Taxes

It is completely incomprehenisible to me why anyone would deny one fact which has always proven to be true: Lower taxes generate more revenue for the government. Much like celibacy, it works every time. Why would anyone deny that lesson of history?

While you are contemplating that question, let's try to assess the reasons for the phenomenon. I'm not a financial expert, but please allow me to suggest that the following forces seem to be at work:

1) When taxes are lower, the assessments seem to be fairer, and taxpayers are less resistant to paying them.

2) When businesses pay lower taxes they have more money available to expand and hire new workers.

3) When people are working, they pay more taxes.

4) Working people demand more consumer goods and services.

5) Demand creates a need for businesses to provide more products, and

6) More products require a growing number of workers to produce.

The common sense of this causatve circle of success is irrefutable, and because it has worked over and over again, those who deny its efficacy must be following an agenda which is contrary to the American spirit. Please support those who respect the lessons of the past, and are working to restore America's greatness.

Lube job

Since I took some of my first cars to Ted's Texaco at Hall St. and Eastern Ave., I thought I understood the concept of an "oil change" or a "lube job." It consisted of installing fresh oil and a new oil filter, and lubricating the chassis. However, it also came to include more than twenty other services, such as checking and topping off all other fluids, replacing air and fuel filters as needed, examining all safety features, and looking around for anything which might negatively impact the vehicle's performance in the future, and recommending what repairs should be made.

On Saturday, first born and I went to the capitol city for a dinner with about half of the immediate family. Halfway there, on the dashboard of my truck (which will be old enough to vote next year), a disturbing message which I didn't even know existed appeared, announcing I should seek service SOON. On the way back, the admonition reappeared followed by a diminution in performance, as the manual warns might possibly occur, but we were able to limp home.

Yesterday, I discovered that my 10-year old (but only 40,000 mile) air filter was severely clogged, and I am hoping its replacement will remedy the situation. During the "oil change" I bought less than a month ago, no one had bothered to look at the filter. It put me in mind of my last "oil change" soon after which my battery died because it was bone dry, and that part of the service hadn't been performed.

What has happened to conscientious auto mechanics? Haven't they ever experienced that nervous feeling out on the freeway when one worries their vehicle could strand them at any moment?

Happy Thanksgiving

Today we celebrate that day in 1621 when the Pilgrims gave thanks to God for a bountiful harvest with a goodly feast. Also in attendance were some of the local Native Americans (whom someone had mistakenly called Indians, because, in ignorance, he thought he had reached India, even though there were no call centers in sight). It would be later that human weakness would cause rifts between the new and indigenous populations, but, today, we choose to remember the happy times. Indians celebrate daily by relieving the most naive descendants of the early settlers of their cash at their casinos.

There was no president at the time to pardon the turkeys, so they were all eaten.

Chom(p) on this

In the spirit of fairness, I recently watched Noam Chomsky on LINK (Dish 9410), another satellite channel which caters to thought that is far outside the mainstream. He finally said something with which I can agree. He defined the "international community" as the United States and those who agree with her. That's as it should be.

Unfortunately, he mistakenly characterized it as a bad thing. On the contrary, soon after the War of 1812, the U.S. found itself the most powerful nation in the world. With power came riches, which, after a period of gluttony, we began to share with other countries, so much so that they became dependent upon us. They still are, and their people have cheerfully adopted our culture -- our dress, our TV and movies, our music. Some have even attempted to emulate our form of government, that one which we must reinstate after the defeat of the liberalism that now infects us.

When nations recognize our greatness, that's a good thing. When Chomsky acquiesces, that will be a miracle.

Published today (as promised below)

If you happen to encounter syndicated columnist Cynthia Tucker walking down your street, you can expect to see her frantically looking for racists behind each tree she passes, blithely unaware that she is the one with the problem. I have been reading her columns for months now, but this week, she finally attacked me personally, and I will not let it pass without comment.

In her Nov. 12 column, "Prejudice still causes polarized politics," she focused in on "older white Americans," one of which I am. She concluded her piece with the only bit of actual truth: "The election of a black president didn't exorcise our remaining racial demons." Her thought and behavior are living proof of that, because earlier she insulted me and others like me with a barrage of prejudicial supposition.

She said we are usually victims of Republican politicians pandering to our prejudices, "those hoary stereotypes," and "fears of a browning America. We have "resistence toward diversity" (the glorification of difference at the expense of togetherness), and we "will never be comfortable with the idea of a black president."

Tucker is wrong, and she should keep her misinformed prejudicial opinions to herself.

Syndicated Pulitzer winner?

My letter to the editor about Cynthia Tucker, whose expressions of racism outstrip those of the KKK, will appear here, if and when it is published. In the meantime, I will cover the one last insulting quote from her latest screed that I forgot to discredit.

She said, "They [older white Americans] are stuck with the long-held notions about such things as gay marriage and interracial dating." Being old and white, I had allowed myself to be offended by her other prejudicial character assassinations, but I neglected to mention this attack on the First Amendment.

Long-held convictions are usually religious in nature, and any attempt to restrict them is clearly unconstitutional. Even those who cannot cite a rational reason for their position are free to hold it. That freedom extends to the very edge of the moment when it negatively impacts the behavior of others, and Ms Tucker is impertinent to presuppose that I or anyone else will cross that line. I fault her, therefore, for attempting to paint me and all other older white Americans with her racist brush.

AND: Gloria Cain for first lady. Not once during her Fox interview did she tell us what to eat.

MORE: "Gay News" wasn't shown this weekend, because it is pledge week, and I suspect its audience is too small to generate a large enough number of contributions. 25% indeed!

Veterans' Day

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from falling hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lt. Col. John McCrae


P.S. I always thought it was "grow," but the first line does end with "blow."

LEST WE FORGET.
11--11--11

Razing Cain

It is apparent that the Democrats are frightened to death of the possible candidacy of Herman Cain. There he is -- a strong, competent black man ready to challenge their weak, half-black loud-mouth bungler. So they have embarked upon a witch hunt to chronicle every time Cain was ever charming to a woman. Yesterday, they trotted one out who looks like a trollop to provide, unlike the earlier accusers, specific details of his alleged harassment. She smiled and almost giggled throughout the entire recitation. I believe she loved every minute of the attention she received from the confident, successful businessman.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not completely impressed with Mr. Cain. His 9-9-9 plan, for instance, is utter nonsense, much like "Hope and Change" and that tax increase misnamed a "job's bill." If he would manage to ram it through, it would be greeted much like Obamacare -- with efforts to repeal it.

Whether or not this attempted character assassination turns out to be a lie like President Bush's alleged AWOL or not, someone, almost anyone, has to replace President Obama before he completely destroys us. If Cain can weather this clumsy political maneuvering he will be my man, possibly because in a contest between black men, he could earn the "black vote."

Of course, there is no such thing as a black, white, Latino, Asian or whatever vote. There are only the votes of the citizens, and competence is the only necessary standard, one quality which President Obama lacks. We have to have better.

Three

For the past few weekends, I have been watching "Gay News," a feature of Free Speech TV, which they say is "powered by the people." "The people" are those who send in contributions so as to enjoy their favorite propaganda.

I'm hoping the "Gay News" will somehow allow me to understand what that is all about. The hour is hosted by a middle-aged man and woman who chronicle the events of the week which they deem either good or bad for the cause. Except for the occasional name-calling by the gentleman, it is generally inoffensive. Homosexuals would be better served to behave like these two "journalists" instead of parading naked and having sex in public.

Yesterday I learned the gay gentleman's name -- Andy Humm. Humorously appropriate.

ANOTHER MINORITY GROUP: In Pomona, a small group of Neo-Nazis clashed with a larger group of those who would deny their right to speak. All the idiots did was scream at each other. The Nazis were speaking out against illegal immigration and publically funded college scholarships for illegals. Certainly would help improve the financial situation and reduce the deficit.

AND ONE MORE: Our local drug dealer, in his latest letter to the editor, referred to the "healing power" of marijuana. Whereas calling it "medicine" was ludicrous, "healing" is just plain stupid.