Littlestuff Weekender-2-25-2012

So was the CNN-Mesa debate the final one of the primary/caucus season? Are more than 20 enough to inform the voters? Apparently not because the polling suggests that support is broadly diffused among the four remaining candidates with no one solidifying a solid majority or even a significant plurality. With Michigan and Arizona scheduled to decide on Tuesday their results may have an impact on Super Tuesday, March 6^th. However….each of the candidates has selected their most favorable Super Tuesday states for concentrated campaigning suggesting that the outcome may be even more fractured than it is today. The race is on……

http://youtu.be/H9b2zB3HwOM

Following the 9-11 murders, I enthusiastically supported the military action in Afghanistan to seek and destroy Al Qaeda. Our Special Forces, air power and the coalition with the Northern Alliance dislodged the terrorists and forced them to run for cover to the badlands of the Pakistani-Afghan border region. Then…..things began to go sour as our bureaucracy, political leaders and political correctness seized control of the mission. For the past several years our troops have been fighting the locals (Taliban) rather than the foreign fighters, our “Rules of Engagement” have hamstrung our men and women, our mission has become blurred and indistinct, and our allies in the region, particularly Pakistan, have undermined our efforts. Afghanistan is a 13^th century tribal society with 21^st Century technology….think of Fred Flintstone with a laptop and laser-guided munitions. Their society is corrupt and bigoted. Our efforts at nation building are resented and thwarted by tradition, mullahs and a tribal culture. Bring our people home.

http://youtu.be/nZ8sQfzuZnE

Here at my Little Pat-Ch of Paradise in Northwest Ohio it has been an amazingly mild winter…..so far. The good news is that we haven’t had to shovel or move much snow, and our utility service has not been interrupted. On the other hand the lack of sustained freezing and the standing water suggests that we may have some pest issues with the gardens this season. We’ll deal with it. Our “skeeters” will probably be the size of crows when they finally hatch, but there will be plenty for the birds to consume. It’s difficult to believe that March will be upon us come Thursday.

Gasoline prices are rocketing upward as the value of the dollar declines. We could all switch to those high-cost electric cars except for that fact that a number of power-generating plants are going off-line because of environmental concerns and inefficiencies. Even the most elemental form of transportation may be difficult to acquire because the USDA has resumed inspecting horse butchering facilities. You will now be competing with foreign food markets and dog food companies for a one-horsepower people mover. Every candidate talks about the need for an energy policy, but the bureaucratic briar patch created by our big government politicians has severely limited our capacity for exploiting known reserves of fossil fuels. Meanwhile….the green agenda funnels more and more of our borrowed dwindling resources into crony businesses that are unable to compete in the open energy market. We’d better pray that global warming is a reality because our current energy policies will doom many to freezing to death if our winters become too severe. Government will never learn the law of unintended consequences because it has no brain.

Sometimes I feel like picking up my toys and going home. Trying to get politicians to face reality and act courageously is similar to butting my head against a wall. It seems for most of them that if you’re vain enough to attempt to sway people to like you, you are too self-centered to be a true representative for your constituents. Maybe we should consider changing eligibility standards for political office….cloistered nuns, friars or mystics couldn’t be any more out of touch than our current crop of “servants,” and they would be much more thoughtful. Perhaps we should empower and elect recluses and hermits while providing them with wi-fi and laptops. They wouldn’t be tainted by the glamour or seduced by the power. Their payroll needs would be much lower, their staff requirements would be non-existent, and their commuting costs would be minimal. Yes…I can see it now ……… Homeboys for Hermits.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky is the site of the annual Libertarian Party of Kentucky (LPKY) annual convention, and I’m honored to be the keynote speaker on Saturday afternoon (the 25^th). The topic is “Why Liberty, Why Now?” Yes even hard core Libertarians should be reminded that The Issue is Liberty. Fiscal and economic problems arise when government overspends. Big government consumes our liberties. If we restore our inalienable rights, government will be constrained in its constitutional box. When dealing with an oppressive community or a government, The Issue is always Liberty. Re-read the “Lord of the Flies.” Even the extreme of liberty, anarchy, can be oppressive (see the French Revolution). The essence of freedom is personal sovereignty granted by God. For any person, group or government to undermine that relationship is immoral.

Have a great weekend. We’ll be back on the air Tuesday night from 6:00-7:00pm on the Talk of Toledo 1370 WSPD. www.wspd.com

cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

  

Littlestuff Weekender-12-17-2011

In my view the Thursday night debate on Fox was one of the better ones. There appeared to be no major gaffes, and Michele Bachmann took no prisoners. Each of the candidates seemed to have ample time for presenting their cases to the people, and the Fox panel did a good job by avoiding typical liberal gotcha questions. Up until this point most of the candidates were nearly indistinguishable from one another on domestic policy. The Thursday night contest created some space and differences among them. There are probably two main reasons for their more definitive roles: a better quality of questioning and more debate maturity as candidates.

In case you missed it, the College Football Bowl season starts today (Sat.) with three “can’t miss” games. Temple plays Wyoming in the all-powerful New Mexico Bowl, Ohio University tackles Utah State in the ever-popular Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and Louisiana-Lafayette battles San Diego State in the New Orleans Bowl. Only 32 more bowls to go and many of them are just as memorable as these stellar representatives. For example…mark your calendar for the Tuesday night contest at the Beef “O” Brady’s Bowl featuring gridiron powerhouses Florida International and Marshall. Yawn…….

If you need a warm-up for the Wednesday night Poinsettia Bowl between Louisiana Tech and TCU (Texas Christian), join me on 1370 WSPD at 6:00pm to 7:00pm ( www.wspd.com). I’ll have an exclusive interview with Santa Claus that I assure you will not be replicated anywhere. Although the discussion will not be profane or obscene, it is suggested that tiny tots not listen because their respect and love for the jolly elf could be severely unraveled. I can see the Thursday National Enquirer headline in my mind, “Santa tells all to Toledo radio host.” It could be ugly. It may even be humorous….hopefully.

Our holiday season officially begins today (Sat.) as my Mother is hosting my wing of the family. Looking forward to seeing my little Sis and little Bro’ and their respective spouses and children….and grandchildren. Food will be abundant and a lot of “catch-up’ talk will occur. Next week except for a lunch meeting on Wednesday and the radio show that evening is still somewhat of an undetermined blur. I guess I’ll do what I usually do….wait on Pat and the kids to tell me what’s going on. Dad or Grandpa is always the last to know. Over the years I have learned to stop complaining (usually), shrug my shoulders and go along with the plans of the others. There’s less friction and angst that way, but I believe they know that if I object…..they’ll allow me to do it my way (cue Frank Sinatra). Of course I’m dreaming.

http://youtu.be/nZ6yQgBvuoI

Once again the headlines predict the fiscal collapse of Europe ( and us because of our massive entanglements). Once again they have TEMPORARILY postponed the inevitable. My question is probably rhetorical: Don’t they understand that by prolonging the resolution of the problem, they are making it worse? Of course they do, but they’re trying to hold off the collapse until they can clearly identify someone or something to blame. The only aspect of this mess that is worse than their incessant can kicking is their rabid lust for blame shifting. Politicians….socialists, Republicans, Democrats, communists, despots and tyrants …. are all alike….grab power, assume control, screw up and blame someone else. It’s a putrid perverse pattern of predictable political perfidy. And it “pees” me off.

This must be Groundhog Day (Fri.). I just heard on the radio that Congress has passed another short-term trillion dollar package so the government will remain open. This government will NEVER CLOSE. We can’t get rid of the darn overgrown over-controlling mess. It just keeps getting larger and more costly. And our representatives at the D.C. Clown College were afraid it would “shut down.” Hell, we should be so lucky. Government is more enduring than zucchini and less reliable than wind. Three years since the last budget… which means there is no plan in place for them to violate and ignore. Just wait ‘til they have your health and well-being in their slick oily hands.

Tonight I will complete Throw Them All Out by Peter Schweizer. It’s a detailed analysis of how OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES become wealthy through using insider knowledge that is perfectly legal for them and prison time for us. Double standards abound in Washington and our other capitols. The greatest problem is that double standards are the only standards for our unethical elitist political class. They have no standards….no principles….no integrity…no shame. They believe they are entitled. Their actions make our 47% non-contributors look like pikers. They are giving “sleaze” a bad name. The title of the book says it. Now we must do it.

Have a special weekend. Save your Walgreen and CVS coupons so you can go wild with gift shopping. Sit for a moment, enjoy a cup of whatever and thank Him for your blessings. Do it fast before the government outlaws blessings.

Comment: cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

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

Littlestuff Weekender-10-22-2011

We haven’t discussed corn and soybean production for a while, but the harvest is well underway. As of this week, Ohio has harvested 71% of the bean crop, and the corn effort is not far behind at 65%. Virtually the entire Midwest has had significant rainfall for the past week. It will be interesting to note what effect the weather will have on harvest progress and yields. Here are some data from the USDA:

 Corn production is forecast at 12.4 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the September forecast and down slightly from the 2010 production estimate. If realized, this will be the fourth largest production total on record for the United States. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 148.1 bushels per acre, unchanged from the September forecast but down 4.7 bushels from 2010. If realized, this will be the lowest average yield since 2005. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.9 million acres, down 1 percent from the September forecast. Acreage updates were made in several States based on administrative data.

Soybean production is forecast at 3.06 billion bushels, down 1 percent from September and down 8 percent from last year. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 41.5 bushels per acre, down 0.3 bushel from last month and down 2 bushels from last year. If realized, the average yield will be the second lowest since 2003. Area for harvest is forecast at 73.7 million acres, down slightly from September and down 4 percent from 2010.

 Released October 12, 2011, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Following Tuesday’s cat fight (debate) we have nearly a month until the next GOP debate. It will be fascinating to see who remains standing when the field is introduced on stage. Meanwhile the candidates will be scurrying to gain traction and support while Obama continues his frantic dog-wagging agenda. If the world can take it, he may eliminate every dictator on earth (except himself) in an attempt to justify his Nobel Peace Prize and earn the love and adoration of the American voters. He may also, if recent history is a guide, identify selected U.S. citizens for targeted “wet ops” in order to divert the attention of the voters from his own semi-criminal, pseudo-criminal, quasi-criminal and downright criminal activity. Let’s hope that Congressman Issa’s probe into the “Fast and Furious” debacle is fast, furious and final.

Freedom Works notes that 217 bills and 3573 new regulations were implemented by the federal government last year. They estimate the annual cost of regulatory compliance at $1,750,000,000.00. That’s one trillion, seven hundred fifty million dollars per year taken out of the U.S. economy in order for our job creators to comply with federal rules and regulations. As you read this, the rulemaking dump from the innumerable federal agencies continues at an accelerated pace. It’s not only NEW regs that cause problems, but clarifications, updates and new interpretations of old ones that compound matters. Don’t inhale, exhale, scratch yourself or glance sideways because you’ve probably violated something. How many people could we hire for $1.75 trillion every year?

Our column and our radio show are moving along quite well as our readership and listeners continue to expand. If you belong to one or both groups, thank you. Your attention, feedback and calls make my jobs much easier. I attempt to view everything through the prism of individual liberty. I admit that sometimes I become distracted by personal preference, but we must defend liberty now and forever.

Perk up, Pilgrim. You have but nine weeks to begin and complete your Christmas shopping. Of course, Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid are open late on Christmas Eve, but if you want to hit Dollar General and Big Lots, you have to start earlier in the day. Try not to give cash as gifts this year because by the time the recipient opens the package or card, the value will have shrunk.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Tue. & Wed., 6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo.  www.wspd.com