REMEMBERING 1964

In my opinion, 1964 was a significant year in the last century.

As a senior alumni of the baby boomer gang, my generation witnessed great changes only fully appreciated as our years became another chapter of  history.  With a handful of other codgers, I marked my fiftieth high school reunion a few years ago with the 60th coming soon ! 

To me, 1964 was a most interesting year on many levels.

As seniors at Saint Pauls High School in Portsmouth Virginia  we were just a few months shy of our graduation when the great tragedy of a presidential assassination occurred. While our nuns lost their Saint John of Kennedy, students lost a president with a youthful face and stirring words brimming with optimism. Many of us wanted to be Jacks and Jacquelines in a Camelot world, and this loss was a body blow, especially when a dour faced old man named Johnson took his place. In retrospect, Kennedy wasn't a great president, but to many of us he represented youthful optimism and stirring words for many of our generation.

On the brighter side, 1964 was the year the Beatles came to America, Ford Motors introduced the sexy 1964 and a half  Mustang. Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon were hot items at their "Bikini Beach" romps. We jerked and jived to the happy music of  The Beach Boys and a guy named Andy Warhol immortalized a tomato soup can and became a renowned artist. Bob Dylan wrote and screeched a song which prophesied our turbulent times when he wailed, "The Times They Are a Changing". 

In Detroit the "Motown" sound was invented and we listened to Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas who invited us to be "Dancing in the Streets". Sam Cooke crooned "A Change is Going To Come". The Rolling Stones, Animals, and Supremes also rocked 1964, and they were correct about change and getting in the streets.

Meanwhile, President Johnson declared a "War on Poverty", passed a Civil Rights Bill, and told Americans he was all in to make ours "A Great Society". These promises were taxpayer expensive and largely unfulfilled. College students at the University of California Berkeley held the first major campus demonstrations of the century. They boldly marched and occupied an administration building while Joan Baez sang, "We Shall Overcome". Barry Goldwater announced his run for the presidency and allowed actor Ronald Reagan to make the keynote address at the 1964 GOP Convention.

Cassius Clay whipped Sonny Liston in Florida, became "The Greatest", announced his Muslim faith, and forever changed his name to Mohammad Ali. College students gathered at a small college in Ohio to train for their non violent civil rights activities in the deep south. From that group three idealistic young men would travel to Mississippi and die to bring voting rights to black citizens of the Magnolia State. The murder of Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Earl Chaney would propel future martyrs Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers to action which would change American history. In 1964 Doctor King would receive the Nobel peace prize. In the summer, riots erupted in Harlem and other ghettos of  large northern cities reflecting big "changing times" were upon us. Nelson Mandela and seven others were sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa, and Nikita Khrushchev lost power in the USSR.

On television we began to enjoy more color programing, and believed every pronouncement from "uncle" Walter Cronkite as the gospel truth. We laughed at the broadcast debuts and weekly shows, "The Andy Griffith Show", "The Adams Family", and "The Dick Van Dyke Show". We set aside our smokes and shuttered as our Surgeon General announced that cigarette smoking "may" be harmful to our health and cause cancer. 

We half listened as President Johnson cited some attack on a US destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin and encouraged a "Resolution" to super size our military presence in the far away country of  Vietnam. Many of us would visit Vietnam in the coming years and too many would come home in body bags or gravely disabled. 

Late in 1964 Lyndon Johnson trounced Goldwater to begin his one and only elected term as president. The Warren Commission revealed that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone killer of our beloved John F. Kennedy. We read the recently published " Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan , and began to understand that women could be something other than teachers, moms, nuns, secretaries or nurses. Sony introduced the worlds first home VCR device, and Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton for the first time. The 24th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified and forever banned poll taxes as a voting prerequisite.

By the end of 1964 into early 1965, my fellow graduates and I  had gone off to colleges, jobs, apprenticeships, marriages, or the military. Some of us would serve in Vietnam, others would resist military service, but in the end all of us would agree the Vietnam era was a troubling time.

We lived and learned a lot from that incredible year.  Now, as we toast each other and coast along our Final Lap, it's good to remember and reflect on the yesterdays that got us to today. While our future may not stretch as long as our past, the memories of our times were large with hope, fun, sadness and a wealth of experiences. 

I think, it is important we remind our children and their children that our history is but a single falling leaf on a windy fall day. It occurs to me, how important our young masters and misses learn the stories and lessons from past years while enjoying the bright sunshine of their youth.

"LONE SURVIVOR" - THE MOVIE

In my opinion, the current movie "Lone Survivor" carries two important messages:

First, our politicians have sent young men and women to experience death and horrible injuries without pledging their full support by way of Congressional Declarations of War.  For decades Congress has skated on this constitutional responsibility. In skipping a vote to war or not war, politicians have escaped their duty while riding the roller coaster of public opinion. However, fighting men and women are always required to sacrifice their bodies and minds in ill conceived military missions. This chicken shit and half baked way of governing our military has allowed the United Nations or a president to initiate the actions of our armed forces for far too long. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and the conflict in Afghanistan all lack the necessary commitment, direction, and objectives necessary to militarily succeed. In my opinion, thousands upon thousands of our finest have been killed and maimed to settle civil wars and regional conflicts which were not in our national interest. While politicians lack the stomach to officially declare war, they revel in the micromanagement of our armed forces to serve their political ends.

Second, since the rise of a powerful media class, our military has been forced to employ rules of engagement and other sanctions placed on their ability to effectively wage war. In an early scene of "Lone Survivor" the decision to release the goatherders because of what "CNN" might say dooms the operation and causes over a dozen men to be killed. War is a nasty business of killing and its rules cannot be left to the musings of civilians guided by  "political correctness". Nothing about war can ever be correct or proper, and the worst of our nature is sometimes the only way to survive. The terrible decisions a soldier must make in order to survive should never be subject to what "CNN" might report. Sometimes what happens in the heat and passion of combat must remain a soldiers dark secret. Pompous talking heads and politicians would have little to say if they were veterans of gut wrenching combat experiences.

"Lone Survivor" correctly depicts another American war mismanaged by politicians. The movie also shows a good example of why our military cannot be subject to the relentless anti military scrutiny of CNN and other media bullies. As the winds of public opinion push and pull poll numbers, Americans must demand political leaders to respect our armed forces with the backing of formal war declarations and the ground rules to succeed. Continuing to use our military force as mercenaries for political reasons in undeclared wars is a national disgrace. 

A COSTLY WAR LOST BY AMERICAN PROGRESSIVES & LIBERALS

Recently we marked the 50th anniversary of the "War on Poverty" declared by President Lyndon Johnson. This failed war is his everlasting legacy, and an extension of the progressive ideas of Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt.  Additionally, this "War on Poverty" has been happily embraced by liberal politicians since 1964. The idea to redistribute the nations wealth from the taxpayer class to the poor has been a colossal failure. Over the life of this "War" anyone questioning the massive expenditures was quickly labeled a grinch, racist, or someone wanting to starve grandma and helpless little children.

Johnson's "War on Poverty" is a turd from the toliet bowl of socialism which failed in the Soviet Union, China, and many other countries. The old concept of government redistributing a nations wealth has caused revolutions, class warfare, and misery in many nations. Needless to say, our national failure to win the "War on Poverty"  WILL NOT be widely reported by the liberal press.

Today the Washington Times and Rush Limbaugh did report a few specifics on this failed war. First, taxpayer dollars redistributed to abolish poverty over the last half century have amounted to almost 21 TRILLION DOLLARS. The poverty rate in 1965 was about 17 % and today it is 15 %.  In the last years of the Bush administration the poverty rate stood at 12.7 % . Further, we now have 47 million people on food stamps, up an amazing 13 million since obama took office five years ago.

By any standard, tons of money have been used and wasted with very little meaningful improvement for the poor. Since the poverty rate has remained unchanged over the years, one might ask where the money went ? In my opinion, much of the money has been shamelessly squandered on thousands of bureaucrats with fat salaries working in fancy federal office buildings. The money, food stamps, free food, free phones, free housing, and government checks sent to the poor have established an underclass of hopeless people. Older generations have taught younger generations how to play the system and live off the dole. To maximize their payouts, too many poor people have had too many babies raised in fatherless homes where education was set as a low priority. Like buzzards, liberal and progressive politicians have bought the votes of the poor with promised new handouts and speeches on class warfare. In election after election, the poor have been trained to vote like mindless zombies.

As obama and is liberal pals demand extensions of unemployment compensation, obamacare changes, a higher minimum wage, a war on the rich, and looser immigration laws, there will be NO OFFICIAL WASHINGTON celebration or commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the "War on Poverty". Interesting that king obama of the progressive world of liberals, WILL NOT speechify  "The War on Poverty", but rather he will continue to demand more money to prop up his ponzi schemes of socialism.
   

TIS THE SEASON TO FIRE LOSING COACHES ...

As the college and professional football seasons end, a number of coaches are hailed, retained, and some fired. The winners get raises and praises, the retained coaches get another chance, and the losers get sacked. 

When a head coach gets to choose his players and is given an unlimited budget, the team owner or athletic director expects a winning season. Like a business manager unable to earn profits, a coach unable to win games must be replaced by someone who can succeed. Why isn't this simple principle applicable to our government leaders ?

The head coach for our government is barrack o. obama, and Americans are the owners and financial sponsors of his team.  Here is a partial record of Coach obama's failures and lies:

1. He asked, and got billions of dollars for "shovel ready jobs". Check the unemployment numbers.
2. He assured Americans that the IRS was not targeting anyone. Check Congressional hearings which revealed a different reality for conservative groups.
3. He explained the Benghazi Massacre was the result of some inconsequential and insignificant movie. Check the facts from Congressional hearings.
4. He repeatedly speechified a theme of "focusing like a laser" on creating jobs. Check the results.
5. He told the world "obamacare " would be good for America, and "if you like it, you can keep your current health care plan." Another reality check.
6. He told America we got every dime back his team used to rescue banks and auto companies with interest. Check  the real numbers.
7.  He said he knew nothing of "Fast & Furious" gunrunning to Mexican drug cartels. Again, check the results of Congressional inquiries.
8.  He promised under "obamacare" our health care premiums would be lowered by $ 2500.
9.  He bypassed due process and instantly determined that a Cambridge Ma. white cop was wrong to ticket a black man, and a "white" Hispanic was guilty of killing a Florida black teen.
10. He promised the public a "transparent administration" and "five days" to look at every bill before it got to his desk. Check his record of midnight legislation, unconstitutional executive rulings, and orders of unelected & presidential appointed "czars".
11. He promised he was not "spying" on Americans. Check the findings of Congressional investigations. 
12. He emphatically proclaimed he did not know his uncle from Kenya was living here illegally. However on 12/5/2013 he admitted that he had lived with this uncle, and did know him. 

Soon obama will give us another stirring State of the Union address. Already leading up to this grand event his media hound dogs are bellowing his greatness and incredible accomplishments. Also, expect his political players to schmooze and heap praise on their "coach in chief."

In the real world based on his record and flagrant lies he has been a poor coach. Despite all the players he chose and the billions of taxpayer money he used, obama must be responsible for his record.

 Is it not time we fire this losing coach and his incompetent players ? 

SPY VS. SPY .. ..

All the current hand wringing and chest pounding over NSA & CIA security failures remind me of a funny old cartoon strip.

A long time ago Mad Magazine introduced two little guys in a cartoon strip entitled "Spy Vs. Spy." One spy was totally black and the other completely white. Both were heavily cloaked, and drawn as angular little fellows bent on destroying each other. Each installment displayed cartoons of one killing or maiming the other in some form of mayhem. Of course neither spy was ever killed, but relentlessly pursued gaining an advantage over his foe.

In the real world, I believe much of the fuss is a show, and part of the ongoing industry of spying. Sneaking a peek at your neighbors new grass seed, a competitors latest innovative toy, or another nations weapon system are all parts of the ancient practice of espionage. It's not unusual that our spies would want to listen to the private phone conversations of a German or British Prime Minister. As a matter of fact, it's likely their spies already listen to our leaders. The covert activities of nations spying on each other is a very old practice, and the only thing new are the occasional revelations. Truth be told, most nations probably want more of their national budgets spent on spying. While history shows many bad things happening because of spies, much of their activity is mundane surveillance and listening.

What our spies may gain as an advantage may be a temporary gain or a ruse put in place to counter our spying. If a real deep secret is uncovered it will eventually lead to greater snooping technology and newer inventions. I believe spying is necessary, good, and the more the merrier. As politicians proclaim "transparency" in government affairs should we not expect a world of revealed secrets ?  Should the likes of Snowden be condemned or praised ?

What we should really worry about are the press releases issued from governments feigning alarm or outrage over spying. Are their pronouncements related to truth or new layers of deception ? In my opinion, the sneaky little guys from "Spy vs. Spy" aptly characterize international spying where most tactical gains are quickly neutralized in the on going spy business.  

THE SMARTEST MAN IN AMERICA ....

OBAMA is surely the smartest man in America and possibly the smartest person on earth. Here's how I know this to be true.

First in the 2006 - 2007 campaign,  this inexperienced community organizer electrified the nation with speech after speech offering everything to everyone. With little business, government, or political expertise's he slam dunked a war hero and grizzled old politician (McCain) to win the most powerful job in America and the world. In his triumph he garnered practically every vote from Americans of color. He took a majority of women's votes. He won overwhelming support from almost every college student and their learned professors. He gathered multi millions in contributions from the elite in the entertainment world. He masterfully won the support and adoration of media biggies. He wooed millions from the pocketbooks of regular working folks and the financial tycoons of Wall Street. He did all this smiling and repeating a pledge of "Hope and Change".

After four years of no federal budgets, increased unemployment, foreign policy goofs, skyrocketing federal spending, a steady campaign of class warfare, increased taxes, more socialist programs, and ramming obamacare past all our enlightened Congress people and Supremos, obama hit the campaign trail in 2011. This time he easily whipped the other candidate holding a strong resume of government and business successes (Romney). In this second victory, obama got practically all the votes from the same people who elected him four years earlier.

Unless he convinces America to extend his presidency beyond constitutional limits, obama will leave office in early 2016. He will spend his remaining White House years campaigning for a fuller implementation of his failing agenda and his legacy. He will receive continued support from the fools who gave him the presidency.

After 2016 he will probably be acclaimed the greatest president of our era despite an eight year record of total ineptitude. If you do not sing his praises now or in the future you may be branded a racist or worse. 

TIS THE SEASON FOR STUFF ...

No matter your religion, culture or family practise the last month of each year is exceptional for all the stuff we give and get. Its the time of gift giving and in my world it becomes an annual crisis of stuff.

I have an attic, storage shed, and closet full of stuff accumulated over the years. Things purchased, inherited, and received as gifts become stuff difficult to discard. Each object in my collection has family history or a memory. The emergency is what should be saved and what should be thrown away. This is necessary to make room for the new stuff I will accumulate during the current holiday.

I have given a lot of good stuff to the parish thrift store and Salvation Army, but much remains to be recycled, re gifted, or trashed. Should I dispose of the board games received in 1959 at Christmas, but not played since 1981 ? Should I part with the colorful never worn holiday sweater received from a dear deceased aunt ? Is it time to part with my great VHS collection ?

The stuff, old and new, grows with each passing December. At times I curse the stuff as I stumble over heaps of it cluttering my living spaces. At other times, I go through boxes of my saved items and revel in the good memories associated with each piece. I wonder if I should have a huge garage sale in the spring, but shudder at the prospect of strangers demanding my precious items on the cheap. Perhaps I should re write my will and insure all my relatives receive a goodly portion of my saved stuff.  But, would this be considered a gift or curse by my benefactors ?

Should the burden and blessing of having lots of stuff be added to the established list of stresses some folks suffer during the winter holiday season ? 

PREACHING CLASS ENVY & CLASS WARFARE

Biden, Harris, Obama, Rev. Jackson, Clinton, Pelosi, Sharpton and a long list of democrats, progressives, and socialists continue to argue that poor people are poor because rich people are selfish.

 Entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners are constantly demonized as folks unwilling to hand over a larger portion of their money in taxes to fund government socialism. These anti free market and anti-capitalist demagogues seem very happy to war against Wall Street, large corporations, and small businesses. They wish to don the cape of a modern-day Robin Hood. While history and legends reveal a Robin Hood who stole from the government and re distributed to the people, government under democratic rule steal from the people and redistribute the wealth to guarantee votes, union support, and government loyalty in the next election cycle.

In my opinion, progressives are dead wrong, and actually destroy the fabric of our economy. Let me explain. When people earn wealth, it is because they have worked harder than other people. These rich people usually build businesses or careers which create desirable products or services. Then, these smart business people re invest part of their profits which creates more jobs and profits. Along the way successful people also use some of their earnings to buy and enjoy nice homes, clothes, and cars.

For low- and middle-income people, envy is a natural and good reaction. It should be a signal for them to positively channel their efforts to attain wealth. Other than winning a lottery or an inheritance, the majority of people who gain wealth use their brains or brawn. There are thousands of stories of very poor Americans working their way from poverty to affluence by setting goals and doing the things to reach those goals. Equally, there are thousands of stories of penniless immigrants becoming rich because of their efforts. The "American Dream" was not, and will never be a myth. However, the road to riches is tough and one must work long and hard. Progressives and socialists would have lower economic classes hate the rich rather than follow their example. It's called class warfare and it works in places were ruthless politicans prey on uninformed voters.

The class warfare battle plan tells everybody the nation's wealth should be shared among all people, and big government agencies can do the job.  We are told that the increasing gap between high and low wage earners is the fault of the greedy rich.  Of course, the real reason for the gap is an increasing number of workers quitting the work place and accepting government handouts. In fact. the era of the nanny welfare state is usually marked by chronic high unemployment and millions living on government charity paid for by the working tax payers. 

The problem is the democrat party. It has convinced too many people that their low economic state is not their responsibility, but the fault of the rich. After decades of federal welfare schemes and trillions of wasted dollars (LBJ failed War on Poverty) we continue to have too many people mired in poverty
and this is what the democrat/socialist party wants.

Somehow democrat party bigwigs cannot or don't want to understand that government cannot create wealth. Too many politicians fail to realize that government bureaucracies cannot run anything better than the private sector. Profits are simply not in the vocabulary of government people. Our nation's economic superiority was built on individuals taking chances on their dreams and plans, and not on government schemes.

If you think our federally managed postal system, Amtrak, Obamacare, IRS, or other federal run plans are good, then you will support wealth redistribution. However, if you think welfare and class warfare make the nation strong then you've probably overdosed on the poisonous liberal Kool aid which seeks to kill the greatest economy the world has ever witnessed.

THANKSGIVING, A CURIOUS HOLIDAY ?

On the fourth Thursday of November we celebrate the national and legal holiday of Thanksgiving. On this day, many of us gorge ourselves with food, football, family, shopping, parades, and maybe some thanking. But, exactly who are we thanking and why ?

A very early Thanksgiving occurred near Berkley Plantation Virginia in December of 1619 when Captain John Woodlief safely landed after a terrible Atlantic passage. In his declaration he stated, "wee ordaine that the day our ships arrivall at the place assigned for plantacon  (plantation or place of planting) in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God."  

Later, in 1621 the Pilgrims conducted a three day feast of Thanksgiving with 90 Indians to celebrate their first good harvest. Earlier possible "thanksgiving" celebrations were held by the Spaniards, and by Jamestown Virginia settlers in 1610.  During the Revolutionary war days of "thanksgiving" were observed in 1777 and 1789. In 1863 President Lincoln issued a proclamation inviting all Americans to "... observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of "thanksgiving" to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." On December 26th, 1941, the United States Congress made Thanksgiving  a law.

I believe the observances were thanking a Deity for something. The earliest holidays marked survival and having food to eat. During the Revolutionary and Civil War, the days of  "thanksgiving" were ordered to recognize a new Constitution and military victories. Lincoln was thankful that after several decisive Union military victories the terrible "War Between the States" might be drawing to a close, and he wanted a special day to possibly join all the citizens together. Franklin Roosevelt and his Congress were still pulling out of the Depression, and reeling from the disaster of Pearl Harbor when they made Thanksgiving a law. Their motives were to hopefully draw some positive out of bad times, and by law  remind citizens to be thankful on a legally recognized holiday..

Nowadays in my opinion, a lot of folks are not thanking God so much. It seems fewer people are thanking anybody and more people are demanding more free stuff. Despite all the jabbering and mucking about by our government, a lot of people are demanding governments provide their sustenance, all their daily necessities and even luxuries of life. 

Curiously, a local minister declared that his most recent free Thanksgiving dinner was a great success because several more thousand people gathered this year for the free meal than over the prior year. Is an increase in poverty or people needing or demanding free food a mark of progress ? Should anyone take joy or pride in the fact that more people are drifting about in a fog of poverty and require constant assistance or is the endless cycle of giving the real meaning of Thanksgiving ?  

What has caused the great shift from personal responsibility to a society of able bodied people demanding something for nothing. ?  When the federal government takes more and more tax payer funds for social warfare programs, that will never end poverty, is that a Thanksgiving message or an  example of pandering and virtue signaling to buy votes ? Should self reliance and it's  rewards be a more recognized historic lesson of our Thanksgiving day tradition and celebration ? Should charity remain the work of churches and non government agencies sponsored by millions of charitable minded citizens ?  Or,  is charity the business of politicians and their unelected bureaucrats ? 

As demonstrated by our ancestors, should we not be thankful that our hard work coupled with some divine help give us this holiday ? A curious day and season  to consume dangerous portions of food, shopping and couch football viewing ? Maybe between portions and naps we should think about the real meaning of Thanksgiving or maybe not. 

OUR SHAMEFUL FOREIGN POLICY

Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Susan Rice, and their colleagues have been miserable representatives of our best national interests in foreign affairs. Putin bullies obama in Syria and the Ukraine and the presidents team folds and retreats while denying the existence of a cold war. We foolishly lift tough economic sanctions from Iran and get empty words and no cessation in the development of their nuclear weapons program. At a time when the sanctions were beginning to pressure Iran, the United States backs off and potentially opens the mid east to further nuclear development by rouge nations. Obama has failed in Afghanistan and will cut and run on the threats from their corrupt leadership despite the blood and gains made by of our armed forces.

Kerry, obama, and their left wing media puppets will fill our ears with a lot of propaganda about our talks and agreements being major diplomatic breakthroughs, but more often than not they are not. Again we show an inability to play "big boy" diplomacy and continue the dangerous obama foreign policy ploy of following from behind. Kerry, Clinton, and obama have consistently allowed the likes of Putin, Assad, and Kim to steer our foreign policy. Assad and his murderous regime live on as over 100000 Syrians have died in a civil war. The obama Administration stands idly by while this modern Holocaust continues. Our adversaries threaten and then make empty promises to behave, and like fools our leadership swallows their lies. In the last six years the United States has shed it's role as an  international leader to become an international weakling.

While it is not always in the interest of the United States to be the world's police force it is our business to use our economic and military  power as a lever in creating a world favorable to our national interests. Just as Putin, China, and "little" Kim seem ready to ramp up the "cold war" the obama puppet Hagel is bloviating about great reductions in our military expenditures !

If you want the truth of how the obama Administration is screwing up our role as an international power broker, listen to Benjamin Netanyahu  or FOX News. If you want a heavy dose of excuses, hippie rhetoric, and lies tune in to any number of obama apologists nightly featured on the likes of MSNBC, PBS, CNN or read the printed propaganda in the New York Times, LA Times or Washington Post.  At times it is difficult to ascertain if their latest incompetence is intentional or an attempt to shift the headlines from the obamacare debacle or the wasted triilions squandered in bailouts.

For patriots and those who never drank the liberal kool aid of obama mania we must endure a few more years of a most inexperienced and left wing president. The obama Administration has driven us farther away from our "exceptionalism" in international leadership and national economic good health than any president since the timid reign of Jimmy Carter.  

MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGES ?

Of late, massive dysfunction has become the chief product of our federal government. The government of Washington DC is failing miserably in all it's duties from writing and passing a national budget, conducting political business within the rules of the Constitution, managing foreign affairs, or spending the PEOPLES money with restraint. The big  wigs of Capital Hill, The White House, and The Supreme Court have proven incredibly incompetent and more committed to ideologies than the best interests of the people.

The Republican and Democratic political parties have become so star struck with the power and awe of public office they routinely prostitute themselves to lobbyists, unions, big donors, and the major media-entertainment outlets. They unashamedly sell their souls and principles for re election donations, and thereafter puppet their donors causes. It appears the chief aspiration of most politicians is to gather enough money, sponsors, and political pals necessary to get re elected for decades. And nepotism has again become fashionable in the nations capital. Public office should not be the birth right of every Kennedy, Bush, Clinton or Obama family member coming of age. Washington DC has become a bastion of elites who exempt themselves from many of the laws pushed on overtaxed citizens. The nobles of DC enjoy superior pay, perks, political favors, job security, job benefits, and promotional opportunities while the majority of other Americans struggle with family budgets, job security, health care insurance, and lives filled with government intrusion.

This coalition of DC tyrants has a very active base of brainless voters and illegal aliens who surrendered their personal dignity many years ago in exchange for government handouts. From the early parts of the twentieth century social progressives decided it was their sacred duty to guide the "great unwashed" to a better life by stealing (over taxing) from the citizens who produced the wealth of the nation.  To accomplish this lofty goal the elitist "do gooders" convinced the national government to sponsor an alphabet soup of social programs. All of this socialism was billed to the productive working classes in the form of taxes and fees. From rewarding unwed mothers with money, handing out free telephones, providing free government housing, free condoms, printing billions of poorly policed food stamps, building government bureaucracies to mismanage education and health care, to smothering the free market with asinine regulations, the government of Washington has almost destroyed the greatest economy and society in the history of the planet.

However, I am not talking about social security recipients who suffered years and years of involuntary automatic payroll deductions. Nor, am I talking of those unfortunate citizens deprived of the necessary physical or intellectual abilities to maintain gainful employment. Finally, I exempt, members of our military and public safety sectors who deserve whatever pensions or disability payments they earned in service to their country and community. These groups deserve government stipends because they paid into the system with their hard work, natural disabilities, or job related injuries and disabilities.

The scourge of our nation has been a crooked political class giving away the nations wealth to greedy unions and able bodied lazy people in return for their votes. The biggest problem is in the mega urban areas teeming with unions and politicians who believe their mandate is to tax the rich and provide the unworthy a lifetime dole in exchange for a guaranteed vote. If this pattern is not changed America will soon erupt in a full on civil war because workers have become alert and angry over the injustices. The few remaining wealth producers have become weary of politicians using their money to buy votes from the lazy.

I PROPOSE SOME REALLY BIG CHANGES TO SAVE AMERICA :

 1.  Do not re elect ANY incumbents to the Senate or House of Representatives in 2014 or 2016.
 2.  Adopt immediate legislation to establish term limits for all legislators, supreme court justices, and                   members of the executive branch to only one term of six years. Skip a cycle before any re election.
 3.  Adopt a  pay plan for all legislators which bases pay on the achievement of clearly defined goals in                 legislative and budgetary matters, eg. pass a balanced budget by the end of the FY or forfeit 1% of your       pay for each weeks delay, etc.
 4.  Require the three branches of the federal government to pass no laws, proclamations, or rulings unless          they apply equally to all citizens, including themselves and all government employees.
 5. Increase our military forces and construct a totally secure perimeter at our southern borders. Allow no           more illegal aliens into the country and fairly adjudicate the cases of those already in country.
 6. Establish a standing permanent committee of non government executives to review all federal government      agencies to insure they have a legitimate mission that serves the population at reasonable costs.
 7. Prohibit any former POTUS, congressperson or Supreme Court Justice from any lobbyist group                    involved in federal contracts.
 8. Close Washington DC as the working capital of the United States. Maintain DC as a free National                 Museum. However, allow the Pentagon to remain the nations military headquarters.
 9. Move the working capital of the nation to cities in "fly over" country. Cities such as St. Louis, Kansas            City or Omaha. Perhaps designate separate cities as headquarters for each branch of the government.
10.Reduce the number and length of holidays for presidents and legislators and require their families move to       the new capital city as their chief residence during the six year term.
11 Close the IRS and institute a less complicated and fair system of taxing citizens and companies.
12. Shut down the Department of Education and divide all its funding and resources                                             proportionately to the management of the State and US Territory Departments of Education.
13. Prohibit and disband unions in every agency, department or branch of the federal government that relies        on taxpayer funding.

I am confident there are many other initiatives worthy of consideration to effect a reform to our nations government. Whether the new political parties are called, "Chickens", "Constitutionalists", "Tea Party Americans", "Whigs", "Libertarians", "Goths", or "Cougars", we must part ways with the do nothing political clubs of Democrats and Republicans. Over the last few decades these parties have divided our citizens, wasted trillions of dollars, and abandoned the common sense and fairness provided by our Constitution.
    

OBAMA PROMOTED POVERTY

Since early in the twentieth century social progressives have determined that government intervention is the only way to save mankind. The idea of these elitists, then and now, is that men are too stupid to manage their own lives.

Universal taxation in 1913 gave the federal government a scheme to legally take money from businesses and citizens to fund whatever plans it deemed important to lift mankind from it's misery. A good example was the The Volstead Act which forbade the consumption or production of booze. This was considered a sure way to save citizens from moral ruin.

More significantly, the federal government squeezed itself into the market place by beating down capitalists, supporting unions, and enacting law after law which affected businesses from Wall Street to Main Street. Paper money replaced gold and silver as the measure of value, and the printing presses of Washington DC went crazy. More and more schemes of social engineering became federal laws especially during the Franklin Roosevelt years. These temporary measures of social engineering and welfare became etched in stone. Taxpayer funding escalated throughout the mid and late decades of the twentieth century because segments of the federal government are dedicated to providing minimal living standards for those who want a lifetime of dependence.

Political opportunists of every party and rank have long popularized the notion that the differences between the rich and poor were unfair and immoral. Their solution was big government was the only  solution. This theme has proven the greatest magnet for votes ever conceived. Whichever candidate promises the most "free" stuff usually gets elected and re elected. According to many government experts the cure for all social ills has been trillions upon trillions of tax payer dollars spent on programs administered by federal agencies staffed with legions of bureaucrats. When specific plans fail to garner results the political solution is always to spend even more money, hire more bureaucrats and invent new programs. Those who question the spending disease of more failed schemes and wasted taxpayer funding are usually denounced as racists, haters of little children, handicapped, and the elderly.

Despite what all the social and political planners might preach and think, people are pretty damn smart. When it became crystal clear that individuals and families could get "free" food, shelter, medical help, telephones,and spending money from  the government without working everything changed. In the last hundred years the traditional role of churches, families, and charities has diminished. In too many instances the government has become the family, church, and charity for  many ABLE BODIED citizens who have decided a life of welfare is better than working. Like a DNA marker we have generation upon generation of ABLE BODIED families who have existed off  government handouts.

Elitists and so called intellectuals in politics, academia, and the media continue to insist that BIG GOVERNMENT is the solution to all that ails our nation. They tell us that capitalism is the root of evil even though it is the primary creator of jobs, a healthy economy, and tax revenues. Politicians from Wilson to Obama have preached class warfare, and it has worked. More and more citizens cast their lives on government poverty programs. Also, of note is the fact that American poverty is really not poverty when compared to what poor looks like in other nations of the world.

And as government plans on poverty, mass education, obamacare, etc., etc., continue to fail one thing sure as sunrise will be politicians telling the citizens that the SOLUTION is more money,  agencies, and bureaucrats.

MY PLASTIC ILLUMINATED SIFTER SPATULA THINGY.

In order to supplement my meager retirement earnings, I have taken to the invention of amazingly helpful household items. Behold, my first entry - the Plastic Illuminated Sifter Spatula Device #1.

This handy invention is versatile in the completion of many household chores. Additionally, with a fixed light, chores can be completed in the event of a power failure or in the subdued lighting of a romantic evening. I have listed just a few of the possible uses, but I am sure there are many more uses.

1. Use it as a Pasta Strainer.
2. Use it to sift for buried gold nuggets, Rolex watches, coins, and rings on your next beach holiday.
3. Use it as a spatula to turn pancakes or hash browns in your skillet.
4. Use it to scoop poop from your kitty's litter box.
5. Use it to smack pong balls if you have misplaced your pong paddle.
6. Use it to serve single servings of potatoes, meat chunks, carrots, and onions from your pot roast pan.
7. Use it to deliver a gentle fanny slap to any naughty children or pets.
8. Use it as a personal back scratch for yourself or the pleasure of your significant other.
9. Use it to serve up ice cubes if your ice tongs can not be found.
10. Use it to swat troublesome flying and crawling insects while picnicking.

And, remember with the convenient and powerful light all these functions and more can be performed at night. I will soon apply for US patent rights to this marvelous bit of technology. Foreign investments are encouraged.

For expedited ordering use the code PISSD #1, and send along cash or coin of $ 20 dollars (US) and 30 dollars (US) for shipping and handling

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MY obamacare DREAM SCHEME

It's hard to believe, but last night I had a dream about Obamacare.  And, the most amazing part is that it was a very pleasant dream.

First in my slumbering fantasy, I remember Peggy and I being hired as government workers employed to speed up the application process for people enrolling in the new health care plans. Senior citizens were tapped to fill the thousands of temporary jobs. I do not clearly remember the qualifications for employment, but when the interviewers realized we knew our multiplication tables that seemed to secure our positions. Our part time salaries were generous, and high enough for me to consider buying a Porsche even though Peggy thought a Porsche was a stupid car for an old man.

The government used a fleet of  luxury mini bus limousines to pick up everyone at their homes, and provided a free breakfast drive through service at our favorite fast food places. By the time we arrived at work it was time for our mid morning break followed by our late morning pause, and shortly thereafter it was lunchtime. The afternoon also provided breaks for snacks, restroom visits, and pill taking. There were thousands of seniors at our job site in a space equivalent to a huge concert hall divided into hundreds of cubicles. There were no child care facilities because no one had kids, but there was a day care service for our domestic pets. We were allowed to bring a pet, and we brought along Tinkerbelle. Every animal had a trained personal pet sitter provided "gratis" by the government. In the evening our limousine would return us home with a few stops to pick up groceries, laundry, or pet supplies.

The specifics of the job involved staring at a monitor and watching numbers scroll down a large screen. We had to stop the scrolling, and call a supervisor if we saw anything other than a number. Typically, if a letter or smiley face popped up that was sufficient reason to alert a supervisor. I am not sure why this was important, but there was a lot of scrambling and shouting by leaders when a non number character appeared on any ones computer.  Now, just about every worker had an overseer, and each of those bosses had a boss. There were more supervisors than workers. Needless to say, the job was incredibly boring and drifting off to sleep was very easy to do. However, no one was ever disciplined for snoozing.

Unfortunately, I was fired from this wonderful job because I argued with a boss that an "E" was not a backwards "3" and should not be classified as a number. It was forbidden to argue with a boss. Many people were fired each day which is a departure from the common concept of government employees being immune to sacking. At any rate, those of us fired were entitled to a series of free seminars sponsored by our previous employer. The block of instructions were entitled, "How to Win Lawsuits Against the Government If You are Fired".

Well, I attended all the classes;  got an "A", hired a lawyer, got a ridiculously large settlement, and purchased a sleek and incredibly fast Porsche over the objections of Peggy.

WOW WHAT A DREAM !!!   

HELL NO TO ANY DEBT LIMIT EXTENSIONS

In the coming weeks obama and his merry band of "tax and spend other peoples money" will predict the total collapse of America if a debt limit extension is not passed in Congress. Media talking heads and print liberals will forecast starving children, suffering old people, and universal mayhem without passage of a continuing resolution to spend more and more money. obama's State of the Union speech will demand more money to fix the nations social problems unfixed by the seven or eight trillion spent since the days of Lyndon Johnson. The progressives and obama are lying to scare the nation into more unlimited government spending and national debt. Understand and underline the fact that obama, Carney, Pelosi, Reid, and most democrats along with their willing media dupes are agents of unlimited big government and socialism. They want lots of money to buy lots of votes from citizens and illegal immigrants enslaved by government welfare schemes.

The American people must demand fiscal responsibility and NOW is the time. The major markets may hiccup, but will likely be relieved to see an end to the unlimited printing of money and bonds. Every responsible citizen and corporation in America has a budget, and the Obama regime wants to operate with a blank check budget payable by the decreasing number of working citizens and profitable corporations.

Any sane individual with a $ 500 weekly salary would not go out on Friday night and spend $ 500 on new tattoos, $ 200 on a lavish dinner, and $ 2000 for a third wide screen television. Citizens cannot allow their government to continue unlimited spending on schemes designed to buy political support and votes. Common sense in spending must prevail in our government as it does in our homes and businesses.

Obamacare is the tip of the fiscal cliff of government irresponsibility and Cruz, Lee, Tea Party members, and true conservatives are right to vigorously object. The "Affordable Health Care Act" is not only unaffordable for most Americans, but it's implementation is an embarrassment of clumsy planning by obama and his minions.

Despite the bias and nonsense of polls, most Americans know obama and his political henchmen have us on a path to financial hell. NOW is the time to call, twit, e mail, march, shout, and blog your congress people to stop anything that allows more wasteful spending by an inept and corrupt obama regime.

CLINTON MEANS CHAPTER II of OBAMA'S FAILED BIG FAT GOVERNMENT ...

The government scheme of Obamacare will ultimately fail the people. It will fail because big government cannot effectively fulfill the wants and needs of citizens.

The federal government has failed wars on poverty, drugs, gangs, and guns. Obamacare is simply another big box of empty promises wrapped in the false idealism of socialism.  In general, big government plans are bad and ineffective because despite all the time and money at it's disposable, the government agents are unaccountable bureaucrats. How many big shot bureaucrats brought before House Committees and shown guilty of fraud, poor management, or lying have ever been imprisoned or even fired ?  If the government big wigs are unaccountable than the little wigs know there is no consequence for their performance. The planning, and execution of these boondoggles are done by workers using other peoples money, so they have no monetary stake in a successful outcome. There is no incentive to do well, and no punishment for screwing up. In the surreal world of government there is no consequence for failure except on the battlefield. 

Obamacare is simply another failed socialist idea cooked up by "know it all" elitists. This upper class of leftist politicos, academics, and media types think regular people are too stupid, and or incapable of managing their own lives. Therefore, this coalition of "smarter than thou" folks design "cradle to grave" plans to care for the classes they consider "the lower sort". The dirty secret is this gentry of elites simply want all the power. They want total political, cultural, educational, sexual, housing, medical, and economic reign over the nation and it's "unwashed masses". 

Our founding fathers wrote documents specifically insisting that the best government is one "limited" to just a handful of essential activities. However, when politicians and progressives convinced people that their "welfare" could be provided by the government, our fall from liberty began. With every new law and program we lose our fundamental right to choose. Ultimately, the Obama types goal is to take away all our money and redistribute it to create "universal equality". Of course they have, and will continue to exempt themselves from Obamacare and their other schemes of  "universal equality". We will be taxed and taxed, and forced into more government programs. Now we have the empire of Washington with it's thousands of bureaucrats and millions of regulations. This web is incredibly inefficient and slow in fulfilling it's missions, however it has effectively destroyed the importance of families and churches. The few truly needy have been joined by a greater majority of lazy losers living from generation to generation off the tax payments of workers and corporations. 

The saddest reality is that all the trillions have not eliminated or even reduced poverty, drug crimes, or gang violence. Big government cannot solve the social ills of our nation.  But, when any politician is asked what it will take to solve problem x, y, or z, they will always say "more funding". As Obamacare fails it will be said that it simply needs more time, and MONEY (taxpayer) to succeed !  

OUR TAX $$ WASTED IN "USE IT OR LOSE IT" SCHEMES & PROJECTS

The Washington Post recently ran a very interesting and revealing article, reprinted in the October 6th edition of the Richmond Times Dispatch, about how OUR tax dollars are squandered at the end of the federal government's fiscal year. The federal governments fiscal year ends September 30th each year.

Essentially, each department of the government has a budget. If all the funds for federal contracts are not used by the end of the fiscal year, unused monies are lost forever, and the possibility of budget reductions becomes likely for the upcoming fiscal year. To avoid this ARMAGEDDON of unspent money and possible budget cutbacks, extra ordinary spending occurs the last few weeks of each fiscal year. Thus, the tradition of "use it (budgeted funding) or lose it" has become a tradition throughout the federal government.

Consider, there are 52 weeks in a year, and when 100% of a budget is equally divided it means slightly less than 2 % of the budget should be used each week. However, in the last three fiscal years, records indicate that an astounding average of 19.3 % of all federal budgets was spent the last five weeks of the year. The battle cry from private contractors, government bosses, and federal workers becomes, "USE IT OR LOSE IT." Overtime, and a shopping frenzy dictate that all allotted funds be used. Here are a few astounding examples cited by the Washington Post article:

1. "In a single day the Agriculture Department spent $ 144,000.00 on toner cartridges."
2. "In a single purchase, the Coast Guard spent $ 178,000.00 on "Cubicle Furniture Rehab"."
3. "The USDA bought $ 127,000.00 worth of toner cartridges, ( "end of year ", the order explained )".
4. "Two weeks ago, The Department of Veterans Affairs bought $ 562, 000.00 worth of artwork."
5. "On another day, the VA was buying art again. It spent $ 216,000.00 on artwork for a facility in Florida."
6. "The VA paid $ 27,000.00 for an order of photographs showing sunsets, mountain peaks and country roads."
7. "Two weeks ago, ImmixGroup (private contractor) began bringing its sales team three catered meals a day. If workers walked to Subway, they might lose a sale ( to a government agency).  On that day, ImmixGroup handled $ 16,000,000.00 in business. A normal Monday is about $ 2 million."

As usual President Obama blames Congress, and Congress blames the President. Also as usual,  US taxpayers get screwed by their government's wasteful spending. It's not a new problem. "President Lyndon Johnson ... in May of 1965, said an end-of-year binge was "an ancient practice - but that does not justify it or excuse it"."  Indeed !

Solutions to the problem include better planning, better decision making, a budgeting system other than CR's (continuing resolutions) which allocate funds piecemeal. Perhaps a bonus system, from the for profit private sector, which rewards government managers for budget reductions and better productivity would help. At any rate I expect no improvements.  In my opinion, as long as we vote in the old grays of Congress the problem will continue. In my opinion, a  slim chance of reform comes from the young, energetic Libertarian, Independent, and Tea Party legislators who are consistently demonized by senior politicians and their press lackeys as rebels, radicals, and anarchists. Your vote for reform in 2014 & 2016 - USE IT OR LOSE IT !

600,000 + READ BLOGS

The Final Lap Has hit 600,000 + views from the USA and over 100 countries worldwide!

Many thanks to all my readers and their constructive, and not so much feedback. I write political opinion, fictional, travel, attempts at humor and family remembrance blogs. Also, I authored "Humble Hero" which is a memoir of my father's horrific struggles during WWII in the occupied Philippines. It was published in 2018 and is available from Amazon and E Bay. 

I endeavor to write effectively and find satisfaction in being read and understood. Blogs, Facebook and Twitter are my vehicles of free speech.   

Nearing the eighth decade of my life, I most enjoy putting words together and hoping for readable results. While many in my boomer generation are busy with family, travel, leisure, gardening and other activities, I relish the challenge and pleasure of effectively communicating.

My observations are recorded in "The Final Lap" at Google's  - lemuellam.blogspot.com
Comments are invited to my blog spot or e mail account  lemuellam@aol.com.
I also post on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks,  and keep reading.

                                      

THE NEXT AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ?

I believe within the next fifty years there will be a second Civil War. This civil upheaval will ravage the people and landscape of America. This war will not pit race against race or necessarily rich against poor. Rather, this conflict will highlight supporters of the twentieth century era of  "government benevolence" fighting forces dedicated to "less government" and more personal freedom and the free market.

The powers of  "government benevolence" will be supported by the federal government, academia, military big shots, and the creators of public opinion and entertainment. Their cause will be more and more government control over the public and private affairs of people. Their assumption will be, and has always been, that people lack the will, intelligence, or skill to survive in a modern world. Therefore, it is their obligation as a benevolent and intelligent  government ruling class to guide people throughout all the days of their lives. The goal will be accomplished by the full implementation of a hyper and hybrid forms of socialism and eventually communism. Under this scheme all goods and services will be equally distributed to people by government bureaus of clerks and civil servants.

To pay for this program of universal sharing the government would cease to tax, but take possession of all personal property, goods, wages, and valuables within the fifty states and territories. Personal property would become forbidden. The wants and needs of citizens would then be supplied by government bureaucrats as they deem appropriate. Further, the benevolent government forces will seek to extend their authority to eventually dominate the cultural, medical, educational, social, and religious lives of all Americans. Government agencies will grow, and individuals or groups resisting "government benevolence" will be humiliated, isolated, fined, imprisoned, or executed. The elite of the "government benevolent" ruling class will not be included in this scheme. They will enjoy a lifestyle of great extravagance and pleasure for, what will be classified, as their extra ordinary service to the populous.

The "less government" forces will be surviving members of the Tea, Libertarian, independent, democrat and republican parties,  plus millions of other Americans faithful to the tenants of the Constitution, market capitalism, self determination, property rights, and personal liberty. Initially, this group will be a weak and fragmented coalition. Infighting among the leadership will severely restrict  it's message and effectiveness. In the early years of this war the "less government" crowd will suffer setbacks and even casualties. However, like a weak flame in a gale the "less government" assemblage will survive one liberty robbing pogrom after another, and eventually it's light will burn brighter.

 Despite voting restrictions, holding political office or publishing, elements of  the movement will cling to life and slowly prosper. Because of  the second amendment, guerrilla warfare, and a vigorous plan of education, the "less government" coalition will eventually grow. The "less government" forces will flourish in spirit and numbers. Some "government benevolence" key military leaders will grow weary and likely join the "less government" crowd. Also, many citizens will switch over to the growing legions of "less government" proponents as they realize the emptiness in the gray and hopeless world of "government benevolence".

Sadly, this second Civil War of Americans restricting and even killing other Americans will rage for  years. I cannot foresee the outcome. However, the scars of the conflict will mark a temporary  end to the "exceptionalism" which brightly distinguished the United States from other world nations. The presence of a conflict will generate and sustain hope among people of all nations and cultures in the coming centuries.

Proof of this trend is on clear display from the likes and policy initiatives of the AOC gang, socialist presidential campaigns of Sanders and Warren, and government over reach by the likes of Bloomberg, Cuomo, Northam and other big government advocates. The only solution to prevent this awful civil disorder lies with citizens who recognize their vote and voice as vital tools to preserve our republic, constitution and capitalist traditions.

AMERICANS DESTROYING AMERICA

As I get older, and learn more of our history, and observe the daily events which quickly become history, I am convinced that Americans are destroying America.

In our complacency, and civic laziness WE are allowing the fabric of our nation to fray, and be violently torn asunder. Many may blame an odious government, but they fail to recognize that since the beginning  of America, WE have been the government. In our republic it has been our constitutional right and duty to elect representatives. Our forefathers were brilliant to understood that a democracy is nothing more than mob rule, and an erratic system of governance ruled by emotion and poll numbers. However, in a republic, men and women honestly represent the interests of the people.  Unfortunately,  as the industrial and agricultural power of our nation grew, moneyed interests and their lobbyists began to influence the votes of elected representatives. Then, unions were formed to counter the influence of the money barons by pressuring legislator votes to reflect their best interests. Next, progressives flexed their muscle, and promoted the public treasury as the legitimate means to provide assistance to citizens unable or unwilling to be responsible for their selves and kin.  Finally, the federal government became convinced  it could best serve the people by building an empire of agencies to micromanage the affairs of it's citizens. In this process WE have seen our founding government principles, Judeo Christian value system, and "exceptionalism" erode. Too many politicians have been purchased by lobbyists and special interests groups, and WE the people have had our best interests be damned. Our duly elected representatives have become champions to those offering the largest contributions to their re election campaigns or personal fortunes. Most of our legislators are millionaires or more, and consistently exempt themselves and their friends from many stupid  laws and excessive taxes legislated on WE the people.

Our external enemies need only wait patiently while WE allow our nation to crumble from greatness. Many Americans have been so preoccupied with their amusements and self gratification that they have willingly become sheep. It's too easy to follow leaders who are like bright and shiny pennies. Thinking and challenging the common sense and fairness of politicians and their laws has gone out of fashion. For many, it's become too mentally and emotionally challenging to speak beyond the easy cliches, and weary old axioms spewing forth from fountains of ignorance within our culture. How often do we hear, " I'm a -----crat/ican because my daddy was a -----crat/ican, or those damn -----crats/icans are nazis or commies."

Our Constitution stipulates very few legitimate activities for the federal government. Paramount is the defense of our homeland and it's national interests. However, from Pearl Harbor to 9/11/2001, and Benghazi there have been too many failures in this critical area. Yet, with alarming speed, WE have allowed government to waste our national treasure, and poke it's long nose into far too much of our business. What the hell good or with what constitutional authority is the federal government doing in our systems of education, communication, transportation, food production, healthcare, energy production, private enterprise, entertainment, sports, religion, climate control, personal relationships, etc. etc., etc., ad nauseam.

If you feel your future descendants deserve a better America than what happening;  get off your ass, raise hell, and do something to prevent our further slide to serfdom and national destruction. It's WE the people that are required to act. It's not him, or those guys over there, its me and you who must vote and body slam the political class back to serving the legitimate needs of WE the people.

CONSIDER:
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."   MARK TWAIN