Thoughts on Government Regulation

It is certainly true we need to look at our regulations and really figure out (in a non partisan, agnostic manner) what works to achieve it's desired goals, and what doesn't, and to figure out what causes undesirable, unintended consequences, and weigh those consequences vs the benefits and make decisions about what to keep and what to cut based on our shared values. I think we all can find common ground there... But to say we need to get rid of regulations, or to suggest the government shouldn't be regulating business, is to suggest something from the extreme right that is neither reasonable, nor rational, and will never happen. We could find common ground and work together to move the country forward, or we can take positions on the far left and the far right and see which one shouts louder and go nowhere. What would you prefer?

The Election - Maddow's Take

No one said it better than Rachel Maddow did.

Thoughts on the Presidential Election

Now that we've had our election, it's time to move on.  Sure the Dems are going to do some celebrating, and the Republicans are going to spend some time licking their wounds, but at some point (and we better do this real soon) we're going to have to address the big question that sits like an elephant in the room; where do we go from here?

Now, in Obama's second term, if we are going to have any success in tackling the problems we face, we are going to have to sit down, talk to each other, and find a way to work together.

I don't understand why can't Republicans and Democrats find common ground, negotiate, and work together? For instance, could liberals do away with outlawing firearms if conservatives could agree to let women make their own decisions about birth control and abortion?  Can't we all agree on both sides that both of those are civil rights issues that are protected by the constitution and should be up to the individual to choose how they want to live their life?  Can't the Democrats tell the anti-gun nuts to hit the road, and can't the Republicans put the anti-abortion wackos in the backseat instead of the drivers seat, and govern from the middle instead of from the extreme left or right?

Could liberals agree to not allow public unions to use money taken from the pay of it's members to fund political campaigns, if conservatives could agree corporations are not people and do not have a right to unlimited campaign donations? Could we all agree that public education is important for the prosperity of our country, and that our public education system is broken and needs to be fixed? 

I think we have room to move forward together, regardless of our particular ideology.  
I believe if both sides can work together in areas where they can find common ground, we can accomplish alot.  If the GOP continues to dig in and not cooperate on anything, simply with the goal of not allowing Obama to come away from anything with any victories, then unfortunately, we are going to go the way of the Romans.   I don't think that's going to happen.   Things have looked bad before...  During/just after the civil war things looked really bad, the future was in question, during/right after the great depression things were awful and the future was in question, during the 80's as/after the cold war ended, we had horrible recession, horrible budget deficits, horrible inflation and terribly high interest rates.  The thing that's always worked about our country in the past was we were always able to work together, regardless of particular ideology, toward improving/strengthening the middle class, and although there always have been good times, and bad times, things progressively always got better over the long run.  Today, we have a country where the corporationsts and the radical religious zealots are trying to wrestle control of our country away from it's democratic principles, and if we allow that to happen, all is lost...  But if we can return to our democratic ideals of working together to promote personal liberty, creating opportunity, and building a strong middle class, we can over come this tough challenge, as well as any other that faces us.  I sincerely believe that.

As dark and as forboding as things seem now, if we can try to see through the fog (even if it requires a third eye, instead of just the two we're used to using), if we can see through this darkness, there is a future on the other side of it.  There is prosperity on the other side of it.  The question is, will we do what it takes to get us there?  I think that question will be answered by the Republican party in the weeks/months to come as we try to deal with the impending "fiscal cliff."    

Put on your seatbelts, I doubt this ride will be boring.

Some thoughts on Marijuana Legalization

I do not use Marijuana.  My wife can confirm that for you non-believers out there.  That being said, all of the arguments to prohibit marijuana work even better for alcohol.  

Q.  Why have one and not the other?
A.  My answer to that is we shouldn't elevate one over the other.
Q.  Why not prohibit both?
A.  My answer to that is liberty.

Thoughts on Gay Marriage

Q. Marriage is a religious ceremony, right? Why are the same people who are always up in arms about separation of church and state the same who want the state to regulate the church when it comes to marriage. No regulation one way or the other should be allowed. Smaller Fed government and power returned to the states to make up their own minds, and if you don't like how it is in a red state, move to a blue state. Freer and happier people I bet.

A. There are two aspects to marriage. A religious ritual, which the government has no place in regulating... And a civil contract, which the church has no authority over. I don't care what churches do inside their property (as long as it doesn't violate the tax code requirements that allow them to remain tax exempt), but when it comes to the civil contract, none of the laws regulating it should have anything to do with religious requirements.  No one wants the state to regulate church my friend. they want the church to stop intruding on civil government matters.

Find a way to serve a veteran on Veterans Day!

Less than 1% of Americans are veterans.  Many of them are unemployed, homeless, and/or alone.  If you have done well in this country, you've done so thanks to the veterans who've secured for us what we have at great personal sacrifice.


Do something for a veteran this year on Veterans Day.  If you own a business, hire a veteran, if you can't hire but already employ a veteran, give them a raise, or at least an extra day off with pay.  If you're not a business owner/manager, feed a veteran...  Invite a veteran over for a meal with your family.  Contact a shelter or s soup line to volunteer to help feed the homeless (many of whom are veterans).  If you have a skill and you're aware of a specific need, use your skill to serve a veteran...  For instance, if you're a plumber and you know a veteran who is having plumbing problems in their families home, why wouldn't you do what you can to help someone who has done so much for us?


Help your favorite veteran...  A family member, a coworker you know and like, a neighbor...  


Here'a a great idea for those who don't know any veterans:  A number of chain restaurants around the country, including Chile's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse and many others are offering free meals to veterans on Veteran's Day.


Call around your area and see which chains are offering free anything and ask what documentation is needed. Then call your local VA facility or VFW hall and find out which vets have no family, or no money, or haven't been out to a restaurant in years. Grab your spouse or a buddy and go and take that vet or vets to lunch.


Regardless of what you decide to do, or who you decide to help, observe Veterans day this year by doing something to serve those who've served.

Ellens "big bad bully"

I never watch the Ellen Degeneres show, and don't normally pay much attention to what has the mob in an uproar at any particular moment, but I was made aware of the situation of the email Kenneth Krause sent to Jennifer Livingston when a family member called me up and asked me about it.

Since then, out nothing other than curiosity, I've done a little (read very small amount) of reading of the publicity this has gotten, and I have to say, it's gotten way out of hand.