Americans have freedom today. Why are we free when so many countries are under the heel of the dictator, the despot, communism, or religous dictatorships? The short answer is because Americans have been willing to fight and die to preserve our freedoms, and incindently, the freedom of other countries such as most of Europe, and maybe Iraq, and Afghanistan. What has been the price in wars such as the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, The Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other smaller wars? It is approximately one million American lives, brave men and women who were willing to serve and gave the ultimate sacrifice. This does not even count the many serious injuries, and trauma that our service people have suffered. And don't forget the scrifices by CIA agents who gave their lives for our freedoms.
Now what do you think about people who criticize our armed forces, or who demonstrate against our military, or who dodged the draft, or who support people who say we ourselves have caused terrorist actions against us? It seems that the terrorists don't remember how we helped Afghanistan defeat the invading Russians in the 1980's, or how we liberated Kuwait, or how we have given Iraq a chance to form a new government, religious or not, or that we allow all religions freedom to worship in the USA while some foreign states persecute Christians, Jews, and other religions that they don't like or hate.
It is time for Americans to be awake and realize that our freedoms are still under attack today by radical groups or states and that we will always have to defend our freedoms with blood and sacrifice.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
ARE WE LOSING THE BATTLE FOR RESOURCES
China is buying up resources wherever they can. In Africa. In South America. In Australia. Where are we buying resources? Mainly nowhere. Where will we have to go to find rare metals and minerals? China probably. Won't that affect our military power? You betcha, especially if we are at war with someone China is allied or sympathetic with.
How could we buy foreign resource assets. One easy way is to give tax breaks to American companies that do so provided that their first priority customer is always the United States or a US customer who will not turn around and export it. Is this a non-capitalist approach? Yes in a way, but we need to watch out for our survival as an independent nation first, and capitalism second. Our military and a lot of commercial manufacturing companies need these materials to keep producing critical and important products.
What resources should we buy? Everything we can as soon as possible, but especially rare earth metals and other minerals we don't have a reliable source for. China is not waiting for us to do something. They are buying anything they can as soon as they can.
Could a country like China black mail us or hold us hostage for resources? Yes, especially since their business is controlled by the Chinese government, not a "free market" which does not really exist.
Call and write your Congressmen about this important issue.
How could we buy foreign resource assets. One easy way is to give tax breaks to American companies that do so provided that their first priority customer is always the United States or a US customer who will not turn around and export it. Is this a non-capitalist approach? Yes in a way, but we need to watch out for our survival as an independent nation first, and capitalism second. Our military and a lot of commercial manufacturing companies need these materials to keep producing critical and important products.
What resources should we buy? Everything we can as soon as possible, but especially rare earth metals and other minerals we don't have a reliable source for. China is not waiting for us to do something. They are buying anything they can as soon as they can.
Could a country like China black mail us or hold us hostage for resources? Yes, especially since their business is controlled by the Chinese government, not a "free market" which does not really exist.
Call and write your Congressmen about this important issue.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
DEFINITION OF A PIRATE?
The politically correct crowd of defense lawyers is at it again, trying to say that we don't have a definition of a pirate! How silly can they get? The definition of a pirate is so simple a fifth grader will know what a pirate is.
It is almost like people who lived in the 1700's and 1800's were actually a lot smarter than we are. They did not have any trouble identifying pirates. If you are on a ship and you see men climbing onto your ship with weapons what else could they be? Or if they shoot at a US destroyer, are they just trying to make us mad?
No the problem is with our lawyers and judges that constantly try to come with weird logic to boost their reputations and make the course of justice as slow and complicated as possible so that they will guarantee that they will have a job.
What we need to do is get back to the justice system that was used in the early days of the west. If you perpetrated a serious crime today, there was a very good chance you would be hanged in the morning and the taxpayers would not have to support you the rest of your life.
It is almost like people who lived in the 1700's and 1800's were actually a lot smarter than we are. They did not have any trouble identifying pirates. If you are on a ship and you see men climbing onto your ship with weapons what else could they be? Or if they shoot at a US destroyer, are they just trying to make us mad?
No the problem is with our lawyers and judges that constantly try to come with weird logic to boost their reputations and make the course of justice as slow and complicated as possible so that they will guarantee that they will have a job.
What we need to do is get back to the justice system that was used in the early days of the west. If you perpetrated a serious crime today, there was a very good chance you would be hanged in the morning and the taxpayers would not have to support you the rest of your life.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
FED PREDICTS ECONOMY SLOWDOWN
The Federal Reserve has signaled a slowdown is coming in the economy. But why should there be a slowdown when we have had all of the stimulus by the Government. First the TARP, then the stimulus package, the cash for clunkers program, and the home buying credit. Of course all of these stimulus actions are now over with and for all intents and purposes dead, except maybe for some very long-term programs like high speed rail (What happened to that program?)
But there are recent Government actions and policies that will now hold back the economy. What are these?
First, there is the uncertainty of what the new taxes will be. Also the uncertainty of what the new health care costs are going to be as a result of the Democrat's new health care law. Another uncertainty factor are the new financial regulations which are very complex and the future effects are not yet known. All of this uncertainty is very bad for business activity. Businesses will hoard cash and refrain from hiring and even cutting costs wherever they can including layoffs. Since future sales for businesses are uncertain in most cases, businesses will also cut inventories to a bare minimum. This affects suppliers of materials and parts, reducing their business.
Second, business will face higher taxes in the near future. So even if a company needs to hire workers, they will not because of the new taxes that will cut earnings. This will affect small businesses the most as these businesses are usually struggling for survival.
Third, is the new health care law which will cause increasing insurance rates. Any business that provides health care insurance will have to pay out more money for each worker they hire. This will cause some companies to either cut health care insurance payments for their workers, provide lower coverage, and further reduce hiring to reduce their health care costs to a minimum.
Fourth, the new financial regulations will cause more overhead expenses for businesses and this translates to cutting costs somewhere else, probably more layoffs or a slowdown of hiring. Some companies may go out of business totally because the new law grossly interferes with their business.
Fifth, the anti-business actions of Congress are accumulating and will add up to a dampening of business activity.
Sixth, and one of the worst factors, is "free-trade". So-called free trade has caused massive loss of jobs in the US with whole industries moving overseas to find cheaper labor. What we really need is FAIR TRADE!
Seventh are the nuisance lawsuits that put a damper on business and causes a large part of health care costs we have today. A doctor's cost for insurance against these lawsuits may run $300,000 or more per year. Congress needs to put a cap on these suits but has refused to do so.
Eighth, the US Space Program has been drastically cut back causing large layoffs of highly skilled workers and engineers. A lot of small businesses that were serving NASA needs will now be cut back or even going out of business.
Ninth, the military budget is being cut back by Mr. Gates. This will probably end-up causing more job losses and may cause a loss of military power for the US.
Tenth, the restrictions on oil drilling and new nuclear power plants is holding back energy growth and jobs in this industry. In the meantime we are virtually held hostage by the OPEC countries who can charge us anything they want to. If oil and gas prices go up substantially, this will cause a real recession.
When Reagan was president, he reduced taxes and beefed up the military. the economy improved and there was no lack of jobs.
We need to get back to sane government and have some policies that are friendly to US businesses. Vote accordingly in November.
To sum up, we have a lot of problems that are mainly a result of bad government policies and bad legislation.
But there are recent Government actions and policies that will now hold back the economy. What are these?
First, there is the uncertainty of what the new taxes will be. Also the uncertainty of what the new health care costs are going to be as a result of the Democrat's new health care law. Another uncertainty factor are the new financial regulations which are very complex and the future effects are not yet known. All of this uncertainty is very bad for business activity. Businesses will hoard cash and refrain from hiring and even cutting costs wherever they can including layoffs. Since future sales for businesses are uncertain in most cases, businesses will also cut inventories to a bare minimum. This affects suppliers of materials and parts, reducing their business.
Second, business will face higher taxes in the near future. So even if a company needs to hire workers, they will not because of the new taxes that will cut earnings. This will affect small businesses the most as these businesses are usually struggling for survival.
Third, is the new health care law which will cause increasing insurance rates. Any business that provides health care insurance will have to pay out more money for each worker they hire. This will cause some companies to either cut health care insurance payments for their workers, provide lower coverage, and further reduce hiring to reduce their health care costs to a minimum.
Fourth, the new financial regulations will cause more overhead expenses for businesses and this translates to cutting costs somewhere else, probably more layoffs or a slowdown of hiring. Some companies may go out of business totally because the new law grossly interferes with their business.
Fifth, the anti-business actions of Congress are accumulating and will add up to a dampening of business activity.
Sixth, and one of the worst factors, is "free-trade". So-called free trade has caused massive loss of jobs in the US with whole industries moving overseas to find cheaper labor. What we really need is FAIR TRADE!
Seventh are the nuisance lawsuits that put a damper on business and causes a large part of health care costs we have today. A doctor's cost for insurance against these lawsuits may run $300,000 or more per year. Congress needs to put a cap on these suits but has refused to do so.
Eighth, the US Space Program has been drastically cut back causing large layoffs of highly skilled workers and engineers. A lot of small businesses that were serving NASA needs will now be cut back or even going out of business.
Ninth, the military budget is being cut back by Mr. Gates. This will probably end-up causing more job losses and may cause a loss of military power for the US.
Tenth, the restrictions on oil drilling and new nuclear power plants is holding back energy growth and jobs in this industry. In the meantime we are virtually held hostage by the OPEC countries who can charge us anything they want to. If oil and gas prices go up substantially, this will cause a real recession.
When Reagan was president, he reduced taxes and beefed up the military. the economy improved and there was no lack of jobs.
We need to get back to sane government and have some policies that are friendly to US businesses. Vote accordingly in November.
To sum up, we have a lot of problems that are mainly a result of bad government policies and bad legislation.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
BY BYE to BARNES & NOBLE ?
Barnes & Noble is rumoured to be sold to the highest bidder. Supposedly B&N is not doing well because of competition from digital media such as Amazon, Kindle, and now the iPad, and of course, ordinary computers. Electronic books can be downloaded for low prices in a few minutes. Is this the reason? Is B&N really now a "backwater technology"?
What if all newspapers, books, and book stores disappeared in a few years due to the easier and cheaper availability of digital media and readers? This is not very realistic as there will be people who love newspapers and books for many years to come. But eventually, yes, books and newspapers will probably be no more, except in collectors libraries. Start collecting first editions now?
Will we miss the printed word in a few years? I doubt it. How many people miss the horse and buggy while they are riding around in their swanky air conditioned 300 horse power automobiles?
Smart business people will be thinking of ways to take advantage of the situation and make fortunes on the new digital media. (I am trying to get started with this and other blogs.)
In the meantime, enjoy your books and newspapers, if you do, and also have fun with your iPad or Kindle.
What if all newspapers, books, and book stores disappeared in a few years due to the easier and cheaper availability of digital media and readers? This is not very realistic as there will be people who love newspapers and books for many years to come. But eventually, yes, books and newspapers will probably be no more, except in collectors libraries. Start collecting first editions now?
Will we miss the printed word in a few years? I doubt it. How many people miss the horse and buggy while they are riding around in their swanky air conditioned 300 horse power automobiles?
Smart business people will be thinking of ways to take advantage of the situation and make fortunes on the new digital media. (I am trying to get started with this and other blogs.)
In the meantime, enjoy your books and newspapers, if you do, and also have fun with your iPad or Kindle.
Monday, August 2, 2010
WHAT HAPPENDED TO AMERICAN POWER?
America used to be a power house with a can-do spirit and the guts to do the right thing. What would you call this spirit? I call it the power.
We had the power in the First World War. We had the power in the Second World War. Then the Korean war happened. In that war politics and fear took away the power. Our great military leader at the time, General Douglas MacArthur was relieved of duty by then President Truman because of the possibility of a general war with China and Russia. This was where I believe the virus of fear began to weaken us. What else did Truman do that added to our weakness? He allowed Saudi Arabia and the other Arab countries to nationalize our oil fields that we built and developed. These countries did not even pay for the work and equipment we put into developing the wells.
The Korean war turned into a stalemate and look at the mess we have now with a nuclear rouge state in North Korea.
The war in Vietnam was turned into a quagmire because of the political interference in military operations by President Johnson. Why? Fear again. Fear of China if we got too aggressive. Politics and fear again weakening American power with lasting undesirable effects on our country.
Next, Iran held our diplomats hostage while we did nothing. Carter made a weak rescue attempt that ended in disaster. Reagan's tough attitude got them back but there was no retribution. Another sign the fading power.
Reagan built our defenses back up after the Democrats had allowed them to delcine, but he pulled our forces out of Lebanon after our Marines were bombed. We turned tail and ran. Why? Politics and fear took hold.
President H.W. Bush invaded Somalia and then pulled out when things got rough. We turned tail again and ran. Again politics and fear.
Then we suffered the attack of 911. G.W. Bush invaded Afghanistan and Iraq but was roundly criticized by the politics of fear and weakness.
The Democrats have half finished the job in Iraq and are getting ready to pull out troops before they should be. Politics and fear hold sway again.
Afghanistan has turned into a quagmire just like Vietnam because of our timidity and the politics of fear. We are afraid to to burn the poppy fields because of local politics. So the terrorists still have plenty of money to support their war against us. We are on a direct path to losing this war also. The politics of fear and weakness are still following us and this will eventually lead to our downfall unless we change our ways and thinking soon.
We had the power in the First World War. We had the power in the Second World War. Then the Korean war happened. In that war politics and fear took away the power. Our great military leader at the time, General Douglas MacArthur was relieved of duty by then President Truman because of the possibility of a general war with China and Russia. This was where I believe the virus of fear began to weaken us. What else did Truman do that added to our weakness? He allowed Saudi Arabia and the other Arab countries to nationalize our oil fields that we built and developed. These countries did not even pay for the work and equipment we put into developing the wells.
The Korean war turned into a stalemate and look at the mess we have now with a nuclear rouge state in North Korea.
The war in Vietnam was turned into a quagmire because of the political interference in military operations by President Johnson. Why? Fear again. Fear of China if we got too aggressive. Politics and fear again weakening American power with lasting undesirable effects on our country.
Next, Iran held our diplomats hostage while we did nothing. Carter made a weak rescue attempt that ended in disaster. Reagan's tough attitude got them back but there was no retribution. Another sign the fading power.
Reagan built our defenses back up after the Democrats had allowed them to delcine, but he pulled our forces out of Lebanon after our Marines were bombed. We turned tail and ran. Why? Politics and fear took hold.
President H.W. Bush invaded Somalia and then pulled out when things got rough. We turned tail again and ran. Again politics and fear.
Then we suffered the attack of 911. G.W. Bush invaded Afghanistan and Iraq but was roundly criticized by the politics of fear and weakness.
The Democrats have half finished the job in Iraq and are getting ready to pull out troops before they should be. Politics and fear hold sway again.
Afghanistan has turned into a quagmire just like Vietnam because of our timidity and the politics of fear. We are afraid to to burn the poppy fields because of local politics. So the terrorists still have plenty of money to support their war against us. We are on a direct path to losing this war also. The politics of fear and weakness are still following us and this will eventually lead to our downfall unless we change our ways and thinking soon.
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