As I drove up to Kent Island yesterday for a work activity, I was reminded about why I love the Shore, why this State is great and why this Nation is great. I saw several people who had put out American flags in honor of Memorial Day. Many of them had not put out merely one flag, but several! It is sad that this stood out to me, but I was stricken by how un-patriotic this nation has become. After the horrific and evil events of September 11, there was an outpouring of American pride. Yet merely 6 years later, we have a Presidential candidate who won't even wear an American flag pin!!!!
But true to color, the people of the Shore remember what Memorial Day is about. How we need to honor and cherish those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms! The son of a career military man, I have the deepest and most profound honor for those who have served and still serve. I am always humbled when I meet someone who has served our country, or a family member of someone who has died for our nation. We have a debt to them that we can NEVER fully repay.
I urge everyone this weekend to thank a vet or a soldier, and to have a brief moment of silence for those who have fallen. For in our history, All Gave Some, But Some Gave All... God Bless Our Troops, God Bless Our Leaders, God Bless the Shore, God Bless Maryland and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A Penny Saved...Is a Penny Spent on a Pet Project!
One of the most disturbing trends in American politics is that of "pork-barrel" spending. For the uninitiated, that is anytime that money for special projects is attached to a bill that has no connection to that money. These are listed under the politically impotent word of "earmarks", but they are really just spending gone wild. Here's just a brief list of things your money has been spent on but was never debated in the Congress:
$107,000 to study the sex life of the Japanese quail.
$1.2 million to study the breeding habits of the woodchuck.
$150,000 to study the Hatfield-McCoy feud.
$84,000 to find out why people fall in love.
$1 million to study why people don't ride bikes to work.
$19 million to examine gas emissions from cow flatulence.
$144,000 to see if pigeons follow human economic laws.
Funds to study the cause of rudeness on tennis courts and examine smiling patterns in bowling alleys.
$219,000 to teach college students how to watch television.
$2 million to construct an ancient Hawaiian canoe.
$20 million for a demonstration project to build wooden bridges.
$160,000 to study if you can hex an opponent by drawing an X on his chest.
$800,000 for a restroom on Mt. McKinley.
$100,000 to study how to avoid falling spacecraft.
$16,000 to study the operation of the komungo, a Korean stringed instrument.
$1 million to preserve a sewer in Trenton, NJ, as a historic monument.
$6,000 for a document on Worcestershire sauce.
$10,000 to study the effect of naval communications on a bull's potency.
$100,000 to research soybean-based ink.
$1 million for a Seafood Consumer Center.
$57,000 spent by the Executive Branch for gold-embossed playing cards on Air Force Two. Total: $ 45,980,000
While none of these seems overly dangerous at first, the total at the bottom tells the story. If we continue to spend money on projects like this, then why are we crowing about the cost of government? Instead, how about we eliminate this process and operate like the State of Maryland (I shudder to have just typed that sentence, but I actually did...) where there is debate on every funding project approved. All State Senators and Delegates have to write bills calling for: "The creation of a state debt," or for us common folk, the right for the state to spend money. Consequently, when this is done, a citizen knows what there money has been spent on. They don't have to read through lengthy portions of bills and so forth. Also, it allows politicians to give something an up-or-down vote, which is the basis of democracy.
This policy of pork spending is a national disgrace and one that I think will lead to a national calamity in this country. As our spending continues to increase, despite the best efforts of most intelligent people, the amounts of pork will only continue to grow. The government can't just keep printing money and eventually we will pay for the sins of those before us!
$107,000 to study the sex life of the Japanese quail.
$1.2 million to study the breeding habits of the woodchuck.
$150,000 to study the Hatfield-McCoy feud.
$84,000 to find out why people fall in love.
$1 million to study why people don't ride bikes to work.
$19 million to examine gas emissions from cow flatulence.
$144,000 to see if pigeons follow human economic laws.
Funds to study the cause of rudeness on tennis courts and examine smiling patterns in bowling alleys.
$219,000 to teach college students how to watch television.
$2 million to construct an ancient Hawaiian canoe.
$20 million for a demonstration project to build wooden bridges.
$160,000 to study if you can hex an opponent by drawing an X on his chest.
$800,000 for a restroom on Mt. McKinley.
$100,000 to study how to avoid falling spacecraft.
$16,000 to study the operation of the komungo, a Korean stringed instrument.
$1 million to preserve a sewer in Trenton, NJ, as a historic monument.
$6,000 for a document on Worcestershire sauce.
$10,000 to study the effect of naval communications on a bull's potency.
$100,000 to research soybean-based ink.
$1 million for a Seafood Consumer Center.
$57,000 spent by the Executive Branch for gold-embossed playing cards on Air Force Two. Total: $ 45,980,000
While none of these seems overly dangerous at first, the total at the bottom tells the story. If we continue to spend money on projects like this, then why are we crowing about the cost of government? Instead, how about we eliminate this process and operate like the State of Maryland (I shudder to have just typed that sentence, but I actually did...) where there is debate on every funding project approved. All State Senators and Delegates have to write bills calling for: "The creation of a state debt," or for us common folk, the right for the state to spend money. Consequently, when this is done, a citizen knows what there money has been spent on. They don't have to read through lengthy portions of bills and so forth. Also, it allows politicians to give something an up-or-down vote, which is the basis of democracy.
This policy of pork spending is a national disgrace and one that I think will lead to a national calamity in this country. As our spending continues to increase, despite the best efforts of most intelligent people, the amounts of pork will only continue to grow. The government can't just keep printing money and eventually we will pay for the sins of those before us!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
State of Things
I am a political junkie and I make no excuses for it. However, as I survey the political grounds that exist these days, I am disgusted by what exists. I have been a Republican my entire life, but I consider myself a "conservative" before any political affiliation. I believe the GOP to be the party of conservatives, but I am concerned about the direction of that party. GOP leaders (Boehner and cronies) sit around and wonder aloud why the party is losing power and they can never reach a consensus. I know what the problem is...YOU GUYS! We have a crop of "moderate" Republicans in Congress (led by our anointed one, John McCain *gag*) who are trying to move the party toward the middle of the political spectrum. This is what is wrong. If people wanted politicians who were soft on issues, they would vote for Democrats...and they are!!!!
Republicans nationwide have become so concerned with retaining power, that they have forgotten about their own constituents. They claim to be "fiscal conservatives" yet continue to support Pork projects and vote for tax increases. Why? Because that's what seems popular. GOP Lawmakers have become so caugh up in popular media that they believe that whatever the news says must be popular. When merely winning and retaining power becomes your goal, then you have forgotten why you were in office. Why has this happened? I blame Karl Rove mostly.
I know my GOP friends just collectively inhaled in fury, thinking that I have cursed God or something equally blasphemous, but I stand by my statement. With the advent of Rove-like approaches toward politics we have become focused on power and control, not issues and policies, which is historically the strenght of the GOP. Take Newt Gingrich for example. Once the bastion of conservative thought, his Contract with America was a brilliant piece of politicking. However, even he has succumbed to the seduction of power. He claims to be a conservative and even wrote a book about how the nation is broken and only conservative principles can save it. Yet in the recent Maryland District 1 primary, he came out and endorsed Wayne "I'm a Conservative?" Gilchrest. Anyone who paid attention to the race knew about Gilchrest's record as a "moderate" and some of the things he has said. He's even been quoted as saying: "If I could restart my political career, I would be a Democrat." HOW IS THIS SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOP? Yet you see Papa Newt out there trying to keep his family in line by supporting Runaway Wayne. Forget that!!!! Why not support someone who stands up for Conservative issues and principles? The same principles that made this country strong? Why not? Because power was to important...Gilchrest was able to convince Newt that if he (Wayne) lost, the seat would most definitely fall into the hands of a Democrat. Anyone who knows CD1 politics knows how unlikely that is, but whatever... I was no supporter of EJ Pipkin in the primary, but at least I would have understood Newt's support for him...but Gilchrest? That slime ball? C'mon Newt...I thought you had balls!
Fortunately, there are those in Congress who seek to stand up for what is Right. I love Jeff Flake of Arizona. He stands up there and analyzes every aspect of every bill, fighting for every dollar included in the bill. Is it sexy? No. Does the leadership hate him? Yes. Is what he doing in the best interests of the GOP? HELL YES! At least someone around here has the cajones (that's Spanish for...cajones) to stand up for what they believe in. Another, Mike Pence, out of Indiana, stands for what is right and what needs to be done. Having lost the leadership position to Boehner, he could have rolled over and gone away. Instead, he continues to lead the fight against the "moderate" policies of many Republicans. Thank you gentlemen for the job you do! Maybe you can steer this ship where it needs to be, because right now we are floundering out in the ocean, adrift without a destination, and we will pay for it in November!!!
Republicans nationwide have become so concerned with retaining power, that they have forgotten about their own constituents. They claim to be "fiscal conservatives" yet continue to support Pork projects and vote for tax increases. Why? Because that's what seems popular. GOP Lawmakers have become so caugh up in popular media that they believe that whatever the news says must be popular. When merely winning and retaining power becomes your goal, then you have forgotten why you were in office. Why has this happened? I blame Karl Rove mostly.
I know my GOP friends just collectively inhaled in fury, thinking that I have cursed God or something equally blasphemous, but I stand by my statement. With the advent of Rove-like approaches toward politics we have become focused on power and control, not issues and policies, which is historically the strenght of the GOP. Take Newt Gingrich for example. Once the bastion of conservative thought, his Contract with America was a brilliant piece of politicking. However, even he has succumbed to the seduction of power. He claims to be a conservative and even wrote a book about how the nation is broken and only conservative principles can save it. Yet in the recent Maryland District 1 primary, he came out and endorsed Wayne "I'm a Conservative?" Gilchrest. Anyone who paid attention to the race knew about Gilchrest's record as a "moderate" and some of the things he has said. He's even been quoted as saying: "If I could restart my political career, I would be a Democrat." HOW IS THIS SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOP? Yet you see Papa Newt out there trying to keep his family in line by supporting Runaway Wayne. Forget that!!!! Why not support someone who stands up for Conservative issues and principles? The same principles that made this country strong? Why not? Because power was to important...Gilchrest was able to convince Newt that if he (Wayne) lost, the seat would most definitely fall into the hands of a Democrat. Anyone who knows CD1 politics knows how unlikely that is, but whatever... I was no supporter of EJ Pipkin in the primary, but at least I would have understood Newt's support for him...but Gilchrest? That slime ball? C'mon Newt...I thought you had balls!
Fortunately, there are those in Congress who seek to stand up for what is Right. I love Jeff Flake of Arizona. He stands up there and analyzes every aspect of every bill, fighting for every dollar included in the bill. Is it sexy? No. Does the leadership hate him? Yes. Is what he doing in the best interests of the GOP? HELL YES! At least someone around here has the cajones (that's Spanish for...cajones) to stand up for what they believe in. Another, Mike Pence, out of Indiana, stands for what is right and what needs to be done. Having lost the leadership position to Boehner, he could have rolled over and gone away. Instead, he continues to lead the fight against the "moderate" policies of many Republicans. Thank you gentlemen for the job you do! Maybe you can steer this ship where it needs to be, because right now we are floundering out in the ocean, adrift without a destination, and we will pay for it in November!!!
And They're Off
Having sat idly by for long enough, I have decided to push my opinion into the blogosphere. Events throughout this country, the State of Maryland and the Eastern Shore have conspired to push me into this somewhat contentious realm of strongly opinionated wordsmiths. My political beliefs lie far to the right of center, yet I find myself to be reasonable and informed. I hope that this venue will be one of informative discussion, yet highly opinionated. I have no problems with partisanship or bias, and I believe that our elected officials should have the same. We vote for them because of their beliefs and opinions and for them to venture forth and then sell out seems ridiculous to me. Therefore, let the blogging begin!
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