Healthcare

40% Support Health Care Plan, 56% Oppose It

Job Market

I am highly offended with Obama’s conclusion for the job crisis. Our president primarily blames small business owners and their mindset for “squeezing profits” for the lack of new jobs in the market.

I realize that he has never run a small business, and I assume that he has never been employed by a small business owner. If he had any experience with small businesses he would know that start up businesses usually require owners to go without a paycheck for an extended period of time. Once the business is up and running cost savings is a primary drive for EVERYONE working in the company. That means going without new software upgrades, buying crappy office supplies in bulk and having pot luck Christmas parties.

The heart of a small business is the employees who all join together for a common goal. To say that “squeezing profits” is the goal is a slap in the face to all owners and employees who are just trying to make payroll. Any profits are quickly eaten up by taxes and soon to be fines for healthcare.

I have worked for small business for most of my adult life. One of which I had to leave due to the lack of health insurance, but that was my CHOICE. It was inconceivable to expect a start up business to provide health insurance (or be fined for not having it) when the owner was using up his 401K in order to get it off the ground.

We are killing small business already - and it is only getting worse.

Comments

David Frum is NOT a conservative, though he would tell you differently.

I could never make it through December without 5hr energy.

Donnie did not deserver to win Dancing with the Stars and I am – at this moment – done with the show.

What the heck happened to Tiger Woods?!?!?!!?

Polanski is a criminal – he should stay in jail with other rapist. Why this is such a travesty to the left is mind boggling.

There has to be more to the Tareq and Michaele Salahi “Party Crashing” story. I can maybe see showing up and misunderstanding that you are invited to something – but how did they get in?

And finally, does anyone know a completive girls softball team that needs a third baseman?

Nobel Peace Prize

How do you win a Nobel Peace Prize when the country that you lead is at war?

Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

These verses at one time left me rather sleepless for those around me.

These verses paint a very vivid picture for me about a road full of travelers coming to a fork in the road. One is a highway full of people and one is a tiny narrow dirt road.

I thought of all of the amazing people of faith around me and that narrow road seemed too small to hold us all (me being the very least).

Lately, it has become very apparent to me that this world is full of people who would all too willingly choose that great big paved road. It is shocking to me how many people are so vocally mocking of God and anyone who believes in Him.

I am not saying that everyone I know is on that narrow path, I am not even saying that all of the people that I think would be on that narrow road are truly on that path. My latest life lesson is that my perspective is of the narrow road (making it seem that it is crowded).

Those verses leave me sleepless in a new way. That narrow road is ever narrowing. Once only need to look at the comment section of the Cincinnati Enquire or listen to people defend Polanski.

Lockland Lawsuit

Christopher Knecht a Lockland resident who is suing Lockland for displaying the 10 Commandments outside of the town hall. His claim is that it is unconstitutional and goes as far as calling them “religious fables and myths”.

The bottom line is that he is not the first to call foul on religious displays. I find it very amusing that he has been in legal trouble himself and has found a lawsuit the best way to lash out.

I would love to find a suite that I could bring against the city or state for a display of humanism that I find offensive. I would happily give the attorney all of the damages won in trade for his or her time. Apparently it does not even have to be a suite that makes sense if I truly feel “damaged” by the display.

By the way separation of church and state is: one not a law, and two a statement made to keep the government from ESABLISHING an official church.

New Blog

Creative Reflection is empty until Abby gives me some pictures and until we get her site up. But it is a start.
http://creative-reflection.blogspot.com/

KY Wedding Pictures

I agree with Obama

Kanye West is an

Approval Ratings

All information taken from the Rasmussen Reports.

It is interesting to me that there are people in the media who are still claiming that Americans "overwhelmingly" support the healthcare package.

30% Strongly Approve of the president.
38% Stongly Dissapprove of the president.




44% trust Republicans more than Democrats on Healthcare.
41% trust Democrats more than Republicans on Healthcare.

26% of voters strongly favor the proposed healthcare plan.
44% of voters strongly oppose of the proposed healthcare plan.

49% believe the protesters at the congressional town hall meetings genuinely express the views of their neighbors.

37% believe the protesters at the congressional town hall meetings have been put up to it by special interest groups and lobbyists.

Definitions

There has been a lot of talk lately about socialism. The right is crying socialism the left is screaming that the right does not know the definition of socialism.
Reading all of the definition it seems pretty clear that the new health plan is clearly socialism.

Main Entry: so•cial•ism
Pronunciation: \ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1837

1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

“Grass Roots”

Who in the crap cares?

I have in the past few days heard and read more arguments about Tea Party’s being or not being grass roots than I have heard about the foundation for which it was formed.

I don’t care if Sarah Palin herself formed the Tea Party movement. I believe in:

Fiscal responsibility
Limited government
Free markets

The left is boggled how quickly the movement took off and how may people are share the core values.

“Change” was top down. Why is that not mocked?

Pay Me

There has been a lot of talk about the Tea Party movement and how it is backed by huge sums of money and that the participants are all paid.

I will be the first to say that it is backed by huge sums of money… private money of average citizens banning together. Citizens who take PTO to come out to a rally to know first hand that there are people who agree with them. Citizens who own small businesses who know what it is like to do without when times are bad and who put money away when times are good. Citizens who don’t use family values as a dirty word and believe in hard work, loyalty and family.

It’s a sad state of affairs when the “leaders” of our country discredit those who succeed and dress well and accuse average citizens of being a “mob”.

As far as I know no one is being paid to attend a rally or town hall meeting. But if they are I hope they contact me – I am there anyway.

Pet Peeves

Using Wikipedia as a reference source of fact. There is no accountability for the information written and it is ever changing.

Using the words: everyone, no one, always and never.

The Blame game. Something that happened before I was born or on the other side of the world is something out of my control (out of anyone’s control).

People who pass themselves off as experts – when they did nothing but read a book. (Often a book written by someone claiming to be an expert because they read a book….)

Eli and Abby

Destin

Farm

The Pre-Breakup

I have been pretty busy lately with projects and have several finished. My blog has gotten pretty political in the past year so I am thinking of splitting it in two separate blogs, one for personal posts and projects and the other for my political ramblings. It feels odd to me to post about a knitting project that I just finished right after a rant about the state of our ever declining country, so I end up not posting at all.

More to come.

The metro starts July 30th!

Start the clock.

It's my favorite two weeks of the summer.

Cincinnati Enquire Readers

I read the Cincinnati Enquire online about 3-4 times a week. I enjoy reading a hard copy version much better but the time convenience of online much outweighs the paper version at this point in my life.

On the whole I think that The Enquire does a pretty good job. Whenever I travel I make a point to pick up the local paper to compare their local concerns to Cincinnati.

On occasion, I write in and give my opinion on a topic of interest. Lately I have been using the comment section to voice my opinion on an article or a particular comment from another reader.

My conclusion is that the majority of the people who use the comment sections are morons. I don't make that comment lightly. I believe the great majority are morons.

People are constantly off topic, misquoting, misunderstanding law, misusing grammar and in general just plain stupid. So I have made the decision to continue to read but to no longer comment, it's just not worth the frustration.

Thoughts

I have been writing this post in my head for over a week, turning it over and over in my mind and just need to get it all out now.

I follow several liberal blogs. I think it’s important to know what people are thinking who have different viewpoints. I don’t think a good counter argument can be made against anything that does not thoughtfully contemplate the other viewpoint.

In following these mostly local blogs and sites I am horrified at what has become acceptable speech and points of view. When in American History has is been acceptable to openly embrace socialism, communism and a contempt for the nuclear family.

General observations about Liberal Cincinnati
1. Liberals only want people who live in city limits to call themselves Cincinnatians.
2. If you live outside of city limits you must be racist.
3. Anyone who is in college has a brilliant mind.
4. Anyone making over $40,000 a year is selfish and corrupt.
5. No one is as educated on a subject as the writer of the article.
6. Wikipedia is an acceptable reference source.
7. When in a debate name calling, (like teabaggers”) mocking, threats and getting off topic are considered a win.
8. Threats of violence are a useful tactic.
9. A big “heart” is more impressive than hard work.
10. A person is of no value if they came from a two parent family.

When engaging in debate I have learned:
1. Realize that whatever you say - you will be called a liar or stupit or both.
2. You will be “cyber stalked”.
3. The more common sense and fact that is used the more disgusting the language will become.
4. The phrase where were you the last 8 years will come up at least once in every debate.

To have “credibility” from a Liberal viewpoint you must be or do one or more of the following:
1. Come from a broken home.
2. Be on government assistance.
3. Live in section 8 housing.
4. Live in Cincinnati limits.
5. Be gay.
6. Be of some minority.
7. Despise humanity.
8. Smoke pot.

Apparently I have no credibility.

To be quite frank, it is infuriating to even read some of the posts. The absolute hatred and bile spilled towards anything conservative is appalling.

I am sick of being accused of racism and elitism. I do not support the president that does not make me a racist. I work hard for my money and don’t want it to go to things that I do not support, that does not make me an elitist.

Control your government, or it will control you!

Here is a fantastic article written by Henry Lamb. He is an inspiring writer.
Control your government, or it will control you!
By Henry Lamb

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMABy Lou Pritchett

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.
You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.
You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.
You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.
You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don't understand it at its core.
You scare me because you lack humility and 'class', always blaming others.
You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.
You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the 'blame America' crowd and deliver this message abroad.
You scare me because you want to change America to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.
You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one.
You scare me because you prefer 'wind mills' to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.
You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.
You scare me because you have begun to use 'extortion' tactics against certain banks and corporations.
You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.
You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.
You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient.
You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.
You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Relllys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.
You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.
Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

Lou Pritchett

Note: Lou Pritchett is a former vice president of Procter & Gamble whose career at that company spanned 36 years before his retirement in 1989, and he is the author of the 1995 business book, Stop Paddling & Start Rocking the Boat.

Mr. Pritchett confirmed that he was indeed the author of the much-circulated "open letter." “I did write the 'you scare me' letter. I sent it to the NY Times but they never acknowledged or published it. However, it hit the internet and according to the ‘experts’ has had over 500,000 hits.

Changing Definitions

Main Entry: mar·riage
Pronunciation: \mer-ij, ma-rij\
Function: noun Etymology: Middle English mariage, from Anglo-French, from marier to marry Date: 14th century 1 a (1): the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2): the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage b: the mutual relation of married persons : wedlock c: the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage2: an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected ; especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities3: an intimate or close union


How very 1984.

Humanist Manifesto II

Taken directly from the American Humanist Organization Website.

Religion

FIRST: In the best sense, religion may inspire dedication to the highest ethical ideals. The cultivation of moral devotion and creative imagination is an expression of genuine "spiritual" experience and aspiration.

We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species. Any account of nature should pass the tests of scientific evidence; in our judgment, the dogmas and myths of traditional religions do not do so. Even at this late date in human history, certain elementary facts based upon the critical use of scientific reason have to be restated. We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural; it is either meaningless or irrelevant to the question of survival and fulfillment of the human race. As nontheists, we begin with humans not God, nature not deity. Nature may indeed be broader and deeper than we now know; any new discoveries, however, will but enlarge our knowledge of the natural.

Some humanists believe we should reinterpret traditional religions and reinvest them with meanings appropriate to the current situation. Such redefinitions, however, often perpetuate old dependencies and escapisms; they easily become obscurantist, impeding the free use of the intellect. We need, instead, radically new human purposes and goals.

We appreciate the need to preserve the best ethical teachings in the religious traditions of humankind, many of which we share in common. But we reject those features of traditional religious morality that deny humans a full appreciation of their own potentialities and responsibilities. Traditional religions often offer solace to humans, but, as often, they inhibit humans from helping themselves or experiencing their full potentialities. Such institutions, creeds, and rituals often impede the will to serve others. Too often traditional faiths encourage dependence rather than independence, obedience rather than affirmation, fear rather than courage. More recently they have generated concerned social action, with many signs of relevance appearing in the wake of the "God Is Dead" theologies. But we can discover no divine purpose or providence for the human species. While there is much that we do not know, humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.

SECOND: Promises of immortal salvation or fear of eternal damnation are both illusory and harmful. They distract humans from present concerns, from self-actualization, and from rectifying social injustices. Modern science discredits such historic concepts as the "ghost in the machine" and the "separable soul." Rather, science affirms that the human species is an emergence from natural evolutionary forces. As far as we know, the total personality is a function of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context. There is no credible evidence that life survives the death of the body. We continue to exist in our progeny and in the way that our lives have influenced others in our culture.

Traditional religions are surely not the only obstacles to human progress. Other ideologies also impede human advance. Some forms of political doctrine, for instance, function religiously, reflecting the worst features of orthodoxy and authoritarianism, especially when they sacrifice individuals on the altar of Utopian promises. Purely economic and political viewpoints, whether capitalist or communist, often function as religious and ideological dogma. Although humans undoubtedly need economic and political goals, they also need creative values by which to live.

Ethics

THIRD: We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational needing no theological or ideological sanction. Ethics stems from human need and interest. To deny this distorts the whole basis of life. Human life has meaning because we create and develop our futures. Happiness and the creative realization of human needs and desires, individually and in shared enjoyment, are continuous themes of humanism. We strive for the good life, here and now. The goal is to pursue life's enrichment despite debasing forces of vulgarization, commercialization, and dehumanization.

FOURTH: Reason and intelligence are the most effective instruments that humankind possesses. There is no substitute: neither faith nor passion suffices in itself. The controlled use of scientific methods, which have transformed the natural and social sciences since the Renaissance, must be extended further in the solution of human problems. But reason must be tempered by humility, since no group has a monopoly of wisdom or virtue. Nor is there any guarantee that all problems can be solved or all questions answered. Yet critical intelligence, infused by a sense of human caring, is the best method that humanity has for resolving problems. Reason should be balanced with compassion and empathy and the whole person fulfilled. Thus, we are not advocating the use of scientific intelligence independent of or in opposition to emotion, for we believe in the cultivation of feeling and love. As science pushes back the boundary of the known, humankind's sense of wonder is continually renewed, and art, poetry, and music find their places, along with religion and ethics.

The Individual

FIFTH: The preciousness and dignity of the individual person is a central humanist value. Individuals should be encouraged to realize their own creative talents and desires. We reject all religious, ideological, or moral codes that denigrate the individual, suppress freedom, dull intellect, dehumanize personality. We believe in maximum individual autonomy consonant with social responsibility. Although science can account for the causes of behavior, the possibilities of individual freedom of choice exist in human life and should be increased.

SIXTH: In the area of sexuality, we believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by orthodox religions and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct. The right to birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized. While we do not approve of exploitive, denigrating forms of sexual expression, neither do we wish to prohibit, by law or social sanction, sexual behavior between consenting adults. The many varieties of sexual exploration should not in themselves be considered "evil." Without countenancing mindless permissiveness or unbridled promiscuity, a civilized society should be a tolerant one. Short of harming others or compelling them to do likewise, individuals should be permitted to express their sexual proclivities and pursue their lifestyles as they desire. We wish to cultivate the development of a responsible attitude toward sexuality, in which humans are not exploited as sexual objects, and in which intimacy, sensitivity, respect, and honesty in interpersonal relations are encouraged. Moral education for children and adults is an important way of developing awareness and sexual maturity.

Democratic Society

SEVENTH: To enhance freedom and dignity the individual must experience a full range of civil liberties in all societies. This includes freedom of speech and the press, political democracy, the legal right of opposition to governmental policies, fair judicial process, religious liberty, freedom of association, and artistic, scientific, and cultural freedom. It also includes a recognition of an individual's right to die with dignity, euthanasia, and the right to suicide. We oppose the increasing invasion of privacy, by whatever means, in both totalitarian and democratic societies. We would safeguard, extend, and implement the principles of human freedom evolved from the Magna Carta to the Bill of Rights, the Rights of Man, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

EIGHTH: We are committed to an open and democratic society. We must extend participatory democracy in its true sense to the economy, the school, the family, the workplace, and voluntary associations. Decision-making must be decentralized to include widespread involvement of people at all levels - social, political, and economic. All persons should have a voice in developing the values and goals that determine their lives. Institutions should be responsive to expressed desires and needs. The conditions of work, education, devotion, and play should be humanized. Alienating forces should be modified or eradicated and bureaucratic structures should be held to a minimum. People are more important than decalogues, rules, proscriptions, or regulations.

NINTH: The separation of church and state and the separation of ideology and state are imperatives. The state should encourage maximum freedom for different moral, political, religious, and social values in society. It should not favor any particular religious bodies through the use of public monies, nor espouse a single ideology and function thereby as an instrument of propaganda or oppression, particularly against dissenters.

TENTH: Humane societies should evaluate economic systems not by rhetoric or ideology, but by whether or not they increase economic well-being for all individuals and groups, minimize poverty and hardship, increase the sum of human satisfaction, and enhance the quality of life. Hence the door is open to alternative economic systems. We need to democratize the economy and judge it by its responsiveness to human needs, testing results in terms of the common good.

ELEVENTH: The principle of moral equality must be furthered through elimination of all discrimination based upon race, religion, sex, age, or national origin. This means equality of opportunity and recognition of talent and merit. Individuals should be encouraged to contribute to their own betterment. If unable, then society should provide means to satisfy their basic economic, health, and cultural needs, including, wherever resources make possible, a minimum guaranteed annual income. We are concerned for the welfare of the aged, the infirm, the disadvantaged, and also for the outcasts - the mentally retarded, abandoned, or abused children, the handicapped, prisoners, and addicts - for all who are neglected or ignored by society. Practicing humanists should make it their vocation to humanize personal relations.

We believe in the right to universal education. Everyone has a right to the cultural opportunity to fulfill his or her unique capacities and talents. The schools should foster satisfying and productive living. They should be open at all levels to any and all; the achievement of excellence should be encouraged. Innovative and experimental forms of education are to be welcomed. The energy and idealism of the young deserve to be appreciated and channeled to constructive purposes.

We deplore racial, religious, ethnic, or class antagonisms. Although we believe in cultural diversity and encourage racial and ethnic pride, we reject separations which promote alienation and set people and groups against each other; we envision an integrated community where people have a maximum opportunity for free and voluntary association.
We are critical of sexism or sexual chauvinism - male or female. We believe in equal rights for both women and men to fulfill their unique careers and potentialities as they see fit, free of invidious discrimination.

World Community

TWELFTH: We deplore the division of humankind on nationalistic grounds. We have reached a turning point in human history where the best option is to transcend the limits of national sovereignty and to move toward the building of a world community in which all sectors of the human family can participate. Thus we look to the development of a system of world law and a world order based upon transnational federal government. This would appreciate cultural pluralism and diversity. It would not exclude pride in national origins and accomplishments nor the handling of regional problems on a regional basis. Human progress, however, can no longer be achieved by focusing on one section of the world, Western or Eastern, developed or underdeveloped. For the first time in human history, no part of humankind can be isolated from any other. Each person's future is in some way linked to all. We thus reaffirm a commitment to the building of world community, at the same time recognizing that this commits us to some hard choices.

THIRTEENTH: This world community must renounce the resort to violence and force as a method of solving international disputes. We believe in the peaceful adjudication of differences by international courts and by the development of the arts of negotiation and compromise. War is obsolete. So is the use of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. It is a planetary imperative to reduce the level of military expenditures and turn these savings to peaceful and people-oriented uses.

FOURTEENTH: The world community must engage in cooperative planning concerning the use of rapidly depleting resources. The planet earth must be considered a single ecosystem. Ecological damage, resource depletion, and excessive population growth must be checked by international concord. The cultivation and conservation of nature is a moral value; we should perceive ourselves as integral to the sources of our being in nature. We must free our world from needless pollution and waste, responsibly guarding and creating wealth, both natural and human. Exploitation of natural resources, uncurbed by social conscience, must end.

FIFTEENTH: The problems of economic growth and development can no longer be resolved by one nation alone; they are worldwide in scope. It is the moral obligation of the developed nations to provide - through an international authority that safeguards human rights - massive technical, agricultural, medical, and economic assistance, including birth control techniques, to the developing portions of the globe. World poverty must cease. Hence extreme disproportions in wealth, income, and economic growth should be reduced on a worldwide basis.

SIXTEENTH: Technology is a vital key to human progress and development. We deplore any neo-romantic efforts to condemn indiscriminately all technology and science or to counsel retreat from its further extension and use for the good of humankind. We would resist any moves to censor basic scientific research on moral, political, or social grounds. Technology must, however, be carefully judged by the consequences of its use; harmful and destructive changes should be avoided. We are particularly disturbed when technology and bureaucracy control, manipulate, or modify human beings without their consent. Technological feasibility does not imply social or cultural desirability.

SEVENTEENTH: We must expand communication and transportation across frontiers. Travel restrictions must cease. The world must be open to diverse political, ideological, and moral viewpoints and evolve a worldwide system of television and radio for information and education. We thus call for full international cooperation in culture, science, the arts, and technology across ideological borders. We must learn to live openly together or we shall perish together.

Humanity As a Whole

IN CLOSING: The world cannot wait for a reconciliation of competing political or economic systems to solve its problems. These are the times for men and women of goodwill to further the building of a peaceful and prosperous world. We urge that parochial loyalties and inflexible moral and religious ideologies be transcended. We urge recognition of the common humanity of all people. We further urge the use of reason and compassion to produce the kind of world we want - a world in which peace, prosperity, freedom, and happiness are widely shared. Let us not abandon that vision in despair or cowardice. We are responsible for what we are or will be. Let us work together for a humane world by means commensurate with humane ends. Destructive ideological differences among communism, capitalism, socialism, conservatism, liberalism, and radicalism should be overcome. Let us call for an end to terror and hatred. We will survive and prosper only in a world of shared humane values. We can initiate new directions for humankind; ancient rivalries can be superseded by broad-based cooperative efforts. The commitment to tolerance, understanding, and peaceful negotiation does not necessitate acquiescence to the status quo nor the damming up of dynamic and revolutionary forces. The true revolution is occurring and can continue in countless nonviolent adjustments. But this entails the willingness to step forward onto new and expanding plateaus. At the present juncture of history, commitment to all humankind is the highest commitment of which we are capable; it transcends the narrow allegiances of church, state, party, class, or race in moving toward a wider vision of human potentiality. What more daring a goal for humankind than for each person to become, in ideal as well as practice, a citizen of a world community. It is a classical vision; we can now give it new vitality. Humanism thus interpreted is a moral force that has time on its side. We believe that humankind has the potential, intelligence, goodwill, and cooperative skill to implement this commitment in the decades ahead.

Humanism

I was in a discussion with a fellow believer a few days ago and the subject turned to Humanism.

This person was under the assumption that Humanists are an okay peace loving, non-issue kind of a group. The assumption was that their basic premise is to take care of people without bringing religion into the mix.

I submit to you that after reading the Humanist Manifesto I (II and III to follow) are one of if not the most dangerous group to both our civil and religious liberties.

For a group that is anti-religion they sure have a lot of references to denying the existence of God the creator. They sure spend a lot of time, money and media attention on making Christians appear ignorant and unstable.

Humanist Groups spend a great deal of resources in education and re-education of young people much like the Communist Groups.

We as conservatives have spent too much time screaming into the wind at the left and have left our youth to "figure things out" for themselves or to believe blindly "because I said so". While it is crucial for each individual to come to their own beliefs out of true education and not blind belief, we have stopped preaching against the dangers of specific traps. We are not arming the youth of today with any ammunition of substance. We are waiting until it is too late. Children are being indoctrinated as soon as they are old enough to watch cartoons with reasonable arguments (to a child with no basis for understanding truth).

Are we not arming our children with substance because we have none ourselves? Do we believe because we were raised to believe? If that is the case - we have already lost. It is imperative that we are able to defend our beliefs in a rational, scientific methodical way and then teach our children to do the same. If you believe that it can not be done- you have bought the Humanism lie.

Humanist Manifesto I

The points of the Humanist Manifesto I.

FIRST: Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created.

SECOND: Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process.

THIRD: Holding an organic view of life, humanists find that the traditional dualism of mind and body must be rejected.

FOURTH: Humanism recognizes that man's religious culture and civilization, as clearly depicted by anthropology and history, are the product of a gradual development due to his interaction with his natural environment and with his social heritage. The individual born into a particular culture is largely molded by that culture.

FIFTH: Humanism asserts that the nature of the universe depicted by modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values. Obviously humanism does not deny the possibility of realities as yet undiscovered, but it does insist that the way to determine the existence and value of any and all realities is by means of intelligent inquiry and by the assessment of their relations to human needs. Religion must formulate its hopes and plans in the light of the scientific spirit and method.

SIXTH: We are convinced that the time has passed for theism, deism, modernism, and the several varieties of "new thought".

SEVENTH: Religion consists of those actions, purposes, and experiences which are humanly significant. Nothing human is alien to the religious. It includes labor, art, science, philosophy, love, friendship, recreation--all that is in its degree expressive of intelligently satisfying human living. The distinction between the sacred and the secular can no longer be maintained.

EIGHTH: Religious Humanism considers the complete realization of human personality to be the end of man's life and seeks its development and fulfillment in the here and now. This is the explanation of the humanist's social passion.

NINTH: In the place of the old attitudes involved in worship and prayer the humanist finds his religious emotions expressed in a heightened sense of personal life and in a cooperative effort to promote social well-being.

TENTH: It follows that there will be no uniquely religious emotions and attitudes of the kind hitherto associated with belief in the supernatural.

ELEVENTH: Man will learn to face the crises of life in terms of his knowledge of their naturalness and probability. Reasonable and manly attitudes will be fostered by education and supported by custom. We assume that humanism will take the path of social and mental hygiene and discourage sentimental and unreal hopes and wishful thinking.

TWELFTH: Believing that religion must work increasingly for joy in living, religious humanists aim to foster the creative in man and to encourage achievements that add to the satisfactions of life.

THIRTEENTH: Religious humanism maintains that all associations and institutions exist for the fulfillment of human life. The intelligent evaluation, transformation, control, and direction of such associations and institutions with a view to the enhancement of human life is the purpose and program of humanism. Certainly religious institutions, their ritualistic forms, ecclesiastical methods, and communal activities must be reconstituted as rapidly as experience allows, in order to function effectively in the modern world.

FOURTEENTH: The humanists are firmly convinced that existing acquisitive and profit-motivated society has shown itself to be inadequate and that a radical change in methods, controls, and motives must be instituted. A socialized and cooperative economic order must be established to the end that the equitable distribution of the means of life be possible. The goal of humanism is a free and universal society in which people voluntarily and intelligently cooperate for the common good. Humanists demand a shared life in a shared world.

FIFTEENTH AND LAST: We assert that humanism will: (a) affirm life rather than deny it; (b) seek to elicit the possibilities of life, not flee from them; and (c) endeavor to establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for the few. By this positive morale and intention humanism will be guided, and from this perspective and alignment the techniques and efforts of humanism will flow.


Taken directly from the American Humanist Association website.

Free Speech takes a hit.... again

'Hate crimes' bill likely to pass House, thanks to Dems.
Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 4/29/2009 6:00:00 AM (see link above)
A Republican Congressman who attempted to derail the controversial "hate crimes" bill with numerous amendments says, in the end, the Democrats simply had the votes to ram it through the Judiciary Committee.

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would add gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability to the list of protected categories under federal hate crimes law. Proponents of the bill claim that Christians and others who speak out publicly against homosexuality are not threatened with the same type of prosecution that criminals would face for committing acts of violence against homosexuals and transgendered individuals.
But Judiciary Committee member Steve King (R-Iowa) says that is simply not true. "Don't believe what they say; read the bill. Think what happens. What's their agenda? Their agenda is to shut down preaching of faith from the pulpit," he contends. "Their agenda is to force public approval of the homosexual agenda. And destroying marriage nationally is the follow-up piece of this."
King explains that one of the amendments he introduced would have barred pedophiles from special protection under the hate crimes statute. He finds it unbelievable that Democrats threw out that amendment.
"I just think that tells you that this breaks down the logical approach to law," King adds. "If we move away from punishing overt acts to punishing thoughts -- which is what this legislation does -- heaven help us [because] we've crossed a line from which it will be awfully hard to ever get back again." If the bill passes the full House this week, King believes it will have a chilling effect on free-speech rights. He says the bill could be approved by the House as early as today and fears the Democrats have the votes to accomplish it.

Posts

I have contemplated for a few days about the way to proceed with my blog. I have received many nasty, obscene and threatening comments and emails due to my most recent posts.

My conclusion is that I must be hitting a nerve.

I have changed my settings so that now I have to approve all comments. I did this mostly so that others would not have to read the nasty thoughts of some truly twisted people and also because individuals such as these just post to get attention. I promise that I will post all comments editing only the explicative. I do not speak or write that way and it has no place on my blog.

Real Radicals

Chew on this over the weekend.

Saul D. Alinsky (1909-1972) - Father of Modern American Radicalism
"Rules for Radicals"

1. Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.
2. Never go outside the experience of your people. It may result in confusion, fear and retreat.
3. Wherever possible go outside the experience of the enemy. Here you want to cause confusion, fear and retreat.
4. Make the enemy live up to his/her own book of rules.
5. Ridicule is man's most potent weapon.
6. A good tactic is one that your people enjoy.
7. A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.
8. Keep the pressure on, with different tactics and actions and utilize all events of the period for your purpose.
9. The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.
10. The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.
11. If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counterside.
12. The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.
13. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it and polarize it.
Philosophy followers: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton

Tea Party

I have not replaced my camera batteries yet, so I have no pictures to share from yesterday’s rally.

It was a great turn out of all backgrounds. There were a few people who came pushing a few agendas that were off topic but with the size of the crowd I thought people did a great job of staying focused.

I have read some other bloggers who did not have a great experience and I was a bit disheartened.

While I love the passion that was displayed, we need to remember that we are representing a larger cause. We don’t need to give anyone cause to discredit the movement. People will find reason to mock - no matter how well presented the simple message. Fiscal Responsibility, Smaller Government (and I will take it one step further – return to LOCAL GOVERNMENT POWER) and Free Markets.

I have noticed that the 2 main arguments that the Left regurgitates over and over is that “we” are just upset that “we” lost the election and that out of control spending has been going on since Bush.

I have to say to the first, we all lost the last election. We all lose when one party has the majority – NO MATTER WHAT. Yes, I would say that if republicans were in power as well. Since coming of the voting age I have never been able to vote on a candidate that I believe in. I have always had to choose of the lesser of the two evils. It was no different for me in the election.

If anyone paid any attention Bush’s approval rating it took a nose dive after his second term. Yes, government spending has been out of control for years – and this administration has NO plans to correct it. In fact the spending is snowballing.

What I don’t understand is why people are upset that average Americans – moms, high school kids, small business owners - are getting involved. YES, we showed up late!! YES, we should have been acting sooner – or we would not be in this mess.

My plea to all of us “radicals” is that now we are here – now that we are using our voice, make the message clear and respectful so that people will listen. Don’t engage people who are shouting - they are not listening any way. Give others respect. We will not always get it back - but we will never get it if we do not give it.

Stuff I Read

I have updated my "Stuff I Read" section. Please take a look.

Communist Manifesto

Published originally in 1848, the Communist Manifesto was written by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels as a “coming out document” to outline the communist beliefs.

I have read the Manifesto several times, the first being a senior in high school. At that time I had only a small amount of appreciation for the significance of the document. Upon reading it most recently I can not seem to get it out of my mind. Specifically the section outlining the agenda to spread communism not by means of force but by means of political inroads.

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

5. Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

8. Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc.
Does this look familiar?

Are you awake yet?

Job Description - President of the United States

Requirements: Willing to travel (to be a late night talk show guest). Make big decisions (who to put in the final four). Must be creative (spend trillions of dollars that don’t exist) and most important expand your role (fire CEO’s of major corporations).

Education and Experience: Must have affiliations with a diverse group of organizations and people (Jeremiah A. Wright, ACORN, Tony Rezko, Rashid Khalidi, Bill Ayers, Frank Davis, Louis Farrakhan, Raila Ordinga, Daniel Ortega, Raul Castro, Socialist Party USA, Communist Party Illinois, The New Black Panther Party, Hamas Terrorist Organization).

Cape "tea party" canceled; City fears too many attendees

Cape "tea party" canceled; City fears too many attendees

By WINK News
Story Created: Mar 27, 2009 at 6:10 PM EDT
Story Updated: Mar 29, 2009 at 8:24 AM EDT

CAPE CORAL, Fla. - A tea party to protest government spending and taxing is canceled. Canceled by the government.Why? They feel too many people could show-up. Lynn Rosko planned to hold a tax payer tea party at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral on April 1st. The idea was announced at a Cape Coral City Council meeting, then an e-mail blast by the Republican Party and it was mentioned in the local media. With all of that attention, the City of Cape Coral felt there could be more than 500 people attending the tea party. Therefore Rosko needed to get a permit and insurance for the event. Rosko says she's not willing to get insurance and accept liability for something that a stranger could do.

Rosko told WINK News, "I have rescinded any organizing or supervision or what ever you want to call it over this tea party on April 1st."WINK News spoke to the director of parks for Cape Coral. He says that even now if Rosko is willing to get insurance for the event he'll likely re-authorize it. For now Rosko's event is canceled, she's encouraging people to attend the April 15th Tax Payer Tea Party in Centennial Park in Fort Myers.

--------------

It's my guess that the ACLU is not going to show up to defend this group.

Invitation

What ………............................................................... Tea Party
When ……………........................................................ April 15th, 2009
Where……………........................................................ Fountain Square
Time …………………...................................................... 11:30AM
Additional instructions ………….............................. Bring a sign


AMENDMENT 10

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This is not about being a Republican or a Democrat. This is about being an American. This is a key issue that spurred the original colonist to leave Europe. Let's not give away so easily what they worked so hard to establish.

Stem-Cell Research

I don't think you will find a better article on the stem-cell controversy than this one.

Winning Smugly You just won the stem-cell war. Don't lose your soul.
By William Saletan
Posted Monday, March 9, 2009, at 4:42 PM ET

Turkey Polpettone

I made the Turkey Polpettone and Radicchio Salad on Friday night for dinner. The turkey was great! I will definitely be making that again, as a bonus it was reasonably low fat and low cal. The Radicchio Salad was not good. The dressing tasted like nothing. It was very pretty on the plate but totally useless.

Turkey Polpettone

Patties
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs
2 tbs thinly sliced green onions
1 egg yolk
2 tsp fresh chopped sage leaves
1 1/2 grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp sea salt
ground pepper
2 oz whole milk mozzarella cheese, cut into 4 equal pieces

Coating
1/2 cup all- purpose flour
salt
pepper
1 cup panko crispy bread crumbs
1 egg

1. Heat oven to 350. Place turkey in large bowl. Add remaining pattie ingredients except cheese.

2. Divde into 8 even pieces. Flatten into patties, top 4 with cheese then top with the other 4 patties. Press the edges together to seal in the cheese.

3. Mix the dry coating ingredients. Dip the patties in the egg - then the dry coating ingredients. Press the dry coating into the patties.

4. Place in an oven proof skillet coated with olive oil for 1-2 min per side. All you need to do is lightly brown the outside.

5. Place in the oven to bake until the turkey is no longer pink this should take 10-15 min.

Project List for February

Crocheted rug for the hall
Tiles for the table (60)
Knitted “monster” toy
More blogging
Deran’s Afgan
Lemmon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze
Frozen Margarita Pie
Bananas Foster Cheesecake
Ravioli Caprese
Beef Burgundy

Dinner tonight:

Turkey Polpettone and Radicchio Salad, Garlic Hasselback Potatoes with Herbed Sour Cream, bread of some kind and Chocolate Cake.

One size does not fit all

The new bill that will sadly be passed will ensure that the economic crisis will last until at least 2011. After all that is when most of the money will be spent.

Little Orphan Annie

More nap time stories from Granny.
Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an'sweep,An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an-keep;An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun,A-listenin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers, -An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there atall!An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an'press,An seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an'hide,They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'for she knowedwhat she's about!
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,An' the lightnin'bugs in dew is all squenched away, -You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,An' cherish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
- James Whitcomb Riley


Looking back - it's a wonder I ever took a nap. When she got to the "An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you " part she always lowered her voice, crouched her shoulders and made claws with her hands.

There was a little girl

My naptime stories from Granny.
There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was horrid.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Greg, Papaw and Pluto

Farm

Snapfish

I am very disappointed in Snapfish. This may be just new to me because it’s been awhile since I have been to their site, but I tried to print pictures then download pictures and was unable to. It seems that once it is on their site the picture is no longer mine to use as I would like, I now have to purchase the picture. Until now I have downloaded my camera directly to their site because not only could I catalog the pictures, but then use them to blog, print for art stuff from my printer or I could purchase the prints or make online photo albums to print.

I was until today VERY happy with the service. I have spent a fair amount of money on the site and sadly sent a lot of people to them to start their own online albums. I would like to officially remove my endorsement from the site.
I recognize the need for a company to make money. I also recognize that many businesses are in a bit of a slump right now and are looking at ways to increase revenue. I suppose that my next order will temporarily help the bottom line a bit seeing as I have several hundred photos that I will order on disc so that I can use my pictures again, however it will be my last order. I will have to send my pictures else ware to be printed and I suppose other sites have photo albums that I can get my seasonal pictures printed into.

I am sure that we will be seeing other businesses change policies in a similar way. I can confidently say my response will be the same.

30 Before 30

1. One new baked recipe per month
2. One new main course recipe per month
3. One new place per month
4. Two new large angel tree toppers
5. One new home project per month
6. Christmas shopping done on or before Thanksgiving weekend
7. Acquire one piece of art
8. Give something away that I love
9. Volunteer quarterly
10. Illustrate the paternal side of my family tree
11. Can a bushel of tomatoes
12. Take vitamins consistently
13. Write two letters per month
14. Write myself a letter to be opened in 2015
15. Have one patio pot of tomatoes
16. Complete three studies
17. Attend at least one seminar
18. Make a rug
19. Get my CCW
20. Learn a new skill
21. Get professionally photographed
22. Blog 4 times a month (picture posts don’t count)
23. Roller Skate down by the river
24. Finish one scrap book / altered book as a gift
25. Tell the story of someone’s life and give it to them
26. Finish tile table with Josh
27. Paint and finish the Master bathroom
28. Make and use an advent calendar of things to do each day
29. Watch a high school sporting event
30. Learn not to binge and purge when it comes to my energy level