%, Blacks still 15%, Hispanics 30% and Asians 10%. I don't think we can continue to bend over and give everything to the black community only to have them turn around and vote for a Democrat. We need to stick to our principals and win them over because they want to live the American dream.

Our money and time would be better spent wooing the Hispanic population which is more religious and less inclined to look to government to solve their problems. Hispanics live more conservatively and family is more important to them. The road back to power does not go through the black community but the Hispanic.

Napolitano tells Texas to suck it up!

Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano told Congress on Wednesday that she will study Texas Gov. Rick Perry's request for another thousand troops to guard the border. She stated that violence had not spread far enough north to warrant a plan drawn up by the Bush administration. She also said "We do not want to militarize the border".

Why the heck not!! How far north does the violence have to get? To Dallas? Ciudad Juárez, a town right across the border from El Paso had 2000 killed last year from drug gangs. Phoenix is now the kidnapping capital of the U.S. thanks to illegals and the drug trade. Gang members dressed in fatigues frequently cross the border or exchange shots with U.S. Border Agents. The Tucson sector of the Border Patrol has reported a record number of assaults on US Border Patrol Agents. In 2005 then Governor Napolitano issued a state of emergency in AZ due to border violence. At that time she declared it was the fault of the U.S. Government and their lack of action. It's amazing how moving to D.C. suddenly changes everything. Typical politician!

If we have murder, kidnapping and the violation of U.S. laws at an increasing rate isn't this a problem? We fight half a world away to preserve the American way of life shouldn't we do the same when the problem is at our back door?

Is lack of money really the problem?

People seem to believe the mantra that there isn't enough money to handle our spending. Is the problem really not enough money?

In looking at the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) numbers for the past couple decades lack of money does not seem to be the problem. Revenue to the Government doubled from 90-2000 while discretionary spending also doubled. Social security payments increased 65% and Medicare and Medicaid more than doubled. From 2000-2008 (projected) revenue increased 25% but discretionary spending once again doubled. Social security increased 50% and Medicaid and Medicare went up 2 and a half times. The government continues to collect more each year so money is not the problem how they spend it is. Instead of arguing over how to get more money why don't we/they spend more time on spending it wisely.

The savior is here

From Drudge:

"Obama vows to increase number of soldiers...
Obama vows to seek cure for cancer 'in our time'...
Obama says bank bailout may cost more than expected...
Obama promises universal EDUCATION THROUGH COLLEGE...
Obama promises universal health care... "

And we're going to cut the deficit in half in the next 4 years. Hello 75% tax rate 'cause apparently we're not stopping the spending!

"House Democrats propose $410B spending bill. "
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/House-Democrats-propose-410B-apf-14450221.html

Lets keep it coming!

Speaking of Healthcare...

Found a great article about the direction that Healthcare is heading.

"Ruin Your Health With the Obama Stimulus Plan"

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mccaughey&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs

Conservative vs Liberal

A post at Sonoran Alliance made me wonder what we would find if we could compare a Conservative vs Liberal approach to government and the way a country was run. Let's imagine the U.S. was actually run as a conservative country and Canada was the liberal country. What would be the differences? I see the U.S. as having more people since abortion would not be used as birth control. There wouldn't be a law against it, it just wouldn't be something people would want to do. Canada would have more unhappy people since studies show that conservatives are happier. Canadians would weigh more because they would work less. Canada would probably give more time off and work less hours per week. Related to that the U.S. would be a more productive nation. More people would be married in the U.S. and they would live longer since studies show marrieds live longer than singles. There would be fewer lawyers in the U.S. since there would be more personal responsibility. With less money going to health care, lawsuits and welfare the U.S. would need to tax it's citizens less. With more disposable income the wealth of it's citizens would be greater which in turn would show up in the rate of giving to charity. Once again studies show conservatives give more than liberals. There would be more freedom of choice in schools in the U.S. and competition would be encouraged. Because of this the workforce would be more educated. What would the U.S. be missing? Possibly shorter work weeks, higher taxes, shortened life span, higher rate of divorce and substance abuse, fatter kids and more health problems. Almost sounds like the country we currently live in. Why would anyone want to go to a system where hard work and personal responsibility are not rewarded?

Would McCain actually have been better?

Pres. Obama is starting to feel the heat. Many of his proposals are being met with doubt and ridicule. I really wonder though would McCain have been much different?

McCain has shown many times that he wants to be liked. Not necessarily by his party but by the other side and the media. If that same desire would have continued into a Presidency what would that have looked like? Gitmo probably would have been closed. McCain had already said he was against water boarding and thought many of the things the military had done was torture. He voted for the failed immigration plan. He is against drilling in Alaska. He said that global warming was a fact and proposed green incentives. He often crossed the isle to agree with the Dems. Would he have voted for a stimulus plan? Probably, especially when the heat was on from the media. It may have been different but it would have been there. The only real difference I can see is he may have taken a tougher stance in the war on terror and possibly more conservative judges but with the Congress controlled by Dems he would have had a hard sell and probably would have compromised.

Are we really nation of cowards?

According to AG Holder, we (the U.S. people) are a nation of cowards when it comes to discussing race. Holder said "we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race." Really!? It seems like all we do is discuss race. We talk about who was disenfranchised. We are told that we need to be more sensitive to minorities. We are told we need to apopogize for what our ancestors did. Where has all this talk gotten us? To the point where we are told we don't talk. What good is talk if there is no solution? When will we become a color blind nation? I suggest we are as close as ever and to have a black AG who works for a black President who was elected by a lot of white and latino voters is a sign that no matter how much we talk some people will never be satisfied. Instead of talking why don't we eliminate the things that divide us. If we are to be one people why do we need affirmative action? Why do we need a black Miss America? Why do we need an all white or black college? Until we can remove the labels and the special treatment for certain groups we will not be equal no matter how much we talk.

American Solutions Stimulus plan

This is an organization Newt Gingrich is involved with.

We need a clear and decisive alternative that creates jobs and rewards work, saving, and investment.

Payroll Tax Stimulus. With a temporary new tax credit to offset 50% of the payroll tax, every small business would have more money, and all Americans would take home more of what they earn.
Real Middle-Income Tax Relief. Reduce the marginal tax rate of 25% down to 15%, in effect establishing a flat-rate tax of 15% for close to 9 out of 10 American workers.
Reduce the Business Tax Rate. Match Ireland’s rate of 12.5% to keep more jobs in America.
Homeowner’s Assistance. Provide tax credit incentives to responsible home buyers so they can keep their homes.
Control Spending So We Can Move to a Balanced Budget. This begins with eliminating Congressional earmarks and wasteful pork-barrel spending.
No State Aid Without Protection From Fraud. Require state governments to adopt anti-fraud and anti-theft policies before giving them more money.
More American Energy Now. Explore for more American oil and gas and invest in affordable energy for the future, including clean coal, ethanol, nuclear power and renewable fuels.
Abolish Taxes on Capital Gains. Match China, Singapore and many other competitors. More investment in America means more jobs in America.
Protect the Rights of American Workers. We must protect a worker’s right to decide by secret ballot whether to join a union, and the worker’s right to freely negotiate. Forced unionism will kill jobs in America at a time when we can’t afford to lose them.
Replace Sarbanes-Oxley. This failed law is crippling entrepreneurial startups. Replace it with affordable rules that help create jobs, not destroy them.
Abolish the Death Tax. Americans should work for their families, not for Washington.
Invest in Energy and Transportation Infrastructure. This includes a new, expanded electric power grid and a 21st century air traffic control system that will reduce delays in air travel and save passengers, employees and airlines billions of dollars per year.

Halleluiah!! Obama is in the Valley

Just had to post real quick. Our savior has come and saved us! The sun was out, the birds were singing and the smog was gone. My worthless, meaningless life no longer exists. I am born again! My bank account is suddenly full, I've lost 10 lbs., I have a full head of hair and I get free cable. All praise the One! I think I even saw him walk across Tempe Town Lake on his way to the airport. My life is complete. I can now die and go to the promised land where we all sit at the annointed one's feet and listen to his inspiring teachings.

Government is not a solution to our problem

"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." - The Great Ronald Reagan

Don't get me wrong... RR rules! but if Government is not the solution, then what is the solution people like Bernie Madoff? The Government is needed for some things, but how that power is used is the problem. (not Government)

Creating Posts

If anyone would like to create their own posts, email me at jman231@gmail.com. I need to send you an invite before you can post your own topics.

Our world 2/17

NY Muslim beheads wife (the religion of peace)
Kansas suspends income tax refunds (never mind that it's already the taxpayers money)
California ready to file bankruptcy
NY to tax porn (Looks like Clinton will have to move)
Oregon to raise beer tax 1900%
Australia to tax by the flush (just go outside)
Australia fires kill 200 (could be because of the flush tax)
Kazakhstan to limit CEO pay (didn't know they had any)
Clinton says N Korea missile launch would be very unhelpful (genius)
Israeli tennis player denied visa by Dubai to play in tournament (love those tolerant Muslims)
Atheists' billboard delayed when bus it was on conked out on 1st day (maybe there is a God)
S Florida official paid $384,000 steals bike to give to homeless (typical lib, can't use his own $$)
English man gets 20 wks for whistling Adams Family tune at neighbor (maybe he couldn't sing)
Israel's Livni says Israel must give up land to Palestinians (That will really work)
Hundreds of giant solar panels to be set in Mojave Desert (maybe that's why they are broke)
And finally
Study finds human sweat is an aphrodisiac (Good news for the homeless)

Read this on stimulus plan

Found this and could not believe the logic. If this is true why not just keep printing money?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-pettifor/the-fiscal-stimulus-will_b_167119.html

If you can't copy just go to Huffingtonpost and look for the Ann Pettifor column

Irritant of the day

What is the big deal with speed camera's? Sure, we all like to drive faster than the limit but why are speed camera's an infringement to our rights? What rights? The right to break the law? If we have a law and an apparatus to enforce it is that against the law? Why not a big uproar about video camera's in stores or cop cars? Since when has enforcement of a law been illegal? People don't care if the government takes over 2/3 of the economy but take a picture of them speeding and they go crazy. Just one of those things that drives me nuts!

Good luck girls

I’m just sitting here playing with the girls and thinking of a conversation that I had earlier in the day with a friend. The quote from my friend was “as long as it doesn’t affect me, I’m fine with it.” This was in regards to the increased taxes we’ll be faced with in the future from the new “STIMULUS” plan. The person that I was speaking with has a daughter as well. I can’t help but think, this isn’t going to affect just us, it will be our daughters that will feel the affect of this stimulus package down the road. At some point someone is going to have to pay for this. Unfortunately, this mentality is the reason that we are in the situation we are.

Yes, it will be increased taxes on future generations that will pay for this bill. My girls are very young, but I hope that in their future they are so successful that they will enter the tax brackets where this increase will be felt (you can’t raise it on low income families ‘cause then the democrats would never be reelected.) Apparently my friend is satisfied with where he is at and doesn’t hope for his daughter to succeed to the point where she will enter the higher tax brackets. I’m not saying that money is everything by any means, I’m just hoping for my girls to have to drive to succeed in life, and many times, that is met with an increase in pay. I don’t want them to be punished for their success by the voters of 2008.

I did what I could to avoid this situation, this so called “stimulus” and this new era of socialism. I voted for the less than conservative republican…but I tried. The campaign slogan of “Hope and Change” was apparently too convincing for the majority of the American people. The new era of “responsibility” that President Obama is claiming is starting with bailing out failing businesses, relying on government handouts, and allowing more and more aspects of our lives to be controlled by Big Brother.

Watching the town hall meeting in Florida with Obama says it all. I need more from my Unemployment check, I need more benefits from my fast food job, I need a new car, kitchen, and bath. What has been asked of why these people are in their situation? His first response was talk to my administration and we’ll see what we can do.

Why are those of us who have paid and worked their way through life punished? Those of us who have paid their way through college with an incredible amount of student loan debt. Those of us who continue to pay their mortgage even though money is tight. Those of us who have become successful not because of the government, but because of our desire to succeed. We will now bear the burden of paying for those who have decided to take the easy way out and rely on the government to save them.

I just want to apologize to my daughters for the lack of common sense and hard work of the Obama voters in 2008. Daddy and Mommy did what they could to prevent what will become of this nation. And sorry, you will be raised to be responsible for yourself, no relying on anyone else to help you out!

Stimulus?

The plan currently in play is a joke and the only thing it will stimulate is Chris Matthews leg. This is even contrary to what Pres. Obama has stated in the past. In a speech on March 13, 2006 Obama stated " The cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the federal budget. If Washington were serious about honest tax relief in this country, we'd see an effort to reduce our national debt by returning to responsible fiscal policies." So we now have the biggest "stimulus" plan in this nations history. We were told 95% of people would get credits of $1000. That has now been cut back and amounts to $13 a week for the average worker. So to stimulate the economy we are all going to rent a movie, get some popcorn and a couple liters of Pepsi or we can save up for a month and pay to get an oil change. This should really create some jobs!!

When Nancy Pelosi can figure a way to slide $30 million in for the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse which needs it's habitat saved in her district you know we are in serious trouble.

To my Grand kids: I'm sorry you are going to be saddled with debt that will slow if not stagnate our economy. I'm sorry the parents of my and past generations did not instill a work ethic in their kids. I'm sorry the politicians have put their re-election priorities in front of the peoples.

Lincoln or Darwin?

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. One grew up to be one of this countries greatest presidents and one to author a book that would forever change the direction of this country. One abolished slavery and one promoted evolution. Lincoln's accomplishments are rooted in fact while Darwin's are theory. How is it then that today the man who's ideas were theory and who himself admitted his theories had many flaws has influenced this country more than the 16th President who helped abolish slavery and successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War?

Darwin's evolution theory was designed as an alternative to God creating the world in which we live. His theory is not that difficult to counter (but that will be another blog). While human evolution was the thesis in his book Origin of Species the evolution that actually took hold was the evolution of society.

When 51% or more of the population doesn't pay taxes and can vote for the laws for those that do we are on a slippery slope to Socialism. Only time will tell where we are headed but without some tough choices being made by the American public the future isn't as bright as it could be.