Michigan Tell Moms that Big Brother Knows Best

Have you seen this story? A Michigan stay-at-home mom helps several of her employed friends by letting their children come to her house in the mornings for about an hour to wait for the school bus.  Shortly after this school year began,  she received a letter from the Michigan Department of Human Services warning her that she was violating a law regarding unlicensed day care centers.

In effect, the Big Brother will decide (for you stupid parents) where your children should wait for the school bus. Where will government intrusion into our lives, and especially parental rights, end?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090929/ap_on_re_us/us_baby_sitter_backlash_mich

Forget Nuke Proliferation - What About Blog Proliferation?

Everyone's got a blog these days, including me, but is anyone reading them? It's a writer's worst nightmare. Some years ago, I attended a poetry writing class.  One of the classroom sources was a quote from an aspiring poet that went something like this: I'm afraid in my dying moments, I'll grab the shirt of anyone nearby and, with my last breath, beg him to read my poetry.

That's sort of how I feel about my blog. No followers. No comments. Heck, I can't even get my own husband or sons to read my blog. I guess they've heard my know-it-all answers and long-winded pontifications for long enough, they don't need to read about it, too.

But truthfully, it's okay. This blog is just a repository for all those voices in my head. Once I put it in writing, I feel better. Usually.

Link to Orange Country Register Letter to the Editor

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/obama-tax-going-2575562-sept-don#

Going to bat for Obama
After reading Dena Bunis' Letter from Washington ["Obama opposition takes an ugly turn," Sept. 20], I couldn't figure out if it was an op-ed, a manners lesson, an advertisement for the Democratic National Committee or a letter to the editor. Bunis cites three examples of "ugly" behavior that concerns her: Obama being called a socialist, a sign at the Washington, D.C., Tea Party that caricatured Obama, and Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst of "You lie." While I agree with her on the last one, the first two have been suffered by many previous presidents on both sides of the aisle. Why should Obama be spared the wrath of citizens?
It seems to concern her that Republicans have motivated political involvement from "people who may otherwise not get involved in political discourse." So, let me get this straight – if I haven't been involved in politics before, then, that somehow diminishes my voice to protest now?
Springing to Obama's defense, she asserts, "The GOP has done its best to tie Obama to ACORN." Really? I'm pretty sure Obama has tied himself to ACORN, and the records are plentiful.
Finally, she discredits critics of the current administration because they don't get their news from "reliable" sources like she did back during the Vietnam War. You know, those extremely fair and neutral Big Three TV networks and well-known liberal newspapers? Maybe someone should tell her Al Gore invented this thing called the Internet, and it's 2009.

Where's My Calculator?

Obama's proposed healthcare plan is estimated to cost $900 billion in an effort to cover the estimated 29 million uninsured. Let's see now, $900 billion divided by 29 million equals.....$31 million per uninsured person? What?

Government and Soccer Referees

I ref'd my first soccer game last week-end. I know a little bit about soccer, but I was nervous prior to my first official game assignment and asked for a mentor to meet me at the field. He gave me lots of good advice, but one piece in particular rang true: Interfere as little as possible.

"The game isn't about you", he said.  "Your job is to ensure the safety of those involved, keep the game moving along, and make judgment calls only when necessary." 

Isn't that some great advice for our government, too?

Community Can't Be Created by Government

Maine: A young woman from the nearby college was swept down a waterfall while swimming with friends at a popular river. The townspeople worked till early morning hours diverting the falls and eventually found her alive. That’s community.

Oklahoma: A toddler goes missing at a local lake and from the closest town (population just 1000) over 600 people come out to search for her. She is eventually found safe by 2 riders on horseback. That’s community.

Florida: The citizens of Jacksonville line the streets to pay respect and honor a Desert Storm, missing-in-action pilot whose remains were just identified and returned home. The pilot’s family knows the town remembers their sacrifice; the soldier is not forgotten. That’s community.

President Obama, - community can't be legislated or demanded. The people of America are the kindest, most generous people on the face of the earth. We don’t need government to tell us how to be a community. It’s in our blood. Please remember too, that charity is a voluntary act. When the government takes money from one person, and gives it to another, well, that’s the definition of theft.

New California State Motto Suggestion

Welcome to New Hampshire: Live Free or Die

Welcome to California: Live With Oppressive Taxes, Ridiculous Regulations, Illegal Immigrants, Failing School Districts, Inept Politicians, then Die. Or move.