Littlestuff Weekender-1-28-2012

Following the two Florida debates this week, the intensity of the GOP presidential contest seemed to increase dramatically. Beginning on Wednesday there were numerous articles and statements from elites discussing Newt’s numerous flaws. It appeared as if all his opponents were in league to deny the nomination to the former Speaker. The Thursday debate almost made me yearn for a monarchy….until I recalled that we have an embryonic one in place right now. In a nation of 312 million people you’d think we could do much better than the current occupant of the White House, and given all his flaws, shortcomings and actions, we should have at least one opposition candidate who wears blue tights and sports a big red “S” on his/her chest. Sigh……………………That’s one of the reasons that I support Dr. Paul. At least I know he can ride a bicycle for 25 miles. I’m not sure those other guys can walk and chew gum at the same time.

The State of the Union address was a “patch and paste” rehash of previous ones and functioned as a Christmas tree loaded with tiny promises for various special interests. Every day I find my perception of Obama solidifying. I believe he’s lazy and unmotivated. He doesn’t do his homework but is somewhat proficient at reading large-print words from a rolling teleprompter….sort of like a trained seal with language skills. He would not be at all dangerous if it weren’t for his Marxist ideology. Since he has assumed office, he has used Executive Orders, bureaucratic decisions and outright unconstitutional actions to push his nefarious agenda. Never forget, though, he has had the whimpering complicity of his “loyal opposition” as he has lunged toward his version of our broken America. The Boehner-led House has rolled over more often than a runaway beer barrel rolling down Pike’s Peak.

Each of you should be diligently researching the candidates so that we elect a STRICT constitutionalist this time. Of course the unemployment figures could spike upward right after the inauguration because scores of lobbyists and bureaucrats would find themselves without jobs. But hey, everyone must do his/her “fair share.” If there were a massive migration of all those former government employees and special-interest blood suckers, Washington D.C. real estate may become as inexpensive as the rest of the country. It could be a banner day, though, for truck rentals. Works for me.

Our neighbors, the Indiana Hoosiers, have become a “right-to-work” state. Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan are collectively gnawing fingernails beyond the cuticles to the quick. Time will tell if we have a resurgence of manufacturing in a part of the Great Lakes region. At any rate…Gary, Indiana, needs all the help it can get. Will Indiana experience a huge surge in employment and GDP? Probably not, but we can expect a growth rate that leads the region and begins to drain working people from other surrounding states. Given the situation in our region, any positive growth will reverse the recent trend. The Elkhart area may experience the first rumblings although much of their manufacturing relies on the prosperity of the rest of the nation.

In the Thursday debate Newt Gingrich reiterated his goal for NASA to colonize the Moon. Dr. Paul suggested sending certain politicians there, but I hope he wasn’t joking. Large public undertakings require massive public support (for now at least, but public input is becoming less important). If we truly believed that a significant number of our career political elites would be transplanted to the Moon, I’ll wager we could fund the enterprise with donations. Save taxpayer dollars and save the Republic all at once. It sounds like a plan that I could support. Maybe we could get Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush to lead the fundraising just like they did for Haiti and the tsunami victims. Maybe Ted Nugent and Toby Keith would do a telethon. We could give away free tote bags and tee-shirts to the contributors. Sorry…..I’m going to take my meds now.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffet want the “rich” to pay higher taxes. They fail to mention, however, that the bulk of their incomes are capital gains….not earned income. They are never specifically quoted as suggesting that “cap gains” be raised….only taxes. A rich stupid hypocrite is much more dangerous than your typical run-of-the-mill two-faced moron. They have a certain level of credibility when discussing money even if they lack integrity and economic understanding. Prince Fielder just signed that 9-year $214 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. Do you think that he wants his taxes to be higher?

A secret source informs me that absenteeism was staggering following the State of the Union broadcast. It seems that a large number of the 5 million viewers were engaged in a “drinking game.” The purpose was to take a drink every time the President uttered a favorite phrase or used the first-person pronoun. Rumor has it that most of the game participants were trashed before he got through the ceremonial opening. While the nation suffers, Jack Daniels and Sam Adams are thriving. For some reason “Wild Turkey” and “Mad Dog” comes to mind.

Do you suppose that Barney Frank will have a “pre-nup” when he gets married? Enjoy the weekend. Florida votes (the final 65% who haven’t already voted) on Tuesday.

Comments: cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Tuesday 6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo   www.wspd.com

Independent Believers and Libertarians

Roughly 25% of self-professed Christians in the United States attend independent Bible-believing churches. They are categorized as Independent because they do not belong to a formal denominational structure. Some with common beliefs and practices may join in loose alliances with similar churches, but each local church retains its autonomy and manages its affairs in a biblical fashion. In addition some 76% of Americans claim to be Christian so that would suggest that about 19% of the U.S. population attends independent churches. Why do they prefer the independent church versus the mainline or Roman Catholic? Personally, I suspect their preferences are similar to mine. They cherish their relationship with Christ and the Father, and they do not want any bureaucratic hierarchy inserting itself into that very personal involvement. They value the Word and do not believe that they require someone to “interpret or parse” it for them. In essence they do not want anyone doing their thinking or making their decisions for them. They are theological libertarians.

Political libertarians are very similar because they distrust the heavy hand of government. They do not want a huge bureaucracy between them and their life choices. Libertarians honor and respect the Constitution of the United States and are dismayed when political leaders and special interests distort its purpose. They do not need anyone to “interpret or parse” the document for them. They have read it, and many of them have perused the supporting documents from the ratification process. They do not want politicians or others with personal agendas to claim to have divine knowledge about the Framers’ intentions when the historical record suggests a contrary view.

It is possible that theological and political libertarians are simply strong-willed and head strong people. They may be too bull-headed to conform to the rest of the faith community or electorate. On the other hand, the fact that both approaches swim in a pool of nearly 20% of the nation’s population would suggest that they are not reclusive iconoclasts. They are thoughtful believers and supporters. I do not have hard data to support this, but I believe that I can safely assume that libertarians, theological and political, read more, study more and know more than their non-libertarian co-hort.

Some of you who read this will be offended. You read, you study and you learn….and you are NOT a libertarian (I can see the sneer as you utter the foul term). You truly believe that your insights, faith-based and political, are valid and justified. You may be a Methodist, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, agnostic or atheist who resents when anyone attempts to pigeonhole you. Well, my fine feathered friend, you are a libertarian. You just don’t have the self awareness or courage to leave your present comfort zone. You would rather remain with a group that doesn’t truly reflect your views, and chafe at their constant efforts to make you conform. You are a person who thoroughly examines your faith or your politics and have arrived at your conclusions through faith and reason.

There are some self-professed libertarians, religious and secular, who travel on the fringes of normal society. In the religious sense they might be recluses or street preachers. Politically they could be anarchists or off-the-grid survivalists. They are the outliers…the “two deviations from the norm.” The fact that they exist doesn’t discredit the true libertarians. Some clergymen are sexual predators but that doesn’t disbar faith from its role in life. Weirdo’s exist in every measurable demographic, but critics use the outliers to defame the movement or the group. True libertarians whether theological or political have usually arrived at their positions through study and introspection. If libertarianism is transmitted from one generation to another (as in lifetime Democrat or 3^rd generation Methodist), it is only because the younger people have gone through the reflective or salvation process themselves. Libertarianism in faith or politics demands a constant defense because others love to denigrate it. Ask Tim Tebow. Ask Ron Paul.

Too many people are comfortable sitting in a box without truly exploring what they believe. Libertarians are willing to step out of the box and search for meaning. Libertarian may be a label. It may even be a pejorative to some, but in reality it signifies that an individual is willing to examine life and its consequences, and behave accordingly. The opinions of others are valued but never accepted at face value. The libertarian goes to the Source when seeking Truth.

Our nation and our world needs more free thinking, thoughtful people who value liberty and knowledge. We need them now. Right now. Pronto. Today. This is the hour.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Tuesday from 6-7:00pm on 1370 WSPD, Toledo.  www.wspd.com

Righteousness and Piety

A righteous person or cause is morally upright, virtuous and wholly justifiable. A pious person or cause is dedicated to duty. Certainly some element of piety is desirable among our people, our clerics and our political leaders. There should be a strong commitment to duty among them, but if they do not seek righteous goals, their piety is squandered on unworthy goals. Shifting from the theological to the political context, we can observe that pious politicians are dedicated to their visions or their views of what our societal goals should be whereas the righteous among them yearn for an honest virtuous nation that rewards individual initiative. The problem is that too many of our political elites trumpet their piety but ignore the righteous pursuits. False piety is a sin. We are all familiar with the Sadducees and Pharisees who visibly seemed pious but may have lacked righteous hearts.

The parallels between our political elites and the ecclesiastical class are eerie. The politicians say the right things time and again. They pledge their undying devotion to personal liberty and constitutional government. They are piously devoted to saying what they believe the people view as righteous sentiment. False piety, void of righteousness leads to hollow shells of politicians…no cores, no serious convictions, no center of true public service. They mouth the platitudes and simultaneously push our buttons as they attempt to lure us with their piety and devotion to principle. The pious ones always know what to say and how to behave when the people are watching them. It’s under the cover of darkness and behind the marble walls that their true unrighteousness becomes apparent. They worship themselves and government. Just as the priestly class has been called to serve but succumbs to the glamour and trappings of privilege so too has the political class been summoned to serve as leaders for our Republic but nevertheless fall under the spell of power and advantage.

Priests who are pious but unrighteous are treated deferentially by the worshipers who respect their positions. For the most part the people are unaware of the carnal nature of the clerics’ personalities. The priestly piety fools the parishioners for a time. Eventually, however, the trappings of grandeur and the vestments of self-interest become apparent and the credibility and character of the pious priest are exposed as shams. Politicians who hold office are treated as infallible wizards who understand the mysteries of the governing process….who can fathom the incomprehensible depths of complex legislation….who seemingly have their fingers on the pulse of government. We ultimately discover, however, that their wizardry is deficient, their knowledge is lacking and their fingers are often misplaced. They are fallible, but nevertheless continue to impress us with their government-induced piety.

The trappings of piety are often impressive. The priest or the politician fits the mold of the true believer as if they were selected by central casting. As many of us have learned, first impressions are sometimes deceiving. Through experience we may have discovered that airs and appearances do not fully expose the character of a person.

He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hands from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil--- this is the man who will dwell on the heights…

Isaiah 33: 15-16 (NIV).

When we encounter a righteous cleric or politician, our amazement is merged with fear and awe. Someone whose life is reflection of his beliefs and his faith often intimidates us (See Tim Tebow). We envy his passion, his courage and his self-certainty. We may even be afraid of someone whose passion, integrity and righteousness makes us feel inadequate. The person whose principles are non-negotiable earns our respect, but sometimes they become targets of derision. In the church such a person is branded as a zealot. In the vineyards of politics she or he is described as an extremist. The True Believer will never yield, never compromise. The righteous believer marches on through the catcalls and the name calling and never flinches. The righteous person is at peace with herself or himself, and doesn’t cut deals or corners to reach an objective.

The time has come for our people to identify and reject the false trappings of piety. If we are to save our Republic, we must select leaders who have a passion for our Constitution and our liberty. We must choose an extremist who is extremely committed to freedom.

Comment: cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

   

Side Effects and Disclaimers

If you watch television or listen to radio, you are familiar with the disclaimers that follow pharmaceutical ads, automobile ads and banking commercials. The pharma spots include side effects and warnings about the impact of the drug. Automotive commercials inform you about the terms, down payments and warranty issues. The banking and occasional ads for investment services warn of minimum deposits and note which federal agency insures you from total loss. The disclaimers substitute for the multiple “whereas” clauses you might have in a contract if you decided to engage in one. They are intended to be cautionary and provide some measure of full disclosure. But do they?

To me the pharmaceutical commercials are particularly annoying. They use approximately 20 seconds extolling the wondrous aspects of the super drug then follow it with ten high-speed, barely discernible seconds of potential side effects and deadly outcomes. “Your headache will be gone, but your arms and legs will fall off.” Listening to them makes one wonder about the true value of medicated state today. Have we minimized the initial problems only to be plagued by a number of dangerous side effects? Is the trade off worth it? Our interactions with government operate in a similar manner. We may believe that we have an immediate solution to a pressing problem, but are the long term consequences ultimately more harmful than the original issue. When you invite the monster into the house, the monster takes over the household, eats all the food and defecates wherever he wishes.  So when we take the government remedy, the side effects are huge.

The automobile solicitations create another type of disclaimer issue. The data are factual “a new car for $139.00 per month,” but the devil is in the details….$3500.00 cash or trade down for 72 months plus tax and title. Again we have a similarity to how our various levels of government operate. The sale….the sizzle…looks great and sounds great, but when the REAL cost is factored, we discover the government deal is not so hot after all. Government always sells us the benefits of a given program and never discloses the downside or actual cost over the long term. To continue our analogy….government begins to add new accessories to our car shortly after the sale is made thus adding to the cost. They fail, however, to tell us about the negative impact of the add-ons and the long-term ramifications of the additional costs.

The banking and investment disclaimer is a different type. It basically is targeted to assure you that if the bank or firms fails, the “government” insures the account holder. Think about it. Government regulates banks and brokerage houses. Government tells them how to operate and function. Government monitors them with strict reporting requirements. If they fail despite all the government involvement and oversight, the taxpayers will make the investors or depositors “whole.” Why? Is the insurance necessary because bankers and brokers are inherently corrupt? Is the insurance required because the extensive government regulatory structure is inept or incompetent? Why must the taxpayer be on the hook? Why not practice caveat emptor and allow the free market to reign?

Once again we have a circumstance wherein government requires the private sector and citizens to comply with obnoxious rules, regulations and laws that the government itself does not have to obey. Shouldn’t every proposed law include its constitutional justification plus it’s never ending list of potential side effects and consequences?  Should not every rule, regulation and law have a realistic assessment of the actual costs incurred plus the costly impact on other sectors? If government is going to micro manage and regulate so many aspects of our lives, should not the taxpayer be held “faultless” if the government itself was responsible for fraud or failure?

Hey…I know I’m blowing smoke here. I know that our imperial government will NEVER accept responsibility for its actions and the resulting unintended consequences of its actions. I know government will never project the true cost of anything for two reasons: they are incapable of cost-factoring complexity and they cannot pass the noxious rule or law if the people are aware of the real cost. I also know that when government errs, we pay….and pay…..and pay. Unfortunately you and I know too much. When government is small (constitutionally small), its negative reach and impact is minimized. When government is small, projects and initiatives are more modest and more easily cost-factored. When government is small, it is the referee that protects the rulebook, but insists that the players assume their own risks. When government is small, the people prosper and freedom reigns.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Tuesday 6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo  www.wspd.com