Liar Liar Pants on Fire?

Well this isn’t the first time a politician has switched parties.  It does come with a bit of an added value to the Democrats.  The United States Congress has moved one vote away from the 60 votes needed to break a Republican filibuster.  If, as expected, Al Franken is confirmed to be the winner in Minnesota they will have it.  This is significant because it leaves only the Supreme Court to protect the minority rights and then, only where the law is in question.  

Unfortunately, in America, we have become desensitized to the antics of Washington politicians.  They promise one thing and do another will little push back from their constituencies.  Yesterday  Senator Specter from Pennsylvania decided he was a better fit inside the Democrat party.  Hmmm….I wonder what took him so long to understand that.  Could it be the frightening realization that he was going to need a new job next election?  Specter by his own admission faced an almost un-winnable primary.  Excerpts from his speech are below.

Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate…I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

What was a little disturbing is that he waited so long to make the switch.  He has frequently voted against conservatism and Republican ideas.  Just a month ago he could be heard promising that he was a Republican and would stay a Republican on Pennsylvania radio stations and news papers.  It reminds of that movie starring Jim Carrey, Liar, Liar.  Wouldn’t it be great if when politicians were sworn in there was a pill they would take that would force them to only be truthful?  Wouldn’t the press conferences be fantastic?  The ratings would cause the press club to become prime time television.  Well, to Senator Specter and all those who can speak from both sides of their mouth I can only say:  You are a  Liar liar pants on fire. 

“What is Truth? said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an answer.” Francis Bacon

Employees Flogged for Listening to Former Boss…

I was reminded this morning of a few employees who discovered they were to be flogged for carrying out the instructions of a previous supervisor.  You heard right.  It seems the new boss felt that the tactics of the old employer weren’t sound.  They didn’t treat the competition with adequate respect and kindness.  Probing deeper, it seems the new leaders disgust came after discovering that employees of the un-named company had used “questionable” tactics to obtain business intelligence.   The Board of Directors had appointed the new leader after his predecessor retired.  Promising hope and change the new leader has assured the Board of Directors that he will not endanger the companies prominent market position but will make changes.  The new leader was quoted as saying, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

American Slogan 1754

Having found out that the R&D department had used unbecoming tactics to capture market share, the new leader has issued a directive to the Chief Legal Officer to search out the guilty and dole out justice.  At the center of the controversy are the methods used for collection of information and the grabbing of market share.  In a strange twist the new leader scheduled a visit to each of the company’s competitors.  During the trip he apologized and has agreed to loan the competitors money from the ill-gotten profits at low interest rates.  Those who were treated the worst will receive new factories, sales centers and distribution facilities as reparations for the egregious acts of the previous leader’s team.  The leader has promised that  those responsible will be brought to justice including those at the highest levels.

Well most of you know we are talking about the United States and President Obama.  In yet another turn of events, President Obama has quickly tossed the political football to staffers who long for their “political pound of flesh.”  So now comes Attorney General Eric Holder promising to “follow the evidence where ever it takes us.”  Is this where we want to go?  The United States has been, for the last 60 years, the greatest power on earth.  There have been other nations that have apologized for their strength, they have acquiesced to their enemies and you can see them all in the history books.  Take a minute and read Demonsthenes and his Orations.  There is strength in unity.

If a Kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, the house will not be able to stand.”  Jesus (Mark 3:24-25)

“It is not in numbers but in unity that our strength lies.”  Thomas Paine (Common Sense 1776)

Death, Taxes and Poetic Justice

It has been said that “the only thing certain in life is death and taxes.”  Well I am pretty sure that that much is true.  Having just passed the IRS filing deadline I am reminded of the certainty of taxes at least.  I heard a commentator this past week suggesting we move election day to April 16th.  Wouldn’t that be grand?  I wonder what the average term would look like for our representatives and senators.  It’s fair that we would expect to cover the basic costs of government in a fair and equitable way.  I expect there is a way to make our 65,000 page tax code a little simpler but…what do I know?  I hear a lot of talk about the fair tax, the flat tax, recently the value added tax and so on but shouldn’t we discuss the why tax?

Now it used to be said that the Republican party was the fiscally conservative watchdogs of the taxpayers money but that seems no longer true.  Now I am not saying the Democrats are any better…they are not.  Here are just a few examples according to Senior Policy Analyst and Grover Hermann Fellow in Federal Budgetary Affairs, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies:

• The federal government cannot account for $24.5 billion spent in 2003.
• A White House review of just a sample of the federal budget identified $90 billion spent on programs deemed that were either ineffective, marginally adequate, or operating under a flawed purpose or design.
• The federal government made $20 billion in over payments in 2001.
• Massive farm subsidies also go to several members of Congress, and celebrity “hobby farmers” such as David Rockefeller, Ted Turner, Scottie Pippen, and former Enron CEO Ken Lay.

Well the list could go on for a couple of pages.  While we are asking what tax system will work the best, shouldn’t we also ask what taxes can be levied to subsidize?  Well I guess if there is any comfort it’s in knowing there is from time to time poetic justice.  As the President has attempted to receive confirmation for his cabinet we have heard many “interesting” tax code issues.  Much like my teenagers, it seems these power brokers of Washington on are not short on excuses.  Seriously…isn’t it a little strange that we now have a man leading the IRS who couldn’t properly complete his tax forms?

The American tax payer must wake up to the fact that it’s your money they are spending. Is it acceptable that they take your hard earned dollar and pass it out like pirate booty?  Once we realize change comes from a strong back and a will to prosper, well then that’s. to borrow a recent slogan, “Change you can believe in.”

“When one man says, ‘No, I won’t,” Rome begins to fear.”  Spartacus

President Won’t Punish Grand Inquisitor…

Remember the Mel Brooks movie, “History of the World?”  I love the scene where the Spanish Monks are chanting chamber like music just before switching to that Broadway favorite, “The Inquisition.”  Although the Spanish Inquisition marks one of the darkest times in our world history.  We could maybe stretch and grab a couple of parallels to the war on terror.  The Inquisition focused on Jews but also included the conversion of Muslims.  Ultimately, the Inquisition was criticized for torturing its targets into conversion.   End of parallel.

Mel Brooks as the Grand Inquisitor

Thousands were tortured during the Inquisition with grand thoughts of changing their point of view.  It’s much different with the war on terror.  The “tortures’ have been a bit more psychological than physical.  The Inquisition used racks, beds of spikes, hot irons and many more colorful and gruesome techniques that were discovered and employed in those days.  US troops and information gatherers are not looking for the Epiphany that converts converts their captives to a new religion but instead are hoping to capitalize on the shock   and trauma one feels when they are no longer in control of their movement and freedom.  Many of the methods used are employed to prolong this period of shock and to wear down the enemy’s desire to resist.

Dry water drownings (aka water boarding), sleep deprivation, and disorientation are generally not life threatening.  Let me be clear, I am not a fan of torture.  It goes against the good in all of us to harm someone who is unable to defend themselves.  The treatment most likely would suffer psychological damage on the giver and receiver that last long after the event.  The US Military has used water boarding in training environments for years.  Soldiers who train in Escape and Evasion techniques may be subject to miss treatment by their captors in a training environment.  Granted there is a thought that helps hold a temporary training captive together, “This is training and they aren’t going to kill me.”  All things being equal, most of modern society would choose to avoid ugly truths like torture and thoughts that someone may want to destroy our way of life for reasons we don’t understand.  This may be like sticking our heads in the sand.  Not understanding or avoiding the truth does not make it untrue.

So what is the solution?  Do captives give up the goods when they are being tortured?  I don’t know the answers.  Senator McCain, a former prisoner of war, says no.  What if torture worked in one case in every one hundred?  Would it be worth the price to save others from an attack or not?  What if the person that would be attacked was your spouse, child or friend?  It occurs to me that we are faced with a world with competing world views.  Perhaps I will never see them brought close together.  Some of these worldviews place a higher value on life, some on freedom and some on religion.   Can you effectively operate in a region controlled by a competing world view without making changes that speak to the leading values of that society?  That is to say, can you function in a region that perceives mercy as a weakness without showing a strong hand?

“It is no great matter whether they die on account of religion be guilty or innocent, provided we terrify the people by such examples.” The Grand Inquisitor

The Subversive and Angry Extremist were out in force…

Yesterday I took lunch at a Tea party in Hampton Roads, Virginia.  Listening to the radio in the morning had left some unanswered questions about “these people.”  I heard reports that these were extremists and anti-government subversives.  Despite my concerns, I headed into the fray.  I was surprised to see several hundred citizens surrounding the Fountain Plaza of Newport News.  My first impression was of a young Army Lieutenant standing next to a Policeman on a Segway.  Although, I couldn’t capture the image, the policeman kept driving away, the sign read “If this isn’t wasteful spending then I don’t know what is.”   The funniest part of it all was watching the young Lieutenant keeping up with the Officer on the Segway while he walked along side with his sign in hand.  It made me think…Didn’t there used to be such a thing as beat cops?  Oh yeah, but that was before bicycles.

As I made my way deeper into the pack of volatile protesters I bumped into Santa Claus.  Yes apparently he doubles as Uncle Sam in the off season, there is a recession you know.

Santa Moonlights!

Although I was nearly stopped by the ominous glances from Santa and the gang, I pushed on through the crowd yet again.  That’s when I ran into an 81 year old granny who was attending her first protest.  She told me for the first time in her life she was thinking of buying a gun before it was illegal.  Wheelchair bound and with her bright yellow sign stowed nicely on her lap she posed with a thumbs up for freedom.

Granny get your gun!

I was beginning to feel like I had been miss lead.  It seemed for all of the hype and warnings about this dangerous rabble, I was more likely to be attacked by a shark coming from the fountain than to find trouble at this modern day Tea Party.

Speeches were plentiful and support for  smaller government and lower taxes was abundant.  This was a true grass roots movement.  Speakers were impromptu, I spoke with one who said “I though my leg was going to shake off I was so nervous.”  While I am sure there were some who had expected more from the event, it may only be the beginning.  Similar events were held around the country yesterday and many had thousands of attendees.  It will be interesting to see if the many voices and fragmented causes represented yesterday can learn to speak with a single voice.  Without some structure there is little chance of the Tea Parties making a significant splash.

I heard the flat tax, fair tax, and no tax arms speaking yesterday.  These groups need some common ground to build the movement.  Just like that miracle they pulled off in Philadelphia a few years back.  Not when the Eagles defeated the Giants but when the founders pulled together a document which would become our constitution.  We don’t need a new constitution, rather we need to dust off the one we have.  There was a sad note to yesterday’s event.  There was no one collecting emails or telephone numbers to communicate the next step.  Every good salesman knows you always need a call to action to close the deal.  At the moment there is no call to action.  If an organization grows from this little event, it could change the face of American politics.

I enjoyed yesterday thoroughly.  There was an electricity in the air.  Being just a few miles from Williamsburg, I couldn’t help wonder if this was the beginning of a more peaceful rebellion or a revolt.  “The Samnites had revolted against the Romans because peace is more burdensome for men who are enslaved (read heavily taxed) than war is for men who are free” Anonymous.   Only time will tell but for now long live freedom.

How much is enough?

American Woman!

Don't Tax me Bro!

Friendly Crowd

Extremist Protest Taxes…

Made you look! Pictures from Hampton Roads Virginia’s Tea Party!!!  Grassroots Democracy in action.  See more @JTCrawford on Twitter!!!

The Patriot gals...

Bill Harris pleads for personal responsibility and the restoration of the Constitution.

Honest Abe says “Repeal the stimulus.”

"Don't tax me bro." How cute!

Tea Party in Hampton Roads Virginia!

Aint it Grand?

Caught this little diddy on a friends site.  Thought you might want to see it too:

Tax me like a fool!

When I look at the current state of taxation in the US I am reminded of the old Elvis song…”Treat me like a fool, treat me mean and cruel, but…TAX ME?” Why do we ignore the government sticking their hands in our pockets.  Wouldn’t it be cool if we went back to the old village tax collector?  At least then we would all complain together.  Ah, but the government is smarter…more refined than in the days of old.  They have found a way to collect it before you ever see it.  In fact they have written a book, the US TAX Code, that they don’t even understand.  How charming.  65,000 pages.  You have time to read that don’t you?  Well no worries, there is a new edition at least once a year.  Funny,  I ‘ve never found them on Times’ best sellers list, oh yeah…no one really reads that stuff, do they? Let’s stop this codependent relationship with the folks in Washington.

I hope you will take some time from your day tomorrow and visit a Tea Party!  Let’s force the government to stop the mindless spending (…by the way this crosses all party lines…) and get real.

“The more you earn the less you keep,

And now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to take,

If the tax collector hasn’t got it before I wake.”

Ogden Nash

Musings of a “Liberal” with a lasso

One of my favorite humorists was Will Rogers.  Now I am way to young to have ever seen Will, but I love his way of boiling complex issues down to a single sentence.  I think we could use more of that.  It seems that we over-complicate things.  We have to be careful not to hurt, offend or otherwise disturb any population.  On the surface that’s a good thing…but boy are we losing our sense of humour.  Growing up I had friends that were from Appalachia, self proclaimed “hill-billies.” Great sense of humour and just as quick to laugh at themselves as at someone else.  I just can’t see the harm in good fun and friendship.  Well to get you through the day, here are a couple of Will Roger’s quips.

“I can remember way back when a liberal was one who was generous with his own money.”

“A king can stand people’s fighting, but he can’t last long if people start thinking.”

“It’s not politics that is worrying this Country; it’s the Second Payment.”

“Thank heavens we don’t get all the government we pay for.”

“”Everything is funny as long as it’s happening to somebody else.”

Do you have a favorite Will Roger’s quote?  We could use some down home common sense these days…

The pursuit of happiness…

Sometime I wonder how we interpret this idea differently than our founders.  How do we characterize happiness?  Can it be boiled down to a single subject or two?  I am not sure.  It seems today that we often consider happiness to be a life free from struggle.  We have groups that lobby for money whenever they are inconvenienced, put out or their lives are otherwise disrupted.  Our government takes in money through taxes and “re-gifts” that money to constituency who clamour for more and more.  I can’t imagine  the small group of Virginia Colonist had any such thoughts a little over 400 years ago.  Instead, I believe it was a greater distance from the arms of government that they desired.  You might say, a freedom to chart one’s own course is what they were looking for.  Today a container ship traveling near Somalia in Africa was captured by pirates.  Interestingly, it was an American Flag ship.  It’s crew, 21 Americans, were not close enough to obtain aid from any US Government agency or asset.  Summoning the American spirit and grit, these sailors took back the ship, captured one pirate and apparently forced the others to walk the plank.  I think those men represent more of the American “pursuit of happiness” than most.

The pursuit should allow Americans, to effectively take control of our lives and to chart dreams of our own design…without the help of a King, a President or any Government.