Everything started out fine. I drove Mariah’s new car down to LA to do a couple meetings, then out to Walnut for a stop at the shop to fix her check engine issue. My meetings went great. No problems, got to the mechanic and he found and fixed all known issues with the car. It took a little time, but I expected that. As I am leaving my mechanic says “you have a bad radiator cap, you fix next time”. So I get done with my mechanic and start to Utah. I check my sigalert road conditions and the main road to Utah has a huge traffic jam, so I say “hey there is a windy mountain road”, I need to test the car’s handling, maybe this will be faster than going through that big traffic jam. So I happily go up into the San Gabriel mountains. The car does great. I climb up over 7 thousand feet and pretty much get lost. I am trying to google map my way out and make a turn that pretty much sends me back to where I started….. The road was so twisty I got car sick… So I found my way back to the road and started toward the traffic jam figuring that I would get there faster in a traffic jam than going back up in those mountains. So I survive the traffic jam and start heading toward Barstow (more about Barstow later)… Anyway I am three miles from Baker and I look at my temperature gage on the car and it is way over heated. I pull off the road and add some water and limp into Baker. It’s now 9:30 at night, I still have many hours to drive to get to Cedar city where my hotel room is. I purchase a bunch of coolant and refill the radiator. It was pretty much just a little steam when I first open it up. I add over a gallon and say a prayer. I have a gallon and a half of extra coolant and water in the back of the car. I then start driving again. I get to Vegas around midnight (hit a big traffic jam). Then drive on to Cedar City. Get there at 3:00 am local time. Collapse into bed and sleep till around 8 the next morning. Get up. Eat. Purchase a new radiator cap and drive up to Salt Lake. Have a good meeting with a prospective client and then check into my hotel and collapse into bed again. About 40 minutes later Elise calls. I need to pick her up. She is running in the Salt Lake Marathon the next day. So I meet Elise and Austin and we have dinner together. I do my don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you marry speech, and we have a nice time. I go shopping for final race stuff. Go to bed. Get up at 3:00 am to take Elise to her marathon bus. Can’t go back to sleep for a bit. Wake up late. Valet can’t start car. Drive up to top of mountain to watch Elise run and give her stuff if she needs it. Unload bike. Tires low. Try to pump up. Pump not working right. Don’t have the right fitting. What now?... Drive down to town. Ask a bike rider if he has a pump? Victory, pump up tires. Drive back up to the top of the mountain and start riding down to catch Elise. Pass hundreds of runners. No Elise. Ride over 40 minutes at 30 MPH and still no Elise. Finally, at mile marker 16 I catch up with her. I start doing my sag support job (here drink more water)… Clock her speed. She is doing 6+ mph by this point. Over the last 2 miles she steps it up to 7mph. She finishes in 4 hours and 4 minutes. She passes at least 50 runners in the last 3 miles. We get to the finish, no sign of Austin. He is on foot and lost. Dad is a bit annoyed but not saying anything… Elise has to walk at least 1 or 2 miles to get back to the place where she can get a ride. Finally, she sits down and says I am not going any farther. Get me a ride. Austin starts working on getting the Sanstrums to pick her up. I decide I have to get back to the hotel since my checkout time is noon. I ride the bike back, shower and change and wait. It took another 45 minutes or more for Elise to show up. She showers and changes and we go to meet the Sanstrums at a pool by their house. Elise just sits in the pool. She is shot. I do a couple can openers and swim around a bit then we have to get going to pick up Mariah. I drive Elise’s car since she didn’t think she could shift. I drive down and pick up Mariah. She had a great time at the camp. She met many very cute soccer and lacrosse boys. She also met a swing dancer who she had a lot of fun with. I drive back to Elise’s house. Switch cars and take Mariah shopping. She spends 3 hours looking at pants at that huge mall. Doesn’t find much. I take her to dinner then take her down the street to Ross and Tj max. She finds a pair of jeans in each store and we start toward home. Mariah drives from Provo to Cedar City. I try to sleep. Somewhere in the middle of this section she hits something and the car starts making a funny noise. I am too tired to care. Finally, I wake up and make her pull over. The rubber cowling under the engine was knocked loose and dragging on the ground. It is pretty much rubbed in half by the time I find it. I also attempt to fix an issue with the stereo and proceed to knock out the dash lights. I start using the flashlight to determine her speed. Make it to the hotel. Go to bed around 11:00 pm.
Get up the next morning. I attempt to solve the problem. Fix the 12V power issue with the car but the dash lights still don’t come on. So we start driving again. On the way to Vegas I did a speed test on the car. I hit 115 and backed off. Fortunately I slowed down because 2 minutes ahead of me was a Nevada trooper. Find a huge outlet Mall in Vegas. Take Mariah in and we start the pants shopping again. In the middle of the mall, Mariah said “I give up”. I want to eat and we abort further shopping and go to Panda for lunch and start driving again.
I get through Barstow. The car hasn’t overheated. I think I am home free. It is 2:30 pm and very hot. Suddenly I hear a loud explosion and figure out my left front tire had blown. Grrrr. Pull off the road. Unload the 250 pounds of Costco stuff in the trunk. Jack up the car. Pull off the tire. Try to put the spare on. Clunk, Clunk. The spare won’t fit over the modified brakes on this car…Grrr. Call AAA. Spend 20 minutes explaining where I am to the dispatcher. Get referred to the supervisor. Finally, they decide where I am and send a driver. Put the original tire back on. Tighten the lug nuts and reload the trunk. Still no driver. Call AAA back. Spend another 20 minutes explaining where I am. Get a call from the tow company. I am outside their area. Ask, can’t you just drive a couple more miles and get me? No. Rules are rules. Call AAA back. Spend another 20 minutes telling them where I am. “you see there is this sage brush on my right and this fence right next to it”. I have my laptop up and I am mapquesting the place where we are supposed to be. Tell the AAA person, “if A can’t pick me up then B must be able to do it, I can’t imagine you have a C tow truck driver for this section of road.” My logic was beyond the poor person and I had to try to explain where I was again. Just when I think it can’t get any worse a CHP pulls up. I am going what else can go wrong. I explain my sad tale of wo and he tells me where I am exactly. He also gives me some cold water. I told him that he was providing the best service my tax dollars have ever provided and thank you very much. I call AAA and give them the location the CHP gave me. They still can’t convert that into where I am on a map…
Finally, I figure out there is a rail line that comes close to the road at one point right by me. Finally, they start getting the idea that there are no other real landmarks and they send out a truck. Then the tow driver calls. I explain again. Say just drive east on the 58, my car is a blue green Acura you can’t miss it. By this time I am like 120 degrees, Mariah is ready to jump out of the car and start running home.
I say a prayer, “Heavenly father I am getting really hot, please help me get out of here”.
As I was praying the phone goes off and the tow truck driver is on the line. He asks me where I am. I tell him and say “look for a green Acura”. He finally sees me and pulls up. Nice guy. He is really unfamiliar with this section of the road. I give him directions to the Walmart and we were off. While driving there his phone rings. He has a gollum phone ring tone. He is wearing overalls. Has a mullet. I should have gotten a clue, but more to come... I get to the Walmart and finally get the tire thing going. They take a close look at my tires. Two other tires are showing cords. One is semi ok. I order 4 new tires and go off to get some water. I am majorly dehydrated by this time. Mariah and I search the store. Mariah wants a soft serve cone. Go to the Mcdonalds. No soft serve. So we go looking for an ice cream case. She finds one. I have found some water and put it in a cooler so I can have semi cold water. We get into line to buy our booty. I am behind a couple. He has too many tats to count. She is really rough looking. No bra black lady. They are having a disagreement with the clerk trying to determine how much money is on their Walmart cash card. This takes at least 5 minutes to sort out. Finally they figure it out and she has to put a bag of really scary looking cookies back so they can afford to purchase their stuff. Finally, we get to the front of the line and I get my total. $6.66 is my total. The clerk says ooo that’s a bad number. I say yeh I had better buy something else. I am too exhausted to buy anything else so I just pay my money and Mariah and I go over to the Mcdonalds to drink and eat ice cream. While we are sitting there I notice a sign on the wall “refills are free for this visit only”. I think boy what a funny sign. Imagine having to put something like that on the wall. Right about then I stream of drop drawerred, tattooed scungy looking teens walk into the walmart with their cups, walk through the golden arches and proceed to fill up their drinks. Then I start really looking around. Wow maybe this was the crowd those anti Walmart clowns were concerned with. I also noticed a large contingent of chubby, too little clothes, weird hair girls trolling the halls and hanging out with the drop pants boys. I then take notice of a family. Two boys around 18 and 20 with really long hair, tattoos and drop pants with chains and tattoos, I then see the dad. A 40 something dude with tattoos and a pony tail. The mom is wearing a white trash outfit and I am starting to think I fell off the earth and straight into hell. Mariah is now looking around and wishing the car was done. A kid runs up to his grandpa who is sitting by us. He tells his grandkid to buy a drink for him. The boy has a dollar and runs up to the counter. He doesn’t have enough for the tax and has to go back to the grandpa to get more change. It is getting a little surreal now. Finally, I get up and go with Mariah back to the tire department having had enough white trash entertainment for the day. I am convinced by this point that I have truely entered into deliverance land. My car is still not done. The clerks are having to check out regular customers because they parked by the tire store instead of in front of the Walmart. I am really tired at this point and just want to go home. Finally, my car is ready. I try to pay for the tires with my company card. It bounces. Says I am doing fraud. AHHHH! So I pay for the tires with the AMEX and run out of the Walmart wanting to get back to safe old Atascadero. I get back on the road. I pass the spot where the tire blew. It was now 4 hours later. Talk about twilight zone.
We drive back to Atascadero. No problem. I am on 101 in front of the church and I see red lights behind me. I am going “Oh no!”, I can’t get another ticket, I will loose my license. The cops walks up. Says, “your tail lights are out”. I tell him my sad tale of wo. He has mercy on me and tells me to get it fixed. No ticket. He tells me I blew a fuse. I say thank you and drive the last 2 miles to the house and collapse.
That is the end of my epic journey.
Epic Journey postlude.
The next week Mariah is driving the car and it overheats. I am in San Diego and get a call at 12:30 pm.
She says my car is broke. Mom picks her up and I get home. The next day I fill up the radiator and drive it to church and back. It empties the radiator again. I notice this time a stream of steam coming from the top. I know that my prayer is the only thing that could have brought that car 1200 miles without over heating. I am glad God is looking out for a simple person like me. Imaging the miracles he has in store for you if you just ask.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
A letter to USA today's editorial board
Dear Editor,
I find it rather sad that your “news” organization chooses to “report” on the Republican’s pledge to America by immediately arguing against it. This was supposed to be news story. That means you report on what was said. If you wanted another point of view, you could have asked a Democrat what they thought. Instead you chose to put an entire fact finding group to try to tear apart the Republican plan. The story really belonged on the editorial page with all the “comments” your staff added. Over the years it has become rather obvious that your paper has become a propaganda paper for the Democrats instead of a true news paper. Perhaps that is why your subscriptions are down and you face hard times. Americans need real news. News with an agenda is not true news!
I find it rather sad that your “news” organization chooses to “report” on the Republican’s pledge to America by immediately arguing against it. This was supposed to be news story. That means you report on what was said. If you wanted another point of view, you could have asked a Democrat what they thought. Instead you chose to put an entire fact finding group to try to tear apart the Republican plan. The story really belonged on the editorial page with all the “comments” your staff added. Over the years it has become rather obvious that your paper has become a propaganda paper for the Democrats instead of a true news paper. Perhaps that is why your subscriptions are down and you face hard times. Americans need real news. News with an agenda is not true news!
Monday, September 27, 2010
More of my thoughts on education
Future of Education in Atascadero
With the massive cuts in education from the state and federal government that continue year after year, I have become concerned that instead of coming up with creative solutions to today’s world, the schools may start limiting the educational opportunities for my children. I have already seen it at the Junior high with the reduction in the number of electives.
My thoughts on how to improve our schools and combat the effects of reduced funding include the following:
1. Clearly state to the public that their help is needed.
2. Sell the quality and importance of the education received at our schools.
3. Improve parent involvement at all levels of the district from the classroom to the administration.
4. Seek community volunteers to fill in the gaps that are lost as our funds are cut.
We need to put the public back into public education. We can no longer afford to just let the “district” deal with the problems in our education system.
The administration needs to encourage a learning environment much like the one that exists at San Gabriel school. Parents are an integral part of the education system at San Gabriel. From parent helpers to PTA members to volunteers teaching enrichment classes. This model needs to be encouraged at all school sites including the High school and the Junior high.
I have five children who have been or are being educated by the Atascadero school system. My oldest just graduated from college and my youngest is in second grade. I can tell you the education system in Atascadero is outstanding. Music education is top notch. Core subject and AP level instruction is well done. I just don’t want to see this slip away due to budget cuts.
I feel that it is important for all parties that are vested in the education of my children need to be part of the solution to the current situation we face. That means that the contracts currently in place need to be reviewed in light of the current funding. That also should mean that each program and each project should be fully reviewed with one thing in mind, how does this impact the education of our youth?
Finally, I appreciate the efforts of the San Gabriel kindergarten teachers with the new pull out program they instituted this year. That was a excellent use of funds and resources and the results speak for themselves.
With the massive cuts in education from the state and federal government that continue year after year, I have become concerned that instead of coming up with creative solutions to today’s world, the schools may start limiting the educational opportunities for my children. I have already seen it at the Junior high with the reduction in the number of electives.
My thoughts on how to improve our schools and combat the effects of reduced funding include the following:
1. Clearly state to the public that their help is needed.
2. Sell the quality and importance of the education received at our schools.
3. Improve parent involvement at all levels of the district from the classroom to the administration.
4. Seek community volunteers to fill in the gaps that are lost as our funds are cut.
We need to put the public back into public education. We can no longer afford to just let the “district” deal with the problems in our education system.
The administration needs to encourage a learning environment much like the one that exists at San Gabriel school. Parents are an integral part of the education system at San Gabriel. From parent helpers to PTA members to volunteers teaching enrichment classes. This model needs to be encouraged at all school sites including the High school and the Junior high.
I have five children who have been or are being educated by the Atascadero school system. My oldest just graduated from college and my youngest is in second grade. I can tell you the education system in Atascadero is outstanding. Music education is top notch. Core subject and AP level instruction is well done. I just don’t want to see this slip away due to budget cuts.
I feel that it is important for all parties that are vested in the education of my children need to be part of the solution to the current situation we face. That means that the contracts currently in place need to be reviewed in light of the current funding. That also should mean that each program and each project should be fully reviewed with one thing in mind, how does this impact the education of our youth?
Finally, I appreciate the efforts of the San Gabriel kindergarten teachers with the new pull out program they instituted this year. That was a excellent use of funds and resources and the results speak for themselves.
Education and why it matters
Education
I have been asked (with pretty short notice) to speak on education.
First from Wikipedia a quick definition:
Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another.
Why would God make education or knowledge one of the few things we take with us when we die?
Our] religion … prompts [us] to search diligently after knowledge,” taught President Brigham Young (1801–77). “There is no other people in existence more eager to see, hear, learn and understand truth.”2 Our quest for truth should be as broad as our life’s activities and as deep as our circumstances permit.”
Education expands and sharpens our mind and spirit, while strengthening our soul. We can gain wisdom as we learn from the mistakes of the past. We were sent to earth to learn with a physical body. There are things that mortal existence teaches that can’t be learned without a body. God’s plan for us had to include a time of testing and learning where we could increase our knowledge through our own experience. God gave us scriptures and the Holy Ghost to help guide us past the pitfalls of life. As we work our way through mortality we need to pay attention and learn from our experience. We need to seek out the opportunities to learn and educate ourselves.
Joseph taught the Saints that knowledge was a necessary part of our mortal journey, for “a man is saved no faster than he [gains] knowledge,”8 and that “whatever principle of intelligence we attain … in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.”9 During challenging times, it is even more important to learn. The Prophet Joseph taught, “Knowledge does away with darkness, [anxiety], and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is.”10
Why is education so important temporally?
Education can help us gain work skills. My experience with education was wide and varied. I prepared myself to go to college in high school, I wanted to study architecture. In college I changed my major and studied engineering. As I prepared to enter the workforce I chose to work in the computer industry. I started as a programmer, then did tech support and now I design software. In high school, I really disliked English. I found it frustrating and very subjective. I really enjoyed math and science. Today, the skill I use the most is English and communication. I never would have envisioned that in school. You can never be sure of where life will take you or what skill is most valuable. A solid education will give you the skills you can draw on as you work to support your family. Attaining knowledge throughout your life will keep you sharp and flexible so you can better deal with life’s twists and turns. Education helps improve your income over time.
What has worked for our family
When Brenda and I were a young married couple, we decided how we wanted to raise our children. One of our primary goals was to educate and train our children so they would be able to leave our home and be independent and successful adults. My goal was to make sure my children were properly prepared as they entered school. Brenda was excellent at teaching reading and I took care of some of the math. We stressed the importance of education to our children. We paid attention to their scores in school and expected a lot. If we felt our child didn’t do their best on an assignment, we would encourage them to improve. We also accepted our responsibility for our children’s education. We made several good choices when our children were young. First, we disconnected the cable and don’t own satellite. This was a large sacrifice for me since I love watching football. Second, with limited TV we encouraged our children to read a lot. Third, when the prophet asked us to read the book of Mormon several years ago, we chose to read scriptures nightly for several years. I have found that reading the old testament is a really good way to help a child get beyond their fear of sounding out words. We value our children’s education and they know it. We support and volunteer at schools to improve the quality of education our children receive.
We also chose to support our children in music and sports. This ends up costing a lot of time and effort, but our children have good outlets for their energy and music really helps sharpen the mind. Sports helps strengthen the body and our children tend to learn skills like time management and perseverance. For our oldest, she was recruited to BYU and received scholarships for her athletics and scholarship. Having a child graduate from college makes it all seem worthwhile.
Today, we see large cuts in the local schools. Atascadero schools have had to deal with over 25% cut in funding in the last 3 years. I currently work on a school site council as chairperson. In my position we worked on how to keep our standards high in the face of all the budget cuts. This last year we started expanding the volunteerism at the school We asked for parents and community members to give some of their time to help improve the instruction of the students. I have been working for the last 3 years teaching 6th graders basic algebra so they can do better at math in Jr high and high school It is one of my joys in life to see a student’s eyes brighten as they get a new concept or learn something new. In the first year of the program, we had over 50 parents sign up to help improve instruction in the classroom.
From Doctrine and Covenants 88:77-80
And I give unto you a commandment that you shall ateach one another the bdoctrine of the kingdom. UAdd a Note
78Teach ye diligently and my agrace shall attend you, that you may be binstructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; UAdd a Note
79Of things both in aheaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must bshortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the cnations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a dknowledge also of countries and of kingdoms— UAdd a Note
80That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to amagnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the bmission with which I have commissioned you. UAdd a Note
Finally, we have education in the church. Our young adults have one of the best gospel teaching of any youth in the world. After 10 years in primary and 4 years in seminary our children often know more about the nature of God than many adults. I know, my kids know way more than I knew at their age. Education can also help you make things happen. Greg learned so much in primary, seminary and our family home evenings he has been very successful on his mission and has no trouble teaching the gospel to the people in Rio.
“But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.” (D&C 93:38–40.)
From President Uctdorff:
In our learning, let us not neglect the fountain of revelation. The scriptures and the words of modern-day apostles and prophets are the sources of wisdom, divine knowledge, and personal revelation to help us find answers to all the challenges in life. Let us learn of Christ; let us seek out that knowledge which leads to peace, truth, and the sublime mysteries of eternity.
Brethren, you have a duty to learn as much as you can. Please encourage your families, your quorum members, everyone to learn and become better educated. If formal education is not available, do not allow that to prevent you from acquiring all the knowledge you can. Under such circumstances, the best books, in a sense, can become your “university”—a classroom that is always open and admits all who apply. Strive to increase your knowledge of all that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”11 Seek knowledge “by study and also by faith.”12 Seek with a humble spirit and contrite heart.13 As you apply the spiritual dimension of faith to your study—even of temporal things—you can amplify your intellectual capacity, for “if your eye be single to [God’s] glory, your whole [body] shall be filled with light, … and [comprehend] all things
I appreciate the importance of education in our church. I am glad God has chosen to let us keep whatever knowledge and wisdom we gain in this life in the life to come. I appreciate his gifts and blessings and the Holy Ghost and his role to help inspire and guide through this life. I appreciate the education I received as a youth. Often, I felt some aspect or another was annoying or a waste of time, but I can honestly say the things I learned helped me in the life. I have been able to work hard and support my family. I know that without my education I would have had less opportunity to grow and increase my income. Education opens doors and gives you the chance to succeed. What you make of your life after that is your choice.
I know the gospel is true. I appreciate the savior and his love. I have felt his condescension touch my soul and I know that he lives and stands with me and my family. He gave me the gift that I can never repay. I know that I can repent and receive a remission of my sins through his atonement. I know that education can open minds and unlock futures. I know there is more truth in this church than any institution in the world today. We can learn more by listening to the prophets and reading the scriptures than any other source of knowledge in the world. I know we can become wise by following the commandments. I know that education changed my life and opened my doors to success. God loves each of you and wants you to reach your highest potential in this life. Education helps pave that road. You have a choice, go through life on that unpaved, broken down dirt road or seek out education and ride on that smooth paved road toward your future.
Education brings rich and inumerable blessings to our lives both in our mortal existence through our own growth and oppurtunity and in the world to come as we grow and extend into eternity. Education, knowledge and wisdom are the seedss that help us reach our eternal potential. God designed this plan to bless us and help us be as he is, that through our own experience we could learn and grow and attain eternal increase.
Written for a talk in church 9/19/2010.
I have been asked (with pretty short notice) to speak on education.
First from Wikipedia a quick definition:
Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another.
Why would God make education or knowledge one of the few things we take with us when we die?
Our] religion … prompts [us] to search diligently after knowledge,” taught President Brigham Young (1801–77). “There is no other people in existence more eager to see, hear, learn and understand truth.”2 Our quest for truth should be as broad as our life’s activities and as deep as our circumstances permit.”
Education expands and sharpens our mind and spirit, while strengthening our soul. We can gain wisdom as we learn from the mistakes of the past. We were sent to earth to learn with a physical body. There are things that mortal existence teaches that can’t be learned without a body. God’s plan for us had to include a time of testing and learning where we could increase our knowledge through our own experience. God gave us scriptures and the Holy Ghost to help guide us past the pitfalls of life. As we work our way through mortality we need to pay attention and learn from our experience. We need to seek out the opportunities to learn and educate ourselves.
Joseph taught the Saints that knowledge was a necessary part of our mortal journey, for “a man is saved no faster than he [gains] knowledge,”8 and that “whatever principle of intelligence we attain … in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.”9 During challenging times, it is even more important to learn. The Prophet Joseph taught, “Knowledge does away with darkness, [anxiety], and doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is.”10
Why is education so important temporally?
Education can help us gain work skills. My experience with education was wide and varied. I prepared myself to go to college in high school, I wanted to study architecture. In college I changed my major and studied engineering. As I prepared to enter the workforce I chose to work in the computer industry. I started as a programmer, then did tech support and now I design software. In high school, I really disliked English. I found it frustrating and very subjective. I really enjoyed math and science. Today, the skill I use the most is English and communication. I never would have envisioned that in school. You can never be sure of where life will take you or what skill is most valuable. A solid education will give you the skills you can draw on as you work to support your family. Attaining knowledge throughout your life will keep you sharp and flexible so you can better deal with life’s twists and turns. Education helps improve your income over time.
What has worked for our family
When Brenda and I were a young married couple, we decided how we wanted to raise our children. One of our primary goals was to educate and train our children so they would be able to leave our home and be independent and successful adults. My goal was to make sure my children were properly prepared as they entered school. Brenda was excellent at teaching reading and I took care of some of the math. We stressed the importance of education to our children. We paid attention to their scores in school and expected a lot. If we felt our child didn’t do their best on an assignment, we would encourage them to improve. We also accepted our responsibility for our children’s education. We made several good choices when our children were young. First, we disconnected the cable and don’t own satellite. This was a large sacrifice for me since I love watching football. Second, with limited TV we encouraged our children to read a lot. Third, when the prophet asked us to read the book of Mormon several years ago, we chose to read scriptures nightly for several years. I have found that reading the old testament is a really good way to help a child get beyond their fear of sounding out words. We value our children’s education and they know it. We support and volunteer at schools to improve the quality of education our children receive.
We also chose to support our children in music and sports. This ends up costing a lot of time and effort, but our children have good outlets for their energy and music really helps sharpen the mind. Sports helps strengthen the body and our children tend to learn skills like time management and perseverance. For our oldest, she was recruited to BYU and received scholarships for her athletics and scholarship. Having a child graduate from college makes it all seem worthwhile.
Today, we see large cuts in the local schools. Atascadero schools have had to deal with over 25% cut in funding in the last 3 years. I currently work on a school site council as chairperson. In my position we worked on how to keep our standards high in the face of all the budget cuts. This last year we started expanding the volunteerism at the school We asked for parents and community members to give some of their time to help improve the instruction of the students. I have been working for the last 3 years teaching 6th graders basic algebra so they can do better at math in Jr high and high school It is one of my joys in life to see a student’s eyes brighten as they get a new concept or learn something new. In the first year of the program, we had over 50 parents sign up to help improve instruction in the classroom.
From Doctrine and Covenants 88:77-80
And I give unto you a commandment that you shall ateach one another the bdoctrine of the kingdom. UAdd a Note
78Teach ye diligently and my agrace shall attend you, that you may be binstructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; UAdd a Note
79Of things both in aheaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must bshortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the cnations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a dknowledge also of countries and of kingdoms— UAdd a Note
80That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to amagnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the bmission with which I have commissioned you. UAdd a Note
Finally, we have education in the church. Our young adults have one of the best gospel teaching of any youth in the world. After 10 years in primary and 4 years in seminary our children often know more about the nature of God than many adults. I know, my kids know way more than I knew at their age. Education can also help you make things happen. Greg learned so much in primary, seminary and our family home evenings he has been very successful on his mission and has no trouble teaching the gospel to the people in Rio.
“But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.” (D&C 93:38–40.)
From President Uctdorff:
In our learning, let us not neglect the fountain of revelation. The scriptures and the words of modern-day apostles and prophets are the sources of wisdom, divine knowledge, and personal revelation to help us find answers to all the challenges in life. Let us learn of Christ; let us seek out that knowledge which leads to peace, truth, and the sublime mysteries of eternity.
Brethren, you have a duty to learn as much as you can. Please encourage your families, your quorum members, everyone to learn and become better educated. If formal education is not available, do not allow that to prevent you from acquiring all the knowledge you can. Under such circumstances, the best books, in a sense, can become your “university”—a classroom that is always open and admits all who apply. Strive to increase your knowledge of all that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”11 Seek knowledge “by study and also by faith.”12 Seek with a humble spirit and contrite heart.13 As you apply the spiritual dimension of faith to your study—even of temporal things—you can amplify your intellectual capacity, for “if your eye be single to [God’s] glory, your whole [body] shall be filled with light, … and [comprehend] all things
I appreciate the importance of education in our church. I am glad God has chosen to let us keep whatever knowledge and wisdom we gain in this life in the life to come. I appreciate his gifts and blessings and the Holy Ghost and his role to help inspire and guide through this life. I appreciate the education I received as a youth. Often, I felt some aspect or another was annoying or a waste of time, but I can honestly say the things I learned helped me in the life. I have been able to work hard and support my family. I know that without my education I would have had less opportunity to grow and increase my income. Education opens doors and gives you the chance to succeed. What you make of your life after that is your choice.
I know the gospel is true. I appreciate the savior and his love. I have felt his condescension touch my soul and I know that he lives and stands with me and my family. He gave me the gift that I can never repay. I know that I can repent and receive a remission of my sins through his atonement. I know that education can open minds and unlock futures. I know there is more truth in this church than any institution in the world today. We can learn more by listening to the prophets and reading the scriptures than any other source of knowledge in the world. I know we can become wise by following the commandments. I know that education changed my life and opened my doors to success. God loves each of you and wants you to reach your highest potential in this life. Education helps pave that road. You have a choice, go through life on that unpaved, broken down dirt road or seek out education and ride on that smooth paved road toward your future.
Education brings rich and inumerable blessings to our lives both in our mortal existence through our own growth and oppurtunity and in the world to come as we grow and extend into eternity. Education, knowledge and wisdom are the seedss that help us reach our eternal potential. God designed this plan to bless us and help us be as he is, that through our own experience we could learn and grow and attain eternal increase.
Written for a talk in church 9/19/2010.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Forward or Reverse? Which way should the country go?
President Obama recently compared the two parties with the transmission of a car. The Democrats stand for drive or forward and the Republicans are the party of Reverse.. My initial response is to ask you a few questions. First, where do you stand today? Do you want more economic destruction at the hands of the Democrats and Obama? Is your healthcare better, less expensive, easier to obtain? Have any of the President's policies or agenda actually strengthened our country? Do we currently have the respect of any nations in the world? Is our financial system sound? Is our economy heading in the right direction? Is our business climate good? What steps has the President taken to improve our economy? Can we afford one more worthless liberal scheme claiming to stimulate the economy? Could all of this be purposeful? Is the true change he seeks be the destruction of our way of life? President Obama has had full control of Congress and our economy for long enough. In the last 18 months the President and Congress have spent more money they don’t have than all the previous administrations through Ronald Reagan. They have wasted trillions of dollars with no increase in employment. Their programs are designed to keep us unemployed and on our knees (extended unemployment insurance, taking trillions out of the economy to fund expanded government, oppressive regulations on banking, moratoriums on drilling, taking over entire industries are all job killers). The entire country is facing bankruptcy, if we don’t change something. Today, reverse is a good direction. We need to move back to a free market, growing economy with less government burden and over regulation. We need fewer government union jobs, more private sector jobs. We need to stop the assault on our businesses in the name of bailout and security. No more government programs designed to “save us”. Today, we can throw the bums out, reverse course and regain the greatness that is our hard fought birthright. The only way to reclaim our country and move forward toward success is to remove those in power that have driven us off this cliff.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Global Warming Fact or Science Fiction?
It’s a shame how many people have bought into the worldwide warming scam. The press, the government and now an everyday citizen are sounding the alarm. Could it be? Back in the 70's it was global cooling that was going to kill us and end the world. Normal scientific inquiry involves a clear inspection of results with no particular agenda attached. Today we have a large body of science that is paid to find statistics that show that the climate is warming. The "Climate Research Unit at England's University of East Anglia indicate a number of the world's most important scientists engaged in research designed to prove that global warming really does exist may have been cooking the books" as reported last year. The Washington Examiner reported that "... the e-mails suggest that CRU scientists have been suppressing and misstating data and working to prevent the publication of conflicting views in peer-reviewed science periodicals." Another major factor in the statistics is the fact that many of the sensors are no longer in use. Especially the sensors that were in rural areas. According to Fox News "nearly every single weather station the U.S. government uses to measure the country's surface temperature may be compromised. Sensors that are supposed to be in empty clearings are instead exposed to crackling electronics and other unlikely sources of heat, from exhaust pipes and trash-burning barrels to chimneys and human graves".
The whole concept of man caused global climate change is based on junk science. There is no causality. When you compare man's contribution to the global climate it has about as much impact as a fart in the middle of a tornado. It is awfully vain to think that we can possibly modify the world's climate. If we did cause the changes in climate, how/why are the ice caps melting on Mars? The real source of our climate heating or cooling is the suns’ activity. Man can’t change the climate but with the massive thermal and radiation output of the sun, temperatures can oscillate. Sun caused climate changes would also explain the ice caps melting on Mars. Instead of wrecking our whole economy to meet some fantastic science fiction theory that will have no affect on the global climate, maybe we ought to look at the motivation of those seeking to fatten their budgets and invent catastrophe! Science with an agenda is not true science.
The whole concept of man caused global climate change is based on junk science. There is no causality. When you compare man's contribution to the global climate it has about as much impact as a fart in the middle of a tornado. It is awfully vain to think that we can possibly modify the world's climate. If we did cause the changes in climate, how/why are the ice caps melting on Mars? The real source of our climate heating or cooling is the suns’ activity. Man can’t change the climate but with the massive thermal and radiation output of the sun, temperatures can oscillate. Sun caused climate changes would also explain the ice caps melting on Mars. Instead of wrecking our whole economy to meet some fantastic science fiction theory that will have no affect on the global climate, maybe we ought to look at the motivation of those seeking to fatten their budgets and invent catastrophe! Science with an agenda is not true science.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The politics of National Destruction
Back in the 90's they used to talk about the politics of personal destruction and they blamed the Republicans for attacking the President.
Today, we face a completely new problem. We have a President and a party bent on destroying our country to achieve "change". It is hard to imagine a time when a single party is knocking down so many of the pillars that hold up our society and country, but here we are.
First, we see our economy under attack. The Democrats and the government have been working to place more and more control on our businesses and have started taking over some of the large companies they deem as too big to fail. Their efforts have wasted taxpayer money and in many cases caused investors to loose everything. Employment is another major area where the Democrats and the President have failed. We are looking at the highest unemployment since Jimmy Carter destroyed our economy. The most amazing thing is when the President and vice President claim their programs are working. If this is working, I can't imagine failure. Instead of focusing on the economy and finding real solutions the President and his party chose to waste almost a year on the healthcare legislation. They claimed it would help the economy if it passed. So far it has just put another burden on business and the taxpayer.
The second pillar of our society is our financial markets. Over the last couple of decades the Democrats have worked tirelessly to expand risk in our markets through Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. In order to deal with all that risk the financial markets invented special packaging that tended to hide the deeply flawed mortgages the Democrats and their beaurocrats forced banks to make. As the government stepped in to "save" the banks and insurance companies caught up in the meltdown of 2008, we saw new levels of government interference. We also saw employees threatened by the government because of their pay. Today, we have banks that are unwilling to loan money. We have markets that are heavily impacted by the massive government spending which draws down available investment capital and pours it back into the government black hole. Our financial markets are now facing a whole new set of government regulations that they hope will remove risk from the market. If we take away the possibility of risk, we also take away the ability to gain. We are living this today, high unemployment, low growth, this is their plan. The Democrats want this. They want to take us down a notch. Our financial sector led the world just 3 years ago. Today, it stand decimated with the whole world watching for the next failure.
The third pillar of our society is the family. The family has been under attack for the last 50 years. From the increasing devastation of divorce to the impact of unemployment on the family, we see far too many children growing up without both parents. Abortion has also had a major impact on the family over the last 30 years. We see millions destroyed for convenience. Hard to imagine. The Democrats mock conservatives for our desire to support families and our desire to reduce the levels of abortion in our society. Feminist groups actually seek the destruction of our young so they can sell their snake oil of equality and career over the joys of children and family. The Democratic social programs have also devastated the family, especially the black family by paying more for single mothers than married couples. The Democratic "safety net" instead of helping people get back in their feet actually traps them. The rules associated with the check end up binding people down.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Emporer has no clothes!
I used to think of President Obama as just another empty suit. I listened to his vapid remarks and campaign slogans and I would wonder, where's the beef? Over time as I saw him wreak havoc on our foreign policy, apologize to the world for our "bad behavior" and disrespect our friends. I saw a man with no love of country. Then I look at his efforts to improve America and his abject failure and I think perhaps the empty suit actually has no suit at all. This man has nothing to offer. No ideas. No solutions. Nothing, vapor, smoke! There has never been a less prepared, less capable President in the history of the United States. That says a lot considering the failure of Jimmy Carter. But this vapor man is bringing even less to table. He can't speak without a teleprompter. His ideas come from ivory towers with no basis in reality. We are suffering through his massive stimulus that bled our economy of the capital needed to recover. The cash for clunkers that just put us further in debt. The takeover of huge segments of our private economy (GM, Chrysler, ..). His crowning achievement of his first year was the massive healthcare bill which will just drive up costs and bankrupt the government. The country has been driven off a cliff. Obama is in the driver’s seat. He is crowing about how fast we are moving. His change won't be really felt till we hit bottom. I am afraid we can't undo this, we don't have time. The rocks are coming up at us too fast. We have a chance this fall to cushion our descent. The Congress must be overturned!
America can't afford Obama and his cronies. They all need to resign and go home. Real leaders, men and women of character and courage need to step forward and bring real solutions to our country. The government must be brought back under control. We need real people, patriots to take the reins of power away and lead us out of this quagmire. Hard decisions need to be made now. Those kinds of decisions are impossible for politicians to make.
We can no longer afford to borrow the world’s wealth to feed our ever increasing government. We can no longer afford to allow out of control government growth and expense. You can help stop this!
America can't afford Obama and his cronies. They all need to resign and go home. Real leaders, men and women of character and courage need to step forward and bring real solutions to our country. The government must be brought back under control. We need real people, patriots to take the reins of power away and lead us out of this quagmire. Hard decisions need to be made now. Those kinds of decisions are impossible for politicians to make.
We can no longer afford to borrow the world’s wealth to feed our ever increasing government. We can no longer afford to allow out of control government growth and expense. You can help stop this!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
California, What a bummer, Kick the bumms out!
A couple of years ago voters chose a respresentatives that have driven our state into a really bad place. On top of our hemoraging state budget, we have historic unemployment and a battered economy. How did we get here? I think part of the problem is politicians think that they can fix what is wrong. I propose the only way to turn our state around is to elect "real" people. Citizens who understand that government is not a solution, government is the problem. Today we face an economy where under 50% of the pay is coming from private industry. That is completely unsustainable. Several steps need to be taken now, not in two years or four years. We need to elect people that are willing to reduce the kind of job killing regulations and rules that have hampered our economy over the last few years. We can no longer afford government unions. They only hinder our ability to limit our government and end up reducing the efficiency of our public servants. The teachers unions refuse pay cuts in times like these are strangling their golden goose to obtain that last golden egg. The democratic majority in our state legislature has brought us to this place. They are unwilling or unable to properly reduce our budget. If we fail to overturn our legislature and elect representatives that can make the hard choices required to right our ship of state, we face a bleak future of decline. Make your vote count!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Constitution under assault
The United States was founded on certain principles. They included the concepts of individual liberty, freedom of religion, free enterprise and democratic and free elections. Today we face an out of control government seeking to control more and more of our lives. In the last year, the government has taken control of 2/3 of our auto industry. The president has fired private business leaders and put his men in their place. The president has also forced companies into bankruptcy to punish bond holders and pay off his union benefactors. The government has also taken control of our health care industry with massive legislation. We are just beginning to learn the full extent of the costs this bill will impose on all of us. Now the congress is seeking to implement their job killing cap in trade proposal. The president is seeking to take our country down a notch in the world. He is uncomfortable with our leadership of the free world. He seeks to apologize for our past "sins". The only jobs that seem safe today are the government bureaucrat jobs.
Free enterprise is under attack. Freedom of speech is being suppressed as political correct speech is required as never before. Many of our elections are being corrupted as unions pour money into races to keep receiving fat checks and oversized retirements. If you still value our constitution and love our country, please stand with me and turn the Democrats out.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
California Schools
California which way is up?
The up with schools proposal is going to lead to more decline and cuts to the education system it is intended to save. California already has massive confiscatory taxes, unending regulations and a general business climate that has created the highest unemployment in the state in a generation. The up with schools plan will just add to this bad climate with its plan to make it easier for the legislature to raise taxes. Raising taxes at this point would just add to our state’s economic pain. We are already losing jobs, manufacturing and farmland with the high taxes, bad water management policies and stupid laws.
Giving the legislature the ability to raise taxes any time would just make it worse. Don’t get me wrong, I support public schools and love the education I received and the education my children have received. What I can’t support is giving the current group in Sacramento more power. They need less power, much less.
Currently our state’s employment is the lowest in a decade and our unemployment is the highest in a generation. Who creates the jobs that help pay for the public services that this proposal is seeking to improve? It certainly isn’t the government. This proposal seeks to close loopholes and increase taxes on business. The only way we can turn around our state is to encourage business and get more of our citizens employed. 12.5 % unemployment is the cause of our shortfall, not low taxes on business.
If you want to solve the budget problems in Sacramento, reduce the cost of government and remove the impediments to growth that currently face all business in California.
The up with schools proposal is going to lead to more decline and cuts to the education system it is intended to save. California already has massive confiscatory taxes, unending regulations and a general business climate that has created the highest unemployment in the state in a generation. The up with schools plan will just add to this bad climate with its plan to make it easier for the legislature to raise taxes. Raising taxes at this point would just add to our state’s economic pain. We are already losing jobs, manufacturing and farmland with the high taxes, bad water management policies and stupid laws.
Giving the legislature the ability to raise taxes any time would just make it worse. Don’t get me wrong, I support public schools and love the education I received and the education my children have received. What I can’t support is giving the current group in Sacramento more power. They need less power, much less.
Currently our state’s employment is the lowest in a decade and our unemployment is the highest in a generation. Who creates the jobs that help pay for the public services that this proposal is seeking to improve? It certainly isn’t the government. This proposal seeks to close loopholes and increase taxes on business. The only way we can turn around our state is to encourage business and get more of our citizens employed. 12.5 % unemployment is the cause of our shortfall, not low taxes on business.
If you want to solve the budget problems in Sacramento, reduce the cost of government and remove the impediments to growth that currently face all business in California.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
American Economy - 9/2009
So we are coming up on the one year anniversary of the financial market meltdown of September 2008. Normally, in the course of a market correction things would start moving in the right direction about now. What I see is an ever climbing unemployment rate, bankrupted state and federal governments and economic decline. Why are we struggling so? Didn't the feds pass a huge economic stimulus package? Didn't we take over entire industries? Didn’t we waste billions for cash for clunkers? We had 5 percent unemployment during most of the Presidential campaign. Now the economy continues to shed jobs. I think an important aspect of our current situation is the impact of our national leadership. They have chosen to pursue their goals instead of the best interests of the American people. They have ivory tower solutions that have never worked in the history of man. Instead of choosing proven solutions, they want to implement their agenda. The vice president said it yesterday, the stimulus package is working. The economy has shed millions jobs in the last 9 months. I believe ultimately the President's plan is to concentrate as much power as possible in his hands and dictate our future. This economic downturn is helping him achieve his goals. Since they passed their big government, union funding stimulus program, what have they been up to? Well, it would be cap in trade, government healthcare and prosecuting those that kept us safe. At a time of economic misery and decline, why would we be seeking to needlessly increase government interference in the economy? Cap in trade costs jobs and produces nothing. Healthcare reform at this point will cool the job market as businesses hold back on hiring while the government comes up with a new unfunded mandate and attempts to control our personal lives. A big part of the problem at this point is the uncertainty injected into our economy because of the agenda of the president. Even as we ponder all of this, his banking department is writing new regulations to cripple our financial markets. They want to make it less risky. The result will be less investment, less growth and a longer, deeper recession. Remember government stimulus is mostly about stimulating government (making it bigger) not about helping expand and grow our economy. It is time for the silent majority to speak and be heard. Our freedom is at stake.
My second Tea Party speech
Introduction: My name is Doug Livengood. I was born in California, I have lived my whole life in this wonderful state. I was taught in public schools all the way through college in California. I love this state and this country. I am a father, a husband, a patriot and a citizen. I have a deep respect for those that came before me, Who fought and died to make this a free country. Who conceived of the constitution and then fought, bled and in many cases died to give me what we have today. I can imagine many of our founding fathers and brave patriots would look at our country today and just shake their heads. They would think “how could we have allowed this?” or “where did we go wrong?”. I want to tell you today that they didn’t go wrong. We, “that’s you and me” have allowed this country to careen off course and it is past time to start pushing this country back on the right course.
Now before I go too far you will have to forgive me. I am not a professional speaker and I don’t own a teleprompter so every once in a while I will need to check my notes. It won’t be too often because I am speaking from my heart and the words I say are true. I don’t have to make this stuff up as many professional politicians do.
I look at those in government who have seized the reigns of power and are currently seeking to steer our nation down the wrong road and I can’t just sit idly by waiting for the large crashing sound as they run us down a dead end road or off a cliff. I am losing sleep as I watch those in power purposely making choices that destroy what has made America great. Here are just some of the elements that the current cadre of elitists in Sacramento and Washington are selling:
1. The government must take over large swaths of our economy or we will fail.
2. We must spend trillions of dollars we don’t have to stimulate our economy.
3. By spending trillions of dollars we will reduce unemployment.
4. By bailing out our auto industry we will keep them from bankruptcy.
5. By appeasing those that seek our destruction they will play nice.
6. By making more regulations and increasing our costs we will improve our economy and grow “Green jobs”
7. By having the government administer our healthcare system we will have lower costs and better coverage.
I am not sure what world these people are from but they are selling large heaping truck loads of bull.
How did we get here?
When did liberty and capitalism become evil? I actually have friends who think profits are evil…
When did opposition to socialism and government takeover of healthcare become racist? I for one oppose their ideas and plans regardless of their skin tone! I believe that rhetorical line is purposeful and intended to oppress us and marginalize our point of view. I refute the label and will stand firm in my support of your freedom and liberty!
There are seven key elements to the plans currently being forced down our throats. If you add them up you can form an equation:
Government takeovers + Government overspending + Government solutions to all our problems = Decline, Depression and Slavery
Government takeovers are the auto industry, the banking industry, the student loan industry, the utilities and the healthcare system. They are no longer happy with just regulating our economy to death, they are now attempting to centrally plan large swaths of our economy. Even the Chinese are uncomfortable with our current economic policies.
Government overspending almost needs no definition. It has been going on for decades and we can no longer sit by and watch the destruction it causes. Why should we allow such waste and fraud?
A government solution to all our problems is the way our current leadership looks at the world. They think the only way to fix something or make something better is to get a government bureaucrat involved. They know better than we do. The government is more compassionate and is better trained and able to solve the big problems that we can’t. Those in power are trying to convince us they are our savior. I for one seek no government savior.
I define decline as a shrinking economy, a disheartened military, an ever increasing portion of our citizens who are unemployed and seeking assistance.
Depression is the going to be state of our economy if we don’t change course. We are already steaming toward those falls and we need to take control of our ship of state and turn back toward the safe course that will lead to our recovery.
I know slavery is a harsh term, but what would you call working for almost half of the year to pay your debt to society when you broke no law? Taxes are being considered and invented faster than in any time in my lifetime and at ever confiscatory rates. Those in the halls of power seek to take your treasure (money, freedom, liberty), add a large dose of bureaucracy and save America. We know that is failed formula. The press and the government want us to feel powerless to change the course of history. We need to stand firm against their tyranny. The state of California came to us in May after the largest tax increase in California history begging for more. We said no.
Let us consider for a second the results we see today from the big government solutions we face. First, the stimulous plan has funded every pet project ever conceived of by the ruling party. They have paid their union supporters back with our treasure. Second, the saved auto industry is actually bankrupt and in the grasp of the same unions that drove them to bankruptcy. Third, the stimulous was supposed to save jobs, we are approaching 10 percent unemployment nationwide and are way over that in our state. Sounds like progress to me. Finally, let’s consider the outcome of their priorities on capital hill. First, we must pass government healthcare and second, the cap in trade proposal. Each proposal mandates huge new costs on business and individuals while our economy collapses. Today the news is all about skyrocketing unemployment, plunging factory orders and escalating foreclosures. We are currently lead by a pack of fools with no idea how to restart the American economy. Their concepts of central planning and nationalization of industry worked so well for the communists in Russia. Those in power actually believe they can tax and regulate us into a growing economy.
The current course of the Federal government is following will lead to ever increasing taxes for you, me, our children and grand children. The real results of their equation is higher taxes, more regulation, less freedom and the death of liberty in America. We can’t afford to wait, we need to act today!
So how do we change course? What can we do?
The first and most important step is to stop them in their tracks. We do this by applying pressure, so loud and so long they can no longer ignore us. That means speaking out. That means removing from power all who seek our enslavement. Second, we must elect those that will repeal the laws, deflate the bloated bureaucracy and set us free. We can’t afford to just get along or try to improve on the administration of their ideas. Their ideas are poison. Just as the Fannie Mae and Freddy mac lending practices poisoned our banking industry, their other ideas are poisoning our economy. The foundation of their ideas is false. The earth is not dying. The earth has seasons. In the winter it is cold, in the summer it can get a little warm around here. Over time there are storms. Not one thing they propose can change any of that and we should not cripple our economy just to try some liberal climate control experiment. Capitalism is our birthright and provides us with huge opportunities not found anywhere else in the world. Freedom and capitalism together have helped us become a super power. We have helped others obtain freedom, we now need to stand up and stop our government from their attempts to make us into another Europe.
Now before I go too far you will have to forgive me. I am not a professional speaker and I don’t own a teleprompter so every once in a while I will need to check my notes. It won’t be too often because I am speaking from my heart and the words I say are true. I don’t have to make this stuff up as many professional politicians do.
I look at those in government who have seized the reigns of power and are currently seeking to steer our nation down the wrong road and I can’t just sit idly by waiting for the large crashing sound as they run us down a dead end road or off a cliff. I am losing sleep as I watch those in power purposely making choices that destroy what has made America great. Here are just some of the elements that the current cadre of elitists in Sacramento and Washington are selling:
1. The government must take over large swaths of our economy or we will fail.
2. We must spend trillions of dollars we don’t have to stimulate our economy.
3. By spending trillions of dollars we will reduce unemployment.
4. By bailing out our auto industry we will keep them from bankruptcy.
5. By appeasing those that seek our destruction they will play nice.
6. By making more regulations and increasing our costs we will improve our economy and grow “Green jobs”
7. By having the government administer our healthcare system we will have lower costs and better coverage.
I am not sure what world these people are from but they are selling large heaping truck loads of bull.
How did we get here?
When did liberty and capitalism become evil? I actually have friends who think profits are evil…
When did opposition to socialism and government takeover of healthcare become racist? I for one oppose their ideas and plans regardless of their skin tone! I believe that rhetorical line is purposeful and intended to oppress us and marginalize our point of view. I refute the label and will stand firm in my support of your freedom and liberty!
There are seven key elements to the plans currently being forced down our throats. If you add them up you can form an equation:
Government takeovers + Government overspending + Government solutions to all our problems = Decline, Depression and Slavery
Government takeovers are the auto industry, the banking industry, the student loan industry, the utilities and the healthcare system. They are no longer happy with just regulating our economy to death, they are now attempting to centrally plan large swaths of our economy. Even the Chinese are uncomfortable with our current economic policies.
Government overspending almost needs no definition. It has been going on for decades and we can no longer sit by and watch the destruction it causes. Why should we allow such waste and fraud?
A government solution to all our problems is the way our current leadership looks at the world. They think the only way to fix something or make something better is to get a government bureaucrat involved. They know better than we do. The government is more compassionate and is better trained and able to solve the big problems that we can’t. Those in power are trying to convince us they are our savior. I for one seek no government savior.
I define decline as a shrinking economy, a disheartened military, an ever increasing portion of our citizens who are unemployed and seeking assistance.
Depression is the going to be state of our economy if we don’t change course. We are already steaming toward those falls and we need to take control of our ship of state and turn back toward the safe course that will lead to our recovery.
I know slavery is a harsh term, but what would you call working for almost half of the year to pay your debt to society when you broke no law? Taxes are being considered and invented faster than in any time in my lifetime and at ever confiscatory rates. Those in the halls of power seek to take your treasure (money, freedom, liberty), add a large dose of bureaucracy and save America. We know that is failed formula. The press and the government want us to feel powerless to change the course of history. We need to stand firm against their tyranny. The state of California came to us in May after the largest tax increase in California history begging for more. We said no.
Let us consider for a second the results we see today from the big government solutions we face. First, the stimulous plan has funded every pet project ever conceived of by the ruling party. They have paid their union supporters back with our treasure. Second, the saved auto industry is actually bankrupt and in the grasp of the same unions that drove them to bankruptcy. Third, the stimulous was supposed to save jobs, we are approaching 10 percent unemployment nationwide and are way over that in our state. Sounds like progress to me. Finally, let’s consider the outcome of their priorities on capital hill. First, we must pass government healthcare and second, the cap in trade proposal. Each proposal mandates huge new costs on business and individuals while our economy collapses. Today the news is all about skyrocketing unemployment, plunging factory orders and escalating foreclosures. We are currently lead by a pack of fools with no idea how to restart the American economy. Their concepts of central planning and nationalization of industry worked so well for the communists in Russia. Those in power actually believe they can tax and regulate us into a growing economy.
The current course of the Federal government is following will lead to ever increasing taxes for you, me, our children and grand children. The real results of their equation is higher taxes, more regulation, less freedom and the death of liberty in America. We can’t afford to wait, we need to act today!
So how do we change course? What can we do?
The first and most important step is to stop them in their tracks. We do this by applying pressure, so loud and so long they can no longer ignore us. That means speaking out. That means removing from power all who seek our enslavement. Second, we must elect those that will repeal the laws, deflate the bloated bureaucracy and set us free. We can’t afford to just get along or try to improve on the administration of their ideas. Their ideas are poison. Just as the Fannie Mae and Freddy mac lending practices poisoned our banking industry, their other ideas are poisoning our economy. The foundation of their ideas is false. The earth is not dying. The earth has seasons. In the winter it is cold, in the summer it can get a little warm around here. Over time there are storms. Not one thing they propose can change any of that and we should not cripple our economy just to try some liberal climate control experiment. Capitalism is our birthright and provides us with huge opportunities not found anywhere else in the world. Freedom and capitalism together have helped us become a super power. We have helped others obtain freedom, we now need to stand up and stop our government from their attempts to make us into another Europe.
Obama Election - 10/2008
Who is this demagogue about to ascend to the presidency?
Why is America ready to elect this man? Obama refused to release his real birth certificate. His school records are sealed. His records when he was a state senator are sealed. He has no record he is willing to share with the American people. Why is he hiding all this information? Could it be because he believes what his good friends believe? Is he even a true citizen of this country? Why is this being covered up?
How can America be so ready to elect a person who seeks to spread the wealth around? Do we understand what that really means?
The Obama tax plan will have the same effect on our economy as the recent market crash. Huge amounts of money will flow out of the economy and into the government. He will then decide who should receive what. Obama claims the current economic crisis is due to George Bush. George Bush went to Congress no less than 15 times to try to nip the Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac disaster in the bud. Who stopped him? Democrats! Why did the Democrats stop him? Could it be the millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the Fannie, Freddy group? Especially the millions that flowed into the Obama campaign coffers. The collapse of Fannie and Freddie was predicted by George Bush and John McCain. They called for reform and were turned away.
When the country was suffering through the summer of sky high gas prices, who was fighting to get our country more resources and reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Republicans in the House. Obama's input on the issue, we should all inflate our tires and use renewable sources. His claim that any new drilling will take 10 years to bring to market is a vapid claim that characterizes his entire campaign. We had the opportunity over 10 years ago to tap the oil in Alaska. Who turned back our efforts? Democrats, again and again!
Obama wants to decide who gets the wealth. His past efforts in spreading wealth include massive corruption in the Chicago public housing (Tony Resko). Is this what we want for our future? Do we want a President who would sit through 20 years of sermons attacking the United States, then leaves his faith because we finally learn what he has been listening to? Who has a close friend and supporter who bombed the capital and to this day is unrepentant?
Where did his 600 million in donations come from? How did he find that many people willing to give him 200 dollars at a time in untraceable credit cards? Finally, why do we know more about Joe the plumber than the candidate for President? He is a private citizen who dared ask a hard question. Why is Joe being excoriated by the press? Why is the Obama campaign attacking this citizen? Now we here about Obama’s national police. Is this what the future holds? It makes me wonder, how did we get here?
Why is America ready to elect this man? Obama refused to release his real birth certificate. His school records are sealed. His records when he was a state senator are sealed. He has no record he is willing to share with the American people. Why is he hiding all this information? Could it be because he believes what his good friends believe? Is he even a true citizen of this country? Why is this being covered up?
How can America be so ready to elect a person who seeks to spread the wealth around? Do we understand what that really means?
The Obama tax plan will have the same effect on our economy as the recent market crash. Huge amounts of money will flow out of the economy and into the government. He will then decide who should receive what. Obama claims the current economic crisis is due to George Bush. George Bush went to Congress no less than 15 times to try to nip the Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac disaster in the bud. Who stopped him? Democrats! Why did the Democrats stop him? Could it be the millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the Fannie, Freddy group? Especially the millions that flowed into the Obama campaign coffers. The collapse of Fannie and Freddie was predicted by George Bush and John McCain. They called for reform and were turned away.
When the country was suffering through the summer of sky high gas prices, who was fighting to get our country more resources and reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Republicans in the House. Obama's input on the issue, we should all inflate our tires and use renewable sources. His claim that any new drilling will take 10 years to bring to market is a vapid claim that characterizes his entire campaign. We had the opportunity over 10 years ago to tap the oil in Alaska. Who turned back our efforts? Democrats, again and again!
Obama wants to decide who gets the wealth. His past efforts in spreading wealth include massive corruption in the Chicago public housing (Tony Resko). Is this what we want for our future? Do we want a President who would sit through 20 years of sermons attacking the United States, then leaves his faith because we finally learn what he has been listening to? Who has a close friend and supporter who bombed the capital and to this day is unrepentant?
Where did his 600 million in donations come from? How did he find that many people willing to give him 200 dollars at a time in untraceable credit cards? Finally, why do we know more about Joe the plumber than the candidate for President? He is a private citizen who dared ask a hard question. Why is Joe being excoriated by the press? Why is the Obama campaign attacking this citizen? Now we here about Obama’s national police. Is this what the future holds? It makes me wonder, how did we get here?
Freedom under Attack - 11/2008
Our freedoms are under attack today. I entered this election season worried about those outside our country and their impact on my freedom. Today, I am more concerned with those in this country that seek to limit my speech and freedom. I recently had a whole yard full of conservative signs stolen. I guess I didn't pass someone's PC test. It seems that our freedoms are generally under attack by liberals and Democrats today. Democrats seek to limit speech on the radio (fairness doctrine legislation). Democrats want to abandon the war on terror giving the terrorists the opportunity to regroup and attack us again. Democrats seek to expand the role of the Federal government. Democrats want to limit our economy through over regulation and suppressed energy production. Democrats already have our schools, colleges, media and courts saturated with supporters who continually train their young recruits or alter our laws to suit their needs. I am continually talking to my children to counter their efforts. When you consider the Democrats desire to expand child care and health care I see another effort to indoctrinate their subjects and convince the rest of the country that we can not survive without them. We can not afford lame liberal solutions which are proven to fail (war on poverty, Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, Welfare, Federal housing, Socialism, Communism and government health care). We need to stand up and vote for freedom. Vote for those who are willing to fight for our freedom with lower taxes, less government, less regulation.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Obamacare Killing American exceptionalism
In March of 2008 I had a blood test with my wife's prompting. I had a high PSA value. My doctor was concerned enough to get a second test and send me in for a biopsy. Needless to say at 47, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I am the fourth in four generations to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. For a moment I would like to discuss how my world/treatment differed from that of my ancestors. First, I was diagnosed really early. My uncle was diagnosed in his late 60's. My grandfather in his 80's and I am unsure of when for my great-grandfather. Second, I had many treatment options available (surgery, radiation and cryo). My grandfather had fewer though he was very wealthy and could have paid for the best of anything. My uncle was treated and cured (within the last 10 years). My grandfather was treated, but his cancer spread and he died of bone cancer. My great grandfather died of prostate cancer. Instead of facing a life ending illness I was given choices that didn’t exist even 15 years ago. My biggest concern was maintaining my quality of life not planning my early demise.
The President and congressional leaders think they need to "save" us from our terrible health care system and force us to go into a single payer system. Let me be very clear, the options I had in seeking treatment would not have existed if Government Health care had been passed in the 90's as Hillary wanted. The tool that saved my life, the Da Vinci Robot system wasn't even invented and approved till 2000. The company that invented it has sold thousands of these amazing machines that save lives daily. It wasn’t invented in Europe, Russia, Canada or Cuba. It was invented in California. A company was created and funded by our free market society. They had an idea, saw a huge market and proceeded to develop a machine that improves the lives of thousands. Would that development have been done if the Government ran everything? NO! My surgeon was trained at the best schools and works up at Stanford, would he have chosen medicine if government health care passed? I asked, he said no. Would I have been able to obtain treatment within 2 months of my diagnosis? Canada only has one MRI machine, I think not. So here our your options, since I was already cured:
1. accept all the lies and propaganda currently being spread by those that want to rule your life.
2. reject their lies and support our system that though imperfect will not be served well with all the new government intervention and bureaucracy proposed by Obama and his cadre.
Today, this month, they talk about fixing our health care system. I am just one case of millions of Americans who are saved each year by a system that could be improved but definitely not by more government. Help me turn them back.
The President and congressional leaders think they need to "save" us from our terrible health care system and force us to go into a single payer system. Let me be very clear, the options I had in seeking treatment would not have existed if Government Health care had been passed in the 90's as Hillary wanted. The tool that saved my life, the Da Vinci Robot system wasn't even invented and approved till 2000. The company that invented it has sold thousands of these amazing machines that save lives daily. It wasn’t invented in Europe, Russia, Canada or Cuba. It was invented in California. A company was created and funded by our free market society. They had an idea, saw a huge market and proceeded to develop a machine that improves the lives of thousands. Would that development have been done if the Government ran everything? NO! My surgeon was trained at the best schools and works up at Stanford, would he have chosen medicine if government health care passed? I asked, he said no. Would I have been able to obtain treatment within 2 months of my diagnosis? Canada only has one MRI machine, I think not. So here our your options, since I was already cured:
1. accept all the lies and propaganda currently being spread by those that want to rule your life.
2. reject their lies and support our system that though imperfect will not be served well with all the new government intervention and bureaucracy proposed by Obama and his cadre.
Today, this month, they talk about fixing our health care system. I am just one case of millions of Americans who are saved each year by a system that could be improved but definitely not by more government. Help me turn them back.
Democrat's True Colors
I have survived the first year of the Obama regime. Fortunately, I still have a job, for the rest of us, not so much. In this year of a bad economy, fighting two foreign wars and impending nuclear proliferation to Iran, what has the government been working on? How have they been doing? Well, first they passed the economic stimulus bill. Do you feel stimulated? The only expansion from that pork filled monstrosity has been government expansion. We still have 9.7 percent unemployment which is really worse than it sounds with all the discouraged workers. We have mounting debts that threaten to strangle our recovery. We have a new Health care law that doesn’t really improve any portion of our health care system, but does require business to insure their employees, increases regulation on insurance companies and cuts benefits to our seniors. Whew, what an improvement. What we really have is 25,000 new IRS agents to make us pay up. Sounds like the largest tax increase in American history. We also have huge new government regulations on banking, which normally would help re-ignite our economy. So next they want to “save the planet” with more new government taxes and regulations on our electrical generation industry and auto industry. The only problem is we can’t afford to pay higher electrical bills or purchase those new fuel efficient cars. Oh yeah, I forgot the wonderful cash for clunkers program that cost us billions in new debt. Just to be clear, this is exactly what the Democrats want. They want us controlled. They want us so burdened with debt and regulation, that we are forced to our knees and begging them for assistance. They have 10 percent of our working people in that position and they want more. They have 50% of the economy under their thumb and they want more. We have uncontrolled growth of unions festering inside our government causing continued bloating and deficit.
The Democrats have shown their true colors and we can never forget their agenda and what they truly want. They want power over you. Two years ago the American people gave it to them after several years of print and TV media cheering for all this “Change”.
The problem we face today is they are all wrong. Everything they are doing is attacking the fabric of America. We are a working nation. We need jobs. We are a capitalist nation built on freedom and liberty. They mean to take that from us. We are a God fearing country, they mock us.
I am done with all this. Today, this hour, we all need to start pushing back. We need to work hard to overturn all this poison that has been foisted on America. We need to find those patriots that will stand firm and protect our country, our freedom and our economy. Obama has done more harm to America in one year than Osama has done in a decade!
The Democrats have shown their true colors and we can never forget their agenda and what they truly want. They want power over you. Two years ago the American people gave it to them after several years of print and TV media cheering for all this “Change”.
The problem we face today is they are all wrong. Everything they are doing is attacking the fabric of America. We are a working nation. We need jobs. We are a capitalist nation built on freedom and liberty. They mean to take that from us. We are a God fearing country, they mock us.
I am done with all this. Today, this hour, we all need to start pushing back. We need to work hard to overturn all this poison that has been foisted on America. We need to find those patriots that will stand firm and protect our country, our freedom and our economy. Obama has done more harm to America in one year than Osama has done in a decade!
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