Post #222 If The Tea Party Was Black...

Too bad people can't be forced to 'walk a mile in my shoes' -- they might learn something....

http://ephphatha-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/04/imagine-if-tea-party-was-black-tim-wise.html

Post #221 I, too, am tired

I got an "Fwd" e-mail -- "I'm 63 and I'm Tired" -- in which a tough-talking straight-shooter with 'problems' that most people would trade for proceeds to blame his 'problems' on nearly every aspect of modern society.

I believe people should take responsibility for their own actions and inactions. I am tired of hearing them blame mysterious forces such as "the economy' or Government actions they don't understand or the media and celebrities -- ! -- for their problems. So, no, I was not impressed by that rant.

First, the guy lists his credentials of being a hard worker. Then, he says, "Givn the economy, there's no retirement in sight." Huh? Has this guy never heard of Social Security Insurance?

The question is, what has this guy been doing for 40 years to plan for his retirement? There is no law against having a 'private' retirement account -- or a 'Vegas vacation' account, for that matter. Surely, he has not been relying on the Government to take of his needs, huh?

Well, no -- he has a "paid-off $250,000 condo" as a nest egg -- that's $10,000 a year for 25 years, almost twice as much as my Grandma draws from Social Security. Plus, his nest egg is probably bigger now than my nest egg from my own 'private' retirement account will be when I am 65.

Why is he whining?

He goes on: "I'm tired of being told that I have to 'spread the wealth' to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it." Wow. Who told him that? Glen Beck?

Which brings us to the housing bubble. He blames the Community Reinvestment Act and suggests that "the left-wing Congress-critters" who passed that Act pay.

Uh, the Community Reinvestment Act was passed in 1977. It survived amending and tweaking during 12 years of Reagan/Bush and 8 years of Clinton just fine. It wasn't until the Republican Congress and the Republican President after 2001 had their way that we had a mess.

And don't forget the Fed chairman -- appointed by a Republican President, by the way -- who 'pumped up' the money supply by lowering interest rates to a 45 year low. How many Republicans will seek office in November 2010 calling for higher interest rates?

Well, everybody's favorite kicking toy -- the media -- gets a few kicks. He blames the media for his vote for George W. Bush in 2004. The media, he says, "picked over every line of Bush's military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his."

I'm sorry that our e-mail writer missed the 'swift boat' ads during the summer of 2004 which prompted the media to go over and over and over John Kerry's daily activities in Vietnam. All I learned about Bush was that he worked on a political campaign instead of protecting our southern flank against the hostile Mexican Air Force.

And, by the way, what kind of military records does an individual soldier have that the Pentagon doesn't? It sounds like a made up controversy to justify his notions -- much like the 'birthers.'

Oh, well, the whole e-mail hits all the 'hot buttons,'but a little bit of thinking calns.

A little bit of thinking, please. Is that too much to ask?

Post #220 Weapons of Mass Destruction Found

German authorities shut down Berlin's main international airport this past Wednesday after construction workers discovered a quarter-ton Weapon of Mass Destruction. They claimed it was a World War II bomb.

But we know better.

Obviously, Saddam Hussein faked his own execution, fled to Germany and has gone back into the WMD business to arm his world-wide network of terrorists who do his bidding.

Obviously, too, we must invade Germany, capture Hussein, destroy WMD, nurture democracy and watch peace bloom.

Can I get an "Amen," Dick Cheney?

Post #219 "Obama, Obama, he da Man!," Pt. II

Conservatives have one last legitimate hope to derail health care reform: The activist, right-wing Supreme Court. As we've seen in "Bush vs. Gore," the Supreme Court has no problem sticking its nose where it doesn't belong. As we've seen with D.C. gun ban, the Supreme Court has no problem seeing a policy it doesn't like and declaring that policy unConstitutional -- no matter how dubious the Constitutional reasoning.

If I was a gambling man, I'd give it 3-to-1 odds that the Supreme Court will ride to the rescue.

Questions arise if the Supreme Court rules against health care reform: Will I still be legally required to buy car insurance? Will my Grandma get a refund from Plan D of Medicare? After all, Plan D was passed by a Republican Congress and signed into law by a Republican President.

Of course, the BIG question: How is adding 32 million Americans to health insurance rolls a bad thing?

Oh, the theory is that adding 32 million poor Americans to health insurance rolls will make everybody's quality of health care go down. If that is so, why not eliminate the poorest 32 million Americans who are now on health insurance rolls to improve the quality of health care. Everything is honkey-dorey -- unless you're one of the 64 million of the poorest Americans.

I criticize President Obama for a too-complex bill and too-long debate -- not pretty watching sausage being made. I would have just opened Medicare to everybody. But I'm happy it's here.

The good news is that the issue of health care is here to stay. And the Republican plan is...?

Post #218 FOX News Bleach Blonde Bobble-Heads!

Where can I buy 'em? :p