Concerned Citizen or Busybody?

As I was leaving my house to go walking with a friend, I ran into a solicitor walking up my sidewalk about to deposit a wad of advertisement litter on my front porch. (Now, door to door solicitors are a BIG pet peeve of mine, especially after I caught one peering through the glass and then attempting to open my front door apparently because he thought I wasn’t home.)


So, I sprang into action. “No way,” I said. “Don’t leave those papers on my property. In fact, these are private streets with no soliciting signs clearly posted. You need to leave.” I whipped out my trusty cell phone, dialed up the association and reported this guy. My friend, obviously impressed, said she was glad I did that because she’s tired of all the solicitors as well. I felt good. A few minutes later we passed by some gang graffiti on a wall and cable box, and immediately I called the city’s graffiti hot line to report it. My friend said she didn’t realize I was such an involved neighbor and good citizen. Someone has to pay attention to what’s happening in our neighborhoods she said. I felt good.


We continued our walk and re-entering our neighborhood we happened upon the same solicitor, still leaving wads of advertisements on people’s property. This time, I asked him for the flyers and rang up the companies directly, told them they were illegally distributing advertisements on private streets. But this time, did I detect a note of disapproval from my walking buddy for my vigilante actions? And that got me to thinking. Where is the line between concerned citizen and busybody? Where is the delineation in trying to make the world a better place or just getting on your high horse and sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? Righteous anger or ill-advised intervention? I felt bad.

Of course, being a Sensible Woman, I began to wonder how I could write a blog about this, uh, I mean, I wondered about the busybody stance of the UN and the U.S. involvement in Libya. Yes, Ghadaffi is a ruthless, insane dictator. BUT, is it the world’s job to side with the rebels against an established, albeit merciless, cruel government of a sovereign country? The media keeps repeating the phrase, "Ghadaffi is killing his own people". Yes, that's what happens in a civil war or revolt. Each side tries to kill each other. Civilized, isn't it? That’s what happened in the American Revolution. We, as revolutionaries, forced the British to fire on us – it’s own citizens.

We in the United States want so desperately to believe that this civil war is about the oppressed finally rising up to fight for their freedom and democracy. Maybe. Maybe they are the majority or maybe they are the minority. Who knows? Are we to say who should win control of Libya? The West has proven time and time again that we don’t understand the Middle East and we don’t always support the “good guys”. If there are freedom fighters in Libya, this is their fight to win or lose. As proven time and time again, the U.S. can’t “give” a country freedom and democracy. It has to come from the courage and sacrifice of the people themselves and it must be paid for with the blood of patriots.

And by the way, if killing one’s own citizens is the litmus test for UN or US intervention, then I’m pretty sure North Korea’s Kim Jung-Il has starved to death more of his citizens than Ghadaffi has killed in the last few weeks, but where's the UN on that one?

Libya and the Lost Lessons of Other Middle East Interventions

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's all slow down here. General Wesley Clark, Former NATO Supreme Commander  said on Fox News this morning that it's not just about using force in Libya,  it's about, "establishing a democracy in Libya".

Now, where have I heard that before?

The World's Largest Ponzi Scheme

If Ponzi schemes are illegal........then why do we have Social Security?

Ft. Hood vs Tucson: Same thing only different?

When Nidal Hasan opened fire at Ft. Hood, killing 13 and wounding many more of his fellow soldiers while shouting "Allah Akbar", the liberal media pronounced it was not Muslim extremism. No, they earnestly cautioned us,do not jump to conclusions that his recent online postings stating that the cause is "to help save Muslims by killing enemy soldiers" had anything to do with his shooting rampage. You silly right wing conservatives, they scolded. Nidal Hasan was just an unstable, psychotic gunman acting alone. Nothing what-so-ever to do with Islam.

But, now after Jared Loughner opened fire in Tucson last week killing 6 and wounding 13 others,  they tell us that obviously he was incited by right wing extremists such as Sarah Palin, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Tea Party activists, and pretty much anyone else who believes in the Constitution. They shake their heads and wag their fingers and say, "See? We told you these conservatives are dangerous people."

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