Mexican Drug Wars

Back on November 30 I wrote about the military involvement necessary to help fight the drug wars in Central and South America and the infiltration of gangs across our borders. We later noted that it wasn't just border cities, but was traveling to the north fairly quickly. Note: we researched some of the information on line after watching a Gangland Show on the History channel and hoped that it would get some attention.

Finally! Did see a couple of short pieces about the Mexican situation, but not the extent to which it is growing. However, today there is an editorial in the Investor's Business Daily which is fairly detailed but is directed at the new administration and how they might or should react to the problem. And they brought up a point that it may require our military action given the consequences of the problem spilling over the borders.

This is scary stuff. But worse than having a problem is not knowing enough about it and being blind-sided. I would hope that enough of us are noticing what is going on and will insist that our legislators and law enforcement types do their jobs rather than sit on endless hearings only to rubber stamp the nominees.

See ya

Is Someone Keeping Score?

It's almost like an out-of-body experience in that I'm feeling more like an observer than a participant about the upcoming inauguration and what kind of dog will live in the White House. Somewhere someone is making a list of all of the campaign promises and statements made over the last couple of years that have already been broken. The most recent? The one that was going to give a $3000 credit to businesses who either saved a job or hired a new employee--yep! Bit the dust last night. Did I get upset? Not really, it just became another item on the list.


And speaking of the number $3000 it reminds me that the Obamas are down to choosing between two breeds: a Lab/poodle mix or a Portuguese water dog. Well, talk about snob appeal. A few years ago when all the kids had grown up and left home we faced the fact that we could not provide the frenetic type exercise some breeds demand and were also looking to change from boxers (real good kid dogs) to a pet not quite so demanding. So we went to a dog show and talked to a lot of people, one of whom had a water dog which was very new to this country at the time. Guess what? The low end cost started at $3000, which of course we could not afford. At that point we started adopting labs and bouviers from rescue organizations, but that's another story.

Anyway, probably some wealthy benefactor will see to it that the Obamas get a dog worthy of living in a White House in DC. That will be good for the breeders, but I hope puppy mills don't start churning them out.

See ya

Unions vs. Unions

Due to a family member being admitted to the local hospital last week it has been very interesting to watch the interaction of the staff members, no matter what the color of their clothing. (Wearing color coded clothes would seem to be an unspoken us vs them or at least an ego feeding structure, but apparently not.

We noticed the first day, which was confirmed by careful watching on the second day, that we had not witnessed such a degree of cooperation among "workers" from Rns, to LPNs, to maintenance staff, to techs, to specialists in other disciplines the last time (a couple of years ago) such teamwork. If anyone of these people needed a hand, the closest person to them assisted--and it didn't matter if it was from a doctor to a nurse to a janitor or the other way around.

Not only do they help each other, they work 12 hour shifts and they sort of "self-schedule" and somehow everything is covered. Some folks admit to not being at their best after three 12 hour days in a row while others seem to have a different internal clock and they just seem to be able to work it out among themselves.

Having had experience with only the UAW and the teachers' heretofore, this was a real eye opener.

Our hats are off to a segment of the workforce who seem to have conquered the constant complaining in other work areas which is so prevalent. Whether it is training or the kind of work they do, I don't know, but it certainly would seem to be an area worth studying to benefit the entire country.

See ya

The Government We Deserve?

You've heard that before, right? I've always hated using that philosophy to describe what to me is an "us vs them" game. Those who vote without reason, and win, do deserve what they get. But if I'm on the other side of the argument, and end up with the same government, do I actually deserve it? I would say no.

And that's what I think we are looking at this time around.

As referred to yesterday, Obama gives really, really great speeches. His command of the language and its vocabulary is far and above most public figures of the day. (My brain tells me he has a team of speech writers, but the words come from him and its well nigh impossible to separate the two.) He just makes it "sound" so good that most people just jump on the bandwagon without giving it a second thought.

Do most people realize that voting for a dictatorship in the name of "change" is exactly what we got? I do not go with the messiah refrain, but instead look at his election as being a coronation and we have a monarchy as a result. We also have all the trappings of nobility. The keepers of the purse (The Soros, Strykers, etal,) the noblemen and women who flutter around to do the king's bidding (Pelosi and Reid among others,) the town criers who spread the word (The NY Times, Washington Post, and left wing bloggers) and followed by all the other layers of privilege until you get to us at the bottom, the serfs.

So if you voted for Obama, you got what you wanted and deserve, just don't think that those of us who believe in capitalism and a free society for all, including life from conception 'til natural death, are getting what we deserve.

We ALL deserve better!

See ya.....

Headline: If You Think Healthcare Costs are High Now, Wait until They Are FREE!!

First saw this thought a couple of weeks ago and today read a piece about how Medicaid really supplies rationed and inferior care, which I guess we always knew, but the worst part of this is that with all this money being included in deficit spending and conjecture has it that $100 billion will be added to Medicaid without any changes in procedures for service, care or streamlining paperwork.

So why would Obama want to build on a system with poor outcomes? And what is the Daschle position? And why to they think he will do much better than Hillary did? Is it because he knows the legislators better and can get things through? To what end?

Will there be exceptions for states who do a better job than the feds or will it will be another case of playing to the lowest common denominator? And I wonder if AARP will figure they were just ahead of the game 14 years ago and their time has come? Guess we'll just have to wait and see............

One other thing--as mentioned before Obama is still in campaign mode and gave a rousing speech today on how bad off we are and how it's going to take longer than we could ever imagine to get through this. But I don't get it. There was still not one concrete idea as to how to get started or whether there will be transparency on the biggest boondoggle ever and even had the Fox news guy gushing. Never thought I'd see the day.

As long as I've been working for various volunteer organizations the most important lesson I've learned is that if you're going to ask for money, or intend to spend money already given by donors, you need to tell them exactly what is going to be done with it. Then the next time you come asking, they will know they can trust in your record. Blank checks scare me to death!

See ya...

Horse Trading?

One can only hope that when Obama talks about $1 trillion or $1.2 or $1.3 trillion deficits and stimulus packages combined with $300 billion tax cuts that it is the beginning of negotiations. I trust we can safely assume that the figure will come in lower than "trillions" in an attempt to make his administration look like they really worked hard and kept the package "as low as possible." Therefore, the President is still the champion of the people.

When campaigning, every program was intended to take effect immediately or thereabouts. Now there appear to be delays. What? Did they find out that the folks who have to give their OK (Soros, etc.) need a little more time to formulate their input? It takes time for them to talk to each other, right? Are their votes commensurate with the amount of money involved? Or is there some other formula.....

There are a number of individuals/organizations roaming the internet from Catholic and fundamental church groups reminding us that prayer is the answer and of course they are right. We should all have one request in common. That The President-elect will change his extreme position on abortion rights and that as few people as possible will be hurt by any of the programs instituted by his attempts to solve the economic ills facing us.

It is going to be very difficult for any Republican in Congress to have any effect at all and with all the rubber stamp Dems such as Michigan's 7th District guy it is going to be a long, tough, uphill battle.

If anything happens later in the day, see ya.......

Leon Panetta--Do you Feel Safer Now?

More of the Clinton III team on board! Now, let's see....... Clinton had Osama in the cross hairs but couldn't make a legal call, right? We had the first attack on the World Trade Center -- both during the time that best buds Panetta and Clinton were running things in the White House. I don't know about you, but I have not felt less safe since 9/11.

Why do Obama and his team keep saying this is the worst recession since the 30s? I can't get the mantra of double digit interest rates, unemployment and inflation that President Carter left us with out of my mind. Thank God for President Reagan.

Remember when we chastised Sen. Shelby for being critical of the GM/Chrysler bailout? Little did I know at the time, but have since seen figures indicating that with all of the tax rebates, tax deferments, and the other enticements which governors and local governments promise to potential businesses to come into their states has amounted to astronomical amounts which dwarf the dollars advanced to the American auto companies. (At least there is the possibility of a payback.) I'll have to do a little research and come up with the actual figures for you.

See ya tomorrow--