Just a quick note tonight about the history of education in America.
How about instead of competing with parochial schools the public schools look for guidance where success is a way of life. As far as I know most of those schools exist on far less money and fewer resources than public schools--in particular they have no unions. And yet it seems that they graduate and send on to college many more than the average public school.
This is Catholic schools week hereabouts but there are many more of all denominations plus home schooled kids whose parents want to teach certain values and get away from some of the rules that educate in some ways what they don't want or need until later in life and with family viewpoints included in the curriculum.
One of these schools in Jackson has been operating non-stop for 120 years and another for 145. Stop, if you will, and figure out how much money these parents, who sacrifice to send their youngsters to schools like these plus paying taxes, have saved the public school system through that many generations.
And then think of the hospitals started by Sisters of Mercy and other Orders who, if Obama signs the Freedom of Choice Act, (HA!) will probably be closed rather than be forced to commit murder through abortion. Perhaps it would be a good idea to start letting some of our pro-abortion acquaintances know that these might be called unintended consequences by some, but logical by us.
I have a friend who thinks that would be a terrible thing for the church to do--to deny needed services, but I hastened to tell her that no one would even think of it if a bill doesn't force the issue. The first strike comes from the Congress and the second with the President's signature before there can be any reaction. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? Self-defense is a legitimate act.
Can't help wondering if this promise to NARAL will be kept in the dead of night without fanfare or if it will be a blaze of glory. We'll just have to wait and see.
Bye for now...
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Rush Limbaugh Flak
There was a time a few years ago that I opined that if my doorbell rang and I peeked through the curtain to see who it was, there were two people for whom I would not open the door: Bill Clinton because I don't like him and why would I bother? And Rush Limbaugh because there could be no dialogue.
However, if I am in the car between 12 and 3 Eastern, I hear bits and pieces of Rush. And it has always been so. I rarely turn on the radio in the house since we don't have one in every room so in order to listen you'd have to stay in one place and that's not the way it works around here. At any rate, I truly enjoy hearing his point of view and frankly, agree with him on most issues. It's just that he is so full of himself and how does anyone ever have a bona fide discussion with him?
As with my defense of President Bush--he doesn't need my help but sometimes the critics are so ridiculous you just have to say something or burst. And now this business of mixing it up with Obama is another example. I can't defend Rush, he does a good job himself, but I need to make a point here.
I'm scared! We've all talked about jeopardizing the first and second amendments among other topics during the campaign, but deep down we just couldn't believe it would happen. Now I believe it. If that liberal machine really targets the freedom of speech for conservatives and if they can suppress Rush, what chance do the rest of us have?
How many conservative blogs are there? How many would there be if a law were passed that it would cost $5000 a year for a license to blog? And what would it take for this Congress to pass such a law? If we are all cowering in fear over the economic "crisis" and potential job loss, etc., etc. would we even notice if they did it in the dead of night?
Let's all have a great super bowl to take our minds off this stuff for a few hours and spend time with friends and family which is really the important thing, right?
Football! The American way!
God bless....
Stay tuned for some surprising news about Fiat.
However, if I am in the car between 12 and 3 Eastern, I hear bits and pieces of Rush. And it has always been so. I rarely turn on the radio in the house since we don't have one in every room so in order to listen you'd have to stay in one place and that's not the way it works around here. At any rate, I truly enjoy hearing his point of view and frankly, agree with him on most issues. It's just that he is so full of himself and how does anyone ever have a bona fide discussion with him?
As with my defense of President Bush--he doesn't need my help but sometimes the critics are so ridiculous you just have to say something or burst. And now this business of mixing it up with Obama is another example. I can't defend Rush, he does a good job himself, but I need to make a point here.
I'm scared! We've all talked about jeopardizing the first and second amendments among other topics during the campaign, but deep down we just couldn't believe it would happen. Now I believe it. If that liberal machine really targets the freedom of speech for conservatives and if they can suppress Rush, what chance do the rest of us have?
How many conservative blogs are there? How many would there be if a law were passed that it would cost $5000 a year for a license to blog? And what would it take for this Congress to pass such a law? If we are all cowering in fear over the economic "crisis" and potential job loss, etc., etc. would we even notice if they did it in the dead of night?
Let's all have a great super bowl to take our minds off this stuff for a few hours and spend time with friends and family which is really the important thing, right?
Football! The American way!
God bless....
Stay tuned for some surprising news about Fiat.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Random Thoughts--Pick One
Did you ever have one of those days when there was so much news and/or repetition of old stories that you want to either laugh or cry? Or get mad and stomp your feet? Or throw more than a foam brick at the TV or radio? How as a rational person you just turn them off and read the paper which is just as bad, thumb through a book or magazine and finally it's time to go to bed.....
1-Revisit the stimulus package with the observation that at least the Republicans didn't cave this time and allow Obama to just wash his hands like Pilate so he could lay the blame off on someone else.
2-How can capitalism or a market economy or whatever label we use these days survive when the leader of the free world is more concerned with what the rest of the world thinks of him/us is more important than the future of the country itself?
3-Couldn't stipulations on certain methods or constraints by the lender (us) be considered the collateral we should get for the money they get? Bonuses?
4-I've decided watching a Jay Leno monologue haranguing George W is self-inflicted pain so I'll forego that since he just can't seem to get over it.
5-One more comment about Geithner: when did we stop getting character references when we hired someone?
6-Some of the topics covered weeks ago on this blog seem to be in the news these days. Should I reprint or just give the date so you can retrieve them. Case in point: the Mexican drug/government/border/gang problems.
See ya--
God bless and rest well.
1-Revisit the stimulus package with the observation that at least the Republicans didn't cave this time and allow Obama to just wash his hands like Pilate so he could lay the blame off on someone else.
2-How can capitalism or a market economy or whatever label we use these days survive when the leader of the free world is more concerned with what the rest of the world thinks of him/us is more important than the future of the country itself?
3-Couldn't stipulations on certain methods or constraints by the lender (us) be considered the collateral we should get for the money they get? Bonuses?
4-I've decided watching a Jay Leno monologue haranguing George W is self-inflicted pain so I'll forego that since he just can't seem to get over it.
5-One more comment about Geithner: when did we stop getting character references when we hired someone?
6-Some of the topics covered weeks ago on this blog seem to be in the news these days. Should I reprint or just give the date so you can retrieve them. Case in point: the Mexican drug/government/border/gang problems.
See ya--
God bless and rest well.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Roosevelt was no Magician, either!
There's no proof, but convincing circumstantial evidence, in the following story which demonstrates how much influence and how soon the public works projects of the 1930s actually worked. A little personal history, if you will.
My father's family emigrated from Germany in 1922 and landed at Ellis Island. From there they went to Chicago where they had relatives as was often the case. My parents met in 1929 and continued with their plans to marry in February of 1930 in spite of the crash.
My dad was what was called a rough carpenter, one of his brothers was considered a skilled cabinet maker, the third brother was a mason and their widowed sister became their homemaker. They were quite successful in doing everything from sub-contracting on jobs as big as schools and hospitals and as small as road building projects such as culverts, etc. Of course they were not afraid to travel and went wherever there was a job.
I was born in Chicago in December of 1930, had my first birthday in Baltimore, the second and third in Chicago, the fourth and fifth in Iowa and my sixth in Minnesota where we stayed permanently with a couple of exceptions. The exceptions started in Iowa when my dad went to California the winter I was five while we stayed behind with my aunt; the second was in 1940 when he landed a contract in California and our entire family went to California for 6 months returning to Minnesota in May of 1941. In November of 1941 my dad signed a contract for one year of work on Wake Island. And the rest, as they say, is history. He returned in October of 1945 having spent from December 7 'til August of '45 in POW camps in China and Japan.
The reason for this litany of moves? To demonstrate that this was a young man (28 in October of 1929) who was gainfully employed throughout the depression, but he didn't wait for public works. And further, to demonstrate that the double digit unemployment figures of the time lasted a long, long time.
If this administration truly believes that the nearly trillion dollars Obama wants to spend on "shovel ready" projects will put 4 million people to work in two short years...........
The approval processes to expend the funds plus the permits required from all the different levels of government will take months and months. I would so like to be able to have the faith that it will happen, but I just don't see it.
See ya...
ps-I almost feel sorry for Blagoyovich. He grew up in the middle of Chicago politics, played the game exactly the way he was taught and then they brought in a new kid and changed the rules in the middle of the game.
My father's family emigrated from Germany in 1922 and landed at Ellis Island. From there they went to Chicago where they had relatives as was often the case. My parents met in 1929 and continued with their plans to marry in February of 1930 in spite of the crash.
My dad was what was called a rough carpenter, one of his brothers was considered a skilled cabinet maker, the third brother was a mason and their widowed sister became their homemaker. They were quite successful in doing everything from sub-contracting on jobs as big as schools and hospitals and as small as road building projects such as culverts, etc. Of course they were not afraid to travel and went wherever there was a job.
I was born in Chicago in December of 1930, had my first birthday in Baltimore, the second and third in Chicago, the fourth and fifth in Iowa and my sixth in Minnesota where we stayed permanently with a couple of exceptions. The exceptions started in Iowa when my dad went to California the winter I was five while we stayed behind with my aunt; the second was in 1940 when he landed a contract in California and our entire family went to California for 6 months returning to Minnesota in May of 1941. In November of 1941 my dad signed a contract for one year of work on Wake Island. And the rest, as they say, is history. He returned in October of 1945 having spent from December 7 'til August of '45 in POW camps in China and Japan.
The reason for this litany of moves? To demonstrate that this was a young man (28 in October of 1929) who was gainfully employed throughout the depression, but he didn't wait for public works. And further, to demonstrate that the double digit unemployment figures of the time lasted a long, long time.
If this administration truly believes that the nearly trillion dollars Obama wants to spend on "shovel ready" projects will put 4 million people to work in two short years...........
The approval processes to expend the funds plus the permits required from all the different levels of government will take months and months. I would so like to be able to have the faith that it will happen, but I just don't see it.
See ya...
ps-I almost feel sorry for Blagoyovich. He grew up in the middle of Chicago politics, played the game exactly the way he was taught and then they brought in a new kid and changed the rules in the middle of the game.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Time to Talk about Pelosi.......
Just can't put it off any longer. The best word that can describe this woman is "obtuse." How else would you consider that she just doesn't appear to understand even the most elementary premise whether it be economics or religion.
For anyone in her position to make statements regarding conception or abortion as a method of population control resulting in stimulation of the budget by funding other programs is ludicrous. Consider the difference there would be in this country if the 50 million aborted babies had lived to work on both sides of the supply/demand equation.
And remember when the Bishops in her church (and mine) had to correct her when she tried to put a spin on the beginning of life by erroneously naming philosophers/saints as questioning the issue and coming to no conclusion? And how she calls herself a devout Catholic?
Anyone of us could write a book about her and the examples of "obtuse" would make the footnotes take up half the pages, but it would be a waste of time. We'll leave it here, but next time she comes up with a doozy, we'll pass it on.
See ya
pa-Nick was right when he wrote about the job loss due to the CAFE standards and I'll go one step further: since Obama has ordered the federal fleet to be "green" at a cost of over $600,000 extra let's picture this scenario: When there are cars to be bought which satisfy the government, most of us will not be able to afford them so we will keep our present cars and ultimately replace them with newer used cars. Thus the used car market will go up, new cars will sit in the showroom and emissions will either remain the same or increase. And sometime after that, when the supply of used cars is exhausted, or nearly so, what do you suppose they will tell us we should do to solve the problem? Another stimulus program? A lottery? Mandatory public transportation? Your guess is as good as mine if not better. All I can see is an enormous boondoggle. Take good care of your car--you may need it longer than you think.
For anyone in her position to make statements regarding conception or abortion as a method of population control resulting in stimulation of the budget by funding other programs is ludicrous. Consider the difference there would be in this country if the 50 million aborted babies had lived to work on both sides of the supply/demand equation.
And remember when the Bishops in her church (and mine) had to correct her when she tried to put a spin on the beginning of life by erroneously naming philosophers/saints as questioning the issue and coming to no conclusion? And how she calls herself a devout Catholic?
Anyone of us could write a book about her and the examples of "obtuse" would make the footnotes take up half the pages, but it would be a waste of time. We'll leave it here, but next time she comes up with a doozy, we'll pass it on.
See ya
pa-Nick was right when he wrote about the job loss due to the CAFE standards and I'll go one step further: since Obama has ordered the federal fleet to be "green" at a cost of over $600,000 extra let's picture this scenario: When there are cars to be bought which satisfy the government, most of us will not be able to afford them so we will keep our present cars and ultimately replace them with newer used cars. Thus the used car market will go up, new cars will sit in the showroom and emissions will either remain the same or increase. And sometime after that, when the supply of used cars is exhausted, or nearly so, what do you suppose they will tell us we should do to solve the problem? Another stimulus program? A lottery? Mandatory public transportation? Your guess is as good as mine if not better. All I can see is an enormous boondoggle. Take good care of your car--you may need it longer than you think.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Ration Cars or Ration Gas?
After we learned today that the 2020 fuel averages are to be moved up to 2011, and wondering why the President would not let the auto makers make this earth shaking announcement themselves I started wondering why. When Hector was a pup it used to take 3-5 years between the ideas, designs, testing, launch and production of vehicles which means that in order to have all these systems in place ready to sell in 2 years, they must already be almost "on the shelf" and ready to go now.
As Judge Judy says, "if it doesn't make sense, it's not true." And as presented this doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I figure there are at least two possible scenarios, if not more.
1-All auto makers will have to figure out the proportions of product from small cars to small trucks and big cars to big trucks which will bring them to the average being mandated by the government. Their guesstimates as to demand will then be factored into the formula and the customers will have their choices as to what is available and what they want to spend. I call that rationing.
2-Each household will be given a questionnaire which will include the number of family members, perhaps ages (in order to determine need for travel such as school needs, medical needs, average shopping trips, etc.,) church membersship, work from home or outside the home, vacation allowances, income level, etc. Then they will be given a "category of need" number which will give them choices based on what they should be able to afford and need. I also call that rationing.
I also call the whole idea big brotherish at the least and a dictatorship at the worst. (They could also just ration the gas, but even liberals know that Americans would balk at that.)
I was half joking when I spoke to #2 son and told him my idea and he said, "Mom, I'll bet you it won't be 3 weeks before you will have a pile of letters calling you unpatriotic--you're not doing your part to save oil." My response is that (and long time readers remember my column on re-cycling) I'm a champion at efficiently planning running errands and all the other activities lumped together under not wasting anything. Those of us in modest circumstances are forced to be prudent due to economics. Only the wealthy can afford to waste even though many of the wealthy got there by not wasting.
So there you have it. Be smart. Be patriotic. But remember, there is an "elite guard" in this country who believe that they know what is best for you--don't give them permission easily.
See ya...
As Judge Judy says, "if it doesn't make sense, it's not true." And as presented this doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I figure there are at least two possible scenarios, if not more.
1-All auto makers will have to figure out the proportions of product from small cars to small trucks and big cars to big trucks which will bring them to the average being mandated by the government. Their guesstimates as to demand will then be factored into the formula and the customers will have their choices as to what is available and what they want to spend. I call that rationing.
2-Each household will be given a questionnaire which will include the number of family members, perhaps ages (in order to determine need for travel such as school needs, medical needs, average shopping trips, etc.,) church membersship, work from home or outside the home, vacation allowances, income level, etc. Then they will be given a "category of need" number which will give them choices based on what they should be able to afford and need. I also call that rationing.
I also call the whole idea big brotherish at the least and a dictatorship at the worst. (They could also just ration the gas, but even liberals know that Americans would balk at that.)
I was half joking when I spoke to #2 son and told him my idea and he said, "Mom, I'll bet you it won't be 3 weeks before you will have a pile of letters calling you unpatriotic--you're not doing your part to save oil." My response is that (and long time readers remember my column on re-cycling) I'm a champion at efficiently planning running errands and all the other activities lumped together under not wasting anything. Those of us in modest circumstances are forced to be prudent due to economics. Only the wealthy can afford to waste even though many of the wealthy got there by not wasting.
So there you have it. Be smart. Be patriotic. But remember, there is an "elite guard" in this country who believe that they know what is best for you--don't give them permission easily.
See ya...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sec of State-Whip and a Chair or "Whisperer?"
Somehow I'm getting this vibe that tells me Secretary of State Condi Rice is like the "whisperer" who speaks subliminally and all the unspoken body language and nuances tell her what she needs to know about the tough guys she's dealing with and in return they know that this is one strong lady representing one strong country.
And the smartest woman in the world is going to charge in acting strong and using words that "prove" it all the while representing folks who are intent on a one-world philosophy. She talks about more foreign aid at a time when we can ill afford what we pay out now and it reminds me of the rich kid who tries to buy friendship.
I guess we'll have to wait and watch and while we're twiddling our thumbs does anyone want to take a bet on who wins the "we need a special prosecutor to investigate President Bush" vs the "we need to look forward, not backward" contest? The players here are Michigan's own Conyers and Levin tag teaming and a new President who is trying to take the lead in his party and his country. More watching and waiting needed. Who is really controlling this administration?
In the meantime it is vital that we let them know we are watching. Let our Michigan Senators and Representatives know we do care what is going on and we are keeping score. As it seems that we are in constant campaign mode these days, perhaps we'll get a little more than lip service.
See ya...
ps-Didja know that Fiat's 4th quarter was down 70%? And of course that was a surprise that they didn't have a clue about when they were negotiating with Chrysler? Duh!!!
And the smartest woman in the world is going to charge in acting strong and using words that "prove" it all the while representing folks who are intent on a one-world philosophy. She talks about more foreign aid at a time when we can ill afford what we pay out now and it reminds me of the rich kid who tries to buy friendship.
I guess we'll have to wait and watch and while we're twiddling our thumbs does anyone want to take a bet on who wins the "we need a special prosecutor to investigate President Bush" vs the "we need to look forward, not backward" contest? The players here are Michigan's own Conyers and Levin tag teaming and a new President who is trying to take the lead in his party and his country. More watching and waiting needed. Who is really controlling this administration?
In the meantime it is vital that we let them know we are watching. Let our Michigan Senators and Representatives know we do care what is going on and we are keeping score. As it seems that we are in constant campaign mode these days, perhaps we'll get a little more than lip service.
See ya...
ps-Didja know that Fiat's 4th quarter was down 70%? And of course that was a surprise that they didn't have a clue about when they were negotiating with Chrysler? Duh!!!
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