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Monday, November 28, 2011

Political Fools

Ted Cruz

A highly influential voice among uber-conservatives, specifically the TEA Party










Grover Norquist

Indeed, he’s a highly influential voice in politics, but his ‘anti-tax pledge’    
shows him to be a fool.  Enough said.

               











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“Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire.”  
--- Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux


“Más acompañados y paniguados debe de tener la locura que la discreción.”
--- Cervantes (Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra)
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A Fool's Pledge


A promise that seems noble and wise
striving to reach an ideal, a pie-in-the-sky





A promise spoken in haste
A promise of words futile as waste.

A promise that's impossible to keep
A promise that's destined to make people weep.

A promise that's cumbersome as a millstone around neck.
A promise that's devastating as a car wreck.

A promise that's merely an illusion.
A promise with no future, it perishes because it has no vision.

A Fool's Pledge seduces people of goodwill and faith
Its essence is nothing more than a transient wraith.

A Fool's Pledge weaves its web of deception
offering security, but verily no protection.



A Fool's Pledge squeezes the life out of those who are trapped in its grasp
as fear, like a boa constrictor, produces the last gasp.

A Fool's Pledge isolates a person from pragmatic sustainable solutions.
All that's left is wanton processes and much confusion.

A Fool's Pledge denies freedom like an inmate in prison.
A Fool's Pledge lacks wisdom, common sense, and reason.

To extricate from something that is so noxious
To be redeemed and help further the interests of the U.S

Must acknowledge selfish Pride is the master behind current affair.
Humility is the savior that will deliver from its lair.

Accept full responsibility, come clean my friend
'Denounce and Reject' and let's put such folly to an end! 

Forgiveness is available, if contrite and true.
America is waiting, it's up to you.




Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanks!

There's a loss in our soceity. Its impact is evident in our homes, schools, churches, businesses, and government --- the loss of Thanks.

Expressing appreciation for the actions or just mere presence of others may be so edifying for ourselves and others.

Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to your family: spouse, parents, children, siblings, et al.

Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to your school: teachers, administrators, office workers, and volunteers.

Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to clergy and laity.

Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to employees and supervisors.

Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to friends and opponents, because opponents challenge us to think and act beyond ourselves.

Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to media organizations whose reporting reflect views and beliefs across the pollitical spectrum. "My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty."

Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to leaders and civil servants.

Imagine the impact of just saying the word 'thanks' to God.

We take for granted the simple pleasures that peoples in other countries views as luxuries.

O' the countless times we've forgotten to express our thanks for the efforts the individuals who work 'behind the scenes' daily to make our lives just a little more comfortable.

So I would like to express a simple thought to everyone: "Thanks"

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Factual Murder

There are five people. One of them shot and killed one of the other five. Which man is the murderer?


1. Dan ran in the NY City marathon yesterday with one of the innocent men.
2. Mike considered being a farmer before he moved to the city.
3. Jeff is a topnotch computer consultant and wants to install Ben's new computer next week.
4. The murderer had his leg amputated last month.
5. Ben met Jack for the first time six months ago.
6. Jack has been in seclusion since the crime.
7. Dan used to drink heavily.
8. Ben and Jeff built their last computers together.
9. The murderer is Jack's brother. They grew up together in Seattle.

You can get the answer here:
http://www.braingle.com/41561.html:e=70a33c1c906037374188db20169c4ee9

Door to Freedom

There are five doors, one leads to the exit, the others lead to traps. They are in a line. The clues tell you which position the doors are in the line and where the door to freedom is. All the clues are true. Each door has a clue written on it.

The clues read:

The blue door: This door is two spots away from the door to freedom.
The red door: This door is at the far right, and is two spots away from the blue door.
The purple door: This door is not next to the door to freedom.
The green door: This door is left of the blue door.
The orange door: This door is not next to the red or blue doors.

Which door leads to freedom?

You can get the answer here:
http://www.braingle.com/20572.html:e=70a33c1c906037374188db20169c4ee9

Monday, November 14, 2011

Part 3 --- Core Problem

Recently, the stance of many Republicans on many issues have been confusing. It's time for Republicans to provide answer --- What does the Republican Party really stand for? What's the Republican Party's vision for America? What does the Republican Party really believe?


Indeed, there's a Core Problem.


Consider the issue of Health Care Reform ---

"Comprehensive health insurance is an idea whose time has come in America. There has long been a need to assure every American financial access to high quality health care. As medical costs go up, that need grows more pressing. Now, for the first time, we have not just the need but the will to get this job done. There is widespread support in the Congress and in the Nation for some form of comprehensive health insurance...The plan that I am proposing today is, I believe, the very best way. Improvements can be made in it, of course, and the Administration stands ready to work with the Congress, the medical profession, and others in making those changes. But let us not be led to an extreme program that would place the entire health care system under the dominion of social planners in Washington. Let us continue to have doctors who work for their patients, not for the Federal Government. Let us build upon the strengths of the medical system we have now, not destroy it. Indeed, let us act sensibly. And let us act now...to assure all Americans financial access to high quality medical care."

--- Richard Nixon, 02.06.1974


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Now, when you are introduced to new information it's reasonable that change in stance on issues may take place. It's time for members of BOTH parties to provide answer --- What do you really stand for? What's the vision for America? What do you really believe?

Indeed, there's a Core Problem.

Consider the History of the Individual Health Insurance Mandate, 1989-2010 ---



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Consider the words of Judge Laurence Silberman, Ronald Reagan Appointee ---


'The three-judge panel in Washington, in a 2-1 decision, said the most controversial element of the law -- mandating that people buy health insurance or face a tax -- was not a violation of individual rights. "It certainly is an encroachment on individual liberty, but it is no more so than a command that restaurants or hotels are obliged to serve all customers regardless of race," Judge Laurence Silberman wrote in his opinion. "The right to be free from federal regulation is not absolute, and yields to the imperative that Congress be free to forge national solutions to national problems, no matter how local -- or seemingly passive -- their individual origins." 

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"Broad regulation is an inherent feature of Congress's constitutional authority in this area; to regulate complex, nationwide economic problems is to necessarily deal in generalities"

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"It suffices for this case to recognize, as noted earlier, that the health insurance market is a rather unique one, both because virtually everyone will enter or affect it, and because the uninsured inflict a disproportionate harm on the rest of the market as a result of their later consumption of health care services."


Consider the words of Judge Jeffrey Sutton, George W. Bush Appointee and former law clerk to conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia ---


"No one is inactive when deciding how to pay for health care, as self-insurance and private insurance are two forms of action for addressing the same risk. Each requires affirmative choices; one is no less active than the other; and both affect commerce."


*******

"If Congress could regulate Angel Raich when she grew marijuana on her property for self-consumption, it is difficult to say Congress may not regulate the 50 million Americans who self-finance their medical care."



Indeed, there's a Core Problem.

What do US really stand for? What's the vision for America? What does America really believe?












Part 2 --- Core Problem

Now, when you are introduced to new information it's reasonable that change in stance on issues may take place. Recently, the stance of many Republicans on many issues have been confusing. It's time for Republicans to provide answer --- What do the Republican Party really stand for? What's is the Republican Party's vision for America? What do Republican Party really believe?

Indeed, there's a Core Problem.


Consider some Republicans legislators and conservative pundits assailing the president for perceived failure to embrace the recommendations of the Simpson-Bowles Commission and making the Congress vote on recommendations. The president may have been reluctant to embrace recommendations (many people are/were reluctant). However, he nor any other president cannot force the U.S. Congress do anything. Hence, the formation of the Simpson-Bowles commission by executive order. The executive order that sought to achieve the same objectives of the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2009 . It may be reasonably argued The Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2009 was defeated because 7 Republican sponsors of the legislation voted against it. It's raises the question of a Core Problem.


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"PAYGO first appeared in the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 (BEA), negotiated between Republican President George H. W. Bush and the Democratic leaders of Congress...PAYGO was extended in the 1993 deficit reduction legislation and again in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act [during President William Clinton Administration]-- when it was extended through 2002." The results was balanced budgets and surplus.

Republicans oft talked about 'running up the nation's deficit' and placing onerous debt upon future generations.  Yet, the Budget Enforcement Act of 1997 was allowed to expire thereby allowing irresponsible spending with the cessation of Pay-As-You-Go provision. Democrats must assume responsibility as well for their irresponsibility in this regard.

There's a Core Problem.


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Again, when you are introduced to new information it's reasonable that change in stance on issues may take place. Recently, the stance of many Republicans on many issues have been confusing. it's time for Republicans to provide answer --- What do the Republican Party really stand for? What's is the Republican Party's vision for America? What do Republican Party really believe?

Do deficits really matter? Indeed, it's a Core Problem.









Core Problem

Now, when you are introduced to new information it's reasonable that change in stance on issues may take place.  What do Republicans really believe? What do the Republican Party really stand for, what's its vision for America? Indeed, there's a Core Problem.

In the past, Republicans have extolled the values supported by Ronald Reagan as president, yet it seems there are clear contradictions to Ronald Reagan expressed on many issues.

It's a Core Problem.


Consider the Debt Ceiling Debate, Brinkmanship, and the Responsibility of Congress ---




--- Ronald Reagan, Radio Address, September 26, 1987


Consider Tax Equity and the 'Buffet Rule'  ---





Consider the balanced approach of revenue increase and spending cuts ---