What's your poison?

I've had so many various conversations, both via social media and in person, with so many different people about politics. There is a common thread. Government is too big and it spends too much money.

The problem is, no one in DC really wants to relinquish power. Everyone is convinced his or her role is essential. It doesn't matter what side of the isle is represented. The Left believes that the people need to be protected from the evil consequences of free enterprise, environmental gremlins and such. The Right believes the people should be protected from evil doers and moral infractions, such as same sex marriages and abortion.

Both isles require the invasion of government in our lives. Perhaps the invasion of Left Wing policies aren't immediately noticed. For example, if the left imposes energy policies on oil companies, I might not make the direct connection of this imposition to the price of gas. But if the government wants to make it illegal to have an abortion, or imposes the Patriot Act to keep me safe, I as an individual will feel that encroachment directly. These are encroachments imposed by the government, both of which designed to exercise power.

So, which poison do you choose? Do you believe that a reduction in Government is really possible? Do you think that those calling for a smaller government would actually eliminate those programs supported by their party?

I don't believe that it's possible to reduce the size of the government. I don't believe that the people in D.C. will ever experience the urgency to do it because they are all so far removed from the laws they impose.

Whatever our founding fathers had in mind for our country, I am of the opinion it has been twisted and reshaped. Even if we all read the constitution, as Cain suggests (though I'm not so sure he's read it himself), understanding the true spirit of the constitution, bill of rights and declaration of independence has to be taught. Children should be taught critical thinking so that they be able to draw their own conclusions about everything from religion to environmental issues.

I'm saddened by the course we're on but selfishly relieved that I won't have to live it years from now.

Obama Kool-Aid

I saw the 60 Minutes Interview and I am so impressed by our President. He is cool. He is calm and he has nerves of steel. I don't think there is any public figure right now that would have had the courage to approve a mission that had only a 55% chance of success. I'm telling you, nerves of steel.

So, all I hear from "anti-Obama" people is that I'm drinking the Obama Kool-aid. You know what? I want to know who's serving who Kool-aid.

First, for two years, the Right tried to serve the "Birth-er" flavored kool-aid. They wanted to serve me the flavor that represents that Obama is NOT a U.S. citizen. They wanted to do everything they could to ilegitimize the Presidency.

Then, they started to serve the "Obama is a muslim sympathizer" flavored kool-aid. I can't tell you how many people tried to convince me that Obama was going to allow Sharia law into our constitution. Many have tried to tell me he's a "closet" Muslim.

The "Obama is a communist" flavor didn't last for very long.

Maybe I'm just declining THEIR Kool-aid.

Are they in shock?

I'm looking through the posts of all of my Facebook friends. With the exception of one person, no one is posting any anti-Obama quips or articles. The silence is deafening.

I think the news of Osama's death meant so many different things to me. First and foremost, I was so relieved to know that we took care of this. Osama Bin Ladin did not get away with 9/11. We were able to send that message around the world and let everyone know, you can run but you can't hide. We will find you.

Then, the second thing is that I got this really strong feeling that our country is in good hands. That the man in the White House really does know what he's doing and he has it all under control. I feel a sense of calm coming over me. And the method in which he is handling this shows me that this is just another day in the life of being President.

And finally, it also just sort of emphasized that Obama does do what he says he's going to do. I'm more optimistic now about our health care plan. I'm more optimistic about everything, I guess.

I was sharing this with a friend whose politics I did not know. I still don't know if he's Republican or Democrat but he shared my feeling about this combined feeling of optimism and serenity. I hope this lasts a little longer; though I know the naysayers are plotting to put a dark cloud over me at any moment.

Osama Bin Ladin - To release or not to release

So, today, Obama announced that he is not releasing the gory photos of Osama Bin Laden. Personally, I don't really care; however, intuitively, I think not releasing them is the right decision.

I've looked over the posts of most of my Facebook friends. No one has posted ANYTHING regarding an opinion on the release of these photos. My conclusion isn't that no one has an opinion but that no one feels strongly enough about our President's decision to say anything. There is more excitement and satisfaction in knowing the wicked witch is dead.

But if you listen to the news, they seem to be the ones with an opinion and they are reporting those opinions as though they are our opinions.

Sometimes I wonder if these guys ever listen to themselves speak.

Congratulations, Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,

It is with great pride and excitement that I extend to you my deepest gratitude for having successfully ended the life of the man responsible for 9/11. I am giddy with excitement.

Job well done, indeed.

Yours truly,

A girl from Texas.

Fiscal Conservative - but with strings attached.

I am of the opinion that many intelligent, educated people on both sides of the aisle want fiscal conservative policies. The problem is that the party that seems to own fiscal conservative as it's issue also wants social conservative values. They have hi-jacked fiscal conservatism, so to speak.

So, if you want to have a fiscally conservative government and you vote them in, then you also have to accept that in so doing, this same government is going to do everything in it's power to force women to have children they do not want, prevent gays from marrying, demonize and alienate American Muslims and interfere in our personal lives any time they believe they have the moral right to do so.

We have been dragged into a very expensive war in the Middle East, why are we not screaming about a Return On Investment for this war? What is our ROI anyway?

And right now, the Right Wing just wants power. If they can sabotage everything the current President does just so that they can stand up and say "See, he can't do it, you need to elect a conservative leader", then they will. Because they are NOT about ensuring conservative policies, they are about being in power.

I am so discouraged by what Right wing Party has become. It's vicious, ignorant, dark underbelly is surfacing and steamrolling its way into power. When I was on FreeRepublic, I never really took them seriously because they were so dogmatic. I didn't think anyone would listen to such hatred and close mindedness. I was so wrong! People I know and like and respect actually spread bad information about issues just to undermine the current administration. There is no regard or respect on their part for truth or accuracy. Those pesky things just get in their way.

Why can't we just have conservative fiscal policies and let the other stuff go to the way side? Why do we have to force unwanted children onto this planet? Why do we have to create such hatred and fear towards people who don't believe as we do? Why is it a problem for me or society if my gay neighbors marry and adopt a child?

We are human before we are Conservative or Liberal. Asking me to support the conservative position on social issues in order to get strong fiscal conservative policies is asking me to stop being human. It feels like there is a parasite hooked onto the fiscal conservative train; and it's gotten bigger and uglier.

Mitch Daniels - A call for Social Truce

I read a post recently on the Washington Post that stated that Mitch Daniels, Gov. of Indiana, suggested to fellow Republicans that maybe they should call a truce on social issues, such as gay marriage, pro-life, etc. and instead focus efforts and attention on fiscal issues.

When I saw this, I suddenly had compassion for the poor man. Back in the late 90's, I was a prolific poster on Free Republic. I had it in for Clinton and wanted a good ole' American, individual rights protecting, fiscally conservative President. I also suspected, before it was public knowledge, that Hillary was lining up to run for the 2008 Presidential race. So, having the foresight that I felt I had, I opened my mouth and said exactly what Daniels suggested. The party needed to back away from these intrusive social positions and start focusing on fiscal policy.

I was banned from FreeRepublic three times. Apparently, I was a RINO (Republican in Name Only). I was in shock. I was born and raised a Republican. I had never in my life cast a vote for a Democratic candidate. If I had a choice for an Independent, I might select him or her but I never voted for a Democrat. Suddenly felt like I had to prove I was a conservative. I hung in there through Bush's first term and voted for him during his second term.

After a couple of years, I realized that Bush was feeding the dogmatic ideology of the people that supported him. He himself may not have fully embraced it but he at least led his followers to believe he did and it fed their confidence in their own bigoted, misogynistic, homophobic agenda. I couldn't stomach it anymore, I had to jump ship. I did it, I left the Republican Party and voted FOR a Democrat. And I liked it!

I don't know who these Conservatives think they represent anymore. They are becoming the Christian version of the Taliban and I think they are equally dangerous.

So, Mr. Daniels, I applaud your attempt at trying to pull the party off the social issues but I'm afraid that the underbelly of the party is who you are going to have to appeal to in order to get the momentum for election. Really, I don't think that Obama is doing that poorly a job given the hand he was dealt when he was elected. So, you are going to have to sell your soul, swallow your sense of right and wrong, and become the bigoted, misogynist, homophone your extreme constituents want you to be. I'm hoping your self-respect and dignity gets the better of you, though and that you stand your ground. You may not win the election against Obama but you might very well be able to bring the Republican Party around to what it has great potential to be.

Congress Reform Act of 2011

This was sent to me in one of those "forward to 20 friends" type e-mail. I really liked it, so I forwarded it to 20 people and I'm posting it here as well.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took
only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people
demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail,
before cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or
less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty
people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do
likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have
the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011


1. Term Limits.

12 years only, one of the possible options below..

A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay
when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social
Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social
Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional
pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in
the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.
Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers
envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s),
then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only
take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message.
Maybe it is time.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it
on.