NOT a Fair Share

   These two precious little ones, only five months old, apparently own a combined $88,000 share of the national debt.  For all those who want to talk about people paying their fair share, I submit to you that THIS is really not a fair share.  We ought to do something for little ones like this.  Let's start by electing a new President.

Military Madness

   This one really has me steamed.  If there is one thing that our Constitution specifically mentions as one of its limited tasks, it is the operation of a military to defend our country.  The current administration has been pushing numerous cuts to the Defense Department.
   Now we find out that those in the active military are going to be expected to contribute quite a bit more to their healthcare plan.  At the same time, civilians working in the Defense Department are not expected to make the same sacrifices.  This is because the civilians are unionized.  Need I say more.
   I consider this a slap in the face to those who put their lives on the line to serve our country.  Our President just gives the military lip-service.  I personally think he has very little respect for the military.  I think he has more respect for the Occupy Wall Street protesters.  The policies of the Obama administration have caused our nation's financial woes.  He certainly should not try to solve the problems he caused by punishing the military.
   Military personnel  are not permitted to speak unkindly about their Commander-in-Chief.  So I guess people like me have to do it for them.  We simply cannot tolerate another term for Barack Obama. 
   By the way, I wonder what our servicemen/women think about our country spending $750,000 to provide detainees a new soccer field at Gitmo.
   President Obama is bound and determined to make this country weaker.

Apologies?

   When there is even a perceived attack on another religion, especially if the religion happens to be Islam, President Obama is quick to respond with an apology. 
   When there is an actual attack on Christianity, in fact an attack made by President Obama himself, as in the HHS mandate, there is no apology.  Instead, the elite media makes it appear that it is the Christian church that ought to be apologizing.
   I am not going to go as far as to say that the President is not a Christian.  I cannot judge his heart.  However, he is working awfully hard to make it appear that he is not one.
   One more thing.  He is also working awfully hard to make it appear that he did not mean it when he took his oath of office in which he said he would defend and uphold the Constitution.  

Abort Your Principles?

Drill, Drill, and Drill Some More

President Obama said that the GOP energy plan is to drill, drill, and drill some more. That is not the Republican plan, but even if it were, it would be a better plan than the President's plan. His plan can be summarized as don't drill, don't drill, and never drill.
The President's plan relies heavily on "green" technology. At this point, green technology is either just potentially useful for the future or has to be highly subsidized by the Federal government. Electric cars are not selling, in large part to do with their high cost, even with tax breaks. Now we hear of another proposal to add another $10,000 in incentives to buy them. This means people who are NOT buying them are required to pay to help others buy them. Even then, the energy needed to charge them most likely comes from a coal-burning power plant. Another aspect of his plan is providing tax funds for "green" companies such as Solyndra, several which have gone bankrupt. This is another monumental waste of taxpayer money.
In the meantime, the President continues to obstruct anything that has to do with fossil fuels. The Keystone Pipeline has been rejected. Leases for off-shore drilling are rejected. Yet we encourage and subsidize Brazilian drilling. Drilling in ANWAR is rejected. In addition, the President is continually trying to punish oil companies through the tax code.
Ten years ago, Al Gore said it would be ten years before we could get gasoline from ANWAR. It was an excuse for not doing the drilling. Now we are expected to trust a President who thinks part of the answer to our energy problems is to get energy from pond scum. Do you think that this technology can be successful and marketable in less than ten years?
We are now experiencing higher gas prices, higher utility bills, and higher taxes that are paying for "green" subsidies. Conservatives say that the free market should drive the development of new technologies. American ingenuity has always accomplished great things without government help. Instead, we have an administration that wants to throw money at green companies. At the same time it obstructs the use of a technology that has already been used for decades. The result is that our economy suffers, and the American people suffer.
Yes, drill, drill, and drill some more sounds pretty good right now.

Education That Is Best for Kids and Parents

   I was pleased to hear some comments made during last night's debate concerning education.  Romney was the only one who framed his proposals withing the existing Department of Education.  The other three indicated they would either scale back extensively or completely eliminate the Department of Education. A few even suggested that the business of education be taken away from states as well.   I found that very refreshing.
   Over the years, the decision making in the realm of education has been removed from local communities and placed into the hands of the Federal government.  As a result, teachers, administrators, and parents have lost their sense of ownership of the schools.  I would also state that this has not even come close to being successful.  Putting the control in the hands of bureaucrats in Washington, DC has resulted in a cookie-cutter approach to running the schools.  A better approach would be to keep the control at a local level.  Parents, teachers, and administrators are well aware of the educational needs and desires of their neighborhoods.  As it is, too many people are put into a position of saying they have to do things a certain way because that is what is mandated by the Federal or state governments.  Here are some other aspects of this issue:

• The Federal government is all about control, not looking out for what is best for the students.
• Having the control of the schools at a Federal level allows for a tremendous influence by the giant teachers unions.  They, too, are not so much interested in what is best for the students.  They care about what is best for the teachers, and they are also interested in assisting the Democrat Party in keeping their control in Washington.
• Part of the control now in Washington is the control of what is taught in American classrooms.  What is being taught is basically what amounts to secular humanism.  In my opinion, this is a variety of religion in and of itself.  It is promoting a philosophy which translates into a political ideology which c borresponds with that of the Democrat Party.  It is insidious.
• Parents have basically given up on being able to control the education of their children.  They feel powerless.
• The solution to perceived failures in government schools has always been to throw more money at the problem.  It has NEVER worked.
• The existence of a Department of Education cannot be justified by  the US Constitution.

It is time for America to get back to doing what is really best FOR THE CHILDREN.   We need to spend much less time attempting to get religion out of the schools and spend more time getting politics out of the schools.  The schools need more freedom too.

The Government as a Moral Authority

I have had some interesting conversations with some liberals lately. In fact, it has been quite enlightening for me. I have come to a new understanding about how they think. Let me explain.
I recently asked someone if they consider sins described in the Bible to still be considered sins. The answer I received was that, although this person acknowledged the Ten Commandments to be always applicable, sin is now to be considered those actions which are determined by the community to be sinful. In other words, PEOPLE determine morality, not GOD. This would explain why liberals, even liberal Christians, can justify endorsing the gay lifestyle, for example, which is pretty clearly described as a sinful behavior in Scripture. I find this perspective to be not only interesting, but also deeply disturbing. With this outlook, the Bible is no longer the source of Truth and God becomes marginalized. Also, with this viewpoint, Jesus can be revised into a "feel good" personality, useful in proclaiming that those who still consider the Moral Law of the Bible as still relevant to be uncaring and even hateful.
If you follow this logic, the natural extension of this philosophy is to make the government the "community" which would make those decisions to determine what the morals of this country should be. This would certainly explain many things which have been occurring in our country. The recent HHS decision to mandate contraceptives even to religious organizations in opposition to their consciences. Religious organizations would have no place in determining morality for folks who think the government should determine morality.
Maybe in the long run, the fact that social issues has been introduced recently into the political debate will become a good thing. It may just instill into mainstream Christianity the urgency to devote greater energy into teaching their Biblical doctrines to their members. It already has provided an arena in which Christians have had opportunities to share their beliefs with others.

Government Control

Another Vital Election

   The Presidential election is certainly crucial to the future of America and certainly should cause us to give it our serious attention and effort.  However, there is another vote that will likely be taking place that could very well be just as consequential to our future as a nation.  That election would be the recall election of Governor Walker in Wisconsin.  Governor Walker boldly led the state legislature in passing a budget which was meant to get their state deficits under control.  This legislation led to a nationally noticed outcry from people who support the public employee unions, and eventually led to this attempted recall of the governor. 
  Since that legislation has gone into effect, the situation in Wisconsin has greatly improved.  School districts did not end up laying off teachers and staff.  Funds have become available to actually spend on the students' education instead of employee's pensions.  The deficit problem in the state has been basically remedied without raising taxes.  A lesson should be learned that public employee unions have been the root cause for a lot of deficit problems in our states and in our Federal government.
   The recall election efforts are being funded in large amounts by unions and leftist organizations from all around the country.  The Democrat Party is joining the fray as well, since their coffers are filled regularly by money which comes from union dues.  If this recall is successful, there will be ramifications nationwide.  Efforts at getting spending under control all  over America will be hindered.  Our country and its states will be on the road to becoming like Greece. 
  After seeing the circus that took place earlier in the state of Wisconsin, I pray that if the recall is thwarted, that we do not see a violent reaction from more union-led protesters. 
  If you know someone in Wisconsin, please urge them to join the fight to preserve fiscal responsibility there.

Opportunities to Glorify God

  If you are given an opportunity to glorify God in the public arena, don't you think God would want you to do so?  Unfortunately, when some do so these days, they are criticized.  Just look at the criticism that has been given to Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin, and Rick Santorum.  I applaud them for not being bashful about their faith.  As I read Scripture, I see that it indicates we ought to be bold about our faith, not apologetic or secretive.
   At the same time, we see actions of our current President which are insensitive to the tenets of the Christian faith.  In this case, we see most of the media supporting such actions. 
   I think it is a sad state of affairs when America is being told to oppose Rick Santorum because he is so public with his faith.  In fact, I think the media is focusing on his Christian beliefs because they think it is a negative attribute to have in the political arena.  Politicians, I guess, are supposed to keep their faith to themselves.  I would ask you this question:  If a politician or someone else in the public eye is being advised to be reluctant to exhibit their faith, is that the work of God or the work of Satan?
  I, for one, pray that we have someone in the Oval Office who looks to God for guidance.  I pray that the actions of the President are ones that would give glory to God.  I pray that a President would be sincere in their faith, not using religion as a political "card" to play.  I pray that we have a person who has a genuine faith, and one who is willing to share that faith.  I pray that we have a President that knows he is a sinner in need of forgiveness.
   Some are claiming that Rich Santorum would impose his religious convictions upon the country.  That is so wrong.  Christians don't do things that way.  Christians know that they are just the messengers.  It is the Holy Spirit that works faith in the hearts of people.  Christians don't force their beliefs on anyone.  Muslims have a history of doing that, but not Christians.  Christians are told to be humble servants of others.  I would love to see a humble servant of Christ in the Oval Office. 
   One of the reasons I support Rick Santorum is that he seems to me to be the only one in the race, including our current President, that gives the impression that he wants to SERVE.  He does not seem to be in it for himself.  I know there are other reasons to not support Santorum, but I personally don't think that one of them should be his faith  
   If we are not a nation under God, it is because we have chosen to deport him.

US Constitution Limitations

  I heard a so-called expert on the Constitution say today that it is an outdated document because it does not relate to today's realities.  He went on to say that the Constitution was flawed because it did not contain articles which related to issues such as entitlements and healthcare. 
  I would first of all say that the great thing about the Constitution is its limitations.  It LIMITS the reach of the Federal government.  That is what it was intended to do.  The framers of the Constitution wanted to make sure the Federal government did not become too powerful.
  But I take you back to the gentleman's comment.  Does his comment not indicate that many of the things which our country has established over the years are NOT constitutional..  I do not think he intended to do so, but I think he admitted that we have strayed far away from the Constitution over the years.  I agree.

Voter Candy

   Over the years, I have observed many varieties of the basic technique of getting a child to go where you want them to go or do what you want them to do by offering them candy.  The children don't really desire to do what a person wants, but they will in order to get the candy.  I cannot say that I am a big fan of these techniques, but I admit that I have used them under desperate situations. 
   Right now, I would describe what President Obama and his campaign are doing as resembling this technique.  Let's call it VOTER CANDY.  Here are some of the examples of what I call voter candy:
1. Gov't help with foreclosure                       Target:  Homeowner who should not have bought that home
2.  Payroll Tax Holiday extension                  Target:  Wage-earners
3.  Unemployment Benefits extension            Target:  The unemployed
4.  More stimulus proposed                          Target:  Union workers (teachers, police, etc.)
5.  Budget with no entitlement reform            Target:  Seniors, food stamp recipients, etc.
6.  Telling colleges to reduce tuition               Target:  college students, parents of college students
**The above items all involve spending government money or the promise to spend government money. 
Then there is what I consider the most devious of them all, because it is an example of Pres. Obama telling a business that THEY must provide the candy.
7.  Free contraceptives                                  Target:  Women, anyone wanting to practice safe sex

   It needs to be noted that whenever there is a target audience for this vote candy, there is also another group that suffers as a result.  Government money doesn't grow on trees (although they sometimes just print it and make the debt bigger); it comes from taxpayers.  Usually it comes from income taxes, and in this case, that means the ones suffering are the more successful, hard-working ones, and half of America does not suffer at all.
   As you can see, Pres. Obama's tax candy goes to a very large group of Americans.  The Obama Campaign is counting on Americans to accept the candy and cast their vote to re-elect the President.  I don't think most Americans are happy with his job performance, but they may just fall for the candy.
   Allow me to give you another aspect of VOTER CANDY.  Let us suppose that a teacher promises candy, and then the principal puts his/her foot down and says no candy is to be given out.  In this scenario, even though the teacher gives out no candy, the children still see that teacher as being the hero for the effort to give the candy, while the principal ends up being the mean villain.  The principal may have very good rationale for not allowing the candy, including the possibility that the school could not afford the candy.  In other words, the teacher just needs to make the promise, not deliver on it, in order to maintain her favor in the eyes of the students.  The same thing could be said for President Obama.  In some cases, he knows the GOP will step in and say NO to his proposals, but because he at least tried, he may still be in good favor with some voters.
   I hope you realize that such techniques generally only work on children, not adults.  As for me, I would rather go out and get my own candy. And I have always had more respect for folks that do not have to use a gift to get them to be liked by others.

I would love to hear from you if you know of other examples of voter candy.  I have the feeling that my list is not complete.
   

Proud Prude

   Foster Friess, an endorser of Rick Santorum, cracked a joke about old-fashioned contraception yesterday, referring to placing an aspirin between a woman's knees.  The leftist media has been reacting in their usual way, heaping insult upon insult upon this man, Rick Santorum, and the joke.  I have heard this story before, knowing personally a woman who once, upon seeing a pregnant woman, with six children in her wake, walked into our church looking for food from our food bank, gave the woman a quarter and told her to hold it between her legs.  By the way, she also gave her some food.  I admit that I laugh whenever I hear this joke.  And I will tell you why it does not bother me.
   If you stop for a moment and think about what is really being said when this line is being used, you discover that this is a commentary on how far downhill our society has gone over the years in the realm of family values.  There was once a time when about the only contraceptive available was CHOICE.  Men and women would choose not to have sex.  Men and women would choose to have sex when appropriate if they would not want it to result in a pregnancy.  And most importantly, men and women chose to have sex only within the confines of a marriage.  That, by the way, is where God designed sex to be found, and when found there, it is a blessing from God. 
   Look where we have come.  Much of contraception is used for the express purpose of providing an opportunity for men and women to have sex outside the confines of a marriage.  Schools are expected to teach children about sex, in many cases beginning in Kindergarten.  This teaching in government schools makes no mention of God's plan for sex to be limited to a marriage.  Emphasis is put on teaching children to have safe sex, not abstaining from it.  And anyone who disapproves of this activity is branded as being from the Dark Ages, not "with it", or to put it bluntly.....a prude.  Well, I am going to announce to you that I am a prude....and proud of it.
   I get direction for my life from God's Word.  I firmly believe that the Bible is the only source of pure truth in our world.  I trust that God knows what is best for us, and He tells us what that is in His Word.  I am saddened by what our world has become.  I also know from God's Word, that a Savior was sent to this world long ago to deal with the sinfulness of this world.  Because of His death on the cross, Jesus, the Christ, is ready and willing to forgive me and everyone else of their sins.  We have that great news to share with this sinful world.  However, we are also to point out what is sinful, otherwise a person will not feel the need for Jesus. 
   I take comfort from knowing that I am not the only Proud Prude in the world.

Planned Parenthood Exposed--Not a Pretty Sight

   I debated whether to post this link because of its very disturbing content, but I feel that I must.  People should be made aware of some of the things that go on inside Planned Parenthood.  Most of the media and the liberals in our government want to paint a picture of Planned Parenthood as a wonderful institution promoting women's health.  Judge for yourself, especially after you view the video on this site.  Fortunately, there are a few glimmers of hope mentioned in the article.  I would ask two questions:
   1.  How in the world can you justify our Federal government subsidizing this organization for $1, much less the half a BILLION dollars it does get?
   2.  How in the world do we even let these folks in the doors of our government schools, much less let them teach our children about sex?
WARNING:  The video on this site is very disturbing.  Do NOT let children see it.  If you have a weak stomach, you might consider not watching it.  You have to scroll down to find the video.

The site can be found here.

Reflections on Today's Congressional Hearing

   I spent this morning watching the hearing in the US House of Representatives which was to focus on whether the recent HHS mandate was a challenge to religious liberty.  That was what the title of the hearing indicated, even though the title went a little overboard in mentioning Pres. Obama trampling on religious freedom.  After watching this hearing, I definitely feel the need to vent.
   There was a definite contrast between the approaches taken by the Democrats as opposed to the Republicans.  Every Democrat that spoke, directed their words and questions at the issue of women's health and contraception.  By the way, none of them ever referred to some of the drugs provided by this mandate as being those which resulted in abortion.  Every effort on their part was made to deflect the argument away from the discussion of religious freedom.  The Democrats seem adamant about extending the influence of the government into the lives of Americans.  I am even more convinced now that the Democrats are all about making the government bigger, but even more importantly, they want the government to be more in control of the lives of Americans.
   The Republicans, on the other hand, spent their time talking about the Constitution.  Their comments and questions had to do with mainly the First Amendment which prescribes the freedom of religion.  The Republicans even asked the panel if they were willing to go to prison over this issue, which they all said they would be willing to do. 
   The panel gave excellent answers.  They all did NOT want to be there.  They all said their church bodies are not in the business of supporting or opposing legislation.  All of them stressed that their concern about the HHS mandate was that it was an example of the government getting involved in the day to day operation of their churches.  These men were not there to debate contraception.  They were there because the government has meddled into their business, and that meddling was a hazard to their abilities to carry out their ministry.
  Now I fully expect the media to also create the false impression that this hearing was one which was about women's health and contraception.  They too, are involved in this whole conspiracy which is meant to make this controversy into something that it is NOT.
   By the way, I happen to think that this is all part of a bigger plan to re-elect President Obama and his fellow Democrats.  They will use deceit to paint the GOP as being the party that wants to eliminate contraceptives.  The fact that this is not the case does not matter to them.  It is just a matter of creating a perception in the mind of an electorate that is not well-informed.  In fact, they are in the business of mis-informing.
   I cannot tell you enough how important it is for this country to get back to its founding principles.  The kind of government our Founding Fathers envisioned through the writing of the US Constitution is fading into oblivion.  Just like in the time of Martin Luther, we need a Reformation.  We need to go back to what our founding document says and stick to it.

Welcome, TruthTeam

Welcome TruthTeam2012!

Come on in.  I'll get you a beer.

Let's sit down and talk about Truth.

LCMS Video on HHS Mandate

   President Matt Harrison of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod posted a video on the LCMS website today.  He really does give a good presentation of our church's position on the HHS mandate and President Obama's "accommodation".  (He also has a great mustache.)
   I cannot remember any time in my life when mainstream churches have had to issue so many statements opposing what the government has been doing.  It is very telling and very disturbing.
   The video is found here.

The Family Loses Again - Part II

I am not through venting about the school lunch episode.  I have more questions:

• Since many, if not most, private and parochial schools take Federal money for their lunch programs, will they, too, have to hire a lunch inspector?  
• Did the school in North Carolina provide the mother with the paperwork to apply for the free/reduced lunch program?
• What will come next?  Will inspectors be coming into the homes of parents to see if the parents are providing proper nutrition for their children?
• Where is the ACLU?  Is this not a violation of a civil liberty?
• Is this rule about inspecting food a part of Obamacare?

I welcome any other questions you may have.  I have the feeling I will think of more too.  I do know how much this whole story angers me.

The Family Loses Again.

  Yesterday, there was a story about a child in a government school who brought a lunch made by the mother, only to have it deemed unacceptable.  Then the child was required to be given the lunch provided by the school lunch program.  It is my understanding that the lunch the mother made consisted of a turkey and cheese sandwich, potato chips, a banana, and apple juice.  I don't know about you, but if I, as a teacher, saw a child eating such a lunch, I would be very satisfied.  In this case, the school lunch consisted of the required types of foods, and the result was that the child ended up eating three chicken nuggets.  The story I read made it appear that the child chose not to eat anything else on the tray.  One other side comment:. I have eaten chicken nuggets that are available through the government food programs.  They are not that tasty, and they are not that good for you.  Here are several questions that I would pose:
1.  Why does our government have someone looking through children's lunches brought from home to see if the are "acceptable"?
2.  Is there really someone getting paid to be a lunch inspector by our government schools?
3.  Is it the school or the parent that knows what a child will eat?
4.  Is it the school or the parent that knows what is good for the child to eat?
5.  How much food was wasted in this scenario?
6.  How do you justify requiring that parent to pay for that meal provided by the school?
7.  What are the children learning when they see the school rejecting their parents' meals?
8.  MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION:  Who should be making decisions about children, the parents or the government?
   We are living in a regulation nation.....a Nanny State.  Families in America are under attack, and right now they are losing the battle.  This needs to change.  The first way we can get this change done is to replace our President .....and his wife.....in the next election.

P.S.  One visit to almost any lunch room getting government subsidy should be enough to show you how much utter waste there is found there.  All you have to do is look at how full the garbage bins are after lunch.  Schools are required to give the students all the food offered and in the required amounts.  It is a "one size fits all" approach, and it is a travesty.  There is NO common sense to it.  It's not the fault of the cooks.  They are doing what they are required to do by the government.  I feel sorry for those folks who work so hard to put food out there for the children, only to see so much of it thrown in the garbage can. 

LCMS President Responds to Pres. Obama's "Accommodation"

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In response to President Obama’s announcement Friday concerning an “accommodation” to a previous mandate that health plans must cover all forms of birth control (even those that can kill the unborn), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) remains deeply concerned. We strongly object to the use of drugs and procedures that are used to take the lives of unborn children, who are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception. Drugs such as “Plan B” and “Ella,” which are still included in the mandate, can work post-conception to cause the death of the developing child, so don’t be fooled by statements to the contrary.
We see President Obama’s action Friday as significant, in that it appears to have been prompted by the many voices united in concern over an infringement of our religious liberties. But the “accommodation” did not expand the exemption for religious employers, nor did it restrict the mandate in any way. It simply described a temporary enforcement delay and a possible future change—a change that, unfortunately, would not adequately protect religious freedom or unborn lives.
We remain opposed to this mandate because it runs counter to the biblical truth of the sanctity of human life. We are committed to working to ensure that we remain free to practice the teachings of our faith, that our religious rights are not violated, and that our rights of conscience are retained. Freedom of religion extends beyond the practice of our faith in houses of worship. We must be free to put our faith into action in the public square, and, in response to Christ’s call, demonstrate His mercy through our love and compassion for all people according to the clear mandate of Holy Scripture.
The government has overstepped its bounds. This controversy is not merely about “birth control” and the Catholic Church’s views about it. It’s about mandating that we provide medications which kill life in the womb. And moreover, and perhaps even more ominous, it is about an overzealous government forcing coercive provisions that violate the consciences and rights of its citizens. We can no longer expect a favored position for Christianity in this country. But we can, as citizens of this great nation, fight for constitutional sanity against secularizing forces. As we have vividly experienced in discriminatory state legislation with respect to homosexual adoption, we, and our institutions (and those of other religious citizens of good will), are being robbed of the right to the free exercise of religion absent government intrusion or threat. The next assault will come upon church-related retirement facilities. How much longer will it be legal in this country to believe and act according to the dictates of biblical and creedal Christianity?
Jesus bids us, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). We will pray for and support our government where we can, but our consciences and lives belong to God.
In His peace,
Pastor Matthew C. Harrison
President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Hopefully His Last Budget

We now see President Obama's latest budget proposal.  In typical fashion, it increases taxes along with including only one significant cut.....to the Defense Department.  In addition, President Obama is touting this budget as containing $4 trillion in cuts, included what are "expected savings" from no longer being involved as much in foreign wars.  He also includes in that $4 trillion those cuts were previously made as part of a continuing resolution. His proposal also makes rosy assumptions that are not likely to turn into reality.   I was involved in proposing school budgets in my days as principal.  If I  were to use the techniques used by this President while presenting my budget, my school boards would have taken me to the woodshed.  They would have then made monumental changes to my proposal to bring it back to reality.  I knew better.  I always proposed budgets which were similar to my own household budget.  Incomes were based on real numbers.  Proposed expenses were adjusted based on expected income.  My budgets also attempted to put some money away for rainy days.  To be fair, our government has not done this regardless of which political party has been in charge for a long time.  President Obama, however, has gone beyond the pale.  Never have we had a President that proposes government spending in excess of 22% of the GDP four years in a row.  I hope this is the last budget we see from this man.

The New Testament Mandate (Satire Alert)

  The President has issued a regulation as part of the Affordable Health Care Act that all elementary schools in America, whether public, private, or parochial, must provide each student a copy of the New Testament.  This book must be provided to any student who requests one, with no discrimination with regard to race, gender, religion, or economic status.  The book must also be in the preferred language of the student that requests it.  Each school must purchase these New Testaments with funds from their school budget.  When asked about this mandate, the President answered, "This is an issue of children's health care....their eternal health is at stake.  Every child in America should have access to a New Testament.  It is only fair."
(Three days later)
   The President has experienced a firestorm of controversy over his New Testament mandate.  Outspoken critics from school boards and teachers unions around the country have flooded the media with their objections.  Today, the President has announced a compromise.  No longer will the schools have to provide these New Testaments with funds from their school budgets.  Instead, the publishers that provide books for the schools will be mandated to provide these New Testaments to the schools at no cost.  The schools will not have to violate their conscience by providing these New Testaments.  Yet, as the President indicated, the eternal health of the students will be preserved. 

Vote On It Now

   If I was the GOP person who decided what to do with the Obama Budget just submitted, I would put it right out there on the table and say, "Let's vote on it now."  Let the Democrats debate if they want, but I would suggest to the Republicans to just sit back and wait for the vote.  The budget, in my opinion, would go down in flames. 
   Would the Obama Campaign be able to blame the failure on the Republicans?  I am sure they would try, but it would be a pretty lame attempt.  And the Democrats would have to defend their votes in the next election, especially if they vote FOR it.

Liberal Logic

First, the government says a company MUST buy something or receive a fine. Then they say that company MUST buy a product that violates their conscience. The icing on the cake is that another company MUST provide a product for others and receive no payment for it from anyone. You can't make this stuff up. It can only be explained using liberal logic.

Fear the Vest

There is an interesting article from the Pioneer Press in Minneapolis written by Joe Soucheray, a talk show host who I enjoyed listening to when I lived in Minnesota.  He says something that I agree with.....that Rick Santorum is the candidate that President Obama fears the most.  You can find it here.

Very Scary

Forget the contraception controversy for the moment. What the President said today is incredibly scary. He basically told an industry, "You have to provide your customers with a product at no charge." First of all, it is scary to think that a President thinks he has the power to do that. Secondly, it is scary to think that we have a President that is naive enough to think that a business will be willing to do that without passing along the cost to their customers through their premium payments. Thirdly, he framed his comments in such a way as to make it sound like he was doing people a favor. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

The Church of the Omnipotent Demagogue

That Silly Old Constitution

  There has been a very disturbing trend in America for quite some time.  I could argue that this trend has been morphing into the beast that it has become during my entire lifetime.  The trend is to relegate the U.S. Constitution to a back seat to what some people consider a more important political agenda.  Liberals have been ignoring what is in the Constitution, or seeing things in the Constitution that are not there.  Liberals even like to discredit the Constitution.  This week, we heard a story that Justice Ginsberg said that countries which are designing constitutions should not use our Constitution as a model.  It does not bode well to have such an attitude inside our highest court, and we can see how such an attitude has led her to look beyond our Constitution to make decisions based on legal precedent from foreign countries.  We even have a President who considers the Constitution to be a faulty document because it only addresses what our government CANNOT do instead of what it CAN do.  By the way, that is indeed the point of the Constitution.  It was designed to form a government that would only do certain things and not go beyond that.  A limited Federal government was the goal.  Nowadays, limiting the government is considered to be a weakness, not a strength.
   The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence describe our rights as being those which are endowed by a Creator (that would be God).  Today's liberal legislators have a different idea.  They think they can decide what our rights ought to be as Americans.  They say we have a right to get an abortion, a right to have healthcare, a right to contraceptives, and, as I've heard this morning, a right to a cell phone.  At the same time, some want to take away rights that ARE in the Constitution, like the right to bear arms.
   The Constitution WAS written with a provision for it to be amended.  By design, this process was made to be difficult and time-consuming.  If America wants the Constitution changed, it is possible.  Lately, it has been conservatives who have found it necessary to propose Constitutional amendments which are responses to actions made by liberals to misuse the Constitution.  That is sad.
   One of the problems we have is that our court system, all the way up to the Supreme Court, has been stocked with too many judges who do not respect the Constitution as it was originally intended.  A prime example of this is the 9th Circuit Court, which recently ruled that people could not decide to amend their constitution.  One issue during this election season which has not been discussed much, is whether we are going to have a President who will think it essential to nominate judges who respect the Constitution as printed.  We need to consider that when we go to the ballot box.
   While I was being schooled, I was required to take a test on both the US Constitution and the Missouri Constitution.  I was also taught that documents like these were precious and necessary for the proper operation of our country.  I wonder what is being taught in the government schools these days.  How have we ended up with so many people that do not consider the Constitution to be a meaningful document.  And how did we end up with a President that views the Constitution as faulty.  This needs to be changed.

New Bill Whittle Video

I hate the word that is repeatedly used in this video.  It is a word that was forbidden in my classroom over the years.  However, there is a whole bunch of truth in this video, so I will share.  You can find it here.

Good Economic News? Hmmm.

   I see this morning that the number of new applicants for unemployment benefits has gone down.  The media once again rejoice.  Conversation turns to talk about how the economy has turned the corner.  Polls come out saying President Obama's job approval numbers are on the rise.  Polls say a larger percentage of people blame President Bush for the recession.  Am I surprised?  Not in the least.
   My recollections of Bush's eight years as President are that after 9/11 we were in dire straits in our economy.  In the subsequent years, the Bush economy got progressively better, eventually having unemployment numbers which by all accounts was considered "full employment".  Then we got near the time for another Presidential election. In the year or so before the election, the economy tanked.  This was largely due to Democrats insisting that banks had to give loans to people who could not afford them.  President Bush is only at fault for letting it happen, even though he made repeated efforts to warn Congress of the effects such policies would have.  Wall Street took advantage of the situation, so they are not innocent bystanders.  What was the result?  A Democrat President.  A very liberal Democrat President.  My point is that a very sound argument can be made that the Democrats manipulated the economy to get their candidate elected.
   Now we enter a new election year, and what do we see?  An improving economy.  Or at least it is an economy that APPEARS to be improving.  We have gone through three pitiful years of a lousy economy, and now that President Obama is up for re-election, lo, and behold, Americans are seeing rays of hope again. In the famous words of Gomer Pyle, "Surprise!  Surprise!  Surprise!"  If this improvement is legitimate, it only shows that our economy is incredible resilient.  It can survive even all the efforts of the Obama administration to stifle and destroy it.  You could even make the argument that the Tea Party's efforts to stop the Obama agenda has had a positive impact by not allowing the administration to get their way.  There is another explanation.  The numbers may be manipulated to make the economy only appear to be improving.  The people running the numbers are not supposed to be influenced by politics, but I, for one, do not have faith in that system.  Over one million people recently disappeared from the potential American work force.  That is a pretty incredible number considering our population does not decrease with time. Such a loss in the work force made the unemployment rate decrease to 8.3%.   Rush Limbaugh has been predicting that the economic numbers would be looking better in year leading up to the election.  I think his take on this is proving to be correct.
   It remains necessary for informed citizens to make sure their friends and neighbors understand just how important it is for this country to have a new President.  And it should be a President who is committed to eliminating the obstacles which have been put up to muzzle the economy.  People should also know how important it is that we retain control of the US House of Representatives and gain control of the US Senate.  We do not need all kinds of organization to do this.  Individuals can do their part in inspiring  others to be passionate about doing something to bring America back to greatness.  This costs nothing but time and effort.  Talk to people.  Use the social media.  Start your own blog.  Share this and other blogs which promote the kind of government envisioned by our Founding Fathers.  Make a difference.

Messages from the Heartland

Here are some thoughts that I have after the February 7 primary/caucuses:
1.  There is still a definite "anybody but Romney" feeling out there.
2.  People are not impressed with negative campaigning.
3.  People in the Midwest do not buy into the "electability" mantra.
4.  Folks are seeing Santorum as a better choice than Gingrich as the "anti-Romney".
5.  People did not want the race to be over yet.
6.  People care about character and faith.
7.  People know that Obamacare is a huge issue, and Santorum is the best spokesman against it.
8.  The Tea Party is not as dead as the media portray it.
9.  Last night's results indicate what would happen if voters are not swayed by ads.
10.  There are plenty of informed GOP'ers in the Midwest who are not swayed by the media.
I would love to hear if you have any additional thoughts.  Please leave a comment.

Plans, not Personalities

I think it would be great if the GOP would develop a strategic plan detailing what it intended to get done for the next term of the President. This plan should focus on a rather small list of the most important goals to be accomplished during those four years. After that, then we could determine which person would best carry out that plan. I think we spend too much time judging personalities. And when we do, we make things easier for a re-election of Pres. Obama.

God's Word is Truth

When Jesus taught, even his opponents were amazed at how he taught with such authority.  He did not teach as if what He was saying was just His opinion.  That's because it was the Truth.  God's Word is the Truth.  We live in a world that seems to dedicate itself to avoiding the truth.  Worldly people want to eliminate the truth, making it relative to whatever situation exists.  They try to justify any behavior as acceptable by making everything gray, never a distinct black or white.
It is this approach that has slowly changed our country from one that cherished the sanctity of life to one where abortion is considered acceptable by a large percentage of the population.  It is this approach that has taken homosexuality, a behavior which is considered sinful by Scripture, and turned it into an activity that must be tolerated, even celebrated.
Before I go on, let me say that I do not pretend to be an expert at God's Truth.  I learn more every time I read the Bible.  And, like everyone else, I am a sinner (although the world would like to make NOTHING a sin).  I need to daily repent.
This past week, President Obama spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast.  During his speech, President Obama used Scripture on several occasions.  I would normally applaud that.  I would love to think that every President was a Christian who knew their Scripture.  However, in this case, the use of Scripture was intended to defend the President's agenda.  I believe this is an improper use of the Truth.  The Bible has two main purposes:  to show how to be saved and to show how to live. The Bible is not a political manifesto. I know he would certainly not use a similar passage which refers to a steward who had been successful and then was told by the owner that he would be put in charge of more.  The President was using a passage which fit his agenda, and even then, he was using it out of context.
I was also concerned about other aspects of the President's speech.  He always has a tendency to center his comments on himself, and I feel that he did that again in this speech.  I think a speech at a prayer breakfast would focus especially on the greatness of God and what He has done.  Maybe it was my bias, but I came away from that speech thinking that President Obama talked more about what he has done in his "faith journey" than on the God who ought to get any credit. 
Based on what I have heard the President say in the past and comparing it with his actions, I have to admit that I think the President does not know his Scriptures that well and was using this breakfast as another campaign speech.  I just have real trouble thinking that he is sincere when he talks about his faith.  I wish I could believe him, but I cannot.  I found the most appalling thing that he said was in reference to how our actions should match our words.  The President is all about making his words sound good to the audience to whom he is speaking.  I do not think his actions come anywhere close to matching his words.
America needs repentance.  Repentance is an individual act.  Each of us needs to confess our sins (and we shouldn't just call them mistakes), beg for forgiveness from God, and turn our lives toward doing God's will.  Knowing the will of God can only come by spending time in God's Word.  And that is something that should be done by folks on both sides of the aisle.  And that includes me.
May God have mercy on me and my country.

Santorum on Obama

Rick Santorum says President Obama "has done more to assault religion in this country than any president, certainly in recent history, maybe even in history ."

The Need to Vent

These days I feel the urge to vent. In fact, I could make the argument that I NEED to vent. I think that if I do not have the opportunity to vent, my health could suffer. I already have high blood pressure. Keeping everything inside would not be helpful. Also, I feel that I should spare my wife from being the only recipient of my tirades against the evils in the world. Venting is the main purpose of this blog. It allows me to vent, and only those who choose to do so will listen to them. It really matters little to me whether there is anyone at all who reads this. It just makes me feel better.

Religion and Politics

It certainly has been an interesting last few days. Issues related to the Christian religion have been plentiful. President Obama used a prayer breakfast to promote his tax policy, complete with quotes from Scripture used to justify his position. Komen Foundation announced that they would no longer fund Planned Parenthood, and this was applauded by pro-lifers. The anti-lifers, backed by our always-liberal mainstream media, put up such a stink that Komen reversed themselves, saying they would continue the present grants to that organization. In addition, there is the story about how the Obama administration insists that Catholic organizations provide contraception resources to their employees as part of their healthcare plans which violate their religious beliefs.
The media have unleashed all their resources to cover the Komen story. On the other hand, the Catholic story is just marginally mentioned. I guess there are a few positives which come out of this. One, the American public should have become aware of the type of attack journalism that is out there. Two, more of the American public is now aware that the Komen Foundation funds Planned Parenthood and can make better-informed decisions about where they want their charitable donations to go.
As to the President's use of Scripture, I may share more later on that.