I recently read an article at Right Michigan
-----link-----
http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/?p=1217&cpage=1#comment-5792
---------------
Seems like a group of Citizens in Traverse City got together with the city’s blessing to form a group to study the reasons why the City seemed to be paying an un proportional amount for infrastructure compared to surrounding areas they serviced.
My daughter plays disc golf professionally and Traverse City is a hot bed for this fledgling sport. I am also a conservative so when I saw the article I paid attention. When I read that an unpaid group of citizens was studying the policies of a City Government, well my adrenalin started pumping.
Jgillman of the same family of the author of the above article posted a link to the study in the comment section of the article. I thank him and I repost it here.
-----link------
http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/cofac/finalreport.pdf
----------------
The study is long and I’ve just started to read it let alone study it.
When I first got into studying local politics and started peeking under the curtain (wizard of Oz style). I started to understand that policy is derived from the bureaucracy down. Most policy is simply a rubberstamp of the concerned division of government. Staff formulates a plan it is sent to the elected officials and it is usually accepted. On the face of it all is well. But keep in mind the budget allowance for the division involved is directly tied to what they do and how much they do. It is in their favor to do as much and ask for as much as they can. To expect other wise is to go against the natural law of survival.
Hence less Government the better.
Hence the vaccum that creates needs to be filled by citizens doing things on their own. It is as hard and as simple as saying no to government money and offers of help. They ask what do you want, then offer it free of charge with few strings attached. At least for now. Let me toot my horn now.
-----link-----
http://bottomuppolitics.blogspot.com/2009/02/update-on-love-community-garden.html
---------------
I am a big proponent of “Unpaid” citizen involvement. I get worried when I see a paid civilian security force being talked about. Being funded equal to the army. I know it sounds preposterous. But so did a lot of today’s realities 20 years ago. Not to mention 233 years ago.
-----link-----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s
---------------
The difference between paid and unpaid volunteers is the difference between freedom and dictatorship.
Many will say I stretch the analogy to thin when I say that accepting or not accepting stimulus money equals the same difference. By not accepting the money we are forcing ourselves to try to fix the problem ourselves. To assert the idea that we as citizens are capable of doing that better than the bureaucracy.
I know it is probably an urban legend, but I seem to have heard that a nation was founded on that idea.
When we are willing to do the work necessary to assure our freedom, that we then in the doing, begin to earn it. The Gillman’s in Traverse City have started to earn theirs. I will try to earn mine. I hope others will do likewise.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
Ps. Can’t I talk anyone else in Musk. to go to the Lansing Tea Party? I still need a ride. Time is short. This Friday High Noon.
Glhotdogs@verizon.net
231-728-3455
Thanks
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Check It Out
Here is a link I just got.
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2009/2/24/93630/6089
---------------
Looks like fun. If anyone wants to car pool please let me know. More than happy to split the gas.
Glhotdogs@verizon.net
231-728-3455
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2009/2/24/93630/6089
---------------
Looks like fun. If anyone wants to car pool please let me know. More than happy to split the gas.
Glhotdogs@verizon.net
231-728-3455
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Friday, February 20, 2009
Oh Hell
What makes us great?
Individual Freedom.
What makes us free?
(What or whom makes us free has to do with unalienable rights and a bunch of our right wing religious whacko forebears’ out of the past.)
That is not what I’m talking about here.
In Bureaucratic speak, what is our enabling legislation?
You already think you know. It’s the Constitution of the USA.
The trick seems to lie in the definition of freedom. That changes with time.
Just rent a few episodes of “Little House on the Prairie”. Just look at the utter despair in their faces. Their total lack of hope. Too bad they didn't have someone to show them the way of Hope. Just imagine the horrible life we have let our government save us from.
-----picture-----
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3617167360/tt0071007
-------------------
Here was a young family that came to a new area and built a sod house next to a small crick and started to raise a family. I think we all know what the crick was good for, urinating and drinking. I know a city inspector or two who would be jumping up and down with glee if they were to find this situation today. It was later they built the house above. Still way subhuman conditions.
{I mean dirt floors? A ladder to the second floor without handrails and ballisters no further than 4 inches apart so a baby doesn’t die? What about heat? During the winter their fireplace could never keep the house at 70 degrees at a height of 4 feet off the ground. Oh yes what about the whole waste disposal system? I’m looking forward to breakfast so I’d rather not get into that right now. Use your own imagination.}
Let’s just suffice it to say there would not be 7 seasons of “Little House” to watch on TV. Today the house would have been demolished, the children packed off to “Protective Services”, and the land would have been brought back to it’s pristine condition before man defiled it. Only animals would be allowed to urinate and drink from the small crick. (We do love our animals don't we?) But then of course the government needed a building to house their bureaucracy in! What a small price to pay for the good it would do. Downright patriotic to oppose it. Below a Chinese “visionary” establishment. If you are lucky enough to get an invitation to study at this school, you will soon be taught to see the similarities to Frank Lloyd's view of a Prarie Home and how it rises out of and blends with the environment. Now that is education at it's finest.
-----link-----
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laojiao--------------
This “Little House Period” in our history some will tell us was the beginning of ruination of our planet. When any individual claimed to know what was best for themselves and their loved ones was the beginning of the end for what was good for the whole world. After all how could any one person know what was best for the whole world, it is too complicated and mind boggling for an individual to know. After all it was people like the Engles family that were the pioneers of Global Warming and other yet undreamt of sufferings for humanity yet to come.
Thank goodness that in our enlightened age we now have a vast bureaucracy to decide for us what our individual actions should be in order to not hurt the rest of mankind and our planet. I mean, haven’t we proved time and time again that the government knows what is best for us and how to handle problems better than we do? This must surely be the case. If it wasn’t and we thought the government couldn’t solve our problems, then why on earth would we fork over 1/3 or what we make to them year in and year out? Why else would we continue to give away our individual freedoms till so few remain?
Shame on those of you unwilling to give up your individual freedom for the greater good. Look at all the good that has been accomplished so far. Our united society is crime free, hunger is gone, diversity has ended prejudice, our economy is robust, any one who wants to work can and anyone who doesn’t want to can still live the good life. Why would anyone want to do other than what they’re told.
Oh and the children. Look at the success of education and what our children are learning. We will soon again be on the cutting edge of technology and science. I know there are still a few pockets of people that have not been helped yet to see the “vision”, but nothing that can’t be fixed by the government spending an extra trillion or two, and a couple of brand new bureaucracies thrown in.
-----vision of helping those who won’t help themselves-----
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shayang_workers.JPG
-----------------------------------------------------------
Oh the joy of those men bonding over their work and puzzles.
Another link to a way to help lead those unwilling to follow.
-----link-----
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=45134736
--------------
This stubborn clinging to the old ideas must stop. A new age is upon us. All people must be treated equally, fed equally, housed equally, taught equally. I have seen the progress so far. It is all around us. Michigan is a shinning example in education and industry. Michigan’s governor has indeed blown them away.
-----Blown away-----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Ty6qe7bkA&NR=1
-------------------------
Perhaps if we could find a way to give her 4 more years she could come up with some of our own education camps to keep those young people from moving away so they can be blown away with her ideas instead.
Perhaps I should start digging my redoubt and buying up dried figs and the like. Buy up ammunition before it’s all banned.
But on the other hand maybe I’ll get off my butt and get political. Here is a novel idea I could always vote. Volunteer and donate money for and to others who think the way I do. Imagine the audacity of that.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
Individual Freedom.
What makes us free?
(What or whom makes us free has to do with unalienable rights and a bunch of our right wing religious whacko forebears’ out of the past.)
That is not what I’m talking about here.
In Bureaucratic speak, what is our enabling legislation?
You already think you know. It’s the Constitution of the USA.
The trick seems to lie in the definition of freedom. That changes with time.
Just rent a few episodes of “Little House on the Prairie”. Just look at the utter despair in their faces. Their total lack of hope. Too bad they didn't have someone to show them the way of Hope. Just imagine the horrible life we have let our government save us from.
-----picture-----
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3617167360/tt0071007
-------------------
Here was a young family that came to a new area and built a sod house next to a small crick and started to raise a family. I think we all know what the crick was good for, urinating and drinking. I know a city inspector or two who would be jumping up and down with glee if they were to find this situation today. It was later they built the house above. Still way subhuman conditions.
{I mean dirt floors? A ladder to the second floor without handrails and ballisters no further than 4 inches apart so a baby doesn’t die? What about heat? During the winter their fireplace could never keep the house at 70 degrees at a height of 4 feet off the ground. Oh yes what about the whole waste disposal system? I’m looking forward to breakfast so I’d rather not get into that right now. Use your own imagination.}
Let’s just suffice it to say there would not be 7 seasons of “Little House” to watch on TV. Today the house would have been demolished, the children packed off to “Protective Services”, and the land would have been brought back to it’s pristine condition before man defiled it. Only animals would be allowed to urinate and drink from the small crick. (We do love our animals don't we?) But then of course the government needed a building to house their bureaucracy in! What a small price to pay for the good it would do. Downright patriotic to oppose it. Below a Chinese “visionary” establishment. If you are lucky enough to get an invitation to study at this school, you will soon be taught to see the similarities to Frank Lloyd's view of a Prarie Home and how it rises out of and blends with the environment. Now that is education at it's finest.
-----link-----
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laojiao--------------
This “Little House Period” in our history some will tell us was the beginning of ruination of our planet. When any individual claimed to know what was best for themselves and their loved ones was the beginning of the end for what was good for the whole world. After all how could any one person know what was best for the whole world, it is too complicated and mind boggling for an individual to know. After all it was people like the Engles family that were the pioneers of Global Warming and other yet undreamt of sufferings for humanity yet to come.
Thank goodness that in our enlightened age we now have a vast bureaucracy to decide for us what our individual actions should be in order to not hurt the rest of mankind and our planet. I mean, haven’t we proved time and time again that the government knows what is best for us and how to handle problems better than we do? This must surely be the case. If it wasn’t and we thought the government couldn’t solve our problems, then why on earth would we fork over 1/3 or what we make to them year in and year out? Why else would we continue to give away our individual freedoms till so few remain?
Shame on those of you unwilling to give up your individual freedom for the greater good. Look at all the good that has been accomplished so far. Our united society is crime free, hunger is gone, diversity has ended prejudice, our economy is robust, any one who wants to work can and anyone who doesn’t want to can still live the good life. Why would anyone want to do other than what they’re told.
Oh and the children. Look at the success of education and what our children are learning. We will soon again be on the cutting edge of technology and science. I know there are still a few pockets of people that have not been helped yet to see the “vision”, but nothing that can’t be fixed by the government spending an extra trillion or two, and a couple of brand new bureaucracies thrown in.
-----vision of helping those who won’t help themselves-----
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shayang_workers.JPG
-----------------------------------------------------------
Oh the joy of those men bonding over their work and puzzles.
Another link to a way to help lead those unwilling to follow.
-----link-----
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=45134736
--------------
This stubborn clinging to the old ideas must stop. A new age is upon us. All people must be treated equally, fed equally, housed equally, taught equally. I have seen the progress so far. It is all around us. Michigan is a shinning example in education and industry. Michigan’s governor has indeed blown them away.
-----Blown away-----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Ty6qe7bkA&NR=1
-------------------------
Perhaps if we could find a way to give her 4 more years she could come up with some of our own education camps to keep those young people from moving away so they can be blown away with her ideas instead.
Perhaps I should start digging my redoubt and buying up dried figs and the like. Buy up ammunition before it’s all banned.
But on the other hand maybe I’ll get off my butt and get political. Here is a novel idea I could always vote. Volunteer and donate money for and to others who think the way I do. Imagine the audacity of that.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A Journeyman Reformer
As you know if you read any of the stuff I splatter all over the web, I talk a lot (or write a lot as it were). I hope you also get the feeling that I try to back up what I say by deeds. I try to walk the walk, and that is immensely harder and more time consuming than talking the talk.
I also quickly tire of constant verbal and typographical abuse that is the fodder of most that I see on the Web. Some creative satire like a hard hitting Coulter I enjoy sometimes, but the thinly veiled hate I quickly tire of.
I read the article linked below in the WSJ about Jeb Bush written by Fred Barnes and found it to be enlightening. A lot of what I try to do Jeb Bush has done and continues to do. He is a reformer. I talk also about doing good deeds simply for the sake of the doing. This Bush seems to echo that, he enjoys the doing even more than talking about it. Though they both seem to feed upon each other.
-----link-----
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123457271366086479.html
---------------
The following quote tells me something about the sincerity of what he says.
-----quote-----
. "I'm totally comfortable with what I'm doing and how I'm going about it. I hope I can find a role to play that doesn't include running for office to make a contribution."
-----------------
Some may think he is just showing some false humility and hiding his true agenda. I think not. He sounds like a man that enjoyed fighting the reform fight and knowing what his goals and convictions are. A man sure of himself because he has been there and done that. For a long time.
From the article about what reforms he made as Governor of Florida.
-----quote by Fred Barnes-----
“His tenure was memorable because of his intense focus on reform of education, government, the budget process, civil service, health care, procurement and race-based programs. He also cut taxes in a state with no income tax.”
------------------------------------------
I agree also with the article and Mr. Bush that we should decentralize the government. Let the states be freer to experiment with different systems.
I am also so sick of hearing the Democrats and some Republicans always blaming Bush for everything. They must really be dunderheads or complete idiots to believe that drivel. Well Jeb made a good case for my being a dunderhead if all I’m going to do is blame Obama for the next 4 or 8 years.
I had to love his idea of a British style shadow government. I’ve blogged about that for quite awhile now. I think with Cantor and Boehner in the House we have a start. We need to trot out our financial shadow cabinet member with a plan. Etc.
So as I said I talk a lot. But will try to refrain from name calling especially of the President, although when it comes to the Mutt’ess and Jeff of the Senate, it will be too tempting to overcome the obvious completely.
I will try to bring out a shadow type of solution based neighborhood government. It’s more work but hopefully more rewarding. As far as our local party, well I’ll just start doing and see where it leads.
Perhaps I can have a shadow of the contentment Jeb Bush has found from being an activist reformer.
-----quote------
What did he take away from his experience as governor? Mr. Bush says he "learned you could change things if you worked at it. What I learned was how to take ideas and implement them over the long haul. The thing with politics is that it's focused on the here and now." However, "by focusing on the longer-term things I had a chance to take conservative ideas and reform-minded thoughts and put them into practice. It was invigorating. It was uplifting to me personally to see that in America a whole lot of people can work together to accomplish that
-----------------
Finally, I will work on my humility by honestly holding my plans and myself accountable, not blaming others for my or my plans shortcomings. Again Jeb Bush put it better than I.
-----quote------
"You have to have an aspirational [mine inspirational?]goal, and you have to communicate it over and over and over. You have to have the humility to recognize that people aren't watching your every word. . . . You have to be constantly adding to the reforms. You have to take the risk of measuring the success or lack of it. You have to be held accountable . . . Sometimes it's not fun."
------------------
Call me naïve, but I think I can at least try and perhaps I’ll learn to find contentment in the trying. Perhaps even some fun in the doing.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
ps
For links about my admiration for British Politics see my side bar near the top for web Cameron and further down under "Update Across The Pond"
I also quickly tire of constant verbal and typographical abuse that is the fodder of most that I see on the Web. Some creative satire like a hard hitting Coulter I enjoy sometimes, but the thinly veiled hate I quickly tire of.
I read the article linked below in the WSJ about Jeb Bush written by Fred Barnes and found it to be enlightening. A lot of what I try to do Jeb Bush has done and continues to do. He is a reformer. I talk also about doing good deeds simply for the sake of the doing. This Bush seems to echo that, he enjoys the doing even more than talking about it. Though they both seem to feed upon each other.
-----link-----
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123457271366086479.html
---------------
The following quote tells me something about the sincerity of what he says.
-----quote-----
. "I'm totally comfortable with what I'm doing and how I'm going about it. I hope I can find a role to play that doesn't include running for office to make a contribution."
-----------------
Some may think he is just showing some false humility and hiding his true agenda. I think not. He sounds like a man that enjoyed fighting the reform fight and knowing what his goals and convictions are. A man sure of himself because he has been there and done that. For a long time.
From the article about what reforms he made as Governor of Florida.
-----quote by Fred Barnes-----
“His tenure was memorable because of his intense focus on reform of education, government, the budget process, civil service, health care, procurement and race-based programs. He also cut taxes in a state with no income tax.”
------------------------------------------
I agree also with the article and Mr. Bush that we should decentralize the government. Let the states be freer to experiment with different systems.
I am also so sick of hearing the Democrats and some Republicans always blaming Bush for everything. They must really be dunderheads or complete idiots to believe that drivel. Well Jeb made a good case for my being a dunderhead if all I’m going to do is blame Obama for the next 4 or 8 years.
I had to love his idea of a British style shadow government. I’ve blogged about that for quite awhile now. I think with Cantor and Boehner in the House we have a start. We need to trot out our financial shadow cabinet member with a plan. Etc.
So as I said I talk a lot. But will try to refrain from name calling especially of the President, although when it comes to the Mutt’ess and Jeff of the Senate, it will be too tempting to overcome the obvious completely.
I will try to bring out a shadow type of solution based neighborhood government. It’s more work but hopefully more rewarding. As far as our local party, well I’ll just start doing and see where it leads.
Perhaps I can have a shadow of the contentment Jeb Bush has found from being an activist reformer.
-----quote------
What did he take away from his experience as governor? Mr. Bush says he "learned you could change things if you worked at it. What I learned was how to take ideas and implement them over the long haul. The thing with politics is that it's focused on the here and now." However, "by focusing on the longer-term things I had a chance to take conservative ideas and reform-minded thoughts and put them into practice. It was invigorating. It was uplifting to me personally to see that in America a whole lot of people can work together to accomplish that
-----------------
Finally, I will work on my humility by honestly holding my plans and myself accountable, not blaming others for my or my plans shortcomings. Again Jeb Bush put it better than I.
-----quote------
"You have to have an aspirational [mine inspirational?]goal, and you have to communicate it over and over and over. You have to have the humility to recognize that people aren't watching your every word. . . . You have to be constantly adding to the reforms. You have to take the risk of measuring the success or lack of it. You have to be held accountable . . . Sometimes it's not fun."
------------------
Call me naïve, but I think I can at least try and perhaps I’ll learn to find contentment in the trying. Perhaps even some fun in the doing.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
ps
For links about my admiration for British Politics see my side bar near the top for web Cameron and further down under "Update Across The Pond"
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Denominator
What is the common denominator of the political system??
Give people what they want ??
Give people what they need ??
Better yet, talk people into wanting what they need ??
I’m not talking the populist rhetoric of a Huey P. Long, for he gave them what he thought they wanted and needed.
I’m talking about the definition of “the people”. I mean all the people, rich, poor and in between.
Best of all is to allow all the people the ability to determine for themselves what they need and what they want and to try whatever method they desire to try and get it. Then try to find someone or some party that will try to let me do just that.
Americans call that freedom.
That idea of freedom can be found in the Constitution.
I want the freedom to choose for example how to educate my children. The freedom to decide what they should learn, at what speed they can best learn it.
If worse comes to worse and I decide to teach them 2+2=5;;; is it somehow better that the government makes the same mistake and teaches all the children 5 is the sum of 2+2??
I’m too old to think the government doesn’t make mistakes.
Which method is easiest to correct? Which method can simply be remedied with acknowledgement of a mistake?
When was the last time you heard a government bureaucracy admit to any mistake?
I’m still young enough to admit an obvious mistake for the sake of my children. I trust myself to do that quick and as painless as possible for the love of my children.
In the same vein, when did you last hear a large corporation admit to a mistake. Instead they’ll wage a multi million dollar ad campaign about how great the product really is, trying to hide the obvious. At least until they can come up with another product.
Here I might ad that a small company, say a mom and pop doesn’t have the time or money to do such silliness. They simply say oops then go about finding the right way to undo their mistake.
What about a political party? Last time? Mistake? Never. An individual candidate almost always.
I think that I will start looking for that difference in the business’ I shop at. (and politicians I vote for). I may be different than most but I’ve had countless talks with “company” people on the phone and in person just trying to get them to say they did or said something wrong.
It’s sometimes possible to do that but it takes a lot of time and usually isn’t worth the effort. Buying a new tie as an example; but for the education of our children it is indeed worth the trouble.
I think I’ll start looking for that difference in all the services I buy whether they are with cash or through my tax dollars.
I will also stop calling government workers civil servants. Servants don’t get paid and I would feel unjustified and morally opposed to having servants do anything for me. Seems like our greatest leader tried to put an end to that sort of thing.
Lincoln by the way was a Republican.
Lest we forget. It took him a long time to find a general who'd admit to a mistake them move on and move on and mistakes did Grant do untill he won the war.
When the Civil Servants understand that they are getting paid by our money for what they do and that they willingly and freely have choosen to do that job; perhaps they will come to the conclusion that they owe us a days worth of effort. Some satisfaction. Perhaps the politicians who control them will themselves give us a days worth of effort and try to do just that.
As a freedom loving person I know what I feel. I feel fully justified in demanding just that.
May be the common denominator in the political system is that “we” get involved and start to do just that.
Just that is the answer, and what a powerful just that can be, if we can do -- yup you guessed it -- Just That.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Give people what they want ??
Give people what they need ??
Better yet, talk people into wanting what they need ??
I’m not talking the populist rhetoric of a Huey P. Long, for he gave them what he thought they wanted and needed.
I’m talking about the definition of “the people”. I mean all the people, rich, poor and in between.
Best of all is to allow all the people the ability to determine for themselves what they need and what they want and to try whatever method they desire to try and get it. Then try to find someone or some party that will try to let me do just that.
Americans call that freedom.
That idea of freedom can be found in the Constitution.
I want the freedom to choose for example how to educate my children. The freedom to decide what they should learn, at what speed they can best learn it.
If worse comes to worse and I decide to teach them 2+2=5;;; is it somehow better that the government makes the same mistake and teaches all the children 5 is the sum of 2+2??
I’m too old to think the government doesn’t make mistakes.
Which method is easiest to correct? Which method can simply be remedied with acknowledgement of a mistake?
When was the last time you heard a government bureaucracy admit to any mistake?
I’m still young enough to admit an obvious mistake for the sake of my children. I trust myself to do that quick and as painless as possible for the love of my children.
In the same vein, when did you last hear a large corporation admit to a mistake. Instead they’ll wage a multi million dollar ad campaign about how great the product really is, trying to hide the obvious. At least until they can come up with another product.
Here I might ad that a small company, say a mom and pop doesn’t have the time or money to do such silliness. They simply say oops then go about finding the right way to undo their mistake.
What about a political party? Last time? Mistake? Never. An individual candidate almost always.
I think that I will start looking for that difference in the business’ I shop at. (and politicians I vote for). I may be different than most but I’ve had countless talks with “company” people on the phone and in person just trying to get them to say they did or said something wrong.
It’s sometimes possible to do that but it takes a lot of time and usually isn’t worth the effort. Buying a new tie as an example; but for the education of our children it is indeed worth the trouble.
I think I’ll start looking for that difference in all the services I buy whether they are with cash or through my tax dollars.
I will also stop calling government workers civil servants. Servants don’t get paid and I would feel unjustified and morally opposed to having servants do anything for me. Seems like our greatest leader tried to put an end to that sort of thing.
Lincoln by the way was a Republican.
Lest we forget. It took him a long time to find a general who'd admit to a mistake them move on and move on and mistakes did Grant do untill he won the war.
When the Civil Servants understand that they are getting paid by our money for what they do and that they willingly and freely have choosen to do that job; perhaps they will come to the conclusion that they owe us a days worth of effort. Some satisfaction. Perhaps the politicians who control them will themselves give us a days worth of effort and try to do just that.
As a freedom loving person I know what I feel. I feel fully justified in demanding just that.
May be the common denominator in the political system is that “we” get involved and start to do just that.
Just that is the answer, and what a powerful just that can be, if we can do -- yup you guessed it -- Just That.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Country We Think We Are
Star Parker in an article written 12/15/08 titled “Republicans Need To Get Back To Business”, laid out a reasonable argument.
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/StarParker/2008/12/15/republicans_need_to_get_back_to_business
---------------
In my book, a well written article should be able to crystallize my assorted thoughts on a subject. It should add clarity out of the gibberish my mind formulates. Star’s article does that.
Star Parker’s article talks about getting the party out of attack mode and into creating a message, cause or platform mode. Not changing brands, not ignoring it’s roots; but rather going back to them.
I remember the 1950’s vaguely at best. But I do remember the growth of the middle class. I remember my dad saying and teaching me that I could do anything I wanted. That I had the right to do that as long as I didn’t directly harm anyone else. I bring this up because we as a country have gotten away from that. Is it possible to get back? Do we really want to get back?
Ms. Parker makes a case for trying to sell our business model to the minorities. From my experience in the building trades and from what I see in the lower class neighborhood in which I live. It is the newest and least empowered minorities that are clinging onto the conservative values to help them get a foothold in our society.
I have seen minorities and myself, who when trying to get ahead without government help are being forced to go under the radar of the government to do things I was brought up thinking I had a right to do. I realize that I still have that right but sometimes I can’t afford the legal right I’d have to pay to use it.
In the building trades for example there is widespread dislike and hatred for Mexican workers. Whether legal or illegal citizenship status really seems to have nothing to do with it. I could make a case for not only Mexican workers having the old “Work Ethic” but also that this is a class type of thing. I work harder to earn my food if none is available without working.
I also see the same in the family values of the poor. It is strongest when it is all we have. The family throughout history have been the building block of civilization. The family that survives in lower financial classes is grateful for itself and it sees all the benefits that can come from the family. It is too bad that this “family structure” is forced to fly under the radar too. Forced to operate illegally out of rental units.
Increased reliance upon the government supplying the needs that the family used to has decimated the family. However it is my idea that what is left is stronger than ever. I also believe that there is a latent knowledge that the old ideas of “individual Freedom” work. The “Aunties” and Grandmothers though single that help raise an extended family know the meaning of work to support the family.
Parker’s article brings to light the idea that we as Republicans need to show that we truly believe in the message of traditional values, free enterprise and strong national defense, and limited government. We need to show by all of our action, how free enterprise and limited government can help people. How traditional values are the lynch pin that creates an atmosphere in society that rewards good work and helps rebuild our confidence in our abilities to survive and the freedom to pursue our happiness as we define it, in ways we so choose.
Do we all have to be poor to see and use and value this freedom. I think not. As this country is going broke we may find out anyway. But I hope not. I think this is the best time we as Republicans have to show case our ideas in concrete actions. Especially at the lower levels of government where ideological principles matter less than whether something works or not. I think we need to keep these freedoms open to all if we are to continue to be the country we think we are.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Ps. Star Parker’s wrote latest article linked below later. It helps explain some of her thinking.
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/StarParker/2009/01/12/republicans_need_shareholder_revolt
--------------
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/StarParker/2008/12/15/republicans_need_to_get_back_to_business
---------------
In my book, a well written article should be able to crystallize my assorted thoughts on a subject. It should add clarity out of the gibberish my mind formulates. Star’s article does that.
Star Parker’s article talks about getting the party out of attack mode and into creating a message, cause or platform mode. Not changing brands, not ignoring it’s roots; but rather going back to them.
I remember the 1950’s vaguely at best. But I do remember the growth of the middle class. I remember my dad saying and teaching me that I could do anything I wanted. That I had the right to do that as long as I didn’t directly harm anyone else. I bring this up because we as a country have gotten away from that. Is it possible to get back? Do we really want to get back?
Ms. Parker makes a case for trying to sell our business model to the minorities. From my experience in the building trades and from what I see in the lower class neighborhood in which I live. It is the newest and least empowered minorities that are clinging onto the conservative values to help them get a foothold in our society.
I have seen minorities and myself, who when trying to get ahead without government help are being forced to go under the radar of the government to do things I was brought up thinking I had a right to do. I realize that I still have that right but sometimes I can’t afford the legal right I’d have to pay to use it.
In the building trades for example there is widespread dislike and hatred for Mexican workers. Whether legal or illegal citizenship status really seems to have nothing to do with it. I could make a case for not only Mexican workers having the old “Work Ethic” but also that this is a class type of thing. I work harder to earn my food if none is available without working.
I also see the same in the family values of the poor. It is strongest when it is all we have. The family throughout history have been the building block of civilization. The family that survives in lower financial classes is grateful for itself and it sees all the benefits that can come from the family. It is too bad that this “family structure” is forced to fly under the radar too. Forced to operate illegally out of rental units.
Increased reliance upon the government supplying the needs that the family used to has decimated the family. However it is my idea that what is left is stronger than ever. I also believe that there is a latent knowledge that the old ideas of “individual Freedom” work. The “Aunties” and Grandmothers though single that help raise an extended family know the meaning of work to support the family.
Parker’s article brings to light the idea that we as Republicans need to show that we truly believe in the message of traditional values, free enterprise and strong national defense, and limited government. We need to show by all of our action, how free enterprise and limited government can help people. How traditional values are the lynch pin that creates an atmosphere in society that rewards good work and helps rebuild our confidence in our abilities to survive and the freedom to pursue our happiness as we define it, in ways we so choose.
Do we all have to be poor to see and use and value this freedom. I think not. As this country is going broke we may find out anyway. But I hope not. I think this is the best time we as Republicans have to show case our ideas in concrete actions. Especially at the lower levels of government where ideological principles matter less than whether something works or not. I think we need to keep these freedoms open to all if we are to continue to be the country we think we are.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Ps. Star Parker’s wrote latest article linked below later. It helps explain some of her thinking.
-----link-----
http://townhall.com/columnists/StarParker/2009/01/12/republicans_need_shareholder_revolt
--------------
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Comrade
The government of the people, by the people and for the people no longer works. Or at least is grinding to a halt. The people seem to know it as their opinion of Congress is the lowest it has ever been. We are grasping for leaders to lead us out of the quagmire.
The following was found in the The American Conservative, which illustrates how we can no longer solve problems from on top. I claim it is because we are way top heavy in our efforts.
The Politics of Same
By Fred Reed
“It seems to me that America's difficulty in facing the country's problems is not that we have the problems, but that we can't face them or won't--that the machinery of government and means of political change have frozen, congealed, clotted. Solutions are often possible, but movement toward them isn't. The optimistic might see this as a challenge, others as rigor mortis.”
Though not as pessimistic; I think the trend is painfully obvious. To change the way things work or more precisely don’t work is after all the purpose behind my blogging effort. The article goes briefly through our major problems from education to housing to the military and a lot of the others. Mr. Reed’s take on the situation was “…..what is politically possible won't work, and what will work isn't politically possible. Gridlock.”
I would like to provide a way to solve the dilemma. From all places out of China, out of the mouth of former Premier Zhou En-Lai. Last night I listened to a channel I had never listened to on D TV. It was a Chinese channel and lightly translated. (Everyone talked Chinese, subtitles were in Chinese with only a translator talking seemingly uncut in an almost unintelligible, to me accent). It was a show about Zhou En-lai and how he brought China out of the “Bad Old Days” of the Cultural Revolution and into a more moderate new era.
I was struck by the translators use of the words “Truth from Fact”. In our culture the two have become equal. I agree with my Comrade Zhou. (wow did this Conservative Republican just say that? lol). Zhou En-lai was talking in regard to his country’s philosophy. He meant that his country’s governing mechanism should be led by truth not have the facts shifted around to meet the philosophy.
When a judge looks at the facts he ultimately has to decide on which of the facts lead to the truth. This presumes there is a truth. As in our case the law is based upon the truth agreed upon in our Constitution. In China the truth is codified as well. Both are based upon the well being of the people.
The translator further went on to talk about how that thought led to the idea that practice should determine doctrine or ideology not the other way around.
This idea struck me in its simplicity. This is the same type of idea as “enjoy the Journey not the destination”
This fits perfectly into my “Make Do, Make It Now, Make It Work”. An axiom of my 3M idea is that we continually remake (it) in the image of what we learn in the process of making it originally. In this way we learn by the doing. We also make ourselves better for the effort. We keep making it better to fit the ever changing landscape. This is the essence of the “bottom up” approach. Let the individual through “individual Freedom” do the remaking. Let the government see the “truth” in those efforts and remake it’s own laws to facilitate that freedom.
I sometimes think we in America face an unbeatably entrenched Bureaucracy, well I should think of Communist China and be thankful. Zhou En-lai fought long and hard to make his vision a reality against a lot tougher odds than we. For one we only have a hundred years of bureaucratic tradition to fight vs. China’s thousand.
Perhaps if I think of the struggle as the journey I will be able to enjoy it, feel more at peace with it and take comfort in what I can accomplish along the way. For myself as well as others. Let the end result be what it will be. Then others can take over the journey in their quest for their individual growth and freedom.
Could it be as simple as learning to do things for ourselves more and relying on the government for less? Not THAT simple. There is a “Happiness” to be found in the journey towards that freedom. We have to practice that freedom to relearn the “Happiness” that comes from that. Then we must demand our right to pursue that freedom. That is where the journey is, the work that we must learn to enjoy. We can then go about our journey of changing the laws that interfere with our “Happiness”
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
The following was found in the The American Conservative, which illustrates how we can no longer solve problems from on top. I claim it is because we are way top heavy in our efforts.
The Politics of Same
By Fred Reed
“It seems to me that America's difficulty in facing the country's problems is not that we have the problems, but that we can't face them or won't--that the machinery of government and means of political change have frozen, congealed, clotted. Solutions are often possible, but movement toward them isn't. The optimistic might see this as a challenge, others as rigor mortis.”
Though not as pessimistic; I think the trend is painfully obvious. To change the way things work or more precisely don’t work is after all the purpose behind my blogging effort. The article goes briefly through our major problems from education to housing to the military and a lot of the others. Mr. Reed’s take on the situation was “…..what is politically possible won't work, and what will work isn't politically possible. Gridlock.”
I would like to provide a way to solve the dilemma. From all places out of China, out of the mouth of former Premier Zhou En-Lai. Last night I listened to a channel I had never listened to on D TV. It was a Chinese channel and lightly translated. (Everyone talked Chinese, subtitles were in Chinese with only a translator talking seemingly uncut in an almost unintelligible, to me accent). It was a show about Zhou En-lai and how he brought China out of the “Bad Old Days” of the Cultural Revolution and into a more moderate new era.
I was struck by the translators use of the words “Truth from Fact”. In our culture the two have become equal. I agree with my Comrade Zhou. (wow did this Conservative Republican just say that? lol). Zhou En-lai was talking in regard to his country’s philosophy. He meant that his country’s governing mechanism should be led by truth not have the facts shifted around to meet the philosophy.
When a judge looks at the facts he ultimately has to decide on which of the facts lead to the truth. This presumes there is a truth. As in our case the law is based upon the truth agreed upon in our Constitution. In China the truth is codified as well. Both are based upon the well being of the people.
The translator further went on to talk about how that thought led to the idea that practice should determine doctrine or ideology not the other way around.
This idea struck me in its simplicity. This is the same type of idea as “enjoy the Journey not the destination”
This fits perfectly into my “Make Do, Make It Now, Make It Work”. An axiom of my 3M idea is that we continually remake (it) in the image of what we learn in the process of making it originally. In this way we learn by the doing. We also make ourselves better for the effort. We keep making it better to fit the ever changing landscape. This is the essence of the “bottom up” approach. Let the individual through “individual Freedom” do the remaking. Let the government see the “truth” in those efforts and remake it’s own laws to facilitate that freedom.
I sometimes think we in America face an unbeatably entrenched Bureaucracy, well I should think of Communist China and be thankful. Zhou En-lai fought long and hard to make his vision a reality against a lot tougher odds than we. For one we only have a hundred years of bureaucratic tradition to fight vs. China’s thousand.
Perhaps if I think of the struggle as the journey I will be able to enjoy it, feel more at peace with it and take comfort in what I can accomplish along the way. For myself as well as others. Let the end result be what it will be. Then others can take over the journey in their quest for their individual growth and freedom.
Could it be as simple as learning to do things for ourselves more and relying on the government for less? Not THAT simple. There is a “Happiness” to be found in the journey towards that freedom. We have to practice that freedom to relearn the “Happiness” that comes from that. Then we must demand our right to pursue that freedom. That is where the journey is, the work that we must learn to enjoy. We can then go about our journey of changing the laws that interfere with our “Happiness”
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
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