Where exactly is the line between the Protection of Religious Freedom by the government and the government protecting itself from Religion? Let me preface this by saying that there is and should be a line. The struggle to sway that line in our direction is the essence of politics. The problem however, as with most things in life is that the line is ever drifting between one extreme and another.
We all see this ebb and flow in life for example from one party to another in politics and at least at a gut level we understand it and realize it is a necessary thing. Americans also accept that in order for our Democratic Republic to flourish -- for “Freedom” to flourish -- we must allow others to believe what they will and we’ll believe what we will. This seems to be where our brand of Freedom comes from in our country.
As a Conservative I get upset around the Zealots of the Gay Marriage group. This video helps me understand the reason for the 2nd amendment
-----link-----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yXaPFwBdkA&feature=related
--------------
Wow that was pretty hard.
Well this next one isn‘t quite so physically threatening but I would hate to see that truck in front of my house, and I begin to wonder why the 1st amendment was written.
-----link-----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PANDqolTRvc
---------------
I know I quit watching, about a minute is all I could take. Dull mainly but you get the drift.
Just saw an article in Townhall.com titled
Defense of "The Oogedy-Boogedy Branch of the GOP"
by John Hawkins
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnHawkins/2008/11/21/in_defense_of_the_oogedy-boogedy_branch_of_the_gop
--------------
Hawkins makes a pretty good case of where that line can be drawn in the Republican Party as it tries continually to straddle the Christine Todd Whitman, McCain liberal in all but finance group and the Social Conservatives or Religious Right.
Hawkins talks of this country being a religious one and that both parties cater to the religious idea whether they believe in religion or not.
To bad there has to be compromises with the other side. To bad we have to think for ourselves where that line is all the time. It’s hard work. We have to think not only of ourselves but of others as well.
On the one side, Stalin knew exactly where the line was, as citizens of the USSR we would have no difficulty discerning where that line was. It was the Party Line.
Conversely, In Iran the Ayatollah takes that burden off our backs too.
The best book I’ve read explaining the compromise that is our American Republic form of Democracy, is Thomas Sowell’s, “Conflict of Vision”
-----link-----
http://www.amazon.com/Conflict-Visions-Ideological-Political-Struggles/dp/0465081428
---------------
He simplifies all the political bickering of 230 some years down to two different “Visions” people use to help them decide how they live their lives. One is as valid or invalid as the other.
In 1776 it was just as hard to compromise one’s “vision” as it is now: but the goal is what clinched that deal. They were setting up a new government and in so doing had put their life on the line when they signed their collection of compromises we call the Declaration of Independence later codified into the Constitution. They knew that their very lives and fortunes were tied up in those compromises and they knew also that those compromises had to be effective or else they would lose all. To put it in modern terms, they had to agree to disagree, but most important they had to get it done.
In the past whenever we as a Nation would get too far to the left or too far to the right we would see the threat to ourselves and swing back more to the center. I hope we continue in that vein.
As far as the current controversy in the Republican Party I think a veer to the Right is what is needed.; as we are in the midst of a veer to the Left. I am starting to fear the loss of the things like capitalism that has made this country great, and allowed the freedom given me and every other citizen. The freedom to not only hope but to actually do what it takes so that we may better ourselves. It is this fear that will unite us, as we battle the opposing ideology. As it gets down into the trenches, any ally is a good ally. We all need the Freedom to Compromise.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
YouTube - Citizentube Interview: David Cameron
Please click on the "Web Cameron" heading on the top right of the side bar before you start to read this post. It is a pleasant interactive experiance. (In my biased opinion), anyway give it a shot.
Below is a link to the Telegraph.co.uk It is an article about how David Cameron and his crew of Conservatives in Britain have decided to wage war against the Liberals and Gordon Brown. The ammunition they plan to use to fight this war is the Conservative idea that an unfettered Capitalism is the best weapon to use for reviving the economy.
-----link-----
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/11/20/do2002.xml
--------------
Near the end of the article the author, Ian Martin sums up the battle quite nicely. He comes up with the idea that what is needed is a Conservative “Moral Compass”. I agree with his well put conclusion of what is at stake in this war. We in the USA are fighting the same war.
-----quote-----
For there is more at stake than is apparent. Markets, and the idea that robust private enterprise are the best means of recovery, are under attack in what is becoming a global culture war against capitalism.
----------------
We in the USA could take a page out of Cameron’s book. Their party after all is making great progress and seems poised to capture the government in 2009 or 2010.
We need to reaffirm the Conservative mantra of Capitalism and the great strides it is capable of when free.
Listen to a down to earth Politician a Common Sense Conservative.
YouTube - Citizentube Interview: David Cameron
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Below is a link to the Telegraph.co.uk It is an article about how David Cameron and his crew of Conservatives in Britain have decided to wage war against the Liberals and Gordon Brown. The ammunition they plan to use to fight this war is the Conservative idea that an unfettered Capitalism is the best weapon to use for reviving the economy.
-----link-----
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/11/20/do2002.xml
--------------
Near the end of the article the author, Ian Martin sums up the battle quite nicely. He comes up with the idea that what is needed is a Conservative “Moral Compass”. I agree with his well put conclusion of what is at stake in this war. We in the USA are fighting the same war.
-----quote-----
For there is more at stake than is apparent. Markets, and the idea that robust private enterprise are the best means of recovery, are under attack in what is becoming a global culture war against capitalism.
----------------
We in the USA could take a page out of Cameron’s book. Their party after all is making great progress and seems poised to capture the government in 2009 or 2010.
We need to reaffirm the Conservative mantra of Capitalism and the great strides it is capable of when free.
Listen to a down to earth Politician a Common Sense Conservative.
YouTube - Citizentube Interview: David Cameron
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Mitt Romney throws down
Mitt Romney throws down the gauntlet in an op-ed in the New York Times.
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?_r=2&oref=slogin
---------------
Finally someone with some backbone is willing to talk about what everybody has been wondering about but were too politically correct to say,(at least publicly.)
What will happen if the Big 3 Auto Makers do get bailed out. Mitt’s answer is simple and unequivocal.
-----quote-----
….., you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye.
-----------------
My take on his writing is that unless we let them declare bankruptcy they will not change the infrastructure that got them into the mess in the first place. The article is so blatantly obvious and filled with common sense that I expect that Mitt will soon be called some pretty vile names. Not just by the unions which have a vested interested in keeping the status quo, but the Executives of the companies, who without a bailout might be kicked out. At the least they might loose some of their perks.
I enjoyed the Romney’s op-ed, I enjoyed his logic. I enjoyed his common sense. He was brief and too the point. His quote from Reuther was splendid.
-----quote------
But as Walter Reuther, the former head of the United Automobile Workers, said to my father, “Getting more and more pay for less and less work is a dead-end street.”
-----------------
But then he fires right back at management.
-----quote------
The need for collaboration will mean accepting sanity in salaries and perks. At American Motors, my dad cut his pay and that of his executive team, he bought stock in the company, and he went out to factories to talk to workers directly. Get rid of the planes, the executive dining rooms — all the symbols that breed resentment among the hundreds of thousands who will also be sacrificing to keep the companies afloat
-----------------
I mean, holy cow can that boy write. He obviously is letting the bee out of his bonnet. I wish he had that same fire in his bid for the Presidency. I think this Mitt Romney and Joe the Plumber would enjoy a talk together.
Then he took a page out of David Cameron of Britain and explained the good Conservative Common Sense way for the government to act. Not to bail them out. Rather the government should facilitate the restructuring that will take place with a bankruptcy by helping with the basic research through a massive infusion of grant money to help the universities perfect new technologies for the Auto Makers so they can build a better product. Also the government should pressure other countries to level the playing field.
This was the best and boldest piece of writing I have read on a national level in a long time. I’m amazed they didn’t bury it quicker.
Lastly Mitt gives me a clue about what he thinks of the 700 billion$ bailout. He says the following. Again good Conservative Common Sense
-----quote-----
But don’t ask Washington to give shareholders and bondholders a free pass — they bet on management and they lost
--------------
Those holders of bonds and shares for the most part are banks and the equivalent.
Reminds me of saying no to our children, they do get over it and when they end up getting what they wanted it will of been in the old fashioned way. They will have Earned It.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
PS I would love to have him do another op-ed next month about the public schools and how they should be allowed to go bankrupt. The ever increasing money we pay for less results reminds me of the Walter Reuther quote above. The problem is that a “crummy” car is not near as bad as producing a “crummy” kid. What say you Akindele?
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?_r=2&oref=slogin
---------------
Finally someone with some backbone is willing to talk about what everybody has been wondering about but were too politically correct to say,(at least publicly.)
What will happen if the Big 3 Auto Makers do get bailed out. Mitt’s answer is simple and unequivocal.
-----quote-----
….., you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye.
-----------------
My take on his writing is that unless we let them declare bankruptcy they will not change the infrastructure that got them into the mess in the first place. The article is so blatantly obvious and filled with common sense that I expect that Mitt will soon be called some pretty vile names. Not just by the unions which have a vested interested in keeping the status quo, but the Executives of the companies, who without a bailout might be kicked out. At the least they might loose some of their perks.
I enjoyed the Romney’s op-ed, I enjoyed his logic. I enjoyed his common sense. He was brief and too the point. His quote from Reuther was splendid.
-----quote------
But as Walter Reuther, the former head of the United Automobile Workers, said to my father, “Getting more and more pay for less and less work is a dead-end street.”
-----------------
But then he fires right back at management.
-----quote------
The need for collaboration will mean accepting sanity in salaries and perks. At American Motors, my dad cut his pay and that of his executive team, he bought stock in the company, and he went out to factories to talk to workers directly. Get rid of the planes, the executive dining rooms — all the symbols that breed resentment among the hundreds of thousands who will also be sacrificing to keep the companies afloat
-----------------
I mean, holy cow can that boy write. He obviously is letting the bee out of his bonnet. I wish he had that same fire in his bid for the Presidency. I think this Mitt Romney and Joe the Plumber would enjoy a talk together.
Then he took a page out of David Cameron of Britain and explained the good Conservative Common Sense way for the government to act. Not to bail them out. Rather the government should facilitate the restructuring that will take place with a bankruptcy by helping with the basic research through a massive infusion of grant money to help the universities perfect new technologies for the Auto Makers so they can build a better product. Also the government should pressure other countries to level the playing field.
This was the best and boldest piece of writing I have read on a national level in a long time. I’m amazed they didn’t bury it quicker.
Lastly Mitt gives me a clue about what he thinks of the 700 billion$ bailout. He says the following. Again good Conservative Common Sense
-----quote-----
But don’t ask Washington to give shareholders and bondholders a free pass — they bet on management and they lost
--------------
Those holders of bonds and shares for the most part are banks and the equivalent.
Reminds me of saying no to our children, they do get over it and when they end up getting what they wanted it will of been in the old fashioned way. They will have Earned It.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
PS I would love to have him do another op-ed next month about the public schools and how they should be allowed to go bankrupt. The ever increasing money we pay for less results reminds me of the Walter Reuther quote above. The problem is that a “crummy” car is not near as bad as producing a “crummy” kid. What say you Akindele?
Monday, November 17, 2008
For The Sake Of The Children
Trickle Down Economics Liberal Style.
For the sake of our children the liberals tell us that we must raise taxes.
The effects of Liberal inspired economic polices of tax and spend are finally trickling down to the states and they will soon have to pass the trickle down to you and your wallet and finally to what you can afford to put under the Christmas tree for your children. That is if you are one of the few hard working minority left that actually make money by having a job or a business. Wish I had a picture of Barney Frank’s Christmas tree and all their presents. I don’t so this reminder of what is coming is linked below.
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/us/17fiscal.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
---------------
Heaven help you if you are successful enough to hire workers. That trickle may well turn into a full fledged break in the pipes that could put you out of business. If your are still stubborn enough about wanting to work for a living to try to get ahead, if you are attitude challenged in that way then you can be reeducated through the many government programs or just get up and leave the country. Take your business with you to a more friendly environment.
Next is an enlarged map from above of “deficit challenged” states
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/17/us/20081117_budget_graphic.html
--------------
Now compare the above linked map and the election map in the next link. The Liberal States eerily tend to line up with the “budget challenged” ones.
-----link-----
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008-election-map.html#/president?view=race08
---------------
The ULTIMATE BAILOUT is fast approaching.
Just as the Government has seen fit to “Bailout” the financial industry with your tax money, because it’s liberalized lending policies have failed. WE too will have to bail out the government for it‘s failed liberal policies.
You will not hear it called a “Bailout” but rather a necessary raising of taxes on those who make the most to help save the children. In other words just another round of raising taxes. Which as the case of higher business taxes in Michigan proves, will force business out of the state taking jobs (your job) with them.
-----link-----
http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/1357.html
---------------
Nationally business will have to continue moving out of the country, taking your jobs with them. But not you and your family. Before you blame Business, I would look to the government. Does it need all that money.
Do your kids need everything they ask for at Christmas? It may break our heart to not be able to give them everything, but we don’t because we are responsible people. We are also a people that understand common sense. We know that our children don’t need everything they want. If we can say no to our children, bringing a tear to our eyes, why is it so hard to tell the government the same thing? That does not bring any tears to my eyes.
I think it is about time we started doing just that.
For the sake of Our Children.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
For the sake of our children the liberals tell us that we must raise taxes.
The effects of Liberal inspired economic polices of tax and spend are finally trickling down to the states and they will soon have to pass the trickle down to you and your wallet and finally to what you can afford to put under the Christmas tree for your children. That is if you are one of the few hard working minority left that actually make money by having a job or a business. Wish I had a picture of Barney Frank’s Christmas tree and all their presents. I don’t so this reminder of what is coming is linked below.
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/us/17fiscal.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
---------------
Heaven help you if you are successful enough to hire workers. That trickle may well turn into a full fledged break in the pipes that could put you out of business. If your are still stubborn enough about wanting to work for a living to try to get ahead, if you are attitude challenged in that way then you can be reeducated through the many government programs or just get up and leave the country. Take your business with you to a more friendly environment.
Next is an enlarged map from above of “deficit challenged” states
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/17/us/20081117_budget_graphic.html
--------------
Now compare the above linked map and the election map in the next link. The Liberal States eerily tend to line up with the “budget challenged” ones.
-----link-----
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008-election-map.html#/president?view=race08
---------------
The ULTIMATE BAILOUT is fast approaching.
Just as the Government has seen fit to “Bailout” the financial industry with your tax money, because it’s liberalized lending policies have failed. WE too will have to bail out the government for it‘s failed liberal policies.
You will not hear it called a “Bailout” but rather a necessary raising of taxes on those who make the most to help save the children. In other words just another round of raising taxes. Which as the case of higher business taxes in Michigan proves, will force business out of the state taking jobs (your job) with them.
-----link-----
http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/1357.html
---------------
Nationally business will have to continue moving out of the country, taking your jobs with them. But not you and your family. Before you blame Business, I would look to the government. Does it need all that money.
Do your kids need everything they ask for at Christmas? It may break our heart to not be able to give them everything, but we don’t because we are responsible people. We are also a people that understand common sense. We know that our children don’t need everything they want. If we can say no to our children, bringing a tear to our eyes, why is it so hard to tell the government the same thing? That does not bring any tears to my eyes.
I think it is about time we started doing just that.
For the sake of Our Children.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)