Overprotection and Society

There are times when we realize that society has taken major missteps.  Children's playgrounds are the beginning of our missteps in our lives.  Why is this a misstep?  Just look at our playgrounds and you will realize that they offer little in terms of growth, imagination, and self-confidence.  This, as well as the inability to experience risk, problem solving, negotiation and other traits, explains a lot about our reliance on government today.  The younger generations of our population no longer have the confidence, risk-taking ability, negotiation, or problem solving skills of our older generations.  Their long-term reliance on adults translates into an inability to solve problems when they, themselves become adults.  Instead of taking responsibility or solving problems, they expect the government to act as their parent.  

Hanna Rosin of The Atlantic, wrote an exceptional piece, titled The Overprotected Kid. 

....."Nearby, a couple of boys are doing mad flips on a stack of filthy mattresses, which makes a fine trampoline. At the other end of the playground, a dozen or so of the younger kids dart in and out of large structures made up of wooden pallets stacked on top of one another. Occasionally a group knocks down a few pallets—just for the fun of it, or to build some new kind of slide or fort or unnamed structure. Come tomorrow and the Land might have a whole new topography."

Yup

I correctly answered 11 of 13 questions on the @pewresearch News IQ Quiz. Test yourself:

I correctly answered 11 of 13 questions on the @pewresearch News IQ Quiz. Test yourself:: Quiz yourself on current events to see how well you keep up with the news. Compare your results to those who took our national survey.

For a father of two, full time employee and husband, I run a very busy life.  I scored above 91% of Americans and that saddens me.  It makes me realize just how out of touch Americans are with the ongoings of the world.  How can people make educated decisions if they are this uneducated?  Honestly, I don't spend heaps of time reading and researching, except on specific articles I write.  I am sure many of my readers will score higher than I did!

Politics in 140 Characters or Less

Has it really come to this?  The exchange of ideas and opinions in politics has been reduced to 140 characters, a meme, or short quote?  The most popular and most read pieces today are those which are just quick hits.  Gone are the days where most people read an entire article, opinion piece, research paper, or economic analysis.  The vast majority of Americans now rely on the quick and easy to argue their opinions or positions.

Have Americans attention spans completely disappeared?  Whether one goes on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, or other social media, people are most likely to respond to the quick and short pieces.  The numbers are staggering when you start paying attention; people "like" pictures and short quips much more than well researched and published pieces.

In addition, even when people glance at pieces, they assume the title says it all.  Have they not heard the phrase, "never judge a book by its' cover?"  A title may say something, but it is the details that matter more.  It is the details and information contained under the title which give breadth and depth to the matter at hand.  Yet, so few of us continue to inform ourselves.  Even those of you now reading this, are part of that small crowd who continue to search for information.  And, I hate to tell you, there is little information but my opinion in this editorial.

Maybe I can find a meme for this article?

Why Does it Matter? Clinton appeals to idealism of college students - Politics Wires - MiamiHerald.com

TEMPE, Ariz.: Clinton appeals to idealism of college students - Politics Wires - MiamiHerald.com

Don't think the press is in the bag for Clinton in 2016?  Compare this piece to the write-ups regarding Rand Paul's speech at UC-Berkley the past few days and the contrasts are startling.  While Rand Paul was stated as "appealing to paranoia", Clinton is given the softer title of "appealing to idealism".

Ken Thomas of the Associated Press writes, "Looking out to a theater full of motivated college students, Hillary Rodham Clinton said their generation showed great promise as "open-minded and tolerant" Americans ready to step forward for an important cause."

Meanwhile the "closed-minded and intolerant" gathered to listen to Rand Paul at UC-Berkley, right?  But, are we not speaking about our former Secretary of State who felt no remorse for the deaths of Benghazi?  "Why does it matter?"  I find a serious problem with a candidate who cannot acknowledge the value of human life.  The families and friends of the Benghazi four are on the forefront of the minds of Americans.

Clinton also stated,

"It is the work of this century to complete the unfinished business of making sure that every girl and boy, every woman and man, lives in societies that respects their rights no matter who they are, respects their potential and their talents, gives them the opportunities that every human being deserves, no matter where you were born, no matter the color of your skin, no matter your religion, your ethnicity or who you love." (Miami Herald)

Excuse me while I go throw up now.  I thought the race baiting, etc. would end with the current President.  How closed minded and intolerant of me....

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/22/4010915/clinton-encourages-millennials.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/22/4010915/clinton-encourages-millennials.html#storylink=cpy

And So it Begins....

 

Well, this didn't take long; Republicans such as Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post are already blasting Rand Paul for his approach to politics, leading into a long battle for the 2016 nomination. But, what else should the electorate expect from the Establishment Republicans and their ilk in the media?  After all, Republicans immediately came out in opposition to his father as well.  At least, the establishment, that is. 

Rubin writes:

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) went to the University of California at Berkeley to get applause for anti-government, anti-national security rhetoric. Playing to the stereotypical paranoia of government and the identity politics that reverberate in left-wing circles, he told a New York Times reporter, “The first African American president ought to be a little more conscious of the fact of what has happened with the abuses of domestic spying. Martin Luther King was spied upon, civil rights leaders were spied upon, Muhammad Ali was spied upon, antiwar protesters were spied upon.”

"Playing to the stereotypical paranoia of government" says a lot about Rubin's view of Rand Paul. Her choice in words says a lot about Rand Paul's impact on the establishment-types; he is really pissing them off already.  And, with good reason, he will continue to do so.  Rand is running against the grain and against the establishment.  The establishment should be careful how they treat him.  

Many, myself included, see Rand Paul as a breath of fresh air.  Paul stands for smaller government, with less power and a return to Constitutional order.  His stances on foreign policy resonate with many on the Left and Right.  Certainly, no one will agree with all of his stances, as is the risk of being a rigid politician.  However, generally, Paul is an attractive alternative to the lawlessness of our current administration.

His attack on establishment politicians will only serve to catapult him in the public eye.  The Establishment does not get it, and it shows in their immediate coverage of this speech.  The headlines are telling today:

Rand Paul panders at Berkeley 

Rand Paul and the power of paranoia 

Rand Paul's Berkeley talk: A U.S. dystopia? 

Rand Paul: GOP like bad pizza crust  

Expect the continued pounding on Rand Paul to continue until he is either forced out of the 2016 race (he has not officially entered, but probably will), or until Republicans have to accept him as the nominee.  Look for Rand Paul to utilize this hatred to his favor during the next two years.  The rebuke of the establishment only serves his amongst the people.  Being part of the common folk, such as all my readers, I see comments and opinions that fit well to a Rand Paul run for 2016.  Like it or not Establishment, I do not believe Rand Paul is going anywhere until after the primaries or further.

White House Launches Website App to Visualize Climate Change

White House Launches Website App to Visualize Climate Change

Oh good!  Now people can be brainwashed on their mobile phones too!  Such a great use of our tax dollars!  

What Are We to Do?

Election season is in full swing.  Conservatives, Libertarians, Constitutionalists, and others are faced with the same problem that repeats itself every two years; who do we get behind?  No, we do not "lead from behind."  We seek an answer to the pesky question, "who best represents us?"  Or, at this point, does anyone represent us?

This question has become more disconcerting, as few people of "far right" persuasion seem to exist in politics.  We are, most recently, faced with Democrats, Liberals, and Democrat-light. To me, far right would be simply someone who actually believes in smaller government.  Name one person who represents this right now.  Can you name this person?

Razorbacks

Last Tuesday President Obama got off the helicopter in front of The White House - carrying a baby piglet under each arm. 

The squared-away Marine guard snapped to attention, saluted and said: "Nice pigs, sir."

The President replied:  "These are not pigs. These are authentic Arkansas Razorback Hogs. I got one for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and I got one for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi."

The squared-away Marine again snapped to attention, salutes and said, "Excellent trade, sir."

Are Conservatives Evil?

Conservatives around the nation are constantly berated.  Even with acts of kindness, personal attacks are commonplace.  Why is this?  Why does the left feel the need to attack individuals who are politically different?  Public figures are regular targets of the left, yet the same happens in every social setting.  Conservatives are attacked at a personal level. 

David Koch (half of the famed Koch brothers) recently donated $100 million to New York-Presbyterian Hospital.  This, along with other donations, will go to building a new wing named after David Koch.  For most people, this would be viewed as a great gesture towards helping take care of our sick.  However, when your name is David Koch, this is not the case.  Tom Steyer, a billionaire liberal, was recently interviewed by Men's Journal Magazine and suggested that David Koch will go down as a "famously evil person".

I The Person

I fight for the freedom of all, not just those whom agree with my values.
I do not seek to silence speech; you seek to silence the opposition.
I defend the right to self defense; you blame guns, instead of the evil people who exist and carry illegally.
I care about the well being of all mankind; you only care about those special groups of people you choose.
I don't care what color skin people have; you are obsessed with race.
I don't care what religion people choose to follow; you object to most religious beliefs and practices.
I value hard work, you value no work.
I respect people's personal success as something they earned; you seek to steal their property for the "greater good."

Crazy Hockey Mom!

Some people are just plain crazy.  When it comes to kids and sports, some mothers and fathers are overly aggressive; I was "lucky" enough to be on the receiving end recently.  I was shocked and astounded by the ongoings and believe it shows the breakdown in our society.  

I don't write about my personal life too often, but I cannot resist in this case.  My son, Will, plays hockey and plays it well. He tends to stand out in many ways when he is on the ice. Off the ice, he is a nice kid who loves to play anything involving a ball.

Salon.com and Brittany Cooper Promote Racism

Many white folks believe that black criminality has produced white fear and that white fear in the presence of black masculinity is therefore always justified. But the opposite is true. White anxiety and fear and racism have produced the myth of pervasive black criminality. Intraracial black violence is a problem, but white racism has produced the concentrated structures of poverty and lack of access to education that give rise to violent behaviors. 

This is considered worthy of being published on Salon.com?  This is exactly the problem with Media today, a one sided breathtakingly racist approach.  And, if one thinks this is the worst of what is contained within the article, you would have to be kidding.  We all know reporters who could have written up a much more thought out argument for racism.  This is just plain vile.

The "myth of pervasive black criminality" struck a chord.  Is it a myth?  No, not whatsoever; and, this is not just an opinion, but fact.  A white male is more than twice as likely to be murdered by a black male than the reverse.  Keep in mind, white males FAR outnumber black males in the US.

Follow the Money to the Power (Top 10 Influencers)

Top Heavy Hitters

OpenSecrets.org's historically researched organizations

Rank	Organization	Total All Cycles
1	ActBlue	$97,192,340
2	American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees	$60,667,379
3	AT&T Inc	$56,449,317
4	National Education Assn	$53,594,488
5	National Assn of Realtors	$51,207,902
6	Goldman Sachs	$44,847,951
7	Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers	$44,478,789
8	United Auto Workers	$41,667,858
9	Carpenters & Joiners Union	$39,260,371
10	Service Employees International Union	$38,395,690

The Left has long argued that Corporations should not have a say in politics.  Is it any wonder why they focus on the likes of Koch Industries, Exxon and the like?  It turns out there is good reason for it.  If the left were to successfully undermine such companies and their involvement in politics, right or wrong, it would become nearly a free ride for them.  Taking it further, one must question the legality of some of the donations that make their way to Democrat candidates.

BREAKING NEW VIDEO: Battleground Texas Illegally Copying Voter Data

Simply amazing.  It appears that Battleground Texas, like ACORN, returns voter fraud upon us.  Is it any surprise that voter fraud continues, even though the Left professes that there is none?  Battleground Texas is the latest of the fraudulent voter registration drives by the left.  While all we ask is for someone to show ID, supposedly suppressing voters, the left is engaged in all out fraud.  As usual, it takes the skillful undercover work of people who seek the truth, unlike today's mass media, to expose these ongoing events.

James O'Keefe of +Project Veritas continues his outstanding work in alternative news media.  He and his team cannot be praised enough for the continual efforts to expose that which remains hidden.

Government Advertising

Why should a government be allowed to advertise services to the people?  After all, it takes taxpayer money to fund the advertising and costs more money when people use the services.   Sure, people need to be informed of services available to them in times of need.  But, most of the services advertised would only be missed by people living under rocks.

First, there is the advertising of Healthcare.gov. Really, do we need advertising to promote this? Do you know anyone that does not know about the ACA, aka Obamacare?

What about the cost?  It is no secret that many government plans cost taxpayers excessive amounts.  Just how much is being spent to advertise the handouts?  It is hard to say, since the numbers are so deeply buried in line items that it

Accountability

The demise of America is tied to the lack of accountability.  Americans, in general, accept failure as "no one's fault" and do not expect those who have failed to change their ways.  Rather, they are excused and are allowed to continue on their failing ways.  The lack of accountability can be seen in politics, education, and even every day life.

No Accountability for Being on the Government Dole  

Recently, Democrats have pointed out that the Affordable Care Act allows people the freedom to live off other taxpayers and pursue their dreams.  As if this is some great accomplishment in life; who would strive for this?  Well, according to the CBO, that would be 2.5 million jobs worth of people. Representative Keith Ellison stated how proud he was that people didn't have to work so much.  It is laughable that this new found freedom is so greatly revered.  Where is the accountability in living off of others to pursue your dreams in working less?  

Is Obama Trying to Kill a Free Press?

Jay Sekulow wrote regarding the continued attack on American freedoms by the Obama Administration.  It appears that the Administration will not stop at any costs to silence opposition and the Free Press as part of this. 

According to FCC Commissioner, Ajit Pai, the FCC:

proposed an initiative to thrust the federal government into newsrooms across the country. With its "Multi-Market Study of Critical Information Needs," or CIN, the agency plans to send researchers to grill reporters, editors and station owners about how they decide which stories to run.

It is truly disturbing, that, like the Tea Party Groups, individuals will be grilled about their beliefs or reasoning for running stories.  Is there any doubt that this is an intrusion upon our free press and free speech?  

Biden Embarks on Top Secret Pot Run to Colorado; Brings Back Good News to Democrats

(Please, excuse the sarcasm which is perpetuated throughout the ENTIRE piece!)

Vice President Joe "Gaffe" Biden opened his mouth and, naturally, lies came flying out again.  It is not surprising that "Say it ain't so, Joe" is creating his own reality again.  But, would you trust him under his leadership?  Do Democrats really believe the things that he says?  One can only wonder, but we don't have to sleep at night after saying these things.

"For the first time in my career, on every major issue, the American people agree with the Democratic party," Biden said while speaking at the House Democrats' annual retreat at the Hyatt Regency on Maryland's Eastern Shore, BuzzFeed reports. 

Really? That is not what most of us are hearing out in the real world, let alone in polls.  The Democrat Party is sinking faster than the Titanic and the only thing that can save them, and probably will, is the "Republican" Party.

Conservative Roadmap Wins Election: Duh! We Knew This Was Going to Happen!

 

Many have been saying, for quite some time, that Republicans need to embrace their principals and show how they work in elections.  Mayor Faulconer is a perfect example of how this works when implemented.  He ran on his Conservative values and told people how he intended to solve the issues in San Diego, using these values.  He won in a landslide, in a typically Democrat stronghold.  Can we say, "I told you so" to our establishment RINO's yet?  Read more on Newsmax:

Republican Kevin Faulconer's victory in Tuesday's San Diego mayor's race provides the GOP with a chance to study how the 47-year-old city councilman pulled off the win and set an example for other candidates across the country.

"We demonstrated that Kevin was a true reformer who was committed to such issues as pension reform and binding arbitration for city employees," Faulconer campaign quarterback Jason Roe told Newsmax.

"And we campaigned in such a way that voters did not get hung up on what his party affiliation was, but instead focused on what his message was."

In defeating Democrat and fellow Councilman David Alvarez with 55 percent of the vote to become mayor of America's eighth-largest city, Faulconer emerged triumphant in a city in which Republican voters comprise only 26 percent of the electorate, compared to 40 percent who are registered Democrats and 34 percent who are "Declined to State" — California for "independent."