McDonald v The City of Chicago was heard by The Supreme Court this morning. The case not only challenged Chicago's gun ban but also caused the 2nd Amendment to The Constitution of The United States to come under scrutiny. The high court upheld the right of all American citizens to bear arms. I cannot however, share in the excitement. Frankly this scares the begeezes out of me. This potential assault on the 2nd Amendment was thwarted by only one vote. FIVE TO FOUR! There are four Justices sitting on the Supreme Court, sworn to uphold The Constitution who would willfully and deliberately place in jeopardy one of our primary inalienable rights. Had this decision gone the other way many more municipalities would surely have been emboldened to pass similar legislation. THIS is contemporary liberalism and I want no part of it. I see this as a close call and hopefully a wake up call. I was already resigned to the inevitability of Elena Kagen's confirmation but no longer. What little we know about her, by design I'm afraid, includes her refusal to allow US military recruiters on the Harvard campus and that she believes free speech should have limits. We must not allow by any and all means legal and constitutional any of Barrack Obama's nominees to be confirmed. As demonstrated today, the repercussions of critical decisions rendered by these social ideologues could be felt for decades and our steadfast, not "living", not changing founding document would not survive intact.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Socialism: Get Used to it
That's what one of my good friends posted on facebook recently. "Wake up and smell the coffee, socialism is here to stay in America." What a thought provoking remark, I thought. I thoughtfully skipped past the obvious gloat in citing the recent election as a clear rejection of socialism by the people and began to muse curiously about how an American citizen could possibly prefer to live under a socialist form of government. I hear those who embrace socialism say it's all about fairness, so no one goes without and their solution is to have the government tax wealth away from those who produce and re-distribute that wealth to those who do not. To them, it is "fair" to have some "go without" more of what they have earned just so they can feel good thinking THEY made a contribution to making the world a better place. Why not just open your own wallet and give - like a conservative? Charity is an attribute of the heart of an individual, not government. The United States of America was founded on individual liberty and freedom and at least half the people want to keep it that way. Where is the "fairness" in transforming America and foisting socialism on those of us who do not want it?
I have an idea. It's so simple! Instead of compulsory redistribution of wealth, let's have voluntary redistribution of PEOPLE! So, you like socialism? Fine. We'll pass the hat and pay your way to the socialist country of your choice. If you like capitalism and our free society, well pay your way . . . . . . oh wait, we don't have to. More people are already trying to come here to live the American dream than any other country on the planet. Hummm, I wonder why that is but I digress. This is totally fair! Do we have a deal? We'll go on being the land of the free as founded and you socialist wannabes can be happy living under the care and control of the socialist, Marxist, totalitarian or communist regime of your choice.
Victoria's Secret
Well somehow we got ourselves on the mailing list. The new Victoria's Secret catalog arrived the other day. There it was, plain as day on the kitchen counter. Temptation got the better of me and I opened the cover. I perused its glossy pages replete with example after photographic example of beauty and artistry both natural and enhanced, until one caught my eye. I fixed my gaze on the image so striking, so shapely, so reminiscent of something so dear to my heart - got me all excited - had to go get my wife and show her too.
http://kphenix.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/MOTORCYCLES-STUFF/IMAG0258/1192515663_7LPtu-XL.jpg
Isn't she beautiful?!!
Is "The Donald" Obama's Trump Card?
I never paid much attention or gave much credence to the "birther" issue other than noting the "kudos to Kagan" confirmation after she fended off all the suits as solicitor general. This is just too tidy though: Donald Trump comes on the scene making noise, demanding to see the document, spouting all the right rhetoric in all the right places from Fox News to The Vue. He sold out speaking engagements under the guise of entering the Republican Presidential primary. In a flash, a long form Hawaiian birth certificate is made public. Trump beats has chest for the press, withdraws his potential candidacy and returns to his glamorous life as a real estate tycoon slash reality tv star. Too tidy indeed. Obama himself couldn't have engineered a more perfect means to lay the issue to rest before his campaign for re-election begins. Oh wait. Could that be it? Of course not. However, if Trump was a true conservative, conservatism could be served by his wealth and influence in far better ways than by constraining himself to political office. It would be like George Soros running for President as a Democrat. Trump is neither conservative nor liberal. He's a ranking member of the opportunist party - a businessman and that's fine. But why help Obama perpetrate a ruse of this magnitude? Is there something of equal magnitude in it for him? I'm drawing no conclusions, only asking questions but it seems to make sense. This little observation of mine was brought to the fore again as I stumbled upon a radio interview of Jerome Corsi reminding me that there are so many more unanswered questions and gaps in Obama's past, school records, passports, Indonesian dual citizenship, adoption and so on. But Trump is satisfied so we can all go back to our mundane little lives until called upon by Obama on election day, right? Alright. No. Here's Trump having lunch with Sarah Palin. Here's Trump on Greta's show attempting to discredit the new Republicans and all the great progress they have made since last November. What? Republicans in self destruct mode? Palin doesn't know what she's doing? The Ryan budget plan is political suicide? "If the Republicans put up a stiff, I'll come back and run as an independent." says Trump as he breaks his promise not to do exactly that. Trump on the ticket as an independent would be the picture perfect plan to get Obama re-elected. No Donald, I'm not buying it. Anybody rember a businessman named Ross Perot?
Remembering Spanish Culinary History - and Our Own
I caught an interesting "Splendid Table" interview on our local NPR affiliate with author Claudia Roden. Her new book celebrates the rebirth of regional Spanish cuisines almost lost during the rule of fascist dictator Francisco Franco. Roden scornfully detailed how Franco had banned local artisanship altogether and demanded bland standardized mass production instead. Franco instituted the socialization of the entire food supply of Spain. I couldn't help but draw a comparison to present day dietary controls under the guise of health conscious political correctness. Sugar, Sodium, trans-fat, fried food and fast food have come under legislative scrutiny - all for the common good. The thing about history is to not allow the same mistakes to be repeated. Could you imagine The United States of America without the Monte Cristo, the happy meal, the Chicago dog, Tex-Mex fajitas, New York pizza . . . . . or PAELLA? I can't. Keep your nanny state regulation writers out of America's kitchens, thank you.
http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/The-Food-of-Spain/?isbn=9780061969621
Podcast available at: splendidtable.org
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
GLOBAL CLIMATE SCEINTISTS ARE "WARMING" THE BOOKS
Please spare me the "status quo" "throwing in with the oil companies" speeches. Of course I believe we should all be good stewards of our precious planet and strive to perfect cleaner sources of energy. There is however, no logical reason to do so at the expense of our economy. Real "Green" solutions will come from private sector innovation rather than government intervention (restriction and taxation). Example: At a time when Chrysler is all but gone and GM has been brought to its knees, why does Obama insist on ramping up CAFE standards? Obama is in Copenhagen right now with plans to offer a binding promise to reduce US greenhouse emissions by 83% without so much as running the idea by our Congress. Is anybody naive enough to think China or Russia will make any such concessions? Help me out here, these economically devastating decisions are based on what again?
Our children are being taught that global warming is fact, not scientific theory and certainly not political agenda. Conversely, The British High Court after finding numerous errors recently ruled that Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" could only be shown in schools with a preface identifying it as a political film and NOT a scientific documentary. Al Gore has turned this global warming scare into a global multi-million dollar business, won an Academy Award and received a Nobel Prize based on what again?
Climate change activists say the debate is over but "Climate-Gate" is real and it's big. Phil Jones has already resigned and Michael Mann is under investigation. Will their respective universities willingly give back all those millions in climate change research grant money? Not likely. Even NASA scientists who receive much of their funding for climate research may be culpable. Yet when asked by CNN’s Ed Henry about the matter, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs dismissed the question as silly. Debate over? No, I believe the debate and the controversy are just beginning.
My point is simply that our leaders should not be making policy decisions, laws, cap and tax bills or global treaties that will surely negatively affect our standard of living and even our very sovereignty . . . . . . . . . . . based on what again?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/05/eveningnews/main5908487.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FX-JhDJR44
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Spread Risk, Not Wealth
Now I see otherwise sane people once again wishing and dreaming the Obama administration will give them healthcare. WAKE UP! Nobody wants the "status quo", so don't go there. THAT is a myth, nothing more than a democrat talking point. The fact is the Republicans' numerous viable contributions to this issue have been ignored. Even a simple amendment requiring US citizenship for health plan participation was rejected out of hand. And you don't think we're going to pay to cover illegal aliens? Why then (on page 170) are they specifically exempted from any tax or payment? Partisan democrat "BIG GOVERNMENT" politics IS the status quo here.
"The public option is only one component of health care reform". Yeah, right. The so called public option is the very basis for HR3200. The bill is chocked full of steerage into the public option. Employers currently pay 10 to 15% of payroll for medical insurance and can't wait to dump their employees on the public option and take the 8% tax hit. As I explained in an earlier post, Section 116 gives the new Health Choices Commissioner (czar) the power to literally strip insurers of their profits by arbitrarily mandating benchmark loss ratios.
Why not limit care providers' exposure to lawsuit abuse - like we did for the airline industry?
Why not promote competition and make insurance policy forms approved for sale in one state recognized in all states - like we did for gay marriage?
Why not stabilize illegal alien ER patients and buy them a one way ticket HOME - like New York does for its HOMELESS American citizens?
Public funding for abortions IS in the bill but it already exists anyway - millions of our tax dollars go to Planned Parenthood every year. Do not patronize me by saying it's not for abortion. WASTE AND FRAUD!
Speaking of waste and fraud, since we know it exists and we know we can fix it, Obama said so it must be true - what the hell is he waiting for? Fix it NOW! More smoke and mirrors. Waiting to use the alleged savings to fund the new bill reminds me of the stimulus package we had to have right now. Regardless of how the media tries to candy up the numbers, unemployment is still on the rise. Why are we holding 94% of the 700 billion? So they can use it for "spreading around" money in a congressional election year? How's that hope and change working for ya, Michigan? Your jobless number is close to 20%, yet congress sits on the stimulus. Unbelievable!
My point once again: healthcare reform IS needed and IS possible without a single payer system. The government does not manage ONE THING more efficiently than private enterprise and to say THIS administration's track record is less than stellar would be the understatement of the year.
About Me
- KEN PHENIX
- Salesman/insurance agent more than 20 years turned baker. Go figure. My wife Julana and I bought a little bakery ten years ago and now she is the premier cake designer in this part of the state. In the past few years I have developed a love for motorcycling. Can you tell?