In Response to Main Stream Media

The main stream media wants you to believe that all the protesters both tea partiers and health care rioters are based out of some ultra-conservative, super right wing, Republican backed camp. And once again, they are over simplifying a growing situation in order to keep a rebellion down. They want to claim that anyone who does not support the President of the United States is a racist, like many of his supporters did while he was nominee Obama.

I say that the unfortunate thing that the main stream media is ignoring is that the United States government, a government that claims to be "for the people, by the people" is in fact using the people as pawns in their little game. The Democrats are crying about the town hall meetings turning into shouting matches with people being removed and physical altercations set up by corporation backed, special interest parties. Meanwhile, at tea parties, the Republicans claim that ACORN sent out it's mobilized troops to stir up the crowds in order to discredit the movement.

I'm sorry, but I thought that the First Amendment gave us the right to assemble. The freedom of speech. I thought this country was founded on telling those in power where they can stick it, because we won't take it. I thought we were a nation founded on the principles of truth and justice, and not being told what to do. Yet this administration is doing just the opposite. They are telling us how and where we can spend our money, and if we don't like it tough. The "Cash for Clunkers" program, while great on paper, tells Americans that they can only spend their money on new cars or not get it. That 2 extra billion the government pulled out of thin air, while maintaining a trillion dollars debt, and owing around that same amount to Communist China, a country that not only oppresses the freedom of religion, and speech, but tells its people how many children they can have, leading to numerous amounts of baby girls being left out in the mountains to die, that 2 billion is not for the American people, it's another auto industry bail out.

The program is called "Car Allowance Rebate". Allowance, like we are children that need to be told what to do and where we can and can not spend our money. As I said in my "Conspiracy Theory" post, this money is designed to put more new cars out on the road. And while I'm all for green technology, and cleaner more fuel efficient cars and energy, why is the government telling us that this is the only place we can spend $4,500? At least Bush sent us the check and told us we could spend it however, and where ever we wanted. Americans don't need to go further in debt with car payments, yet many are because the government tells them to do it.

Meanwhile, this administration promised no new taxes on middle income families in the form of payroll taxes, etc. However, just like any true politician, the President has side stepped the issue of no new taxes on families directly, to indirectly adding new taxes. The already passed and in effect taxes on vices such as alcohol and tobacco, and now there is still talk of taxing soda to pay for health care. A policy that eventually will be fully run by the United States government where the government tells you what policy is best for you because you don't know any better. And while I still have questions about it, I do know that the current bill still allows for tax payer money to fund abortions, it also will force Americans to take on the government's health care if a citizen wants to simply change their out of pocket expenses.

I know that many of my views come off as Republican, and the main stream media will just say that the Republicans are poor losers and are crying about losing the last couple of elections. And nothing could be further from the truth. If you had talked to me this time last year, my views would have seemed more Democratic. In fact, in local politics my last two times, when I voted for the main stream parties, it was Democrats. I am a firm believer that there needs to be an end to our supposed democracy based on two party system.

But, back to the point I was trying to make. I think by claiming that those who speak out against government interaction are backed by some corporation and their sole mission is to bring down the President is a dangerous accusation. The Democrats have already claimed that they will pass the health care bill with or without bi-partisan help. Kind of like the kid at school who will listen to why you want to use his ball, but tells you in the long run, it's his ball and he'll play with it how he wants to. I am not backed by a corporate sponsor. There is no sponsorship on this blog, the closes thing to it is what books I like to read. Instead let me give you another theory, one that was stated 10 years ago, and rings truer today more than ever:

"I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off." -Fight Club (1999)

One of the trending topics on twitter today is #nevertrust, and I say, Never trust a government that is going to tell you how to spend your own money. As teens we fought our parents on how we were going to spend the money that we earned, and now the Federal government is acting like our parents and telling us how and where we can spend our hard earn money, and we should be very, very pissed off.

The Aftermath of the Flood

"It's Raining; It's Pouring; The Old Man Is Snoring"

Tuesday morning saw the largest single day rainfall in over a 100 years. In a matter of minutes the streets became impassable and within a matter of hours houses found themselves taking on water. It lead many to wonder what we have done wrong. Since April of 2008, my city had been hit with an earthquake (4/08), a windstorm caused by Hurricane Ike (9/08), an Ice Storm (2/09) and now a flash flood (8/09). However, my family had survived many of these disasters, until now.

Our basement took on water, about 9 inches give or take. Talking with neighbors, we were lucky. The neighbor across the street took on 2 feet. Neighbors down the road took on 3 1/2 feet and were stuck in their house as their front lawn became part of the newly developed lake. To make matters worse, no sooner had the water receded, several hours later, than another neighbor's house caught on fire. The Public Library and nearest hospital both took on water, with damages conservatively estimated to date at 2 million dollars. The major university found itself under water with 7 buildings being flooded out.

You never really realize how people use different parts of their houses. The basement is used so differently by so many different people. Our basement was our laundry room, but we also kept our books from college and the baby accessories our son had out grown, all of it gone now. Our immediate neighbor used his as an apartment, couches and chairs all gone. Another neighbor, across the street used hers to store some of her collectibles, heirlooms and the things belonging to her two youngest, one who just got out of the Marines, and moved in with his soon to be in-laws, and the other son who is currently serving with the Marines in Afghanistan, all lost in the flood. That was our Tuesday.

On Wednesday, after the initial clean up, the mayor made his announcement about what the benchmarks are for the city in order to receive Federal funding by FEMA and for the President to declare a State of Emergency. All of which falls on the city since the state was not effected by the rain storm. The head of the city health department came on and told people to throw out any clothes that got wet since the flood water was from the sewers and were contaminated. A good majority of our clothes were wet, with a few exceptions. Throwing out all our clothes was and is not a possibility based on our income. The original hopes were to save at least half, but after putting on the rubber gloves and ringing out the clothes, one at a time, by hand, and seeing the nasty yellow film that stained the gloves, we knew that wasn't going to happen. We now are just going to try and save the clothes we can. We threw out several large bags of clothes while washing some that will never be the same again.

We realized what it was we had to do and started calling friends and family to see if they could help us in any way. Provide us with hand me down linens, towels and clothing. My mother in-law is taking up a collection and is coming down this weekend, since we live near 2 of her other daughters and we were all effected by the flood, to help clean up. That was our Wednesday.

It's now Thursday. I'm back to work, having taken the last few days off, I couldn't get out of my duties today. It's an all day work day, so cleaning up is out of the question. I have, however, started trying to recover by asking for help from fellow members of the fraternity I was in while in college. And much to my surprise, within a matter of hours I have already received emails from members, even ones I have never met, who want to help us out by donating clothes.

My weekend, starting Friday, will consist of cleaning up. Tomorrow, I'm taking off and will hopefully finish up my basement. From there we will descend on other houses that need help to finish up their clean up hopefully before the mold really sets in. That is my weekend plans.

It takes losing all these things that make you realize what you have and how special it truly is. While we have lost a great majority of our clothes, bedding and what not, we still have a home, we still have our health, and we still have each other, and that is all that matters. And with the help of our friends and family, we will make it out of this. Yes, some of the things that were lost can't be replaced, and that is awful. But at the end of the day, they were just paper and materials.

However, if the President wants to see an economic stimulus, give those effected by this flood $4,500 that you would give the "Cash for Clunkers". If Congress can pull $2 billion out of the air to allow "Cash for Clunkers" to keep going, they should be able to pull a few hundred thousand for families that may not have lost their houses, although some have, but for families who have lost clothes and appliances.

But in the end, they are just materials goods. If the government wants to give me money, I'll take it. If friends and family do, we'll take it. At the end of the day, I am not my khakis.

Conspiracy Theory

The Obama administration hasn't shied away from flexing their political guns since the beginning of the term. And while this is understandable, as some will say that they only way to clean anything up or get anything done is taking a hardline stance on your goals and objectives, there is something that we may actually want to take a deeper look into and it pertains to the "cash for clunkers" government program.

While Barack Obama has flexed his guns by taking aim at news agencies (if that's what you can call Fox News) and states by calling the governor of Arizona after the President's stimulus bill was questioned by a senator, he has now taken aim at all of his political opponents through a symbolic gesture by euthenizing the clunkers.

Instead of helping trying to build up the used car industry, an industry that puts out old cars at a rate cheaper than buying brand new cars, thus making buying cars semi affordable for everyone, the Obama administration has instead destroyed every clunker brought into a new car dealership by pouring a saline solution into the engine killing the car and rendering it useless. So not only does this effectively kill the used car industry, creating the starts of a monopoly on car sales (by which I mean you can only buy new cars) it effectively limits the amount of used car parts for those whose hobby or job it is to use said parts for rebuilding or repair projects.

So, for someone like my brother-in-law who is putting together an old school VW bus-truck, for every engine or motor part that is traded in that could be conpatable, it has now gone off the market, never to be used, since the euthenized vehicles have to be sent to a government aproved "farm". This also hinders those who are not able to afford a new vehicle even at the rebated reduced price. So when ever my 94 clunker needs repairs, the parts will be even more limited than they are now.

So where is the symbolizm? Well, with the government killing the old vehicles it can be viewed as one of two ways. The glass half full thought of "happy government, thanks for looking out for us, dawn of a new era" which many have chosen to do, or the glass half empty thought of "the goevernment is showing those industries who are not in line that when it takes over, the old way will effectively be killed out, so watch out health care industry". Really this is for you all to decide.

On a side note, for a country so in debt, where did Congress find this 2 BILLION dollars it's going to use to keep "Cash for Clunkers" going? And how is this usage of monopoly money effecting the dollar on the make believe world government ran markets?

The President is a Racist and so am I

The Daily Show, American’s primary newsertainment outlet, recently chastised Glenn Beck for his statements concerning President Obama’s racist statements. Actually, they chastised him for making said statements, revoking them and then making them again. I guess making such bold and unpopular statements might cause one to waver just a bit.
My point here today is that President Obama is a racist. Period. And so am I and so are you. It is human nature to give preferential treatment to one’s own tribe. And since our tribes have been spread and mixed beyond recognition, mankind has deferred to giving preferential treatment to those who look physically similar to ourselves. It is in our nature not be racist, and only through rational though and action can we counter this tendency.
I am not claiming that racism is morally justified, on the contrary, in our modern American society it is a handicap. With the tribal and cultural lines blurred beyond recognition racism just doesn’t make any rational sense. But this is a recent sociological development and since our evolutionary psychological traits are very slow to compensate, I don’t think it’s fair to look down on anyone accidently making a racist statement. What we should watch for is racist policies, laws and social practices. If we can keep these to a minimum then lets let the President drop the N word a few times for shit’s a giggles.

True State of the Union

America is in trouble, this is not news, but the bigger problem lies in not just Washington but in the state capitols all over the country. Our leaders have forgotten us. Don't fall for their redirect about actually caring and doing things for the American people. We are smart enough to know that bull crap isn't steak even if the chef tells us different. Yet our leaders continuously tell us that what they are doing is what's best for us.

Our system of government is dying if it's not already dead. In party fighting has long been a sad standard for American politics, however, with this new administration the people have been caught in the middle. We are being told bi-monthly that our elected representatives are wasting time on the job and that there is a crisis. And who is the one reporting all of this? Who is the one that choices to air out grievances on nationwide television instead of sit down and actually talk to those whom have a different opinion? Non other than the President of the United States, who's party actually controls Congress. And while Congressional members bad mouthing the president to news organizations is not uncommon, how often did we see any of the previous Presidents bad mouth their own party members when they controlled 2/3rds of the branches of government.

The Republican Party is dead, sorry but it's true. Like a chicken with it's head cut off, the only reason the GOP is still running around thinking that it's got life is because the Democrats can't finish them off. The GOP has run it's course and should consider that, as political ideology, it would serve the American people best by destroying itself and splitting. The infighting between the younger "core" of Republicans like Meghan McCain and those who have been there like minority leader (ironic since it's an old white guy) Mitch McConnell have all but destroyed the party.

The truth is, Republicans like Ms. McCain, Ron Paul and even Rudy Giuliani should start their own party, but are too afraid to because of our make believe idea that we, as a "democracy" only have a two party system and anything more would destroy our government or allow the the "other" party to win. Guess what, they already have and your party has no real viable solution for the 2012 presidential election. Sarah Palin can't be taken seriously as she quits her position, and you have governors caught waist deep in scandal.

The Democrats, as of the election of President Obama looked poised to finish off the Republicans with a death blow not seen in over a hundred years. They really harnessed the untapped power that was the youth vote by presenting Obama as the "voice of a new generation". This young, hip, black man was going to change the old white ways of Washington with "change we can use". And while I understand empires aren't built in a day, it does take one crushing blow to destroy them. President Obama was elected, as were many other Democrats on the basis that they were going to fix the economy, they were going to bring our troops home and that it wasn't going to be "politics as usual" in Washington anymore. President Obama was going to be the next FDR. The problem lies in the fact that the youth movement really is ADD. Obama didn't say he was going to bring our troops back, he made it perfectly clear he was moving the theatre east into Afghanistan. He told us the economy was only going to get worse before it got better, although he did promise that the economic stimulus that he sent out would keep unemployment at 6-8% which as now gone to almost 10% nationwide, with 14 states at or over that margin.

Don't let the markets fool you. Just because there is a gain in trading doesn't mean the economy is doing better. The market is run by used cars sales men who want you to think that the product your buying is in the best shape it's ever been in. Take gas for example. Prices last month kept rising at the pump while the price of crude oil dropped.

President Obama forced through Congress his stimulus package, a package that no member of Congress had read. Now he wants to rush through a Health Care bill. Defenders of the bill, those who want it passed quickly use the argument that this is something they've been talking about for a while. I'm all for the idea of this bill, I even agree that those families who make a million dollars should help pay for those who can't afford it. I do disagree on any and all raising of taxes on the middle class or a taxation on soda. The government already has enough vice taxes as every time they need a dime they head straight for cigarettes or alcohol. Like many of those who oppose the bill, there needs to be some language in there about abortions. My own opinion of abortions doesn't matter since the alternative of back ally abortions is not an option, however with the feeling that many Americans have about abortion, it would be wrong if tax payer money went to abortions under this health care reform.

On the subject of taxing, I believe that the city of Oakland got it right. They have passed a bill that will increase the taxation on legalized marijuana for medical usage. The tax increase from $1.50 per every $1000 to $18 per every $1000 will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the cash strap city. Even the governator is considering pushing a similar bill that would help raise $1.5 million in revenue on taxes alone, imagine how much it would save tax payers in not prosecuting non-violent marijuana users.

I read an article, I can't remember where or who said it, but someone said that the American people wouldn't stand for it if one day they woke up and the Chinese had military bases on our soil. Well, I say to all of you that they already have. However they are not military bases but in fact are corporations. The Chinese have over a trillion dollars invested in the United States. They have used our economic crisis against us and the government has simply gone along with it because in the grand scheme of life, in a capitalistic society that finds itself in unfamiliar territory, money really does talk. It really is only a matter of time before the Chinese use what they have for their own profit. Like any good investment, China does not want to see America fail, and if and when the United States gets back up on its feet, guess who just funded China's latest crimes against humanity whether it be squashing Catholics, Taiwan, Buddhist, Tibet or any others that oppose them? Yes, the American tax payers.

America, we need to open our eyes to what it is our government is doing. To quote the movie "V for Vendetta": "People should not fear their government, the government should fear its people". We are a democracy where our politicians only do enough to get re-elected. They only care about our feelings and our opinions when it suites them. They would rather listen to lobbyist who represent big corporations or big interest. These are the people, our representatives that are supposed to be OUR lobbyist. Our elected officials, both federal and statewide, work for us, and that is something they need to be reminded of. Maybe its time that we remind them of who their bosses are.

Also, as a side note, coming in August is a special report about the forgotten minorities. With CNN doing a sequel to "Black in America" and President Obama being praised for being the first African American President, we will view the hardships that affects those who have been forgotten, the Native Americans.

July Potpourri

Trying to start off this month with a bang, but due to the economy, like many cities around the United States, we had to cut back on our fireworks. Now, post Michael Jackson news can once again flow from our blog into the computers of...well, whoever really reads this.

The "Air" Up There: More and more information is coming out about the murder-suicide of former Titan's quarterback Steve McNair and his "out of control" mistress. The truly sad part of this ordeal is that there really is nothing shocking about this case. It just seems to me more of a clear cut "murder-suicide, scorned lover" incident.

The latest developments show that her financial situation was deteriorating, so she spent money to illegally buy a gun instead of saving money up for her upcoming DUI trial. What is even more interesting is that original reports were that McNair had "tons of guns" and that they were happy together, and he was even going to leave his wife and they were going to move in together. Now, she's an out of control mistress who was in financial distress who bought a gun and fearful that McNair had ANOTHER girl on the side.

So, that all being said, while no one will ever really know what happened that night, here's my best guess. McNair and his mistress had a fight, something along the lines of "Now is not the right time to leave my wife, but I still love you." There was probably some words thrown around but everything cooled off and McNair took a nap, maybe even one of those, "We'll discuss it more in the morning" situations that lead a man to sleep on the couch while his significant other sleeps in the bed. While alone in her bed, the 20 year old really took stock of her life, maybe even realized McNair WASN'T ever going to leave his wife, and that she was just a younger model that he took out for a test drive. After all, while McNair's wife didn't know anything about the mistress (not un-common) there was no word of anything pending with an attorney about a divorce. So, in a fit of rage, with the new gun she illegally obtained, she shot and killed the quarterback and then herself.

Extorting Rick Pitino: This has been something that hasn't really broken out into the national media, but is an interesting story none the less. This women, Karen Sypher, has been accused by the FBI of trying to extort money from University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino. But she says she's "being set up" and she's fighting the case for her children.

Now, that could be all well and true, maybe she is being set up. Maybe its not her fault she lied to the FBI about a relationship she's had with Pitino. And now she has to stand up on her own two feet and defend herself against those who are making her out to be the bad guy. Maybe it's not her fault. But what really makes her story so great is that a local news station has found her dating profile on dating website aimed at millionaires. What makes this woman an even finer piece of work, she claims that not only did she laugh about this profile of her wearing a slinky dress in a pose in front of a fire place, but that she didn't even make the profile. The true culprits of this are...wait for it...HER KIDS.

So lets recap this story...she's being set up about her story of an affair with Rick Pitino and she's fighting it for her kids who in return posted her on a dating website for rich men without 1) her knowing, and 2) them even having a laptop at home. God Bless America.

"I'm not a quitter, I'm a fighter": So Sarah Palin quit as governor of the last frontier. However, that apparently still makes her a strong candidate for GOP presidential nominee. Well, I've said it once, and I'll say it again, the GOP is dead. They have no viable solutions for anything anymore and the only reason they still exist is because 1) people are too afraid to vote for a 3rd party and 2) because the Democrats haven't proven to really be that much better. The only reason anyone would even consider still picking someone who is quitting midterm is because their party is in political turmoil due to some very big names having some very roaming eyes.

Speaking of how the other half lives: There seems to be some movement toward a final solution about the much anticipated overhaul of Health Care. The plan, tax the rich and have them pay for the majority of it. There will be some sort of sliding scale which makes it affordable for everyone. A source close to Political Liability says that this is the right move. Since I have no real knowledge of this situation, I'll have to take their word for it. The only problem I have is rich or poor, the government should not fine people who don't want anything to do with the program.

"2012: The Conspiracy": With all the political upheaval in Iran over the elections, the coup in Honduras, ethnic tensions in China, North Korea gone crazy, same sex laws in India, our new offensive in Afghanistan, on going genocide in Sudan where the leader doesn't care, protest in Peru, Israel wanting to make an offensive in Iran, not to mention planes and trains crashing all over, is this really that crazy of an idea?

Told you so: As first reported here the economy hasn't turned around. Retailers are already reporting a weak June showing. Everyone was so uplifted about the way things were in April and May, but you have to look at the greater picture.

Finally, happy belated 4th of July everyone. Lets remember the real reason we celebrate the 4th. Freedom.

Michael Jackson Memorial

I bet you didn't know, but everyday I get a Bible verse. Usually I read it and see if it pertains to my day or life or whatever, and on occasions it really does. Today's was very poignant. It was Psalms 82:3 that read "defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy", and I think nothing better defines the life I try to lead and the role Michael Jackson played in this world.

One of the greatest things said about Michael Jackson, one point that should never be lost on anyone was when Kobe Bryant said that of all the accomplishments and records Michael Jackson had achieved in his lifetime, that he also made the Guinness Book of World Records for Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star. Of all the records that he accomplished and set, and for all those now and to come who are going to try and reach those, how many are going to set out to break this one single record? MOST CHARITIES SUPPORTED BY A POP STAR. Whether News Media outlets want to report it or not, Michael Jackson was a TRUE humanitarian.

And speaking of mainstream media, shame on them. Shame on FOX News for trying to focus on the negativity of allegations than trying to celebrate the man. There will always be a time and place for it, but not during a memorial. Shame on BET for saying that because he was black, that is why the media is focusing on the negatives and that they'd never do this to a white person. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was cruelly assassinated, there was no talks of his negative, but a celebration of his life and mourning of his loss. When Elvis died, there was mention of the manner of which he died. Don't forget that it was blacks and whites alike who made fun of his skin color, saying he and his children aren't "black enough". Those jokes don't seem as funny now, do they? When shown the grander scheme of life, the greater impact Michael Jackson had on pop culture for the black community, those jokes almost seem cruel now.

I agree with what Marlon Jackson said, when he told his brother "Now, I hope they leave you alone." But you know that they won't. In the days to come the circumstances that surround the mysterious death of the "Greatest Entertainer Ever" will undoubtedly cause more controversy. It will give the pariah's that we get our news and "facts" from the ammo that they so want to bring down this man who was bigger than life. Because that is what the media does, it has to take away the humanity of our icons. With 24/7 news coverage, blogs, social media so forth and so on they will try to tear apart the memories and legacy of a man who truly asked for nothing more than to be heard out and loved. The irony of course being that these people who will try to tear him down also just want to be heard out, or they wouldn't be working in the news, and, like everyone, they want to be loved. I ask those who want to try and bring him down, when you die, will that many people miss you? Will they come out in droves to honor your legacy?

I don't begrudge the man the lifestyle he choose for his children. He knew what the media did to him, why would he want to do that for his children. Due to the nature of his status as a celebrity, his children couldn't have had a normal life, gone to normal private schools, and yet, yesterday, thanks to the raw emotion of one 11 year old girl, his daughter, Paris Jackson, his children should have put to rest any and all questions about Michael Jackson as a father. No one can deny that as one of the most touching things ANYONE will ever witness. The memorial did a great job showing the world that there were actually people who had some insight into this man, and that he was more than the lights, glitter and costumes but he was a brother, a son, a humanitarian and most importantly a father. Something that as much as it surprised the mainstream media, it really shouldn't have.

Hopefully the passing of Michael Jackson, with his most inspirational and civil minded songs being played will cause countless number of people to actually care about the world that we live in and not just give people the lip service they think we all want to hear. And yes Mr. President, now we can start talking about nuclear weapons, but lets also talk about how we are going to "heal the world, and make it a better place", how we are going to stand up in the face of adversity whether we are black, white, brown, yellow or red and help stop the atrocities that are plaguing our world. Let us hear the rulers of nations show that they really care about us. Because if we want to make the world a better place we have to look into the mirror and make a change.