Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

We are caught in a firestorm between 2 raging political machines, Democrats and Republicans - both out to enact their agendas over the protests of citizens.

Republicans try to take away our rights under the guise of protecting us and keeping us safe from the bad guys.

Democrats try to take away our rights under the guise of making everything fair for everybody, redistributing the wealth,and  leveling the playing field.

Our Founding Fathers understood this well. In 1785 James Madison wrote, "It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties."

I'm alarmed.

The Dennis Prager Show

The Dennis Prager Show

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Teachers, Eat Your Own Dog Food

Don't get me wrong. I love teachers. Most work really hard. I think they should get paid a good salary and everyone should appreciate what they do. Teachers unions? Not so much.

Follow me on this one. According to its website, the California Teachers' Association "exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members." And boy, do they. CTA is extremely powerful. In fact, the union is the top financial contributor to California political campaigns* and regularly weighs in on political issues. For example, it  recently announced support for a ballot initiative which would remove certain tax breaks for business in California and another initiative that would make it more difficult for public corporations to make political contributions.  Apparently they don't want any competition from corporations because in 2004, CTA outspent even oil companies in political contributions. These contributions were not evenly divided among parties either. That same year, 98.6% of the National Education Association's contributions went to Democrats.**
 
The union has flexed its big biceps and kicked sand in the face of puny administrators and politicians for years, thus gaining outrageous concessions. Did you know that some local school libraries are shut due to budget cuts, yet union rules command no parent volunteers are allowed. Why? Well,  because that might take a job away from a paid teacher. When was the last time you heard of a teacher getting fired? Doesn't happen does it? My son's high school biology teachers tells her class she was abducted by aliens, but she's got a job for life. Don't even get me started on pensions.

And now the bill for all these concessions and benefits has come due, but since Sacramento has cut school funding, guess what school districts are doing? That's right - the ultimate irony- laying off teachers.  Of course there are the inevitable protests surrounding school board meetings:  parents with signs proclaiming   "Save our Teachers", children are crying, teachers are angry.  But I say to teachers, you are complicit in this drama for it is YOUR union which has led us to this point. And it was done in your name, with the power of your dues, and you have allowed it. 

But wait, I've got an idea. Since your union works for YOU, why not tell your union to renegotiate items like  pensions, firings, volunteers, and all the other concessions won on your behalf? Renegotiate these to sensible and reasonable levels. State education costs can be reduced, and YOU can keep your job.
 
Instead of picketing outside school board meetings, picket your own union. How about that? Because eating your own dog food doesn't taste very good, does it?


*www.uwsa.com                **Nat'l Institute on Money in State Politics

Those Wacky Texas Education Board Members

The Associated Press reports, with this glaring headline "TX ED Board Vote Reflects Far-Right Influences", the outcome of a highly-debated textbook content standards summit. That certainly got my attention. Far-Right Influences. What could that mean? KKK? Nazis? Brotherhood of Aryan Nation? Imagine my shock as I read the article and found out exactly what those crazed Texans approved that so alarmed the AP. Are you sitting down? I warn you, it's pretty scary. They want public school textbooks in Texas to:

1. Cover the Judeo-Christian influences of our nation's Founding Fathers.
2. Describe U.S. as a constitutional republic instead of democratic
3. Applaud the U.S. free enterprise system
4. Discuss the Bill of Rights including the 2nd Amendment

I had to read the article twice because I was sure I missed some far-right conspiracy and far-right influences. But no, other than the refusal to include references to hip-hop or add discussion of Tejans involvement at the Alamo, I found  nothing that could cause the Democratic members to flee the scene in outrage.

So that leaves me wondering, who gets to decide what is far-right? The reporter, who obviously has sympathies with the Democrat minority? The Associated Press itself, using its very powerful distribution network to twist public perception? Because if the above 4 items are now considered far-right extreme views, America, we've got bigger problems than I can cover here in this little blog.

Senator DeMint Shakes Things Up a Bit

Politicio, an internet media site, published a rant against Senator Jim DeMint today. Politico accuses DeMint of a "flamboyant brand of politics" because he has taken his constitutional conservative position directly to the people of America through alternative media, blogs, Fox news interviews, and speeches aimed at Tea Party groups. He is charged with "Senatorial poor form because:

1. He openly backs candidates opposed by his party leaders
2. He isn't waiting "patiently to massage the legislative process" but instead cut in line ahead of older colleagues.

The final Politico charge against him is that his actions have made him unpopular with fellow Senators so he isn't welcome at congressional weekly caucus lunch bunches, but it does get him booked on Sean Hannity.

There is just so much juicy craziness in this article, that I hardly know where to begin! Let's break it down.

Part I:
If holding government accountable to the people it represents, attempting to restrain a federal take-over of state rights, pushing bills that disallow earmarks (The Wall St. Journal estimates DeMint saved Americans $17 billion by voting against wasteful pork projects), and if believing in the Constitution and his oath to uphold it is flamboyant, then I say "Flame on, Jimmy. Flame on."

Part II:
Politico, don't we want representatives who won't blindly follow party line or leaders, but instead use common sense for the greater good of our country? Isn't it a good thing that he isn't waiting patiently for the Whips and the VIPs to notice and reward him with a pat on the head for being a good boy and voting as they command? 

Part III:
Do we really want our Senators to "patiently massage the legislative process"? Aren't Senators-for-life (Kennedy, Lugar, Byrd, Thurmond to name just a few) part of the problem? Does not the solution rest with newly elected upstarts who are not content with business as usual, and are willing to shake things up?

Part IV:
The fact that DeMint isn't invited to the weekly lunch bunch is EXACTLY the point! His goal isn't to advance a life long career in politics, but to take care of the people's business and adhere to our Constitution. If the established network of GOP leaders aren't interested in that agenda, then DeMint has found a way to circumvent them and get his message out to the American people. And I say God Bless him.

Get Back Ye Feds! (Or Hands Off our Textbooks)

The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers have coordinated a new effort to induce schools nationwide to use the same math and English textbooks, as well as to give the same tests. Proponents believe such national standards will increase student achievement nationwide. Opponents worry it will lead to bureaucrats in Washington overriding state and local education controls, and they are correct.

Hurray (once again) for Texas and Alaska. Both states have refused to join this futuristic, dark vision of cookie-cutter education across our nation. “Texas has chosen to preserve its sovereign authority to determine what is appropriate for Texas children to learn in its public schools.” writes the Texas Commissioner of Education. Texas Senator John Cornyn goes as far as stating, “It is clear that the first step toward nationalization of our schools has been put into place.”**

The answer to local problems does not come from a “one size fits all” standard put into place from distant authorities.  Education should remain under state and local control, with input from parents, taxpayers, teachers, administrators and school boards whose members are held accountable in public elections. Control should be not given to the federal government and behind the scenes czars and commissions which answer to no one.

This plan is another step on the road toward a federal government that controls everything in its path, including what our children will learn in school. We need to draw the line here and say, "No."  And that’s the biggest lesson to be learned in education.


**The Orange County Register 3.11.2010

Ron Reagan, Jr

My heart broke last week when I happened upon a liberal (oh I'm sorry, I meant "progressive") talk radio program. The host's voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. Then I realized it the was same voice from the Eukanuba or AKC (can't quite remember which) dog shows - Ronald Reagan, Jr.

Apparently, he has a new gig now which must be causing Dad to turn over in his grave. Spouting ridiculous claims that capitalism is to blame for our country's current economic situation, he said, "We're captive to the capitalistic free market system."

What the heck? We're captive? Ronny, Ronny, Ronny. Is this some latent Oedipus complex? Were you neglected as a child? We need an intervention and quickly. No, not Dr. Drew, Dr. Phil, or even Dr. Laura. We need to call out the big guns. Calling Dr. Ron Paul......calling Dr. Paul.....

Hell Freezes Over

32" of snow in Washington DC; Nothing more needs to be said.

California AB810. Ever heard of it? Nope, me either - until today that is. Where the heck have I been?

AB810 is a bill just passed in the State Senate and now in the Assembly.It mandates universal health care in California. It was authored by some guy named Leno so I'm pretty sure he's a comedian. Or insane.
Maybe he didn't get the memo that taxpayers don't want universal health care. Where the heck has HE been? Didn't he read that Newfoundland's Premier is coming to the U.S. this week for his heart surgery? But hey, let's not let good sense get in the way of this awesome, super awesome bill.

Here's a little taste of what AB810 contains:

1. 140000.6. No health care service plan contract or health insurance policy except for the California Healthcare System plan may be sold in California for services provided by the system.
2. 140400. All California residents shall be eligible for the system. Residency shall be based on physical presence in the state with the intent to reside.
3. 140503. NOT COVERED: Health services determined to have no medical indication by the commissioner and chief medical officer.

So, no other insurance will be allowed, EVERYONE who happens to be standing on California soil is eligible,and a commissioner and medical officer will determine if your medical condition warrants treatment.

What could possibly go wrong?

Trying

Today, in response to Andrea Mitchell's (MSNBC) report that the majority of Americans don't want the 9/11 terrorists tried in the courts, David Axelrod, Sr. White House Advisor responded, "We are going to try and convict the terrorists."  They are going to try. Well, that's good enough for me; I feel safer already, don't you?
Here's some advice from someone a bit wiser than David Axelrod:


                      "There is no try. Do or do not." -Yoda

National Gun Registration - House Bill HR45

I'm scared. I'm not sure, though, if I'm more scared that I'm becoming paranoid about Big Brother or whether government has really gotten to the point where ordinary citizens need to be alarmed.
Take bill HR45 - introduced by a founding member of the Black Panthers and now a Representative from the State of Illinois, Bobby Rush:

• It requires a national database on ALL firearm owners.
• It bans ALL private sales of firearms.
• It requires a gun owner release all his/her medical records to the federal government for review.

Pardon me for being a little concerned, but many of my husband's family members were killed by the Nazi's. Remember, Hitler ordered a national registry of all guns owned by Jews?  That way, he knew exactly where to go to confiscate those guns and Jews were left defenseless against their own government. No one in Germany ever thought it would happen, but it did.

My mother-in-law was imprisoned by Castro in Cuba before fleeing to the U.S. She tells me one of the first things Castro did was take away the citizens' weapons.  She never thought this could happen in America, but it might.
So am I paranoid or just vigilant? Watch this very short video and get back to me.  I'll either be taking Prozac or reloading.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Yz6FwMJmMM

Our Senators Have Failed the American People

http://senateconservatives.com/index.php?p=post&id=63&c=UFWC8

Here is a link to a 60 sec video from Mark Rubio, candidate for Senate in Florida. He's a solid conservative and supports limited government and the group Senate Conservatives is backing his candidacy.
A lot of emails are flying around blaming Obama for the unconstitutionality of the Health Care bill and other recent trends in big government. But really, it's the Senate and House which have failed the American people for years - Republicans under the Bush administration, the Democrats under Clinton, the Republicans under Bush Sr. and the Democrats under Carter, etc....
They ALL need to reminded that they work for the American people and have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and defend the U.S.A. from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Maybe we need to take an oath to protect America from our Senators.