Here we are, five days from the day we will make our voices heard in the presidential election. I just read a very concise and intelligent article that I think speaks volumes. I've made it very obvious that I don't support Obama in any way, and this article explains one of many reasons why. Socialism is a flawed system. It doesn't work and ends up being the antithesis of it's original premise in that it hurts society when the original hope and promise is to help. The author read my mind: http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20081030/cm_csm/yboudreaux
It's been an argument of my less-than-right-leaning friends that Obama's stance on guns is not a valid argument for not voting for the man. I would respectfully disagree because his gun stance is a small piece of a big government puzzle. When the majority of society finally sees the big picture, enlightenment if you will, only then can we truly be free.
CZ
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
As Suspected
I didn't really need a political test to tell me how I feel, but in the spirit of the season I thought I would join the fray since Scott found a good website for it.
As I suspected, I have a bunch of libertarian socialist friends (and wife) that see the world like Mohandas Gandhi and the Dalai Lama, but I get along with them just fine because of similar libertarian views. Where we divide is in regards to how much the government should intervene in our daily lives, economically speaking. According to this test, a lot of my friends and wife lean away from capitalism (and free market) and toward a labor party belief. Check here.
The scariest part of the analysis is that almost all of the world's governments (including ours) are far more authoritarian than they should be. Control of the people through goverment regulation under the premise of "patriotism" is far more prevalent than any sort of freedom or liberty. There is, unfortunately, a huge part of the population in the United States that has become a part of an entitlement state and embraced a sort of protectionism without knowing what it means and without realizing the ramifications of both in tandem. These two beliefs, when coupled, lead to a government free to do what it wants and a government that falls in the upper right hand corner of this chart. This is explained in the paragraph below.
I'm sure you've all heard, with so many 24-hour news channels, how many people think the United States in general is leaning toward being a "Europe-Lite" sort of government. Check this chart and see how accurate this assessment is. Astonishingly close, actually. Nearly everyone in this election falls into the same area as the entire European Union.
Most of all, the prudent observer would also see the mental anguish I face when choosing a candidate. Thus the reason why I have yet to make a decision, even though I am less than two weeks from having to put pencil to paper. For shame. CZ
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Culinary Perfection
There are two things I always like to do when my birthday rolls around-Eat and drink like a King. I did both today, so I thought I would share at least a picture of the glorious meal I had for dinner. Filet Mignon cut fresh from Paul's Meat Market and grilled to perfection on the grill Pops and Michele bought me. You really can't beat fresh from the market. Perfect is all I can come up with to describe this Meat Euphoria. Thanks, Karen for driving over there and picking them up. I love you with all my heart.
I also wanted to thank all of my fantastic friends and family for emailing, texting, and calling to wish me a Happy Birthday. Sam & Kevin, SK, Brownie & Tam, Jen & Scott, JohnL & MaryL, Mandroni and my Georgia Peaches, Aunt Terry & Uncle Jim (and Benderville), Mum, Maaa & Larry, Cass, Madeline, Jamie & Amy, Jason & Angie, Steve & Jennifer, Craig & Katie, Peppas. I'm in awe every day at how many people care and how lucky I am to have you all in my life.
CZ
Stand Tall & Proud
Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.
To celebrate my 33rd year of existence, I shall exercise my right to free speech.
We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.
We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.
Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.
We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life -- accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action -- accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property -- accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.
Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market. -from www.lp.org
Even if you don't learn anything, go here, for me-for my birthday. Educate yourselves, for that is the only path for growth.
However you choose to vote on November 4, vote your conscience. It is your duty as a proud American.
To celebrate my 33rd year of existence, I shall exercise my right to free speech.
We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.
We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.
Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.
We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life -- accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action -- accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property -- accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.
Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market. -from www.lp.org
Even if you don't learn anything, go here, for me-for my birthday. Educate yourselves, for that is the only path for growth.
However you choose to vote on November 4, vote your conscience. It is your duty as a proud American.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Now We Roll
Since I got the ball rolling and the Dems (well, one) out swinging, I thought I should make sure everyone is well aware of Obama's stance on concealed carry.
Obama voted for a bill in the Illinois senate that allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons. If there was any issue on which Obama rarely deviated, it was gun control. He was the most strident candidate when it came to enforcin and expanding gun control laws. So this vote jumped out as inconsistent.
When I queried him about the vote, he said, "I didn't find that [vote] surprising. I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry. This was a narrow exception in an exceptional circumstance where a retired police officer might find himself vulnerable as a consequence of the work he has previously done--and had been trained extensively in the proper use of firearms."
It wasn't until a few weeks later that another theory came forward about the uncharacteristic vote. Obama was battling with his GOP opponent to win the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Source: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell, p.250-251 Aug 14, 2007
And it is that very stance that could possibly affect in the future, my ability to defend myself, my home, and my loved ones. I am trained and licensed to carry and I don't plan on giving up that right. If I can do one small thing as a citizen and cast a vote not in favor of Obama in order to preserve that right of mine then yes, it is a valid reason to not vot Obama come November 4.
Obama voted for a bill in the Illinois senate that allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons. If there was any issue on which Obama rarely deviated, it was gun control. He was the most strident candidate when it came to enforcin and expanding gun control laws. So this vote jumped out as inconsistent.
When I queried him about the vote, he said, "I didn't find that [vote] surprising. I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry. This was a narrow exception in an exceptional circumstance where a retired police officer might find himself vulnerable as a consequence of the work he has previously done--and had been trained extensively in the proper use of firearms."
It wasn't until a few weeks later that another theory came forward about the uncharacteristic vote. Obama was battling with his GOP opponent to win the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Source: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell, p.250-251 Aug 14, 2007
And it is that very stance that could possibly affect in the future, my ability to defend myself, my home, and my loved ones. I am trained and licensed to carry and I don't plan on giving up that right. If I can do one small thing as a citizen and cast a vote not in favor of Obama in order to preserve that right of mine then yes, it is a valid reason to not vot Obama come November 4.
Softening Up
Good friends, even husband and wife can disagree when it comes to politics and religion. I'm living proof of both.
There was a comment on 'Perfection' that maybe I shouldn't be so quick to assume Obama is anti-gun. Well, if one were to do some background work and fact-checking, the truth would bear that Obama consistently votes anti-gun.
Sure, he'll let us keep our "guns for hunting, and guns in our homes", but if Obama were to let pass a law that instantly made a gun with a magazine capable of holding over ten rounds illegal, would that make him pro-gun in any gun owners eyes? I think not.
So, maybe you don't think that can't happen, either. Clinton passed the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994. (check your facts, Scottie-Clinton did take some guns away)
Hundreds of firearm and gun equipent manufacturers had to re-tool and remanufacture thousands of weapons and magazines because of this law. One of the biggest was Colt. Yes, that American icon. Many consider this company to be the most famous of all gun companies.
California has already gone so far as to do just that (force state-wide confiscation of guns). Keep law-abiding citizens from owning guns they could previously own legally. I actually own a few firearms this very minute that I could not own if I were a resident of California. Does that make me a bad person? No. Am I a danger to society? No. Should I be able to defend myself and my loved ones in case of emergency? YES. This is what the founding fathers intended, and we should all be ashamed if we let our government control us instead of work for us.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Perfection
I overheard a discussion while sitting in the bleachers at the Northside game last night that made me think a little. A few women were yapping it up about being pro-Obama in a discussion held previously in their offices. Their talk made me think about my two biggest (although there are many) reasons for not backing someone with his beliefs.
1. He has voted time and time again against a person's right to bear arms.
2. He holds fast to the flawed, socialist belief that taking from the rich and giving to the poor is right and good.
Most agree with it being right and good until they become one of the "rich". I am educated enough to know that history shows us how flawed this idyllic system really is.
Thomas Sowell, a very respected print columnist, wrote an essay that included an almost perfect quote. I don't believe in any religion, but historically speaking, this says it all.
"Socialism has long sought to create a heaven on earth but an even older philosophy pointed out that the road to hell is paved with good intentions."
There are historical figures that have also said things far more eloquently than I that perfectly describes our current situation in history-especially in this election.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.- Benjamin Franklin
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Spaghetti
The National Football League is awesome this year. Anyone who watched any of Sunday’s games would agree. My wife, who really isn’t a big NFL fan anyway, even enjoyed (with heartbreak for my boy Jason) the crazy ending in the Chicago game. Of course, I REALLY enjoyed watching the Cardinals beat up on the Cowgirls. The Steelers had a bye this weekend so that all the banged up players could get some much needed R&R. This caption was posted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette a couple weeks ago and I’ve been meaning to post it because I think it’s hilarious, and quite possibly the coolest cartoon I’ve seen to date. The Stillers have three injured running backs (Fast Willie-he's in the very back of the jeep- will be back this weekend) one of which is done for the year with a broken shoulder, a punter that’s out for the year, and no less than four other starters that have missed time due to one malady or another. Coming out of five weeks of football with only one loss is a good thing. Going back into the rest of the season starting off with the lowly Bungles is a great thing. Sunday afternoon’s matchup should make for a nice tune up for the rough schedule to come. I’m looking forward to it immensely if this past weekend’s excitement is any indication of what I should expect.
This weekend also meant more fun wrapped up in my seemingly never-ending Jeep project. I got out the new wiring harness, switches, and myriad gauges to start routing the brand new wires that look like a mound of multi-colored spaghetti sitting under the dash. I mounted the fuse block, routed some of the wires, and got the engine harness and computer mounted and wired under the hood. It’s not extremely hard, but very tedious and time-consuming. Gathering a ton of scrambled information on what connects where and keeping it straight is the hardest. I’ve got the service manuals from the 2001 Silverado that the engine came from and it’s a necessity. Five books and approximately 3500 pages of codes, diagrams, and schematics make for a lot of reading and sorting. I use three of the manuals mostly, because the only thing I’m using from the truck is the engine and computer-the heart of the beast. I also have fifteen to twenty sheets of schematics and diagrams for the new harness for the Jeep. I take that and the harness for the computer and engine and make them work together as one. It sounds like a nightmare, but it’s really enjoyable and I’ll be diving right back in tonight when I get home. That’s the only way my baby is going to be road-worthy again. I’m so close I can almost feel the rumble of the V8.
A couple of readers noticed that I haven’t been posting recently and I really don’t have an answer for why this is the case. Much of it can be attributed to the fact that I’ve been much busier than normal at work. I lost my number one salesperson a month ago. This necessitated a new hire and a ton of training. I always seem to lose track of how much knowledge is required to work here and do the job well. Rephrasing, a job done well enough to meet my standards, anyway. My standards are high, so this takes a while. The new guy is coming along nicely, but is still about a year shy of being completely up to speed. I’ve come to realize over my eight years of service here that it takes around a year to be completely proficient at everything involving the daily duties of a parts and accessories salesperson. Who knew there was so much information to absorb about our toys-motorcycles, ATVs, and most recently-scooters. In addition to Kawasaki, Polaris, and Suzuki, we picked up Kymco recently. They sell ATVs, UTVs, and scooters, and I’m actually excited about a new franchise bringing in a whole different clientele. Rockers and Mods will both now be regulars. It should be fun next spring.
This weekend also meant more fun wrapped up in my seemingly never-ending Jeep project. I got out the new wiring harness, switches, and myriad gauges to start routing the brand new wires that look like a mound of multi-colored spaghetti sitting under the dash. I mounted the fuse block, routed some of the wires, and got the engine harness and computer mounted and wired under the hood. It’s not extremely hard, but very tedious and time-consuming. Gathering a ton of scrambled information on what connects where and keeping it straight is the hardest. I’ve got the service manuals from the 2001 Silverado that the engine came from and it’s a necessity. Five books and approximately 3500 pages of codes, diagrams, and schematics make for a lot of reading and sorting. I use three of the manuals mostly, because the only thing I’m using from the truck is the engine and computer-the heart of the beast. I also have fifteen to twenty sheets of schematics and diagrams for the new harness for the Jeep. I take that and the harness for the computer and engine and make them work together as one. It sounds like a nightmare, but it’s really enjoyable and I’ll be diving right back in tonight when I get home. That’s the only way my baby is going to be road-worthy again. I’m so close I can almost feel the rumble of the V8.
A couple of readers noticed that I haven’t been posting recently and I really don’t have an answer for why this is the case. Much of it can be attributed to the fact that I’ve been much busier than normal at work. I lost my number one salesperson a month ago. This necessitated a new hire and a ton of training. I always seem to lose track of how much knowledge is required to work here and do the job well. Rephrasing, a job done well enough to meet my standards, anyway. My standards are high, so this takes a while. The new guy is coming along nicely, but is still about a year shy of being completely up to speed. I’ve come to realize over my eight years of service here that it takes around a year to be completely proficient at everything involving the daily duties of a parts and accessories salesperson. Who knew there was so much information to absorb about our toys-motorcycles, ATVs, and most recently-scooters. In addition to Kawasaki, Polaris, and Suzuki, we picked up Kymco recently. They sell ATVs, UTVs, and scooters, and I’m actually excited about a new franchise bringing in a whole different clientele. Rockers and Mods will both now be regulars. It should be fun next spring.
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