Did We Over-react?

Today is September 8th and President Obama delivered his speech to the students of the nation. For a quick summary of the speech, here's a link : http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/08/obama-schoolchildren-stay-school-responsibility/.

If you read the speech, you might think, what was the issue? This was simply a speech to encourage students to reach for their dreams, stay in school and respect their teachers. And that is what officials would like you to believe...that the conservatives over-reacted; as we always do, and they were simply trying to deliver a speech to inspire a generation.

Well folks, you have to know that this was not the original speech. This speech is what came AFTER all the protest. This speech did not include the original planned follow-up activity of students recording what they were going to do to SERVE President Obama. This speech did not have the lesson plan accompaniment that was also originally planned.

So either one of two things happened and I'll let you draw your own conclusion: 1) The conservative voices were heard and the changes were made or 2) This was the perfect opportunity to show that the conservatives go off "half-cocked" and make a big deal about nothing...(which is perfect timing considering the Tea Party draws to a conclusion in Washington DC this Saturday). Points to ponder ladies and gentlemen...points to ponder!

Listening for the Jackboots

I went to sleep last night secure in the fact that I lived in a free, democracy-driven nation that was built on faith, and the desire to be free from evil tyranny and dictatorship. This morning is a different story. Now, before you accuse me of being John the Baptist, alone crying in the wilderness; or a person over dramatizing a threat that is very real; consider what those in Germany might have said months before the Nazis took over.

I had an e-mail regarding President Obama's Diversity Czar, Mark Lloyd. Hm, maybe I should back up a minute. Did you know that President Obama has Czars? Even the name causes one to picture Russia. If you don't believe me, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/ and enter the word, "Czar" into the search. Yes, we do have them. Actually I should say that President Obama has them. And he is the only President of the United States to do so. Before I digress into a diatribe on the lack of necessity for Czars, I want to continue on my point of the one in question, Mark Lloyd.

Now, if I came out and said that Mark Lloyd, Diversity Czar was going to silence free speech, you might stand up and take notice. Aha, but our current President is MUCH smarter than that. He's simply going to impose fines to radio stations that produce anti-President sentiment such as Fox news. The fine would be equal to their operating costs for the year. And what happens with these fines? Wait for it...that's right...it will be given to smaller radio stations, ones with pro-President agendas, so that they can produce programming. Yes, you need to re-read that sentence. First of all, what radio station has enough money for their operating costs PLUS a fine equal to that amount? Second, wouldn't it be a great way to 'shut these people up' if they simply closed due to lack of finances? Third, what would the option be for these stations?...either change their programming or close. Fourth, what would we have left if this happened...all pro-Presidental propaganda. Very sneaky, isn't it?

Does it make you think of Nazi Germany and Goebbels? The Nazis first came to power by utilizing propaganda. It began subtly and then built. Do you think the very first day the Nazis came to power they opened their concentration camps and began killing innocent people? No, they started with simple ideas and thoughts and then 'sold' those to their fellow-countrymen. If you don't think it could happen here, talk to someone who lived in Germany during those times; I have...they didn't think it could happen either. Think about the liberties we have in this country and those who fought and are continuing to fight for our freedom. We owe to to them to not be complacent, and to stand up for our rights. This is not an anti-Obama agenda, but rather a Pro-American agenda.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is these subtleties that slip in when we aren't paying attention that shape the future of our country...if we don't stand up now, then we WILL start hearing the jackboots, and just as in Germany, it will be too late.

Personal Responsibilty

So I was looking over the White House Website and reviewing some of the latest legislation and I see an act that President Obama signed, called the CARD act that will help us poor, defenseless consumers who are "hard-working people who took real hits, and a litany of ways credit card companies can find to take advantage." Poor, poor, ignorant Americans.

So once again, the government is going to step up, President Obama will don his cape, with Nancy Pelosi at his side, and swoop in and save the day! Where is the personal responsibility? This goes back to my problem with the term "preditory lending". Once again, I was taught to read what I signed. It's the same with a credit card. When I signed up for a credit card, I knew what it was. I knew I would be charged interest, I knew I would be charged penalties if I didn't pay it on time, and I knew that I risked my interest rate going up if I was not responsible with my credit card. I take personal responsibility to educate myself on what I am getting myself into and learn the penalties if I don't play by their rules.

But if you listen to President Obama, I am just a poor, ignorant American who was easy prey for those evil credit card companies. They tricked me into signing up for their credit card with promises of a free toaster or t-shirt. They didn't tell me that I would be charged interest. (Oh and aren't they evil for doing that?). People, people, people. Credit Card companies are no different than any other industry...they are there to make a buck just like everyone else. They aren't some back-alley loan shark...they are a business like any other.

Once again, socialism is rearing its ugly head and we are being told that we are too ignorant to live our own lives and make our own decisions and big government is the answer...they are here to save the day. I say that we go back to the constitution of the United States of America, and go back to taking personal responsibility for the decisions, (however bad they may be), that we make.

It's Been a Long Time

I was really surprised when I pulled up my blog and realized it had been since February that I had blogged. And it's not like President Obama hasn't given me anything to talk about...maybe it was that the utter volume of blogging that could go on was overwhelming in light of the fact that I live a busy life. But now my silence is broken.

I would like to first educate my readers very simply on socialism and communism as that is the path that President Obama is leading us down. People in this country that support him and his policies are under the impression that this nation is floundering and if it is not for the government jumping in, we will sink. Not only is this a false belief, it is unconstitutional. Basically, here is how socialism begins...the government becomes involved in every area of the citizens' lives. The people are happy for awhile because everything is being taken care of by the government and they don't need to worry. Then the honeymoon period is over, the citizens realize they received a raw deal and now are ready to go back to the way things were. The problem is that the government LOVES this new found power, like the way things are being run, and don't care what the people think so communism is born out of necessity for the government to retain power. Don't believe me? Ask any citizen of a communist nation how it came about.

So the government has taken control of the banking industry and the auto industry and now they are gunning for healthcare. The problem is that the government talks about all these people who don't have health insurance and how we need a solution for them. The truth is though that people without health insurance have options, programs, and alternatives. I know this because as a nurse in a busy ER I see them everyday.

The ones that need help are the UNDERinsured. I have a friend that I can use as an example. Recently this friend found themself in an emergency situation where surgery was the only option. This friend had health insurance but a $5,000 deductible. Where was the help for them? After three visits to the ER for their painful situation, they eventually gave in and agreed to surgery. They let the cost of their solution dictate their health. So you might be asking, wouldn't this healthcare bill solve this problem? The simple answer is 'no'. People who already have health insurance will not be benefitted by this plan. This plan will only further help those WITHOUT health insurance. And if the plan goes through, the penalities applied to independent health insurance companies will be passed on to policy holders such as my friend mentioned above.

So bottom line...national healthcare may sound good but it is 1. an unconstitutional decision that pushes us closer to socialism and communism and 2. will do nothing to help the hardworking under insured, insurance-carrying Americans, but will further help those who do not have health insurance and already have programs to help them.

I've Been Quiet Long Enough-The US Government Rewards Bad Behavior and Punishes Those Who Try Do the Right Thing

The stimulus package approved by the government includes assistance for people who are losing, or are in danger of losing their home. President Obama said that we are in danger of losing the American dream and that is why he earmarked money for this purpose.

Once I heard that I realized that it's important that I tell my personal story in order to show how wrong this plan is. I know my story is certainly not unique, but it is mine.

I was working as a project manager for Bank One for four years. Our President, Jamie Dimon, decided that he would merge our bank with JP Morgan Chase. Even though it ruined the lives of several thousand employees, his income and future with the merger was completely set, (as he was promised the presidency of the combined bank (now called Chase), when the current president retired in two years). So, because of the duplicate positions that would be created once a company is merged, positions for Bank One needed to be eliminated. Since I had the lowest seniority, I lost my job in November of 2003 and my severance ended on Christmas day of that year. (Thank you Jamie Dimon).

I tried to get a job with Bank One after being laid off but because of the merger, most open positions were placed on hold. So I made the decision to go back to school for nursing. This may have seemed like a simple decision, but I had a mortgage and car payments, and everything else to consider. I reluctantly signed up for unemployment (my family said I paid into it since I was 16 and that's what it was there for), cashed in my retirement, and traded my truck in for a cheaper car. My unemployment check was half of my income, but it covered the bills as long as I didn't spend any extra money. I ended up taking a job at a hospital as a patient care tech (nurse's aid) for $8.00 an hour; thus giving up my unemployment. I was making $45,000 a year with Bank One which works out to $3500 a month after taxes. With my new job I was making about $1150 a month. My severance paid me about $1700 a month. So this is the first of the "punishments" I get for doing the right thing and getting a job.

I made the decision to sell my house and my parents graciously said I could move back home until I could get on my feet. This was right at the beginning of the housing slump and my house would simply not sell. So now I was faced with the need to come up with money to save my home. Now you must understand, for me it wasn't a matter of "saving the American dream", for me it was a matter of fulfilling the promise I made by signing my mortgage papers to continue paying my mortgage. It was about responsibility. So, I began taking out student loans and cash advances from my credit cards to cover my mortgage. I put my house on the market again. But again, no one would buy it.

I went through four years of school and worked and didn't spend money and now I have between student loans, mortgage, and credit cards, about $250,000 of debt. I'm a nurse and make pretty good money, but I live paycheck to paycheck. My priority for that paycheck is my mortgage and come hell or high water, I pay my mortgage; I've only been late twice and paid the fees for it. And my credit rating is over 700. So I may have an ugly number in my checking account, but my credit rating is good.

So, what happens with someone like me when it comes to the stimulus money earmarked for people with mortgage issues? Well, for me to benefit, I would have to be heading to foreclosure. So, you might be saying..."Do it! You'll benefit". I can't do that. Because the American dream that President Obama speaks about isn't about sticks and drywall...it's about pride. It's about being responsible. It's about keeping promises. Sure if I did default, or put myself closer to foreclosure I'd benefit financially, but what would I sacrifice in the process. I can tell you...I'd sacrifice not only my pride, but my beliefs, and I'd be spitting on those who raised me to be responsible and pay my debts.

The big buzz word right now is "predatory lending". And I understand that there may have been some of that going on with the elderly, but for people like me, I think it's an exaggeration. I was raised to read what I signed. I signed an ARM but I read what I signed and for me it helped me stay in my home. Plus my ARM locks at 8 percent. I knew how it would work because I read it and I asked questions. See, unlike what government officials just did, I read what I was signing. There are crooks out there and when I was looking to refinance while going through school I met a few. One mortgage broker offered to put $3,000 into my checking so he could get the mortgage to go through and then I'd simply give him a check after it closed. Even though it was a great deal for me and would've solved a lot of problems, I walked away. Because it would have simply been wrong. But I was fully aware of what they were trying to do. I educated myself on what I was signing. No one made me sign anything. So to me "predatory lending" simply is a buzz word used to excuse irresponsible behavior.

So the stimulus package went through and thousands of irresponsible people are about to benefit while those who tried to do the right thing are passed over. To me President Obama, this is the loss of the "American Dream".

I'm not writing this to pat myself on the back, or provide some bitter rant. Everything worked out well for me and in the end, I wouldn't change the decisions I made because they got me where I am today and I love being an ER nurse. I have a lot of debt that I'm working to pay down and I will continue to do so. I simply wanted to share my experience with all of you because in situations like this it's easy to feel like you're the only one going through it. I know the temptation is there to choose to do the wrong thing simply because it's easy. But, chins up America, we can get through this and it's not going to be by doing the wrong thing; but for standing up for what is right! Get vocal America!!!

Is Barack Obama really fulfilling Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream?

The media is going nuts proclaiming that Martin Luther King, Jr. would be so proud of the day that Barack Obama, a black man, is inaugurated President of the United States. But when I read his "I Have a Dream" speech, it makes me wonder if this is true.

The beginning line of this speech is the source of my question, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Was Barack Obama really elected because the content of his character or the color of his skin? It is a question that many have, but few really voice. When we look at Barack Obama, we find that we really know little about him. Even now, the question of his birthplace is being challenged and the eligibility to be President. When one looks to his political record, we find that he voted "present" more than yes or no. When we look at his past we find again more questions than answers. It says that he led inner city groups...but doing what exactly? It is very much a mystery. And for a young man with very little political record to rise to the position that he has in such a short amount of time, one wonders how this is possible. So I have to ask the question, was he really judged for his character or his skin color? And I have to ask, just because the judgement is a positive one and the result of that judgement is a Presidency, is it not just as negative because that judgement was indeed made based on his color? And if that is the case, if it is his color that won him the election, and not his character, how can we proclaim that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream has been realized?

On another note, Martin Luther King Jr. wanted equality. He spoke of this in his speech. He said, "Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring—when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children—black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics—will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" This does not sound like the Marxist nation that President Obama is encouraging. This does not sound like the "spreading the wealth" that he is proposing. It is equality plain and simple that he desired. It is that everyone regardless of race, religion, or gender be afforded the same opportunities. Not a hand-out, or a "robbing from the rich to provide to the poor", but an even playing field. I think President Obama has missed this point...and we all know that thanks to Joe the Plumber.

I pray for this President and I pray for the nation and I pray for the black community that they will not be disappointed when they realize that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is not realized in this President. For this President was indeed judged for his skin color and not for his character...whether the judgement was positive or not.

Government Illusions

What do you see? What do they want you to see?

This picture is a great illusion and example of how ones eye can trick itself. This image actually contains two women. One woman is old and one woman is young. Amazing, isn't it?

Our country's leadership is doing this exact illusion when it comes to the state of our country.

According to dictionary.com, socialism is defined as, "a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole." If you heard President-elect Barack Obama's statement to Joe the Plumber, you might recognize the same theme of "spreading the wealth". And yes, it is unconstitutional. But it is happening. The American people are so focussed on change and looking at what is good for "we the people" that we're missing it.

Our government has stepped in and "bailed-out" the financial and auto industry. So who owns these "means of production and "distribution of capital"? That's right, the Federal Government. And who is proposing that we make changes to healthcare and education? And who would be in charge of these "community" resources? That's right, the Federal Government. And with a President that believes in taking from those who are successful and giving to those who are not, (e.g. "Spreading the wealth"), will they not also be "distributing the wealth" as well? Yes. My fellow Americans, compare this paragraph to the above definition of "socialism"...what do you find?

And when socialism fails, what is next? Welcome Karl Marx to the United States of America.