Ordering room service could be a challenge at the Heartbreak Hotel. This hotel is the metaphorical location for where our nation is today. Founded on the principles of freedom and opportunity, we have regressed into a nation that has become threatened by the government that we have elected. Throughout the centuries and decades since our beginning, we have mistakenly placed our trust in the hands of professional politicians.
As a reformed politico, I can now confess that most politicians remind me of the nerdy little twit in the class who always raises his hand while the “pick me, pick me” pleas ooze from every pore of his pathetic affirmation-seeking body. He or she was the type who would stand in front of an unlit candle while waiting for the light to shine on their precocious little personalities. They want to be liked. They seek to be loved. They lust to be adored. They become the people who appear on our ballots during every election cycle. The office they seek may change, but they are our professional politicians, our perpetual candidates. Term limits? No problem, we’ll just rotate offices among those of us who have been divinely chosen to run…to lead…to run again.
To justify their reasons for seeking political office they must broaden the scope and the reach of government. Bigger government equals a brighter light; big government is the bigger candle that our professional political class covets. Most of us are busy people. We have jobs to do and families to nurture. We go about our daily lives without worrying too much about what is going on in the hallowed halls of the courthouse, the state capitol or in Washington. We continue to vote for the little attention-seeking weasels, time after time, because they’re “nice guys’ or they appear to “really care.” While we have been toiling to fulfill our responsibilities and maybe, attempting to get a little bit ahead, our “public servants” have been erecting an unwieldy, unworkable and un-Constitutional governmental structure. The behemoth is the Heartbreak Hotel.
It is comprised of so many rooms that it is impossible for the average guest to navigate his way around the place. The charges for staying there grow greater everyday, but the quality of service degrades nearly as fast. Meanwhile, the cheerful little spotlight-suckers continue to remind us that they have been instrumental in the construction of this grand edifice. They proudly proclaim that they have sponsored, co-sponsored or supported many of the critical rooms in our hotel of happiness. What they have failed to tell us is that the Heartbreak Hotel was not built on its original foundation. It has been constructed on a slab of deceit.
For those of us who are uneasy while living in the Heartbreak Hotel, we discover that we must leave. For us to continue to reside there would ultimately lead to ruin. We are warned by other guests and the self-serving “staff” that we cannot move outside the hotel and expect to be effective. Maybe they’re right, but dammit…the hotel is unsafe, the hotel is unhealthy, and I refuse to bite my tongue and stay there any longer. So, goodbye Heartbreak Hotel, I’m hauling outta’ here, but I’ll be back with a new set of builders.
Please comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I'm Sorry
If only Brenda Lee were here to cry out “I’m Sorry,” or maybe Roy Orbison could (if he were still with us) plaintively croon “Crying.” After sitting through the State of the Union address on Wednesday night, I felt as if I had been in some therapy session involving basic victimology. I actually felt unclean.
Mr. President, you will be 50 years old when you leave office in 2012. Isn’t it time that you began to wear long pants? Isn’t it time for you to “man up,” and stop the incessant whining and moaning that characterize your public appearances? Your bi-columnar address to the nation followed a pattern that has become all too familiar to those of us who observe the political scene. One column lists the disadvantages and barriers that work in concert to deny you your self-perceived place in the pantheon of history. The other column while liberally laced with the first-person pronoun is dedicated to the reinforcement of your obviously superior position among mortals.
Frankly, Mr. President, I find your shameless self promotion to be tiresome, and your childish whining and blame-casting to be excruciatingly annoying. Seventy minutes is much too long for someone in your position to be immersed in self adulation and self pity. It is unseemly. It is un-Presidential. It is not at all helpful.
Oh yes, you tossed a couple of bones about the strength and the character of the people. Anyone who closely followed the speech knew that those were simple rhetorical devices devised to soften the overwhelming self-absorbed nature of your speech. By the way, Mr. President, what is the state of the Union? I must have missed your veiled reference. Are we safer or stronger? Are we richer or poorer? Will we survive your socialist policies through sickness and health? Just askin’. Mr. President, I’m sorry because your potentially shining moment was so sorry also.
Comment, please or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Mr. President, you will be 50 years old when you leave office in 2012. Isn’t it time that you began to wear long pants? Isn’t it time for you to “man up,” and stop the incessant whining and moaning that characterize your public appearances? Your bi-columnar address to the nation followed a pattern that has become all too familiar to those of us who observe the political scene. One column lists the disadvantages and barriers that work in concert to deny you your self-perceived place in the pantheon of history. The other column while liberally laced with the first-person pronoun is dedicated to the reinforcement of your obviously superior position among mortals.
Frankly, Mr. President, I find your shameless self promotion to be tiresome, and your childish whining and blame-casting to be excruciatingly annoying. Seventy minutes is much too long for someone in your position to be immersed in self adulation and self pity. It is unseemly. It is un-Presidential. It is not at all helpful.
Oh yes, you tossed a couple of bones about the strength and the character of the people. Anyone who closely followed the speech knew that those were simple rhetorical devices devised to soften the overwhelming self-absorbed nature of your speech. By the way, Mr. President, what is the state of the Union? I must have missed your veiled reference. Are we safer or stronger? Are we richer or poorer? Will we survive your socialist policies through sickness and health? Just askin’. Mr. President, I’m sorry because your potentially shining moment was so sorry also.
Comment, please or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
In the Race:a personal memo
Well, I’ve done it. I stood on the precipice surveying the landscape, and then I stepped over the edge. My sanity, my energy and my commitment will be challenged as I campaign as a Libertarian for the office as Secretary of State for Ohio. We’re in the embryonic stage now as we structure the committee and solicit signatures on our petitions. One huge advantage for this race at this time is that those who sign our petitions do NOT have to be registered Libertarians. The LP will be on the primary ballot, and my name will be in the SoS slot, but because the party has not had ballot access in the recent past, there is currently no registration designation for “Libertarian.” So, R’s, D’s and I’s can sign my petitions without being legally challenged or required to forfeit their party affiliation. This opening may close for future campaigns because after this year’s primary, there will be a registration designation for Libertarians, and candidates will (unless the law is changed) be forced to secure signatures from party members only in order to qualify for the party nomination on future ballots.
So, why have I chosen to jump back into the election arena after a 26 year sabbatical? After all, it is much easier to sit on the sidelines and lob written spitballs at present-day political goings-on. Running for a statewide office is no picnic…Ohio is roughly 240 miles by 210 miles, and I live in a corner of the state…not the center. There are roughly 11 million people in Ohio, although the real population may be lower because of people relocating after losing their jobs. There are 88 counties, six or seven urban centers (depending on the criteria used), miles of country roads that wind through hills and valleys, and miles of country roads that pierce the prairies of the western portion of the state. There is a very strong (but shrinking) union presence in Ohio and a strong but diminishing corporate/business environment. In many respects our state is a microcosm of the nation.
My reasoning for deciding to pursue the office of Secretary of State for Ohio followed five paths: principle, pragmatism, political, punitive and personal.
My decision to become a Libertarian was based on principles. I had been a conservative Republican for several decades, but had become increasingly frustrated with GOP officeholders as they appeared to be complicit in the massive expansion of government. I had been a significant contributor to the party in years past, but had stopped doing so when the party apparatus (including President W) endorsed (snarlin’) Arlen Spector over Pat Toomey in 2004. The Republican Senatorial Campaign also dedicated significant resources to the election of Lincoln (actually a Yugo) Chaffee. I knew, and every sentient observer knew that both of those endorsed candidates were statist, big government liberals, and yet, the party saw fit to promote them AT THE EXPENSE of solid small government challengers. At that point I began to contribute directly to candidates rather than official party entities. It wasn’t enough, however because when those Republicans that I supported were elected, they were often marginalized by the party leadership …or they became dealmakers and compromisers in order to preserve their political lives. So, I chose to align myself with a group from the Land of Misfit Toys who proclaimed and passionately promoted three basic principles for governing: Smaller government, lower taxes, more (personal) freedom. As someone with a knapsack full of personal biases and preferences, I determined that my failure to join the Libertarians at an earlier stage in my political development was because of my unease with that “personal freedom” thing. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there were many Libertarians whose personal preferences were radically different from mine. I finally concluded, however, that “personal” preferences of any sort are meaningless if the power of the state is supreme and restrictive. When the light bulb of understanding flickered in my resistant mind, I realized that we should unite and fight to restore smaller government and lower taxes, and then we can argue about those pesky personal freedom things later. If we don’t have smaller government and lower taxes (taxes fund big government), then personal freedom in all probability becomes a moot issue. The principles of smaller government, lower taxes…and more freedom are driving me to run for statewide office.
The pragmatic basis for my running for Secretary of State is grounded in the duties of the office. As a constitutional position, the Secretary of State is administratively responsible for overseeing elections in Ohio and business registration and licensing. There are other sundry duties and responsibilities, but those two are the big kahuna’s. As a Libertarian, or third-party candidate, I can wield power and influence to assure that our elections in the Buckeye State are free and fair. Because the Libertarian Party, as of now, is small, we do not have the resources to cheat and affect electoral outcomes in various venues throughout the state. The two Old Parties do …and have. Pragmatically speaking, I can force them to obey the law and toe the line. If anyone tries to corrupt the electoral process in Ohio, I will drop the big hammer. For example If ACORN, or any organization similar to them, tries to register the dead or Mickey Mouse, there will be “Crushed Nuts (acorns or whatever) in Ohio.” People who attempt to vote in other states and Ohio will be forced to choose or to be prosecuted. Precincts that have more votes than registered voters will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. The business registration procedures will be streamlined so that new start-up small business can begin functioning with minimal delay. We need jobs in Ohio.
Politically the Secretary of State slot made the most sense for me. The gubernatorial campaign is going to be a high-visibility, high-dollar affair. Ken Matesz, the Libertarian candidate, has to contend with an incumbent Democrat and a Republican challenger who has very high name identification. Good luck, Ken. Steve Linnabary is the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate. That race, also, will be a high-dollar, high-energy bloodbath.
I’m not all that great with spread sheets so Auditor and Treasurer didn’t appeal to me. Having served in the minority in the Legislature a quarter century ago, I recall how frustrating it can be when one battles an entrenched power structure. So, I wanted an under the radar type of office that could favorably impact the citizens of Ohio. The present Secretary of State is running for U.S. Senate. It’s an open seat. Because of the high-level of scrutiny associated with the other statewide races, the SoS contest could present an opportunity for disgruntled citizens to vote for a third party candidate without feeling that they might be risking or wasting their votes. Given the environment generated by the Tea Party/912/Liberty groups, they clearly are seeking alternatives, but do not want to pursue pipe dreams. My political calculus is that my race offers them a safe and primary vehicle to upset the status quo.
My punitive reason for running for a statewide office is to blow a portion of my children’s inheritance. Seriously, I want my grandchildren to have some chance for personal freedom. They will not have any meaningful personal choices if government continues to grow. So I’ll forfeit my genteel lifestyle on my little patch of paradise here in Wood County, my children will relinquish some of their inheritance, and perhaps, just perhaps, my grandkids can harvest some benefits.
My personal justification for this Don Quixote-like foray onto the political battlefield is that I must be crazy. As a crazy person, I’m probably incapable of recognizing my own insanity. Therefore (using progressive logic) if I can’t detect it, it must be so (think of the global warming argument as a parallel). There’s nothing wrong with being crazy. Some of my best friends are crazy. If the sane people have been running the country and the state all these years, and have managed to screw them up so badly, isn’t it time for the crazy people to give it a shot. Vote for me because I must be a raving madman.
I have tried to explain why I have decided to engage in something that may be beyond my grasp. Then again, there’s a little voice that says “we can do this (don’t forget I’m crazy).” If you want to join me on this journey, there is room for you on the bus (I’ll never throw you under it). If you don’t want to join in, then your votes, your cheers, your dollars and your prayers are welcome. Dear reader, regardless of your relationship with my campaign, you’ll always be my friend.
Please comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
earl4sos@gmail.com
So, why have I chosen to jump back into the election arena after a 26 year sabbatical? After all, it is much easier to sit on the sidelines and lob written spitballs at present-day political goings-on. Running for a statewide office is no picnic…Ohio is roughly 240 miles by 210 miles, and I live in a corner of the state…not the center. There are roughly 11 million people in Ohio, although the real population may be lower because of people relocating after losing their jobs. There are 88 counties, six or seven urban centers (depending on the criteria used), miles of country roads that wind through hills and valleys, and miles of country roads that pierce the prairies of the western portion of the state. There is a very strong (but shrinking) union presence in Ohio and a strong but diminishing corporate/business environment. In many respects our state is a microcosm of the nation.
My reasoning for deciding to pursue the office of Secretary of State for Ohio followed five paths: principle, pragmatism, political, punitive and personal.
My decision to become a Libertarian was based on principles. I had been a conservative Republican for several decades, but had become increasingly frustrated with GOP officeholders as they appeared to be complicit in the massive expansion of government. I had been a significant contributor to the party in years past, but had stopped doing so when the party apparatus (including President W) endorsed (snarlin’) Arlen Spector over Pat Toomey in 2004. The Republican Senatorial Campaign also dedicated significant resources to the election of Lincoln (actually a Yugo) Chaffee. I knew, and every sentient observer knew that both of those endorsed candidates were statist, big government liberals, and yet, the party saw fit to promote them AT THE EXPENSE of solid small government challengers. At that point I began to contribute directly to candidates rather than official party entities. It wasn’t enough, however because when those Republicans that I supported were elected, they were often marginalized by the party leadership …or they became dealmakers and compromisers in order to preserve their political lives. So, I chose to align myself with a group from the Land of Misfit Toys who proclaimed and passionately promoted three basic principles for governing: Smaller government, lower taxes, more (personal) freedom. As someone with a knapsack full of personal biases and preferences, I determined that my failure to join the Libertarians at an earlier stage in my political development was because of my unease with that “personal freedom” thing. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there were many Libertarians whose personal preferences were radically different from mine. I finally concluded, however, that “personal” preferences of any sort are meaningless if the power of the state is supreme and restrictive. When the light bulb of understanding flickered in my resistant mind, I realized that we should unite and fight to restore smaller government and lower taxes, and then we can argue about those pesky personal freedom things later. If we don’t have smaller government and lower taxes (taxes fund big government), then personal freedom in all probability becomes a moot issue. The principles of smaller government, lower taxes…and more freedom are driving me to run for statewide office.
The pragmatic basis for my running for Secretary of State is grounded in the duties of the office. As a constitutional position, the Secretary of State is administratively responsible for overseeing elections in Ohio and business registration and licensing. There are other sundry duties and responsibilities, but those two are the big kahuna’s. As a Libertarian, or third-party candidate, I can wield power and influence to assure that our elections in the Buckeye State are free and fair. Because the Libertarian Party, as of now, is small, we do not have the resources to cheat and affect electoral outcomes in various venues throughout the state. The two Old Parties do …and have. Pragmatically speaking, I can force them to obey the law and toe the line. If anyone tries to corrupt the electoral process in Ohio, I will drop the big hammer. For example If ACORN, or any organization similar to them, tries to register the dead or Mickey Mouse, there will be “Crushed Nuts (acorns or whatever) in Ohio.” People who attempt to vote in other states and Ohio will be forced to choose or to be prosecuted. Precincts that have more votes than registered voters will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. The business registration procedures will be streamlined so that new start-up small business can begin functioning with minimal delay. We need jobs in Ohio.
Politically the Secretary of State slot made the most sense for me. The gubernatorial campaign is going to be a high-visibility, high-dollar affair. Ken Matesz, the Libertarian candidate, has to contend with an incumbent Democrat and a Republican challenger who has very high name identification. Good luck, Ken. Steve Linnabary is the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate. That race, also, will be a high-dollar, high-energy bloodbath.
I’m not all that great with spread sheets so Auditor and Treasurer didn’t appeal to me. Having served in the minority in the Legislature a quarter century ago, I recall how frustrating it can be when one battles an entrenched power structure. So, I wanted an under the radar type of office that could favorably impact the citizens of Ohio. The present Secretary of State is running for U.S. Senate. It’s an open seat. Because of the high-level of scrutiny associated with the other statewide races, the SoS contest could present an opportunity for disgruntled citizens to vote for a third party candidate without feeling that they might be risking or wasting their votes. Given the environment generated by the Tea Party/912/Liberty groups, they clearly are seeking alternatives, but do not want to pursue pipe dreams. My political calculus is that my race offers them a safe and primary vehicle to upset the status quo.
My punitive reason for running for a statewide office is to blow a portion of my children’s inheritance. Seriously, I want my grandchildren to have some chance for personal freedom. They will not have any meaningful personal choices if government continues to grow. So I’ll forfeit my genteel lifestyle on my little patch of paradise here in Wood County, my children will relinquish some of their inheritance, and perhaps, just perhaps, my grandkids can harvest some benefits.
My personal justification for this Don Quixote-like foray onto the political battlefield is that I must be crazy. As a crazy person, I’m probably incapable of recognizing my own insanity. Therefore (using progressive logic) if I can’t detect it, it must be so (think of the global warming argument as a parallel). There’s nothing wrong with being crazy. Some of my best friends are crazy. If the sane people have been running the country and the state all these years, and have managed to screw them up so badly, isn’t it time for the crazy people to give it a shot. Vote for me because I must be a raving madman.
I have tried to explain why I have decided to engage in something that may be beyond my grasp. Then again, there’s a little voice that says “we can do this (don’t forget I’m crazy).” If you want to join me on this journey, there is room for you on the bus (I’ll never throw you under it). If you don’t want to join in, then your votes, your cheers, your dollars and your prayers are welcome. Dear reader, regardless of your relationship with my campaign, you’ll always be my friend.
Please comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
earl4sos@gmail.com
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes:
Do you watch American Idol? Is it in your “can’t miss” category of weekly scheduling? What about Dancing with the Stars? Watch the Daily Show? Are you familiar with Lindy Lohan’s complete rap sheet or the daily challenges for Brittany Spears? Obviously these are rhetorical questions that beg the question: How pervasive is the cult of celebrity in the United States? Anyone who has an opinion can express it without fear of having the government prohibiting free non-threatening expression. That’s chiseled in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Many of the pop culture stars have opinions, and they share them freely and frequently. What puzzles me is that so many people view the celebrity statements as serious and worthy of consideration. Just because someone has attained a level of “stardom,” doesn’t necessarily mean that their opinions are notable. If the celeb has done something that merits our attention and has “walked the walk,” then perhaps their pronouncements should be considered. Otherwise having a high “Q” rating or positive name identification does not translate into knowledge about public policy. When a star has earned her/his stripes, then I’ll listen. A final example is celebrity assuming more credibility than it deserves is the Wednesday morning headline on the “Drudge Report” suggesting that Scott Brown may/should run for president. Give me a break; he hasn’t yet gotten a key to the Capitol men’s room. One of the big problems with a professional political class (like Mandarin eunuchs) is the assumption that the politico will be seeking the next higher office. Service? What service?
Crockpots and Skillets:
As I have struggled with my newly formed political I.D., I’ve been searching for a metaphor that accurately and picturesquely describes my sense of the two-party duopoly.
I believe that our country is firmly on the path toward tyranny. The power of government at all levels is growing. In my view it’s an ominous evolution that will stifle the human spirit. The progressives and their cohorts are cooking my goose in a skillet. Hot and fast with a splattering of grease. Unfortunately, some people get burned, but every cook drops an egg once in a while. The “conservatives,” on the other hand, use a crockpot to heat my honker. A little expansion of Medicare RX here, a tiny bit of eroded rights there, a smaller tax increase over there, just a pinch of further regulation, and Viola’ add a spoon full of sugar (rhetoric) and the dinner will go down.
Progressives/statists have no boundaries. They want to control it all (except themselves). They surge forward, gobbling up power as fast as they can. Conservatives (picture tweed jacket, bow tie and horned-rim glasses) say, “Government should not overreach, there are limits, and to prove it, we will draw those limits with this pencil.” Libertarians say, “Wait a minute! Drawing with a pencil is worthless; you’ll continue to move the line. Go back to the Constitution, and stay within the boundaries. If you want to move the line, then amend it.” Skillets and crockpots…either way your goose gets cooked.
Comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Do you watch American Idol? Is it in your “can’t miss” category of weekly scheduling? What about Dancing with the Stars? Watch the Daily Show? Are you familiar with Lindy Lohan’s complete rap sheet or the daily challenges for Brittany Spears? Obviously these are rhetorical questions that beg the question: How pervasive is the cult of celebrity in the United States? Anyone who has an opinion can express it without fear of having the government prohibiting free non-threatening expression. That’s chiseled in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Many of the pop culture stars have opinions, and they share them freely and frequently. What puzzles me is that so many people view the celebrity statements as serious and worthy of consideration. Just because someone has attained a level of “stardom,” doesn’t necessarily mean that their opinions are notable. If the celeb has done something that merits our attention and has “walked the walk,” then perhaps their pronouncements should be considered. Otherwise having a high “Q” rating or positive name identification does not translate into knowledge about public policy. When a star has earned her/his stripes, then I’ll listen. A final example is celebrity assuming more credibility than it deserves is the Wednesday morning headline on the “Drudge Report” suggesting that Scott Brown may/should run for president. Give me a break; he hasn’t yet gotten a key to the Capitol men’s room. One of the big problems with a professional political class (like Mandarin eunuchs) is the assumption that the politico will be seeking the next higher office. Service? What service?
Crockpots and Skillets:
As I have struggled with my newly formed political I.D., I’ve been searching for a metaphor that accurately and picturesquely describes my sense of the two-party duopoly.
I believe that our country is firmly on the path toward tyranny. The power of government at all levels is growing. In my view it’s an ominous evolution that will stifle the human spirit. The progressives and their cohorts are cooking my goose in a skillet. Hot and fast with a splattering of grease. Unfortunately, some people get burned, but every cook drops an egg once in a while. The “conservatives,” on the other hand, use a crockpot to heat my honker. A little expansion of Medicare RX here, a tiny bit of eroded rights there, a smaller tax increase over there, just a pinch of further regulation, and Viola’ add a spoon full of sugar (rhetoric) and the dinner will go down.
Progressives/statists have no boundaries. They want to control it all (except themselves). They surge forward, gobbling up power as fast as they can. Conservatives (picture tweed jacket, bow tie and horned-rim glasses) say, “Government should not overreach, there are limits, and to prove it, we will draw those limits with this pencil.” Libertarians say, “Wait a minute! Drawing with a pencil is worthless; you’ll continue to move the line. Go back to the Constitution, and stay within the boundaries. If you want to move the line, then amend it.” Skillets and crockpots…either way your goose gets cooked.
Comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Frosty Pause
This morning my dog, Frosty, and I were having a conversation. I know what you’re thinking. People in the various stages of senility often hear voices or wander around nursing homes while pant less and muttering with unseen entities. I don’t think Frosty is getting senile. He’s a Golden Retriever very much like Duke, the Bush’s Baked Bean dog, so I’m not shocked that he can speak. Unlike Duke, however, I’ve never seen Frosty dress in drag. Back on point: Frosty and I were in the truck and discussing the current social/political situation in Ohio and the U.S. of A.
Frosty was rather animated about what the Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts might suggest for a “controlling government” movement. He thought a victory by a Republican in a state (actually a commonwealth) like Massachusetts was evidence that the people had finally awakened. His reasoning was that although D’s outnumbered R’s by more than three to one, the electorate has discovered that big government solutions are nearly always ineffective, inefficient and counter productive. Frosty’s vehement condemnation of big government took me by surprise.
“Frosty,” said I,” I didn’t know that you were such a vociferous opponent huge government programs. Have you always felt this way?” Frosty nodded his golden mane and replied,” I have always believed this, but the healthcare take-over really focused my senses.”
“How so?” I asked. The three and a half year old dog ( 21+ in human years) explained.
“I know all about government health care and its intrusive overreaching,” he sighed. “You know that at the shelter when they put dogs up for adoption, they insist that they be neutered before they’re released,” he explained, “that’s why I seem to be a little light in the loafers at times…government rules, bureaucratic regulations, and do-gooder intentions have severely impacted my lifestyle. My instinctive impulse to lick myself has been radically short-circuited.”
“Ah, I see,” I thoughtfully replied. “Government-run all-species health has some advantages, though, what about how it controls the cat population?” Lifting his lip in that sneering look of his, he remarked, “Cats should be controlled. They’re too lazy to go outside and do their ‘business.’ They just lie around all day while those stupid litter boxes stink up the place. Cats are already on the dole. They already get health care even though they are not productive members of critter society.”
“Cats catch rodents,” I countered. “They’re not totally useless.” He succinctly answered, “D-Con’s cheaper and doesn’t smell as bad.” Apparently Frosty and I had reached an impasse about the merits of a federal health care plan. As we left the highway and turned onto our country road…headed for home, I asked him for a sensible solution to our policy differences.
“Feedbag (he calls me, Feedbag),” he said. “President Obama is a Democrat, progressive, big-government run everything, all-the-time advocate. You, dear Feedbag, have just defended the Republican, semi-progressive, big-government run many things, most-of-the-time position. The answer is to restrain the government to its Constitutional limits. Restrict it to very few duties and responsibilities and insist on transparency and accountability. Let the citizens and the private sector handle the rest. More choices equal more freedom. More freedom yields more opportunity. More opportunity generates better living for all!”
“Wow, Frosty, that was profound,” I exclaimed! “You should run for office as a Libertarian.”
“Hey, Bonehead,” he responded. “I can’t register, and I can’t vote. It doesn’t seem fair at all. Hell, in Chicago and Philly, dead people vote. In Milwaukee and St. Louis imaginary people vote. Why can’t critters vote?”
“Not too loud,” I cautioned, “the Dems may be listening.”
As we pulled up to the barn, Frosty informed me that he was starting an organization called FLAC—Freedom Loving American Canines. He described it as an ACORN for critters. I wished him well as I unloaded the truck, but I silently dreamed that he would sell that magical bean recipe for megabucks.
Comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Frosty was rather animated about what the Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts might suggest for a “controlling government” movement. He thought a victory by a Republican in a state (actually a commonwealth) like Massachusetts was evidence that the people had finally awakened. His reasoning was that although D’s outnumbered R’s by more than three to one, the electorate has discovered that big government solutions are nearly always ineffective, inefficient and counter productive. Frosty’s vehement condemnation of big government took me by surprise.
“Frosty,” said I,” I didn’t know that you were such a vociferous opponent huge government programs. Have you always felt this way?” Frosty nodded his golden mane and replied,” I have always believed this, but the healthcare take-over really focused my senses.”
“How so?” I asked. The three and a half year old dog ( 21+ in human years) explained.
“I know all about government health care and its intrusive overreaching,” he sighed. “You know that at the shelter when they put dogs up for adoption, they insist that they be neutered before they’re released,” he explained, “that’s why I seem to be a little light in the loafers at times…government rules, bureaucratic regulations, and do-gooder intentions have severely impacted my lifestyle. My instinctive impulse to lick myself has been radically short-circuited.”
“Ah, I see,” I thoughtfully replied. “Government-run all-species health has some advantages, though, what about how it controls the cat population?” Lifting his lip in that sneering look of his, he remarked, “Cats should be controlled. They’re too lazy to go outside and do their ‘business.’ They just lie around all day while those stupid litter boxes stink up the place. Cats are already on the dole. They already get health care even though they are not productive members of critter society.”
“Cats catch rodents,” I countered. “They’re not totally useless.” He succinctly answered, “D-Con’s cheaper and doesn’t smell as bad.” Apparently Frosty and I had reached an impasse about the merits of a federal health care plan. As we left the highway and turned onto our country road…headed for home, I asked him for a sensible solution to our policy differences.
“Feedbag (he calls me, Feedbag),” he said. “President Obama is a Democrat, progressive, big-government run everything, all-the-time advocate. You, dear Feedbag, have just defended the Republican, semi-progressive, big-government run many things, most-of-the-time position. The answer is to restrain the government to its Constitutional limits. Restrict it to very few duties and responsibilities and insist on transparency and accountability. Let the citizens and the private sector handle the rest. More choices equal more freedom. More freedom yields more opportunity. More opportunity generates better living for all!”
“Wow, Frosty, that was profound,” I exclaimed! “You should run for office as a Libertarian.”
“Hey, Bonehead,” he responded. “I can’t register, and I can’t vote. It doesn’t seem fair at all. Hell, in Chicago and Philly, dead people vote. In Milwaukee and St. Louis imaginary people vote. Why can’t critters vote?”
“Not too loud,” I cautioned, “the Dems may be listening.”
As we pulled up to the barn, Frosty informed me that he was starting an organization called FLAC—Freedom Loving American Canines. He described it as an ACORN for critters. I wished him well as I unloaded the truck, but I silently dreamed that he would sell that magical bean recipe for megabucks.
Comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Speaking Personally
There are times that I feel like Sisyphus (no, that’s not a lisper talking about an STD). Oh, by the way, this is going to be a bipolar piece of writing as I attempt to share my thoughts and tag them with parenthetical asides as I meander through the landscape of my once-fertile mind. I am radically ticked off. I look around me as I skim through my daily reading of the news (usually about two to two and a half hours), and I see madness. One would think if you know me or read my work, that I would feel quite at home in the center of madness. That’s not the case, however, because even crazy people sometimes perceive that craziness is nuts. I have a passion for freedom. Throughout my sixty-some years that passion has varied from a tiny ember in my soul to a flaming inferno of frustration. As a child, I would chafe at the rules of my parents. Usually, I recognized the reasoning behind them, but I resisted and resented their application. I know…I know…I know that no one else can look at me and discern exactly what it is that I am thinking at that moment. They may have some sense of my thoughts, but they do NOT know precisely what is fermenting in my conscious self. I knew this at a very early age, therefore, I became starkly aware of my uniqueness…and correspondingly, aware of the unique properties of every person.
As one who struggled to grow up in the Sixties, I went through much of the dissonance associated with one who wants to “find himself” without totally disengaging from the planet. In my moments of self examination I often wondered if those who had preceded me had their own quiet moments of self examination. Perhaps they were too busy scuffling for food and shelter to have the luxury of thoughtful introspection. But then I discovered that the philosophers of the ages gone by had questioned many of the same issues as I…and in most cases had done so more thoroughly and more lucidly than my feeble quest for answers. So, maybe I’m not so unique…which technically speaking, means that I’m not unique, but at this very moment, in this place, under these circumstances…I am unique. (Stupid metaphor coming, ask my daughter about it) Like a snowflake that is unique (I still can’t grasp this concept), I fall into an environment or an age and blend into the snow bank. Is my uniqueness now gone? Or is it merely suppressed by the millions of unique snowflakes clustered around me? Is it possible that underlying the softly falling snow is a cacophony of sub-auditory shouts screaming “Hey, its me, I’m here, hear me, see me!”
To the point: So far this exercise has seemed to be wallowing in self aggrandizement. I suspect, however, that everyone goes through a similar process at some stage in her/his life. If this is in fact true, then the burning yearning for freedom is present in each of us. Some of us hide it in order to be liked. Some of us have it extinguished by others who degrade us or denigrate our dreams. Some resist the efforts to drown the spark and fight back with a vengeance. Here I sit in my mid-sixties on my 5-acre little patch of paradise. I should be relishing my time to write, to garden and to create sawdust in my woodworking shop. Instead, I’m becoming politically active again…against my better judgment. Rather than maximizing my precious moments with my three grandchildren, I engage in a flurry of activity for a cause that seems lost. That little spark is now a conflagration, the lonely snowflake doesn’t want to melt into nothingness.
I am now a Libertarian. Yes, I have joined a band of misfit dope smokers, wild-eyed anarchists, adamant atheists and geeks. I have also united with people from all walks of life and various backgrounds who KNOW that the unrestrained growth of government will dampen the spark of liberty in each of us. They and I know that as government grows larger and more oppressive, it consumes the oxygen of opportunity, the air of dreams, and the hope of freedom. In our historic past when freedom-lovers felt the crush of too much government or restriction, they pulled-up their stakes, loaded their wagons and headed west. There are not too many places for the freedom-lovers to go now, so many of us have come together to take freedom back from the dream stealers. As many of you know, I used to be a Republican…an ardent one. But the party and too many of its representatives have failed. They give lip-service to the basic principles of freedom, then tag along trying to “improve” liberal legislation rather than fighting to defeat it. Too many Republicans have joined the professional political class where holding the job outranks doing what is best for the country and their constituents. So, I’ve attached myself to a motley group of rank amateurs who merely want freedom to thrive.
I am a Christian. A fundamental, evangelical born-again believer in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Some might think that my faith would place me 180 degrees from the political position that I have embraced. Au contraire, dear Reader, three bedrock elements of Biblical Christianity are faith, grace and freedom. Original Christian believers do not want an oppressive overbearing government to dictate the parameters of their belief. Many of the early colonialists migrated to our shores to escape repressive state-supported churches. As long as the state has an interest in religious behavior, then an individual’s practice of faith will be circumscribed or limited. Grace is God’s gift to me as a result of Christ’s going to the cross, taking MY sin with Him into death, and rising to life. As a result of his paying the debt for my deplorable words and deeds, I am free to reconstruct my life, my attitudes, and my priorities without the monumental guilt of my past transgressions. Does Grace suggest that everything I do from now on is guiltless? No, of course not. The gift of grace has made me more cognizant of my weaknesses and my hurtful actions, but grace has freed me from the paralyzing fear of erring or seeking the approval of others. Some place their faith in the government. I know from my experience that their faith has been misplaced. Some place their faith solely in themselves. With all due respect to their intellects and their motives, that’s not enough for me. Through my personal experience, I know how lacking, how fragile and how misplaced it is to trust only in oneself. So give me freedom surrounded by a bunch of headstrong Libertarians, and I will practice my faith without harassment while having ample opportunities to explain it and share during typical Libertarian bull sessions.
This column to some degree has been a cathartic undertaking. On the other hand, it is only a beginning. I don’t know if anyone will read this…or read all of it. Perhaps someone who loves me will read it and call the EMT’s to come and take me away to the funny farm. I suspect that if I were confined by the folks in the white coats that it might be somewhat akin to how our entire country will be sometime in the future. So I’m a born-again, born-again (yes, I meant that twice) Libertarian. I may be crazy and have some loony associates, but our goals are worthy. I’m sure that some people thought that John Hancock or Nathan Hale were crazy. I know they thought that way about Sam Adams and Tom Paine. I joyfully join this ragtag group who truly love this country, but more importantly…love freedom. Freedom works anywhere, anytime. Other generations fought for our freedom (many of them Christians), now we must fight to restore our freedom. Please go to http://www.lp.org/
and http://www.lpo.org/ to get just a tiny taste of freedom.
Please respond or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
As one who struggled to grow up in the Sixties, I went through much of the dissonance associated with one who wants to “find himself” without totally disengaging from the planet. In my moments of self examination I often wondered if those who had preceded me had their own quiet moments of self examination. Perhaps they were too busy scuffling for food and shelter to have the luxury of thoughtful introspection. But then I discovered that the philosophers of the ages gone by had questioned many of the same issues as I…and in most cases had done so more thoroughly and more lucidly than my feeble quest for answers. So, maybe I’m not so unique…which technically speaking, means that I’m not unique, but at this very moment, in this place, under these circumstances…I am unique. (Stupid metaphor coming, ask my daughter about it) Like a snowflake that is unique (I still can’t grasp this concept), I fall into an environment or an age and blend into the snow bank. Is my uniqueness now gone? Or is it merely suppressed by the millions of unique snowflakes clustered around me? Is it possible that underlying the softly falling snow is a cacophony of sub-auditory shouts screaming “Hey, its me, I’m here, hear me, see me!”
To the point: So far this exercise has seemed to be wallowing in self aggrandizement. I suspect, however, that everyone goes through a similar process at some stage in her/his life. If this is in fact true, then the burning yearning for freedom is present in each of us. Some of us hide it in order to be liked. Some of us have it extinguished by others who degrade us or denigrate our dreams. Some resist the efforts to drown the spark and fight back with a vengeance. Here I sit in my mid-sixties on my 5-acre little patch of paradise. I should be relishing my time to write, to garden and to create sawdust in my woodworking shop. Instead, I’m becoming politically active again…against my better judgment. Rather than maximizing my precious moments with my three grandchildren, I engage in a flurry of activity for a cause that seems lost. That little spark is now a conflagration, the lonely snowflake doesn’t want to melt into nothingness.
I am now a Libertarian. Yes, I have joined a band of misfit dope smokers, wild-eyed anarchists, adamant atheists and geeks. I have also united with people from all walks of life and various backgrounds who KNOW that the unrestrained growth of government will dampen the spark of liberty in each of us. They and I know that as government grows larger and more oppressive, it consumes the oxygen of opportunity, the air of dreams, and the hope of freedom. In our historic past when freedom-lovers felt the crush of too much government or restriction, they pulled-up their stakes, loaded their wagons and headed west. There are not too many places for the freedom-lovers to go now, so many of us have come together to take freedom back from the dream stealers. As many of you know, I used to be a Republican…an ardent one. But the party and too many of its representatives have failed. They give lip-service to the basic principles of freedom, then tag along trying to “improve” liberal legislation rather than fighting to defeat it. Too many Republicans have joined the professional political class where holding the job outranks doing what is best for the country and their constituents. So, I’ve attached myself to a motley group of rank amateurs who merely want freedom to thrive.
I am a Christian. A fundamental, evangelical born-again believer in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Some might think that my faith would place me 180 degrees from the political position that I have embraced. Au contraire, dear Reader, three bedrock elements of Biblical Christianity are faith, grace and freedom. Original Christian believers do not want an oppressive overbearing government to dictate the parameters of their belief. Many of the early colonialists migrated to our shores to escape repressive state-supported churches. As long as the state has an interest in religious behavior, then an individual’s practice of faith will be circumscribed or limited. Grace is God’s gift to me as a result of Christ’s going to the cross, taking MY sin with Him into death, and rising to life. As a result of his paying the debt for my deplorable words and deeds, I am free to reconstruct my life, my attitudes, and my priorities without the monumental guilt of my past transgressions. Does Grace suggest that everything I do from now on is guiltless? No, of course not. The gift of grace has made me more cognizant of my weaknesses and my hurtful actions, but grace has freed me from the paralyzing fear of erring or seeking the approval of others. Some place their faith in the government. I know from my experience that their faith has been misplaced. Some place their faith solely in themselves. With all due respect to their intellects and their motives, that’s not enough for me. Through my personal experience, I know how lacking, how fragile and how misplaced it is to trust only in oneself. So give me freedom surrounded by a bunch of headstrong Libertarians, and I will practice my faith without harassment while having ample opportunities to explain it and share during typical Libertarian bull sessions.
This column to some degree has been a cathartic undertaking. On the other hand, it is only a beginning. I don’t know if anyone will read this…or read all of it. Perhaps someone who loves me will read it and call the EMT’s to come and take me away to the funny farm. I suspect that if I were confined by the folks in the white coats that it might be somewhat akin to how our entire country will be sometime in the future. So I’m a born-again, born-again (yes, I meant that twice) Libertarian. I may be crazy and have some loony associates, but our goals are worthy. I’m sure that some people thought that John Hancock or Nathan Hale were crazy. I know they thought that way about Sam Adams and Tom Paine. I joyfully join this ragtag group who truly love this country, but more importantly…love freedom. Freedom works anywhere, anytime. Other generations fought for our freedom (many of them Christians), now we must fight to restore our freedom. Please go to http://www.lp.org/
and http://www.lpo.org/ to get just a tiny taste of freedom.
Please respond or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
Fighting the tide
In a column I wrote for another venue (Buckeye Libertarian, LPO.org due in February), I used a beach/tide metaphor to describe the present political environment in the United States. Now that I have become fully infatuated with nautical metaphors, I want to develop another one to illustrate the differences between Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians. It’s not a perfect metaphor, but if it were perfect, then it wouldn’t be a metaphor, it would be what is. I once worked with a corporate training company that sought to teach supervisory personnel how to communicate using word pictures. The theory was that some people are visual learners and some retain information better from an auditory source, therefore word pictures should be an effective tool for both of them.
Imagine a small island. We’ll name it Freedom Island, and it sits in the bay a couple of miles from the mainland. It’s a tropical island that is rich in natural resources that are sufficient for everyone to survive and thrive. Some people might think of Freedom Island as utopian because of the bounty that’s available. Others aren’t so sure. They believe that because the residents of Freedom Island have to climb the trees to pick the fruit, to till the rich soil to raise the crops or to hunt and fish for meat, then the island lifestyle is unnecessarily demanding. They whine that not everyone is capable of climbing, farming or hunting with a high level of skill. They complain that some trees are more productive than others. They bemoan the fact that some residents awaken before others in order to acquire the best farmland or fishing hole. They call an island-wide meeting, and insist that all the crops, housing, water and meat be pooled and distributed equally. Fortunately for Freedom Island the true believers in redistribution were few, and their demands were defeated. In a huff, the Complainers decided to leave the island and go to the mainland. They hysterically demanded that “the island” provide them with a boat for the journey, and chose a 16 footer with the only two motors to make the trip. Seeing that they would be left behind without a boat with motors, and feeling some pity for the complainers, another group of residents asked for a boat to follow the Complainers to the mainland. We’ll name them the Followers. Those who remained on the island called themselves “The Doers,” and they wished the others good fortune as they cast off for the journey to the other side.
The Complainers revved the engines wide open as they streaked across the water to the promised land of equality and fairness. The Followers left shortly thereafter with all eight members rowing in unison as they trailed the speeding Complainers. It was an incoming tide to the mainland and both boats made remarkable progress. The Complainers arrived on the mainland and joyfully celebrated their escape from Freedom Island. The mainland was barren and harsh, but everyone there was equal. The Followers were rowing as diligently as they could, but their arms, backs and shoulders were aching. The tide stopped. The waters became calm, and the Followers could go no further. They were halfway between the island and the mainland, and they called for help. Meanwhile, their boat began to leak…slowly sinking into the water. Their cries were more frantic, but the Complainers couldn’t hear them because their joyous celebration drowned out the pleas for help. One Doer on the island shore heard the distant voices and sprang into action. He jumped into the only remaining boat and rowed toward the Followers. He noted as he rowed that the Followers boat continued to slowly drift toward the mainland, but he discerned that their craft would sink before they reached the shore. He rowed on without stopping.
Finally, the diligent Doer reached the Followers’ foundering boat. He helped them into his tiny watercraft. Because the boat would be overloaded, he had them discard their excess baggage. The only gear permitted on the little was the bare essentials. The Doer began to row back to the island as the Followers thankfully expressed their relief about returning to Freedom. It took a long time for the Doer to steer the tiny heavy craft across the bay to Freedom Island, but when they finally arrived, the Followers kissed the soil and exclaimed that they never really wanted to leave. The only reason for their abandoning Freedom Island, they claimed, was because so many other people wanted to go to the mainland. End of story.
Unless you are a complete dolt, you understand that the Complainers are Democrats/ Progressives, the Followers are Republicans/Conservatives and the Doers are Libertarians. Dump the excess baggage. Turn this boat around. Row against the tide for freedom. The left is racing toward a socialist/fascist state while the right is drifting just behind them. The Right doesn’t turn it around. It merely slows down the drift to tyranny. Only by supporting and electing someone whose principles are smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom can we turn the tide. I hope that we aren’t too late. I hope that the boat doesn’t sink before we can save the republic. It’s the principles that matter. The people are incidental.
Please comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
Imagine a small island. We’ll name it Freedom Island, and it sits in the bay a couple of miles from the mainland. It’s a tropical island that is rich in natural resources that are sufficient for everyone to survive and thrive. Some people might think of Freedom Island as utopian because of the bounty that’s available. Others aren’t so sure. They believe that because the residents of Freedom Island have to climb the trees to pick the fruit, to till the rich soil to raise the crops or to hunt and fish for meat, then the island lifestyle is unnecessarily demanding. They whine that not everyone is capable of climbing, farming or hunting with a high level of skill. They complain that some trees are more productive than others. They bemoan the fact that some residents awaken before others in order to acquire the best farmland or fishing hole. They call an island-wide meeting, and insist that all the crops, housing, water and meat be pooled and distributed equally. Fortunately for Freedom Island the true believers in redistribution were few, and their demands were defeated. In a huff, the Complainers decided to leave the island and go to the mainland. They hysterically demanded that “the island” provide them with a boat for the journey, and chose a 16 footer with the only two motors to make the trip. Seeing that they would be left behind without a boat with motors, and feeling some pity for the complainers, another group of residents asked for a boat to follow the Complainers to the mainland. We’ll name them the Followers. Those who remained on the island called themselves “The Doers,” and they wished the others good fortune as they cast off for the journey to the other side.
The Complainers revved the engines wide open as they streaked across the water to the promised land of equality and fairness. The Followers left shortly thereafter with all eight members rowing in unison as they trailed the speeding Complainers. It was an incoming tide to the mainland and both boats made remarkable progress. The Complainers arrived on the mainland and joyfully celebrated their escape from Freedom Island. The mainland was barren and harsh, but everyone there was equal. The Followers were rowing as diligently as they could, but their arms, backs and shoulders were aching. The tide stopped. The waters became calm, and the Followers could go no further. They were halfway between the island and the mainland, and they called for help. Meanwhile, their boat began to leak…slowly sinking into the water. Their cries were more frantic, but the Complainers couldn’t hear them because their joyous celebration drowned out the pleas for help. One Doer on the island shore heard the distant voices and sprang into action. He jumped into the only remaining boat and rowed toward the Followers. He noted as he rowed that the Followers boat continued to slowly drift toward the mainland, but he discerned that their craft would sink before they reached the shore. He rowed on without stopping.
Finally, the diligent Doer reached the Followers’ foundering boat. He helped them into his tiny watercraft. Because the boat would be overloaded, he had them discard their excess baggage. The only gear permitted on the little was the bare essentials. The Doer began to row back to the island as the Followers thankfully expressed their relief about returning to Freedom. It took a long time for the Doer to steer the tiny heavy craft across the bay to Freedom Island, but when they finally arrived, the Followers kissed the soil and exclaimed that they never really wanted to leave. The only reason for their abandoning Freedom Island, they claimed, was because so many other people wanted to go to the mainland. End of story.
Unless you are a complete dolt, you understand that the Complainers are Democrats/ Progressives, the Followers are Republicans/Conservatives and the Doers are Libertarians. Dump the excess baggage. Turn this boat around. Row against the tide for freedom. The left is racing toward a socialist/fascist state while the right is drifting just behind them. The Right doesn’t turn it around. It merely slows down the drift to tyranny. Only by supporting and electing someone whose principles are smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom can we turn the tide. I hope that we aren’t too late. I hope that the boat doesn’t sink before we can save the republic. It’s the principles that matter. The people are incidental.
Please comment or email: cnpearl@woh.rr.com
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