Not the Government's Job.

First off, a thank you to Iowa for making NO clear choice last week, let's see if New Hampshire will do better tomorrow.

Okay, now on to my topic for today. And before I start, I want to say that I realize there are people in this country who truly need help to get by and survive. People who have had a low life husband walk out on them leaving 4 or 5 kids. People who have been hurt or disabled and can't work a full time job. But there are also so many people today living off the government (a government hat is 15 TRILLION dollars in debt) who are simply to lazy to find work, or realize they can make more by just having babies and letting the government pay for them.

Many people seem to think that the government owes them a decent life. It is, according to some, the job of the government to insure that everyone lives the American Dream. The first problem with this is that everyone seems to think the American Dream is having whatever you want whenever you want it. When I was a child I believe the American Dream, as my parents understood it was to be able to work and supply a house and food and clothes for your kids, and offer them a chance to have things a little better than they had it.

Here's the problem, most of our parents (I'm speaking of the senior citizens of today) were able to give us a better life than they had. And my generation and those a bit younger than me began to feel like we deserved everything. And so we started charging to get everything, and to give our kids everything. And now we have a generation of kids who just walk into a store say they want something, and get up set if no one is there with a credit card to get it for them NOW!

But I'm trailing away from my real topic, which is whether or not welfare is the government's job. I say it is NOT. The job of the government should be to uphold law and protect the citizens, not to hand them everything they want/need. I'm going to throw out a word that is bound to stir up fiery emotions from friends on the right or the left. Socialism... this is a word the left tend to embrace, either openly, or at least ideologically. It is a word that generally makes the skin of those on the right crawl with fears of a Marxist regime moving in. I am a conservative, right-wing Republican who says there is a place for socialism. Please don't shoot me now, please don't burn my blog.

Let me explain myself please. One of the things left-wingers love to throw out is that "Jesus was a socialist" and that "early Christians lived in a socialist society". And if you look at the book of Acts, there definitely seems to be a good case at least for the later statement. The early Church lived in a very communal way, helping each other, and providing each others' needs. And throughout the New Testament we are told to help those around you in need,care for the fatherless and the widow.

But here is where I must differ from my left-wing friends who wish to extrapolate this in to saying we need a socialist government to supply our needs, to make sure everyone is taken care of. You see, in the New Testament it was the Church coming together as a group and taking care of each others' needs and burdens. It was not some group of officials, elected or otherwise telling everyone that you need to give your money to him/her, so they have the same.

One thing I find interesting is that liberals tend to be in favor of human rights, and are opposed to governments who violate there citizens human rights. And yet most of these governments are the result of socialistic government taken to far. China is a prime example. And yet they left continues to want to give our government more and more power. And as the government get more power to control more areas of our lives, then they give themselves the power to become the corrupt human rights violators that they claim to oppose.

What my point here is, is that socialism should not be a style of government, in that the people running the government will undoubtedly corrupt it, and get it wrong. But socialism in the form practiced by the early church is something that could make life better for many. Welfare should not be the job of the government...It should be the job of the church! Many churches has outreach programs to help feed and clothe the needy in there communities, and this is wonderful, but many do not. With America's economy in a mess, I think it is time for the Church to step up and say "We are here to minister not only to your spirit, but to your body as well". This is a call out to Christians, myself included, to step up and help out those who are less fortunate, those who need a hand, those who are struggling to get by. Let the Church do the job it is called to do, so the government can get on track to do what it is here to do.

Iowa's Turn

2012 is upon us and once we embark on the wondrous election process that make America great, and annoys the hell out of us all at the same time. In just a few hours this process begins in Iowa, as the caucuses. I'm not sure how the caucuses work compared to the primary elections in many other states. But I do know they are considered an early indicator for how the elections are shaping up.

In 2012 it is considered a given that Obama will be the Democratic nominee, so all attention is on the Republicans. I know there have been many names floating around in the Republican race, some who have already dropped out, and some seeming to pop up at the last minute. I do not know who I am leaning towards, and since we still have 5 months before elections come to California, I still have time to decide.

I only hope the Republicans in Iowa come out and vote, and help point the way to someone who can beat Obama in November. This should be an election year to watch, and I'll try to keep you updated on what is going on.

Buy Them a Ticket

The Supreme court yesterday ordered the state of California to release between 35,000 to 40,000 prisoners from state prisons, because overcrowding in the prisons caused "needless suffering and death". I'm asking here and now why release this "suffering and death" on the general public?

These inmates are in the prisons for a reason, and honestly I think the reason for the "suffering and death" is not the overcrowding,it's the fact that these people are criminals. DUH!

I am wondering how the Supreme Court Justices would feel if the citizens of California chipped in and bought one way bus tickets for all the released criminals to go live in Washington DC, in the Justices neighborhoods.

Or, here's a plan to help reduce prison overcrowding. Start executing the inmates on California's death row. I think this might deter more people from acting criminally.

I'm just saying...

I'm just saying releasing these prisoners is not a smart move, and hopefully the state will have some better ideas that the court will go with, rather than the insane release of over 40,00 criminals...who will only end up back in prison anyway.

When did running a stop sign become a capitol offense?

On May 10, 2011 Allen Kephart, a local mountain area resident ran a stop sign. He was pursued by a San Bernardino County Sheriff deputy. When he came to a stop at a local gas station the deputy ordered him out of the car. The deputy reports that he became uncooperative and combative, at which time the deputy used his taser on Kephart. Long and short of it is Kephart ended up dead as a result of the incident.

People who knew Kephart say he was not he kind of man who would become combative. Eye witnesses report that the deputy, and a second deputy who responded to the incident tasered Kephart between 5 to eight times. One witness told me they held the taser gun to the man's temple. To me this seems like excessive force, especial for a traffic stop. I don't feel running a stop sign requires this kind of action. If the deputies suspect this was a dangerous person, they could have run the plates on the car and seen there was no criminal record on the owner, and so this kind of force was probably not needed.

I don't have all the facts, and don't claim to know everything about this case. But I do know the San Bernardino Sheriff Homicide investigators are investigating, and that due to possible conflict of interest the autopsy is being conducted by Riverside county's coroner. I have not heard the autopsy results, or more detailed sheriff reports. But I'm still pretty sure America has no death penalty for running a stop sign...I'll keep you posted as I know more details.

Osama's death...a cause for rejoicing?

The portions of the blog written here in brown were my initial thoughts, since publishing at lunch I realized I had missed a few points I wanted to make, so I'm adding them in blue.

Today I am conflicted. Osama Bin Laden has been killed by the US military. We have finally completed an objective set before us after the attacks of 9-11-01. I am relieved that Osama will no longer be able to spread havoc around the world. But I am sickened as I watch news reports of people celebrating in the streets and cheering over his death.

I understand that he was an evil man, and that he more than deserved the death penalty for the terrorist acts he committed. But when i see the celebrating in the streets I can't help but think back to the news immediately after 9-11 and the horror we, as Americans, felt to see people in Middle East cheering and celebrating in the streets. Are we not supposed to be better and more civilized than "them" and yet we too are celebrating the death of an enemy.

Now, I can completely understand people who lost loved ones on 9-11 wanting to express joy that the killer of their family/friend has finally been brought to justice. And the families of military people over the last ten years who have lost their lives fighting in the Middle East may feel some sense of joy, that the loss my seem more meaningful, now that Osama is dead. But I have to ask, after they are done celebrating Osama's death, is their loss any less? Has the death of Bin Laden brought their loved one back? Will there not still be an aching in their heart tomorrow.

But I have to ask myself, does losing one evil man make the world a much better place, or is it all balanced out by all the good people who have died recently ( I think of 4 friends at work who have lost a parent this year). And of course the loss of a leader will only make Al Quida want to destroy America (& Americans) even more.

Does God rejoice at the death of Osama? I can't answer that, but I think not, for it is a Soul that can now never be reclaimed to Him. (okay, shortly after writing this I found this verse posted on Facebook: ‎"Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" ~Ez. 18:23 I think that answers the question I posed.) Some may argue that his Soul was so evil, it could never have been reclaimed, and maybe God was using the US military as his tool to rid the world of evil, and this may well be true. I do know that Satan is rejoicing in Osama's death because that is one more soul that is eternally his.

I want to add here that I am grateful beyond words to our military and all they have done over the last ten years in the Middle East, and hope my thought here have not given an impression otherwise. They should be congratulated for capturing a public enemy of the country. I'm just saying that the partying in the streets over someone's death bothers me a bit.

Several of my friends posted this quote today, and I'd like to share it here: ‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

I don't have answers to all the questions I pose here, and that is why, as I stated at the start of this blog, I am conflicted today. I do not hold it against you if you choose to celebrate Osama's death today, please don't hold it against me if I don't join the celebration.

Dancing With The Stars and Politics

This season of Dancing with The Stars has been by far the strangest season on the show. This is mostly due to the appearance of Bristol Palin, the daughter of Sarah Palin (you know who that is). Despite receiving the lowest judges' score 6 times Bristol the Pistol (as she is nick-named) has somehow made it to the finals. This shows the power and clout of the conservative voice in America. Because face it, even though she has grown as a dancer, several much better dancers have been eliminated, while Bristol keeps making it through. Looking at this, I think Democrats across the country need to be very nervous. If Sarah's clout can sway the voters on a TV show, imagine what might happen in the 2012 elections.

Many of you have probably already seen tonight's show, and know the results; I do not. I only hope America voted for a Dancer, and not a political point of view. Save that for 2012.

Please check out my other blog for a great story, and help if you can. Help Save Jerry.

Take Back America Day

Well, here I am at my most political. For the past two years we have heard President Obama and nearly every Democrat in Washington blame George W. Bush for the financial mess the country is in, and for just about every problem you can name.

And we have seen them do little to fix the problems. They've been too busy jamming through a health care bill that over 60% of Americans are against. Now please don't get me wrong, I think a lot of changes need to be made in health care. But turning everything over to the government is not the answer. I mean just look at the mess unemployment, Welfare and Social Security are in, and you will see what happens when you leave stuff up to the government.

And here is a big question, I agree Bush should take responsibility for some portion of the financial mess, but really, he is only one part of the government. Congress is also part of the government, and for the last two years of Bush's administration, when the finances were falling apart, the Congress was controlled by Democrats. The same Democrats that are in Congress now. The same ones who think that raising your taxes and sending millions in bailout money to the banks will make you want to spend more and help the economy recover.

I say, "Enough!" When Obama was coronated ...sorry, inaugurated ...I said I would give him the benefit of the doubt, and see how he did. Well, times up, and in less than 24 hours we will hopefully send the Democrats packing and flip the house. Let's Take Back America!!