DZ for Liberty

Outside the Comfort Zone

2009-08-12T20:52:00.000-07:00

Arlen Specter knows his re-election is by no means guaranteed. Instead, he is outside of the comfort zone of invincibility incumbents typically find themselves in. Rather, Specter is on thin ice. First he knew it would be tough to get the nod from GOP voters in the primary, so he switched teams (again) to the Dems. But now he will face an opponent in that ring as well.

All of this vulnerability has forced Specter to be a bit more humble than many of his drastically arrogant colleagues. Thus, Specter continues with his town hall meetings, in spite of the spirited opposition with which he is met at these meetings. In the televised meeting Tuesday morning, he took the heat for an hour or more, and he at least pretended to be listening.

Conclusion: The system works: When politicians are challenged both internally (someone running against them for the position) and externally (by citizens' voices) we hold their feet to the fire and force them to realize they could get ousted. That's when they actually begin to pay attention to the people. It’s just a beginning, but it’s a step in the right direction. If we keep doing our part, we can effect change. We simply must do our part. When we step out of our comfort zone (pay attention, stand up, speak out, run for election) it will force them out of theirs and help them realize they work for us.

Perspective

2009-07-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

Karl Rove, in his piece Obama’s Great Health Scare (July 30, 2009 WSJ) points out that when you factor into the figure the portion of the uninsured who are either illegal aliens, eligible for Medicaid or the “invincibles” – those who can afford insurance but choose to spend elsewhere or save their money – the slice that remains is probably only around 2% of all American citizens. It is for them that we are talking about destroying the health system to which wealthy foreigners run when they have health problems. (To which country will we run when we need health care we can’t get under Obamacare?)

Now Obama is implying that 14,000 people are losing their health insurance every day. (See Morris’ article.) Where in the world does he get that number? I think he pulled it out of a hat. What percent of the population are 14,000? (.005%) Has this loss been occurring for the past year or the past week? Are they losing one form of insurance and then picking up another? If they lose their insurance, are they eligible for Medicaid? Is he referring to newly unemployed? If so, it’s temporary, right? Or is it?

If we keep going down the road of spend, spend, spend, tax, tax, tax, today’s unemployed/uninsured numbers will be trivial compared to the financial disaster of the future. The details of the proposed health care plan (which keep changing, so it’s difficult to keep your eye on the ball) are horrible. You’ve heard about some of the dreadful particulars – “end of life” counseling mandated every five years for anyone over 65 comes to mind – but the details pale in importance compared to what really should be feared and defeated: the overall foundation they are laying for the future uber-involvement of government. Michele Malkin calls it the scaffolding. Glenn Beck calls it the structure.

Defeating the health care bill put out by today’s Congress in any form needs to be among our top priorities. Don’t get side-tracked by the details. They don’t matter. The big picture remains the same: they want control over you and this is one tool they plan to use. They know the process is most easily accomplished if they creep up on us a little at a time, like a cat stalking its prey. They may appear to make concessions (thinking in their minds, “okay for now”) knowing that all they need is to get the camel’s nose under the tent. Don’t let it happen.

Dick Morris says the most effective way to voice your opposition is to hand write a letter to each of your representatives and senators. I know this seems like a hassle, but the letter need not be long, and having been on the inside, Dick knows what catches their eye. And remember perspective: writing a few quick letters now compared to being denied important medical treatment later . . . pretty easy math, don’t you think?

State Mandates

2009-07-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

One of the real problems of our current health care system is state mandates. When states require health insurance plans to cover ABC and XYZ, and does not allow insurance companies to offer scaled back plans, consumers are denied more affordable options. It seems ludicrous that a woman who has no intention of ever becoming pregnant is required to have a plan which covers neonatal care. Yet, the House health care reform bill does not do away with state mandates.

“Insofar as a State requires a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage to include benefits beyond the essential benefits package, such requirement shall continue to apply to an Exchange-participating health benefit plan . . .” (p. 87) There is a provision that the state would have to agree to pay a reimbursement which would go toward low-income individuals who would be eligible for “affordability premium credits”, but will that be enough of a deterrent to cause the states to reverse the crazy mandates?

If the state does not reverse the mandate, the consumer would lose doubly. Not only will he be forced to pay for mandated coverage he doesn’t need or want, he’ll have to pay yet another hidden tax in the form of state payments to the Commissioner to cover the “affordability premium credits”.

Additionally, the legislation itself mandates maternity care, mental health coverage and substance abuse care, items which some people would gladly elect to forego in return for lower premiums. But these consumers will suffer the burden of higher than necessary premiums as well as increased taxes caused by the funding of this program.

Pandering to the Labor Unions

2009-07-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

The health care reform bill stablishes a “temporary reinsurance program” to provide reimbursement to assist participating employment-based plans with the cost of providing health benefits to retirees and to eligible spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents of such retirees (p. 65).

Amounts paid shall be used to lower the costs borne directly by the participants and beneficiaries for health benefits in the form of premiums, co-payments, deductibles, co-insurance or other out-of-pocket costs and shall not be used to reduce the costs of an employer maintaining the participating employment-based plan (p. 69).

This reinsurance program will be funded “out of moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated”, not to exceed $10 billion (p. 70). The Secretary of Health and Human Services has the authority to stop taking applications for participation in the program to ensure the expenditures do not exceed the funds available. This program would be established within the first 90 days of enactment.

Power to the Commissioner

2009-07-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

The health care reform bill currently undergoing markup and debate in the House establishes a Health Benefits Advisory Committee, which will recommend covered benefits. The bill also establishes a “Health Choices Administration”, headed by a Commissioner. The duties of the Commissioner would be to establish and run a Health Insurance Exchange, establish and enforce health benefits plan standards, and other various functions. (pp. 41-3)

The Health Insurance Exchange would serve as command central, in control of the health plans offered by private insurance companies which choose to participate, as well as the public tax-payer funded plan. In order to be accepted by the Commissioner into this Exchange, the insurance company must agree to offer only one basic plan, only one enhanced plan, and only one premium plan. (The company may offer more than one premium-plus plan). (pp. 84-5)

The Commissioner will have authority to conduct audits of the health plans to make sure they are compliant with the Federal requirements and recoup the costs of these audits from the health plans they choose to audit. (p. 43)

The Commissioner (and Secretary of Health and Human Services) will limit the profitability of the qualified health benefits plans by specifying what the “medical loss ratio” (MLR) will be for the plans. The MLR is the amount of revenue from premiums that is spent to pay for medical services. (Most successful HMOs have a MLR of 0.70-0.80.) The bill establishes that plans will have to provide rebates to enrollees if their MLR is too low, i.e., their profit is too high. (p. 24, 54) [Capping profit … isn’t that what socialists do?]

The Commissioner “shall specify the benefits to be made available under Exchange-participating health benefits plans during each plan year . . .” (p. 84)

The Commissioner would determine to what extent health plans not being offered through the Health Insurance Exchange would have to comply with the requirements imposed on those plans which are being offered through the Health Insurance Exchange. (p. 40, lines 8-11)

A health plan must meet the following requirements in order to be classified as a Qualified Health Benefits Plan (QHBP):
- May not impose any pre-existing condition exclusions or otherwise limit coverage with respect to health status-related factors (p. 19)

- Must guarantee availability and renewability of health insurance coverage to (essentially) everyone (p. 20, 55)

- May not vary premium rates charged or any reasons other than age, area, or family enrollment (p. 21)

- May not discriminate in benefits regarding mental health and substance abuse (p. 23)

- Must meet Commissioner established standards in regard to provider networks (p. 24)

- Must adhere to Commissioner set limits on profit (dictated by medical loss ratio limits and required rebates paid by the insurance companies if not in compliance with the limits) (p. 24)

- Must provide coverage which includes payment for hospitalization, outpatient care, ER services, professional services from physicians and other health professionals, health equipment and supplies used in the delivery of care, prescription drugs, rehabilitative services, mental health and substance abuse services, preventative services, maternity care, well baby and well child care (pp. 27-8)

- May not charge cost-sharing fees for preventative services (p. 28)

- May not charge cost-sharing fees [co-pays] above $5000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family (in the first year) (p. 29)

Sixty Seconds

2009-07-06T07:10:00.000-07:00

This morning I called the Congressional Switchboard at 1-202-224-3121.

I said I was a resident of the state, that I vote, and that I request the Senator vote against the climate control bill when it comes up for vote in the Senate. I was told, "Thank you very much, I will pass that along."

I hung up, called the Congressional Switchboard, and did the same thing for my other Senator. The whole process took less than sixty seconds.

We can all find sixty seconds in our day to dial eleven digits and say 25 words. If all of us did this, they would feel the heat.

An Open Letter to the Citizens of the United States

2009-07-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

Button Gwinnett, William Hooper and Thomas Stone pledged their lives to each other, along with their fortunes and sacred honor, in support of the declaration they put into writing. In so doing, along with Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and fifty others, they ignited the powder keg which gave birth to the United States of America. These bold men knowingly put themselves at peril. The oath made in the Declaration of Independence was fervent; the events in that period of history were extreme.

How can we not be grateful to the patriots who fought for our liberty and to the authors of the Constitution who established our form of governance? They carried out their duties with care and wisdom not only out of dedication to a cause, but also out of a responsibility owed to their neighbors and friends who held them to a high standard. These men are praiseworthy, in part, because of the informed and educated public which held them accountable and demanded excellent leadership from them.

More than two centuries later, is the populace as diligent? Do we, the citizens, censure the activities of our elected officials so that they dare not stray beyond their legitimate power? We do not. When the legislative process is so complex, and the bills so lengthy and mind-numbing that even the representatives and senators know not the complete content of the bills on which they vote aye or nay, it is far easier for us to shrug our shoulders and say, “How can I make a difference anyway?”

Yet with all this apathy, there is much animosity. With each election cycle, the friction between Democrat and Republican seems to be increasingly heated. Here is why: The federal government has gained incredible amounts of additional power and control over our lives. Political power has become more concentrated into fewer individuals calling the shots. As state power is overtaken by federal power, bureaucrats are dictating and mandating from a further distance. Each of us is more removed from the process, yet greater numbers of us are affected by the decisions being made. Policy implemented at a national level resembles an all-or-nothing gamble. All of this causes us to place greater importance on who wins control over our lives. With so much at stake, emotions escalate, opinions diverge and sparks fly. Partisan strife will not dissipate as long as the muscle of the federal government continues to swell and intensify. Finally, we will reach a point of no return and we will ask, “How did this happen?” We will only have ourselves to blame. The answer will be that we did not remain vigilant.

Our Constitution makes clear that a bloated form of our federal government was not intended, and in fact was to be discouraged. This is why the Tenth Amendment, which protects state powers, was included in the Bill of Rights. It is like a slap in the face to those who bravely stood up against the tyranny of their day that we have permitted ourselves to be subjected to the bureaucratic nightmare of an overfed centralized authority.

Benjamin Franklin stated that the Constitution had granted us a republic, “if you can keep It”. Inherent in Franklin’s statement is the fact that our magnificent form of government, and the liberty it offers, can be lost. We cannot take for granted our freedom, our plush way of life, our happiness and prosperity. Our Founding Fathers recognized that a republic is the most moral and just form of government possible, but that it has its fragility. They put their trust in us to carry it forward by actively participating in guarding its structure.

When politicians tell us that their health care reform proposal will cover more people for less money, we must submit their claim to logic and determine if it makes common sense. When a single bill – The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 - is 1200 pages of federal government authority expansion, we need to stop what we’re doing and look up. When the President signs an 1100-page bill which authorizes the federal government to spend an additional $787 billion – The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – we need to focus on more than just mowing the lawn and grilling the bratwurst. When the federal government commits us to spending in the billions instead of millions, and then in the trillions instead of billions, we must ask, “How does that work?”

We are told that we need not worry, because it’s the “other guy” who will pay. Yet who else is hearing the same thing, except that for them, we’re the “other guy”? We all pay. You can’t keep whipping a horse and expect him to carry you forever. Eventually the horse will collapse, and both the horse and rider perish. We all pay in the form of hidden taxes. Each government regulation which adds to the cost of manufacturing or transportation increases the cost of the goods we buy. Each law which demands more of our employers leaves less for the employees. Judicial rulings which limit our personal property rights, limit our ability to sell or own.

As politicians grant additional power and control to the federal government, our liberties are slowly ground away under the guise of seemingly minor infringements. A thousand pages here, a thousand pages there. The incessant pecking and plucking of our independence is perpetrated upon us unabashedly. But don’t be fooled. It is oppression. Like a frog which begins its day in a pot of cool water, but ends up cooked, gradual increases in the application of heat are dangerous and warrant more than a dismissive shoulder shrug.

Ironically, our prosperity allows for our demise. We remain sedentary because we are so very comfortable. People riot in the streets when the state of things is grave and severe. Until then, it is human nature to stand idle or worse yet, to duck our heads into the sand. Therefore it takes conscious effort to thwart off catastrophes which have not yet occurred. Yet, doesn’t it make sense to repair a levee before it is breached? Must we find ourselves standing in bread lines before we will take action?

I want the United States to remain a beacon of hope. I’m proud of the achievements of our ancestors. I long for our country to survive and remain a standard of freedom and prosperity to which other nations aspire. Our republic is worth protecting. I urge you to live wide awake. I urge you to make time to pay attention. I urge you to seek the truth, educate yourself, refuse to be hoodwinked, say “whoa!” when something doesn’t make sense, ask questions, listen, pay heed, take notice, speak up, reach out, and stand up! Find a way.

Freedom. Free enterprise. Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech. Freedom to own private property. Freedom to buy. Freedom to manufacture. Freedom to invent and sell. Now you are free to choose: Do you trod along wearing blinders, or do you take the reins? Employ rational conviction, seek the truth, and demand common sense. It is the greatest tribute we can pay to those before us who made our freedoms possible.

In Defense of the Constitution

2009-04-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

The liberals and the liberal media have attempted to marginalize the tea parties as gatherings of selfish, unpatriotic whiners who don’t want to pay taxes. They know this is dishonest, but they have tossed scruples aside in order to fight to maintain their power and control.

I attended my local tea party. I was witness to the motivation and the cause, and it wasn’t simply about taxes. Tea party attendees were astute about the Constitution and the intentions of the Founding Fathers. The thrust of the protest was about an out-of-control, power-hungry and corrupt government which has strayed from the Constitution by such an extreme and drastic amount that our present government would hardly be recognizable by our Founding Fathers. People are livid because adherence to the Constitution has been neglected and reverence for it has been eroded.

In the book 5000 Year Leap, author W. Cleon Skousen states, “… to adopt socialism, respect and support for traditional constitutionalism had to be eroded and then emasculated.” Aha! This is why the liberals are fearful about (and therefore belittle) the tea parties. They recognize that the heartbeat of the protests is fueled by patriotism for the United States Constitution. They know that a groundswell of respect for and adherence to the Constitution undermines their socialist agenda, as well as their ability to maintain their control and power. Thomas Jefferson correctly noted that the mischief which arises by man’s lust for power can best be counteracted by “the chains of the Constitution.”

It is by design that our opponents are attacking our patriotism. They know such an accusation is a punch to the kidneys, as nothing could be dearer to us. Brush off such a distraction as you would a gnat perched on your shoulder. Focus on the real task at hand. We patriots must continue our defense of the Constitution. The United States Constitution is the best bastion against socialism and tyranny. District by district, we must continue to apply the heat. Our Founding Fathers regarded knowledge about and protection of the Constitution not as the citizens’ prerogative, but as our duty.

Virtuous and Vigilant

2009-04-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

Abraham Lincoln said no single administration could seriously injure the government within a four-year term as long as the people to whom it was accountable remained virtuous and vigilant. Ah, but therein lies the rub. Are we today a virtuous and vigilant people?

What’s more important: March Madness basketball or the insane spending legislation being passed at a dizzying rate in DC? Do you pay more attention to who the participants of “The Biggest Loser” choose to keep on campus or who Obama chooses to have in his cabinet? Quick – give me the name of Obama’s Climate Czar! I’ll give you a clue: this Czarina’s past experience includes working on Socialist International’s Commission for a Sustainable World Society. You know the one . . . she’s in favor of “smart grid” energy technology, which sounds “smart” and must be good, right? But I digress. [Answer: Carol Browner … but you knew that.]

If we don’t get our act together and pay attention, those yahoos we keep voting back into power time and again, as well as those new yahoos we’ve voted into power for the first time because they were for “change”, without understanding what kind of change, are going to continue to laugh all the way to the bank. Although, in this case, “the bank” represents far more than just financial deception. It’s your choice – empower yourself with knowledge and make informed decisions or be led blindly.

As for the virtuous component of the formula, Glenn Beck’s got it right when he talks about the principles and values which our founding fathers espoused, as well as the American spirit and mentality which united us on 9/12. Adhering to these virtues will be an essential ingredient in keeping our nation strong and free during difficult times. Are you a “Twelver”?

Locate a Tax Party Near You

2009-04-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

This is a great website for finding a tax party to attend this coming Wednesday, April 15th. Choose your state and go from there.

http://taxdayteaparty.com/

Bring a neighbor, friend or colleague with you. Democrat, Republican, Independent ... it doesn't matter. We can all unite on and for this common sense movement.

The Whoa! Movement

2009-04-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been with someone who shoots several questions at you in rapid-fire succession, to the point to where you can’t answer any of the questions at all? This verbal form of battering can be overwhelming, leaving you stunned and ineffective.

The assault Congress has waged on American taxpayers has also been rapid-fire. Who can keep track of it all? TARP, earmarks, the stimulus bill, the “normal” spending bill … Does anyone really know what the grand total is at this point? We have been stunned by the barrage, leaving us ineffective, which is just the way those in Washington want to keep things. As we trudge along trying to keep our livelihoods and our families in order, they are arrogantly defying the wishes of the silent majority. By the time we catch up with the news, we’re left shrugging our shoulders thinking we sure don’t like what’s going on, but that there’s nothing we can do to stop them.

However, I don’t think it’s too late. Just as a decline in the stock market does not result in real financial loss until we say “sell”, these spending measures are not exactly the same thing as money already spent. Yes, some of it has been spent, but not all of it. Why can’t we demand a halt AND reversal? We could call it the “Whoa! Movement”. (Well, maybe not, but you get the idea.) This is the essence of the Tea Parties being planned across the nation. Next Wednesday’s peaceful protests can be and should be the launch of something consequential and revolutionary.

The “progressives” want to downplay this movement as just the typical disgruntlement which festers each year around tax day but then fizzles as the springtime air puts us back in a good mood. By downplaying the protests they are denying that there has been a fundamental and substantial change. We know otherwise. While it’s true financial infringement has been long in the making, the recent leap has been profound. This is a path on which we cannot continue. Consider April 15th your opportunity to be a participant in history. This is our time to tear down the Berlin Wall, pull down the statue of Lenin, and toss the tea into the Boston Harbor.

Let “Thomas Paine” inspire you to act!

http://www.teapartynow.org/

The American Tea Party Idol

2009-04-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

American Voters are getting it right this year. With Scott MacIntyre getting voted off of American Idol last night, the American Voters are proving that this year, they’re serious about making sure the best talent wins, rather than voting simply with emotion. Scott was a nice guy. Scott was legally blind. Scott was an okay singer. But okay only gets a person so far, before the sympathy vote gets overtaken by respect for amazing talent. The American public did the right thing by causing Scott to be on his way home, sweet home, as Carrie Underwood likes to say – uh – sing.

So if American Voters can unite to make sure that this year there is no Sanjaya (not that Scott was that bad – he wasn’t), why can’t Americans unite to make sure government spending gets reined in this year? The American people need to unite with the same fervor, interest, enthusiasm and voting power as they do when then they dial 888-idol-whatever. We need to insist that Congress halt AND REVERSE the damage they’re doing to this country. What if one million people (a scant 1/3 of 1% of the US population) turned out to tea parties next Wednesday, April 15th? The leftist spin would not be able to ignore and downplay such an overwhelming force.

Just as Idol voters are seeing to it that the choice will ultimately come down to Adam Lambert and Kris Allen (my two faves), we need to see to it that the choice comes down to repealing the spending bills just passed and scrapping the current tax code. Shouldn’t the debate be between the Fair Tax and a flat tax, rather than the insurance company bail-out versus the banking bailout versus the auto maker bailout versus the bad mortgage-owner bailout?

Go to http://taxdayteaparty.com/rsvp/ and/or http://www.wesurroundthemmap.com/ to find a tea party near you. Let the tea party ignite something inside you that is just the beginning, and supremely more important than American Idol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spokane Tea Party April 15th, 2009 4:30-6:00pm
@ the Spokane Convention Center Between the Convention Center & Opera House

A totally FREE event for the public!
Sponsored by the effwa.org

Will We Keep Our Republic?

2009-04-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

This video does a great job of explaining the different forms of governments. After viewing it, I hope you will be motivated to preserve what our founding fathers brilliantly bestowed.

Now is the time for us to defend the Constitution. The first step in doing so, is to understand it and know it. Click on this link to order a free pocket-sized copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

http://www.askheritage.org/Premium.aspx

Point Well Made

2009-03-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

I heard Glenn do this on the radio and I thought, "Everyone needs to hear this." The next best thing is to read the transcript. If you have attention deficit disorder and you don't want to read the whole thing, scroll down to the last paragraph. It will make your hair stand on end. Here's the link:

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/22279/

Glenn's now on Fox News 5 p.m. EST. Be sure to set your DVR ... he's saying things no one else is. Plus, he's just plain funny. Here's an example of his humor:

Is Your Head Spinning?

2009-03-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

My company has recently made some big changes. Many people were “let go”, and for those of us who remain, there has been a substantial reorganization. Adjusting to these changes has left me with little time to blog.

What has been even more overwhelming, however, is the hefty overhaul of our nation. This crime being committed (primarily) by the Democrats in charge is making my head spin. Just as a deer facing an oncoming car knows not which way to run, I have been paralyzed by the multitude of outrages about which I could write.

Therefore, I’m lobbying for your collaboration. Consider this blog as a holding tank for your outrages. Add your comment to this posting about what makes you so hot you could fry ice regarding the damage this administration and congress are causing. I’ll get us started:

- doubling the deficit with a spending spree which rewards failure and penalizes success

- removing the requirement of legal citizenship for SCHIP recipients

- Cap and Trade as a means to coerce people to be more “green”

I have to interrupt myself here with a comment on this one: The Dems supposedly are for the poor, the down-trodden, the little guy. Yet, they have no qualms about this plan of social engineering which will hurt the poor the most – increasing the cost of necessities. Seriously – how many families can choose to forgo heating their home? Increase in energy costs will result in an increase in the cost of food. How many families can choose to forgo feeding their children? This is such an outrage, and they’re so bold and brazen about it! Obama admits this scheme will increase costs, and makes his statements with no shame. How are people so blind!? Anyway, enough with the digression; back to the list:

- sending asinine secret letters to Russia exemplifying our weak and capitulating foreign-affairs stance (what an embarrassment – Russia is LAUGHING at us)

- the Fairness Doctrine

- Card Check

I could go on and on, but alas, I have to go to work. I need to make a few bucks while I still can. But it felt good to vent for a moment or two. If you’d like to vent too, click on “comments” and drop a quick line.

Pictures or Prose

2008-12-20T22:37:00.000-08:00

My father has suggested I could increase my blog hits by having less words and more pictures. In response to his feedback, I scrounged up that photo of Tom Daschle. I don't think it's what Dad had in mind. Since I'm more loquacious than vivacious, I'm afraid you will continue to be stuck with a lot of words.

I bring to you this forewarning because I am in the midst of developing a follow-up posting which addresses the details of Daschle's design to reform healthcare. It's not brief. However, reading my blog will be quicker than reading his book, so I am hopeful you will find value in my soon-to-be-published posting.

In the meantime, here are a few photos which provide a snippet of the winter wonderland we're currently enjoying. I snapped the pics from my driveway and yard just yesterday. I hope they will enhance your Christmas spirit.

Dasching Through the Snow

2008-12-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

The former Senate Majority Leader from South Dakota will soon be back. This time, Senator Tom Daschle will be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, appointed by President-Elect Obama. Universal health care will be on the top of his agenda.

In 2008 Daschle published a book (“Critical”) which outlines his thoughts on health care reform. Within the 206 pages, it is only among the last 65 that he actually proposes a plan. The first 140 pages are filled with his arguments for how awful things are currently and descriptions of past failed reform attempts. It’s the typical politician’s strategy: proclaim horror so that the people will go along with paying through the nose to end the atrocity.

A great example of this strategy working today is the “economic crisis” and the resulting bailout bonanza. When analyzed objectively, this current recession is no worse than any other we’ve ever had. The political response has been astronomically out of proportion to the situation.

By over-emphasizing that which goes wrong in health care, the new government will be able to do the same thing – scare the people into an over-encompassing, centrally controlled, and expensive health care system. The “expensive” part will be hidden in taxes, so people will not even realize how expensive it truly will be. If Daschle gets his way, this will be accomplished, in part, by establishing the “Federal Health Board”. Hold on to your hat, you’re about to be snowed.

Why I Care

2008-11-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

“Gut feel” was the answer. The question, in a nutshell, was “Why did you vote for Obama?” It was a conversation I had with someone who is very dear to me. As we talked about her general disinterest in the campaign or any of the political issues, I had a flashback to my earlier self. I remembered how apolitical and oblivious I was when I myself was in my early twenties.

At that time, I simply didn’t understand politics. A candidate could say a few nice-sounding things and I would shrug my shoulders and say, “That sounds good enough to me!” and pull the lever in that person’s favor. Everything seemed so esoteric to me. Without comprehending the consequences of policies, it was impossible to have any passion about the issues. Instead, I bumped along in the world thinking about things like dating, finding a good job and hanging out with friends.

In 1989 I graduated from college and was getting settled into my first ‘real’ job. While I focused on upgrading from a studio apartment to a one-bedroom apartment, areas of central Europe were upgrading from Communism to democracy. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the Velvet Revolution taking place in Czechoslovakia would have a dramatic impact on my life.

Much changed for me in the following year and by early 1991 I had moved to Czechoslovakia. Although the Communist government had collapsed a year prior, remnants of the system remained. A shift so monumental takes time. When I had first arrived, no privatization had yet taken place. The totalitarian evils of Communism morphed into a softer socialism, and the country’s goal was to privatize the state-owned businesses and embrace the principles of a free market system. Over the course of the next two years, I was fortunate enough to witness the conversion as the country progressed from Communism to democracy and from socialism to free-enterprise.

By being immersed in this historical transformation, I finally felt the significance of politics. Through the stories shared by my Czech friends, and my own experiences during the two years I lived there, I learned about Communism, socialism, democracy, totalitarianism, liberty and oppression in a way that was tangible. For the first time in my life, I felt the weight of the duty we have as Americans to preserve freedom. I began to understand the consequences of policies. I met remarkable people who, with determination and yearning, fought for opportunities I had taken for granted. Finally, politics had been brought to life. By witnessing the oppressive realities of socialism and its degradation of optimism, I realized how invaluable free enterprise and a non-intrusive government are. My understanding became visceral, rather than academic.

By the time I left, Czechoslovakia had divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Yugoslavia was war-torn, and Clinton had been elected President. The spark ignited by my central European experiences has been intensified over the years, to the point where I feel very passionate about certain issues. I now believe political oblivion and ignorance, which I was guilty of, is dangerous. Choosing to pay attention to pop culture instead of politics has its appeal – it’s an escape, it’s easy, it’s a form of relaxation, and it’s something that typically won’t cause heated debates among friends. But ignoring politics is perilous. An uninformed public is a vulnerable public. The more ill-equipped we are in understanding the issues, the more power we are placing into the hands of others. As we walk away from the tough issues, we risk falling into a pit of subjugation.

To many Americans, “a pit of subjugation” seems like hyperbole. This is only because we’ve been graced with such good fortune in the last several decades. It’s hard for people my age and younger to fathom what World War II, and its total estimated loss of human life of 72 million people, must have been like. The Great Depression is only something we learned about in school. Even the energy crisis, high interest rates, and double-digit inflation of the 1970s are not things many of us personally experienced, at least not as adults. Without such times of trouble, it’s easy to slip into a false sense of security and to dance around singing la-la-la.

Half a world away, however, times of trouble were easy to identify. Back in 1991 and 1992, I noticed a remarkable interest in political affairs among my Czech friends and acquaintances, including the younger generation. Having been oppressed, they treasured self-determination and they understood how fragile freedom is. They had suffered in a pit of subjugation to which they had no desire to return. Hence, they recognized that an informed electorate is obligatory if freedom is to be maintained.

It’s easy to believe one person’s attempts at making a difference are futile. After all, the government is a behemoth and those who hold the reigns of the monster seem unstoppable. However, this lack of confidence in ourselves is what those in power are counting on. As long as we believe there is nothing we can do to influence their decisions and behaviors, they will continue to prance around unchecked. The Velvet Revolution began with a peaceful student demonstration in Prague. Prior to the demonstration, there had to be conversations among small groups of like-minded individuals, and prior to these conversations, there had to be simply individuals. These individuals thought about what was important to them and decided to take action. Each person took a risk and ventured into the very dangerous world of discourse. Every-day people spread their thoughts and influenced opinions about there being a better way. This, IN SPITE OF the grave danger such actions posed. Nonetheless, they persevered.

If each citizen in Czechoslovakia had believed any attempt at improving the government was futile, there would have been no Velvet Revolution. It simply is not true that individuals can’t make a difference. Rather, individual action is the only way change can occur. If a nation can overthrow dictatorial rule, we can certainly achieve less monumental tasks such as halting poor legislation.

Just as the students in Prague rallied around Vaclav Havel, we can rally around Bobby Jindal, Newt Gingrich, Jim DeMint and the many others who are fighting the fight for smaller government and free enterprise. Just as students spoke among themselves and spread the word about freedom, we can share the wisdom of conservative principles as we talk with friends and neighbors. Unlike those under the Communist thumb, we will not be jailed for our political activities. (However, the harassment of Joe the Plumber does provide cause for concern.) Unlike the Czechs in 1989, we have endless means of communication and sources of information. All we have to do is tune in and speak up. Doesn’t that seem like a small price to pay? I would much rather have such infringement on my time today than lose autonomy, freedom and optimism tomorrow.

Ixnay on Moola for GM

2008-11-23T19:18:00.000-08:00

This Heritage Foundation blog succinctly makes the case against bailing out GM. Since I wouldn't be able to say it better myself, I thought I'd simply provide the link:

http://blog.heritage.org/2008/11/20/morning-bell-the-perpetual-bailout-machine/

Obama Voters

2008-11-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

You might have seen a clip from this on Fox News. In case that wasn't enough to get your blood boiling, here's a longer version. The scariest part is ... never mind, it's all scary.

Supporting Saxby

2008-11-19T17:40:00.000-08:00

With the announcement today of Daschle as Obama's choice as health czar, (well, at least he's picking NEW people to go along with his "change" theme - ha!) it will be extremely important to be able to filibuster in the Senate. It will be our only defense against nationalized health care and other socialistic evils.

Now that Ted Stevens has crashed and burned, the Dem. and "Independent" talley is up to 58. As I mentioned before, with "Republicans" like Olympia Snowe, the Dems don't really need the full 60. Let's make sure they don't hit 59. Saxby Chambliss needs to win in his upcoming run-off election in order for Republicans to hold that seat. Bill Clinton and Al Gore are in Georgia campaigning on the opponent's behalf and Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are campaigning on Saxby's behalf, so if you think this isn't an important race, think again.

Here's the link to be able to send some moola Saxby's way. http://www.saxby.org/ The run-off election is December 2, so it's best to act now. With Thanksgiving next week and the election taking place the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, the election really is just around the corner.

Bailout Bill Baloney

2008-11-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

I was skimming through HR 1424 (apparently I have no life), when my eyes were drawn to the words WOODEN ARROWS. Since HR 1424 is the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act” – the Bailout Bill – it seemed peculiar to be reading about wooden arrow shafts. The entry was not about just any kind of arrow. Rather, it was specifically about wooden arrows designed for use by children. I tried to make the connection between children’s arrows and the country’s financial crisis. In so doing, I conjured an image of rogue children holding lenders at arrow-point, demanding sub-prime loans for their parents.

Of course a child’s bow and arrow have absolutely nothing to do with failed mortgages. The fact that our legislators (actually, staffers of our legislators) affix onto bills all kinds of pet projects, which have nothing to do with the main topic of the bill, is a testament to how far we’ve strayed from the original intent of our founding fathers. Yet, there are countless miniscule pet projects which did not make their way into the bill. How in the world did this one, and why?

Section 503 of HR 1424 provides for a tax exemption for these children’s wooden shafts. Apparently, up to now, these arrows have been taxed at 39 cents per shaft. With this all-important amendment to the tax code, “any shaft consisting of all natural wood with no laminations or artificial means of enhancing the spine of such shaft … which after its assembly measures 5/16 of an inch or less in diameter” will no longer be subjected to this tax. Children are rejoicing throughout the country. For all of you adult archery aficionados – sorry, the tax is still in place for your arrows.

Section 4161 of the tax code is where you’ll find not only the imposition of the bow and arrow tax but also the imposition of the fishing rod tax and the tackle box tax. Other sporting goods which suffer from an excise tax include fishing reels, fly-fishing lines, bobbers, sinkers, leaders, snaps, drayles and swivels. These are excise taxes imposed on the sale of articles by the manufacturer, producer, or importer. Of course this cost gets passed onto the consumer and it is a great example of a hidden tax.

I do not know how or why this particular amendment to the tax code wiggled into the Bailout Bill. As petty as it may be, however, it is in fact a tax cut. Given that tax cuts can be an effective way to stimulate the economy I can’t help but wonder: Is the wooden arrows section of the Bailout Bill the only part of the bill which makes sense?

for the PDF version of HR 1424 go to:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h1424enr.txt.pdf

Three Cheers for Bobby Jindal

2008-11-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

What a breath of fresh air Bobby Jindal is! Opposed to large federal expansion programs such as "No Child Left Behind", Bobby Jindal isn’t afraid to speak the truth. By cutting taxes in Louisiana six times, giving students in New Orleans more school choice, including private schools, and cutting state spending by 12% ($4 Billion) over just one year, Gov. Jindal is doing what needs to be done to demonstrate that conservative ideas work. I recently listened to him speak with Laura Ingraham on her radio program. Here are some highlights:

Republicans lost because we didn’t give voters a clear choice. We defended spending and corruption we never would have allowed Democrats to get away with, and pointed fingers at the other side as being even worse. Our actions did not match our rhetoric. We must change this. We cannot defend or tolerate earmarks, out of control spending, and corruption within our own party.

We must stop making excuses, such as media bias. The NY Times is never going to endorse our candidates or policies. Pointing to such issues isn’t going to solve anything and it’s not going to bring people over to our party.

We need to be authentic and unembarrassed to stand up for what we believe in: smaller government, less spending, lower taxes and empowering individuals and small businesses. On Capital Hill, there are young voices and fresh faces of genuine conservatism. Among them are Paul Ryan (WI), Mike Pence (IN), Kevin McCarthy (CA), Jeb Hensarling (TX), and Eric Cantor (VA).

While leaders at the federal level are important, the future success of our party will be determined by what we do at the local and state level, as well as within the private sector. Through competence and solutions which work, we can make a persuasive case for conservatism. Innovative policies which result in solid improvements will lay out the case that conservative ideas work.

One such example of innovation at the state level comes from the 1990s when states successfully reformed welfare programs. A similar opportunity today is health care reform. We can’t just say ‘we’re against a single-payer health care system’. Instead, we must demonstrate at the state level that health care can be made affordable by using competition and choice.

We have the chance to earn the American voters back and to do that, we must act the way we talk. We have to give people a reason to vote for us. We have to show voters how our solutions can work.

Legislator Report Card

2008-11-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

Each year the Club for Growth rates those in the House and Senate according to how they voted on measures which would curb wasteful spending projects. The “Anti-Pork Score” of 100% indicates the legislator voted to cut the pork 100% of the time. For anyone claiming there’s no difference between Republicans and Democrats, consider these statistics: The average Republican score in the House was 43% and in the Senate was 59%. The average Democrat score in the House was 2% and in the Senate was 12%.

We’ll have to wait a few more months before the 2008 list is in, but in the meantime we can shine light on those who served us well in 2007. You will recognize some of the names. Many of these folks very well could be part of the answer to the question, “Who is going to lead our party and steer it in the right direction?”

In the House, the following all scored 100%:
Jeff Flake (AZ), John Shadegg (AZ), John Campbell (CA),
Doug Lamborn (CO), Paul Broun (GA), Nathan Deal (GA),
Lynn Westmoreland (GA), Mike Pence (IN), John Kline (MN),
Dean Heller (NV), Scott Garrett (NJ), William “Mac” Thornberry (TX),
Jeb Hensarling (TX), Paul Ryan (WI), Frank “Jim” Sensenbrenner (WI)

In the Senate there were four: John McCain (AZ), Richard Burr (NC),
Tom Coburn (OK), Jim DeMint (SC).

Several other legislators had scores of 90% or higher. For more details and the full lists, go to http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/08/the_2007_club_for_growth_repor.php.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) only scored 53%. In the first quarter of 2008 McConnell appointed Richard Lugar (IN) to head up a task force to address earmark reform. I have to wonder how Lugar was the best he could find. Lugar’s anti-pork rating was 67%. Isn’t that a D- kind of grade? Why didn’t McConnell appoint someone like Coburn, DeMint or John Ensign (NV)? (Ensign had a score of 98%.) Then again, he could have chosen Saxby Chambliss (GA), who scored 93%. That’s at least an A-. I guess with his own score of 53%, McConnell figured 67% was good enough. Or maybe, the choice had something more to do with the old boys club. I’m not sure it really matters anyway. After all, why the heck is a task force needed? The solution is quite simple: Stop the earmarks, stop the spending! Was this task force substance, or just show?

House Republican Leader John Boehner (OH) only scored 60%. Toward the end of last year Boehner was quoted by Newt Gingrich as saying, "House Republicans have changed, too. We fully recognize the failure to control earmarks helped cost our party the majority, and dramatic change is needed." Let’s see if his 2008 report card shows any kind of “dramatic change”. I certainly hope so.

Speaking with Liberals

2008-11-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

A friend told me she loved McCain’s concession speech and that if he would have tugged at her heartstrings like that during the campaign, he might have gotten her vote. Another friend told me that she would have voted for McCain except that she didn't like Sarah Palin spending $150,000 on clothing. She said the extravagance made her feel like Sarah Palin lacked compassion. She said, "At a time when people are hurting and losing their homes, that was just so over the top." (Never mind that Sarah Palin actually did not buy any of the clothes.)

When speaking with liberals, we must remember to use less of our heads and more of our hearts. Logical arguments are compelling for conservatives, but they aren’t enough for liberals. If we want our liberal friends to understand our way of thinking, we are going to have to frame the logic in a heart-warming and heart-tugging way. I'm not saying liberals aren't smart or that they don't think. However, they do think differently -- I truly believe their brains function in a different manner -- and that means we need to communicate differently when conversing with them.

The McCain campaign’s criticism of Obama’s “spread the wealth” comment didn’t have impact because to the liberal mind, spreading the wealth is a kind and loving thing to do. To spread is to extend widely and to broaden. Who doesn’t want more wealth? And if you want to broaden wealth, how can that be bad? The heart-strings have been tugged. The concept of spreading the wealth has caused a positive emotion, not a negative one.

We conservatives, of course, know the truth. We know how such a scheme works, and we correctly read into the phrase the truthful implication: “Spread” in this case means to deplete, to rob, to exploit, and to disincentivise. But we didn’t properly frame this problem to the liberals! Instead, we just kept repeating the phrase which was music to their ears! Boy, are we dumb. We would say “he wants to spread the wealth” and they would say “Amen!”

It is our job to paint the picture in its true light AND with positive emotion. Obama did not campaign with much substance behind him, but he did make people feel good. He inspired people. He evoked positive emotion. For some people, that carries more weight than anything else. We can’t say, “Why should my hard-earned money go toward someone who doesn’t work?” That creates a negative emotion and we’ll just be labeled as selfish. We have got to remember why Reagan was so successful. It was because he spoke in positive and hopeful terms. Instead, we Republicans have been coming off as grumpy old curmudgeons. Rather than sneering at “spreading the wealth”, we should have explained in very simple terms that we love the idea of increasing the number of people who have wealth and prosperity and that we believe in an even better way to reach that goal. Then we need to do an improved job of presenting our better way.

Supporting the Future of Our Party

2008-11-07T00:13:00.000-08:00

Being a citizen in a republic is like being an owner of a condo. You may think you only own Condo Unit 123 on Apple Lane, but the truth of the matter is that you are co-owner of all the condos of Fruit Street Estates. When Peach Street needs to be repaved, it doesn’t matter that you don’t live on Peach Street. You are a part of the complex and you must pony up your share. Similarly, when Sen. Dianne Feinstein votes for pork spending, it doesn’t matter that you are not a resident of California. You will be asked to pay for the extravagant spending of all the legislators, not just the ones from your own state. I realize you already know this obvious fact. So what’s my point?

When considering making campaign contributions, think outside of the state. Living in the very liberal state of Washington and with my Senators being Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, my “voice”, whether backed by dollars or not, will not get heard. However, I can still make a difference, and that’s by putting my money toward the candidates who ideologically ARE my representatives.

Some people incorrectly view campaign contributions as bribes of some sort. They think that those in congress behave a certain way because of the money they receive from contributors. They think that legislators look at where the money is coming from and then behave accordingly. A better way to look at the process is this: Those in congress receive money from contributors because of the way they behave. It’s a chicken and egg sort of thing. When I give money to a candidate it’s because the candidate has already proven himself or herself as someone who seems to most closely share my beliefs and values. My goal is not to force future behavior, it’s to reward behavior already achieved. When I send money to Jim DeMint of South Carolina, it’s because Sen. DeMint is pro-growth and anti-pork, as am I. And it doesn’t matter that I don’t live anywhere near South Carolina.

Through my contributions to Club for Growth (http://www.clubforgrowth.org/) over the years, I have helped elect men and women who share my goal of having a smaller government, lower taxes and less spending to congress. I am proud to say my money has gone to anti-pork rebels such as Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and John Sununu of New Hampshire. Each of these men has been the type of Republican we need. Unfortunately, Sen. Sununu lost his bid for re-election. In hindsight, I regret not putting more money toward his campaign.

In the next two years, keeping close watch on which congressmen and women champion our cause will help make it easier to recognize those to whom we should open up the checkbooks. One person to keep an eye on is Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona. According to the Club for Growth, Rep. Shadegg “has emerged as a major player in the conservative movement, leading the fight for tax cuts, less regulation, increased domestic drilling and an end to government spending.” In 2007, Shadegg scored a perfect 100% for his anti-pork votes. Others to pay attention to include Rep. Tom McClintock of California, Rep. Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, and Rep. Pete Olson of Texas (a Republican pick-up taking over the seat once occupied by Tom Delay but more recently occupied by Democrat Nick Lampson). These folks, along with Gov. Sarah Palin (AK), Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA), Rep. Mike Pence (IN), Rep. Jeff Flake (AZ), Rep. Eric Cantor (VA), and Senators DeMint and Coburn could very well be the future leaders of a Republican party placed back on track.

Keeping an Eye on the Senate Races

2008-11-06T16:54:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to be vigilant, I participated in a Club for Growth conference call this morning. If you are unfamiliar with the Club for Growth, take a look at their website: http://www.clubforgrowth.org/. The Club for Growth (as in economic growth) is a PAC committed to the promotion of economic prosperity and economic freedom. When I put my money where my mouth is, I do so through the Club for Growth.

During the call, club president Pat Toomey provided a briefing of the election results and their policy implications. John Fund also provided his analysis of the election outcome.

The biggest take-away message for me was what I consider the answer to the question, “What can WE do?” As you know, in these next two years, the strongest way Republicans will be able to prohibit the worst policies from being enacted is to employ the filibuster. OUR responsibility will be to insist of those in the Senate (and House) to have spines. We will need to keep an eye on who might be wavering when important votes come up, and then make the phone calls to the offices of these key players, regardless of whether or not we are in their district.

There are a few key races which warrant our attention right now. The way things stand currently, the Democrats will have 55 seats in the Senate. They will also count on Independent Senators Sanders and Lieberman to caucus with them, giving them 57 of the 60 they would need to block a filibuster. There are three seats still up for grabs. The first is Alaska Senator Ted Stevens’ seat. While it looks like Alaskans voted for him to be able to hold his Republican seat, the Senate can oust him, or Stevens could deny them that pleasure by resigning. If either happens, one likely scenario is that Governor Sarah Palin (ever hear of her?) would then appoint Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell on a temporary basis until a special election would take place in the spring. At that time, the contest would probably be between Parnell and Mark Begich (Stevens’ current challenger) and Parnell would most likely win that election. So, the first of the three undetermined seats looks okay, provided the ballot count remains in Stevens’ favor.

The second Senate seat still up for grabs is the one in Minnesota between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and liberal comedian Al Franken. In this tight race, Coleman has more votes, but Franken is pulling a Gore and is requesting a recount. I’m optimistic Coleman will emerge the victor and that seat will remain Republican. If not, I would have to speculate that God has a very warped sense of humor indeed.

The third race is that of Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss vs. Jim Martin. In Georgia, if the leading candidate does not have more than 50% of the vote, a run-off election is held within the next month between the top two candidates. Provided this happens, Chambliss should have the edge for a couple of reasons: 1) It's likely he would pick up most of the votes which went to Libertarian Allen Buckley (who got roughly 3% -- see why it never pays to vote for a third-party candidate?) and 2) There may be a lower voter turn-out among Democrats for the run-off election compared to the turn-out sparked by Obama’s candidacy. However, this is an important race to keep an eye on and it may behoove us to contribute financially to Chambliss’ campaign to assure his win in a run-off election. If my calculations are correct, the election would take place December 4, 2008. With so much at stake in regard to a Senate being filibuster-proof, you can bet your bippy Obama will be in Georgia doing all he can to assure a win for Martin. Therefore, we can not take holding this seat for granted. With “Republicans” like Arlen Specter and Olympia Snowe, who aren’t exactly known for their loyalty to the Republican party and who certainly will enjoy the attention of wooing Dems persuading them to help make the Senate filibuster-proof, the Saxby race is a very important race.

Now is Not the Time to Abandon Politics

2008-11-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

Liberals and conservatives don't "get" each other. We each think the other is as thick-skulled as all get out and get frustrated by how the other can't understand what seems so clear and obvious. It's like one person is speaking Italian, and the other is speaking Swahili. Out of laziness or cowardice, when faced with someone who has opposing views, I have tried to stay within areas where I think agreement can be found and I have left it at that. Why have I done that? It's not really entirely honest, but it is easier.

However, I'm tired of being guarded with my thoughts and comments. My being too worried about offending others has been the problem, and it's why Republicans have been so pathetic at winning their battles ... because they tiptoe around issues rather than being straight shooters. (Republicans, however, do not have a monopoly on dodging questions.) When Republicans had the chance to lead the cause, they didn't (back when they had the majority). That makes me angry. They frittered away a golden opportunity. So, I guess I'm done being silent.

In spite of mistakes made over the last several years and decades, America is still a country of which we should be proud. We have religious freedom, we have incredible creature comforts and availability of goods, we have opportunity at every turn to do good unto others as much as we so choose and we haven't had another terrorist attack. What's not to love about life?

I do think that Obama's victory is an indication of this country heading in the wrong direction. To me, it means people aren't really thinking. Instead, all they're interested in is "What's in it for me?" "What are YOU (government) going to give ME?" and they liked Obama's lines better. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

Or, they voted for Obama because he is black. Have you listened to this clip yet? www.bpmdeejays.com/upload/hs_sal_in_Harlem_100108.mp3 Apparently it's okay to be racist if you're racist IN FAVOR of someone because of the color of his skin.

I also think it's an indication of people not understanding how real the threat of terror still is. McCain was clearly the better man for understanding and managing that national threat, but that's not what people focused on. Instead of focusing on one of the few things over which the president does have significant influence (national security), people based their decision on things over which the president has very little influence (the economy).

There’s another contingency which voted for Barack because he made them feel good. He inspired them. Never mind that there was little to no substance behind the inspirational words. The tugging on heartstrings was all that was needed.

Finally, there were people who voted for Obama based on one or two issues which were of premier importance to them, in spite of them knowing that Obama didn't fit the bill in other ways.

Whatever the reason for the folly, I'm disappointed in the American people. I'm sad for our country. We've strayed SO FAR from where our founding fathers intended us to be. This faltering dates back much farther than to November 4, 2008. Obama’s victory points to people apparently wanting socialism without understanding the damage socialism causes. Socialism has nice intentions with lousy consequences. But the largess of our federal government is the fault of both parties and of the constituents who allow the incumbents to play the game for their own self-interests.

Perhaps the American people are about to get their noses rubbed in socialism. Well, that is unless there are enough filibusters to stop the train wreck. Let's hope this election result will give Republicans the guts to go all out and defend what they truly believe in, rather than just defending their house or senate seats. I won't hold my breath. But we do need to hold their feet to the fire.

Now is not the time to abandon politics. Rather, we must demand better. We must be knowledgeable of the facts and spread the truth on all important issues. We cannot be like those who with visceral contempt say they hate Rush Limbaugh but who don’t listen to Rush. Instead, we must keep a close watch on Obama, Pelosi, Reid and all the others. In these next four years, we must expose poor policy as it crops up. We must challenge people on their thinking each time they enter into a touchy-feely mode which sounds noble but is not practical or realistic. We must explain to them why what they think they want to have as policy will not result in anything positive. We must defend conservative ideology with knowledge and facts, not name-calling or demagogy. This we can do, because logic and history support our cause.

To this end, we should keep each other informed of the facts. Let’s utilize the internet and e-mail to communicate with each other about important issues. I’m not talking about slamming “the enemy”. That’s not productive (although I will admit it can be entertaining). I’m talking about arming each other with information we can employ in our attempt to enlighten our liberal friends. It’s easy to despise Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. However, we all have liberal friends and family who we truly care about and love. Their opinions can be frustrating. How joyful would it be if we could get them to see eye-to-eye with us? And ultimately, how sweet will the reward be when we get the country moving back into the right direction? To do that, we've got to engage. We must have honest and open conversations with people of all opinions.

As people become disenchanted with Obama and the Democrats in the House and Senate, we must help them understand why. We must remind them that they voted for what they dislike … that these are the results that come from liberalism. We must be adamant about the necessity of free enterprise and the virtues of capitalism.

Remember this: A man named Jimmy Carter was President of the United States. Four years later he was not re-elected. Instead, a man who electrified the nation won 489 electoral votes to Carter’s 49. The victor’s name was Ronald Reagan.

Let’s demand of our fellow citizens that they “think” instead of just “feel”. Let’s demand of our country’s leaders (both in and out of office), AND OUR PARTY, that they advocate for the principles our founding fathers envisioned for our nation and that history has proven to be wise and true. And let’s demand of ourselves that we remain informed on the issues and so well-versed in stating the conservative cause that the case is compelling, irrefutable and clear to all. We need to take our message to the liberals and independents. We must find a way to be understood.