Disgrunted Gruntings

Time to trim the Holiday listing

Man we have a lot of holidays in the US. Most are excuses to slack off, skip work or school, or have a mattress sale. Most have long since lost their meaning. Lets look at a few we should trim. Man we have a lot of holidays in the US. Most are excuses to slack off, skip work or school, or have a mattress sale. Most have long since lost their meaning. Lets look at a few we should trim.

US Federal (2010 Dates)
Friday, January 1 New Year’s Day
Is there really a need for this? Other than a day everyone can leave work 4 hours earlier the night before and get piss headed drunk on? Don't drink so damn much or stay out so late, you won't need a whole day to recover.

Monday, January 18 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Yay. Big civil rights activist. Big fraking deal. Why not Rosa Parks birthday? Why not Thurgood Marshall or the Little Rock Nine? You want to light a candle in his name, go ahead. Otherwise, get to work slacker.

Monday, February 15* Washington’s Birthday
Well, it used to be. Now its the generic "Presidents Day". Sorry, not all these guys deserve to be celebrated. Some should have served time. Anyway, the country is so far from what Washington fought for, it's like taking the day off gor your great great great grampa's first communion. Utterly pointless.

Monday, May 31 Memorial Day
Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. This one we can keep. The people who died for this country deserve at least 1 day of recognition. Gods knows they get so little thanks other days of the year.

Monday, July 5** Independence Day
The day they supposedly signed some important papers in 1776 that few in Washington DC give 2 ***** about anymore. In any event, this wasn't the day we won our independence, this is just the day they said "We're Free." They were as free as a teenager who said to his parents "You can't tell me what to do". Well, you parents know how well that goes. Here's the rub, it's a holiday dedicated to a myth. The first "Declaration" was on July 2nd, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence. The Declaration of Independence was signed by most of the signers on August 2, 1776. The United States wasn't actually granted it's independence by King George III until September 3, 1783. So, enjoy the hotdogs and fireworks, but it's the wrong day.

Monday, September 6 Labor Day
"Power to the People Komerade". Lets just drop Socialist holidays huh?

Monday, October 11 Columbus Day
A celebration dedicated to a guy who was wrong, lost and gave a bunch of indians the clap and introduced them to slavery and worse. We can drop this one too.

Thursday, November 11 Veterans Day
Do we really need a holiday celebrating the end of WWI? Why not VJ Day? How about holidays to celebrate every war the US has ever been in? How about, we stop getting into wars in the first place. I'm not sure war should be celebrated, are you?

Thursday, November 25 Thanksgiving Day
Lets celebrate stealing land, exploiting the naive, and causing mass death through the exchange of germs. Sounds good to me. Better yet, lets celebrate it every year as a thanks for an avoidable war caused by a power mad tyrant. Even better. Lets just call the whole thing off huh?

Friday, December 24*** Christmas Day
While we're at it, lets take off for Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, and the other 40+ religious holidays in December. Better yet, lets just drop all religious holiday period. Your fictitious invisible buddy wants you to slack off? Let him pay for it.

While we're at it, do we really need the banks closed that often? Flag day, Patriots day, I got a rash on my ass day. Really. Bad enough they only are open 30 minutes 4 days a week.

Here's the only holidays that matter.
A holiday to celebrate the nation.
A holiday to celebrate the men and women who defend it.

Give people 10 other days they can slack off on, and let them choose when to do it. They can call it whatever they want to.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm taking the rest of "I Haven't gotten enough sleep and I've had too much Caffeine" day off.

US Vs Toyota

For years, Japanese auto giant Toyota enjoyed a reputation as a builder of reliable vehicles. The public view of Toyota's cars were that they were more reliable, and more fuel efficient than American-Owned auto makers GM and Ford.

Quote:

Drivers Complain Toyota's Fixes Not Working

Now Toyota finds themselves under attack in the US over safety issues.

Quote:

Lawsuit Filed Against Toyota Over Car Defects

Things do not look good.

Quote:

Former Toyota Lawyer Turns Whistleblower
Attorney claims automaker hid safety concerns from public

But, is it really public safety concerns driving this hunt, or is it something else?

Greed?

Quote:

Man at Wheel of 'Out-of-Control' Prius Has Troubled Financial Past

Conflicts of interest between the government owned and unionized GM and the senators and representatives they own remain hanging as Congress investigates foriegn owned and non-union Toyota.

Quote:

GM Using Taxpayer Money to Prey on Toyota ?
Chairman of Toyota National Dealer Council thinks competitor is out of line

Quote:

Several Lawmakers at Toyota Hearing Represent Automakers' Competitors

What is known is this.
* There are legitimate questions concerning Toyota not handing over all information requested of it.
* They have issued a huge recall and are looking for fixes.
* The number of actual injury and deaths attributed to these issues (54) is low, and far less than the number of deaths per day in auto accidents. (100 people on average die each day in the US in car accidents)

Toyota's still seem to be safe vehicles, at least, if you believe the folks at Edmunds.

Quote:

Toyota complaints trail other companies « Liveshots

If you own a Toyota, what should you do? Check with your local dealership for information on recalls for your model, and get the work done as soon as possible. In fact, all car owners should do this as every brand has issues and recalls. People are going on about an 8.5 million vehicle recall here, but GM and Ford both have about the same amount of cars under recall for various issues. So be informed and get your transport fixed.

New York

Ackerman, Gary, New York, 5th
Arcuri, Michael A., New York, 24th
Bishop, Timothy, New York, 1st
Clarke, Yvette D., New York, 11th
Crowley, Joseph, New York, 7th
Engel, Eliot, New York, 17th
Hall, John J., New York, 19th
Higgins, Brian, New York, 27th
Hinchey, Maurice, New York, 22nd
Israel, Steve, New York, 2nd
King, Pete, New York, 3rd
Lee, Christopher J., New York, 26th
Lowey, Nita, New York, 18th
Maffei, Daniel B., New York, 25th
Massa, Eric J.J., New York, 29th
McCarthy, Carolyn, New York, 4th
McMahon, Michael E., New York, 13th
Maloney, Carolyn, New York, 14th
Meeks, Gregory W., New York, 6th
Murphy, Scott, New York, 20th
Nadler, Jerrold, New York, 8th
Owens, Bill, New York, 23rd
Rangel, Charles B., New York, 15th
Serrano, José E., New York, 16th
Slaughter, Louise, New York, 28th
Tonko, Paul D., New York, 21st
Towns, Edolphus, New York, 10th
Velázquez, Nydia M., New York, 12th
Weiner, Anthony D., New York, 9th

Area Man Passionate Defender Of What He Imagines Constitution To Be

Quote:

Area Man Passionate Defender Of What He Imagines Constitution To Be

ESCONDIDO, CA—Spurred by an administration he believes to be guilty of numerous transgressions, self-described American patriot Kyle Mortensen, 47, is a vehement defender of ideas he seems to think are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and principles that brave men have fought and died for solely in his head.

"Our very way of life is under siege," said Mortensen, whose understanding of the Constitution derives not from a close reading of the document but from talk-show pundits, books by television personalities, and the limitless expanse of his own colorful imagination. "It's time for true Americans to stand up and protect the values that make us who we are."

According to Mortensen—an otherwise mild-mannered husband, father, and small-business owner—the most serious threat to his fanciful version of the 222-year-old Constitution is the attempt by far-left "traitors" to strip it of its religious foundation.

"Right there in the preamble, the authors make their priorities clear: 'one nation under God,'" said Mortensen, attributing to the Constitution a line from the Pledge of Allegiance, which itself did not include any reference to a deity until 1954. "Well, there's a reason they put that right at the top."

[link]

Before anyone asks, yes I read the Constitution, several times, and no, "Bob Hubbard" is not an alias for Kyle Mortensen.

Derogatory 'Jeopardy' board launches TSA probe

STORY HIGHLIGHTS [Link]

Managers ridiculed gay men, African-Americans, lesbians, sources say
Board was made to look like categories in TV game show "Jeopardy"
TSA's Office of Inspection is investigating at the Orlando Field office," statement says

The board, resembling the TV game show "Jeopardy," includes categories such as "pickle smokers," "our gang" and "creatures," which sources said were names used by managers for gay men, African-Americans and lesbians.
A photograph of the board was sent to CNN. The Transportation Security Administration confirmed the investigation in a written statement but did not elaborate on when the board was in use, where it was displayed or how it was used.

====

I feel safer already knowing these true professionals, these credits to the honored field of law enforcement, these bastions of integrity, these guardians of our safety are on the job and protecting us from old people, gay men and Jimmy Walker.

Naw.

I've got respect for the real cops, not these police academy washouts who couldn't find a bomber if they were told 6 months in advance, had a picture of him and a description on where he'd shoved the grenade.

Here's some examples of the KeyStone Kops who "protect" our airports.
======

TSA: Employee's actions led to Newark security breach
A security breach at the Newark, New Jersey, airport over the weekend was caused by an officer of the Transportation Security Administration who left his post unattended, an agency spokeswoman said Thursday.

TSA puts 5 on leave after security manual hits Internet
Five Transportation Security Administration employees have been placed on administrative leave after a sensitive airport security manual was posted on the Internet, the agency announced Wednesday.

TSA launches leak investigation
Federal officers charged with keeping terrorists off planes are now searching their own ranks for staff who told CNN that few flights were protected by air marshals.

Time.com: Airport Screeners Dress for Respect
The TSA thinks its screeners have an image problem. The solution: real badges and blue uniforms

Loaded gun slips through airport security
A passenger who went through an airport security checkpoint -- before remembering that he had a loaded gun -- is facing charges after going back to report his error, authorities said.

GAO: Investigators pass security at 19 airports with bomb parts
Investigators with bomb-making components in their luggage and on their person were able to pass through security checkpoints at 19 U.S. airports without detection, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Time.com: Holes Exposed in Airport Security
Government investigators smuggled liquid explosives and detonators past airport security, exposing inadequacies in the nation's ability to safeguard airplanes

Airport screeners failed to find most fake bombs, TSA says
Screeners failed to find most of the fake bombs smuggled by plainclothes investigators through checkpoints at two major airports from late 2005 until last fall, the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday.

Security breach reported at Charlotte airport
A man allegedly circumvented security Friday at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, causing headaches for screeners and passengers.

Airport security targets the inside threat
The Transportation Security Administration carried out surprise inspections on workers at five airports in Florida and Puerto Rico on Monday, one week after a baggage handler in Orlando allegedly used his airport credentials to smuggle more than a dozen firearms into a commercial jetliner.

New York TSA Agent Reassigned After Photographed Napping
AP| U.S.
… New York TSA Agent Reassigned After Photographed Napping ..... and posted it online. His link was sent to TSA officials. The unidentified agent has been ..... investigation. The agent might have been on a break. TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said agents have very …
Story|01/28/2010

TSA Worker Fired After Pulling Prank on Student at Airport
AP| U.S.
… TSA Worker Fired After Pulling Prank on Student ..... luggage. The worker is no longer employed by the TSA after the incident this month, a spokeswoman ..... that process was told that the man was training TSA workers to detect contraband. Two days later …
Story|01/23/2010

TSA Agent Arrested at Airport for Avoiding Pre-Flight Screening
AP| U.S.
… TSA Agent Arrested at Airport for Avoiding Pre-Flight Screening Saturday, July ..... again. It's unclear why Weems avoided the screenings. Officials with the TSA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport …
Story|07/04/2009

Are Latest TSA Regulations "Too Stupid for America"?
By Judith Miller| - FOXNews.com| Opinion
… Article comments Updated December 28, 2009 Are Latest TSA Regulations "Too Stupid for America"? By Judith ..... shows, Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert, visit the TSA Web site for comic relief. The TSA , an acronym that appears to stand for “Too Stupid for …
Story|12/28/2009

TSA Allegedly Waited 80 Minutes Before Reporting Breach at N.J. Airport
FOXNews.com| U.S.
… TSA Allegedly Waited 80 Minutes Before Reporting ..... the incident, MyFoxNY.com reported. The TSA said they needed time to investigate the traveler ..... security officers stationed at the exit," the TSA reportedly said in a statement. "We're investigating …
Story|01/05/2010

TSA Confiscates Boy's Play-Doh at New Orleans Airport
AP| U.S.
… TSA Confiscates Boy's Play-Doh at New Orleans ..... Christmas flight out of New Orleans last week, the TSA confiscated young Josh Pitney’s Play-Doh ..... Doh." Pitney continued, "And the man from TSA was taking every can out at a time and putting …
Story|01/05/2010

Man Who Caused Security Breach at N.J. Airport Soon Left, TSA Says
AP| U.S.
… Caused Security Breach at N.J. Airport Soon Left, TSA Says Monday, January 04, 2010 NEWARK, N.J. A ..... thought he saw a man enter through the doors Sunday, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said. TSA reviewed surveillance video before sweeping the airport …
Story|01/04/2010

Man Arrested in Newark Airport Security Breach

AP| U.S.

… Congressional hearings. The breach led the TSA to shut down one of Newark Liberty International ..... because the investigation is in progress. TSA employees are not unionized, but the ..... declined to publicly identify him. The TSA has said the guard has been on administrative …

Story|01/09/2010

TSA Says Kid Bound for Grandma's House on No-Fly List

AP| POLITICS

… TSA Says Kid Bound for Grandma's House on No-Fly List Thursday, January 05 ..... t think he should go through the trouble of being harassed and hindered." TSA regional spokeswoman Carrie Harmon said the agency tells airlines not to deny …

Story|01/05/2006

obamu: (v.) To ignore inexpedient and inconvenient facts or realities, think “Yes we can, Yes we can,” and proceed with optimism using those facts as an inspiration (literally, as fuel). It is used to elicit success in a personal endeavor. One explanation holds that it is the opposite of kobamu. (which means to refuse, reject, or oppose).

Obama Tax Jokes

"Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit Obama's national debt." -- Tip o'the hat to Herbert Hoover

Based on his performance in office so far, President Obama should do just fine on his future tax returns. After all, he will be able to write off his second term.

It's too bad that we can't buy stock in the federal tax system. With Obama as president that will be only thing sure to go up.

President Obama is angrily calling for more federal tax increases. He just heard from his advisors that some American taxpayers weren't completely broke yet.

The best things in life are free but President Obama's tax advisors are working hard trying to solve that problem.

Barack Obama isn't planning on buying TurboTax®. Obama can turbocharge our taxes all by himself.

President Obama's tax return should list Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright as dependents.

President Obama plans to start printing income tax forms on Kleenex, so it will be easier for us to pay through the nose.

President Obama has just announced that he has a new plan to simplify the tax code. From now on only the Republicans will have to have to pay any taxes.

Q. Who should be listed as the most expensive dependent on your tax return?
A. President Obama.

President Obama will make it a lot easier for most people to do their income taxes next year. No jobs, no income.

Under Obama everyone in America will be working for the government. Democrats will be on the payrolls and Republicans will be on the tax rolls.

In the interest of full disclosure, President Obama's should declare all of the fawning media coverage he's received so far as a gift on his tax return.

Despite what some people are claiming, this country is just as free under the Obama presidency as it ever was . . . unless you happen to be a taxpayer.

If President Obama listed free enterprise on his tax return, it would have to be listed as a liability. That's because he just writes it off.

Today the IRS released new guidelines on how to avoid audits while Obama is the president. Number one - Don't list excessive deductions. Number two - File your return on time. Number three - Register to vote as a Democrat.

Judging by his wild spending so far, President Obama has apparently decided that it is easier to trim the taxpayers than to trim federal spending.

Don't think of it as paying more taxes. Think of it as giving Obama a big tip.

Thanks to President Obama we will become a more honest people. Once we're all jobless there won't be any point in lying on our tax returns.

Next year's "stimulus" tax return will fit on a postcard.

* How much money did you make?
* Mail it in.

President Obama intends to reward ambition. With higher taxes.

Now that Obama is the President you can still get ahead if you get up early in the morning, work late every day and hit the lottery.

Military Blogger Michael Yon Detained, Handcuffed by CBP in Seattle Airport

Quote:

Award winning war correspondent Michael Yon was detained and handcuffed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Yesterday by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel.

Yon was returning to the United States from Hong Kong to visit family when CBP officials stopped him during a routine security checkpoint.

“Officials asked me what was in my bag—nothing wrong with this question,” Yon said in an interview with BigGovernment.com. “I told them it was normal stuff, clothes and toothbrushes.”

At this point the Customs officials escorted Yon to a designated screening area where they examined the contents of his bag. “Then they asked me how much money I make,” Yon said. Yon suggested to the Customs officials that the question was inappropriate and unrelated to transportation security. The award-winning blogger noted another CBP officer approached Yon: “he asked who do I work for.” ”I did not answer the question which clearly was upsetting to the [CBP] officers.”
Yon was escorted to a room elsewhere in the airport where he said he remained silent during much of the questioning. According to Yon, “they handcuffed me for failing to cooperate. They said I was impeding their ability to do their job.”

For who this guy is, and what he does, see http://www.michaelyon-online.com/

Full Body Scanners Violate Child Porn Laws on Friday January 08, @01:33AM

gandhi_2 writes "The Guardian has a story about an ongoing legal battle over the use of full body scanners in the UK. The Protection of Children Act 1978, includes provisions in which it is illegal to create an indecent image or a "pseudo-image" of a child....which a full body scanner does." - Slashdot

Hmm.... now that's a quandry. What say we bet on them hurrying up and writing an exemption in to law, a poorly written and ill thought one that will be abused? What do you think the chances are that in the near future some governement screener type will be busted as a kiddie-perv?

"Before she left for China, reporters repeatedly questioned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about her claim the CIA lied to her. But Pelosi remained tight-lipped. She also remained tight-foreheaded and tight-eyelided." --Jay Leno

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi is in Shanghai to debate climate change with Chinese government officials. I think she'll do fine. These negotiations always come down to whoever blinks first." --Jimmy Fallon

"Yesterday, during a speech, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the CIA misleads us all the time...You know, unlike Congress." --Jay Leno

The Joke that is Pelosi

Love this joke:

The Pope & Pelosi are on stage in front of a huge crowd.

The Pope says to Pelosi, "Do you know that with 1 wave of my hand I can make everyone here go wild with joy? For the rest of their lives, when they speak of this day they will rejoice!"

Pelosi replied, "I seriously doubt that with one little wave of your hand you can do that. Show me."

So the Pope slapped her.

Man Arrested For Taking Photo of Open ATM on Tuesday May 12, @07:38PM

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday May 12, @07:38PM
from the i-will-tackle-you dept.
net_shaman writes in with word of a Seattle man who was arrested for taking a photo of an ATM being serviced. "Today I was shopping at the downtown Seattle REI. I was about to buy a Thule hitch mount bike rack. They were out of the piece that locks the bike rack into the hitch. So I was in the customer service line to special order one. It was a long line and while I was waiting, I saw two of guys (employees of Loomis, as I later learned) refilling the ATM. I walked over and took a picture with my iPhone of them and more interestingly of the open ATM. I took the picture because I'm fascinated by the insides of things that we don't normally get to see. ... That was when Officer GE Abed (#6270) spun me around and put handcuffs on me."
Read More...

=======

What a load of BS. Nice to see the rent-a-cops pushing people around, and the Seattle PD apparently in the business of bullying someone.

If the story is as was written, the guy didn't do anything illegal, and the fake-cops and the real ones are in the wrong.

I agree with Bert here:

Quote:

http://consumerist.com/5249853/loomi...over-atm-photo
Remember, you can take photos of pretty much any damned thing you want in public (military and national security areas are the exception), including children, buildings, airports, and police officers. Private properties can set their own rules about what kind of photography is allowed, but can't confiscate your film without a court order. If they try to or threaten you with arrest, they're more likely to be breaking the law than you are.

Bert Krages, an attorney who wrote a concise summary of rights called The Photographer's Rights (from which we pulled out the info in the above paragraph), points out that most public photo altercations are started by security officers or employees who don't know the law and who just assume that taking photos is somehow illegal. He suggests if a rent-a-cop becomes "pushy, combative, or unreasonably hostile," call the police. But who do you call when the police are also dumb and easily frightened, and more likely to protect private businesses instead of private citizens?

___

Why is the economy a mess and businesses going under? A reason.
by Bob Hubbard

I recently got married. As part of that life's journey, one contacts a number of businesses and key people to make the day run smoothly. We contacted several facilities, visited 3. We received no call backs or follow ups from any of the places, other than the 1 we ultimately chose. We contacted several photographers, and were waiting on a promised call back from one when another contacted us out of the blue. We went with her and its a good thing we did as we still haven't heard from the one who promised to call us. We left messages with several dj's, tux rental places, and 2 hotels. Not a single call back. Are you seeing a trend here? All over the place people are crying "business is down", "I'm not sure if I'll make it" and similar. Yet we had a hard time finding anyone to take our money.

We stopped at a local fast food chain the other day. Place was empty. We waited 5 minutes before walking out, as no one felt like taking our order. Cleaning the back counter was more important, as obviously was the smoke break. A few days earlier, another chain store, we got indifferent service, mediocre "food", and a shrug when I complained about it.

Last year I made several calls to the management of a local mall, looking for information about possibly renting space there. Despite calling every day for 2 weeks, I never managed to reach the one single person there who could talk to me about anything rental related. He was always "just stepped out" or "gone for the day". I finally asked if he ever comes in, and when the person expressed surprise, I said I'd been calling all week, leaving messages and hadnt heard back. They said that was common. The mall has quite a few vacancies. I wonder why. Another local mall has a waiting list as it's full. They answered their phone and were available to talk. Big difference.

A couple months ago a family member had a plumbing emergency. We called at least a dozen plumbers (with the 24 hr service ads) before reaching a live person. We left messages at the earlier ones, and not a single one ever called back.

The economy may be shaky, a few large companies may be facing ugly restructuring, but the core of the economy has always been the small businesses. Maybe the reason why the core is seems to be rotting lies with the core it self. Maybe, it's shooting itself in the foot by failing to follow up, provide quality service and a quality product, and failing to follow through. Maybe, the solution to the economic mess isn't trillions in bailouts to a few big names, but for consumers to find and reward those companies that do go the extra mile, that do care about their product, that deserve to survive.

Maybe then the slackers, drifters, and such will wake up and step up, or die out like they deserve to make way for the real economic stimulus.

Federal Government to Steal land for Flight 93 memorial

I'm sure the people on Flight 93 would be proud of their government.

Quote:

Feds to condemn land for Flight 93 memorial
Thursday, May 07, 2009

The government will begin taking land from seven Somerset County property owners so that the Flight 93 memorial can be built in time for the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, the National Park Service said.
...
"We always prefer to get that land from a willing seller. And sometimes you can just not come to an agreement on certain things," park service spokesman Phil Sheridan said.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09127/968459-455.stm

See also http://www.witchvox.com/wren/wn_detail.html?id=20613

Personally, I think this is a disgusting abuse of government.

545 PEOPLE By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices; 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country..

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash.

The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.

Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in ....IRAQ.... it's because they want them in ....IRAQ....

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people and they alone, are responsible.

They and they alone, have the power.

They and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

=======

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

Re: "Redistribute the Wealth"

Quote:

How many Americans here have friends and associates who's deepest concern is who won what game or who's topic of conversation is always "man I got so wasted last night"?

But that's ok. Those of us who work hard, educate ourselves, start businesses, or work 2-3 jobs while putting ourselves through higher education....we can pay more taxes so that lazybones and slacker can have government subsidized health care (while we pay top dollar for ours), government subsidized heating and electric (while we pay for ours), and even free money to spend on lotto and lobster (while we watch our money and live frugally). It's ok. It's our "Civic Duty" to help those "unfortunates".

On education: I read several hundred books every year, own a thousand+, read 4 newspapers (onliine) daily (SF CA, Austin TX (2), Buffalo NY), plus dozens of discussions like this one every day. I've taken extra training classes, community ed courses, online training, and am at Borders/Barnes & Nobel or my local ibraries weekly. I also run history chanel, food network, HGTV, DIY and Discovery as background. If our "unfortunates" did 10% of that, they'd be miles ahead.

Schools today in the US are woefully behind the technical requirements. Teaching methods in many cases are outdated, classes are over crowded, and teachers are still using maps that show the Soviet Union, and still using text books that list Sadamn as the head of Iraq. Unfortunately, even if they were up to date, balanced, and truely designed to learn, even the best teacher can't teach when the student isn't open to learn, or isn't there in the first place. Kids don't want to learn because they know they can grow up, go on welfare and have the government pay for everything. They have no idea of the value of a dollar, not because it's arbitrary imaginary money, but because they aren't required to know how to manage it.

We argue people go bankrupt because of medical bills. Those lotto winners went bankrupt because they were incapable of handling money.

Before you redistribute the wealth, maybe you need to revamp your education system so that people will be able to handle that which you give them.

Then again, maybe it's time that kids learn that they aren't entitled to anything, anything! that they didn't earn themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJyS1WJNisM

In this video clip Democrat Congressman Jim Moran expresses his disdain for people who want to keep what they have earned.

"...because we've been guided by a Republican administration who believes in this simplistic notion that people who have wealth are entitled to keep it...."

Considering that over 70% of lottery winners end up broke, bankrupt, divorced, etc within a few years of getting their winnings, maybe the reason alot of people are broke isn't because Bill Gates wasn't forced to hand over 85% of his money to people who didn't earn it, but because alot of people are really bad at managing what they have in the first place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGIfbAt8voU

Last September I played with the numbers, and switching to a flat 15% Federal sales tax would generate over $300 Billion more for the government. But of course, most people don't get it. They don't understand they won't have to take time to file, won't have it withheld, won't have to pay someone to fill out forms, to get it back.

Gillibrand, Kirsten E. - (D - NY)	Class I
478 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
Web Form: gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

Schumer, Charles E. - (D - NY)	Class III
313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
Web Form: schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm

AddThis

AddThis

About Bob

Important Resources

Followers

US Political Parties

Subscribe to Disgruntled Gruntings

Blog Archive

Blogs of Note

America

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Friday, March 5, 2010

Thursday, March 4, 2010

New York

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Monday, January 25, 2010

Friday, January 15, 2010

Friday, January 8, 2010

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Monday, May 11, 2009

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Friday, May 8, 2009

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Friday, April 24, 2009

Constitution Class taught by Michael Badnarik (2003)