I hope your Thanksgiving was as good as ours was. We enjoyed family and good food and a restful day. With Christmas coming, I'm sure you won't have any more time to read this blog than I will to write it, so I'm taking the few days left in November and the month of December to rest my typing fingers and reflect on what the season is all about.
May you all have a very merry Christmas, and may 2012 hold God's richest blessings for you and your family. And in the new year may God grant us Christian leadership who will guide our country back to a position of strength and honor.
And with that -- so long until January 2, 2012!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
It's called personal responsibility.
Colleen McCain Nelson is complaining about the lack of response from the City of Dallas on an illegal dumping site. She toured a South Dallas neighborhood with the mayor, and a bunch of trash he had earlier reported was still there. They stopped to talk to two of the neighborhood residents.
The two residents were men standing out in the driveway drinking beer. When Mayor Rawlins introduced himself, it became apparent that neither of them spoke English. Not to worry - Mayor Rawlins had a translator with him. "What's the best thing about your neighborhood," he asked. "There's nothing good here," was the reply.
The trash in question was pictured. It would easily have fit in one of the two pickups in the driveway in the photo. If there were trash dumped across from my house, and the city had not picked it up when I reported it, I'd try to contact the owner of the property. If that failed, I'd back my truck up there and haul it to the dump myself. Maybe if those two guys busy drinking beer had that attitude, there might be something good about their neighborhood. But that would require a little personal responsibility and pride in one's surroundings.
"On tour with mayor." The Dallas Morning News; November 18, 2011; p. 25A.
The two residents were men standing out in the driveway drinking beer. When Mayor Rawlins introduced himself, it became apparent that neither of them spoke English. Not to worry - Mayor Rawlins had a translator with him. "What's the best thing about your neighborhood," he asked. "There's nothing good here," was the reply.
The trash in question was pictured. It would easily have fit in one of the two pickups in the driveway in the photo. If there were trash dumped across from my house, and the city had not picked it up when I reported it, I'd try to contact the owner of the property. If that failed, I'd back my truck up there and haul it to the dump myself. Maybe if those two guys busy drinking beer had that attitude, there might be something good about their neighborhood. But that would require a little personal responsibility and pride in one's surroundings.
"On tour with mayor." The Dallas Morning News; November 18, 2011; p. 25A.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thank goodness for Obamacare!
Since Obamacare has passed, how many of you have noticed how affordable your healthcare is getting to be? Our premiums continue to rise and our benefits continue to decrease. We are now paying co-pays on drugs that previously were 100% covered.
According to the newspaper, we're not the only ones experiencing these benefits of Obamacare. A new study shows that co-payments for brand-name drugs will increase by 40% on average next year, and generic brands will average nearly 30% more.
Thank goodness for Obamacare!
"Co-pays climb for prescription drugs." The Dallas Morning News; November 17, 2011; p. 7A.
According to the newspaper, we're not the only ones experiencing these benefits of Obamacare. A new study shows that co-payments for brand-name drugs will increase by 40% on average next year, and generic brands will average nearly 30% more.
Thank goodness for Obamacare!
"Co-pays climb for prescription drugs." The Dallas Morning News; November 17, 2011; p. 7A.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Granny should have had better sense.
The media seems incensed that Dorli Rainey, age 84, was hit with pepper spray during an Occupy Seattle protest. But I think Granny should have had better sense.
Dorli was on a downtown bus when she heard the helicopters overhead guiding the police as they moved a bunch of protesters who were blocking the streets. She said she thought to herself, "Oh, boy, I'd better go show solidarity with New York." I think Dorli would have been better served if she'd shown solid reasoning instead of solidarity.
Mayor Mike McGinn says Rainey is a well-known local activist. Un-PC translation: We know this nut. Police said officers used pepper spray only against those who refused a lawful order to disperse. If Dorli wasn't willing to take the consequences of "solidarity," she should have stayed on the bus.
"Pepper spray victim becomes icon." The Dallas Morning News; November 17, 2011; p. 7A.
Dorli was on a downtown bus when she heard the helicopters overhead guiding the police as they moved a bunch of protesters who were blocking the streets. She said she thought to herself, "Oh, boy, I'd better go show solidarity with New York." I think Dorli would have been better served if she'd shown solid reasoning instead of solidarity.
Mayor Mike McGinn says Rainey is a well-known local activist. Un-PC translation: We know this nut. Police said officers used pepper spray only against those who refused a lawful order to disperse. If Dorli wasn't willing to take the consequences of "solidarity," she should have stayed on the bus.
"Pepper spray victim becomes icon." The Dallas Morning News; November 17, 2011; p. 7A.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Huh?
I thought newpaper publishers were supposed to be good communicators. If that's the case, publisher J. D. Davidson is certainly in the wrong profession. How's this for convoluted:
"When is the least anyone can do ever enough to save a child?"
This gobbledy-gook headlines Davidson's editorial about Joe Paterno. He says Paterno has a "gravely" voice. Does that mean he's a very serious guy, or does Davidson mean a "gravelly" voice?
When is the least any publisher can proofread ever enough to sound half-way intelligent?
"When is the least anyone can do ever enough to save a child?" The Paris News; November 13, 2011; p. 4A.
"When is the least anyone can do ever enough to save a child?"
This gobbledy-gook headlines Davidson's editorial about Joe Paterno. He says Paterno has a "gravely" voice. Does that mean he's a very serious guy, or does Davidson mean a "gravelly" voice?
When is the least any publisher can proofread ever enough to sound half-way intelligent?
"When is the least anyone can do ever enough to save a child?" The Paris News; November 13, 2011; p. 4A.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
From each according to his means . . .
I saw this scary quote in the newspaper last week: "It makes us wonder whether the extraordinary amount of resources we spend on retirees and their health care should be at least partially reallocated to those who are hurting worse than them." Harry Holzer, Labor economist at Georgetown University.
We better start reining in the socialist movement in America, and we need to start with the White House.
"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; November 13, 2011; p. 1P.
We better start reining in the socialist movement in America, and we need to start with the White House.
"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; November 13, 2011; p. 1P.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Did you hear about . . .?
I wonder how many of you have heard about the hate crimes that occurred a week ago in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Midwood is inhabited primarily by Orthodox Jews. Last Friday night, vandals scrawled swastikas on park benches and torched cars by igniting gasoline soaked rags underneath them. State Assemblyman Dov Hikind said he had not seen such violence in 29 years of representing the area.
I found out about these crimes because I generally read the newspaper cover to cover every day. It was reported in a news brief column on page 7A two days after it happened. Now, I wonder how many of you would have heard about it had it occurred in a black or gay neighborhood? And I wonder if it would have been two days after it happened before it was briefly mentioned on page 7A. What do you think?
"Residents of Orthodox area protest vandalism." The Dallas Morning News; November 14, 2011; p. 7A.
I found out about these crimes because I generally read the newspaper cover to cover every day. It was reported in a news brief column on page 7A two days after it happened. Now, I wonder how many of you would have heard about it had it occurred in a black or gay neighborhood? And I wonder if it would have been two days after it happened before it was briefly mentioned on page 7A. What do you think?
"Residents of Orthodox area protest vandalism." The Dallas Morning News; November 14, 2011; p. 7A.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
John, Paul, George, or Ringo?
Paris News classified ad in yesterday's paper:
"FOUND: 2 male sm. dogs, part Beatle in the Powderly area. Call 903-732-4292 lv.mes."
"FOUND: 2 male sm. dogs, part Beatle in the Powderly area. Call 903-732-4292 lv.mes."
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Hide-and-Seek and Vandalism
Maybe it's just me, but this whole story sounds fishy. Josiah Watts is 10 years old. He and a bunch of other kids were playing in the neighbor's yard when they broke two sprinkler heads and damaged several foundation shrubs.
The homeowner who suffered the losses says she had previously told one of the children it was OK to play in her yard, but when she came home that day, there were approximately 10 children in her yard who all scattered when they saw her coming. Josiah admits he was in the shrubbery where the damage occurred and says it was one of his friends who broke the sprinkler heads and threw them up on the roof of the house.
The homeowner called the police and said she wanted $1500 restitution. Josiah's parents refuse to pay, because they say Josiah is not responsible. They say Josiah has been traumatized by all this, that he's lost weight and can't sleep. They've spent $2500 in wages and legal fees trying to get out of paying the $1500 they owe this woman. If they're that worried about the effect on their son, why did they allow his name to be printed in the newspaper, and why didn't they just pay the $1500 and end the situation? Josiah is guilty, because even if Josiah didn't do the actual damage, he knows who did, and he evidently is not telling. It's the old guilt by association thing -- the guy who drives the getaway car is just as guilty of bank robbery as the guy who pointed the gun.
But Josiah's parents say there is an ulterior motive. They're a mixed race couple, and it's all because Josiah is half black. No, it's all because Josiah is a little vandal.
"Game of hide-and-seek turns into legal nightmare." The Dallas Morning News; November 11, 2011; p. 1B.
The homeowner who suffered the losses says she had previously told one of the children it was OK to play in her yard, but when she came home that day, there were approximately 10 children in her yard who all scattered when they saw her coming. Josiah admits he was in the shrubbery where the damage occurred and says it was one of his friends who broke the sprinkler heads and threw them up on the roof of the house.
The homeowner called the police and said she wanted $1500 restitution. Josiah's parents refuse to pay, because they say Josiah is not responsible. They say Josiah has been traumatized by all this, that he's lost weight and can't sleep. They've spent $2500 in wages and legal fees trying to get out of paying the $1500 they owe this woman. If they're that worried about the effect on their son, why did they allow his name to be printed in the newspaper, and why didn't they just pay the $1500 and end the situation? Josiah is guilty, because even if Josiah didn't do the actual damage, he knows who did, and he evidently is not telling. It's the old guilt by association thing -- the guy who drives the getaway car is just as guilty of bank robbery as the guy who pointed the gun.
But Josiah's parents say there is an ulterior motive. They're a mixed race couple, and it's all because Josiah is half black. No, it's all because Josiah is a little vandal.
"Game of hide-and-seek turns into legal nightmare." The Dallas Morning News; November 11, 2011; p. 1B.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Little Miranda has a lot to learn.
Miranda Gavitt is a Junior High School student. In the cause of discouraging bullying, she says that we need to pass laws to make repeating a rumor a crime. Let's give Miranda the benefit of the doubt and say that she's not yet studied the U.S. Constitution in school, so she doesn't know about the Bill of Rights that says the government can't tell us what we may and may not say.
Because of her age, I guess little Miranda doesn't yet know that life is not fair. We must develop thick skins to stand up to all the personal affronts we'll suffer through the years. Miranda says if we'd just pass the rumor law, we could put a stop to bullying. Despite Miranda's optimism, no law can stop one kid calling another names or otherwise making fun of him. If it were that simple, we wouldn't have murders, bank robberies, rapes, fraud, or any of the hundreds of other things that are against the law. I've never heard of any legislation that has successfully eliminated the evil it outlaws.
Just a word of advice, Miranda. You may want to outlaw someone else's right to call you names, but what about your right to say someone is a bully when you report him to the teacher? What if he doesn't consider himself a bully, and feels that you are bullying him by calling him that? Does that mean you are guilty of breaking the law you espouse? Be careful what you wish for.
". . .and a rumor crackdown." The Dallas Morning News; November 11, 2011; p. 18A.
Because of her age, I guess little Miranda doesn't yet know that life is not fair. We must develop thick skins to stand up to all the personal affronts we'll suffer through the years. Miranda says if we'd just pass the rumor law, we could put a stop to bullying. Despite Miranda's optimism, no law can stop one kid calling another names or otherwise making fun of him. If it were that simple, we wouldn't have murders, bank robberies, rapes, fraud, or any of the hundreds of other things that are against the law. I've never heard of any legislation that has successfully eliminated the evil it outlaws.
Just a word of advice, Miranda. You may want to outlaw someone else's right to call you names, but what about your right to say someone is a bully when you report him to the teacher? What if he doesn't consider himself a bully, and feels that you are bullying him by calling him that? Does that mean you are guilty of breaking the law you espouse? Be careful what you wish for.
". . .and a rumor crackdown." The Dallas Morning News; November 11, 2011; p. 18A.
Monday, November 14, 2011
More Gaps
It seems the newspaper recently is really emphasizing all the "gaps" in income, wealth, etc. The articles usually leave out key ideas. For example, in examining the gap in wealth between older Americans and younger ones, they left out the major factor of a difference in mindset. Older Americans tend to be the ones who have worked hard, put off buying luxuries, bought houses they could afford, and planned for their retirement. Younger Americans tend to be "live in the moment" types -- I want that new car with all the bells and whistles, and I don't want to wait until I've saved up a sizable downpayment. A two-bedroom house in a modest neighborhood just isn't big enough. I want the four-bedroom one with the pool outside.
Now we have the maternity leave gap. Lower-educated mothers are nearly four times more likely than college graduates to be denied paid maternity benefits according to the Census Bureau. That's the widest gap over the past 50 years bemoans the Associated Press. Could that be because lower-educated mothers didn't sacrifice to do well in school and, therefore, can't get the kinds of good-paying jobs with benefits that those who stuck it out and graduated college can? Yet that factor is never discussed in this article.
"For working families where the norm now is for both mom and dad to work, not having some kind of paycheck coming in while they take time to take care of a child can be a real financial burden," says Lynda Laughlin, a family demographer at the Census Bureau. If it's that much of a burden, perhaps they should consider delaying having children.
"There's a longer-term trend of widening U.S. income inequality caused by slow wage growth at the middle- and lower-income levels. Women with higher birth rates in the U.S. are on average younger and less educated and typically Hispanic, and they are more likely to toil in lower-wage positions." To sum up, Kathleen Gerson, a professor of sociology at New York University, says, "The irony is that the people with the most children are now the least likely to have the supports they need." Could it be that low-income people aren't low-income because they don't have supports, but that they're low-income because they refuse to control their hormones and stop having children they can't afford?
Of course, all this is part of the liberal agenda to place more burdens upon businesses. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 requires businesses to allow unpaid time off for the births and care of children. I told Mr. Essie May when that passed that it was just step one. The next thing, I predicted, was that businesses would be forced to provide paid time off. Looks like Essie may have predicted correctly on that one.
"Access to maternity leave levels off." The Dallas Morning News; November 11, 2011; p. 7A.
Now we have the maternity leave gap. Lower-educated mothers are nearly four times more likely than college graduates to be denied paid maternity benefits according to the Census Bureau. That's the widest gap over the past 50 years bemoans the Associated Press. Could that be because lower-educated mothers didn't sacrifice to do well in school and, therefore, can't get the kinds of good-paying jobs with benefits that those who stuck it out and graduated college can? Yet that factor is never discussed in this article.
"For working families where the norm now is for both mom and dad to work, not having some kind of paycheck coming in while they take time to take care of a child can be a real financial burden," says Lynda Laughlin, a family demographer at the Census Bureau. If it's that much of a burden, perhaps they should consider delaying having children.
"There's a longer-term trend of widening U.S. income inequality caused by slow wage growth at the middle- and lower-income levels. Women with higher birth rates in the U.S. are on average younger and less educated and typically Hispanic, and they are more likely to toil in lower-wage positions." To sum up, Kathleen Gerson, a professor of sociology at New York University, says, "The irony is that the people with the most children are now the least likely to have the supports they need." Could it be that low-income people aren't low-income because they don't have supports, but that they're low-income because they refuse to control their hormones and stop having children they can't afford?
Of course, all this is part of the liberal agenda to place more burdens upon businesses. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 requires businesses to allow unpaid time off for the births and care of children. I told Mr. Essie May when that passed that it was just step one. The next thing, I predicted, was that businesses would be forced to provide paid time off. Looks like Essie may have predicted correctly on that one.
"Access to maternity leave levels off." The Dallas Morning News; November 11, 2011; p. 7A.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
How Unfair!
We are just so unfair in this country! Maribel Arellano of Irving thinks we're so unfair that she's suing.
Maribel has been in this country illegally for 21 years. Authorities found out she was here when she was stopped for a traffic violation in 2008. Since she was not legal, I feel confident in saying she didn't have a drivers license, so she shouldn't have been driving, either. She is fighting her deportation order.
But what really has Maribel steamed is that she must wear an electronic monitoring device. She said she is humiliated by the device. I guess Maribel and I have different sets of values, but what I'd find humiliating is that I was caught living in a country where I had no business to be. She says wearing the monitor is cruel and unusual punishment. If that's the case, why doesn't she go back to Mexico where the government is known for its compassion and justice?
I don't understand why an illegal is given standing to sue our government anyway. That's absurd. If they don't like the way our government operates, we'll gladly show them the border. But here's the icing on this particular cake -- Maribel has borne seven children in the 21 years she's been here. The reporter doesn't say, but would you like to take bets on who pays to support those children? Now that, amigos, is what's unfair!
"Federal suit targets ankle monitors." The Dallas Morning News; November 10, 2011; p. 1B.
Maribel has been in this country illegally for 21 years. Authorities found out she was here when she was stopped for a traffic violation in 2008. Since she was not legal, I feel confident in saying she didn't have a drivers license, so she shouldn't have been driving, either. She is fighting her deportation order.
But what really has Maribel steamed is that she must wear an electronic monitoring device. She said she is humiliated by the device. I guess Maribel and I have different sets of values, but what I'd find humiliating is that I was caught living in a country where I had no business to be. She says wearing the monitor is cruel and unusual punishment. If that's the case, why doesn't she go back to Mexico where the government is known for its compassion and justice?
I don't understand why an illegal is given standing to sue our government anyway. That's absurd. If they don't like the way our government operates, we'll gladly show them the border. But here's the icing on this particular cake -- Maribel has borne seven children in the 21 years she's been here. The reporter doesn't say, but would you like to take bets on who pays to support those children? Now that, amigos, is what's unfair!
"Federal suit targets ankle monitors." The Dallas Morning News; November 10, 2011; p. 1B.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
I was curious.
One of the organizers of the Occupy Dallas protesters is Kooper Caraway. He was quoted as saying, "I would like an end to all U.S. foreign wars. I would like the immediate end of all deportations of people who come here to work. I would like an immediate end to privatized university systems and all public universities be nationalized so tuition would be free or taxpayer-funded."
Sounds like Kooper is a bit naive, but I was curious, so I decided to find out a little about him. He's 20 years old, and he ran for mayor of Mt. Pleasant this past year (He lost -- he garnered 17 votes to his opponent's almost 500). He claims to be a Libertarian, yet he wants to take away choice (no private universities) and he wants to turn our public universities over to federal control and take my money to pay someone else's tuition. That doesn't sound at all like Libertarian philosophy to me. I don't think Ron Paul would agree with him on those points, either.
Kooper wants to protect Mt. Pleasant residents from banks and big corporations. He doesn't say how he wants to do that, but it's plain that he thinks these poor ignorant hicks who live there aren't capable of conducting their own business affairs. I found a clip where Kooper was leading some sort of protest rally in Dallas. Kooper is not a black man, yet the inflections in his voice and his hand gestures made me think of the drug dealer in the 'hood. He mostly repeated himself over and over in the 2 minute video, railing against the "white-ist agenda." Again, these things don't sound very libertarian to me.
Another interesting thing I found -- or rather didn't find. I can't find a driver's license under the name of Kooper Caraway or Cooper Caraway. And despite him having been on the ballot in a Mt. Pleasant City election, I couldn't find a voter registration record for him. I wonder if Kooper Caraway is his real name, and if it is, why can't I find these documents? Wouldn't it be interesting if the news media did a little digging into Kooper's background?
At any rate, I'm pretty sure even Kooper doesn't know what he is -- a silly socialist who's not half as smart as he thinks.
"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; October 16, 2011; p. 1P.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxXqT8dnOsY
Sounds like Kooper is a bit naive, but I was curious, so I decided to find out a little about him. He's 20 years old, and he ran for mayor of Mt. Pleasant this past year (He lost -- he garnered 17 votes to his opponent's almost 500). He claims to be a Libertarian, yet he wants to take away choice (no private universities) and he wants to turn our public universities over to federal control and take my money to pay someone else's tuition. That doesn't sound at all like Libertarian philosophy to me. I don't think Ron Paul would agree with him on those points, either.
Kooper wants to protect Mt. Pleasant residents from banks and big corporations. He doesn't say how he wants to do that, but it's plain that he thinks these poor ignorant hicks who live there aren't capable of conducting their own business affairs. I found a clip where Kooper was leading some sort of protest rally in Dallas. Kooper is not a black man, yet the inflections in his voice and his hand gestures made me think of the drug dealer in the 'hood. He mostly repeated himself over and over in the 2 minute video, railing against the "white-ist agenda." Again, these things don't sound very libertarian to me.
Another interesting thing I found -- or rather didn't find. I can't find a driver's license under the name of Kooper Caraway or Cooper Caraway. And despite him having been on the ballot in a Mt. Pleasant City election, I couldn't find a voter registration record for him. I wonder if Kooper Caraway is his real name, and if it is, why can't I find these documents? Wouldn't it be interesting if the news media did a little digging into Kooper's background?
At any rate, I'm pretty sure even Kooper doesn't know what he is -- a silly socialist who's not half as smart as he thinks.
"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; October 16, 2011; p. 1P.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxXqT8dnOsY
Friday, November 11, 2011
Guess What?
Little Jasmen Gonzalez was abducted from her relatives' apartment in Carrollton and raped and murdered allegedly by Jose Sifuentes, her cousin by marriage. Guess what? Jose is in this country illegally. No word on how many of the other family members are also illegals. I guess it really doesn't matter -- ICE wouldn't deport them anyway.
"Friend of victim's family investigated." The Dallas Morning News; November 1, 2011; p. 1B.
"Friend of victim's family investigated." The Dallas Morning News; November 1, 2011; p. 1B.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Backward Philosophies
It seems today as if most people have backward philosophies. I've posted before on the change in the sentencing laws for crack cocaine violations. Until recently, crack cocaine possession and/or distribution garnered the offender a more severe sentence than a similar violation with powder cocaine. So instead of increasing the sentences for powder cocaine, they decreased the sentences for crack.
As these new guidelines are implemented retroactively, thousands of drug offenders will be released before their sentences are served. Jim Wade, the federal public defender says, "We're trying to make sure you don't serve one more day than necessary." Society would be better off if his philosophy instead were, "We're trying to make sure you don't serve one day less than you deserve."
"Change in crack sentencing to free thousands." The Dallas Morning News; November 2, 2011; p. 6A.
As these new guidelines are implemented retroactively, thousands of drug offenders will be released before their sentences are served. Jim Wade, the federal public defender says, "We're trying to make sure you don't serve one more day than necessary." Society would be better off if his philosophy instead were, "We're trying to make sure you don't serve one day less than you deserve."
"Change in crack sentencing to free thousands." The Dallas Morning News; November 2, 2011; p. 6A.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Smart move, but for whom?
Emily Worland is 24 years old. She is a graduate of SMU with degrees in economics and public policy. She is a high school teacher and is engaged to be married. She has decided that the smart thing for her to do is to move back in with her parents.
She says it sounds traumatic and depressing, but she loves it. I wonder if her parents feel the same? Perhaps they find it traumatic and depressing to have an adult child living with them. Maybe they were looking forward to being empty nesters.
Emily says she has nothing to be ashamed and embarrassed about. She says she just made the decision to save her money and not amass insane debt. Maybe her parents had made the decision to sock more retirement money away once their children were grown, but I guess Emily's plan to save her money threw a monkey wrench into Mom and Dad's retirement plans.
Emily says Dad makes her lunch every day, Mom folds her clothes and feeds her dog, and most of her bills are paid. Well duh! Who wouldn't want to live like that? Do you suppose Dad gets tired of getting up every morning to fix a lunch? Has Emily considered getting up and fixing breakfast for her dad? And do you suppose that if Mom wanted a dog to feed, she'd have gotten her own? Has Emily considered doing the laundry for her mom and dad? Do you suppose Mom and Dad enjoy paying the bills for a daughter they've already put through school? Has Emily thought about paying the utility bills for her parents? But Emily says more parents should embrace and welcome this lifestyle.
Her reasons include "increased productivity" -- she's able to save for a down payment on a house, so she and her fiance will begin married life with equity, not debt (couldn't we all if we had someone to mooch off of); "respect and friendship" -- she gets to know her parents, and they get to know her (if they didn't get to know each other in 18 years, I don't think they will now); "a sense of camaraderie" -- Emily's generation's sense of entitlement and tendency to live beyond their means is a product of leaving home too soon (If what Emily has isn't a sense of entitlement, I guess I just don't know the meaning of the term!).
So, Emily encourages her peers, be smart and go home! Being part of the generation Emily is taking advantage of, I encourage my peers to be smart, kick their spoiled little heinies out, and go take a cruise on their inheritance money.
"Smartest move: Go back home." The Dallas Morning News; October 15, 2011; p. 19A.
She says it sounds traumatic and depressing, but she loves it. I wonder if her parents feel the same? Perhaps they find it traumatic and depressing to have an adult child living with them. Maybe they were looking forward to being empty nesters.
Emily says she has nothing to be ashamed and embarrassed about. She says she just made the decision to save her money and not amass insane debt. Maybe her parents had made the decision to sock more retirement money away once their children were grown, but I guess Emily's plan to save her money threw a monkey wrench into Mom and Dad's retirement plans.
Emily says Dad makes her lunch every day, Mom folds her clothes and feeds her dog, and most of her bills are paid. Well duh! Who wouldn't want to live like that? Do you suppose Dad gets tired of getting up every morning to fix a lunch? Has Emily considered getting up and fixing breakfast for her dad? And do you suppose that if Mom wanted a dog to feed, she'd have gotten her own? Has Emily considered doing the laundry for her mom and dad? Do you suppose Mom and Dad enjoy paying the bills for a daughter they've already put through school? Has Emily thought about paying the utility bills for her parents? But Emily says more parents should embrace and welcome this lifestyle.
Her reasons include "increased productivity" -- she's able to save for a down payment on a house, so she and her fiance will begin married life with equity, not debt (couldn't we all if we had someone to mooch off of); "respect and friendship" -- she gets to know her parents, and they get to know her (if they didn't get to know each other in 18 years, I don't think they will now); "a sense of camaraderie" -- Emily's generation's sense of entitlement and tendency to live beyond their means is a product of leaving home too soon (If what Emily has isn't a sense of entitlement, I guess I just don't know the meaning of the term!).
So, Emily encourages her peers, be smart and go home! Being part of the generation Emily is taking advantage of, I encourage my peers to be smart, kick their spoiled little heinies out, and go take a cruise on their inheritance money.
"Smartest move: Go back home." The Dallas Morning News; October 15, 2011; p. 19A.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
How do they know?
The Creek Point Apartments in McKinney, a section 8 housing project, has a rule -- children under the age of 18 are not allowed outside without a parent. I'm sure that rule was not implemented on a whim. The complex management says the rule was implemented after problems with vandalism. The Apartment complex is now being sued because Robert and Zinia Guerrero were fined $50 when their son was spotted running around the complex without adult supervision.
Robert says, "I have no idea who was doing what, but what I can tell you is that my kids were not out there doing things they were not supposed to." How does he know if he wasn't with them? At any rate, his son was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing -- the complex rules say he can't be out without supervision. If the taxpayers are subsidizing Robert's rent, then they have a right to set the ground rules. If Robert doesn't like the rules, he can pay his own rent and live just as he chooses.
"I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would have to hang out with a 13-year-old in a parking lot when I had other things to do," Robert says. Well, Robert, a 13-year-old has no business hanging out in a parking lot. If he doesn't have anything more constructive than that to do, you need to put him to work doing some chores. As my Grandma used to say, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."
"Family challenges fine for unsupervised teen." The Dallas Morning News; October 19, 2011; p. 1B.
Robert says, "I have no idea who was doing what, but what I can tell you is that my kids were not out there doing things they were not supposed to." How does he know if he wasn't with them? At any rate, his son was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing -- the complex rules say he can't be out without supervision. If the taxpayers are subsidizing Robert's rent, then they have a right to set the ground rules. If Robert doesn't like the rules, he can pay his own rent and live just as he chooses.
"I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would have to hang out with a 13-year-old in a parking lot when I had other things to do," Robert says. Well, Robert, a 13-year-old has no business hanging out in a parking lot. If he doesn't have anything more constructive than that to do, you need to put him to work doing some chores. As my Grandma used to say, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."
"Family challenges fine for unsupervised teen." The Dallas Morning News; October 19, 2011; p. 1B.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Available Jobs
All you people who have been drawing welfare for years because, you claim, you can't find a job -- there are jobs available. Farmers in Alabama can't find people to harvest their crops since they got rid of the illegals.
Potato farmer Keith Smith said American workers show up late, work slower, and are ready to call it a day after lunch. He said many of them quit after a single day. Yes, the hours are long and the pay isn't high and the work is hard. But it's a job.
We need to provide a way for those on welfare to take these jobs, and if they refuse to work, cut off their handouts. Getting illegals off our payrolls and getting lazy Americans off their heinies is the best way to cut government spending and boost our economy.
"Illegal-immigration law leaves farmers in lurch." The Dallas Morning News; October 21, 2011; p. 6A.
Potato farmer Keith Smith said American workers show up late, work slower, and are ready to call it a day after lunch. He said many of them quit after a single day. Yes, the hours are long and the pay isn't high and the work is hard. But it's a job.
We need to provide a way for those on welfare to take these jobs, and if they refuse to work, cut off their handouts. Getting illegals off our payrolls and getting lazy Americans off their heinies is the best way to cut government spending and boost our economy.
"Illegal-immigration law leaves farmers in lurch." The Dallas Morning News; October 21, 2011; p. 6A.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Poor Mason
I saw one of the saddest things I've read in a long time in a recent editorial section of The Dallas Morning News.
Mason Crumpacker is a very cute 9-year-old girl. She was the subject of a Q&A feature. Mason had attended an atheist convention, and it was this that brought her to the attention of editorial writer Tod Robberson.
Mason has been brainwashed by her parents into believing she is a "free-thinker" when it is obvious she is anything but that. At the convention, she asked Christopher Hitchens for his recommendation on what books she should read. Hitchens is a champion of the New Atheism movement, and the author of a book entitled God is Not Great. Mason says he is a brilliant man, but when asked if there was anything he had said or written that she disagreed with, she said, "I haven't read Christopher Hitchens. I'm 9." How can little Mason think that Hitchens is a brilliant man if she doesn't even know what he has written? Mommy and Daddy told her what to think - that's how.
When asked why she went to the convention, little Mason didn't say, "Because Mommy and Daddy dragged me here." She said she wanted to "boost her intellectual curiosity." But, Mason, as you say, you're only 9. You should be concerned about friends and sleepovers and Barbies and bicycles and Harry Potter and Disney films when you're not in school or doing homework.
Mason says the Bible doesn't make sense -- what proof is there that Adam and Eve existed? I wonder if she, herself, has studied the Bible as much as she has Hitchens' works? Yet she does believe in evolution. She thinks it makes sense that a group of "microscopic cells [she doesn't say what proves where the microscopic cells came from], formatted into bigger cells, which created the first fish, who slowly evolved into lizards . . ." and so on. Oh yeah, Mason, I can see how that makes much more sense than that a Creator God made the cells and fish and lizards and all the other things on the earth. When Mason finished her rote lesson in evolution, she turned to her parents and asked how she did. It's quite obvious that Mason didn't develop this mindset by her own free-thinking.
Mason says that people are entitled to their own beliefs. She says she is a Pastafarian -- that she believes there is a flying spaghetti monster. I don't know if she was trying to be clever and cute or if that's something she really believes. Mason says that children can learn right from wrong without religion because they have their parents to guide them along the way. "And if their parents were raised right, they could have an open mind, have fun and be safe." But what if the parents weren't "raised right"? What if all the children have parents like Mason's? What if the parents are wrong about what's right?
My prayer is that Mason will evolve into a true free thinker and learn the truth that will make her free indeed.
"Posing the big questions." The Dallas Morning News; October 30, 2011; p. 5P.
Mason Crumpacker is a very cute 9-year-old girl. She was the subject of a Q&A feature. Mason had attended an atheist convention, and it was this that brought her to the attention of editorial writer Tod Robberson.
Mason has been brainwashed by her parents into believing she is a "free-thinker" when it is obvious she is anything but that. At the convention, she asked Christopher Hitchens for his recommendation on what books she should read. Hitchens is a champion of the New Atheism movement, and the author of a book entitled God is Not Great. Mason says he is a brilliant man, but when asked if there was anything he had said or written that she disagreed with, she said, "I haven't read Christopher Hitchens. I'm 9." How can little Mason think that Hitchens is a brilliant man if she doesn't even know what he has written? Mommy and Daddy told her what to think - that's how.
When asked why she went to the convention, little Mason didn't say, "Because Mommy and Daddy dragged me here." She said she wanted to "boost her intellectual curiosity." But, Mason, as you say, you're only 9. You should be concerned about friends and sleepovers and Barbies and bicycles and Harry Potter and Disney films when you're not in school or doing homework.
Mason says the Bible doesn't make sense -- what proof is there that Adam and Eve existed? I wonder if she, herself, has studied the Bible as much as she has Hitchens' works? Yet she does believe in evolution. She thinks it makes sense that a group of "microscopic cells [she doesn't say what proves where the microscopic cells came from], formatted into bigger cells, which created the first fish, who slowly evolved into lizards . . ." and so on. Oh yeah, Mason, I can see how that makes much more sense than that a Creator God made the cells and fish and lizards and all the other things on the earth. When Mason finished her rote lesson in evolution, she turned to her parents and asked how she did. It's quite obvious that Mason didn't develop this mindset by her own free-thinking.
Mason says that people are entitled to their own beliefs. She says she is a Pastafarian -- that she believes there is a flying spaghetti monster. I don't know if she was trying to be clever and cute or if that's something she really believes. Mason says that children can learn right from wrong without religion because they have their parents to guide them along the way. "And if their parents were raised right, they could have an open mind, have fun and be safe." But what if the parents weren't "raised right"? What if all the children have parents like Mason's? What if the parents are wrong about what's right?
My prayer is that Mason will evolve into a true free thinker and learn the truth that will make her free indeed.
"Posing the big questions." The Dallas Morning News; October 30, 2011; p. 5P.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Let's Fix It
Lynn Wolfe of Plano says that the new voter ID laws are not designed to fix a problem. She says they're designed to fix elections. Hmmmm - maybe Lynn has forgotten that ACORN registered the entire Dallas Cowboys starting line-up to vote in Nevada. Maybe Lynn has forgotten that dead people registered to vote from beyond the grave in Chicago and other places. Or that in Philadelphia, at least 1,500 fraudulent registrations were filed. Or that some people who registered, strange as it seems, didn't spell their own names correctly.
And let's face it -- anyone who doesn't have some form of picture ID in today's society is a little suspicious anyway.
It seems to me that Lynn really doesn't mind fixed elections as long as it's the Democrats who have the fix in.
"Voter ID law's impact." The Dallas Morning News; October 31, 2011; p. 10A.
And let's face it -- anyone who doesn't have some form of picture ID in today's society is a little suspicious anyway.
It seems to me that Lynn really doesn't mind fixed elections as long as it's the Democrats who have the fix in.
"Voter ID law's impact." The Dallas Morning News; October 31, 2011; p. 10A.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Astonishing Stupidity
Tim Fisk of Richardson thinks the Republican candidates for the Presidential nomination are too harsh on illegal aliens. He wonders "when was the last time any of them exercised the bedrock American virtue of self-reliance and mowed their own lawns?"
I fail to see what one has to do with the other, but there is certainly nothing wrong with paying someone else to do one's chores as long as he's in this country legally. I wonder if Tim exercised the bedrock American virtue of self-reliance and built his own car? I wonder if Tim exercises the bedrock American virtue of self-reliance and repairs his own air conditioning? I wonder if Tim exercised the bedrock American virtue of self-reliance and built his own house brick by brick? I wonder if Tim exercises the bedrock virtue of self-reliance and cans the food he grows in his garden and butchers the cows and pigs and chickens he raises?
The only other response I can think of for Tim is "astonishing stupidity!"
"Any do-it-yourselfers?" The Dallas Morning News; October 23, 2011; p. 3P.
I fail to see what one has to do with the other, but there is certainly nothing wrong with paying someone else to do one's chores as long as he's in this country legally. I wonder if Tim exercised the bedrock American virtue of self-reliance and built his own car? I wonder if Tim exercises the bedrock American virtue of self-reliance and repairs his own air conditioning? I wonder if Tim exercised the bedrock American virtue of self-reliance and built his own house brick by brick? I wonder if Tim exercises the bedrock virtue of self-reliance and cans the food he grows in his garden and butchers the cows and pigs and chickens he raises?
The only other response I can think of for Tim is "astonishing stupidity!"
"Any do-it-yourselfers?" The Dallas Morning News; October 23, 2011; p. 3P.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
So Many Bible Scholars
Sam Madden says that he doesn't see where "Jesus would have harsh words for a Mormon, Buddhist, Muslim, etc., as long as they were actually living their life by God's commandments."
My goodness, Sam, what Bible are you reading?
How about this: "Depart from me ye that work iniquity, for I never knew you"?
How about this: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves"?
How about this: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ"?
Or this: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction"?
How about this: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"?
How about this: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast"?
So, Sam, the upshot is that if a religion claims any way to heaven other than faith in Jesus Christ, it is a false religion, and it behooves us to call it what it is, just as Jesus and his apostles did.
"Jesus harsh on actions only." The Dallas Morning News; October 23, 2011; p. 2P.
My goodness, Sam, what Bible are you reading?
How about this: "Depart from me ye that work iniquity, for I never knew you"?
How about this: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves"?
How about this: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ"?
Or this: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction"?
How about this: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"?
How about this: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast"?
So, Sam, the upshot is that if a religion claims any way to heaven other than faith in Jesus Christ, it is a false religion, and it behooves us to call it what it is, just as Jesus and his apostles did.
"Jesus harsh on actions only." The Dallas Morning News; October 23, 2011; p. 2P.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Unclear on the Concept
Obama has come up with another "more of the same" plan to help people who owe more on their homes than they're worth.
Economists say that some people could save perhaps as much as $3000 a year under the plan. But they're pessimistic about the plan working as a spur to the economy. They say that homeowners who are eligible and who choose to refinance through the government program could opt to sock away their savings or pay down debt rather than spend.
Imagine something so irresponsible as digging yourself out of debt rather than digging your hole deeper!
"Obama unveils refinance changes." The Dallas Morning News; October 25, 2011; p. 1A.
Economists say that some people could save perhaps as much as $3000 a year under the plan. But they're pessimistic about the plan working as a spur to the economy. They say that homeowners who are eligible and who choose to refinance through the government program could opt to sock away their savings or pay down debt rather than spend.
Imagine something so irresponsible as digging yourself out of debt rather than digging your hole deeper!
"Obama unveils refinance changes." The Dallas Morning News; October 25, 2011; p. 1A.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Unreasonable? I don't think so.
Florida has a new law requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test before receiving benefits, but a federal judge has blocked it. She says it violates the Constitutional ban on unreasonable search and seizure. I don't think so.
If any suit needs to be filed here, it needs to be on behalf of the taxpayers who are having their wages unreasonably seized and given to others. Luis Lebron is the 35-year-old single father who filed the lawsuit. He should be grateful that the state is willing to consider giving an able-bodied adult man a handout. Instead, he ungratefully takes that "you owe it to me" attitude so prevalent today and refuses something as simple as giving a urine sample. Well, Luis, if you don't want to give the sample, that's your privilege, and it's the privilege of the taxpayers to refuse to support your lazy lifestyle.
Unfortunately, I foresee that Luis will win his case.
"Florida drug test rule for welfare blocked." The Dallas Morning News; October 25, 2011; p. 4A.
If any suit needs to be filed here, it needs to be on behalf of the taxpayers who are having their wages unreasonably seized and given to others. Luis Lebron is the 35-year-old single father who filed the lawsuit. He should be grateful that the state is willing to consider giving an able-bodied adult man a handout. Instead, he ungratefully takes that "you owe it to me" attitude so prevalent today and refuses something as simple as giving a urine sample. Well, Luis, if you don't want to give the sample, that's your privilege, and it's the privilege of the taxpayers to refuse to support your lazy lifestyle.
Unfortunately, I foresee that Luis will win his case.
"Florida drug test rule for welfare blocked." The Dallas Morning News; October 25, 2011; p. 4A.
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