ZenDarb

How America Was Gunned Down

2011-01-10T19:07:00.005-05:00

By now you know the story.

An assassin targeted Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, shot her in the head and proceeded to attack others that were there. As of right now, 14 were wounded and 6 are dead including a precious little girl who was born on 9/11. The attack was evil.

Not only was the attack on the Representative, but it was on the American people.

We are Americans. We solve our problems through discourse (well, that is the idea anyway - that is for a later post). Let me tell you how this event gets even worse.

Loughner (allegedly) ruined the lives of several families that day. Forgive the unintended pun, but he also gave ammunition to big government types. All I have heard from the beginning is the political posturing of the left. The current buzzword is "vitriolic." As in, "The root cause of the shooting is the vitriolic rhetoric on talk radio." Sarah Palin didn't escape blame - it was insisted that her political ad with cross-hairs on the district Gabrielle Giffords represents was the impetus for the attack.

I have yet to see ANY account where this guy had any political bend whatsoever. I have yet to see any account of how the Palin ad incensed him to go ballistic. On the contrary, I have read comments of his friends who say he was nihilistic, had no real political position. According to friend accounts, his favorite read was the Communist Manifesto. A friend also said what really incensed Loughner was that Giffords blew off a question from Loughner at a public meeting.

I listened to an interview of the sheriff who is investigating the case. He was directly asked if he had any evidence that the 'vitriolic rhetoric' was influential in the attack. The Sheriff's answer, "I have no evidence... but I believe..." then he went on to politicize the attack. This, in my opinion, is like saying "sick'em" to a defense attorney as it seems to severely jade the Sheriff's investigation.

Yes, the attack was one on America as well. Here are some of my predictions of what will come of this evil:

A law will be proposed to protect the ruling class from "hate speech." The law will be sufficiently vague to leave interpretation up in the air.
There will be renewed energy in gun control. Proposals to ban "assault-style" weapons and high capacity magazines will be the target
There will be calls to restrict what is said on talk radio - 'equal time' will be the refrain.

There are those who are going to continue on the 'vitriolic' bandwagon. They say that the discussion is not productive. Here are a couple of things to consider - if the freedom of speech is restricted, what other outlet will people of dissenting opinions have? No, talk radio and its ilk serve a purpose - a place to vent. A place to dissent... peacefully. Secondly, the discussion (even if you want to label it 'vitriolic') was, and is productive. Just ask the Representatives and Senators who lost their seats in the 2010 elections.

Loughner is full of crap - and so are his accomplices on the left.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims.

You've GOT to be Kidding Me...!

2010-12-30T09:39:00.004-05:00

What is this country coming to?

In Florida, they are setting up "No Refusal" checkpoints. That is right... you are driving down the road, minding your own business. You roll up to a checkpoint and the cop says, "Blow!"

You refuse. After all it is YOUR body right? Apparently, not so much. You see, the cops will have a judge right there at the checkpoint. If you refuse, the judge will simply order a mandatory blood test. Are you kidding me?

This smacks of medieval thuggery at its highest point. Understand the situation, citizen! This sounds like something you would find in a third world country - not USA! Of course, this is all done in the interest of "safety." People are applauding the effort of the state government. I am not.

I believe that if someone is convicted of driving while impaired, they should receive the appropriate penalty. Not only are they taking their lives in jeopardy, but they are endangering everyone around them. However, the fact that those dangers are out there DOES NOT mean that our government can just operate in such a manner.

When will the citizen realized what is happening to them? When will they say, "ENOUGH!"

It reminds me of one of my favorite lines from Star Wars - "So this is how liberty dies. To the sound of thunderous applause."

And the Winner Is...

2008-11-13T18:55:00.003-05:00

Went to church Sunday after the election. It figured to be an interesting Sunday with plenty of conversation of the big day and Obama's victory over McCain.

One particular conversation stood out to me. It came from the teacher of the Sunday School class I attend. He's a young guy, seems smart (though the jury is still out) and genuine. He said he knows a guy that is 100% in elections since the 70's. This guy supported:

Jimmy Carter in 1976

Ronald Reagan in 1980 & 1984

George Bush, Sr. in 1988

Bill Clinton in 1992 & 1996

George Bush in 2000 & 2004

Barack Obama in 2008

It is amazing that this guy supported the winner of each election and even more so - that the choices made were so very different. I mean, how different can Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton be?

Needless to say the class was surprised to hear how accurate this guy was in his support for elected presidents and their interest was piqued. He told the class the name of this guy with one word:

God.

Romans chapter 13

Biden's Patriotism

2008-09-17T21:02:00.000-04:00

Show your Patriotism by paying more in taxes?

According to Obama's VP candidate, the patriotic thing for wealthy americans to do is pay more in taxes. What? Does he mean that the peons in my economic caste don't get to be more patriotic?

Please, please - let me be more patriotic and pay more in taxes!

Hey, John McCain/ Sarah Palin, let me give you some advice: Jump all over this like a buzzard on a gut truck!

The REAL patriotic thing to do would be for congress to go on a diet. They are already gorged by cash on the backs of working Americans and still can't satiate their appetite. If they really wanted to be patriotic, they would put the interests of America ahead of their own tax and spend policies.

Seems like I remember a patriotic event circled around taxes a few years ago - the Boston Tea Party. Patriotic indeed - Biden - get a grip.

My Friend

2008-09-12T21:11:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I hate computers.

I mean it - there are times when I am convinced that the computer is Satan's concoction. They can absolutely drive me crazy.

It used to be Windows. Microsoft's product is directly from the Pit. It takes over your computer then crashes it. Windows is not an appropriate name for the product. It should be labeled "Doors" because it slams your computer shut.

Then a buddy of mine came along and introduced me to Mac. After years of being abused by Microsoft, I took a leap -

Well the honeymoon was nice. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Then - it ended.

The Mac has been pretty decent to me. I don't have the same FRUSTRATING problems I had with Microsoft. But over the last year I have had different and just as frustrating problems.

Enter John. He's the guy that slipped the iMac in on me. Don't get me wrong, I am immensely more satisfied with the Apple product and cannot see submitting myself to more of Microsoft's torture.

The problems I've had with the Mac are more technical. It is more with setup and external devices like routers and modems and flux capacitors. But, John is there.

John is one of those geeks. He just knows the stuff - stuff I'll never comprehend. He's also put up with my ignorance, my tantrums and my idiosyncrasies. He's always there for me and never asks anything in return.

He even reads my blog. John, thanks for being my friend.

Why America Loves Sarah Palin

2008-09-10T14:59:00.003-04:00

America is in love with Sarah - and I know why. America loves Sarah because she is not Joe.

American Republicans have not been enamored with John McCain. In fact, many groan about his candidacy. He is self-labeled as a 'maverick' - but he is known as a moderate.

The choice of Sarah Palin gave a tremendous boost to McCain's campaign precisely because of what she is not. She is not Joe. Now, don't get me wrong. I am sure that Sarah Palin's merits will rise and fall with performance, however the real reason she is loved by America is because she is not Joe.

Joe Lieberman.

Joe Lieberman was seen by many as the front runner for McCain's VP choice. Another moderate on the ticket.

The collective sigh of relief you hear from Republicans over the choice of Palin is the result of years of Republican rule that would embarrass even the most staunch liberal. She does not represent the Republicans who have spent money like a drunken sailor (no offense to drunken sailors).

No, Sarah is not Joe - that is why Republicans are excited. Kind of makes you wonder; what would it be like if she were the nominee? Reagan, anyone?

Where is the Outrage?

2008-08-21T20:55:00.004-04:00

Here we go again! America, the bastion of freedom and opportunity... if you are the right color. Racism is an ongoing and embarrassing problem. When will we come to grips with reality and judge someone by the 'content of their character' rather than the 'color of their skin?'

According to a recent poll, Obama has a mild advantage among black voters 44% to 37%, while McCain enjoys a lock on the white vote:

74% to only 7%!

This is yet another example of how white America is comprised of people who are blinded by their own lily white-ness. Whites in America will NEVER rise above pettiness until they can come to the realization that a human being is a human being - regardless of the color of their skin.

America as a whole should be screaming at the top of their lungs over the disparity of support McCain enjoys with white people. One can only draw the conclusion that a high percentage of white people are voting for him simply because he is white. It is racism at the core, it should be labeled as such and thoroughly condemned.

Wait a minute... Ohhhh... I'm sorry, my mistake. I had the numbers wrong. It is Obama that has 74% - 7% margin of the black vote.

Never mind.

Those Big, Bad Corporations

2008-08-13T20:04:00.003-04:00

Every now and then, the "CrapMeter" goes off the scale. Such is the case for today's post.

The AP reported that Most Companies Escape Paying Federal Income Taxes. While I am sure that technically they are correct, they are also ENTIRELY misleading. Of course the majority of corporations didn't pay federal income taxes - the majority of corporations are not required to.

This is a simple case of "creating" news where there isn't any. Let me explain:

Basically there are 3 forms in which a corporation does business (I know I'm leaving out many forms, but I'm using the ones from the article): C-Corporation, S-Corporation and Limited Liability Company. When a corporation is formed, they choose which form they wish to be.

The C-Coroporation (examples are publically traded companies) requires that all profit is taxed to the corporation. The corporation is required to pay 'income taxes.'

The S-Corporation and the Limited Liability Company (examples are most small businesses) are elections made by the corporation in which profits are not taxed to the corporation. Instead the profit is recorded on the personal tax returns of the owners and the owners pay the income tax.

This alarmist "news" is a warm pile of crap. It conveniently avoids the fact that taxes are indeed paid - by the owners of the corporation rather than the corporation itself. Of course the majority of corporations do not pay federal income tax - 59% (2002) of all corporations are S-Corporations. This doesn't even count the Limited Liability Companies.

Beware of lazy and misleading journalism - it should be called what it is - CRAP!

Is Obama Black?

2008-07-31T18:44:00.002-04:00

You know...

I was just sitting here thinking... Is Obama black? I mean, I don't know.

He was born to a black man and a white woman. The black man left after 2 years and only saw his son once after that. Obama was raised by his white mother and lived with his mother's white parents.

Why does Obama choose to be labeled as being "black?" I would think that white people would have a legitimate claim to his heritage, maybe even more so.

Just thinking...

On Leaches

2008-07-31T18:14:00.003-04:00

A little while back I recieved a check in the mail. Apparently, I had been wronged by some company I never heard of and a law firm launched a crusade for the little guy - me. Myself and a few thousand people I never knew existed were despicably used by this company and this firm was going to set things straight.

I suppose that I should be grateful that these attorneys were willing to go through all the work to help me. I mean, they didn't even know me. How noble can someone be?

As I was going through the paperwork, I began to feel humbled that an entire law firm would do such a thing. And I didn't have to pay one red cent!

I read the disclosures in the paperwork. And the attorney's fees caught my eye. The attorney's fees were $3.7 million. WOW!!! With anticipation building, I flipped the page to my check. There it was in big bold print. I felt like I was part of a new club.

I, and every single one of my 'co-litigants' received a check for $0.62 cents. What a crock!

Let's stick it to some lawyers! Personal Injury types spend BIG bucks in pay per click advertising. Use the search box above for 'Personal Injury Lawyer.' Look for their ads on ZenDarb and click, click, click, click.... These guys really irritate me.

The Truth

2008-07-22T14:23:00.000-04:00

The Truth About the Real Estate Transfer Tax

The Real Estate Transfer Tax is Communistic.

There is a growing trend (along with eminent domain) for states, counties and municipalities to impose a tax on every real estate sale based on the value of the home. For example, if you sold your $200,000 home, you would owe between $800 and $2000 in additional taxes.

Why? For what reason is this tax levied? Are there additional infrastructure needs based on the sale of your home? No. Those were already paid. Are there additional service needs based on the sale of your home? No. These are accounted for in property taxes. The reason is simple; it is a plain old land grab by the government. Any other explanation is merely spin.

But, it is even more than that: What this amounts to is government seizure of your property. Let me explain.

Let’s say you and I form a partnership. We are going to fund this new venture with $100,000. You are going to front $99,000 and I will pitch in $1000. That gives me a 1% stake in the venture for my investment. Later, if we sell that company for $400,000 you would receive 99% of the proceeds and I would receive 1% (or $4000) because of my investment. That is fair.

Now let’s say that you invest the full $100,000. You own 100% of the venture. One day I come along and say to you, “When you sell, I will receive 1%.” Would that upset you? For all intents and purposes, I just claimed 1% ownership in your venture having invested nothing.

That is what your government is doing. They are seizing 1% of your home while not making one red cent in payments for it. It is disgusting. It is the new version of eminent domain.

It is time to put a stop to the thievery.

But, Its for the Children...

2007-10-30T16:22:00.000-04:00

Sure, pick on the little guy -

How To Raise Taxes 101

1. Put away your discomfort in spending other people’s money.
2. Decide on how much money you want need.
3. Triple the amount in #2.
4. Double the amount in #3.
5. Find a patsy who won’t put up a fight (if there is a current negative press campaign, so much the better)
6. Increase tax on said patsy – I mean REALLY increase it.
7. Tell everyone that the money raised will be used for children – somehow.
8. When people object, point to #7.

It is so comically redundant.

This time, Congress wants to sock it to the tobacco smoker and give the money to poor, sickly little children. It makes me want to puke.

Smokers have gotten such a bad rap in the press over the last few years. Smoking causes cancer. Smoking causes birth defects. Smoking causes severe flatulence. It goes on and on. In fact – it has gotten so bad that now private property owners in many places are not allowed to have a LEGAL substance used on their private property.

So Congress is getting on the anti-smoking bandwagon and has decided that they want to use the occasion to raise money. What a better patsy that the smoker right now? In order to ward off arguments – the money is going to children. So far, so good.

Why the tobacco user - because they are in the minority. As long as the tax doesn’t affect the majority of voters, they can get away with it. You will not see a tax of $1.00 per shoe, or $0.50 on bottled water. Nope, they are going to raise the tax on a cigar as much as $10 per stick (from its current nickel a stick).

Go ahead and watch the smoker get taxed. Applaud while you are at it. Watch, as thousands of jobs are lost. Watch as a black market is increased (it already exists, but it isn’t called that). Watch as the government intrudes more and more into your pocketbook.

What is next - a real estate transfer tax? Yep.

Another Fine Example...

2007-10-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

The Mecklenburgers

Liberals are idiots.

I mean it. They just think wrong. Maybe it was some bad vaccine during childhood. Maybe their mothers forgot to take vitamins. Maybe they wet the bed for far too long. I don’t know what happened, but someone needs to figure out what makes a liberal and outlaw it.

Please allow me to stop laughing for a moment and give you a fine example of the liberal mind at work. It can be summed up in one statement from Mr. Danny Diehl, the executive producer of “The Mecklenburgers” a television show that is funded by Mecklenburg County, NC. He said, “We feel like the citizens of Mecklenburg County are getting a good value for their investment in ‘The Mecklenburgers’.”

Now to understand how his tortured little liberal mind works, you have to look at his statement. You see, it really doesn’t matter if the taxpayer gets RESULTS for his ‘investment’ (read here – TAXES). Nope, all you need is ‘value.’ It seems that the show’s 18 awards give it ‘value’ status.

Before this article (insert link) I had never heard of ‘The Mecklenburgers.’ I have paid my share of $421,000 this year alone for only 10 shows. Never heard of it. Apparently, someone at the county thinks I am ignorant of the county government and need some entertainment to bring me into the fold.

The sad thing is the real cost isn’t $421,000. It is more. Their target audience is Mecklenburg county residents, many of which went to Mecklenburg County schools. Apparently the county bosses think that Civics classes aren’t enough. So now we have two programs that no one pays attention to.

Oh, and about results – here is some results of that award-winning, value-laden civics class on the tube: There are about 750,000 residents in Mecklenburg County. Of those residents, how many do you think watch ‘The Mecklenburgers?’

Try ZERO.

That is right - $421,000 for nothing.

But we taxpayers have received a good value for our investment, right? Sell me some more of that CRAP.

What does the County Chair have to say about it? Jennifer Roberts says, “When you win 18 awards, I think that shows that you’re doing something right.” – Wrong!

What she should have said is, ‘When you have spent over $1,000,000 and have nothing but a TV show no one watches, it shows you are a liberal functioning within designed parameters.’

Al Gore is a Green Idiot

2007-05-27T08:17:00.000-04:00

Where do I start?

Al Gore and his tree-hugging Leftist Socialists are putting forth the concept of everyone going “Carbon Neutral.” Nice idea. Nice concept. Full of CRAP.

Here are the basics (and trust me, you don’t need to know more):

1. Americans are bad.
2. Americans who drive SUV’s are evil.
3. Americans who eat meat and run the water while they brush their teeth are Satan-like.
4. In order to ‘offset’ our voracious and consumptive lifestyle, we need to do something to eliminate the CO2 we produce.
5. It just so happens that a company will gladly accept your money and use it to do things that increase the CO2 scrubbing capability of the Earth (the going rate is about $13.50/tonne of CO2 produced).

Read this taken directly from earthfuture.com:

“So, you’ve done everything you can, and you’re still producing CO2 emissions. What can you do? You can buy carbon offsets that will either absorb your emissions (by planting trees), or prevent the release of a similar amount of CO2 by other means. The going price is around $13.50 ($10 US) a tonne, so if you produced 20 tonnes of CO2 last year, you owe the Earth $270 in “One World” carbon taxes, which can be used to neutralize your emissions. The Solar Electric Light Fund, based in Washington DC, will accept your carbon neutralizing contributions ($10 US per tonne) and use it to help low income families in Bhutan, Brazil or the Solomon Islands install solar PV systems, displacing the use of kerosene or diesel. Or you can invest in a tree-planting program: one tree will absorb 1 tonne of CO2 over 40 years, and you should plant three to be sure that one survives. If you produce 20 tonnes of CO2 a year, you’d need to plant 60 trees.”

Sing me up! I can’t wait to start paying my One World Carbon Taxes!!!

I think that if they reduced the amount of CRAP they were dishing out, the methane levels would be offset. Give me a break!

Another Line in the Sand

2007-05-18T13:55:00.000-04:00

"None Shall Pass!"

A great line from a great movie. Unfortunately, it is getting to be a bit silly. The Posturing in Washington, that is. Our great representatives in Washington have come up with a NEW immigration bill. It seems like our government keeps drawing a line in the sand in Texas. Then, after a bit of time, they take a step back and draw a new and improved line. A little more time elapses and a wonderful sweeping reform line is drawn after a step backwards.

This last line is ridiculous! Think of it: "Ok, you got away with it. Now, turn yourselves in, pay a $5000 fine and we'll just forget this unfortunate incident ever happened." I have some thoughts that may only interest me...

1. They are breaking the law. Let's just enforce it.
2. They are breaking the law, why in the world would they turn themselves in? Why not keep breaking the law - it's cheaper?
3. They are breaking the law, why would we think they will all of a sudden comply?
4. They are breaking the law.

I've got another idea (though I must admit didn't originate with me). Go ahead and let it happen. Just make sure that every CITIZEN gets the opportunity to break a law without a penalty of more than $5000. I'll go ahead and pay my $5000 and choose not to pay taxes again...

This bill is TOTAL CRAP!

Backlash?

2007-04-19T22:40:00.001-04:00

Virginia Tech.

What a tragedy. So many lives lost, so many altered forever. My heart and my prayers go out to the families involved - including Cho's.

At the risk of sounding a bit callous, the tragedy marked by Cho's quest for murder doesn't end with the bullet that went through his skull. The tragedy will continue to morph into inevitable political shapes and will cause ripples years to come. I'm talking about two glaring facts:

1. The Gun-Control spin. It wasn't hours until some politbureau type began waxing eloquent on the gun-crisis here in America. How we need to outlaw guns because they are killing the innocent. That is a load of CRAP! Cho killed those people. He did it alone. His weapon of choice was handguns, but make no mistake the killer was human - not steel.

2. The Race Card. Soon after the murderer was finished, we found out he was Korean. Almost immediately the news began to share their deepest fear that there would be some type of 'backlash' against Koreans here in America. What kind of CRAP is that?! Up until then, I had no thoughts of animosity toward the Korean people (and still do not). It hadn't occurred to me. The media was trying to crowbar a new twist to the story. Americans should be offended by their efforts.

Politicians will be falling over each other trying to show themselves as the compassionate option. Perhaps what VT needs is for everyone to get their noses out of it and allow them to lean on each other and heal from this terrible ordeal.

Thank You, Sir! May I Have Another!

2007-03-21T16:43:00.000-04:00

The Patriot Act.

It sounds so… so… Patriotic. I mean, how can you argue against its provisions? Why, that would be unPatriotic.

The Patriot Act is one of the biggest buckets of CRAP handed to the American people - EVER. From the beginning, I had concerns about it. From the beginning I had an uneasy feeling that it would be abused and that our freedoms and liberty were being chipped away.

My fears found solid ground. The FBI has been found to be abusive of their new-found powers. Imagine that. Oh, the FBI director has a “The Buck Stops Here” explanation. What a load of donkey refuse. If it hadn’t been for an investigation, the FBI would STILL be violating your rights.

I guess we should be comforted by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ vow to stop and never let it happen again. Yeah, right! These people are entrusted with protecting our rights. With protecting the US Constitution (there was once this little document that…).

We Americans had better pay attention. Security at the expense of Liberty will ultimately lead to tyranny. Little by little, our government will heap to itself more and more power, until Freedom is a distant, nostalgic memory.

Don’t be a frog in a gently warming pot of water. Jump out! When you vote, vote for those who are genuinely patriotic. Not for those who distract you by waving an American flag while their minions sneak up behind you with a pair of shackles for your arms.

Its All Crap...

2007-03-19T12:43:00.000-04:00

Welcome to MY world -

As you enter the doors, notice to your left a shelf stocked with common sense. Just below that is a box full of sanity. Over to your right you will find a few cartons of humor and just past that on that big table is a whole shipment of unadulterated honesty. Straight in front of you is a bar with plenty of seats. Behind the bar is a man. This man has opinions and he doesn’t mind sharing them.

There are many topics of interest to him: politics, religion, science, sports, investing, business. But in reality - it is all crap and he will tell you all about it. So pull up a seat, perhaps you’ll read and think. Perhaps you’ll read and say, “it’s all crap!”