America is selfish. We’re like spoiled children constantly stomping our feet and screaming about things we think we deserve. And when we feel somebody else has something we want, we will do anything to get it. We slander each other, we cheat, we bend the rules, we make back room deals, and if that doesn’t work, we sue each other. And often we don’t seem to care what the fallout is. We don’t care who will be hurt, because we “deserve” to be “happy”. We’ve “worked for” it. This selfish attitude threads itself through all economic classes, all races, all political parties, and even religions.

Why is this? I think it’s because as a society, we simply don’t know who God is and what he planned for us to be. Many of us claim to know, but often we just twist that knowledge to suit ourselves. I think if we really cracked open the bible and just read the simple teachings of Jesus, just as they appear on the paper, and then put that into daily practice, the world would change dramatically.

Here’s a passage from the Bible that I think sums it all up:

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Which of us can say that we are truly loving? This is the world view we should be striving to imbed into the American culture. And if we can do that, everything else will sort itself out.

Here’s the link to the article in the Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/us/24iht-currents24.html

Enjoy.

Both national party committees spend big chunks on fancy meals, hotels, travel

I think the thing I hate most about taxes is the way the government views it. They basically use taxation for three purposes: to provide for public services, to buy votes, and to control the masses. It’s those last two that really bother me. Nobody should be getting tax breaks in order to shore up support for a political party, yet we see this happen all the time, with farming, manufacturing, banking, etc. They all get breaks and loopholes in return for lending support to political campaigns. Also, who is the government to tell me I need to spend my money a certain way, and if I don’t they will take more of it from me? This is a violation of the most basic form of liberty.

If it were up to me, taxes would serve one purpose and one purpose only: to fund the government for the purpose of serving the public interest. The WHOLE public interest. Therefore as King Dana the First, I would decree the following laws. *ahem*

First, everyone would pay a flat percentage of their income; Any and all income with the exception of family inheritances which I don’t really consider income. I would do a sliding scale like we do today. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. It’s not because the rich can afford more, it’s because the poor can’t afford it at all. This goes for business too. Anytime money comes in, you pay your tax. No exceptions for charitable or religious organizations, etc, and I’d outlaw all other forms of taxation.

Second, no deductions, no write-offs, no breaks. Period. The government has no right to dictate how your money is spent, nor responsibility for your poor choices.

And honestly, that’s it. That’s my tax plan. Now some may suggest that some industries would suffer, or nobody would donate to charity without the write off, etc… and I say, that’s crap. This country was founded by people who despised government and it flourished specifically because the government had very little power in the beginning. I don’t think there’s a single person who can legitimately say our country is better off today, now that government has ballooned into this monster we have now.

But with my simplified tax law, government would also have to be more fiscally restrained. So I would also set forth the following decrees with regards to Federal spending.

First, the federal government would have to save 10% of it’s tax revenues as an emergency fund and it would donate 10% to charitable causes in depressed nations. This is just a good rule to have. Put some money away for a rainy day, and help those less fortunate.

Second, the fed could not target any money toward specific states or people groups. Basically, no pork. If it doesn’t serve the republic as a whole (meaning, national infrastructure, defense, etc) then it doesn’t get spent at the federal level. I’d also do away with social security and federal employee pensions.

Third, the government would not be allowed to hold massive debt. I don’t have any debt with the exception of my mortgage, why should the government be in debt? This is a matter of sovereignty and national security in my opinion.

Lastly, the federal government would have severely limited ability to pass laws controlling the actions of the states. I figure with this one law you could totally get rid of the EPA, the office of Education, and about 100 other federal panels and offices. Let the states sort out things for themselves. That’s the original concept of our republic anyway. Yeah I know, we’d still want education standards, and pollution standards, etc, but these things can be determined by Universities and other voluntary organizations and left to the states to implement or not.

So that’s basically my theory. The federal government should provide for national infrastructure, national defense and foreign policy. The states should handle everything else however they see fit. Push the power back down to the local communities and trust people to do the right thing. And if they don’t, well they have to live with the consequences it don’t they?

So now that I’ve laid it all out for you, you can either thank the Lord I don’t run things, or vote for me for President King in 2012.

So now the president is kicking into campaign mode again with a new push to help out the middle class. What he’s proposing is bigger child tax credit, some changes in how student loans are repaid and some credits for taking care of the elderly. Which in reality means he’s trying to by us off, but what he’s missing is that none of this crap matters. It’s completely inconsequential to the majority of the population and the only reason he’s offering this carrot on a stick is to give the appearance that he’s doing something great, when really, it just is not going to make a difference whatsoever in most of our lives.

If you want to help us Mr. President, here’s what the middle class really needs.

JOBS.

That’s all we need. The middle class doesn’t want handouts or charity. We want to work. We want to be left alone to make a living for ourselves without the interference of some out-of-touch greedy politicians sticking their nose in our business. And you’re not going to create jobs by making everyone a government employee. You create jobs by making it easy for people to start and do business. And how do you make it easy? Get out of our way.

Once upon a time you could have a business and employ other people without a truckload of fees and taxes and red tape, and without the fear of getting sued for having your bathroom mirror two inches too high or killing a field mouse and end up losing everything you worked for.

And once upon a time you could actually build things in America without fear that some sweatshop in a third world country who employs what basically amounts to slave labor will undercut you to death because they don’t have to play by the same rules you do and they have access to your market while they lock you out of theirs.

I could go on and on, and this is really a giant rant, which I don’t like to do, but honestly, it’s not a crazy concept to figure out. Government should do a few things: protect us from our enemies; maintain our infrastructure; and ensure that everyone plays fair according to the Constitution. After that, get the frick out of our way and let us do what we do best; Work our American butts off and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

• US citizens give 3 times the amount of the French and 14 times the amount of the Italians.
• Conservatives give more than Liberals.
• The poor give a higher percentage of their income than do the rich.
• Religous people are more likely to give and to serve than non religious.

So what this says is that even though America is labeled the greedy monster of the earth, we’re more generous than any other country on the planet. The people who talk about compassion and caring the most are the ones least likely to give or serve, and the rich really are greedy #$%%@’s after all.

Another thing I find interesting, and possibly concerning, is that organized religion takes in the most contributions. The question I would then ask our religious organizations is; What are you doing with all that cash? I mean, I’m sure you’re using some of it to spread the gospel… though the apostles did a really good job of that without a lot of cash. So are you putting the rest to good use in our communities?

Take a second to follow this link. We all need to ask ourselves; What are we giving? Who are we giving to? Can we be doing more?

http://www.mint.com/blog/trends/charity-who-cares/

I wanted to comment on the issue here though because in general I think this tactic of negative association is doing far more harm to the issue than it is helping it. Both sides use this tactic to try and garner support, or really, just diminish support for the other side, but ultimately I think it does more to turn people off than it does to engage and educate.

The Democrats love to throw around labels like Nazi and racist. They love to associate everything in world with rich white men who are trying to keep everyone else down. This is of course ridiculous and instead of appealing to the best sensibilities in people; Compassion, caring, loving; These types of arguments only appeal to the worst; hatred and envy.

And the Republicans do the same thing, consistently associating the term “socialist” for anyone who disagrees with the Republican party line. I take issue with the “socialist” label tactic because I don’t think it works. It doesn’t help the average person to understand the issue. One thing Reagan did well was use facts to back up every argument. There’s far too few facts going around these days and far too much hyperbole.

When I think about it, the biggest issue our party faces is simply one of integrity. People don’t trust the Republican party because they are crooked. They are as guilty of greed and deception as any democrat. They cheat on their wives, wrestle money from the government for their special interests, and take donations from shady people just the same. The only difference is the masters they serve.

We’re studying Ephesians right now in our bible study and chapter 5 talks about how we should not spend time pointing out the flaws of the world, but we should live as “imitators of God”, and if we do that, then God’s light will illuminate the people who live in the darkness. Read that again, GOD will illuminate the wicked.

This is such a powerful concept because I believe that as a political party, we are so busy pointing out the flaws of others and playing the name game that we have forgotten to live with integrity and as a result we are forcing ourselves to wallow in the mud of these political messes rather than rise above by God’s blessings.

I believe that when the Republican party decides to begin to conduct itself in a fashion worthy of being called Christian, as the majority of our fore-fathers did, we will see a turn in this country. Until then, we’re really just arguing the difference between corrupt policy and even more corrupt policy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34193069#34193069

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover‑up for evil; live as servants of God.

1 Peter 3:7

8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

So for the past week I’ve been trying to figure out what the President of the United States could say to children in a public forum that would be so shocking, so horrible, so immoral, that it would warrant politicians labeling him as a socialist, and comparing him to guys like Adolf Hitler.

Well, today I don’t have to wonder any more. The speech has been posted here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/ . All I can say is I’m completely SHOCKED!!! I’m shocked because what I read today were horrible messages like; Stay in school, work hard despite your circumstances, don’t be afraid to fail, honor your parents and teachers, and you only get what you work for. Shocking I say! Pure blasphemy! Heresy!

I’m obviously being facetious. This speech is EXACTLY what I’ve been teaching my daughter for the past 17 years. I dare ANYONE to read that speech and tell me the message is harmful to children or even remotely anti-capitalist or pro-socialist. Ridiculous.

Now, I’m not an Obama supporter. I think Government plays a role in assuring justice and fair play, but the people are better off when given the freedom to live their own lives. But Obama’s views are not the point of my post. The real thing that bothers me is the continual, blind hatred for anyone on “the other side”. We now live in a “Hatfields vs. McCoy” style society, where people have such an intense hatred for anyone from the other political party, and often we don’t even know why we hate them, we just know that they are our opponents. I mean, when the President can make a speech that highlights the importance of personal responsibility, hard work, and determination, things that are supposed to be hallmarks of the Republican worldview, yet Republicans can find a way to attack that, there’s something seriously wrong with our political system and honestly, our morality. And this  goes both ways. We saw the same petty, hateful attacks against Bush for the past 8 years. And this is what kills me; We endured 8 years of ankle-biting, only to turn around and do the same thing, and for some reason we feel it’s OK. Well It’s not.

There needs to be a higher level of civility and calm, level headed thinking in this world. People need to take a deep breath, think about what they are feeling and what they are saying. They need to educate themselves. It’s amazing how many people I speak with about policy that have not done ANY research into an issue except for listen to John Stewart or Glenn Beck. One person told me Obama’s education speech was being kept “secret” to trick people. In less than 5 minutes I found the lesson plan from the Education department online and the speech itself was released today. Some secret! I had another person complain about the proposed healthcare plan so I asked if they’d read it. The reply? “I don’t really have the time”. Wow. How important is that issue to you then? And I admit, I have been guilty of this as well and it’s going to change.

Bottom line; if we’re going to elect people who are are intelligent, capable, fair and honest, we need to start being intelligent, capable, fair, and honest ourselves. And if we’re going to really solve societal issues, we need to be willing to think outside of established party lines.

So I started doing some reading to try and answer the question: Do we even need heath insurance reform? My conclusion: I think we do. Too many people can’t afford to get proper healthcare, period. That’s really the bottom line. I look at my wife, who’s worked hard all her life, and I realized that she has NEVER been offered health insurance. She’s not lazy, or illegal, or stupid. She’s just always worked for small businesses. Even while making a good wage, she’s never been offered insurance.

I’d like everyone to think about that for a second, especially you fellow hard working right wingers, because I hear all the time that we “deserve” what we work for and if somebody doesn’t have insurance they must have not worked hard enough and that’s just tough shit. Well I disagree.

This country is full of hard working people that simply have never had the opportunity to work for a company that happens to provide great health coverage. Does that mean they just get screwed? Do you turn them away at the door of the hospital? Let them die in the street? When I ask this question, I never seem to get an answer. Usually this is where the huffing and puffing comes in and the subject gets changed.

Bottom line; I think we as a society, especially one that prides itself on it’s Christian heritage, need to make sure everyone can see a doctor when they need to. The Bible calls us to care for the poor and the sick. It doesn’t say only if you can afford it, or if it’s convenient, or if it doesn’t put you out, or if they are worthy. What if Christ had that attitude toward us? We’d be in a world of hurt.

Here’s an article I found interesting:

“Heal the Sick”: Why Public Health Care is a Christian Duty

So we have to provide for the sick.  My next question is, how on earth do we pay for it? And this is where it gets nasty. Because it DOES need to be paid for. And this is where the backbiting, lying, and selfish jockeying of businessmen, politicians, and self interest groups really takes off.

Rather than just rehash what I’ve read and pretend I know it all, I’m just going to link to some articles I thought were illuminating. None of them give hard answers, but at least maybe one can start to identify the players, what their interests are, and why they are fighting so hard to push the argument in their favor. One thing is for sure, almost everything I’ve heard on the nightly news is absolute, sensationalist crap.

Health Care Reform

Following the Money in the Health Care Debate