Contributed by: filbert Thursday, July 08 2010 @ 01:25 PM CST
The Care of Time [*1]
The destruction of private enterprise and its substitution by government spending creates the danger that too many people will find there’s nothing left but to stay on the needle. Only when it the needle absolutely positively bone dry; bent, corroded and blood encrusted will the alternative be considered. In the meantime there is the terrible momentum of promises, the fatal attraction of hope and change. Will there be enough reserve buoyancy to surface? Or will the Ship of State, like some gigantic version of Illinois, keep racing for the depths?
I’ve seen the needle, and the damage done.
America, and the world, needs an intervention, I think. Perhaps at this point a divine one is required.
America As Job — In keeping with this sudden turn to religious references . . . Job as in “the patience of,” not as Bite-Me Biden’s four letter word. I’m really not a particularly religious person. But then, religious people do not offend me, either. In fact, I’m more often comforted by the existence of serious, thoughtful religious people than intimidated or threatened by them. Radical Islamists excepted, of course.
In a silent way [*2]
Readers who get their news from the the mainstream media are remarkably ill informed. Much of what they “know” isn’t true and much of what they don’t know is important.
If what you know comes from ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, or MSNBC, PBS, NPR, or other leftist-dominated media outlets, then you are dreadfully poorly informed. This is simply fact. Get used to it.
And yes, I occasionally listen to outlets like the BBC as well as ABC and the other outlets above. I just don’t believe that they report events and issues fully and fairly, because I’m also reliably informed by many other sources. Of course, I spend an average of probably three or four hours a day actively learning what’s going on in the world and studying world history to learn how we came to be where we are now. Most people don’t have that kind of time to do that.
This is a bit of an “argument from authority” I guess, but I do spend time trying to understand what’s going on, and why. I’m not content to simply believe what anyone wants me to believe. I’m a firm believer in what Ronald Reagan said: Trust, but verify. And all too often when I try to verify the accuracy of the news and opinion of Old Media outlets, I find that they are inaccurate at best, disingenuously misleading all too often, and actively deceitful (with what they report, and much more often by what they don’t report) with depressing regularity. And so I have concluded that what they say can not be trusted. Defeat Socialism: Save America From the Obama-Pelosi Regime…Draft Sarah Palin for RNC Chair [*3] — I’m not sure Palin isn’t more effective when she’s outside the system entirely–this gives her freedom of movement against both the entrenched Republicans who are part of the problem as well as against the leftist Government-Media Complex which is the origin of most of our problems today.
But, if you want to try to draft Palin for GOP Chairman, here’s the link:
Draft Sarah Palin for RNC Chair [*4]
Related:
Wonderful News on Climate Change! [*5] — Apparently, investigative whitewash will help solve the problem . . .
College Rejects Rally For Kobach, Ariz., Sheriff: MidAmerica Nazarene University President Cited Safety Concerns [*6] — Which means one of two things: Either the President of Mid-America Nazarine University does not believe in freedom of speech on his campus, or that the anti-legal-immigration forces have threatened violence against Kobach and Arpaio. Or, possibly, both.
Federal Government Overpaid $47 Billion a Year [*7] — Freezing ALL federal spending for ten years is probably inadequate to deal with our current fiscal problems, but it would be a good start . . .
Why Cities Are Broke or, There is Something Tragic About a Train… [*8] — I’ll take a stab at this one . . . Cities are broke because, um, well, because they spend too much money?
Oh, and light rail for almost all American metropolitan areas, as well as the idea of a network of high-speed railroads in modern America, are simply ideas which are economically illiterate.
Pandemic: The Contagious Crisis [*9] — You’ve been told that the economic problems around the world are because of free enterprise. You’ve been lied to by the people who are actually responsible–who, gee, golly, have a motive to deflect responsibility. Imagine that!
To be blunt, the people responsible are the big-government politicians and their enablers in the media. Their victims are you, and me, and all of the businesses out there who aren’t politically connected to the big-government politicians.
Do you enjoy being a victim? Do you want to continue to be a victim? Don’t fool yourselves–the only thing these politicians want from you is your consent-your vote. And they’ll say anything to you they can think of in order to convince you to give them your political power. After you’ve given over your political power, you’ll wind up like those who’ve already given up that power–just look at the plight of inner-city blacks in this country. They’ve sold their souls to the big-government politicians. In essence, they’ve sold themselves back into serfdom, if not outright slavery.
Who Will Investigate the Investigators?: Another voter fraud scandal involving the Justice Department. [*10] — Democrats look the other way when voter intimidation and fraud benefit them . . . it’s a simple fact.
If you’re still voting (D) anywhere, any time, at any level of government, then you approve of voter intimidation and vote fraud. Or you’re ignorant of what’s really going on all around you. Either way, you personally, gentle voter for Democrats, are responsible for this.
Period.
Treat Us Like Animals, Please! [*11]
In other words, it worked the same as any other normal market. There is no co-pay, no crazy federal programs funding my right to a worm-free dog, no vast subsidies or penalties, no schemes for redistribution and equality. There is private pet health insurance available for catastrophic things, but not regular maintenance, and hardly anyone goes for this stuff in any case. It wouldn’t make any sense. No employer is on the hook to cough up premiums for pet health insurance.
The only difference between veterinary medicine and human medicine is that we’ve totally f*cked up human medicine with an oppressive level of government laws, rules, and regulations. Both are simply services. Neither are a “right.”
Sam Besserman Vs. The Universe [*12]
I wonder if young Sam has seen this video:
Caught on Tape: Racist NAACP Leader Says ‘Kenneth Gladney Not Black Enough,’ an ‘Uncle Tom’ [*13] — A major issue which we will need to face head-on in order to make progress in America is the issue of black racism. Not racism against blacks, but racism and intolerance of some blacks against other races and cultures. Slavery was a long, long time ago, folks. It’s excuse value is approaching zero. Time to man up, move on, and start accepting some responsibility for your own lives. I personally don’t have a lot of patience for people who look everywhere but the person in their mirror for the cause of their problems. On the other hand, I have much less of a problem doing something to help a person who does accept that it’s nobody else’s responsibility but theirs to improve their lot in life. It’s a matter of the effective investment of resources–my investment will make a bigger difference with someone who’s prepared to take what I offer and use it to better themselves, versus someone who just sits back and thinks I owe him or her something because the melanin content of our skins is different.
Why the Health Reform Wars Have Only Just Begun[*14] — Nothing has yet been seriously discussed; nothing has been decided — imposing a one-sided solution on a population who doesn’t want it is not a solution, it is the absence of a solution . . .
Dig Discovers Ancient Britons Were Earliest North Europeans [*15] — Interesting article (to me, anyway) but a silly headline . . .
The NASA (non) feeding frenzy [*16] — NASA as an agency for outreach to Islam. What? You haven’t heard that one? Serves you right for only listening to Old Media . . .
The quality of mercy in the Obama WH is not strained, it’s nonexistent [*17] — Possibly because the people he’d pardon would set off yet another firestorm of protest against Obama by the people of the USA? Just a guess . . .
…Or the Puppy Gets It [*18] — The leftist guilt trip isn’t working quite as well nowadays . . . maybe people are starting to catch on to the scam . . .
The Justice department’s suit against Arizona — a preliminary look [*19]
QuikTrip to add Blockbuster Express movie kiosks [*20]
Those materialistic, constitution-loving Tea Partiers! [*21]
President Obama Attacks Congress for Delaying His Nominees — Is He Right? [*22] — Wherein Jake Tapper of ABC News answers his own question: No, Obama is lying about the Republicans, yet again . . . it’s almost like he lies about everything (the last comment is mine, not Tapper’s) . . .
Royals complete sweep by powering their way to 7-3 victory over Mariners [*23] — Featuring a sighting of Shaving Cream Man . . .
Ned Yost’s time away from baseball helped the manager rediscover his passion [*24] — Major League baseball seems to have returned to Kansas City . . .
If you need any further evidence of the politicization of Hollywood. . . [*25]
USD, SDSU coaches differ on importance of early offers [*26]
Yes, Virginia, gay marriage is legal in all 50 states [*27] — Discussing the subtle difference between what’s legal and what’s favored-by-law . . . there are lots of things that are legal which do not have a favorable legal status–but not-favored is not the same thing as illegal . . .
Power Is A Function Of Time [*28]
“Perfect Citizen”: Congress’ Perfect Failure [*29]
Shocker: Yet another Obama “green economy” fail [*30]
That for which we are and aren’t willing to pay [*31]
The education renaissance of Katrina, education Dark Ages of DC [*32] — I think it’s time to separate School and State.
Alarmism [*33]
National Public Radio is changing its name to NPR [*34] — A good start, dropping “Public” from its name. Now, drop the Federal subsidy for this radio network, and we can move forward. Together.
A Climategate poll that might go terribly wrong [*35]
Parasitic Tort Lawyers: The trouble with trial lawyers — I think we need to institute some kind of “loser pays” system to put some level of control over the current out-of-control tort environment. Of course, at the same time, we also need to hold people–and companies–responsible for their actions. The two public policy goals are not necessarily in conflict, if the goal is to make everyone, everywhere responsible for what they do–both those bringing lawsuits as well as those who invite lawsuits by their behavior.
ACC, ESPN reach 12-year TV deal [*36] — Goodie. Twelve more years of Dickie V. gushing about Duke. Hurray.
“a good first step” [*37] — Then they came for all the pets, but since I wasn’t a pet owner, I said nothing . . .
Cable companies, networks mull smaller TV bundles [*38]
The Business of Government [*39]
This system only works if politicians and bureaucrats are not held accountable for their failures. Naturally, they develop the ability to avoid accountability as a survival skill. Nowhere is this more evident than with the Department of Education, which touts the miserable performance of its unionized teachers as clear evidence that it needs more money. If you question any of this, or point to administrators with pensions [*40] costing tens of millions, you are said to oppose education.
‘The Unfortunately Named Contessa’ [*41] — Which reminds me, unfortunately for the entire universe, of the Unfortunately Named Kum and Go [*42] . . .
Michael Moore’s New Job: Oscar Board Member [*43] — Further evidence of the continuing descent of the Oscars into utter irrelevancy . . .
Is Reading On A Kindle/iPad Really Slower? [*44] — I don’t have a Kindle or iPad, but have noticed that I read (fiction, anyway) a LOT faster on my computer than from a book . . .
If you’ve lost Streisand, you’ve pretty much lost the left [*45]