My New Neighbor

Cute, isn't he?

You Need to See This

This is why we need to return to our foundational principles, truly take responsibility for our own lives, and hold our elected representatives accountable. We simply cannot afford not to. More than anyone else, this is a problem for the youngest generations. Hey kids, you're right... your parents are out of touch with reality.

(Of course, so are you.)

Click here to find out how We The People are taking a stand for our future.

Where to Start

When I took a look back at my posts on the government, politics, etc., I found that my tone was a bit... well... angry. Now, I suppose I am angry at Washington. But I am not an angry person generally and do not like being angry, and anger only takes a person (or a group) so far. Moreover, I want this blog to reflect my more lighthearted side. How, or why did I become angry at our government to begin with? Some would say "unfairness". It's unfair that we responsible individuals should be taxed extra to pay for the extravagances of the irresponsible among us. It's unfair that no one in Washington will accept responsibility for any of the structural problems in the economy. And so on. Yet what is unfairness?

At this point, let me digress for a moment. A common retort to the criticism leveled at Congress and the Obama Administration on their economic policies is basically, "Well, what's your plan then?" Good question. If the plan is not to spend trillions upon trillions of taxpayer dollars (borrowed without asking from future generations) on projects of questionable long-term value, then what should our national policy on the economy, or America in general, be? Another question being bandied about is, "How did we get into this mess?" Also legitimate to ask. In many ways the debate over what we do now as a country reminds me of all those movies about sports teams that start as the worst duds ever but end up as the champs. What always happens in these movies, whether it's the Mighty Ducks or Miracle or Major League? The coach and the team go back to the fundamentals of the game and practice those until they are too tired to stand and so bruised they look like a rotten piece of fruit. Only then does the team move ahead to the more complex and challenging plays. We love these types of stories for a variety of reasons, but in large part because they present the truth: in all things, you need to crawl before you can walk and you need to individually know your position before you can function effectively as a team.

In short, that is what I believe we as a nation need to do. Return to the fundamentals.

Now, back to my anger and the notion of fair/unfair. Essentially, we think of something as unfair if we perceive it to violate one or more of our principles or values. Principles and values are our fundamentals, just like being able to skate well or throw and catch a baseball are foundational in sports. So, I'm pissed because Congress, Obama, the Fed, almost all the way down to Smokey Bear have acted in ways that I think violate basic principles of American society and government. I cannot underscore this enough - I truly think that our Republic is in grave danger; that the America that is the beacon of hope and liberty for the world might just fade away. Therefore, rather than be angry and simply rant, I will propose solutions based upon the principles and values that built this country and that I believe we can (almost) all agree upon. Returning to our fundamentals means, first, knowing what they are, and so that is where I will begin. I think that once we have our principles and values out in clear view, the answers to our national problems and the mistakes that have led to them, as well as the courses of action we should not take, will all become much more evident. And, regarding the actions we should take, even preferable and easier to implement. You'll notice that the title of this post is not a question - it is a statment. We know where to start. Please join me again soon and we'll start together.

Where'd My Wallet Go?

So, I couldn't find my wallet this morning. Looked everywhere for it. Yesterday's pair of pants, under the bed, in the car, on the kitchen counter... Then, while searching, I glanced at a newspaper:

House passes 90% tax on AIG bonuses. (Disregards unconstitutionality of the bill.)

Philly mayor proposes 36% property tax hike, new sales tax in $3.84 billion budget.

Illinois governor wants to raise income tax by 50%.

Budget deficit reaches $1.8 TRILLION.

And my favorite...

Federal government debt greater than the combined income of the the whole world!

After seeing all this I noticed my wallet lying on the floor by the back door. It was empty, except for a business card from my congressman, with the handwritten note, "Sorry I missed you, but thanks for your support." And this in tiny print, "Paid for with taxpayer dollars."

Robbin' Hoods

It is a common misconception that Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor. In point of fact, Robin Hood retrieved from the corrupt and greed Sheriff of Nottingham what the latter had illegitimately expropriated from the hard-working common folk and returned the ill gotten wealth to same. In other words, Robin Hood took back from the tyrannical state what that government had improperly and immorally taken from the people. The citizenry was only poor because the state seized what wealth they had.

With this historical tidbit in mind, let me direct you to the latest snarlings of Congress and others in various levels of government. Some are "upset" about the fact that AIG, the insurance giant-turned ward of the feds, has paid $165 million in bonuses. Much of the money went to the financial unit behind the disastrous credit default swaps. While this might seem horribly unfair on the surface, the deeper truth is that AIG was contractually obligated to pay this money out, and did so with the full knowledge and at least tacit approval of the all the bigwigs overseeing TARP and the bailouts. That would mainly be Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner (who failed to pay income taxes for several years). So now the majority party in Congress, the loonies who has passed the bailout legislation, are hopping mad and want that money back. Listen to Sen. Schumer...



First, this is so disingenuous because Congress had the opportunity to limit how bailout money could be spend, but they didn't. In fact, Sen. Chris Dodd, head of the Banking Committee, specifically added an amendment that did away with limits on bonuses and compensation. Further, Congress and the Administration used AIG to, effectively, launder money. Federal tax dollars went to AIG, which was then directed to send that money to hedge funds, investment banks, and foreign financial groups who otherwise wouldn't have gotten TARP money.

Second, we can plainly see that those in power in Washington obviously believe that what the government giveth, the government can taketh away, and will do so by use of coercive force. Yeah, I really want these people in charge of my healthcare, business, energy sources, and everything else involved with my daily life. Today it's executives at AIG, tomorrow it could be "stimulus" dollars used for projects that Congress or Obama doesn't like. Maybe then they will decide that you didn't spend your own income properly or that your profession is making too much money. Now I direct you back to the story of Robin Hood and ask you to consider just whose money and wealth we're talking about here, and just who the greedy and morally-bankrupt players are. I think you'll see who the real 'hoods are and who's really being robbed.

Them Bones

Before Tony Soprano and before Orson Wells landed Martians there, New Jersey was famous for something more in the realm of hard science. In 1858 an amateur fossil hunter unearthed the most complete prehistoric skeleton at the time in rural Haddonfield, NJ. That fossil, Hadrosaurus foulkii, then became the first mounted dinosaur displayed to the public thanks to the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.

Of course, today hundreds of skeletons are exhibited around the world to the amazement and wonder of millions of children and adults. But imagine what a spectacle such an exhibit must have been to the people in 1868 (when the fossil was revealed). Sea monsters and dragons were still considered more fact than myth and science was largely the province of the wealthy and well-bred. Probably the only contemporary comparison would be if the skeleton of E.T. was put on display.

Visit the Academy's web site for more on Hadrosaurus foulkii and the current exhibit in commemoration of its discovery 150 years ago.