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."

What The Hell Do You Stand For?

The problem with Conservatism today is not a failure of ideas, it is a lack of leadership.  The leadership of the Republican party does not seem to respect the foundation of their own party.  The "far-right radical" base stands for Liberty, Freedom, smaller government and Individual Rights and States' Rights; yes, we know....such extreme positions.

Here is the deal within the Conservative and Libertarian movements; we have been abandoned by all possible factions of any powerful party at this time (except the Libertarian Party that currently lacks the pull to make changes desperately needed.)  What is the Republican Party when it lacks its' Conservative and Libertarian roots?  There is no base left in the Republican Party, we are left alone, out here, battling among ourselves while trying to organize in some fashion to make an impact.  And, being the most passionate of the Conservative and Libertarian causes, we argue like brothers and sisters.  Deep down, we know that we share some common causes, yet we lack any semblance of organization.

Where is Today's Martin Luther King Jr.?

Today, we celebrate the greatness of one man and his quest to bring equality to the races in America. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great man who inspired many to take peaceful action to accomplish so much.  His legacy reaches far and wide and continues today.  However, a disturbing trend has arisen which, seemingly, undermines his legacy. Few leaders seek the transformation that Martin Luther Kind Jr. sought. Instead, leaders of today, seek to keep our nation divided so that they may profit from this division.

While capitalism is the driver of our country, capitalism derived from the legacy of a great man who's leadership brought us into a better time, should not be used in this way.  People such as Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and others abuse the message of Martin Luther King Jr. to profit from his teachings.  They do not teach of love and understanding in the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.  Instead, they seemingly seek to incite hatred through race baiting and other tactics.

Dear Liberal…Here’s Why I’m So Hostile

I only wish I could take credit for this well crafted piece of writing.  Do not be deceived by the title, this is a thorough explanation of Conservative opposition towards Liberals and the basis from which it stems.  I hope that it brings some understanding to my Liberal friends and foes, a deeper understanding, if you will.  Please take the time to read, you will not be disappointed in the explanations or clarification you will gain in reading.

by Jeremy N. Choate

This essay is a bit of departure from my usually reasonable and logical approach to important issues.  That’s not to say that the essay isn’t well-reasoned and is bereft of logical argumentation, but I freely admit that it’s polemical, in nature.  Sometimes you’re just pissed, and you need to vent.  Here’s my vent…

Lately, I must admit that my hostility towards your political ilk has ramped up, pretty dramatically.  No, it’s not because we, at this point in my life, have a half-black president in the White House, and I’m some closet racist who is becoming increasingly frustrated at the prospects of the White Man’s power slipping through my fingers.  I know that you’ve accused our side of such nonsense, and the thought keeps you warm at night, but I can assure you that it is a comfortable fiction of which you should probably divest yourself.

Liberal Lies: Choice

Liberals claim to be the party that promotes choice, yet we do not see choices in Liberalism.  Choices are limited to the "approved" remedy of the bureaucracy and belief systems in Liberalism.  Choice implies freedom, yet, Liberalism always destroys freedom and choice.

As an aside, I now realize how odd the word choice looks when typing it repeatedly.  That is my random thought for the day!

Pro-Choice

Liberals consistently talk about the greatness of being pro-choice. After all, it is the mother's choice that matters, not the unborn child, right?

Let me ask this, what is more important in our society; a mother's choice or the right to life?  A mother's choice is nothing more than a decision to be made with horrific consequences, in this case.  God endowed us with the ability to procreate and our right to life.  We protect life on earth as being sacred in many ways; we even protect the rights of animals through cruelty legislation, etc.  Yet, how is an unborn child (a human nonetheless) less protected in the pro-choice argument?   

“No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.”
― Margaret Sanger

The choice has been made prior to the point of choosing whether or not to be a mother.  The choice was made when a person decides to have sex with a partner.  That was when the freedom of choice occurs, not after the fact.

“The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts--a child--as a competitor, an intrusion and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the dependent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters. And, in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners.”
― Mother Teresa

Where is the choice of that unborn child?  Liberals also claim to be the protectors of the weak, poor, and innocent children (but, only if they are born first).  The hypocrisy of this position is scathing and yet, no liberal will actually admit to the choice that was already made.

At least Liberalism gave one choice, the choice of birth control.....

Healthcare Choices

The Affordable Care and Patient Act (aka Obamacare) did not increase choice, it limited it.

Many young adults used to choose whether or not to carry health insurance.  This decision was made based upon their finances and other factors.  Yet, with the passing of Obamacare, they no longer have this choice.  This freedom has been stripped away in one fellow swoop of the pen by our Liberal leadership and Liberals in Congress.

Undoubtedly, our choices in insurance plans have also been limited.  Why? You might ask.  Insurance companies are not stupid; they will offer plans that conform to the requirements (no choice) of Obamacare in minimal terms to limit the cost to consumers.  You see, economically speaking, insurance companies want to earn our business by keeping rates as low as possible.  The only way to keep rates low for the healthy is to limit what is covered, especially when other stuff is unnecessary.  Men are going to be forced to pay for ob/gyn appointments and women to pay for prostate exams under this bill.  This is a requirement, not a choice.

"If you like your plan, you can keep it. Period." - President Obama

Sounded like a great choice.  Again, proven profoundly wrong.  No discussion needed and end of story.

At least we get to choose our doctor, right?  Again, no.  Our choice of doctor may or may not be available through Obamacare.

Yes, the choice has been made to not expand this section any further.  You see, this is my choice and I am making it.  To put it bluntly, there are few freedoms in Obamacare and therefore no choices.  I am certain that I could write a 2700+ page book on Obamacare, but this is not the place for it.

Religious Choice

Ah, the Phil Robertson section....yes, it is my choice.  But, it goes further than the recent explosion between Phil Robertson, A&E and the Liberal choosers.

One of the core foundations of our country is the Freedom of Religion.  This infers the right to choose a religion and follow its practices as well.

John Adams Letter to Benjamin Rush Date: 1812

"Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion."

Liberalism, through Obamacare, attempted to squash religious choice in implementing the law.  Catholics, who do not allow contraception in practice, were forced to provide birth control through their insurance plans.  Religious institutions appealed this requirement and were told it was a requirement, not a choice.  Thankfully, appeals to this requirement are slowly being upheld by the courts and should be overturning the requirement in time.  Nonetheless, it was an attempt by Liberals to destroy religious freedom and the practice thereof.

It is not just Catholics under attack.  Christians are regularly the targets of Liberal outcries for religious oppression.  Phil Robertson was attacked for his Christian view on gay marriage by the left.  It was A&E's decision to suspend him and that was their choice, which is not the argument here.  However, the fact that GLAAD (a LIBERAL group) would demand he be silenced is the attack on religious freedom.

In reality, all religious denominations have been under attack by some form of Liberalism in our country.  The examples, again, are so numerous that a book could be written.  Muslims, Islamists, etc. it doesn't matter; they are all being attacked by the Liberals.  Conservatives do not care what your religion is, you have every right to practice it, preach it, and show it.

The only "religions" that seem to be omitted from these attacks are Atheists and Climate Change worshipers.  Of course, they tend to be almost exclusively Liberals, so that explains a lot.

Economic Choice

Financial choices should be up to an individual or family.  Liberals force many things to not be choices when it comes to economics. Again, only the tip of the iceberg will be hit upon.

Individuals used to have the choice to spend their money on healthcare.  As aforementioned above, this choice has been retracted by Obamacare.

Taxes are government force, not a choice.  By forcing the top 40% to pay 106.9% of the tax burden (discussed in The Welfare State: Increasing Government Dependency), this economic choice has been removed.  Liberals are for a highly progressive tax code which steals from the "rich" and gives to the poor.

From the obscene to the absurd;

Once January 1st hits, it will officially be illegal to manufacture or import traditional incandescent light bulbs in the United States.  It is being projected that millions of Americans will attempt to stock up on the old light bulbs before they are totally gone from store shelves.

Nope, you don't have a choice to buy the lightbulb you want either.

Education Choice

Liberals are ALL about government control and NO freedom when it comes to school choice.  If you can not afford a way out, you are stuck with public schools.  Public schools are failing on the education front in so many ways, they are too numerous to list here.

Educational choices have been repeatedly proposed, yet they are shot down by Liberals.  Whether it is a voucher system, tax credits, or other means of allowing school choice, Liberals flatly oppose them.  Yet, we are continually falling behind the rest of the world in education.

Charity Choice

The Liberal "charity" continues to be our government.  Again, forcing people to pay taxes into a charity of Liberal persuasion does not allow for choice.  People have the right to do with their property (money) as they choose.  This choice should include giving to the charities of their liking.  This is not to mention, government is inefficient in actually helping the intended recipients.  Private charity is MUCH more efficient in helping those in need.  The split is astounding; 70% of private charity reaches the intended recipient while government only sends 30%.

Speech Choice (Freedom of Speech)

This is so obvious to me that it needs little said about it.  Here is the gist: Liberals do not believe in freedom of speech unless it supports their position.  They seek to silence any opposition to their worldview and attempt to do so every day.

For more information please read my friend's exceptional piece, showing how absurd this has gotten: Liberals Are Now The Freedom Of Speech Police.

My choice to conclude

While Liberals will argue that they offer choice in other arenas, one has the right not to choose those topics.  Granted, there are so many choices on the limiting of choices by Liberals, it is astounding.  To say the choices are endless (until my speech is censored) is an understatement.  All in all, it is a lie to claim to be Liberal and pro-"choice".

Dependence or Independence?

America is coming upon a crossroads; choosing dependence or independence.  Recent studies highlight the dependency difficulties we face.  The biggest question is; does anyone in Congress or the President have the spine to do something before it is too late?  Or, is it too late already?  It is up to the voters, our voices, and communication vehicles to change the course of this country. Some have begun to push this knowledge out and share in respectful avenues.  Many Americans may not realize what our dependence issue is, because it is not being seriously addressed. America must make a choice between dependence and independence.

In my recent piece, Base-less...Boehner Shows His True Stripes, I discussed how the top 40% are now paying 106% of the Federal Tax burden.  Meanwhile, the bottom 40% are now saddled with a -9.1% "burden".  This is dependence at its' most extreme, using the government to steal hard-earned income to give away to others.  

An independent solution would be to revise the tax code.  Different groups have different preferences how to accomplish the overhaul.  There are several solutions, but the most popular major overhauls would be the Fair Tax and Flat Tax.  One can advocate for whatever they choose, but most Americans would agree that the Tax Code needs reform.

As discussed in Budget "Battle" Ends on an "Embrace the Suck", 65% of Americans agree that spending needs to be cut.  It is doubtful Americans are tying the spending to government dependence. Most people do not follow the numbers that closely.  Spending is a major driver of the loss of independence in our country.  We are bound by government spending and dependence.

Government dependence is a major driver of our deficit (now near $17 Trillion).  Some of the statistics, when charted, are simply astounding and scary.  For the small portion of the country carrying the weight of these government dependence programs, it is frightful. At 70% of the Federal budget, and growing, this is simply unsustainable.

The only independent solution is to educate those who have not been paying attention.  Every person has their favorite government program or handout or subsidy.  It must be understood that nothing can be off the table; defense, welfare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.  People have been trying, for years, to accomplish this with some luck.

The following charts illustrate just how expansive growth has been in government dependence.  An extensive study was just released in late November that details even more about government dependence. If you would like to read even more detail, it can be found here.

The choice is, become independent again as a society.  Or, be harnessed and dependent on the government.  If demands are not made, the government will not change course.  And, if the government does not change course, then these programs will be cut harshly when we run out of money.

Splash...There is Some Lemonade in Your Face!

Sometimes, life throws lemons at us and other times, it throws lemonade at us.... Yes, life can get a bit sticky!  My mom always taught me never to discuss politics, religion, or race.  But, I have found that not discussing these topics with friends and strangers leads to a pretty dull life. Sometimes, it is more fun to live outside the cultural "norms".  Yes, one has to be careful on what they state, to a certain extent.

Today, I was, once again, pleasantly surprised in a conversation with a friend of mine.  I have known him and his wife for about 2 years now, but we have never really gotten into politics before.  Our sons are inseparable, playing together every moment that they can.  Yet, in all that time, we have never really discussed politics.  I am not really sure why?  They know I write, wear my opinions on my sleeves and am not afraid to speak my opinion to anyone.  Since they had never made a comment on Facebook, Twitter, Google, or any other social media, I just assumed they had no interest in politics.

Why Democrats Don't Make Good Leaders

Today, recounting the recent events in our political pin ball machine, I have come to realize that Democrats don't lead.  We, the people, have become the shiny ball, bouncing off bumpers and at the command of leaders who are just trying to rack up points.  President Obama has made this abundantly clear in his lack of ability or knowledge regarding true leadership.  His Democrat allies in the Senate and, to a lesser extent, House, have repeatedly faltered in leading this country.  How bad has it gotten?  It is up to debate, as to the extent of sub par proposals and actions that are being taken by Democrats today, and in recent memory.

President Obama proposed a "fix" that really does nothing for the Affordable Care Act nor the people 

Already off the rails

who are most affected by this atrocious legislation.  Is it his sheer ignorance or the lack of ability to lead? Obama's supposed fix is to allow insurers to continue offering plans that had to be cancelled under Obamacare laws.  This fix does nothing but confuse the health insurance market further.  

Politics and Racism

I am often disturbed by the common used argument by Liberals these days; they don't like Obama because they are racist.  This all too common statement undermines the very fabric of political debate.  It demeans the person making the argument to a point where no validity is reached in discourse.  Those on the opposing side automatically tune out anything that the accused has to say, because, who would listen to a racist, after all?  This argument is not only used here on the internet in personal and group debates, but also in the public sphere where talking heads constantly point to racism as the motivation for opposition to Obama.

Let's step back for a moment, and recap some history regarding racism in general terms. First of all, racism exists, and few deny this.  Racism exists on both sides of the political spectrum as well as across all nationalities, sex, creed, religion, etc.  In other words, picking out racism is not a one-sided conversation; to suggest otherwise would be ignorant in and of itself.  Second, the election of Obama was a great moment in American history from the standpoint that we had our first black President.  It took more than 50% of the voting public to elect him (this is important to keep in mind later in this post).  Third, we have an ugly history when it comes to racism; from slavery to voting rights and even after that point.  Few Americans are proud of this deplorable history we share, and many work to overcome this and to heal the nation.

The Problem With Being Thin

My daughter and I, especially, run into several issues with our build.  Jeans don't fit as intended, as neither of us was blessed with a butt.  For that matter, neither was my son blessed with a substantial gluteus maximus.  Buying pants is an exercise in patience as we have to try on pair after pair, skinny, husky, different sizes, etc. until we find the right one.  And, these days, my kids are growing exponentially so this becomes a regular occurrence in our lives.

We don't starve ourselves by any means, we eat huge amounts of food.  My grocery bill regularly runs $900+ per month.  However, we are all very active; I just run after the kids and work in my yard regularly.  My daughter swims 4-7 days per week for nearly 2 hours a day.  And, then, there is Will...Will plays hockey 24/7, 365 days a year, inside and out.  The kid has endless energy and embarrasses his teammates with his unending supply.  We all build up a big appetite doing these activities and we are regular consumers of pasta, bread, cheese, milk, and, of course, bacon.  We, of course, have our healthy foods as well.  My kids will demolish fresh fruit like a normal kid will eat candy.  They choose vegetables over desert on a regular basis.

So, why do I need a politician regulating my children's meals at school?  Yes, I get it; there are many kids and families overweight out there.  But, for kids like mine, they can't get enough food at lunch to fill them up.  They also tend to need a massive snack when they get home every day and before their practice or game begins.  And, why are they skinny?  Chalk some of it up to genetics, but a good portion has to do with our active lifestyle and the insistence that our children don't sit in front the TV or on their electronics (as I sit here writing on my computer, ironically).

Every Day is Veteran's Day

It only comes around one day a year; Veteran's Day.  But, it is a reminder that we need to thank our brave men and women, not just on this day, but every day.  Many of us seek out the opportunities to thank Veteran's, but struggle to find the ways to say thank you to many of these strangers who surround us.  After all, how can you thank someone who offers so much, yet gets so little in return?  So, the question becomes, how can we thank our Veteran's every day, not just this one day of the year?

For starters, we can do something very simple; when you see someone who can be identified as a Veteran, stop for two seconds and go shake their hand; tell them thank you.  We all live busy lives, but this only takes a moment and lets these people know you care.  I do this every opportunity I see, and it is amazing the reaction you will get.  There is not a better feeling than shaking hands with a hero; and yes, that is my opinion of each and every one of them.

Teach your children about Veterans.  My children see me doing this all the time; it has made a profound impact on their view of these men and women.  But, it goes further than that....my children will also go up to these, mostly, strangers and thank them as well.  I can see it in the eyes of these Veterans; they enjoy every child that appreciates them.  I have taken the time to educate my children, show them pictures, read stories and visit with men and women at the local American Legion and VFW.  We take them to ceremonies honoring the fallen and we teach them about respect at these events.  My children catch me off guard with their own thoughts how to thank Veterans as well.  They are incredibly excited about this summer's family vacation; we are going to Washington D.C. to visit Arlington.  They are already researching all of the heroes tombs that they want to visit. Educating our children ensures that respects will be paid, thank you's will be given, and we c

an continue to give back.

Another simple gesture, stand in reverence when at a parade or other event where Veteran's are presenting the colors or marching.

During the National Anthem, stand in silence (unless you are singing), remove your caps and stand facing the flag.  It amazes me how many people I see not doing this at events.  And, quite honestly, it disturbs me as to what kind of people they are!

If you happen to be a hiring manager in a business, actively seek out qualified Veterans to fill open positions.  There is nothing better than hiring a Veteran to work on your team.

Anonymously pay for a Veteran's meal or drink or whatever chance you see.  Why do it anonymously?  This is simple, we don't need a thank you from our Veterans.  What do they need to thank us for?  There is no amount of thank you's that we can ever give to these men and women.  The pure satisfaction is knowing that I just did something nice for a great man or woman.  And, it is hard to argue that the unexpected is one of the best things in life.  I know that they are not expecting it and it will make their day a little brighter.

When waiting in line for something, whatever it may be, let a Veteran take your place in line and move to the back.  Is it really all that important to wait a little longer for something?  It is just a way to give of your time to a Veteran.  It doesn't cost anything and it is a simple gesture.  Recently, I was traveling alone with my children and waiting in the security line at the airport.  My son made me and the man in line behind me laugh pretty hard.  He turned to the man, a soldier in full gear, and asked, "Why do you have to go through security?"  The young man couldn't help but laugh.  After all, my son was implying something I have always found odd myself.  Do we really need protection from our soldiers when boarding a plane?  After a good laugh, we were quick to let the soldier ahead of us in line. Miraculously, others saw this and began doing the same; before we knew it, he was some 100+ people ahead of us.  As he was loading his pack on to the checkpoint, he turned back to my son and saluted him.  This, of course, made my son feel 10 feet tall!  He saluted the soldier right back.

Volunteerism drives this country.  Taking your time to volunteer for Veteran's organizations is a great way to give back.  There are numerous different organizations out there that cater to many different aspects of Veteran life.  Use your talents and give what you can. Take the time to visit with hospitalized Veterans at the VA, deliver meals to our elderly Veterans, help with organizing, running, setting up, picking up an event for our heroes....the list is endless.

Give what you can.  There are so many great organizations out there doing great things for our Veterans.  Maybe you don't have the time to volunteer, but can afford to give financial assistance.  This is just another simple way to say thank you.  And no, we don't have to be multi millionaires to help.  If each of us gave $5 per month, it would amount to $1.5 Billion dollars a month to charity.  Think about it, every little bit helps!

Lastly, buy a flag and present it properly on your home.  Whether it is Veteran's Day or just a normal day, the flag can always be present on our homes.  Make sure that you follow proper display rules to show your utmost respect.

This year, let us pledge to do more than say we are patriotic.  Let's show these men and women what they truly mean to us and our families.  Don't just say it, live it.

God Bless each and every Veteran and their families.  America is great due to your sacrifices and service to this country.  When we talk of American exceptionalism, we are speaking especially about you.  Thank you Veterans!

+Daniel Charles +William Briggs +David Johnson 

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