Friday, November 23, 2012

What Conservatism Is

If most people actually took to the time to get past all the rhetoric and study conservatism, enough people would end up being conservatives to win most elections. The problem is most people don’t study the facts, or hear the facts being told to them and therefore don’t really know what we are all about. Despite the media’s take that we are hate poor people, have no desire to help those in need, are homophobic and anti-women swim in our riches, this simply isn’t the case. Yes, some radical conservatives are right winged nutt jobs who want Jesus as their next President just as some liberals want abortions to be allowed at birth, but most of us are hard working, middle class Americans that love others, give to those in need, hate war, have homosexual friends and love our freedoms and love America.

However, our nation is divided in angst. It has become about which side wins instead of what the country actually needs the most. The media controlled noise has snuffed out the real conservative message or changed it into something it clearly is not.

Yet at the same time conservatives are simply failing at getting their message out and across and that has to change.

So what do we “conservatives” believe and why should conservatism be chosen over the more promoted “progressive” aka liberal ideology? Well, some conservatives won’t agree with me breakdown, but many do and will, so for all it is worth, here it goes.

First thing we have to get past is all the social and religious noise. Break it down into political values first. Then, for those in which those touchy issues matter, bring them into the discussion at that point. Let’s agree on some basics first. If we don’t have common ground here, no need wasting each others’ time with rest.

Role of Government – We believe that the government is to be controlled by the people and not the other way around. Big governments tend to start controlling every aspect of life with more and more laws that end up penetrating every single thing we do – limiting our freedoms and ability to operate as adults. We are seeing that happen in our day more than ever. (i.e. you cannot even make the grown up decision to buy a Big Gulp in NYC anymore). We believe most, though not all, issues should be passed back down to the State level which allows for those in that State to decide its own issues and also provides some variety across the land. If one State wants to endorse or legalize a specific idea or issue, why should the Federal government get in the way? Not all conservatives see it this way however, which is our downfall and I will explain later. But, why can’t States have the power to choose to either endorse or condone issues like abortion or homosexual marriages for example? Most of the time the State should be the one to call the shots unless it is a clear violation of the Constitution such as it was deemed when Lincoln pushed to outlaw slavery. Most don’t even know it was Republican conservatives that set the slaves free.

The government should never become too big for its britches. The smaller it remains the less of your money it takes from you and the more the people control it instead of the other way around. Big governments become like a big business with more and more people on payroll in various agencies and departments in which downsizing is simply not a realistic option. Have you seen government worker benefits, base salaries and pensions? The average employee of the government now makes more than $57,000 a year. In my business I see government retirees with pensions earning them more per year than most would even imagine and in many cases they also have a powerful retirement plan and can also get Social Security payments! Talk about a comfortable retirement! This is why once the government grows, it is nearly impossible to trim it back – ever. And the bigger it gets, the more money we have to have to feed the monster.

The government does have a role in protecting our borders and freedoms, helping our allies and in other areas like infrastructure and roadways along with passing necessary laws to ensure order. But over the last 100 years it has grown to the point of taking care of the needy and the lazy (two different groups in some cases), controlling foods and agriculture, schools, hospitals, transportation, healthcare, space exploration, energy, various social and moral issues, personal habits and on and on and on.

Taxes, Spending and Debt – America was founded by people who wanted to get away from taxes. Most conservatives agree that even a medium size government requires some taxation. It just needs to be fair and limited. Currently more than 47% of all Americans pay zero income tax. Yes, zero. That means outside of sales and state taxes, they contribute nothing. Others pay up to 35% which is likely to go up to 38%, just in Federal taxes. This has nothing to do with “being rich” or not. The media has made it out to be that all conservatives are also rich. This is simply not the case. Every society has rich people – even the most broke nations of the world have millionaires. But even if tax rates were at 70% or higher, those rich people would not be able to support the operations of a large government society for any length of time. Therefore, it has to be moderated. Everyone should pay something. As President Obama became famous for saying “everyone should pay their fair share”. You might be one of those who gets a nice refund every year and therefore pays little to no taxes, but in reality, is that fair? Can’t everyone pay at least something?

The need for tax increases however are directly related to two other big issues: our spending and a big government. If the government payroll is that of a large company, well, the only income it can generate is through taxation since most of its services are free or at cost. Spending also includes the spending required to grow a big government, but it also includes, money promised to lobbyist, unnecessary wars, stupid studies and grants or bridges to nowhere. Bad spending habits means more taxes are needed. This is no different than it is with an household in America. We all have to watch our spending and when times are tough, we need to cut back, not spend more.

Conservatives wants moderate or low taxes for a few specific reasons – it keeps more of the money in the hands of each American, which means consumer savings or spending will increase and it also keeps more of the money in the hands business owners which will keep many of them from raising prices on services or goods and will push more of them to hire more people. Both of these reasons impact the overall economy, which does one important thing – you said it - increases the Gross Domestic Product which means more income to the government through more people paying taxes without having to raise the tax rates. If you raised the rates to begin with, the above simply would not occur.

We believe the national debt has become an emergency as we close in on 17 trillion. Every American should be alarmed and concerned for their future and the future of their children. If we do not want to become another Mexico, Canada or Greece, we need to get this paid down by fixing the tax codes so that everyone pays some, and reducing our spending immediately. Most Americans just think the government can print more money, and it will, but not without a price that could take decades to recover from, if not longer. No parent would put $250,000 on a credit card and then hand that to their child at birth, but that is exactly what each American owes to China and other borrowers right now in 2012. Yes it will take more taxes to pay this off and it will require everyone paying some. But it will also require less government spending and that means cuts that are going to hurt.

Entitlements – As Americans we do believe in the helping each other way of life. If someone is in need, it is usually someone from America that is there to help, whether it be a natural disaster and donations via the Red Cross or in war times as we provide assistance. Helping our own is no different and most conservatives do believe the government can provide some level of assistance to those truly in need. The key word is truly. Programs like Medicare, Medicaid, along with food stamps, unemployment income, disability, housing assistance and now Obamacare all have great intentions for many. The problem is ease of access actually has had the reverse affect on society as more and more people have become lazy, getting more from the government than they would in their own efforts. More than 47% of Americans get some type of benefit from the government and over 40 million are now getting free food from the government. It has gotten to the point now where our government has a website to help new immigrants find free stuff being paid for by your dollars and mine when many of us can barely cover our own household needs. http://www.welcometousa.gov/Government_benefits/default.htm

We believe America should provide assistance when real assistance is needed. But tough oversight and management is needed to avoid fraud and to keep people from “using the system” to milk the government while making no real effort to take care of themselves as so many millions of people do each year.

Jobs, Economy – We believe that jobs and the economy are grown by private enterprise and the push for the American dream to strive for financial and personal freedom. Americans have always prided themselves in being self-reliant and strong with nothing getting in the way of whatever they dream to accomplish. Americans with this mentality are the very reason we have most of the things we have today, including the jobs or careers each of us has. From the telephone to Apple, it is free enterprise that has worked like it has. No government has ever succeeded in trying to play this role - ever. Every single nation that has ever tried has eventually failed or become miserable. When times get tough Americans get tougher and things improve in time. The government can certainly play a limited role when the funds allow, but low unemployment and a strong economy are always a direct result of a robust and strong private sector. Overbearing government fees and regulations, and high taxes have the opposite result. If we want a strong economy and we want more jobs, we have to let them people solve the problem and we believe this cannot be done if the government is standing in the way.

National Security – Because of our amazing people, history and success, many in the world despise and reject us. This isn’t going to change unless we become like them. Because of this reality, we have to be strong and prepared at all times to defend our rights and freedoms and to stand with our friends around the world who embrace our views. This does mean war from time to time. But when we enter a war, we should be quick, exact and done with it, if possible. Some people and some countries just have no desire to be our friend and never will no matter how hard we try, and that is ok. But if they choose to try and harm us, they should pay a heavy, swift price. Nothing is more important than our way of life and the security of our families. American should be respected, if nothing else for fear of the powers we wield in our military. We need not be a bully, but the world needs to know and understand, “don’t mess with us or you won’t soon forget it.”

The Constitution – we believe the Constitution is the Bible of the American way. There are few reasons to ever add to it, and certainly nothing should be taken away. No other document has had more of a positive impact on political human history than what God gave the Founding Fathers in this amazing work. It is our political compass yet as we attempt to water it down more and more with our “modern” view of thinking, our ground becomes less solid. It can and will stand the test of time if we will allow it too. This is why the appointment of Supreme Court judges is so vital to our future. No judge should be appointed that is going to make judicial decisions based on their personal leanings but sadly, on both sides of the isle, this has happened way too often in the recent past. No matter what side of politics we are on, it must remain the constant for future generations or all will be lost.

Social Issues – the issues of the day seem to be centered on homosexual rights and the rights of women to have an abortion. These two topics alone are powerful enough to start nuclear wars. For me personally, I will never vote for a candidate that supports abortion. It’s just that important for me. But that doesn’t mean I have to make it “the issue” for you, unless you claim you’re also a Believer. Then we have some talking to do. Right wingers have gone so overboard on these two issues alone that the rest of what I just spelled out gets completely ignored. What homosexual would ever want to be a part of a group that hated him or her, despite their leanings towards conservatism in other areas? This is what I believe the solution is to give many of these issues back to States. It would resolve some of the contention and anger and allow us to focus on the more political issues at hand nationally. There have to be plenty of homosexuals that believe in the things we believe in. But when we try to force down their throats things like a “marriage act” it does nothing but further divide us. Abortion can be overturned by merely educating people and showing them real actual abortions taking place. Few could watch one and not change their views on the issue. Marriages can be defined as two people that love each other and for those of us that Believe homosexuality is wrong, we can preach that on the streets and in our churches in loving fashion. But we can all be Americans no matter what and even share in the same conservative values. After all, isn’t it is conservatives that claim we want government out of our lives? Hmm.

I know the future of America looks very liberal…I mean… “progressive” but I believe if we educate people about our political and financial views instead of focusing on the more touchy social views, that more and more people would see in the end that conservatism gives Americans of all walks the best opportunity to succeed and gives our kid the future we all want them to have.

We will see.

Until 2016 or sometime down the road, if ever. Peace.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

One Final WrapUp - Change is Needed in the GOP

After this week’s shocking election results, most of us conservatives entered a state of full blown political depression and numbness. Some have been asking me what I think happened. I too have spent the last few days trying to figure out. This is my final wrap if you will.

Let’s face it. Romney didn’t just lose. He got his arse kicked. 332-206. Ouch. It was 2008 all over again. Actually, McCain got more conservative votes than Romney did which I still find so unreal.

As I stated in my last post, I am done with political activism for a long time. I’m sure I’ll pop up in 2016 but for now, let Obama and his peeps have what they want. I’m too tired to care. The only hope we really have now is to overturn many Senate seats in 2014 to shorten the damage. But, if we nominate over-the-top right winged candidates that make stupid comments like Akins and Mourdock did this go around, that won’t end well either.

But I did want to offer my thoughts on what happened, why and what needs to happen if conservatives ever want to win the White House again. I will keep it simple and to the point.

1. The GOP enthusiasm wasn’t as expected. Though Obama had 10 million less votes than in 2008, more than 3,000,000 conservatives didn’t vote for Romney. More than likely a lot of these were Ron Paul supporters and Tea Partiers. Others were just GOPers who didn’t buy into the Romney campaign. Well, thanks guys but now we all get Obama for 4 more years. Good job.

2. Our culture is no longer a majority “center-right” country. There are more getting handouts than don’t. As Rush Limbaugh said we are fighting against “Santa”. Most of these people are also extremely uneducated politically, yet they vote. In its current form, the GOP offers nothing attractive to most of them.

3. Romney wussed out after the 1st debate and let Obama get away with taking all of the momentum from him. He had the chance to hammer Obama on numerous issues but tried to be nice and instead came across as a distant rich guy. His game plan failed. People liked the aggressive in-your-face Obama more.

4. After election polls and focus groups make it clear that the GOP better change or we may never win the Presidential election again.

Number 4 above is the most important. There are some glaring issues that we must be honest in hearing and accepting. If we don’t address them and change our methods, we will never see another conservative President. We have to change in the following ways.

- Immediately, the GOP needs to work with the Democrats and give Obama and his team what they want with some things in exchange of course. If they remain hard lined and unwilling, it will mean the end of us in 2014 and again in 2016. Give them what they want, let them fall on their own sword and they will then own 100% of their own failures. Nominate the right candidate in 2016 and it will be over.

- Voters viewed Romney as a nice but distant, old rich, white guy. Same as McCain, Bush and Bush before him. This is the “establishment” candidate at its finest. This establishment refuses to think we live in a different day. Well, we do. People today are not like people 10 years ago much less 40 years ago. Politics are different. If we keep nominating rich, old, white dudes, we are going to keep losing. We can't be arrogant and assume people will come back around. Our culture has changed and if we don't change to work within that culture we are toast. And, we can do this without becoming like them either. I hear people making that argument and it's just dumb.

- We need a candidate that is younger, not rich, more relational and more like the common voter. The voters like a younger, more relational, “cool” candidate. We had some of these in the conservative world this go around, but instead we ended up with the 2008 runner-up.

- Ron Paul and Tea Party followers better find a way to come together instead of dividing us or it will get even worse.

- Right-winged, vocal Christian candidates with their faith and beliefs on their sleeves are a big problem. The non-believing voter doesn’t want to hear it and certainly not if they open their mouths about it every single day. We have to be smart. Wise as serpents and gentles as doves. Candidates need to keep it under wrap, until AFTER they win! Duh!

- We need to change our language and words. The Democrats never call themselves “liberals” anymore. They are now “progressives”. Capitalism is a bad word nowadays. Reword some of our concepts.

- Our negativity and condescending attitudes towards the liberals on social media and the like are killing us. I’m the biggest sinner in this regard. We have to be about convincing and educating people about conservative values and how THEY can benefit from them if they would just listen. But who is going to listen when we just called them idiots, morons or libtards and attacked their President every hour of the day?

- Consider ideas like “we aren’t the anti-gay party who has to push a marriage act”. Consider saying “we aren’t going to endorse it either way” our focus is conservative government issues, not how you live your lives. Be the party that seeks to give the powers back to the States for these types of social issues, etc. We don’t have to compromise all of our principles, but we need to modernize how we explain and promote them to a degree, unless we just never want to be in power again.

All we need are about 2% more of the votes and we win every time. Conservative values still have a big place. The reality is who doesn’t want these things:

- Less government intrusion in your life
- Lower taxes
- More jobs
- Strong military
- Protection of the Constitution
- Lower gas prices
- Protection of life
- Religious freedom
- Fewer regulations

But when people feel like they would have to join the angry, mean, rich, anti-gay, better-be-a-Christian party, they turn back to the other side. Plain and simple.

We have potential in people like Santorum, Ryan, Rubio, Christie, West, and others. We must nominate and all get behind a young, relational, cool, true conservative candidate regardless if they are Jesus reincarnated. If we don’t, our conservative days will be left to wining local and state races only.

Time will tell if I am right or wrong, but I believe I am very right. We will see.

See you in a few years…if I see promise with the above occurring.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Obama, History In Real Time

Now that we know we get Obama for four more years, we have to face the reality of what is happening right before our eyes.

I believe the Obama administration will go down as one of the most powerful, corrupt Presidencies in our history. This is like watching Season 5 of "24" in real life. How this man got elected to begin with is frankly one of the biggest mysteries of our countries history. He has changed the fabric of our country and people have fallen for America’s first black President like none other.

Here are is a simple list of the items we need to remember when looking back in history that surrounded his first 4 years in office. Who knows what the next 3-4 will entail. By as of this writing this is what has occurred.

- He was elected without any experience to speak of. He had just two years as a senator in IL. He voted “present” in most cases. His only life experience was as a community organizer. No business experience at all.

- He never released his college transcripts or grades.

- Questions remain about his truth location of birth.

- He was and is well connected to radicals in the Communist party and almost all of his associates are radicals

- Attended Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s radical Black Theology Church which promotes American hate

- Was never vetted by the mainstream media – ever

- He blamed President Bush for 5 full years and still does now

- He had promised to be “different” than any before him and have a transparent operation.

- He forced Obamacare into law without even reading it

- Our national debt hit 17trillion in his first 4 years, more than all the rest combined – blamed Bush

- Unemployment increased – blamed Bush

- Claims he is a Christian but never attends church

- Embraces all things Islam and Islamic leaders worldwide

- Has not worked with the GOP at all – refuses to meet or compromise

- Ran the most mean, unethical campaign in 2012 – ever

- Major voting fraud issues in 2008 with ACORN and 2012 with some counties showing 100% votes for Obama

- Jobless claims numbers were only 79k in the report before the election in 2012, over 400k the week after

- Major companies he gave money to in his stimulus bill went bankrupt

- Held back on the Petreas scandal until the day after the election!

- The entire Libya scandal in 2012, still unfolding, the week AFTER the election of course

- Has refused to stand up for Israel in any capacity

- After Hurricane Sandy, did nothing more than show up for a photo-op, and has gotten away with it

The double standard in our country is going to ruin us. He gets away with anything he wants to. Had even 2-3 of these things occurred under a conservative, they would be fried.

This list is not complete. I will add to it as I think of it, but it is vital it gets put down on paper now so my kids and future generations will remember what put America in the tank for a very long time.



Wednesday, November 7, 2012

4 More Years...But Not For Me

Did Jerry Jones take over the GOP in the last month?

Only the Dallas Cowboys could lose the way Romney did last night. It was right there for the taking after that first debate and America dropped the ball. He played defense, went nice and blew it in debates two and three and lost all of his mojo. If you can't beat a guy with all of this going against him, you can't beat anyone. Maybe I should have started cheering for Obama to help him out...

I got to hand it to Obama. His political machine makes Clinton's look like tonka toys and the media and conservative traders like Christie didn't help. Despite the Benghazi lies, his hateful rhetoric, unemployment, this terrible economy, his shoving Obamacare down our throats, his disdain for Israel, his embrace of Islam and his anti-God democratic platform, he won again. He blamed it on Bush 4 years later and people who don't even know who our Vice President is by name believed him. It was close and I was proud to see 50% of the Americans out there with a brain voting for Romney. But Obama's machine was better at getting the moronic vote. The reality is we have 3-4 more years of what we have had. The Republicans won more House seats and our governments is as divided as our country. Obama will sign Executive Orders to get what he wants done, but other than that, in four years, it will be even worse.

The stage is now set for Obama to complete the socialistic transformation of America. More babies will die and more anti-God values will now be endorsed and pushed in our faces. Who knows what will happen with Israel. Frankly, in 4 more years, there will even be less of us than there is now. I am not sure conservatives ever win again as more and more people become dependent on the government. Once that crosses over 50% it will be over and right now we are at 47%. We have become the minority.

The truth is the end is near.God didn't want Obama to be our President for 4 more years. He allowed it. I believe because America has turned it's heart away from God that He has now handed us over to ourselves completely. It's gonna get bumpy people. Hang on tight, teach your kids to be strong when they are the minority and focus on the work of God where you live and make a difference that way.

This is my last political post for a long time. I am sure when the next election comes around I will have something to say but I have given it my all since 2007 and I am mentally and emotionally spent. I am done. I did my part and many of you did the same. As many of my friends do, I am not turning it all off and just gonna enjoy life as we know it. It's not worth the the drama of it all. I've lost many a Facebook "friend" over it over the years....not that I care at all. But still.

Peace America. You wanted Obama again and you got it. Enjoy the bed you just made. Lying in it is gonna be a mess.

I'm out.


Monday, November 5, 2012

Christians Around America Join In Prayer Rally

About a month ago God led me to lead an election eve prayer rally for America called 600seconds. (see http://prayersforamerica.blogspot.com/).

Tonight I hosted the event and well over 100 Christians joined in prayer for our amazing country. The system locked many others out and others joined us in spirit. True Hope doesn't exist in Obama or Romney. It's in God.

Yes, we all should vote and say our peace during the process. But once all the dust settles we will know that God's will has been done.

It was amazing to see (hear) so many people from California to Texas joining together, at the same time to pray for America and to pray for the election.

I believe Romney wins. But I know who wins it all in the end.

God is good.

Stay strong people. We need each other.

To hear the prayer rally, click here: http://rs0796.freeconferencecall.com/fcc/cgi-bin/share.mp3/6054754700-876944-1.mp3

Saturday, November 3, 2012

My Personal 2012 Election Prediction

God I hope I am right.

I have spent the last 7 years on a personal mission of spreading the truths about Obama and his agendas. I may be a small town player with only a few who care to listen, but I don't care. I love my country and I want my kids to have some of it left when they are my age.

I spend hours a week following current events, studying the issues and getting information. The last week or so the election coverage has brought me to a conclusion.

Romney is going to win this thing. It's either going to be a complete blowout or a squeaker, but he is going to be our next President. I personally think he wins OH and ends up with about 285 electoral votes.

States like NH, OH, WI, CO, NV and FL are now swinging his way in the polls. And ALL of the polls are inflated with higher democrat participants. Experts I follow like Dick Morris and Karl Rove have me confident that Tuesday night should be Obama's going home party.

All we can do now is pray. Pray harder than ever and tell everyone you know to vote, no matter what the press is saying during election day. LIES will be told in the coming days and even that night. Ignore it and get active. Spread the word. We can do this. 

If not, God help us.