In 1997 the United States Senate voted on a Balanced Budget Amendment. Perhaps, faced with the uncontrolled spending, the highest debt in history, high unemployment rates, and up to our eyeballs in debt owed to China, we could collectively wish that we could turn back the clock to 1997 and obtain that one more vote needed to pass the amendment for a balanced budget. Because it failed, the Congress has raised the debt ceiling 10 times over the last 10 years and the national debt has nearly tripled from just over $5 trillion to $14.3 trillion dollars. Foreign countries hold $4.5 trillion of that debt.
This past fall, the Obama administration pushed hard to get an early vote on increasing the debt limit and failed. The vote in the November elections ensured a change from Democrats to Republican in the House and it closed the gap of Democratic control in the Senate. This resulted in in the Omnibus Spending Bill for the new fiscal year being defeated and the vote on the debt ceiling being postponed. In a matter of a few days, that decision will once again raise its ugly head.
There has been a lot fear talk by the administration mouthpieces that the government will be forced to shut down. That a failure to meet the debt obligations will cause a crash in the stock market. We can recall all this doom and gloom talk with the failure of the banks and automobile industry and now they want another credit card. Why can't the Congress run the operation of the national government like they run the finances of their personal family home? Oh yeah, it is relatively easy to just apply for another credit card. There are families that do that. They max out their Visa limit of $5,000 and keep making minimum payments while applying for a MasterCard and then a another after another. Before they realize the long term impact of such irrational decisions, they have amassed $10 to $30 Thousand dollars in credit card debt and are asking the courts to forgive their debt through bankruptcy. Over the last ten years, the total debt per citizen has gone from $$27 thousand to $52 thousand dollars. At the national level there are no bankruptcy courts. The debt ceiling fight as been an ongoing problem since the early '80's with promised spending cuts that never happen. The administrations of both parties have chosen to raise debt ceilings and put us more into debt by selling bonds to foreign nations.
This insanity must stop. Back in 2006, when the vote on the debt limit came up under an Republican leadership, the junior senator from Illinois stated:
"Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."
Our current Vice President Joe Biden said during the same period in 2006:
"The President's (Speaking of George W. Bush) budget plans will bring that number to $11.8 trillion at the end of the next 5 years. This is a record of utter disregard for our Nation's financial future and an indifference to the price our children and grandchildren will pay to redeem our debt when it comes due."
Mr. President...Mr. Vice President, I could not agree more with your statements of 2006. It applied then and it applies equally today. When your administration took office, the national debt stood at $10.6 Trillion and you have raised that debt in just over two years by 35 percent.
It is past time to immediately impose serious spending cuts into the national budget that still awaits Congressional approval. But I would go even further to suggest that it is time for a Balanced Budget Amendment. Senator Jim DeMint, (R-SC) with the help of some of his colleagues are hoping to introduce a Balanced Budget Amendment which would require (1) Congress to balance the budget each year, (2) prevent Congress from spending more than 20 percent of GDP, and (3) require a 2/3 super-majority vote to raise taxes. This effort can be reviewed at http://stopthedebtpledge.com/. While your at it, contact your representatives and tell them this hypocrisy must stop. Our nation is going in the wrong direction and will be destroyed from within.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The Blame Game and Hope
A week ago today as many of us anticipated NFL playoff games, one young distressed man who by all accounts may be suffering from serious mental illness headed for a shopping center in Tucson, Arizona and set in motion another tragedy which will go down in history as senseless murder and mayhem. Regrettably, because it involved a United States Congresswoman, the left wing pundits and even a United States Senator from Vermont found it expedient to blame conservatives, talk radio, former Vice Presidential Candidate, Sarah Palin and a sitting Congresswoman, Michele Bachmann (R-MN).
I for one welcomed the Memorial Service at the University of Arizona because it would serve in many ways to help the injured victims, the families of the deceased, the citizens of Arizona and the nation to begin to put the tragedy behind. We all hoped that the President of the United States at this service would offer the right kind of leadership and words of condolence as we have needed in the past history of our Republic.
I believe in many ways President Obama helped us and my purpose is to recognize that effort and pray that our nation can heal. I offer these words from the President:
"Imagine..imagine for a moment: here was a young
girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy;
just beginning to understand the obligations of her
citizenship; just starting to glimpse the fact that some
day she, too, might play a part in shaping her nation's
future. She had been elected to her student council;
she saw public service as something exciting, something
hopeful. She was off to meet her congresswoman,
someone she was sure was good and important and
might be a role model. She saw all this through the
eyes of a child, undimmed by the cynicism or vitriol
that we adults all too often just take for granted."
"I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our
democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it.
All of us...we should do everything we can to make
sure this country lives up to our children's expectations."
I agree with you Mr. President. I want us to live up to her expectations also. This beautiful child deserved better than what her country gave her. I have been angry with this vitriol from the media and even members of Congress but I too wish for it to stop and I will speak no further in the blame game. But I also ask that you step up also. Action does speak louder than words and you must set an example. If you continue your bitter words towards supporters and members of the "other party" then you can also expect your staff, supporters and certain members of the media to follow your example. I would like to see you address this issue in your State of the Union Address because right now, the Union is in a terrible state.
I sincerely pray that we can all learn from this and really work together to accomplish great things on behalf of the country we love. Christina and the other victims cannot have died for nothing.
I for one welcomed the Memorial Service at the University of Arizona because it would serve in many ways to help the injured victims, the families of the deceased, the citizens of Arizona and the nation to begin to put the tragedy behind. We all hoped that the President of the United States at this service would offer the right kind of leadership and words of condolence as we have needed in the past history of our Republic.
I believe in many ways President Obama helped us and my purpose is to recognize that effort and pray that our nation can heal. I offer these words from the President:
"Imagine..imagine for a moment: here was a young
girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy;
just beginning to understand the obligations of her
citizenship; just starting to glimpse the fact that some
day she, too, might play a part in shaping her nation's
future. She had been elected to her student council;
she saw public service as something exciting, something
hopeful. She was off to meet her congresswoman,
someone she was sure was good and important and
might be a role model. She saw all this through the
eyes of a child, undimmed by the cynicism or vitriol
that we adults all too often just take for granted."
"I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our
democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it.
All of us...we should do everything we can to make
sure this country lives up to our children's expectations."
I agree with you Mr. President. I want us to live up to her expectations also. This beautiful child deserved better than what her country gave her. I have been angry with this vitriol from the media and even members of Congress but I too wish for it to stop and I will speak no further in the blame game. But I also ask that you step up also. Action does speak louder than words and you must set an example. If you continue your bitter words towards supporters and members of the "other party" then you can also expect your staff, supporters and certain members of the media to follow your example. I would like to see you address this issue in your State of the Union Address because right now, the Union is in a terrible state.
I sincerely pray that we can all learn from this and really work together to accomplish great things on behalf of the country we love. Christina and the other victims cannot have died for nothing.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Shame and Tragedy in Arizona
I had every intention this Saturday to enjoy my morning coffee, watch the news and have a bite to eat before settling down to watch the NFL playoff games. That was all spoiled by the 10am report this morning of a deadly shooting in Tucson, Arizona involving Representative Gabrielle Giffords of the 8th Congressional District of Arizona.
As more information developed, we learned that Representative Giffords was conducting a "Congress on Your Corner" public meeting at a Safeway Market in her effort to meet with her supporters. She had won reelection this past November as a "Blue-Dog Democrat" in a well known conservative district. The news was shocking and not good. Apparently, an unknown person had opened fire with an automatic weapon and fired one shot at almost point blank distance hitting her in the head. Early reports declared her dead at the scene. I am quite happy to say that thank God that is incorrect. She was rushed to the hospital and with the finest doctors and neurosurgeons available, has been stabilized after surgery. The report is that they are are optimistic while guarded in her critical condition. The next few days will certainly be crucial to the degree of her recovery. I must report that a total of six others were killed in this tragedy including Federal District Court Judge John M. Roll; a congressional staff aide of Rep. Giffords, and a nine year old female who was a innocent bystander.
As a more middle of the road Democrat in Congress, she has been well respected by both sides sides of the aisle and certainly by her constituents. She is the only United States Representative with an active duty spouse, Captain Mark Kelly, a Navy pilot and NASA astronaut. My prayers and thoughts are with her family this night for a successful recovery and to the other families who are victims of this senseless brutality.
Those who know me and have followed by writings at this blog site will agree that I am pretty much a conservative and my political thoughts have been quite critical of the liberals in Congress and the present Administration. But I know in my heart that there is no place under our Constitution and this Republic for such unspeakable acts of violence as displayed this morning. It is truly a disgrace to our citizens, to our nation and to the guiding principals of our society.
As more information developed, we learned that Representative Giffords was conducting a "Congress on Your Corner" public meeting at a Safeway Market in her effort to meet with her supporters. She had won reelection this past November as a "Blue-Dog Democrat" in a well known conservative district. The news was shocking and not good. Apparently, an unknown person had opened fire with an automatic weapon and fired one shot at almost point blank distance hitting her in the head. Early reports declared her dead at the scene. I am quite happy to say that thank God that is incorrect. She was rushed to the hospital and with the finest doctors and neurosurgeons available, has been stabilized after surgery. The report is that they are are optimistic while guarded in her critical condition. The next few days will certainly be crucial to the degree of her recovery. I must report that a total of six others were killed in this tragedy including Federal District Court Judge John M. Roll; a congressional staff aide of Rep. Giffords, and a nine year old female who was a innocent bystander.
As a more middle of the road Democrat in Congress, she has been well respected by both sides sides of the aisle and certainly by her constituents. She is the only United States Representative with an active duty spouse, Captain Mark Kelly, a Navy pilot and NASA astronaut. My prayers and thoughts are with her family this night for a successful recovery and to the other families who are victims of this senseless brutality.
Those who know me and have followed by writings at this blog site will agree that I am pretty much a conservative and my political thoughts have been quite critical of the liberals in Congress and the present Administration. But I know in my heart that there is no place under our Constitution and this Republic for such unspeakable acts of violence as displayed this morning. It is truly a disgrace to our citizens, to our nation and to the guiding principals of our society.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Bad Penny
Sometimes, problems are like a bad penny...they just will not go away. Such is the case with the birther issue of President Obama. I sometimes have to wonder if this is an issue that the current administration does not want to disappear. After all, since the presidential election two years ago, the Obama administration has been plagued with problems that are brought about by there own policies and some out of stubbornness. Perhaps the latter when it comes to the President's birth certificate.
We are all aware of some of the frivolous accusations in the media brought about by what I would classify as far right loons and several failed lawsuits by the same bunch which thus far have been met by deaf ears in the nations court. The main contention by the birther movement has has been that the State of Hawaii presented only a state document to prove that Barack Obama was born there. The problem with the document is that it does not provide the details of birth that a true hospital document provides. The Obama administration contents that the State of Hawaii document is sufficient and state law protects the President from the hospital releasing the document unless expressly released with his permission.
This issue in my opinion had quited down considerably until last week when the noted liberal television host Chris Matthews of MSNBC stated, " Why doesn't the President just say, 'send me a copy right now?' Why doesn't Gibbs and Axelrod say "lets just get this crappy story dead?' Why not do it?...If it exists, why not put it out?" He was joined by Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune and David Corn of Mother Jones who both agreed with the call for Obama to publicly release the certified document which has remained under wraps. As if this bit of a bombshell from the left was not enough, this week while the President was spending the Christmas holidays with his family in Hawaii, the Governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie (D), released a headline making statement in the local newspaper and Associated Press stating that he was troubled by all the conspiracies and was looking for a way to release more information regarding the President's birth in Hawaii. Since that media release, the issue from the Governor office has been quite mute with no further statements.
I am just one American citizen who truly would like the Obama Administration to finally put this entire controversy to bed. Unless there is harm to the family or harm to the nation, there is no reason on this earth for the President of the United States to continue this cover up which does nothing positive for the nation or his family. I agree with Chris Matthews (and that is very unusual), "please Mr. President, release the certified birth certificate from the hospital and put this baloney to rest once and for all".
We are all aware of some of the frivolous accusations in the media brought about by what I would classify as far right loons and several failed lawsuits by the same bunch which thus far have been met by deaf ears in the nations court. The main contention by the birther movement has has been that the State of Hawaii presented only a state document to prove that Barack Obama was born there. The problem with the document is that it does not provide the details of birth that a true hospital document provides. The Obama administration contents that the State of Hawaii document is sufficient and state law protects the President from the hospital releasing the document unless expressly released with his permission.
This issue in my opinion had quited down considerably until last week when the noted liberal television host Chris Matthews of MSNBC stated, " Why doesn't the President just say, 'send me a copy right now?' Why doesn't Gibbs and Axelrod say "lets just get this crappy story dead?' Why not do it?...If it exists, why not put it out?" He was joined by Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune and David Corn of Mother Jones who both agreed with the call for Obama to publicly release the certified document which has remained under wraps. As if this bit of a bombshell from the left was not enough, this week while the President was spending the Christmas holidays with his family in Hawaii, the Governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie (D), released a headline making statement in the local newspaper and Associated Press stating that he was troubled by all the conspiracies and was looking for a way to release more information regarding the President's birth in Hawaii. Since that media release, the issue from the Governor office has been quite mute with no further statements.
I am just one American citizen who truly would like the Obama Administration to finally put this entire controversy to bed. Unless there is harm to the family or harm to the nation, there is no reason on this earth for the President of the United States to continue this cover up which does nothing positive for the nation or his family. I agree with Chris Matthews (and that is very unusual), "please Mr. President, release the certified birth certificate from the hospital and put this baloney to rest once and for all".
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A Troubled World
A very good friend of mine wrote me this week to tell me how bad the news media exacerbates everything. He said he was just tired of all the complaining in general and that it weighs heavily on his mind. He felt that all the troubles of the world were being jammed down his throat. He constantly was hearing how bad the economy was, how bad the weather was, the gas prices, the health care debacle, problems in Africa, Iran, North Korea, our national debt and how China was going to own us. He said he was getting old and did not need to carry the problems of the world too. He asked whatever happened to the Grandfather who could just sit on the bench with the children and tell stories about the good old days and the children listened because the stories were interesting?
I said to him that I agreed with him in principal and wouldn't it be wonderful to sit back on the porch and tell our children and grandchildren that everything is beautiful and they do not have a care in the world. Yes, that would be nice but not reality. I told him that in fact, when we were kids, we listened to the radio and to the conversations of our Mom and Dad. The world was dangerous then and the United States was trying to deal with World War II and the likes of Adolf Hitler, a man who wanted to fly the Nazi flag over the entire world. When I sat down with my children, we were in Viet-Nam trying to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia and the threat of the Communist Soviet Union who threatened to destroy us. Today we are dealing with Iran, North Korean, nuclear proliferation and a radical Muslim religion which wants to destroy Christianity and the Non-Muslim countries. On top of that, we have elected a President who has shown very liberal tendencies and his administration seems to have their image of what our country should be like rather than what our Constitution has created over the past two hundred years.
My point is that we will always have these threats to our nation and to the world. We can ignore them and bury our head in the ground or we can talk about them, write about them and collectively raise our voices as we did this past midterm elections. I remember many years ago when joining the military that I would support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The day that we as a nation no longer believe those words is when we forfeit our rights to exist as the United States of America.
I said to him that I agreed with him in principal and wouldn't it be wonderful to sit back on the porch and tell our children and grandchildren that everything is beautiful and they do not have a care in the world. Yes, that would be nice but not reality. I told him that in fact, when we were kids, we listened to the radio and to the conversations of our Mom and Dad. The world was dangerous then and the United States was trying to deal with World War II and the likes of Adolf Hitler, a man who wanted to fly the Nazi flag over the entire world. When I sat down with my children, we were in Viet-Nam trying to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia and the threat of the Communist Soviet Union who threatened to destroy us. Today we are dealing with Iran, North Korean, nuclear proliferation and a radical Muslim religion which wants to destroy Christianity and the Non-Muslim countries. On top of that, we have elected a President who has shown very liberal tendencies and his administration seems to have their image of what our country should be like rather than what our Constitution has created over the past two hundred years.
My point is that we will always have these threats to our nation and to the world. We can ignore them and bury our head in the ground or we can talk about them, write about them and collectively raise our voices as we did this past midterm elections. I remember many years ago when joining the military that I would support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The day that we as a nation no longer believe those words is when we forfeit our rights to exist as the United States of America.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Just My Opinion
It has been a while since I last entered some thoughts in my blog spot. I guess I just had to get through the frustration of the changing politics in our nation. I can honestly say I have been re- energized by the November 2010 elections. I cannot say with any certainty how often my thoughts will appear but I will have some observations.
As I look at the political seen since the elections, I have to wonder if the Congress in Washington is really listening to the people. I have come to the conclusion that only some were listening. For the past year, Congress has known that they needed to put together a budget for next year (FY2011) and yet they waited until the Lame Duck Session over the last two weeks to do this and also try to cram a few other questionable pieces of legislation down the throats of voters. I believe the Dems majority in both the Senate and the House purposely did this to pass as much of their agenda as possible before the new session begins in January with a Republican majority in the House and a Senate much more in balance with the loss of six Democratic seats.
There were a couple of victories during this session for the Dems but in all, perhaps a sign of better times to come. Certainly the passing of the Bush Tax Cuts Extension for everyone was huge. I congratulate the Republican Congressional Members for standing firm and refusing to pass the Omnibus Spending Bill (2000 pages) with its $1.1 Trillion price tag and $8 Billion in Earmarks ('pork"). Nothing but a blatant attempt by the Dems to dictate the budget for next year.
Before closing I want to say a few things about "ObamaCare". Obviously, many hope this takeover of our health system will be reversed by the courts as unconstitutional. There has been problems surfacing already and two of those problems I mention briefly. Yesterday the Obama Administration announced rules which are an effort to prohibit or reduce necessary rate increases by private health insurer's. Under proposed regulation, rate increases of more than 10 percent would come under scrutiny of state and federal officials. This opens the door for more oversight of private business. The feds want to give everyone health insurance (including children to age 26) but they want to prohibit health insurers from increases to cover such added expenses. Another highway to demise of the private insurer.
Last week the Food and Drug Administration revoked the approval of the drug Avastin, which as been one of the drugs of choice by thousands of Oncologists across the nation for the estimated 17,000 plus women struggling with advanced stages of Breast Cancer. The FDA states that the drug does not show "a significant benefit in slowing disease progression to outweigh the significant risk to patients." Risk!.. Not a significant benefit... Sorry to say that without this drug, these patients. short of a miracle, are going to die from Cancer, unless the drug is available and saves them for a while. Is this the first step towards "Death Panels"?
That's My Opinion...
As I look at the political seen since the elections, I have to wonder if the Congress in Washington is really listening to the people. I have come to the conclusion that only some were listening. For the past year, Congress has known that they needed to put together a budget for next year (FY2011) and yet they waited until the Lame Duck Session over the last two weeks to do this and also try to cram a few other questionable pieces of legislation down the throats of voters. I believe the Dems majority in both the Senate and the House purposely did this to pass as much of their agenda as possible before the new session begins in January with a Republican majority in the House and a Senate much more in balance with the loss of six Democratic seats.
There were a couple of victories during this session for the Dems but in all, perhaps a sign of better times to come. Certainly the passing of the Bush Tax Cuts Extension for everyone was huge. I congratulate the Republican Congressional Members for standing firm and refusing to pass the Omnibus Spending Bill (2000 pages) with its $1.1 Trillion price tag and $8 Billion in Earmarks ('pork"). Nothing but a blatant attempt by the Dems to dictate the budget for next year.
Before closing I want to say a few things about "ObamaCare". Obviously, many hope this takeover of our health system will be reversed by the courts as unconstitutional. There has been problems surfacing already and two of those problems I mention briefly. Yesterday the Obama Administration announced rules which are an effort to prohibit or reduce necessary rate increases by private health insurer's. Under proposed regulation, rate increases of more than 10 percent would come under scrutiny of state and federal officials. This opens the door for more oversight of private business. The feds want to give everyone health insurance (including children to age 26) but they want to prohibit health insurers from increases to cover such added expenses. Another highway to demise of the private insurer.
Last week the Food and Drug Administration revoked the approval of the drug Avastin, which as been one of the drugs of choice by thousands of Oncologists across the nation for the estimated 17,000 plus women struggling with advanced stages of Breast Cancer. The FDA states that the drug does not show "a significant benefit in slowing disease progression to outweigh the significant risk to patients." Risk!.. Not a significant benefit... Sorry to say that without this drug, these patients. short of a miracle, are going to die from Cancer, unless the drug is available and saves them for a while. Is this the first step towards "Death Panels"?
That's My Opinion...
Monday, June 14, 2010
Turning Back the Clock - Part Four
Alumni Weekend was over for most of the Class of 1957 and for the many other classes as far back as 1937 with a sprinkling of 1944, 1948 and many others. The class of 1960 had more alumni show up but understandably it was their 50th Anniversary.
To all my classmates, this was personally a joy for me to see you again. Tony, great to see you and your "new" bride. Orley, we just did not get much chance to talk. Ron, you really looked healthy and had not aged much. George Null, I wish I had more time to talk. To all of you my classmates, the time was too short but I am thankful we had some time to share and remember.
There was one last thing on the agenda before leaving. Ray and I arranged for a final get together at the 94th Aero Squadron for dinner on Sunday night. This is a restaurant located at Montgomery Field, in San Diego with the decor of the "dough boys" and pilots of World War One. A fitting place for a last dinner for the "brothers". The brothers were a group of cadets that kind of buddied around together and on weekends when we could have gone home, we were just as likely to be all together in another town hosted by one of the "Moms". Being in the "brotherhood" was a special kind of bond which stood the test of time. The brotherhood consisted of Fred Sweet, '58; Jim Christian , '55; Buck Buchanan, Doug Loukota and myself from the class of 1957. There were a couple of others including Bill Camp and Gordon Yaekel who were no longer with us. We gathered at the dinner table and made a toast to our group. I am thankful to call these guys my brothers and I manage to correspond with them on a regular basis after all these years. We all said goodbye with our hugs, wondering what the future would bring. I have a feeling that we will find a way to get together again.
When I started writing about this trip, I titled it Turning Back the Clock because of the obvious story to be told. There was one more event before "returning to present day". In all the planning leading up to this trip, I had several conversations with Ray about the house I was born and raised in located in Los Angeles. The house was built in 1938, the year of my birth and I lived there until graduation from Army Navy Academy and my departing for a career in the Navy. My parents sold the house in 1975. Ray graciously agreed to take me there after leaving Carlsbad for one last look at the one remaining memory of my childhood.
I had not been there since 1961 and of course there had been many changes in the growth of the community. Back then, there was no interstate just three blocks away, but here we were taking the National Blvd exit off of the "405" and two blocks later turning left on the street I remembered so well. There was no problem finding the house. How could I ever forget it. I had brought along a couple of pictures taken back when the house was built along with a photo
of my Mother, Father and I sitting on the front porch with a cake celebrating my first birthday.
As we pulled up to the curb, a young man in his late 20's or early 30's came out of the house to get in his car. He asked if we had broke down or needed help. I said no, and walked up to introduce myself. I showed him the pictures and why I was there. His first words were "Oh my God!" To have taken him by surprise would have been an understatement for sure. He offered us a look around the outside of the house and said he was just a renter. The house was obviously not in the condition of 50 years ago but the pool in the backyard and guest room beyond the pool that I had helped my Dad build was still there. We did not spend a lot of time there but enough to bring back the great memories for one last time.
To all my classmates, this was personally a joy for me to see you again. Tony, great to see you and your "new" bride. Orley, we just did not get much chance to talk. Ron, you really looked healthy and had not aged much. George Null, I wish I had more time to talk. To all of you my classmates, the time was too short but I am thankful we had some time to share and remember.
There was one last thing on the agenda before leaving. Ray and I arranged for a final get together at the 94th Aero Squadron for dinner on Sunday night. This is a restaurant located at Montgomery Field, in San Diego with the decor of the "dough boys" and pilots of World War One. A fitting place for a last dinner for the "brothers". The brothers were a group of cadets that kind of buddied around together and on weekends when we could have gone home, we were just as likely to be all together in another town hosted by one of the "Moms". Being in the "brotherhood" was a special kind of bond which stood the test of time. The brotherhood consisted of Fred Sweet, '58; Jim Christian , '55; Buck Buchanan, Doug Loukota and myself from the class of 1957. There were a couple of others including Bill Camp and Gordon Yaekel who were no longer with us. We gathered at the dinner table and made a toast to our group. I am thankful to call these guys my brothers and I manage to correspond with them on a regular basis after all these years. We all said goodbye with our hugs, wondering what the future would bring. I have a feeling that we will find a way to get together again.
When I started writing about this trip, I titled it Turning Back the Clock because of the obvious story to be told. There was one more event before "returning to present day". In all the planning leading up to this trip, I had several conversations with Ray about the house I was born and raised in located in Los Angeles. The house was built in 1938, the year of my birth and I lived there until graduation from Army Navy Academy and my departing for a career in the Navy. My parents sold the house in 1975. Ray graciously agreed to take me there after leaving Carlsbad for one last look at the one remaining memory of my childhood.
I had not been there since 1961 and of course there had been many changes in the growth of the community. Back then, there was no interstate just three blocks away, but here we were taking the National Blvd exit off of the "405" and two blocks later turning left on the street I remembered so well. There was no problem finding the house. How could I ever forget it. I had brought along a couple of pictures taken back when the house was built along with a photo
of my Mother, Father and I sitting on the front porch with a cake celebrating my first birthday.
As we pulled up to the curb, a young man in his late 20's or early 30's came out of the house to get in his car. He asked if we had broke down or needed help. I said no, and walked up to introduce myself. I showed him the pictures and why I was there. His first words were "Oh my God!" To have taken him by surprise would have been an understatement for sure. He offered us a look around the outside of the house and said he was just a renter. The house was obviously not in the condition of 50 years ago but the pool in the backyard and guest room beyond the pool that I had helped my Dad build was still there. We did not spend a lot of time there but enough to bring back the great memories for one last time.
Turning Back the Clock - Part Three
On Saturday night the Black and Gold Banquet was held at one of the larger hotels in the area.
This was an opportunity to bring together all the alumni, wives and guests in a social gathering. Cocktail hour was followed by a nice dinner and dancing. After a long day at Registration and a bit of a sunburn, I was ready to call it a night fairly early.
On Sunday we met for the morning brunch which was driven in doors by the weather. Maybe just a bit of unknown fate because many of us from our class had spent a few semesters working in the dining hall at the Academy during our cadet years to help off set the cost to our parents. So here we were one more time returning to the mess hall. However the brunch did not offer any SOS as we used to call Cream Chipped Beef on Toast. It was a pleasant surprise to see my old classmate Jack O'Brien show up. The last time I had seen him was not expected but during a deployment to Viet Nam, Jack was a Lieutenant Commander, U. S. Navy attached to a squadron on board the USS Ranger. We had a couple of nice memories to share at the time. He left the active service and maintained his reserve status retiring as a Captain. He went on to fly for Delta Airlines for 31 years. Now some forty years later, he was was sitting with us at the table having breakfast.
Shortly after the brunch came the Sunday parade of the cadets. How well we all remembered this event in our own cadet history. Cadets in full dress parading before special guests, parents and dignitaries. Only this time, we were the special guests as alumni to stand on the front line of the parade grounds as the Cadet Battalion passed in review honoring us. It was our final gathering of the weekend and we had great memories to take home.
Turning Back the Clock - Part Two
Carlsbad had definitely changed in 53 years. I remember only one main street in town and ANA was most prominent as one passed through ending south. Now, I could easily become lost. The town had grown. No longer a couple of hotels, a couple of restaurants...this had become a major tourist area with many shops and places to stay and eat. thanks in part to the influence of the game of golf, and the world famous La Costa Resort and Spa and the Four Seasons Resort. Ray and I checked into our small motel and I made a call to one of our classmates to let them know we arrived. We arranged to meet for dinner at a local restaurant in a couple of hours.
That dinner will be remembered for renewing the personal friendships that had waited so many years to come together face to face. I wondered if my "brothers" thought about me the way the same as I about them. The years had worked their magic on our bodies and weathered faces. Nevertheless, in their hearts, the energy and ethusiasm of true friendship was still there if indeed a little bit slower of a pace. It was a great start to a great weekend.
Friday morning the much anticipated Alumni Golf tournament was held. I will not dwell on this very disappointing performance. My teammates, Bill Rafferty, Byron Taylor and Jack Jackson, all from the Class of 1955 must have thought I really put one over on them in selling my golf skills. Truth of the matter was that I forgot everything I thought I knew about the game. I did realized much much later than I never kept my head down to watch the silly little ball. I will blame it on too much anticipation and being tired from a long trip. I apologize to my teammates although it would not matter. They played really well. Part of our problem as I look back was the fact that this very long playing course was tough on us. We as a team (I was the youngest at nearly 72 years of age) were required to play off the Blue Tees (all the way back) the same as the young bulls of the past three or four graduating classes who were all in the 20's. Just did not seem fair.
Friday evening a no host "Margaritas and Memories" Reception and Mexican food buffet was set up on the athletic field and for the first time, most of us were able to see all of our former classmates and other friends who had made the journey for this reunion. I was very proud that the Class of 1957 had the second highest total of returning alumni with I believe twelve former classmates by Sunday. There was even a young man from the Class of 1937...wow!! Can't even begin to tell you how great it was to see my classmates again.
Saturday morning I met with Jack Jackson in front of the Administration building where the representative from the school and alumni office were registering alumni and friends as they showed up. I had volunteered to be on hand to present and discuss the proposal for a ANA Veterans Memorial plaque to honor those alumni who had gave their lives in the service of their country during the 100 years of the Academy's existence. It was also an opportunity to meet and greet many others. One person in particular stood out. Kati Polhamus was the daughter of Captain Al Polhamus, my mentor and Band Director at the Academy during my years as a Cadet. I owed my career as a Musician in the United States Navy to the fact that "Capt Al" arranged for an audition with the Chief Musician at the Naval Training Center in San Diego in 1961 to become a Navy Musician instead of getting out after four years.
That dinner will be remembered for renewing the personal friendships that had waited so many years to come together face to face. I wondered if my "brothers" thought about me the way the same as I about them. The years had worked their magic on our bodies and weathered faces. Nevertheless, in their hearts, the energy and ethusiasm of true friendship was still there if indeed a little bit slower of a pace. It was a great start to a great weekend.
Friday morning the much anticipated Alumni Golf tournament was held. I will not dwell on this very disappointing performance. My teammates, Bill Rafferty, Byron Taylor and Jack Jackson, all from the Class of 1955 must have thought I really put one over on them in selling my golf skills. Truth of the matter was that I forgot everything I thought I knew about the game. I did realized much much later than I never kept my head down to watch the silly little ball. I will blame it on too much anticipation and being tired from a long trip. I apologize to my teammates although it would not matter. They played really well. Part of our problem as I look back was the fact that this very long playing course was tough on us. We as a team (I was the youngest at nearly 72 years of age) were required to play off the Blue Tees (all the way back) the same as the young bulls of the past three or four graduating classes who were all in the 20's. Just did not seem fair.
Friday evening a no host "Margaritas and Memories" Reception and Mexican food buffet was set up on the athletic field and for the first time, most of us were able to see all of our former classmates and other friends who had made the journey for this reunion. I was very proud that the Class of 1957 had the second highest total of returning alumni with I believe twelve former classmates by Sunday. There was even a young man from the Class of 1937...wow!! Can't even begin to tell you how great it was to see my classmates again.
Saturday morning I met with Jack Jackson in front of the Administration building where the representative from the school and alumni office were registering alumni and friends as they showed up. I had volunteered to be on hand to present and discuss the proposal for a ANA Veterans Memorial plaque to honor those alumni who had gave their lives in the service of their country during the 100 years of the Academy's existence. It was also an opportunity to meet and greet many others. One person in particular stood out. Kati Polhamus was the daughter of Captain Al Polhamus, my mentor and Band Director at the Academy during my years as a Cadet. I owed my career as a Musician in the United States Navy to the fact that "Capt Al" arranged for an audition with the Chief Musician at the Naval Training Center in San Diego in 1961 to become a Navy Musician instead of getting out after four years.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Turning Back the Clock - Part One
It is Thursday morning, May 20, 2010 and I have just took off on a flight to Los Angeles, California. A lot of things going through my mind. I am going back to the west coast and to a place that is dear to my heart. Fifty-three years ago I graduated from a private military high school, called Army Navy Academy. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and this is truly an experience that I thought I may never have again. After graduating from ANA in June of 1957 I joined the Navy and with the exception of one trip to Carlsbad after I retired in 1977 this was the first time back.
There had been an alumni gathering at our 50th anniversary in 2007 but I could not make it. I wanted to but financially could not afford the long trip. I had spent most of the past fifty odd years stationed wherever the Navy wanted me and after retirement found myself staying on the east coast because of job opportunities at the time. Now those dreams of returning one more time had finally come to pass. Anticipation was high while the trip was very long. Six hours in a modern day jet is still a bit tiring when your nearly 72 years of age. I wondered what my fellow classmates would look like after all these years. I had only my yearbook to remember back and I was bringing it with me. My classmate and roommate, Ray, was waiting for me at the terminal and even then I did not recognize him. He and I had kept in touch and I did have a group photo from the 50th reunion to help we out. Ray had volunteered to meet me at the airport and we arranged to split expenses while in Carlsbad for the weekend. I am so grateful to him for assistance because I sure would have got lost. I must confess, he was waiting at baggage pickup and I did not recognize him at first. It really was one of those double takes. I looked around, saw him, looked around some more, looked back and then thought well maybe. I walked over to him and said "excuse me, are you Ray Hymer? Of which he returned "only if your middle name is Walter". A moment I will never forget.
Driving out of LA was an experience in itself. The new interstates built in the past fifty years helped a lot. But I noticed a lot of changes. All the way down I-5 it was nothing but wall to wall buildings and homes until we reached San Clemente. It would have continued to the border if it had not been for the federal government lands which contain the very large United States Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton. The other thing which was quite apparent was the hispanic influence in the Southern California area. Every exit was marked with a sign that stated that is was Avenida this or Avenida that. This was true all the way to San Diego. It was not a long drive. We covered the distance in about 90 minutes. Back in the old days it was easily about 3 hours on the crowded city streets of Los Angeles and a two lane Coast Highway. We got off at the Oceanside exit and he drove me down to what used to be the "main drag" through town. Again, I was amazed how everything had built up. As we crossed the lagoon into Carlsbad, one thing stood out...the campus of ANA. There was the old guardhouse and the walkway up to the Administration building. The clock had turned back to June 1957.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
President Obama - "This Is What Change Looks Like"
In some respects, I am one of the most fortunate people who because of career military service has had health care provided to me and my family for most of my adult life. After retiring from the service, I was able to continue in a government sponsored health care program paying reasonable monthly premiums with the usual shared costs and availability of prescriptions through local military medical facilities. Without question, I and my family have over the years received the best medical care available anywhere in the world. It is therefore a fair question for others as well as myself to ask, "If you have been happy with your government provided medical care, why would you raise questions about the present administration attempting to provide medical care for all its citizens?
To begin with, the current population of the United States is approximately 309 million people compared with 1.5 million on active duty in the military. It is not simply throwing a couple of million more people on the government insurance program. Likewise, current costs including military retirees for medical benefits run approximately $50 billion dollars annually. Current costs for Medicare and Medicaid alone are costing the federal budget over $764 billion. Current projections show implementation of the new Health Care Reform bill at $938 billion according to the Congressional Budget Office. Bottom line..we are talking apples and oranges. No way to make reasonable arguments for comparison. The national administration of medical care for citizens is a huge weight on a bloated and out of control budget and the beginning of a new entitlement.
HealthCare reform is now the law but I think it was a bad idea at a time when our nation can least afford the costs. There is no question that there are problems with the current system but it is not the Health Insurance industry as the Administration would have you believe. The national profit margin for these companies consistently run in the 3-4% range. Very low in the scheme of things. I actually believe that the conservatives in Congress had very good ideas such as tort reform and selling health insurance across state lines which would bring premiums down through competition. Regretfully, and honestly, the conservatives where shut out of all discussions. Only the final meeting with the President brought the two parties together and then television coverage showed the meeting to be a joke with total rejection of conservative ideas.
Last Sunday night after the final vote, the President addressed the nation and stated "This is What Change Looks Like". Quite frankly I find it repugnant and a shameful exercise in what democracy should not look like. We elect representatives to act on our behalf. Not to make backroom deals, and financial concessions such as the "Louisiana Purchase and the "Cornhusker Kickback". Representatives would tell you that is the way things are done in Washington. That may be true but is it morally correct? I think not! This is change that is by any language ugly. President Obama in an interview last week with Fox News refused to discuss the "process" of this legislation but I contend that the entire argument by the people must be about the process.
The bill is law. Chances of a repeal at this time should be forgotten. There is a chance that legal challenges may triumph but I would not bet the farm. It is important to remember that this is going to be a entitlement. Nearly 43% of adults pay no federal income tax. As the aspects of this bill take effect, the acceptance of health care to all becomes entrenched. The conservatives need to remember what the argument is about. This November the ballot box must be the place where good people with high morals make a statement. It is not about rejecting health care for all. It is about rejecting partisan politics, reprehensible and ethically unacceptable methods of policy against the obvious will of the people.
To begin with, the current population of the United States is approximately 309 million people compared with 1.5 million on active duty in the military. It is not simply throwing a couple of million more people on the government insurance program. Likewise, current costs including military retirees for medical benefits run approximately $50 billion dollars annually. Current costs for Medicare and Medicaid alone are costing the federal budget over $764 billion. Current projections show implementation of the new Health Care Reform bill at $938 billion according to the Congressional Budget Office. Bottom line..we are talking apples and oranges. No way to make reasonable arguments for comparison. The national administration of medical care for citizens is a huge weight on a bloated and out of control budget and the beginning of a new entitlement.
HealthCare reform is now the law but I think it was a bad idea at a time when our nation can least afford the costs. There is no question that there are problems with the current system but it is not the Health Insurance industry as the Administration would have you believe. The national profit margin for these companies consistently run in the 3-4% range. Very low in the scheme of things. I actually believe that the conservatives in Congress had very good ideas such as tort reform and selling health insurance across state lines which would bring premiums down through competition. Regretfully, and honestly, the conservatives where shut out of all discussions. Only the final meeting with the President brought the two parties together and then television coverage showed the meeting to be a joke with total rejection of conservative ideas.
Last Sunday night after the final vote, the President addressed the nation and stated "This is What Change Looks Like". Quite frankly I find it repugnant and a shameful exercise in what democracy should not look like. We elect representatives to act on our behalf. Not to make backroom deals, and financial concessions such as the "Louisiana Purchase and the "Cornhusker Kickback". Representatives would tell you that is the way things are done in Washington. That may be true but is it morally correct? I think not! This is change that is by any language ugly. President Obama in an interview last week with Fox News refused to discuss the "process" of this legislation but I contend that the entire argument by the people must be about the process.
The bill is law. Chances of a repeal at this time should be forgotten. There is a chance that legal challenges may triumph but I would not bet the farm. It is important to remember that this is going to be a entitlement. Nearly 43% of adults pay no federal income tax. As the aspects of this bill take effect, the acceptance of health care to all becomes entrenched. The conservatives need to remember what the argument is about. This November the ballot box must be the place where good people with high morals make a statement. It is not about rejecting health care for all. It is about rejecting partisan politics, reprehensible and ethically unacceptable methods of policy against the obvious will of the people.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Our Rights Come From God
I do not believe I have ever been more offended and ashamed of my country as I am this evening. Ashamed because we the citizens of the United States have allowed our country to be hijacked by a progressive movement and a slight majority of what has aptly been called a "multitude of fools". They elected the most far left individual in the history of the United States, Barack Obama. Offended because the results we now face is the gradual transformation of our nation into at the minimum, a European style socialist government. There is an abundance of written and audio visual evidence to show that Barack Obama had every intention to change us. In October 2008 just a month before elections, he stated "We are just days from fundamentally changing America as we know it". The voters were just not really listening.
What he has done in the past fourteen months has often been noted in my previous commentaries and far to much to list here. Today, we stand at the threshold in that transformation. During an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, Obama made it quite clear in stating, "Yes, It is one-sixth of the economy, but were not transforming one-sixth of the economy in one fell swoop". No, they will transform the economy step by step. He also as been quoted as saying, "By the way, Canada did not start off immediately with a single-payer system". As I have said in the past, Marxism changes a nation by revolution, Progressivism changes a nation step by step. Obama learned the ways of a Community Organizer through the teachings of Sol Alinsky and his book, "Rules for Radicals".
I was watching a television show today which was pointing out how the radical left was going to change our nation. They were pointing out that part of the premise for passing what has come to be known as ObamaCare, was that health care was a right. Just as they believe that you have a right to education, a home to live in and a job. It struck me that this was so wrong from what I was taught and the principals that I was raised on.
I also received an email today from my oldest son, who was expressing the anger, the frustration and the fear that we are losing the principals of the nation that I tried so hard to instill in my children. He was talking about "the good, honest and God fearing Americans like John Wayne and Ronald Reagan". He said that we had let our guard down. It really hit home and I share that feeling with him.
Our rights come from God. Not from Barack Obama, not from the progressive movement that wants to transform our nation. This is a principal that makes the United States totally different than any other nation on earth. Our founding fathers built a nation that espoused that "we are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". I was taught by my father that what I received in life is determined by my willingness to work and my efforts to be successful no matter what my chosen profession. I was taught that I should never expect something for nothing. I was taught that charity is for the less fortunate and only a means to give a hand up rather than a handout. Socialism teaches redistribution of wealth and all things come from the government. I reject that philosophy now and forever to my last breathe.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
What he has done in the past fourteen months has often been noted in my previous commentaries and far to much to list here. Today, we stand at the threshold in that transformation. During an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, Obama made it quite clear in stating, "Yes, It is one-sixth of the economy, but were not transforming one-sixth of the economy in one fell swoop". No, they will transform the economy step by step. He also as been quoted as saying, "By the way, Canada did not start off immediately with a single-payer system". As I have said in the past, Marxism changes a nation by revolution, Progressivism changes a nation step by step. Obama learned the ways of a Community Organizer through the teachings of Sol Alinsky and his book, "Rules for Radicals".
I was watching a television show today which was pointing out how the radical left was going to change our nation. They were pointing out that part of the premise for passing what has come to be known as ObamaCare, was that health care was a right. Just as they believe that you have a right to education, a home to live in and a job. It struck me that this was so wrong from what I was taught and the principals that I was raised on.
I also received an email today from my oldest son, who was expressing the anger, the frustration and the fear that we are losing the principals of the nation that I tried so hard to instill in my children. He was talking about "the good, honest and God fearing Americans like John Wayne and Ronald Reagan". He said that we had let our guard down. It really hit home and I share that feeling with him.
Our rights come from God. Not from Barack Obama, not from the progressive movement that wants to transform our nation. This is a principal that makes the United States totally different than any other nation on earth. Our founding fathers built a nation that espoused that "we are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". I was taught by my father that what I received in life is determined by my willingness to work and my efforts to be successful no matter what my chosen profession. I was taught that I should never expect something for nothing. I was taught that charity is for the less fortunate and only a means to give a hand up rather than a handout. Socialism teaches redistribution of wealth and all things come from the government. I reject that philosophy now and forever to my last breathe.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Socialist is an Ugly Word
This week on the Fox cable news show "The O'Reilly Factor", Bill took what I consider to be a bold move by asking his viewers to answer the question of whether they thought that President Obama was a socialist. The response was decidedly in agreement with the question. It is a fair question that many citizens of our nation are beginning to ask. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Presidents ethic background but everything to do with political and economical theories.
In an article entitled "Why Do We Fear Calling Obama a Socialist?, noted author, columnist and former speech writer for Senator Bob Dole, Douglas MacKinnon presents the argument that there is nothing wrong with the identification of the Presidents political persuasion and questions why the media wants to dodge the question. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "socialism" as "Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods".
It would be in total denial not to recognize that the current administration has exhibited these traits by taking over the supervision of some of our largest banks; by completely taking over the administration of two of the three largest automobile companies in the United States by "saving them" from collapse. The administration wants to take over one fifth of our economy by passing legislation for a government-run national health care system, and certainly made it quite clear that redistribution of wealth from the "elite" to the poor levels the playing field for all.
Fortunately, our Republic allows everyone the freedom of speech and President Obama has every right to call himself a Socialist. However, the President has not been forthright with the American people and resists any attempt to be called a "socialist" or "ideologue". Most likely because of the negative labels. Stalin of the Soviet Union and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela come to mind. As Douglas MacKinnon points out, it is a matter of political survival and "the same reason the far-left duplicitously runs from the word "liberal" and now substitutes "progressive." Marxism has been characterized as the overthrow of a country through revolution whereas Progressivism is done through small incremental steps. President Obama and the progressives of this nation might very well succeed but it would be proper to call them what they are... Socialists. The American people need to know the truth.
In an article entitled "Why Do We Fear Calling Obama a Socialist?, noted author, columnist and former speech writer for Senator Bob Dole, Douglas MacKinnon presents the argument that there is nothing wrong with the identification of the Presidents political persuasion and questions why the media wants to dodge the question. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "socialism" as "Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods".
It would be in total denial not to recognize that the current administration has exhibited these traits by taking over the supervision of some of our largest banks; by completely taking over the administration of two of the three largest automobile companies in the United States by "saving them" from collapse. The administration wants to take over one fifth of our economy by passing legislation for a government-run national health care system, and certainly made it quite clear that redistribution of wealth from the "elite" to the poor levels the playing field for all.
Fortunately, our Republic allows everyone the freedom of speech and President Obama has every right to call himself a Socialist. However, the President has not been forthright with the American people and resists any attempt to be called a "socialist" or "ideologue". Most likely because of the negative labels. Stalin of the Soviet Union and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela come to mind. As Douglas MacKinnon points out, it is a matter of political survival and "the same reason the far-left duplicitously runs from the word "liberal" and now substitutes "progressive." Marxism has been characterized as the overthrow of a country through revolution whereas Progressivism is done through small incremental steps. President Obama and the progressives of this nation might very well succeed but it would be proper to call them what they are... Socialists. The American people need to know the truth.
Friday, February 19, 2010
If You Can't Dazzle them with Brillance, Baffle them with BS
When you are the President of the United States with a first rate intelligence and oratorical skills unseen in years, but your leadership decisions continue to fail you at every turn, what do you do? You fall back on the one thing you know will change the hearts and minds of your constituents at most, and at the least, buy you time to get your agenda implemented. At a time when the nation was in near panic over impending doom of the economic crisis, Obama saw
an opportunity to bring about his socialist agenda. However, these plans were so radical, that even with a lack of "transparency", the American people have seen right through him.
So now the President wants you to believe that he has seen the light. He now wants us to believe that the nation is overwhelmed in fiscal debt, the likes of which we have never seen and he must take action to save us. By Executive Order, he has created a bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. He noted at the signing that "Without action, the accumulated weight of that structural deficit of ever-increasing debt will hobble our economy, it will cloud our future, and it will saddle every child in America with an intolerable burden." Well, I don't know about you, but I am as a citizen of this great nation, offended at the attitude and actions of this President.
I ask you where was this caution with his new budget for fiscal year 2010 that called for a freeze on discretionary spending that only effects 16% of the federal budget. A freeze that would by most experts produce only a 3% drop in debt over the next ten years as proposed. Mr. Obama stated yesterday that the "federal debt has exploded." Let me put this all in perspective:
When the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007 the deficit was $160 billion.
Under the Pelosi-Reid Congress it "exploded" to $458 billion in 2008.
When Obama took office in 2009 it hit $1.4 trillion. For 2010 projected at $1.6 trillion.
An even more shocking fact is that the interest on the national debt this year alone is 18.75% of the total budget and amounts to $389 billion dollars. It is estimated that the largest item in he federal budget within 12 years will be the interest on the national debt. Try to imagine if the largest item in your family budget was the interest on all the money you borrowed. You should feel like an idiot and that is what we have collectively become.
I will not for a moment try to paint the picture that Republicans do not share blame for the exploding deficit. I just pointed out that in 2007 it was already $160 billion. Unfortunately, the mentality for decades has been that the federal government could exist with on-going deficits. It was wrong 30 years ago and wrong today as we approach a debt of 87% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
There is only a few steps to correct the situation. Wasting more taxpayer money on a commission that by the "Executive Order" has no authority is nothing but putting on a show. If President Obama is really serious there are honest common sense steps that the White House and Congress can do immediately. First and foremost is acknowledging there is a problem without the smoke and mirrors mentality. Secondly, freeze all spending and rescind unspent stimulus funds. Do not move forward the proposed Stimulus 2 (renamed "Jobs Bill") and stop the "pass anyway possible" health reform bill sitting in limbo between the House and Senate. Lastly, all proposed tax hikes should be set aside until unemployment falls below 7 percent.
Long term deficit issues and cuts in mandatory spending for entitlement programs must be put on the table. We can no longer sustain a "nanny state" mentality without surrendering to a European style government. Remember that Ben Franklin said we have a Republic..."as long as we can keep it".
an opportunity to bring about his socialist agenda. However, these plans were so radical, that even with a lack of "transparency", the American people have seen right through him.
So now the President wants you to believe that he has seen the light. He now wants us to believe that the nation is overwhelmed in fiscal debt, the likes of which we have never seen and he must take action to save us. By Executive Order, he has created a bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. He noted at the signing that "Without action, the accumulated weight of that structural deficit of ever-increasing debt will hobble our economy, it will cloud our future, and it will saddle every child in America with an intolerable burden." Well, I don't know about you, but I am as a citizen of this great nation, offended at the attitude and actions of this President.
I ask you where was this caution with his new budget for fiscal year 2010 that called for a freeze on discretionary spending that only effects 16% of the federal budget. A freeze that would by most experts produce only a 3% drop in debt over the next ten years as proposed. Mr. Obama stated yesterday that the "federal debt has exploded." Let me put this all in perspective:
When the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007 the deficit was $160 billion.
Under the Pelosi-Reid Congress it "exploded" to $458 billion in 2008.
When Obama took office in 2009 it hit $1.4 trillion. For 2010 projected at $1.6 trillion.
An even more shocking fact is that the interest on the national debt this year alone is 18.75% of the total budget and amounts to $389 billion dollars. It is estimated that the largest item in he federal budget within 12 years will be the interest on the national debt. Try to imagine if the largest item in your family budget was the interest on all the money you borrowed. You should feel like an idiot and that is what we have collectively become.
I will not for a moment try to paint the picture that Republicans do not share blame for the exploding deficit. I just pointed out that in 2007 it was already $160 billion. Unfortunately, the mentality for decades has been that the federal government could exist with on-going deficits. It was wrong 30 years ago and wrong today as we approach a debt of 87% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
There is only a few steps to correct the situation. Wasting more taxpayer money on a commission that by the "Executive Order" has no authority is nothing but putting on a show. If President Obama is really serious there are honest common sense steps that the White House and Congress can do immediately. First and foremost is acknowledging there is a problem without the smoke and mirrors mentality. Secondly, freeze all spending and rescind unspent stimulus funds. Do not move forward the proposed Stimulus 2 (renamed "Jobs Bill") and stop the "pass anyway possible" health reform bill sitting in limbo between the House and Senate. Lastly, all proposed tax hikes should be set aside until unemployment falls below 7 percent.
Long term deficit issues and cuts in mandatory spending for entitlement programs must be put on the table. We can no longer sustain a "nanny state" mentality without surrendering to a European style government. Remember that Ben Franklin said we have a Republic..."as long as we can keep it".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
