Primary Voting – a primary concern

Today began like many others.  I was running a couple of minutes later than I would have liked as I dashed out the door and jumped into the car.  I thought about how pretty the fog would have been if I wasn’t in a hurry.  I made it to work (on time) with a sigh of relief and began a day of work that might best be described as frenetic – both physically and mentally.

Just another day, right?

Actually, here in Pennsylvania, today was the scheduled Republican Primary Election.

Following my busy day at work.  I hurried home, and went promptly to vote.  I was appalled by the apparent lack of interest.

Why is no one interested in “off-year” elections?

I’m sure the reasons people have for neglecting the poles today are many and varied.  Some forgot, some never heard when the primaries were, some decided they were simply too busy, and others are still burned out from the vicious Presidential election cycle we just came through last year.

However, the low interest and low turnout in the non-presidential elections is disturbing and dangerous.

Why are the “off-year” elections important?

There are several reasons why these elections are important.

First, local and regional offices are important, and often have a more direct impact on daily life than the many federal offices do.

Second, a large number of ballot initiatives are voted on in these elections.  In my county, there was an initiative to license small gambling establishments such as the Foreign Legion and the Moose for activities like bingo.

Third, your vote can have a much larger impact in these elections which traditionally have a much smaller turnout.  When I voted this evening in rural Pennsylvania, there had only been about 100 ballots cast all day if I understand correctly.

Fourth, voting is a great privilege, but carries with it a great responsibility.  We should, as patriotic citizens, be glad to be involved in our system of government.

In conclusion, I urge you to carefully and cautiously exercise your right as an American citizen and vote in your local primaries.  For Pennsylvanian’s who haven’t already voted, it is now too late to participate in this years primary.  If your primary has not yet occurred, be prepared, be informed, and vote.

 

Did you vote in your state’s primary elections?

 

Thanks for perusing my thoughts,

Dave

Bombs, Blessings, and Barack

Our President, Barack Obama, seems to lead a charmed life.  Recent events, and the coverage given to them, bear this out.  Let me explain.

Boston Bombing’s Beneficiary

First I must say that the recent bombings in Boston were and are a terrible tragedy.  The idea that we as humans would find that type of violence to be the best way to work out our differences is heart wrenching.  My emotions were a roller coaster thinking about the lives lost, courage shown, and heroism displayed over the course of one week in Boston.

However, after emotions started to settle slightly, I couldn’t help but notice how convenient the timing of this event was for our President.  At the time, he and his policies were reeling on several fronts.  Benghazi, Fast and Furious, and Gun Control policies were becoming so disastrous that even the President’s allies were trying to find ways to distance themselves from his policies.  Also, with the trial of Kermit Gosnell beginning to get a fraction of the coverage it should have, his allies in the abortion industry – more specifically Planned Parenthood – were also beginning to get antsy.

At this precise moment in time we were hit with a terror attack, and the focus of the entire nation shifted.  You could almost hear a sigh of relief from our President and his cohorts.  The entire timeline reminded me greatly of the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky scandal followed by the United States involvement in Somalia.

One could almost write a gripping and tenable conspiracy novel around both events.  While I do not have sufficient evidence or knowledge to write such a novel, I find many of the details to be intriguing.

Barack Obama’s Blessing

If you find it difficult to tie President Obama to the 333,964 abortions performed by Planned Parenthood in the 2011 fiscal year, here is something for you to think about.

On Friday, April 26, President Obama became the first sitting president to address Planned Parenthood’s National Conference.  Here is an excerpt from his speech.

“As long as we’ve got to fight to make sure women have access to quality, affordable health care, and as long as we’ve got to fight to protect a woman’s right to make her own choices about her own health, I want you to know that you’ve also got a president who’s going to be right there with you, fighting every step of the way,” said Obama. “Thank you, Planned Parenthood. God bless you.”

While I agree that women should have equal access to health care, I don’t believe that butchering innocent babies falls under women’s health.  Obama has consistently pushed the abortion agenda.  Just this week, he has invoked a blessing on an organization whose primary purpose is to destroy the precious and fragile beginnings of human life.  I find it inconceivable that God would truly bless such an organization.

Just one more thought in closing -

The only people in favor of abortion are those who have already been born.  The “pro-choice” movement squelches the voices of the unborn.

Thanks for reading my thoughts,

Dave

Life in These United States–What is Life?

The American culture has been under attack for decades.  While methods and technology have made great strides, our respect for life has greatly diminished.  Now we are in a debate over what constitutes life and when life begins.

When does Life Begin?

Murder in an Abortion Clinic

There is a murder trial going on in Philadelphia right now for one Dr. Kermit Gosnell.  He is accused of killing seven babies after live birth during an abortion procedure by “snipping” their spines with scissors.  While he is charged on “only” seven counts, employees from the clinic allege that this was a routine practice.

If you live outside of the city of Philadelphia, you most likely haven’t heard of this case before.  It has been kept off of the major news networks.  If you want to learn more, you can visit these sites.  I must warn you that the descriptions are graphic and disturbing.

Abortion Doctor Accused Of ‘Snipping’ The Necks Of Hundreds Of Live Babies

‘House of Horrors’ abortion doctor murder trial begins

Philadelphia abortion clinic horror

Planned Parenthood’s stance on Dr. Gosnell and late term abortions

On Dr. Gosnell, Planned Parenthood had this to say.

“Planned Parenthood strongly condemns the alleged actions of Dr. Kermit Gosnell. . . . Planned Parenthood has never referred any patient to Dr. Gosnell’s practice,” Dayle Steinberg, the organization’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement shortly after Gosnell was arrested in 2011.

However, Alisa LaPolt Snow, an official from Planned Parenthood, has recently said her organization believes that mothers whose babies survive the abortion procedure should have the right to have them killed nonetheless.

“We believe that any decision that’s made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician,”

Ms. Snow’s comments were made before a panel of Florida legislators.  For more information check out this article.

While Planned Parenthood is quick to distance themselves from Dr. Gosnell, it would appear that they approve of his practice of killing babies while objecting only to the methods and conditions of the murder.  This is a deplorable, depraved, and unconscionable position for any institution to take.

It should also be noted that Planned Parenthood receives nearly half of its funding from the federal government.

I personally do NOT approve of my tax dollars being used to kill helpless and innocent babies.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts,

Dave

The Failure of American Government as Business

I was reminded today of an American failure of the modern era.  Some of the characteristics of America which made her great, like hard work, honesty, and thrift, have been nearly forgotten with many of my generation.

We wonder at the incomprehensible national debt and it’s growth.  We wonder at households spending far more than their income.  We are amazed by the entitlement mindset that expects to sit idly and rely on the government for basic needs.

I believe that there are a couple of basic business principles that have been forgotten.  I believe that these principles, if followed, could result in unprecedented growth and prosperity, both on a personal and national level.

Allow me to illustrate our failings with my observations of two businesses that failed in my area in the last three months.

The failure to spend less than is made

The first business that I saw go under recently looked very healthy to the casual observer.  As home improvement contractors, they were always busy.  They worked on nice projects, did prompt work, and had happy customers.  However, they were buying materials for their projects on credit, and failed to keep good standing with their creditors.  In the end, they were taken to court, and pieces of their business were given out to various creditors in an attempt to satisfy (at least partially) their debts.

The failure to live within one’s means

The second business that died in my area recently had a problem that was only slightly different.  While the business books were well kept, the owners gave themselves a salary that the business couldn’t support in order to live the lifestyle that they wanted.  They sacrificed their future for the present.

The failure of the American Economy as a business

The problems our economy is currently facing are large scale results of the same problems.  Our national mindset seems to be one of unchecked and unscheduled spending.  This spending reminds me of the first business I mentioned, and could bring similar consequences to our nation.

The failure to live within our means is also a large one.  You might know it better by the term, “Keeping up with the Joneses.”  While some may say this is only a personal problem, I find it hard to believe that we could rationally expect our government to balance their budget when we are unwilling to do the same.

Many of the problems we see with our government can be traced to failures that are common on a personal level in our society.  These are only two of them.  Perhaps we would do well to remember this the next time we feel the urge to criticize.

Thanks for contemplating my thoughts,

Dave

Sequester – Rude Awakening or Terrible Tragedy

There are those who would have you believe that the sequester is a tragedy of epic proportions.  They would tell you that the spending cuts enacted will affect drastic change in all of our lives, and that this change will happen in the near future.

On the other side of the proverbial fence are those who believe that our nation is in such drastic need of spending cuts that these are worth whatever ills they may cause.  While the cuts are acknowledged as real and possibly painful, these people believe that our need to balance the budget merits almost any action.

How drastic are the spending cuts enacted by the sequester?

The figure I have heard thrown around is 85,000,000,000 (85 billion) dollars in spending cuts.  While that looks like a huge number to the average american, lets put that in perspective by comparing it to another important number relating to our economy.  The President’s projected national deficit (after “discretionary” spending cuts which may never happen) is 1.33 trillion – 1,330,000,000,000 dollars.  This tells me that the spending cuts effected by the sequester amount to less than one fifteenth (1/15) of our very optimistic estimated budget deficit for this year.  So while the numbers sound and are huge, they don’t come anywhere close to balancing the budget.

How quickly will we feel the effects of the sequester?

According to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, the effects of the sequester will be felt gradually.  He claims that while we won’t feel the full brunt of the sequester right away, the cumulative effect will be significant, particularly to those affected by the cuts.

In my experience, anything new is felt primarily by those directly affected.

Average Americans are going to be feeling two new stresses on their wallets this year.

One is the tax hike that President Obama fought for and won.  The tax hikes championed by this administration are already being felt across the board.  In the factory where I work, insurance costs went up drastically this year as a direct result of President Obama’s first major tax hike – also known as Obama care.  Our President has shown repeatedly that he does not care for the vast majority of Americans, both in his speech and his actions.

The other is the sequester.  The sequester cuts funding “across the board” in equal dollar amounts.  As a proportion of budget, spending for national defense is hit the hardest.  There will be people affected.  These will come from many walks of life.  However, these cuts will not directly affect every wallet in America like the tax hikes do.

So is the sequester good or bad?

It is both.

The sequester is bad

because it was intended by its creators (the Obama administration) to hurt people.  It was planned out in a way that would benefit a certain political party, at the expense of anyone in the way.  The sequester is bad because it represents the vast divide and partisanship in our government today.  The sequester is bad because it represents an unwillingness to work for the good of the country and lay aside personal pride and ambition.

The sequester is good

because it could represent the (painful) first step back towards financial responsibility as a nation.  The sequester is good, because we need learn to tighten our belts and live within our means.  The sequester is good, because it might just be the rude awakening we need.  We have been mortgaging our future for far too long.  Its time to take a serious look at drastic measures to both balance the budget and pay down the deficit.

Thanks for reading my thoughts – please feel free to share yours,

Dave

Why Evolution is Pro-Life

Yes, I said that evolution is pro-life.  More specifically, I don’t believe that an evolutionist could honestly support abortion.

I must first say here, I do not subscribe to the theory of evolution.  However, I distinctly remember one assignment from my philosophy class in college which dealt with evolution.  We, the students, were required to ascertain to the best of our abilities the value of human life if evolution was presupposed to be true or if there was a deity that created us.

Does Evolution Value Life?

I realize that there are many differing brands of evolution, but the one with the most direct link to provable science is the survival of the fittest theory.  Survival of the fittest is the idea that only the healthiest and best equipped will survive.  This applies both within a species and with regards to different species.  IF this is true, then the only value of any life, including my own, is found in its ability to improve the species of which it is a part.

If my abilities put me in a position of leadership within my species, and if I am a good and capable leader, I might have slightly more value than others.  Assuming however that I am fairly normal, my value to my species is twofold.  First, I can be a stepping stone or a tool to aid the best of my species in improving.  Second, I can procreate – both to increase the numbers within my species and to increase the chance of some member of my species being born with special talent or ability.

It should be noted, at least with human life, that the quality of the parents does not necessarily indicate the quality of the progeny.  There are many examples of this, but the one that comes to mind is Beethoven, who was born to parents that society would have considered diseased and useless.

Does Evolution Value Unborn Life?

Yes!  Emphatically, undoubtedly, indisputably, yes!  Unborn life holds all the promise of the future for any species.  Killing off the unborn is reducing the chances your species has to evolve.  It reduces the chance that your species may be improved by some stellar individual.  In terms of individual value, the process of evolution could even be said value the potential of the unborn life more than it does the life of the unspectacular adult.

Lets put this in perspective.  According to LifeNews.Com there have been nearly 55 million legal abortions since Roe v. Wade, which was 40 years ago.  That means that we have killed (or “disposed of” if you like that term better) almost 55 million chances at a cure for cancer, aids, or the common cold. Almost 55 million have been terminated who might have discovered new energy sources, negotiated major peace treaties, wrote great works of music, or shown stunning physical prowess.

This, to the person who believes the theory of evolution, is an incredible tragedy.  In fact, the evolutionist might say that abortion is a crime against humanity.

Again, I do not subscribe to the theory of evolution.  However, I strongly believe that those who do will, after thought, find themselves required to oppose abortion in all cases.

Thank you for reading my deliberations,

Dave

Resolved – to be a Better American

Late last night, as you and I were ringing in the new year, respected men from all around the country were working to keep our country from going over the “fiscal cliff.”  Whether or not you agree with the measures they take, there is no denying the urgent needs of our country right now.

What is wrong with our country?

There is much finger pointing and accusation right now.  The Democrats blame the Republicans.  The Republicans blame the Democrats.  The Independents, Constitutionalists, Libertarians, and other smaller factions among us blame the two established parties for our woes.  Frankly, I believe that this is all part of the problem.

My grandma used to tell me that you shouldn’t complain about something unless you had a solution to offer.  I think the point is that all the criticism and finger pointing in the world don’t really do any good.  Right now, the biggest dilemma we face is not figuring out who is to blame for America’s problems.  Rather, the dilemma is in charting the best path forward.

Make no mistake, America does have problems.  They not small, and I have no reason to believe the best solutions will be quick or painless.  We spend far more than we earn.  The number of Americans receiving assistance is growing at an alarming rate.  Jobless rates remain high.  Right now the interest alone on our nations debt is staggering and frightening.  Our representatives bicker endlessly over issues which, in many cases, they cannot relate to.  No one can deny that we have problems.

Current issues including the fiscal cliff, gun control, abortion, gay rights, and the social security and medicare programs are all crowding in on our horizon.

However, I believe that the root of the problem is not found in Washington, D.C..  I wrote an article on December 13, 2011 titled, “The Problem With America is…. me?”  Here is a short excerpt which explains my position.

Our culture is made up of individuals – you, me, and many more just like us.  We have the ability to shape and define the culture around us on a daily basis.  It has been said that the person with the smallest amount of influence directly influences at least seven people every day.  While I may not be able to change the entire world, I can choose how I affect those around me.  With this in mind, I am at least partially responsible for the current state of affairs in my beloved USA.  The problem (with America) is me.

What is the solution our America needs?

I believe the solution to America’s woes will not be found at level of federal, state, county, or local government.  While there are definitely reforms needed at each of those levels, I believe that best way to reform America is to bring back the idea of personal responsibility.  We are each responsible for our own actions.  We should be spending less than we earn; training our children to respect authority and life; teaching the importance of freedom of religion; and helping our neighbors.  As we model the values we believe are important to America, others can learn from our example.  This, in my opinion, is the solution for the root of America’s problems.

In a nutshell, America needs better Americans.

How can I effect the solution to America’s problems?

I cannot claim that I can keep us from going over the “fiscal cliff.”  I can, however, use my influence more efficiently for the betterment of America.  I can vote, I can discuss, I can care about what is happening in the world around me enough to do more than just read the headlines.  I can take responsibility for my own actions.  I can be an example to those around me of what an American Citizen should be.

This then, is my New Year’s Resolution.

Resolved – To be a better American

Thanks for taking the time to ponder my thoughts,

Happy New Year,

Dave

English: Two New Year’s Resolutions postcards (Photo credit: Wikipedia)