Are You Afraid Yet? by Dr. T

What is it going to take to make people realize that the government will be the downfall of America? If you are a thinking person and you don't go around with your head in the sand or in some other dark place, you should be able to figure this out. We are currently in a severe recession and each day the stock market declines. I know that there is a natural ebb & flow in the market, but believe me, this is anything but natural. This is fear, folks. It is fear of President-elect Obama's policies. The capitalist free market which has until now made our country the wealthiest on the planet is in danger of collapse. The free market which has enabled businesses to flourish and employ the citizens is in jeopardy. The free market which has allowed people of average means to invest and grow funds for their retirement is in danger of collapse. I lay the majority of the blame at the feet of high-browed government elites who have ruined the economy with oppressive regulation and reckless policy. The big three automakers are standing in line for bailout money which, no doubt, the government will hand over along with a list of caveats that will keep the companies in the red. People need to understand that these bailouts are not for the people, they are a smokescreen for more government control. Socialism is replacing capitalism right before our eyes. Many folks know this, which is why they are bailing out of Wall Street. Hard-earned money is evaporating because folks are afraid that the President elect will raise taxes.

GM, Ford, Chrysler...

Does anyone else see the odd disparity of political viewpoints when the left touts a financial bailout of Detroit's big three, while at the same time demonizing the use of carbon-based, fuel guzzling automobiles? Sweethearts of the left along with their leaders constantly complain about our pollution spewing vehicles while they all but give free advertising for foreign made hybrid vehicles, i.e. Honda Prius. Now they wax poetic about the all but dead industry that produces mid 20th century technology that can no longer compete. Does anyone remember how bad the big 3 were doing when our economy was prospering? Now that we are in a full fledged recession that, more than likely, will last until fiscal year 2010, how much better do you think their business model will do?

This author is not anti-Detroit, in fact, with the exception of one vehicle, all vehicles owned by said author have been American. And for a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel one only need to read the article in the July issue of the Atlantic, about the positive outlook for the Chevy Volt (due some time in 2010). Bankruptcy seems the most reasonable path for the American auto industry, plenty of companies have survived the process in the past. Huge companies can prosper after filing for chapter 11 protection, e.g. USAIR, Kmart, WaMu, Trump(multiple times).
Two questions to ponder: What happened to American ingenuity? And why are so many politicians on both sides afraid to mention the 2000 lb. gorilla in the room...UAW?

I Told You So... by Dr. T

So the voters have spoken and Barack Obama will be our 44th President. It won't be long before the rose-colored glasses come off and 52% of the citizenry realize what they have done. The problem is that 100% of us are going to pay,and pay we will. While these misguided voters were swooning to the empty rhetoric that Obama was spewing, they weren't really listening to the message between the lines. So for the first time in our history the new President and the Democratic party will make the ultimate power grab and send the country down the path to socialism. The founders must be spinning! The wheels are already in motion. Barack has proclaimed that he will overturn President Bush's executive orders for drilling in Utah. So we won't be enjoying the lower gas prices much longer. As soon as production falls,the prices will go up. This is the guy who feels your pain. As gas prices escalate, the prices for goods will also escalate. When Obama hits corporations with higher taxes, the corporations will downsize or move overseas or they will simply pass the higher taxes down to the consumers. So much for Obama lowering taxes for the middle class....we're going to take it on the chin. Oh,and have I mentioned a raise in capital gains and perhaps a grab for 401k accounts?

This is not sour grapes folks, Barack Obama is my president and I will support him for the sake of the country. But I am fearful that higher taxes, runaway spending in the form of unprecedented bail-outs, record high unemployment and house foreclosures will bankrupt us. All of this while we are fighting two wars in an effort to keep our enemies from unleashing terrorist attacks on our soil.

Governmental Help?

Barack Obama will be, in a little less than 6 weeks, the next president of the United States of America. It goes without saying that his election is a major milestone in our history. Notice I say "our", this is our history, Barack is going to be our president. His ascent to the highest position of political power in the world shows and is showing that perhaps our society is not as racist as some may think. It may also cause some to question preferential treatment as relates to race. Then again it may not.

And now, a discussion of governmental aid, handouts, bailouts, etc. is in order. For you see, Barack Obama, whether you disagree with his politics or not, succeeded without said aid. In fact much has been made of his flip-flopping on public funding during his campaign. Barack's campaign succeeded because he fund raised his own capital, without government's (at least not our own...China?) help. There seems to be a lesson to be learned, so MC did some research of some well known African-American public figures, i.e. Congressman Charles Rangel, Oprah Winfrey, Thomas Sowell, Jesse Jackson, Jeremiah Wright, and Martin Luther King. As far as can be determined from the information about the backgrounds of these individuals, they all prospered and gained prominence without handouts, welfare, or the like. So why is it that most of the above personalities campaign or campaigned for race-based preferential treatment and welfare programs both in the workplace and home?

Her Future is So Bright...

This morning, after waking to a daunting future of a Conservative's worst nightmare, I had a pleasant surprise. Over the past few months my five year old has become interested in the presidential race. She had figured out who was running and why (sort of). She knew their names and was beginning to ask a lot of questions. She had heard fer friends and teachers at school talking about Barack Obama. I tried to, as best could be explained to a kindergartner, tell her why I would not be voting for BO. It was because he was basically trying to take my and other people's money. Through simplicity for a child I see the further truth in my explanation. Well this morning while the little ones were watching Dora or the Backyardigans or some other fingernails on the chalkboard cartoon, I told her that Barack was going to be our next president. She looked perplexed and then a little sad. She told me that yesterday her class had had a mock election. She then told me that only one person voted for John McCain. As she told me this my back was to her as I was spreading tuna salad on whole wheat bread for her lunch, and it hit me. I turned and asked, "...you were the only one who voted for John McCain in your whole class?" She smiled shyly and nodded yes. I had to ask her again to make sure. I knelt down and told to come here. I then gave her a big hug and she said softly to me, "I just wanted to vote for the guy you liked Daddy".

Now I know this was not how it probably happened, but I imagine my little girl in class holding her hand up high, by herself, when her teacher asked the entire class who would vote for John McCain. While the rest of her classmates and friends raised their hands for Barack. Perhaps I am imposing fatherly valor to a simple kindergarten activity, but I remember being in school and how important it was to be like everybody else. I have to tell ya' friends...my little girl has got guts, she is going places.

Gird Your Loins...

Prepare yourself, prepare your children, gird your loins, learn or leave (by the way this is what the first part of my final line in latin means from my last post), and for greatness sake strap on a pair. Stand by for more to come!

Thanks to Jonah Goldberg for posting this in NR's, the Corner today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Q7YRDL90E

P.S. Excuse the profanity, I myself abstain but I appreciate its usage at times.

What is there left to say...

I have not thought long and I have not thought hard about tomorrow. I do have faith though (notice I did not use the word "hope"). My children will love me and I them on Wednesday. The sun will rise and people will purchase goods and services. The problem is not Wednesday or the week from Wednesday, the problem as I see will be approximately two or three years from Wednesday. Whose problem? It remains to be seen, for I am not a prognosticator, although I can foresee a longing for the good ol' days of 2005-6-7.

There has been an article I have been working on for some time related to Russel Kirk's idea of the elite and universal suffrage. To say the least, it is a touchy matter and I am struggling to find the correct route and words to get my point across. But, perhaps I need to just take a look around tomorrow and try to identify the smiling faces as they enter the polling place filled with a media-induced sense of "hope". It may not be anger, for preparation has been months old at this point, but may in fact be closer to pity. In my mind I have honed my beliefs and personal morays. Egocentricity aside, I doubt I can say the same for my neighbors. Although I have faith, I also have eyes and ears. And I am sorry, to a lesser extent than can be stated here, to think and realize that with voting comes responsibility. A responsibility to be informed, a responsibility to reason, and a responsibility to judge a candidate by their actions, words, and intentions. I will never pull a lever for a candidate for punishment's sake. I will never pull a lever for a candidate because I think it is cool. I will never pull a lever for a candidate because someone else told me to. I will never pull a lever for a candidate who's ideals do not mirror my own.

I love this country as I suppose you do as well. And I am proud, as I will be on Wednesday, to be an American. No matter the outcome and no matter the causes, I still have faith in this system of ours. It is going to be an interesting ride...

Aut disce aut discede, aut viam inveniam aut faciam!