Miscellaneous Reflexions Incisive thoughts on government, society, and some deeper thoughts. Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 0 0 14 3716

Articles from Miscellaneous Reflexions

Homeless Veterans 2007-11-08 17:47:54 It has been reported that veterans account for one out of every four homeless people. That we still haven't overcome the homeless problem is bad enough, but for twenty-five percent of that problem to be those who served our country is an absolute disgrace. The article states that veterans make up 11% of the population, yet represent 25% of the homeless. If the veterans accounted for around 11% of the homeless, it would only be a part of the societal problem of homelessness. Since this number is far greater, it indicates there is a more serious problem. Over the past few years we have been handed lines about not supporting and demoralizing the troops, being left homeless seems like a case of not supporting the troops and knowing you are twice as likely to become homeless sure sounds demoralizing to me. This is a matter that deserves attention, every American should contact their elected representative and demand action. Ironically, this study has been released just befo ...

Contradictory Taxes 2007-11-07 17:43:28 With the discussion lately about a tax on cigarettes to fund health care programs, it seemed like a good time to evaluate some of the things that are taxed. Placing a tax on something means that you are relying on it for revenue. If you think about it the government has put itself in a contradictory position by taxing cigarettes and alcohol. On one side the government says these things are bad for you and shouldn't be used, but on the other side the government is counting on people to do these things to raise revenue. What happens if everybody cut their smoking and drinking in half? The taxes collected on these items is in the billions. This would leave a major shortfall in expected revenue. I know we won't cut these things in half, but statistics show as prices get higher a small percentage do quit or reduce use. It just seems like an undependable way to raise revenue. Gambling is another contradictory tax, especially the lottery. Many people spend much more than they should o ...

The Weaker Dollar 2007-11-06 17:45:14 As we watch the value of the American dollar reach record lows against foreign currency, it is hard to get a handle on how it will effect our economy. Type in "weaker dollar" in an internet search and you will find stories that say it is good and bad. The weaker dollar is supposed to be good for exporting products, but bad for importing them. The things we export will cost less in foreign markets and things we import will cost more in our market. Since we import much more than we export, I have to believe this will hurt us more than it will help us. As we shop at different stores it seems there is very little to purchase that isn't an import. It has been reported that the record oil prices are partly due to the weaker dollar. This is definitely not good for us. Higher energy costs will cause the price of many things to go up. There are points to be made for the benefits of a weaker dollar, but as I stand back and look at this whole situation I have a funny feeling that ...

Pickle in Pakistan 2007-11-05 19:02:27 It seems the turmoil in the Middle East is never ending, and again the United States finds itself in an awkward position. The civil unrest in Iraq, the tension between Turkey and Iraq, and now the events in Pakistan leave us in a position to choose sides. Only this time we must choose between democracy and someone who has assumed the role of dictator. The leader of Pakistan has basically suspended democracy and abandoned the rule of law. President Bush has remarked that President Musharraf has been a good ally in the war on terrorism, but his actions are indefensible.To anybody who disagrees I ask you this, imagine if all the supposed terrorist sleeper cells were to strike all at once and leave our country in an unimaginable state of chaos, would you accept President Bush reacting as did the leader in Pakistan? President Musharraf said he had to take this action due to the growing threat of terrorism; if the above scenario happened President Bush would be able to say t ...

Election 2008: Talk With Us 2007-11-04 17:55:18 In a society where there seems to be a breakdown in communication, the importance of having a President who can overcome this breakdown is great. Most Presidents, and especially this one, talk to us but never with us. We are given a speech that is crafted by a professional speech writer who carefully chooses his or her words. With certain words they are able to make the bad sound not so bad and the not so bad sound good. The speech writer looks to create emotional response, while leaving little room for rational thought. It's not about telling us what is really going on, but making us feel good about what is going on. The next President must be able to provide so much more. I want to hear whoever it may be, talk to us from their heart. If things are bad, don't sugar coat it, tell us the truth. I would also like to see the elimination of the press secretary, or at least a limited use of one. We should want a President who is willing to answer questions, not send a ...

Common Sense Anew: Party Lines 2007-11-02 18:06:11 The following entry is from Common sense Anew:"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed." US Declaration of Independence Party LinesWhen we talk about elected representatives, it is usually in reference to party loyalty or the effect their actions have on their parties. We hear little about loyalty to the people who elected the representatives. When our representatives vote, shouldn't their vote be based on the voice of their constituents? Our founding fathers intended for our elected representatives to represent the people who elected them, not their political party.This focus on party loyalty has created a great divide in our government. It is no longer about doing what's right but doing what it takes to beat the ot ...

The Mutilation Generation 2007-11-02 03:50:42 I don't know if we are still naming our generations, but I think a good name for today's generation would be "the mutilation generation". These kids have taken body piercings to a new level. I have to laugh when thinking about the history of piercings. About the mid 70's it was uncool for a guy to have any ear pierced; if you did you were considered a fag. (As it was said back then.) A few years later and things changed. It was okay for a guy to have one ear pierced, but it had to be in a certain ear. I don't remember which one, but if it was the wrong one, again you were considered a fag. Then came the 80's where it didn't matter which ear was pierced. A few more years and it was okay for a guy  to have both ears pierced. Then came multiple piercings followed by piercings all over the body. I don't have any problem with people doing this, although I was a little freaked out when I saw a young guy with piercings in his ears that resembled grommets ...

Common Sense Anew: Problem Solving 2007-11-01 18:53:57 The following entry is from Common Sense Anew:"As parents, we can have no joy, knowing that this government is not sufficiently lasting to ensure any thing which we may bequeath to posterity: And by a plain method of argument, as we are running the next generation into debt, we ought to do the work of it, otherwise we use them meanly and pitifully." Thomas Paine Problem SolvingAs we look across this great nation of ours, there can be no denying that we have many problems that are really starting to pile up. Our national debt is over 8.5 trillion dollars. The cost of living continues to outpace the growth of income for many Americans. Our education system is far from the best and leaves many of our children unprepared for the world. Crime plagues society. Corruption has reached those who are supposed to stop and prevent it. We have skyrocketing poverty, an inadequate health care system--the list goes on and on.What have we done to solve these problems? We discuss them, come up with pr ...

Lessons in Margaritaville 2007-10-31 18:05:57 I have never met anyone who hasn't heard the song Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet. It is an excellent tune and a definite classic, but within the lyrics there is something unique worth considering. In just about every song the chorus is the same throughout. In Margaritaville the first three lines of the chorus are the same, but the last line is different each time. Here are the three differences: But I know it's nobody's fault Now I think, hell, it could be my fault But I know it's my own damn fault The preceding line to all three is, some people claim that there's a woman to blame, or in other words it's someone else's fault. As I ponder this, I am reminded of the problems we face because it seems today that everything has to be somebody's fault. The Democrats blame the Republicans, the Republicans blame the Democrats, and those who don't follow politics blame them both. There is a possibility that it's nobody's fault and there is an underlying force such as gr ...

Democrats - Put Up or Shut Up 2007-10-30 18:03:16 It has been almost one year since the Democrats were elected to change the direction of our country. One of those changes was to change direction in Iraq and bring an end to the war. The two extreme positions on the war are to continue with what we have been doing or to have an immediate withdrawal. It seems to me that somewhere in the middle there should be a solution. It is obvious that President Bush is unwilling to make any compromises. It is time for the Democrats to present their case to the American people--that they have done all possible to find middle ground and the President has left them no choice but to cut funding for the Iraq war. If the Democrats are not willing to do this then it is time to shut up and fully support the war.The reason that they probably will not cut funding is because the Democrats are worried about how it will affect them in the next election. Unfortunately this has become the state of politics. It is not about doing what you believe is right, b ...

The Cut and Run Republicans 2007-10-29 18:25:36 As I understand it, the Republican party is supposed to stand for reduced spending and sound fiscal management. Yet, their fiscal policies have turned out to be disastrous for our country. Our national debt now exceeds nine trillion dollars and continues to rise. Under Ronald Reagan the debt grew from less than one trillion to well over 2.5 trillion, more than doubling the national debt. The first George Bush increased this to over 4 trillion in only one term. (I'm sure if he had another term he would have also doubled the  national debt.) Bill Clinton managed to slow the growth of debt by increasing it to over 5.5 trillion. Not great, but nowhere near doubling it. Our current president has increased the debt to the over nine trillion dollar mark we see today. I don't think he will be able to double it, but President Bush will have added more debt than any President and almost as much as the last three combined.The belief of the Republicans has been that cutting ...

Putting America First 2007-10-28 17:50:29 Is America really in a position to solve the world's problems? Our list of problems is getting pretty long and we have done little to solve them. It seems to me that if America is to solve world problems, we must first learn how to solve our problems. We talk about ending world hunger, yet we are unable to end American hunger. Through learning how to end hunger here at home, we may find a way to end hunger everywhere. It is time to put our country and our problems first. I do truly care about the rest of the world, but I believe we could do more to make the world a better place by making America a better place. I'm not talking about isolationism here. I realize we have to be involved in what's happening around the world, but not to a point where it leaves us neglecting our own problems. As our problems grow and become worse it weakens our ability to help other nations. If we let things get completely out of control in America, we may reach a point where we ... America

Common Sense Anew: Family Values 2007-10-26 19:02:22 The following entry is from Common Sense Anew:"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." US Declaration of Independence Family ValuesThis is one of the great debates of our time. We all think our values are best and the world would be a better place if everyone followed our lead, but how can we agree on something that is not constant? Values change as we grow older, from generation to generation, and since we are an ethically diverse nation, we must consider the fact that family values differ around the world. If we consider these factors, it seems impossible that society will ever agree on one set of family values. Yet the debate rages on. Unfortunately, we have overlooked one very important issue—the "Value of Family."This value comes from the bond that should exist in a family—a bond created in an atmosphere of love, support, and encourage ...

The War on the Middle Class 2007-10-25 18:17:04 Last night on Lou Dobbs his poll question was, Do you believe that the war on our middle class is simply a myth? The poll results showed that 96% believe that it is not a myth, leaving 4% who believe the war on the middle class is a myth. I have to admit to being a fan of Lou Dobbs, but I have been thinking about this whole war on the middle class thing for quite a while. I have a hard time accepting that there is a war on the middle class. This would mean that the wealthy are intentionally beating down the middle class. I'm sure there is a small percentage of the wealthy who want this, but if we look a little deeper there is a bigger underlying problem.What appears to be a war on the middle class is nothing more than the result of greed. It isn't that the wealthy want to beat down the middle class, it's just that they didn't care what happened to them in their quest for more. Thomas Paine said it best in Common Sense, "Oppression is often the consequence, but seldom or ...

Presidential Twilight Zone 2007-10-24 19:06:45 Listening to both the liberal and conservative media is enough to drive a person crazy. I know it would be easier to tune them out, but I think it is important to listen to opinions from all sides. The conservatives accuse the liberal media of being left-wing lunatics while the liberals accuse the conservative media of being right-wing nuts. The fact is that both sides have the same number one priority, catering to their audience. Neither side considers right and wrong, but how they can support their side while attacking the other side. The sad thing is that those in the middle are being sucked in by each side, leaving our country further divided. I wonder what would happen if we could step into the twilight zone and switch the Presidencies of Bush and Clinton.If this were Clinton's war, would the conservatives be as supportive as they are now? How about the liberals, would they still want to bring this war to an end? I'm sure there would be a few who w ...