U.S. Fiscal Irresponsibility

An op-ed piece in today's Salt Lake Tribune by cartoonist Pat Bagley touched on the subject of the current fiscal crisis the United States finds itself in. I wrote the following response to that op-ed:

"First of all, typical to a Bagley op-ed cartoon, this just doesn't make sense. The words of the character don't correlate to the rest of the picture. Plus, Bagley's drawings are amateurish, at best. Try looking up David Horsey, the Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist. His pictures are vastly superior to Bagley, and his comments always make sense.

Second, as I read things about the Congressional spending habits, I find it interesting that no one has remembered that the basic fiscal approach from both parties has flip-flopped. Until sometime early this century, the Democrats wanted to 'Save, Save, Save!' And the Republicans wanted to 'Spend, Spend, Spend!' Why the basic philosophical shift in dealing with America's money woes?
Unfortunately for both sides, partisanship will destroy this country. We can all thank Slimy Newt Gingrich for that one when he pressed the Republican Congress to fight any bipartisan efforts in any aspect of government. His "Contract with America" was the beginning of the current fiscal crisis.
In order to end this whole crisis, both sides of the aisle need to set aside the suspicions and anger and work cooperatively--as they did for decades of growth--to find solutions that will get us back on track towards fiscal health.

Lastly, in the entire debate as to what programs can be saved, and which ones can't, another lost bit of history looms over the entire discussion...that as of 2010, had Congress stuck to their predecessors guns and kept the plan in place, the United States would be out of debt, Medicare and Social security would be just fine, and the country would not be in trillions of dollars of debt to China--a debt that may never get paid off now.

Who is to blame for our current crisis? Both parties, and two consecutive Presidents...and all the voters who kept them all in office. In other words, we ALL are responsible. So before you go around pointing fingers, you'd better take a look at yourself.

Remembering a Day of Infamy

It is December 7th.

Seventy one years ago was the attack on Pearl Harbor. Truly a "date which shall live in infamy," I hope that you take a moment to reflect on that terrible day that launched the Greatest Generation into the greatest conflict in history.
We all owe those men that were lost that day our respect, out deepest thanks and our honor. They will never be forgotten!

Filming People In Public--Rights or Wrong?

An op-ed piece in today's Seattle Times, written by my friend Monica Guzman, looked at the legality of filming people in and around public places, and whether or not a cameraman would have any responsibility towards those he/she was filming.
The comments mostly ranged around anger, threats, compensation to anyone filmed if said images were used to profit [on the part of the cameraman], etc.

My response to the article:

"Filming people in/on public spaces may be legal, but it is not very respectful; especially if someone expresses their desire to NOT be filmed.

In all of the technological advances of the last fifteen years, no one has stopped to ask the question, "Just because we can, does that necessarily mean we should?"

In the ever evolving fight of an individuals' right to privacy, that basic question, based in basic human compassion and respect, is being lost and buried so deep that most people rarely even think to ask, ponder, or even consider it in passing.

Personally, I think that that lack of introspection is to the detriment of us all."

The Right, Priveledge and Sacred Duty to Vote

Vote!

As election day approaches, it is time for Christians to make their voices heard. Millions of Americans have been praying for righteousness this election season and it is now time for them to take the next step and vote!


As John Hancock wisely admonished:

I conjure [urge] you, by all that is dear, by all that is honorable, by all that is sacred, not only that ye pray but that ye act.

As you go to the polls this Tuesday, encourage your friends and family to do the same! For a Christian, voting is not a right, it is a duty! So make sure and vote this election!

As Charles Finney declared:

[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them.

Voting righteously is not only important today, but was also something the Founding Fathers considered to be extremely important to the future of America.

As Samuel Adams declared:

Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is . . . executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.

As you go to the polls on Tuesday, be sure to be informed! Know where the candidates stand on the issues. ChristianVoterGuide.com is a great place for you to find church-friendly voters guides for your specific states. Feel free to share these guides with your friends, family, neighbors, and fellow church members. Also, each state has a link to the Secretary of States office where you can find information on your polling location or status.

As Noah Webster stated:

In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate - look to his character. . . . When a citizen gives his suffrage to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor, he betrays the interest of his country.
 

Make a difference that will impact not only your future, but the future of your children and grandchildren for years to come. Pray, learn about your candidates' positions and then vote!
May God bless you and may God bless America!

Upcoming Election

I know that I haven't put out any blogs on here in quite a while. This is entirely due to my ongoing struggle with Polycystic Kidney Disease.

If you follow my PCKD blog, you'll know that, overall, I am doing a bit better. However, I still am lacking the mental energy to write about the current events surrounding all of us. I want to only write with a clear, logical and educated voice. Unfortunately, what mental energy I do have does not allow any of this to happen in a concise and well-written manner; so, I don't write...for now. Once I have my transplant I am sure I will be back to my former self, and be making regular entries. Until then, I can only provide small glimpses. Which is why I am here today.

With the General election coming up in about three weeks time, I thought I should get on here to remind everyone that they need to get out and vote!

Pick up your local voter pamphlet, study it--understanding your local referendums, elections of city, county, State and Federal appointments, judges, etc--and know before you go into the voting booth how you will vote on each item on your local ballot.

I always take a piece of paper with me that lists my vote for initiatives, referendums and all elections. It's ok that you do this!

Please, be an educated, informed voter in this coming election! If you choose not to vote, then you have no say in how your local and Federal governments are run. However, if you vote, be sure you are voting for the best candidate in each item you vote in. Forget about parties. Ask yourself, "Who is the BEST candidate for this job?" Then, vote according to that decision.

This Presidential election is one of the most important elections in my memory. The very heart and soul of the United States is at risk, and how you vote will determine the future of this country.

So get out on election day! Go early! Be informed and be a part of what makes the United States the greatest country on earth!

Please...VOTE!!!

80 MPH on Utah Freeways?

There has been a recent push to increase the speeds on Utah's rural freeway system to 80 mph. The responses were a predictable Yes! with various reasoning as to why the respondents thought so.
Here is my response:

"It is amazing the justifications people use to exceed the speed limits on ALL roads here in Utah.
I was trained as a driver in another state and follow the laws as best I can whenever (and wherever) I drive; often resulting in other drivers honking, zooming by me, or pulling unsafe, boneheaded maneuvers all around me. As a former paramedic I have seen the results of speeding on the human body; and what I have seen and worked on would make most people vomit.

In Utah the State Patrol rarely pulls anyone over for speeding because they are too busy breaking the posted speed limit themselves. I have written the Governor and my Reps asking for better State Patrol funding to combat the horrific driving habits in Utah; only to have my inquiries met with silence.

Fact--The faster you go the less margin of error you have; the greater the stopping distance required. Higher speed equals greater trauma in any accident due to the excessive kinetic forces at work.
But, I suppose this too will fall on deaf ears as Utah drivers are too busy speeding (to wherever) to actually consider the issue with any thoughtful deliberation."

Chik-fil-a and the Gay Agenda

Recently the President and CEO of Chik-fil-A stated his company's stance of non-support of gay marriage; choosing, as a company, to support the biblical definition of marriage. His comments were  in no way inflammatory or in a tone of hatred or intolerance. However, the gay community has jumped all over his comments with vicious attacks and claims of bigotry, hatred and intolerance...as has become the standard procedure for the gay community and their backers. All of the arguments I have read about this story thus far are hollow, and completely unsubstantiated. Here's my response...

"So, the gay community and their supporters have become so bold that they are now beginning to tell everyone that they can no longer have a differing opinion from this very vocal minority group. If the Chik-fil-a company chooses to not support the gay agenda, that is their right. As much as someone may not like that stance, the company--and anyone else for that matter--has every right to have and express their opinion without fear of reprisal or retribution. Whether or not you or I agree with someone's opinion, even if we hate it, we must respect their opinion. That's what make the Consititution and the Bill of Rights so great! However, I fail to understand how not supporting gay marriage is a broadstroke of civil rights abuses, as the gay community claims. Numerous laws already exist that protect civil unions and those involved from insurance issues to partner recognition concerns. I have yet to have anyone explain the actual civil rights abuses that Chik-fil-a has committed.
The tolerance that the gay community so loudly espouses is completely lost as they spew hatred towards anyone who dares speak out against the homosexual lifestyle. Sorry...but last I checked, this is STILL the United States of America, where opinions are as different as the backgrounds we ALL come from. Time to step up and allow those who don't agree with or support the gay agenda to voice their opinions just as loudly as the LGBT community does. When THAT is allowed by both sides, then we can have some civil discourse on the topic."

After my post was made, I had numerous people telling me that I was filled with hate towards gays, and that I just didn't "get it"...whatever "it" is. Not one respondant explained how the above opinion was hateful--even after I asked for an explanation. Further, other individuals threw words at me like bigot, scumbag, ignorant, uneducated, etc. Those responses only go to illustrate what my opinion was stating...that the gay community is not the least bit interested in the right of Americans to choose whether or not they support the gay lifestyle. Great way to gain acceptance.

Memorial Day 2012

On this Memorial Day 2012, let us all pause to remember, and give thanks, to all the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to create and sustain our great nation.
From the field at Concord to the dusty battlefields of Afghanistan, to those who have died we owe a debt of gratitude. For without them we could not have the lives we enjoy today. We would not have the freedom to debate topics of interest, or argue our opinions before the public. I would not be able to write my blogs that often criticize our leadership; and you would not be able to disagree with any points I make.
Every Memorial Day I personally give Thanks to the men and women who gave their lives for me.
I hope that everyone pauses, for even a few seconds--from their bbq's, their picnics, their family gatherings--to remember the sacrifice of others so that we all have the freedoms we enjoy.
Memorial Day 2012.