Now We Know Where He Truly Stands...

A lot of people are talking about President Obama's "You didn't build that" speech.  Many say the comment is being taken out of context.  I say if it is taken out of context, it's not by very much.  In this short speech, Mr. Obama has laid out his plan for America, and it isn't pretty!

Here is the entire speech:

"There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me -- because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t -- look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

"The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.

"So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the G.I. Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President -- because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together."

There it is in all it's glory.  He said it.  He means it.  He's not taking it back.  And it's completely, incredibly, stunningly, ridiculous that someone with these views could get elected President of the United States of America!  I know many of you may disagree with me - and somewhat agree with Obama now that you see the comment in full context.  I'll comment paragraph by paragraph to illustrate my point.


Paragraph One:

"There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me -- because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t -- look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there."

Nothing is preventing wealthy Americans from giving back if they so desire.  The have the means to do so.  They are not required to give more than they do already just because they have become successful!  Yes, Mr. Obama, there are a lot of smart people out there.  Some of them also have the initiative and the guts to take the risk - many risking all they have! homes, fortunes, time - to actually put their smart ideas in the public eye and see if they have what it takes to "strike it rich" in this country.  It doesn't just happen.  Just because you are born here doesn't mean you get an equal share in everyone's success!  It doesn't work that way.  You want to share in their success?  By a cell phone, drive on those roads (more on that later), get a computer and use the internet (more on that later, too).  Oh! And here's an idea - get one of those jobs that have been created by these risk takers!  See how they did it so you can learn to do it for yourself!  Yes, there are hard working and smart people out here.  But neither hard work nor being smart is a guarantee of success.  People have to like your "product" - whether that be your business or your work ethic or your talents - or some combination thereof.

Paragraph Two:

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business -- you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet."

Yup, somebody gave me help alright.  But not until I worked, trained, educated myself, and displayed a talent that someone wanted!  It didn't just happen all by itself!  People just don't walk up to strangers and say, "You look like you could use some help.  I'm going to give you [money, education, etc.] so you can be successful" without first seeing some initiative, some talent, some sacrifice.  That's the way it works.  Sure, there were a few great teachers in my life.  That's what they truly wanted from life!  They are successful because they do what they love.  Is that someone giving me help or is it just someone doing their job well and me being lucky enough to land in their class?

Yes, someone helped create this unbelievable American system that we have that allows people to thrive.  But it's not because of you!  It's the very same capitalistic system that you hate so much that is  what made this country thrive.  The same system you are bad mouthing every day!  The same system you are trying to destroy!

"Somebody" invested in roads and bridges?  Yes,  you know who they were?  Businesses!  Roads and bridges aren't built unless there is a destination.  What creates those destinations?  Who pays the taxes for those roads and bridges?  It's all because of business!!  Good God, man!  It's as if you think that someone built the roads and then the business popped up.  Sure, some businesses piggy back on the success of others and it may appear that the roads caused business activity.  But I guarantee that the road was built because there was some place to go first.

Finally, the internet.  Yes, government research created the internet, but not because it wanted businesses to use it.  It was built so that research departments from colleges and universities all over the county could communicate.  It was paid for with tax dollars from ... who?  Businesses and the people that work for them!  If it weren't for a capitalistic society and individual ingenuity, the internet would still be nothing more than a simple electronic file service.

Paragraph Three:

"The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires."

Yes, that's true.  We do succeed because of our individual initiative and because we do things together.  But not because we have to do things together.  Which is what you are trying to force us into.  We do things together because it benefits us when we do.  You buy a shovel because you need to dig a hole, somebody has to sell the shovel to you, somebody has to produce the shovel, somebody has to deliver the shovel to the retailer.  Oh, one more thing, you have to have the money to buy the shovel!  You don't get a hole just because you want one - get a job, create a job, find a way to make money or trade your talents for a shovel.  That's the way it works.  That's the way it always has worked.

Oh, and the fire fighting thing.  Cities and counties do have their own fire service.  And they are highly organized at fighting fires.  Even when different cities and counties combine to help each other fight large fires!  Do you really think that some Federal government entity is responsible for this?  Even if individuals had their own service, someone would step up and help organize it.  It's amazing, but we don't need the government to scratch our ass when it itches!

Paragraph Four:

"So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the G.I. Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President -- because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together."

I'm sorry, what?  The government created the middle class? 

Yeah, we're not on our own.  We have a government that increasingly spends more than it takes in, wants more and more of our tax dollars, and will do anything to keep from changing it's behavior and becoming responsible for its actions.  Well, we are sick and tired of it.  We are responsible and we can't afford you or your wrongheaded ideas.

President Obama and people like him have a very different vision for America than most of us.  He wants to punish success by placing limits on it and then taking the "excess" and using it as he sees fit.  Limiting success?  I wonder how much effort Bill Gates and Steve Jobs would've put into their businesses if there were limits on the amount of success for them or their companies.  How far would they have gone before they just stopped trying.

People like Obama would rather destroy this country than to see people succeed while others do not.  Well, guess what?  This is America and in real life everyone doesn't get a trophy just because they live here.  You want a trophy?  It's there, waiting for you.  Go get it...

A Letter to the U.S. Dept of Education

I was having such a nice day, too.  After a very good run with Sapta this morning, I was feeling very relaxed; ready to take on the day.  Like every other day, one of my first tasks is catching up on emails received over night.  I got a real gem from the Department of Education this morning.  I've edited some parts out because they're just plain boring, but here is the message:

Dear Parent of CARL,

Recently your information was provided in the parental section of your student's 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The information you provided indicated that you were going to file your taxes and were providing estimated 2011 tax information.  Now that the federal tax filing deadline has passed and you have probably filed your 2011 tax returns, it is time for you to update your student's FAFSA.

Updated information can be provided once your student accesses their FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov.  You should change your answer on the FAFSA (question 79) to reflect that you have "already completed" your tax return.  Once you've made this change, you will need to update the information you initially reported on the FAFSA to reflect the actual information from the 2011 tax return you filed. ...

... you are required to update the income information so that it reflects the information on the 2011 tax return you filed.  The tax-related questions you should review on your student's FAFSA include adjusted gross income, income tax paid, number of exemptions, and income earned from work.  You should also ensure that your FAFSA correctly identifies the type of tax return that was filed (IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, foreign tax return, etc.) and that you have entered the correct amounts for Additional Financial Information (questions 91a-f) and Other Untaxed Income (questions 92a-i).

It is important that you make the necessary changes to the tax information so that your student's FAFSA includes the same information that was included on your tax return.  However, when making corrections based on your completed federal tax returns, do not update other information that was correct at the time you filed your FAFSA.  For example, do not change your answer for household size (question 72) or for number in college (question 73); unless your answer was incorrect as of the date you originally signed the FAFSA.

Keep in mind that if the FAFSA also contains estimated tax information for your student, that information should also be updated to reflect the actual information from the 2011 tax return your student filed. ... Your student's ability to receive federal student aid can be impacted if you do not make the necessary updates or corrections.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.  If you have additional questions regarding the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, online help is available.  Visit www.fafsa.gov and click the "Browse Help" feature on the FAFSA home page for information on the tool and the FAFSA process.

U.S. Department of Education

Federal Student Aid

 OK!  Now I'm just angry - again!  I was angry that I had to provide all this information on the application in the first place.  It's just wrong.  So - since I could not reply to the email directly, I'm going to do it here.  I know they won't see it, but it makes me feel better having "replied" anyway.

Dear U.S. Department of Education,

This message is very insulting!  The federal tax filing deadline has passed?  Since when?  We will not be filing our returns until April 17th (the actual federal tax filing deadline), I can assure you of that.  Carl may be filing his earlier, but he is having trouble obtaining his W-2s.

The tax information we provided to you was a very educated estimate.  The amounts will not vary by more that 5% in either direction and should be more than adequate for you to complete your part of the approval process.
 

All that aside, it really is a mystery to me why you need all this information.  My son is nearly 20 years old.  A fully grown man and legally an adult; responsible for his own life and finances.  Why in the world do you need to know how much my wife and I earn when neither one of us is applying for assistance?  All you should be asking us is whether or not we will be aiding him financially in his educational goals.  Other than that, it's really none of your business!

Oh!  I love the part of your message that tells me "do not update other information that was correct at the time you filed" the application.  What?!?  If the information is correct, why would I update it?  But thanks for telling me.  Hell, I was ready to fill out the whole damn form again!  Whew!  So glad I don't have to do that...  Oh and I am allowed to update the incorrect information?  Really?  Thanks, I didn't know that...  My god you people are idiots.

If April 17th is too late for you to receive 100% accurate tax information, then you'll have to use the amounts we originally provided.

Have a wonderful day.  I know you've just brightened mine.

Mark Bonafe

Newt Gingrich, Just Shut Up Already!

Is there a bigger idiot in politics these days than Newt? I say no. My evidence?

Newt Gingrich said in a statement today,

"With today's decision on marriage by the Ninth Circuit, and the likely appeal to the Supreme Court, more and more Americans are being exposed to the radical overreach of federal judges and their continued assault on the Judeo-Christian foundations of the United States. The Constitution of the United States begins with 'We the People'; it does not begin with 'We the Judges'. Federal judges need to take heed of that fact. Federal judges are substituting their own political views for the constitutional right of the people to make judgments about the definition of marriage."

Really, Newton? You're trying to become the President of the United States of America, and you use the logic of an eight year old in your arguments?  Wait, I don't mean to insult eight year old kids...

Let's try replacing some words in your argument to see how well it holds up:

"With today's decision on suffrage... more and more Americans are being exposed to the radical overreach of federal judges and their continued assault on the male dominated foundations of the United States. The Constitution of the United States begins with 'We the People'; it does not begin with 'We the Judges'. Federal judges need to take heed of that fact. Federal judges are substituting their own political views for the constitutional right of the men to make judgments about their superiority."

Ok, that was just for fun. Let's use a really good one.

"With today's decision on slavery ... more and more Americans are being exposed to the radical overreach of federal judges and their continued assault on the economic foundations of the United States. The Constitution of the United States begins with 'We the People'; it does not begin with 'We the Judges'. Federal judges need to take heed of that fact. Federal judges are substituting their own political views for the constitutional right of the people to make judgments about their property (slaves)."

hmmm. Me thinks it doesn't hold up very well.

You see, Newton, you need to take heed of the fact that we have a Republican form of government here in the United States. You are a "constitutional scholar," at least you say you are. I know you teach it in college courses. Your poor students... If you'd just pay attention to your own studies, you would understand that our form of government is setup to protect individuals and individual rights. It is not designed to operate based on mob rule.

The vast majority of people in the United States are allowed to enter into a contract with someone else that grants them special legal privileges. As far as the state is concerned, that's all a marriage is! It's a contract between two adults that says they are committed to each other. A marriage binds property and finances to the couple. It allows privileges in a host of circumstances that may arise in one or both of their lives.

Sure, legal contracts could be drawn up to grant most of these privileges to a same sex couple, but why should they have to concern themselves with all the details (and expense) that would go into setting them up when the rest of us get the benefit of one simple term that covers it all, marriage.

Let them have it! If it's our right, then it's theirs, too. Besides, Newton, how is it hurting you? How is it harming your beloved Judeo-Christian lifestyle or institutions? Are they forcing their lifestyle on you? Are they carriers of some disease that only manifests itself with a marriage contract? Will they ever - ever - be a member of your church? If they can marry, does it mean that we'll be surrounded by same sex couples? Like there's so many of them you've never seen just waiting to become a majority when marriage is legal for them? Is their behavior going to be responsible for you going to hell? I think we both know that's not the case. You're going to hell - if there is one - for a host of other, well publicized, reasons. No need to expound further...

You and Mitt (another joke) throw around terms like "unelected Judges are overstepping their [fill in the blank]." Well, of course they're unelected, you idiot! You of all people, a "constitutional scholar," should know that they're not elected because they would never be able to reach an unbiased conclusion on any case if they were beholden to you and your corporate money and warped views and massive ego! They don't have to please you!  That's the law!  Yeah, that's the law and it's eating you up that we don't have to live by the same values that you live by.  Good thing!

You, sir, have been educated well beyond your intelligence! Your ignorance is astounding! And the fact that you've gotten as far in your political career - to be so close to becoming the next president - is shameful. Shame on us, the citizens of this great country, for allowing you, with your your self-serving lifestyle and obvious distaste for individual rights, for allowing your achievements.

Just looking at you makes me sick! There oughta be a law...

It's Time to Take a Stand

The presidential election is right around the corner.  Please take a stand and vote your core beliefs this time around instead of voting for who you "think" has a chance of winning.

As a country, we are bankrupt.  Militarily, our empire spans the entire globe; costing us untold fortune in lives, dollars, and credibility.  We cannot afford the same old ideas that took us to where we are right now.  We need a new direction.

Quickly!  Who do you know that will cause Washington to pause and reflect on real change?  Is it Romney?  Is it Gingrich?  Is it Santorum?  Is it (lol) Perry?  No!  Neither of these people have the conviction or the willpower to cause any real changes - or to make anyone even think there needs to be a change.  And I think we all know that big changes are necessary in Washington.

Is it Obama?  He ran on a good promise and failed to deliver.  So hell no.  He can't do it either.

Only one is in the position to make it happen.  For your viewing pleasure: