Star Wars I (or IV depending on when you were born) was the first movie I can ever remember seeing. Not a bad start to my introduction to movies. I was 6 or 7 yrs old when I watched it and I loved that movie. I thought Princess Leah was smokin (even with that ridiculous hairdo) and the way she used that blaster was well...amazing!! Han Solo was cool and my favorite character. Luke Skywalker was a nerd but he had to be in the movie because after all he was the Chosen One.
There are a lot of parts in that movie that I liked but this morning the thought of Obi Wans sacrifice came into my mind. For those of you that haven't seen the movie (shame on you) Obi Wan is the Jedi Master that trains Luke Skywalker to eventually destroy the evil Empire. About half way through the movie he allows Darth Vader to kill him so as Obi Wan put it, "I can become more powerful then you could imagine." For the rest of the trilogy Obi Wan is like a conscience for Luke helping him through hardships in his training and eventually his final battles, his voice is often heard encouraging Luke. Obi Wans new found power comes from his great sacrifice, giving up his life.
Of course for those of us that are believers we can relate this story to Jesus Christ in the Bible and that is an easy comparison but what about each one of us?
Who would you give your life for so they could reach their potential?
An easy answer for me is my children but that is to easy, any good parent would give their life for their child. But what about a friend, a coworker, a complete stranger; that starts to get a little dicey. You may be thinking this is a morbid post (it is Halloween after all) but laying your life down does not have to mean literal death.
In the Bible husbands are told to lay their lives down for their wives and most of you men are saying that real death would be easier....(I am just playing ladies) We are taught to lay down our lives for our children and the world around us by following Christs example. Again this doesn't mean that we have to literally die but what it does mean is we have to be willing to sacrifice. It will hurt and it will be hard but I am convinced it is the key to true fulfillment and success.
When we put the needs of others before our own we start to lose sight of our failures, hurts and even our own needs. We don't have time for self pity when we show pity and concern for others. We lose our ambition to succeed at all costs when we help pave the road for others success. Over the years I have heard thousands of sermons and motivational speeches on how to self improve and deal with failures in your life. The truth is laying it down for others is the only answer. When you lay your life down all the trivial things don't matter anymore.
Imagine what would happen in politics if our politicians lived that way. What if they realized they were here for us? Imagine the change in our countries divorce rate if each spouse would do this. We would see changes in our schools, towns, churches and it would change the world.
So next time you have the choice follow Obi Wans lead and put away your lightsaber. Lay your life down for a cause, a friend, your family, your country, or a complete stranger and see if you don't become, "more powerful then you could possibly imagine."
Thanks for reading
Steve..aka Han Solo
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Racism and Politics Introduction
To be fair I wasn't happy with the election results of 2008. I knew that after 8 tumultuous years with President Bush; John McCain didn't have a prayer. He was a sacrificial lamb by the Republican Party. The newly elected President, the young senator from Illinois had what America needed at that time. He was fresh, young, charismatic, a great orator (as long as he had a teleprompter) and he had the right plan. It was short on specifics but Hope and Change sounded pretty good for America. Of course being a staunch conservative I was disappointed with the fact the former POW and senator from Arizona didn't win but like I said, I knew there was no standing in the way of this new rock star, President Obama.
The day after the election I was watching the news and seeing black people crying with joy over the fact that there was finally a black president. Although I knew that President Obama and I would fall on very opposite ends of the political spectrum I have to admit there was some pride in my heart to see our country elect a black man to the highest office in the land. I was genuinely proud of where our country has come from in regards to race relations. From the days of slavery, through the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement we have changed dramatically in this country on the racial front.
Over the last four years I have strongly disagreed with the president on most issues (foreign affairs, Obamacare to name a few) and supported him where I could. Killing Osama bin Laden was a victory for his administration and making the call to go into Pakistan took some guts. Kudos to President Obama on that decision, but I can honestly say that there has never been a point over the past four years that I thought of President Obama as a black man. He was just simply the President. Race has never once come into my mind when I was disagreeing with the president or approving of his actions. So with that mindset I was very surprised when the idea started to be floated around that if you disapprove of the president you are some how racist. Suddenly it became very clear to me that race baiting was going to be a very big part of the 2012 election.
Today I was involved in another debate on Facebook. First let me say there were Democrats and Republicans engaged in this debate and yet it managed to stay respectful and polite even though the topic was a hot button issue. The question raised was basically is conservatism, racist. There were several good answers from both sides and food for thought but the bottom line is race does play a major role in politics but maybe not in a way you would think. Both parties have zeroed in on specific races to try and get an advantage with them. Not surprisingly Obama has a large lead with black voters but a real war has been raging for the Hispanic vote. This election will be decided by the way Hispanics and Blacks vote. If Romney wins the Hispanic vote and can even dent the African American vote he will win. If Obama maintains his strong lead among blacks and Hispanics turn out for him he will more then likely win. Race is very much a part of politics.
Over the next week I am going to look at racism in politics in a little different way then most would think. I want to explore the issue of false paradigms that cause races to vote a certain way and I want to discuss the very touchy issue of abortion from a racial point of view. I think it will be eye opening. I hope you will read.
As always thanks for reading
Steve
The day after the election I was watching the news and seeing black people crying with joy over the fact that there was finally a black president. Although I knew that President Obama and I would fall on very opposite ends of the political spectrum I have to admit there was some pride in my heart to see our country elect a black man to the highest office in the land. I was genuinely proud of where our country has come from in regards to race relations. From the days of slavery, through the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement we have changed dramatically in this country on the racial front.
Over the last four years I have strongly disagreed with the president on most issues (foreign affairs, Obamacare to name a few) and supported him where I could. Killing Osama bin Laden was a victory for his administration and making the call to go into Pakistan took some guts. Kudos to President Obama on that decision, but I can honestly say that there has never been a point over the past four years that I thought of President Obama as a black man. He was just simply the President. Race has never once come into my mind when I was disagreeing with the president or approving of his actions. So with that mindset I was very surprised when the idea started to be floated around that if you disapprove of the president you are some how racist. Suddenly it became very clear to me that race baiting was going to be a very big part of the 2012 election.
Today I was involved in another debate on Facebook. First let me say there were Democrats and Republicans engaged in this debate and yet it managed to stay respectful and polite even though the topic was a hot button issue. The question raised was basically is conservatism, racist. There were several good answers from both sides and food for thought but the bottom line is race does play a major role in politics but maybe not in a way you would think. Both parties have zeroed in on specific races to try and get an advantage with them. Not surprisingly Obama has a large lead with black voters but a real war has been raging for the Hispanic vote. This election will be decided by the way Hispanics and Blacks vote. If Romney wins the Hispanic vote and can even dent the African American vote he will win. If Obama maintains his strong lead among blacks and Hispanics turn out for him he will more then likely win. Race is very much a part of politics.
Over the next week I am going to look at racism in politics in a little different way then most would think. I want to explore the issue of false paradigms that cause races to vote a certain way and I want to discuss the very touchy issue of abortion from a racial point of view. I think it will be eye opening. I hope you will read.
As always thanks for reading
Steve
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
I Have An Idea...
November 6th is only 3 weeks away and I suspect that a majority of Americans are ready to be done with all that comes with the campaigns. No more political adds, debates on TV, and political mailings clogging up your mail box with even more junk mail. I suspect a few days after the election Facebook will again be a peaceful place where everyone can be friends again. I know I have at least 5 people I am going to re friend once the election is over. By now they must certainly know I am right and they were wrong. In any event the time for choosing a candidate is coming to a close. So I ask you one question and that is have you got any detailed answers to your questions and issues that are important to you?
The truth is I am disappointed because I don't believe that either candidate has laid out specific plans in many areas. My biggest problem with Obama in 2008 was he ran on Hope and Change. That sounds good but how are you going to bring about these noble endeavors? Clearly he didn't think it through and there was really no plan other then live off Bush's failures. This was obviously not a workable plan. So where are the answers? Why can't bipartisan plans be implemented. I personally think it is because Washington has become to partisan to work effectively regardless of who the president is. So here is a novel idea. How about we as Americans start dialogue between each other and see what workable solutions we can come up with. So I have decided to write about one topic that has been mentioned in every debate. Here is my idea on how to resolve the illegal immigration issue. Let me know your thoughts.
Presently there are somewhere between 12-18 million illegal immigrants in the United States. There is no way to really know for sure how many there are because after all they are here illegally but experts believe the numbers above to be pretty accurate. Not only are there millions already here but on average over half a million try to enter the country every year, and that is a low estimate. Border protection has become a major issue in this country and is costing American taxpayers billions of dollars every year.
Lets look at the cost of protecting the borders. First you must pay the agents, then once you collect an illegal immigrant then you must prosecute them. This in and of itself is an extremely high cost. Public defenders must be employed the court systems in the Southwest are over capacity with illegal immigration cases alone, let alone all the other normal cases you would find in a US Court system. If the court costs weren't staggering enough for you then there is the housing, feeding and medical expenses that comes with making an arrest of an illegal. In one section of Arizona over 307,000 illegals have been caught and then had to be prosecuted. Can you imagine the strain that puts on the local economies and the local law enforcement. It is no wonder some of the Governors of the Southwest states have openly defied the federal government. They need help and they need it fast. So here is what needs to happen.
I realize this would be a radical move and terrifying for most Americans but I do think there is a precedent for it. On September 15, 1863 President Lincoln imposed Congressionally authorized martial law. The President suspended habeas corpus (the right to be heard) throughout the entire United States and focused the suspension on the prisoners of war, spies, or aiders and abettors of the enemy. Now I know that some reading this are freaking out about declaring Martial Law but the Supreme Court decided that suspending habeas corpus was against the constitution in places that local courts were still in session. So I am not advocating the Martial Law everywhere but simply on the Southwest borders and only for the issue of illegal immigration. Another time this was used was in San Francisco when in 1934 when California Governor Frank Merriam placed the docks of San Francisco under martial law, citing "riots and tumult" resulting from a dock worker's strike. Again, I am not advocating martial law for any place other then the border itself and suspending habeas corpus for illegal immigrants only.
Article 1 Section 9 of the United States Constitution states,
"The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."
I find it interesting that the founding fathers put these two section together. Did they know something about what immigration could cause and the potential for rebellion or invasion?
Now let me ask you what constitutes an invasion? Does it need to be a hostile force? Some would say that a country being overrun by over 12 million people is an invasion and I would be inclined to believe that but clearly a case can be made for public safety. Not only are the illegals coming over and taking jobs and costing taxpayers billions of dollars, more sinister plans have been exposed in both drugs and weapons trafficking. Lets face it the worst nightmare for this country is if a terrorist was able to enter through the southwest borders.
So my proposal would be to grant amnesty for all illegals that are presently here. Lets face it the cost to find them, track them down and send them home would be ridiculously high and it's never going to happen. Now I know my conservative friends are sharpening their pitch forks and torches but hear me out. Then I would deploy the US Armed Forces to the borders. We have the best trained and equipped forces in the world. With the drawn down in Iraq and eventually Afghanistan we will have many troops coming home and looking for work. The United States Department of Labor stated that 8.3% of veterans are unemployed. How many troops would have stayed in the military if they could have done their job while serving at home. Much of what the troops are doing overseas could be used in the Southwest so there would not need to be billions spent on training. Also the military could institute it into their regular training schedules. A month a year patrolling the borders in the south would be excellent real world training.
This would save taxpayers billions. It would allow local law enforcement to do their jobs and focus on a mission they can actually handle. Because habeas corpus is suspended there would be no need for civilian courts to deal with the overload of illegals and the illegals could be shipped home immediately with no cost for housing and care. Word would quickly spread that it doesn't pay to try and get into the United States illegally. Immigrants would be forced to pursue legal means of becoming citizens or coming to work. Another benefit would be the drug and weapons traffickers would be met with a force with superior firepower thus discouraging them from trying to do business in the US.
Now I know my plan isn't perfect. So tell me why it won't or would work.
Thanks For Reading
Steve
The truth is I am disappointed because I don't believe that either candidate has laid out specific plans in many areas. My biggest problem with Obama in 2008 was he ran on Hope and Change. That sounds good but how are you going to bring about these noble endeavors? Clearly he didn't think it through and there was really no plan other then live off Bush's failures. This was obviously not a workable plan. So where are the answers? Why can't bipartisan plans be implemented. I personally think it is because Washington has become to partisan to work effectively regardless of who the president is. So here is a novel idea. How about we as Americans start dialogue between each other and see what workable solutions we can come up with. So I have decided to write about one topic that has been mentioned in every debate. Here is my idea on how to resolve the illegal immigration issue. Let me know your thoughts.
Presently there are somewhere between 12-18 million illegal immigrants in the United States. There is no way to really know for sure how many there are because after all they are here illegally but experts believe the numbers above to be pretty accurate. Not only are there millions already here but on average over half a million try to enter the country every year, and that is a low estimate. Border protection has become a major issue in this country and is costing American taxpayers billions of dollars every year.
Lets look at the cost of protecting the borders. First you must pay the agents, then once you collect an illegal immigrant then you must prosecute them. This in and of itself is an extremely high cost. Public defenders must be employed the court systems in the Southwest are over capacity with illegal immigration cases alone, let alone all the other normal cases you would find in a US Court system. If the court costs weren't staggering enough for you then there is the housing, feeding and medical expenses that comes with making an arrest of an illegal. In one section of Arizona over 307,000 illegals have been caught and then had to be prosecuted. Can you imagine the strain that puts on the local economies and the local law enforcement. It is no wonder some of the Governors of the Southwest states have openly defied the federal government. They need help and they need it fast. So here is what needs to happen.
I realize this would be a radical move and terrifying for most Americans but I do think there is a precedent for it. On September 15, 1863 President Lincoln imposed Congressionally authorized martial law. The President suspended habeas corpus (the right to be heard) throughout the entire United States and focused the suspension on the prisoners of war, spies, or aiders and abettors of the enemy. Now I know that some reading this are freaking out about declaring Martial Law but the Supreme Court decided that suspending habeas corpus was against the constitution in places that local courts were still in session. So I am not advocating the Martial Law everywhere but simply on the Southwest borders and only for the issue of illegal immigration. Another time this was used was in San Francisco when in 1934 when California Governor Frank Merriam placed the docks of San Francisco under martial law, citing "riots and tumult" resulting from a dock worker's strike. Again, I am not advocating martial law for any place other then the border itself and suspending habeas corpus for illegal immigrants only.
Article 1 Section 9 of the United States Constitution states,
"The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."
I find it interesting that the founding fathers put these two section together. Did they know something about what immigration could cause and the potential for rebellion or invasion?
Now let me ask you what constitutes an invasion? Does it need to be a hostile force? Some would say that a country being overrun by over 12 million people is an invasion and I would be inclined to believe that but clearly a case can be made for public safety. Not only are the illegals coming over and taking jobs and costing taxpayers billions of dollars, more sinister plans have been exposed in both drugs and weapons trafficking. Lets face it the worst nightmare for this country is if a terrorist was able to enter through the southwest borders.
So my proposal would be to grant amnesty for all illegals that are presently here. Lets face it the cost to find them, track them down and send them home would be ridiculously high and it's never going to happen. Now I know my conservative friends are sharpening their pitch forks and torches but hear me out. Then I would deploy the US Armed Forces to the borders. We have the best trained and equipped forces in the world. With the drawn down in Iraq and eventually Afghanistan we will have many troops coming home and looking for work. The United States Department of Labor stated that 8.3% of veterans are unemployed. How many troops would have stayed in the military if they could have done their job while serving at home. Much of what the troops are doing overseas could be used in the Southwest so there would not need to be billions spent on training. Also the military could institute it into their regular training schedules. A month a year patrolling the borders in the south would be excellent real world training.
This would save taxpayers billions. It would allow local law enforcement to do their jobs and focus on a mission they can actually handle. Because habeas corpus is suspended there would be no need for civilian courts to deal with the overload of illegals and the illegals could be shipped home immediately with no cost for housing and care. Word would quickly spread that it doesn't pay to try and get into the United States illegally. Immigrants would be forced to pursue legal means of becoming citizens or coming to work. Another benefit would be the drug and weapons traffickers would be met with a force with superior firepower thus discouraging them from trying to do business in the US.
Now I know my plan isn't perfect. So tell me why it won't or would work.
Thanks For Reading
Steve
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Consistency Is The Key To Authenticity
It is amazing to me how much Facebook has changed my world. I love FB because it allows me to keep up with friends (254 at the present) that I just would not have the time to interact with if it wasn't for FB. I enjoy hearing about friends lives, seeing pictures of whatever it is that is important to them, saying a prayer for someone in need or just, and lets be honest; being nosey.
Part of this wonderful interaction is hotly contested debates and never more so then in this election season. This week several debates broke out and became pretty hostile. I was surprised and disappointed by the people that went on the attack but even more then my disappointment I was shocked by the inconsistency of their argument.
As I thought about it over the weekend (after all it is hunting season and I have to do something while I freeze my butt off) I realized that being inconsistent it the biggest enemy to being authentic. Authentic is defined as; of undisputed origin; genuine. Synonyms for authentic are; real, true, verifiable. I couldn't help but think about consistency and authenticity when I thought about some of the political debates that raged last week on FB.
A friend of mine (and anyone that agreed with him) was attacked pretty harshly in a post he wrote about being consistent. His point was simply we have to be consistent in how we react. You can't give your party or political affiliation a pass for rude behavior and not accept it in the opposing party. The situation that was in question was how rude and unprofessional VP Joe Biden had been in his laughing and cutting off of Congressman Ryan. Of course conservatives (of which I am a card carrying member) howled at the injustice of it all and what a lunatic VP Biden had been, but not one comment was made about how Gov. Romney had cut off President Obama several times and had been rather aggressive with him during their debate. This is clearly a double standard and inconsistent. I have to say I strongly agree with my friend; we have to be consistent.
Let me bring up another illustration that I think will make my point clearer. During a campaign stop in Ohio President Obama made the statement, " you didn't build that". He was referring to small business owners building their businesses. FOX News (Fair and Balanced???) immediately jumped on that as did the Romney campaign. The first thing I read about the comment was "President Obama said the government built your small business". I was so angry when I read it that I immediately posted something on FB, asking the President where my help was. As a small business owner I have worked 18 hr days for the past 6 months to try and keep my head above water. What do you mean I didn't build this business? I was so upset that I went to the first video I could find and watched it, ready to throw my laptop across the room when I witnessed his blatant attack on me, a small business owner. What I saw shocked me. I started by watching the whole clip and I have to say that I agreed with what the president said. I didn't build my business alone. In fact I had an investor who took a chance on me and has helped me grow my property management business. I had friends from my time in the military that trusted me with their homes while they were deployed or out of state, all giving me the chance to learn on the job. There are several people in my life that give me advice and wisdom when I needed it. This great country I live in provides the infrastructure that I need to be successful by building, paving and plowing roads so I can get to and from the places I manage. It also provides a system (even with its faults) that allows me to compete in business. President Obama you are right, (at least on this) I didn't build my business alone.
My point is not to necessarily argue the point of whether or not I built my business but to show how conservatives responded. FB and Twitter were full of comments blasting the President for his attack on business owners. Well if you can watch the full video with all the context and make that assumption, then feel free to be angry but what happens when your candidate berates 47% of the country. I didn't read one post from any of my conservative friends blasting Romney for his lack of empathy for those struggling in this country.
I did the same thing with Romney as I did with Obama. I went to the video clip to see for myself however, this time I went with the attitude the media was just out to get him. I watched the video clip not once but three times to try and give him the benefit of the doubt and I was appalled. In fact I was more appalled by what he said then Obama's "you didn't build that" comment. What Romney said was shameful and destructive. The fact is he berated most of my friends on FB and me. He was standing at a $50,000 per plate dinner event telling the very wealthy that we didn't matter. The fact is probably 85% of my friends on FB wish they were making $50,000 a year and that includes the people protecting us, our military. Please, please.... one of my conservative friends, please respond and tell me where was the indignation and rage that was directed at Obama's comments. It wasn't there because Romney was our guy.
So what is my point? It is simply that inconsistency defeats authenticity every time. How can Romney stand in front of a microphone and say he cares about all Americans after that comment. His authenticity is marred. We don't find this in the candidates alone but also in the party platforms. The Republicans will tell you they care about spending when they vote to increase the debt limit. Don't forget the last president to balance the budget was a Democrat. Or my all time favorite is when the Democrats say they are for the poor and for those that have no voice but they support the wholesale killing of the unborn. How can you say you look after the weak when you are willing to destroy the weakest among us. It is simply not consistent and therefore I can be assured you are not authentic.
Let me make this last point to drive this idea home. A majority of Americans will rage about the financial crisis. You won't find anyone on either side of the political spectrum that thinks we are in good shape economically. They may differ on who is responsible but they will all say it is bad and someone is to blame other then them. But here is an interesting fact. How many of us have our personal finances in order. I find it a little hard to stomach someone complaining about the way the government spends money when they can't control their budgets. That is a hard thought and tough to swallow..I think I just pissed myself off. Don't hold your government to a standard you won't hold yourself to.
What we need from our government officials and from each other is consistency. When we show we are consistent then we can be authentic and work can get done. I find this in every area of my life. I want to be consistent in my faith, as a father, friend, son, business owner and Facebooker (you may read some crazy stuff from me). People are drawn to whats real and authentic. I believe this is why people are disenfranchised with the government. Voters would argue that it isn't real and it's mainly lies from both sides so why bother being a part. I have always believed the most effective change starts small (grassroots) so why not start being consistent in your political beliefs and causes. Stop drinking the cool-aid from FOX News, CNN, MSNBC and any of the other networks. Hold President Obama or Gov. Romney to the same standard as you would the candidate you won't support and watch how quickly the dialogue will become workable. If we as voters would hold all our elected officials to this standard then watch how fast we would get a budget past and who know maybe you would be compelled to make one for yourself.
Thanks For Reading
Steve
Part of this wonderful interaction is hotly contested debates and never more so then in this election season. This week several debates broke out and became pretty hostile. I was surprised and disappointed by the people that went on the attack but even more then my disappointment I was shocked by the inconsistency of their argument.
As I thought about it over the weekend (after all it is hunting season and I have to do something while I freeze my butt off) I realized that being inconsistent it the biggest enemy to being authentic. Authentic is defined as; of undisputed origin; genuine. Synonyms for authentic are; real, true, verifiable. I couldn't help but think about consistency and authenticity when I thought about some of the political debates that raged last week on FB.
A friend of mine (and anyone that agreed with him) was attacked pretty harshly in a post he wrote about being consistent. His point was simply we have to be consistent in how we react. You can't give your party or political affiliation a pass for rude behavior and not accept it in the opposing party. The situation that was in question was how rude and unprofessional VP Joe Biden had been in his laughing and cutting off of Congressman Ryan. Of course conservatives (of which I am a card carrying member) howled at the injustice of it all and what a lunatic VP Biden had been, but not one comment was made about how Gov. Romney had cut off President Obama several times and had been rather aggressive with him during their debate. This is clearly a double standard and inconsistent. I have to say I strongly agree with my friend; we have to be consistent.
Let me bring up another illustration that I think will make my point clearer. During a campaign stop in Ohio President Obama made the statement, " you didn't build that". He was referring to small business owners building their businesses. FOX News (Fair and Balanced???) immediately jumped on that as did the Romney campaign. The first thing I read about the comment was "President Obama said the government built your small business". I was so angry when I read it that I immediately posted something on FB, asking the President where my help was. As a small business owner I have worked 18 hr days for the past 6 months to try and keep my head above water. What do you mean I didn't build this business? I was so upset that I went to the first video I could find and watched it, ready to throw my laptop across the room when I witnessed his blatant attack on me, a small business owner. What I saw shocked me. I started by watching the whole clip and I have to say that I agreed with what the president said. I didn't build my business alone. In fact I had an investor who took a chance on me and has helped me grow my property management business. I had friends from my time in the military that trusted me with their homes while they were deployed or out of state, all giving me the chance to learn on the job. There are several people in my life that give me advice and wisdom when I needed it. This great country I live in provides the infrastructure that I need to be successful by building, paving and plowing roads so I can get to and from the places I manage. It also provides a system (even with its faults) that allows me to compete in business. President Obama you are right, (at least on this) I didn't build my business alone.
My point is not to necessarily argue the point of whether or not I built my business but to show how conservatives responded. FB and Twitter were full of comments blasting the President for his attack on business owners. Well if you can watch the full video with all the context and make that assumption, then feel free to be angry but what happens when your candidate berates 47% of the country. I didn't read one post from any of my conservative friends blasting Romney for his lack of empathy for those struggling in this country.
I did the same thing with Romney as I did with Obama. I went to the video clip to see for myself however, this time I went with the attitude the media was just out to get him. I watched the video clip not once but three times to try and give him the benefit of the doubt and I was appalled. In fact I was more appalled by what he said then Obama's "you didn't build that" comment. What Romney said was shameful and destructive. The fact is he berated most of my friends on FB and me. He was standing at a $50,000 per plate dinner event telling the very wealthy that we didn't matter. The fact is probably 85% of my friends on FB wish they were making $50,000 a year and that includes the people protecting us, our military. Please, please.... one of my conservative friends, please respond and tell me where was the indignation and rage that was directed at Obama's comments. It wasn't there because Romney was our guy.
So what is my point? It is simply that inconsistency defeats authenticity every time. How can Romney stand in front of a microphone and say he cares about all Americans after that comment. His authenticity is marred. We don't find this in the candidates alone but also in the party platforms. The Republicans will tell you they care about spending when they vote to increase the debt limit. Don't forget the last president to balance the budget was a Democrat. Or my all time favorite is when the Democrats say they are for the poor and for those that have no voice but they support the wholesale killing of the unborn. How can you say you look after the weak when you are willing to destroy the weakest among us. It is simply not consistent and therefore I can be assured you are not authentic.
Let me make this last point to drive this idea home. A majority of Americans will rage about the financial crisis. You won't find anyone on either side of the political spectrum that thinks we are in good shape economically. They may differ on who is responsible but they will all say it is bad and someone is to blame other then them. But here is an interesting fact. How many of us have our personal finances in order. I find it a little hard to stomach someone complaining about the way the government spends money when they can't control their budgets. That is a hard thought and tough to swallow..I think I just pissed myself off. Don't hold your government to a standard you won't hold yourself to.
What we need from our government officials and from each other is consistency. When we show we are consistent then we can be authentic and work can get done. I find this in every area of my life. I want to be consistent in my faith, as a father, friend, son, business owner and Facebooker (you may read some crazy stuff from me). People are drawn to whats real and authentic. I believe this is why people are disenfranchised with the government. Voters would argue that it isn't real and it's mainly lies from both sides so why bother being a part. I have always believed the most effective change starts small (grassroots) so why not start being consistent in your political beliefs and causes. Stop drinking the cool-aid from FOX News, CNN, MSNBC and any of the other networks. Hold President Obama or Gov. Romney to the same standard as you would the candidate you won't support and watch how quickly the dialogue will become workable. If we as voters would hold all our elected officials to this standard then watch how fast we would get a budget past and who know maybe you would be compelled to make one for yourself.
Thanks For Reading
Steve
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9/11 The Scars Of Freedom Remain
I have said many times that 9/11 was one of the most influential days in my life. For me like so many other Americans 9/11 drastically changed my life. I was standing in a warehouse in Detroit, Michigan buying materials for the days jobs when I heard the news. I will never forget how the mood in the office changed so quickly when the second plane hit and then the third in the Pentagon. I remember an older gentleman saying, "who is doing this to us?" I remember fear, confusion and anger. Fear because I realized that my children's lives, it was my daughters 3rd birthday, would grow up in a very different world then I had. Confusion because I wanted answers like every other American and finally anger as I wanted to see justice brought on the people that had committed this barbaric act.
After 9/11 everything changed for me. The economy went south in Detroit basically ruining any chance of getting the small business I had started off the ground. I was compelled to do my part and so I joined the US Army to fight for my country, family and friends. That decision had major consequences including two deployments and almost 3 years away from my wife and children. The ensuing separations played a big part in my eventual divorce. The two deployments not only caused issues for me at home but because of my time spent in a combat zone I now carry some emotional baggage as well as physical damage from injuries while overseas. The fact is 9/11 and its after math has caused me pain and suffering, there is no denying that. There is also no denying the fact I suffered much less then many other Americans. It may sound like I am bemoaning my situation post 9/11 but that couldn't be farther from the truth.
I realized today the cost of human freedom always has scars. From the very beginning our country has fought for freedom, and blood has always been shed for it. Thomas Jefferson once stated, " The tree of Liberty needs to be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots..." This country has continually watered that tree from its inception. Whenever a challenge for freedom has come we have met it and beat it. However, when that happens there will always be scars. One only needs to go to a VA hospital and see how generations carry those scars. For me all I have to do it get out of bed in the morning and I can feel where I had surgery to repair the injury to my back. When I lift my arm for the first time in the morning I can feel my shoulder start to pop out of place and I am reminded of the dislocated shoulder that was injured on my second deployment. Of course these are small injuries compared to what many have suffered. The loss of limbs, eye sight, hearing, traumatic brain damage and PTSD are just a few of the damages others faced and of course there are families carrying the scars of loved ones lost. These scars are a necessary sign post that states good men and women will always rise in the face of tyranny and oppression. These scars will and must always remain as a payment for freedom. There is no human freedom without scars. So today I respectfully celebrate the scars this nation carries. I remember the lives of the men and women who died on 9/11 in the planes, towers and the Pentagon. I remember the bravery of flight 93 and the heroism of the fireman and police that selflessly went into the towers to save others. I also remember those in the military that have sustained 10yrs of war and every facet of what that means. They are one and all patriots for the freedom we love so much.
Today I also celebrate another source of freedom. As I said earlier there must always be scars for freedom and one man bore them 2000 years ago so I didn't have to. I am thankful for my freedom in Christ and the sacrifice he made for me and for all who believe. It was His sacrifice and words, "Greater love has no man then he lay down his life for a friend, " that gives the lives of those lost meaning and purpose. It was from many of His teachings that this nation was founded on and many of our principles were established. Principles that say we will value the life of our neighbor and give our live for a friend.
It would be easy on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 to grieve, and I think that is a natural and healthy approach, but I think it would be wrong to not also celebrate the scars that bind us and make us strong.
God Bless America,
Thanks For Reading
After 9/11 everything changed for me. The economy went south in Detroit basically ruining any chance of getting the small business I had started off the ground. I was compelled to do my part and so I joined the US Army to fight for my country, family and friends. That decision had major consequences including two deployments and almost 3 years away from my wife and children. The ensuing separations played a big part in my eventual divorce. The two deployments not only caused issues for me at home but because of my time spent in a combat zone I now carry some emotional baggage as well as physical damage from injuries while overseas. The fact is 9/11 and its after math has caused me pain and suffering, there is no denying that. There is also no denying the fact I suffered much less then many other Americans. It may sound like I am bemoaning my situation post 9/11 but that couldn't be farther from the truth.
I realized today the cost of human freedom always has scars. From the very beginning our country has fought for freedom, and blood has always been shed for it. Thomas Jefferson once stated, " The tree of Liberty needs to be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots..." This country has continually watered that tree from its inception. Whenever a challenge for freedom has come we have met it and beat it. However, when that happens there will always be scars. One only needs to go to a VA hospital and see how generations carry those scars. For me all I have to do it get out of bed in the morning and I can feel where I had surgery to repair the injury to my back. When I lift my arm for the first time in the morning I can feel my shoulder start to pop out of place and I am reminded of the dislocated shoulder that was injured on my second deployment. Of course these are small injuries compared to what many have suffered. The loss of limbs, eye sight, hearing, traumatic brain damage and PTSD are just a few of the damages others faced and of course there are families carrying the scars of loved ones lost. These scars are a necessary sign post that states good men and women will always rise in the face of tyranny and oppression. These scars will and must always remain as a payment for freedom. There is no human freedom without scars. So today I respectfully celebrate the scars this nation carries. I remember the lives of the men and women who died on 9/11 in the planes, towers and the Pentagon. I remember the bravery of flight 93 and the heroism of the fireman and police that selflessly went into the towers to save others. I also remember those in the military that have sustained 10yrs of war and every facet of what that means. They are one and all patriots for the freedom we love so much.
Today I also celebrate another source of freedom. As I said earlier there must always be scars for freedom and one man bore them 2000 years ago so I didn't have to. I am thankful for my freedom in Christ and the sacrifice he made for me and for all who believe. It was His sacrifice and words, "Greater love has no man then he lay down his life for a friend, " that gives the lives of those lost meaning and purpose. It was from many of His teachings that this nation was founded on and many of our principles were established. Principles that say we will value the life of our neighbor and give our live for a friend.
It would be easy on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 to grieve, and I think that is a natural and healthy approach, but I think it would be wrong to not also celebrate the scars that bind us and make us strong.
God Bless America,
Thanks For Reading
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I Can Fix The Economy Part II
On Dec 17th a 26yr old man named Mohamed Bouazizi stood in front of the local government office in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia poured gas all over his body then lit himself on fire. Why would an educated man go to such extremes to make a point? He was unemployed and the only source of income he had was from a small fruit stand he ran. He did not have the appropriate license to sell fruit so he lost his stand and his only income, he could no longer provide for his wife and daughter. This one desperate act led to the uprising in Tunisia and sparked "freedom fever" in surrounding countries like Egypt and Libya. What can one man do you ask? Just start a revolution.
I am certainly not supporting people burning themselves to get the desired results from their government but what I am suggesting is simply funneling our passions and energy in the right direction. You never know maybe we can start a revolution that will begin to get the country back on track fiscally. I mentioned in my previous post that I could fix the economy. The point I was trying to make is that it is the responsibility of regular citizens to fix this economic mess. We can do it together. Relying on the government is what got us into this mess in the first place.
For the past three weeks I have been working in the office of Congressman Bill Owens. One of the projects I have been working on is a way to get money to eradicate water chestnuts from the local waterways. Water Chestnuts are a very invasive plant that can take over a small inland lake in the matter of a couple of years. The problem is there is no money available to purchase the expensive herbicide to fight the spread of the plant. Some communities were not willing to let the fact that there were no funds destroy their lakes. Average citizens got together and started manually pulling the water chestnuts. Whatever funds they could get from donations and such was spent on renting a harvesting machine. Although the process will have to take place every couple of years the effort was successful enough that the lakes could be enjoyed and were no longer in danger of being overrun with this plant. The moral of the story is that we shouldn't just wait for the government to bail us out we should be proactive in our communities. It is said that all government is local. I believe this to be true but if that is the case then I would have to say a majority of the problems our country faces start at the local level as well. Unemployment, poverty, corruption, low wages, drugs, crime, teenage pregnancy and dealing with the homeless are all problems that can be handled on a local level. Imagine if the federal government didn't have to appropriate funds for all of these issues. Local citizens must take responsibility for the needs of their communities. Its time for dramatic actions. The same old status quo is going to destroy our country and at that point we will all have to come together to just survive. Why not do it know before things get that bad?
A piece of legislation that I believe would help was introduced by Congressman Bill Owens. It was the "War on Debt Act". The proposal was for citizens to buy US Savings Bonds to pay down the debt. The money that was spent on the bonds would go to pay down the debt with China and other countries around the globe that hold $3.7 trillion dollars of US debt. I have to admit I thought the plan was genius for two reasons, first it gets the American public involved and second reduces the debt with China would have a tremendous effect on the value of the US dollar. I was surprised when the proposed legislation never went anywhere. Some called it a political ploy and others said it was a naive move by a rookie congressman serving his first term in elected office. One of the arguments I heard against it was, "Bonds are just another form of debt. Its like paying off your debt with a credit card." Really? Let me ask you this, would you want the countries debt to be held by its citizens that racked it up in the first place or by a country like China or Russia, both of which are in the top five of countries owed? It is a major national security issue to owe these nations that money. How can any reasonable person really think that owing these nations is in our best interest?Oh wait that must be another entitled US citizen making that comment.
Let me close with one more thought. I started this post with a story of the move for freedom in the Middle East. "Freedom Fever" not to be confused with "Bieber Fever" (had to put that in there for my daughter) is spreading not just in the Middle East but around the globe. Here is a scary thought for you. What if the people of China rise up (they have already started demonstrations) and become a free nation? How long do you think it will take for them to become frustrated with the fact they are subsidizing the American lifestyle? When the regular citizen that lives with much less then even our lowest income earners finds out what we owe them the game is over. What then? All I can say is at that point I would rather the citizens of this country were holding our own debt. After all isn't it our responsibility or have we become so entitled that we are not responsible for our own debt anymore.
Thanks For Reading
Steve
I am certainly not supporting people burning themselves to get the desired results from their government but what I am suggesting is simply funneling our passions and energy in the right direction. You never know maybe we can start a revolution that will begin to get the country back on track fiscally. I mentioned in my previous post that I could fix the economy. The point I was trying to make is that it is the responsibility of regular citizens to fix this economic mess. We can do it together. Relying on the government is what got us into this mess in the first place.
For the past three weeks I have been working in the office of Congressman Bill Owens. One of the projects I have been working on is a way to get money to eradicate water chestnuts from the local waterways. Water Chestnuts are a very invasive plant that can take over a small inland lake in the matter of a couple of years. The problem is there is no money available to purchase the expensive herbicide to fight the spread of the plant. Some communities were not willing to let the fact that there were no funds destroy their lakes. Average citizens got together and started manually pulling the water chestnuts. Whatever funds they could get from donations and such was spent on renting a harvesting machine. Although the process will have to take place every couple of years the effort was successful enough that the lakes could be enjoyed and were no longer in danger of being overrun with this plant. The moral of the story is that we shouldn't just wait for the government to bail us out we should be proactive in our communities. It is said that all government is local. I believe this to be true but if that is the case then I would have to say a majority of the problems our country faces start at the local level as well. Unemployment, poverty, corruption, low wages, drugs, crime, teenage pregnancy and dealing with the homeless are all problems that can be handled on a local level. Imagine if the federal government didn't have to appropriate funds for all of these issues. Local citizens must take responsibility for the needs of their communities. Its time for dramatic actions. The same old status quo is going to destroy our country and at that point we will all have to come together to just survive. Why not do it know before things get that bad?
A piece of legislation that I believe would help was introduced by Congressman Bill Owens. It was the "War on Debt Act". The proposal was for citizens to buy US Savings Bonds to pay down the debt. The money that was spent on the bonds would go to pay down the debt with China and other countries around the globe that hold $3.7 trillion dollars of US debt. I have to admit I thought the plan was genius for two reasons, first it gets the American public involved and second reduces the debt with China would have a tremendous effect on the value of the US dollar. I was surprised when the proposed legislation never went anywhere. Some called it a political ploy and others said it was a naive move by a rookie congressman serving his first term in elected office. One of the arguments I heard against it was, "Bonds are just another form of debt. Its like paying off your debt with a credit card." Really? Let me ask you this, would you want the countries debt to be held by its citizens that racked it up in the first place or by a country like China or Russia, both of which are in the top five of countries owed? It is a major national security issue to owe these nations that money. How can any reasonable person really think that owing these nations is in our best interest?Oh wait that must be another entitled US citizen making that comment.
Let me close with one more thought. I started this post with a story of the move for freedom in the Middle East. "Freedom Fever" not to be confused with "Bieber Fever" (had to put that in there for my daughter) is spreading not just in the Middle East but around the globe. Here is a scary thought for you. What if the people of China rise up (they have already started demonstrations) and become a free nation? How long do you think it will take for them to become frustrated with the fact they are subsidizing the American lifestyle? When the regular citizen that lives with much less then even our lowest income earners finds out what we owe them the game is over. What then? All I can say is at that point I would rather the citizens of this country were holding our own debt. After all isn't it our responsibility or have we become so entitled that we are not responsible for our own debt anymore.
Thanks For Reading
Steve
Monday, February 21, 2011
I Can Fix The Economy
Yep, you read that right I just declared I could fix the economy. I know that I don't have a PhD or a Masters in Economics and that I have never managed a company that makes millions or billions of dollars but I guarantee you that I could fix it. I know politicians would like you to believe they are all looking for the magic bullet to fix the economy or that some special mathematical formula is necessary but the truth is all that is required is common sense. You don't need to be a rocket scientist just someone that can balance a checkbook. The special mathematical equation is as follows: Income-Expenses=Budget. You can only spend what you make. Its really that simple. So whats the problem? Why are we in such a mess? The first step in trying to fix anything is to find out what the problem is. You maybe surprised at who I blame for the state of the economy.
The people most responsible for the state of our economy is you and I. I will give you a second to pick your laptop off the floor you just threw it on. Hopefully you will have composed yourself enough that you are not moving the little arrow to hit the red X on the top right corner of your screen. The sad truth is WE are the problem, not the politicians, not big business and not all the countries we give foreign aid to. Let me explain.
This past weekend I took my daughter and her friend to a snowmobile safety class. My children and I enjoy using snowmobiles in the winter and it is one of our favorite ways to go out for dinner. We ride the sleds in the direction of the town we want to eat in and eventually we end up at a restaurant. You are probably wondering how we would get from town to town without riding on the road? NY like many states has wonderful groomed trails that you can ride on. You can literally ride for thousands of miles. Many of these trails are groomed by the state and the others by local snowmobile clubs(that get funding from the state). It is a very pricey endeavor to keep the trails open and the snowmobilers happy. During the safety class the instructor kept bashing the politicians for taking away some of the funding for next year. At first I was annoyed at the politicians who dared to try and ruin my hobby but then I realized that is the problem with this country. We all think we are entitled to something. Try it. Think about something you get from the government that you wouldn't want to change. I will give you a list of things that I wouldn't want to lose. I am presently going to college so I would hate to see any decrease in funding for college students. I am a veteran and I would hate to see any reduction in benefits for veterans. I am an avid sportsman who doesn't want the hunting and fishing fees to go up. I want my snowmobile trails to be nice and soft so I can enjoy my rides with my kids and friends. This list doesn't even mention the hot political arguments out there like military funding, social programs and unions just to name a few. I know it is easy to bash politicians for spending but try keeping all the people in the country, state or district happy. I challenge you to post a comment on your FaceBook page and see if you can just get the friends on your page to agree. It is impossible. So what am I saying?
As a student, veteran and outdoor enthusiast I am willing to give up some of the things that mean a lot to me. The sad truth is if we don't all get on the same page we wont just lose our hobbies that are near and dear to us but we will lose everything and by everything I mean everything. Our democracy is in grave peril. Our way of life is in serious danger of being taken away from us. I believe we are in the most perilous time that our country has seen since WWII. They have called the WWII generation the "Greatest Generation" because of the way they came through the Great Depression and how they fought WWII. The fact is this generation is as much or more endanger of losing what they fought for then any before. I do not say any after because I don't think we will have an after if this generation doesn't stand up. What we need know is a Greater Generation to rise to fight for our country. When I say fight I am not talking necessarily about actual warfare but a nation that is willing to lay aside its greed and entitlements to give the next generations a better future. The truth is whenever this nation calls its men and woman to arms they rise and meet the task but what if we ask the people of this nation to go without for a time? What if we ask this generation to make the hard economic sacrifices that it will take to pull us out of this mess, would they answer the call? Sadly I would say that more would rather die for their country then live with less for it.
So the first step in fixing the economy is by realizing that we as citizens need to make some sacrifices. I said at the beginning I could fix the economy and so can you. It will require grass root efforts and citizens to come together and fix it. Instead of calling your congressman or woman and complaining about what they are cutting call them and tell them you know they are making tough choices. Tell them you would be willing to sacrifice___fill in the blank_ so the next generation wont have to. Some have mentioned that it is time for a revolution in our country and I would agree. It starts with citizens being fiscally responsible and then demanding it of their elected officials. Don't expect politicians to sacrifice votes that threaten their job if you are not willing to sacrifice yourself.
Thanks For Reading
Steve
Over the next couple of weeks I will write more blogs on how to fix the economy by focusing on three areas grass root efforts, oil and foreign aid.
The people most responsible for the state of our economy is you and I. I will give you a second to pick your laptop off the floor you just threw it on. Hopefully you will have composed yourself enough that you are not moving the little arrow to hit the red X on the top right corner of your screen. The sad truth is WE are the problem, not the politicians, not big business and not all the countries we give foreign aid to. Let me explain.
This past weekend I took my daughter and her friend to a snowmobile safety class. My children and I enjoy using snowmobiles in the winter and it is one of our favorite ways to go out for dinner. We ride the sleds in the direction of the town we want to eat in and eventually we end up at a restaurant. You are probably wondering how we would get from town to town without riding on the road? NY like many states has wonderful groomed trails that you can ride on. You can literally ride for thousands of miles. Many of these trails are groomed by the state and the others by local snowmobile clubs(that get funding from the state). It is a very pricey endeavor to keep the trails open and the snowmobilers happy. During the safety class the instructor kept bashing the politicians for taking away some of the funding for next year. At first I was annoyed at the politicians who dared to try and ruin my hobby but then I realized that is the problem with this country. We all think we are entitled to something. Try it. Think about something you get from the government that you wouldn't want to change. I will give you a list of things that I wouldn't want to lose. I am presently going to college so I would hate to see any decrease in funding for college students. I am a veteran and I would hate to see any reduction in benefits for veterans. I am an avid sportsman who doesn't want the hunting and fishing fees to go up. I want my snowmobile trails to be nice and soft so I can enjoy my rides with my kids and friends. This list doesn't even mention the hot political arguments out there like military funding, social programs and unions just to name a few. I know it is easy to bash politicians for spending but try keeping all the people in the country, state or district happy. I challenge you to post a comment on your FaceBook page and see if you can just get the friends on your page to agree. It is impossible. So what am I saying?
As a student, veteran and outdoor enthusiast I am willing to give up some of the things that mean a lot to me. The sad truth is if we don't all get on the same page we wont just lose our hobbies that are near and dear to us but we will lose everything and by everything I mean everything. Our democracy is in grave peril. Our way of life is in serious danger of being taken away from us. I believe we are in the most perilous time that our country has seen since WWII. They have called the WWII generation the "Greatest Generation" because of the way they came through the Great Depression and how they fought WWII. The fact is this generation is as much or more endanger of losing what they fought for then any before. I do not say any after because I don't think we will have an after if this generation doesn't stand up. What we need know is a Greater Generation to rise to fight for our country. When I say fight I am not talking necessarily about actual warfare but a nation that is willing to lay aside its greed and entitlements to give the next generations a better future. The truth is whenever this nation calls its men and woman to arms they rise and meet the task but what if we ask the people of this nation to go without for a time? What if we ask this generation to make the hard economic sacrifices that it will take to pull us out of this mess, would they answer the call? Sadly I would say that more would rather die for their country then live with less for it.
So the first step in fixing the economy is by realizing that we as citizens need to make some sacrifices. I said at the beginning I could fix the economy and so can you. It will require grass root efforts and citizens to come together and fix it. Instead of calling your congressman or woman and complaining about what they are cutting call them and tell them you know they are making tough choices. Tell them you would be willing to sacrifice___fill in the blank_ so the next generation wont have to. Some have mentioned that it is time for a revolution in our country and I would agree. It starts with citizens being fiscally responsible and then demanding it of their elected officials. Don't expect politicians to sacrifice votes that threaten their job if you are not willing to sacrifice yourself.
Thanks For Reading
Steve
Over the next couple of weeks I will write more blogs on how to fix the economy by focusing on three areas grass root efforts, oil and foreign aid.
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