Those of us who are NASCAR fans are aware that something foul is afoot. There is a brewing controversy over Nashville pastor Joe Nelms' invocation. It was creative, to be sure, but the problem is not with the overall format, but rather with one small piece of the content: the pastor stated that he was " ... thankful for [his] smokin' hot wife ... "
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
"Push Me, Daddy"
Most of us can remember, at least vaguely, being a child. We remember the good and the bad, of course, and many of us remember being on a playground, sitting still on a hanging swing, going nowhere.
"Push me, Daddy."
"Push me, Daddy."
Friday, May 20, 2011
Dear U.S. Congress: Stop Fighting & Cut The Budget!
Your government has let you down for decades, and now they are attempting to sell your souls -- well, at least your livelihoods -- to China.
News outlets aren't helping either, because they are missing the biggest story since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: that we have hit the debt ceiling. The reason they are glossing over it is simple: no one is bleeding.
The story here is that the U.S. has borrowed as much money as we can, and are in serious danger of defaulting on $14.3 trillion in loans, most of it from China. That's right: the nation footing the bill for our love for excess is one of the few remaining communist nations, an ideology we fought tooth and nail for decades.
The real problem is less the amount of debt and more the federal government's way of handling -- or, more accurately, not handling -- the issue. Right now, the partisan bickering in both chambers of the U.S. Congress is preventing anyone from actually doing something about it.
On one side, Republicans are refusing to allow the debt ceiling to be raised, an idea I can't say I disagree with. It has long been the stance of governments the world over that the only way to get out of debt is to accrue more of it. Any financial advisor -- heck, any elementary school student -- can tell you that makes no sense at all. Sure, in business it takes money to make money. But, when you are out of money, the only way to decrease your debt is to set a budget that -- and here is the big "secret" our Congress refuses to understand -- requires spending less than you make. It's not a novel idea; it's the basis of cutting any excess, be it debt or body fat.
The biggest sticking issues are entitlement programs, but every government agency, organization and group is at fault. No one wants to make a sacrifice, and every group has at least one willing ear to bend in Congress.
But what we have before us is an emergency situation. So the bottom line right now has got to be that everyone needs to make a sacrifice or, in this case, budget cuts.
NASA? Sorry, no moon mission for now. Medicare and Medicaid? Unfortunately, those need to make cuts, too. Welfare? Well, that's a book worth of blogging in and of itself.
Look, this is government we are talking about. The best way to explain standard government spending is a line from the movie Contact: "Why buy one when you can have two at twice the price?" Guess what: we don't need two. In a lot of cases, we don't need one. That means near-term pain, both for the nation as a whole and for individuals. Jobs need to be consolidated or eliminated. Spending on benefits need to be cut. Pensions need to be cut or eliminated for government employees. And -- brace yourself, because this is coming from a registered Republican -- some taxes need to be raised.
The bottom line is that the future of our nation is teetering on the ability of our government and all our citizens to agree to take their fair share of the pain to reduce the deficit. Right now, the current debt means $129,146 per taxpayer. With roughly 111.5 million taxpayers in the country, if taxes per taxpayer increased by just $100 per year, we could save $11.15 billion per year. Yes, that's a small chunk of the deficit, considering this year alone we have already spent $1.3 trillion more than we have made, but it's a start. And it's an example of how we have to start the ball rolling.
Please, take a moment to answer the poll in the sidebar.
News outlets aren't helping either, because they are missing the biggest story since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: that we have hit the debt ceiling. The reason they are glossing over it is simple: no one is bleeding.
The story here is that the U.S. has borrowed as much money as we can, and are in serious danger of defaulting on $14.3 trillion in loans, most of it from China. That's right: the nation footing the bill for our love for excess is one of the few remaining communist nations, an ideology we fought tooth and nail for decades.
The real problem is less the amount of debt and more the federal government's way of handling -- or, more accurately, not handling -- the issue. Right now, the partisan bickering in both chambers of the U.S. Congress is preventing anyone from actually doing something about it.
On one side, Republicans are refusing to allow the debt ceiling to be raised, an idea I can't say I disagree with. It has long been the stance of governments the world over that the only way to get out of debt is to accrue more of it. Any financial advisor -- heck, any elementary school student -- can tell you that makes no sense at all. Sure, in business it takes money to make money. But, when you are out of money, the only way to decrease your debt is to set a budget that -- and here is the big "secret" our Congress refuses to understand -- requires spending less than you make. It's not a novel idea; it's the basis of cutting any excess, be it debt or body fat.
The biggest sticking issues are entitlement programs, but every government agency, organization and group is at fault. No one wants to make a sacrifice, and every group has at least one willing ear to bend in Congress.
But what we have before us is an emergency situation. So the bottom line right now has got to be that everyone needs to make a sacrifice or, in this case, budget cuts.
NASA? Sorry, no moon mission for now. Medicare and Medicaid? Unfortunately, those need to make cuts, too. Welfare? Well, that's a book worth of blogging in and of itself.
Look, this is government we are talking about. The best way to explain standard government spending is a line from the movie Contact: "Why buy one when you can have two at twice the price?" Guess what: we don't need two. In a lot of cases, we don't need one. That means near-term pain, both for the nation as a whole and for individuals. Jobs need to be consolidated or eliminated. Spending on benefits need to be cut. Pensions need to be cut or eliminated for government employees. And -- brace yourself, because this is coming from a registered Republican -- some taxes need to be raised.
The bottom line is that the future of our nation is teetering on the ability of our government and all our citizens to agree to take their fair share of the pain to reduce the deficit. Right now, the current debt means $129,146 per taxpayer. With roughly 111.5 million taxpayers in the country, if taxes per taxpayer increased by just $100 per year, we could save $11.15 billion per year. Yes, that's a small chunk of the deficit, considering this year alone we have already spent $1.3 trillion more than we have made, but it's a start. And it's an example of how we have to start the ball rolling.
Please, take a moment to answer the poll in the sidebar.
Welcome to God Then Country
If you're hear, you have an interest in Christianity, government, or both. Good for you -- you believe there is something bigger than yourself. You are the few; though many call themselves Christians, and many call themselves Patriots, few put their professed beliefs into practice.
This blog is merely the opinion of one man. I am an Evangelical Christian, a registered Republican (though I do not necessarily support everything the official party supports) and a man who desperately wants to see this country revived through Christ. Whether you share some, all or none of my beliefs, my hope is you will read my words and think carefully through what they say. I encourage your comments, no matter how supportive or contrary they may be, so long as respect is shown at all times.
Comments posted purely for inflammatory purposes or containing vulgar, blasphemous or derogatory content will not be approved; however, there will be limited policing otherwise, because faith and patriotism are two topics on which a constant dialog are desperately needed in these apathetic United States.
Welcome!
This blog is merely the opinion of one man. I am an Evangelical Christian, a registered Republican (though I do not necessarily support everything the official party supports) and a man who desperately wants to see this country revived through Christ. Whether you share some, all or none of my beliefs, my hope is you will read my words and think carefully through what they say. I encourage your comments, no matter how supportive or contrary they may be, so long as respect is shown at all times.
Comments posted purely for inflammatory purposes or containing vulgar, blasphemous or derogatory content will not be approved; however, there will be limited policing otherwise, because faith and patriotism are two topics on which a constant dialog are desperately needed in these apathetic United States.
Welcome!
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