wisdomforliving

THE CONTINUING WAR AGAINST RELIGION

2012-02-15T19:04:00.000-06:00

I continue to be amazed by the Obama Administration. This time they have really stepped in it. Initially they decided to dictate to the Catholic Church that they and their associated businesses and schools must offer health insurance covering contraception and abortion. It’s all a part of Obamacare. Well, all hell broke loose. So, they backtracked and just decided that insurance companies would have to provide these coverages for free. Never mind that they do not have the authority to make these requirements. No, they just made a decision. I guess they thought this would make this matter go away. Wrong. Contraception and abortion are sins according to the Catholic Church. Such actions are against the Catholic Church’s tenets and doctrines.

This essay will not offer an opinion on abortion or contraception. No, this essay will deal only with Obama’s dictatorial desires and his latest power grab. What you believe about abortion is your decision. What you think about contraception is your choice. This is still America and we are still free people and we will not sit still for this latest attempt by Obama to become supreme ruler.

Once again I need to offer Mr. Obama and his assistant, Joe Biden, a Catholic by the way, some proper reading material. It is called the Constitution of the United States and the Bill Of Rights with particular emphasis on the first amendment, “freedom of religion.” We the people did not elect an emperor, we elected a president. Your so-called executive powers do not include dictating to a worldwide religion what they must think or believe. You, Mr. Obama, are not the arbiter of thought to the billions of people who disagree with you. You are a politician who will soon enough, not soon enough for me however, be back on the street looking for work. Most, if not all, of your executive orders will be rescinded by your successor. Your services to this country will be a footnote in history somewhere just below Jimmy Carter and whoever follows you will have a huge job of fixing the mess you have created. They will have a completely legitimate reason for blaming their predecessor for the problems they face.

Here is some reality for Obama and the new lefty Democrat party. The huge middle of this country which incidentally produces the food for the entire country, and where the majority of the guns owned in America dwell, and where people live out their lives minding their own business, these people are not going to sit by and watch their country being turned into a European-style socialist state. It just isn’t in our nature. Today you may control the media and you definitely have your supporters, most of whom are on some sort of government dole, but, and this is a big but, you don’t have the people you would need to pull off what you have in mind. Most of the people in this country still love freedom and liberty and still believe in personal responsibility. Most still work for a living and are not on the government dole. These are the people you will never convince to give up their freedom and their way of life.

There is soon going to be an accounting. It is called election day. I firmly believe the gig is up. The American people will not be duped any longer. It is clear to any thinking person that Obama is just not qualified to serve as President of these United States. I believe it will soon become clear to the Democrats as well.

Never in the history of this Republic has there been such obvious and overt attempt to subvert the Constitution and try to overthrow the government by an elected official. This war on religion is just the latest attempt to grab power and usurp the freedom and liberty we enjoy as free Americans. It must and will come to an end.

Ron Scarbro February 15, 2012

THE PC PATROL AND ITS AFTERMATH

2012-02-08T18:47:00.000-06:00

Have you heard what is happening at Vanderbilt University? The PC Patrol is alive and well at Vanderbilt. This is the latest from this bastion of correct thinking as seen by elite education scholars. Vanderbilt has decreed that any club or group or gathering on the University campus must be open to include anyone who would want to join that group. The most cited example is a Christian group who must allow the entry of atheists if they want to join. If a prayer group starts up, they must allow any person to join that group that chooses.

Let us take this out to its inevitable conclusion. As an example, Mensa, an organization of geniuses, would have to allow the entry of less than intelligent individuals. Today, to join that group, one must pass certain intelligence tests to determine one’s IQ. Only high IQ’d individuals are allowed in.

Another example might be a Muslim group. That group would have to allow infidels if it met on the campus. Can you just imagine how that would go down? At Muslim Prayer time the devout Muslims would get on their hands and knees for prayer and the infidels would be over in the corner having a kegger.

If the young Republicans wanted to have a rally, they would have to include the Democrats, the Socialist and even the Communists. After all, we don’t want anyone to feel excluded or isolated even if, by their own choice, they are isolated.

This essay will not even get into the problem this policy creates for the Greek groups. Can you imagine someone wanting to be a part of a society but was not acceptable to the group as a whole? Some Greek societies have GPA requirements for membership. That would have to be eliminated. Fraternities and sororities would have to be co-ed. Under no circumstance could there ever be exclusivity at any level.

So what do you suppose is really going on here? What do you imagine is really the aim of the University administration? I suspect this is a move on their part to eliminate religion from the campus. This is clearly another example of the liberal war against religion. It is just that simple.This started as a move to require the entry of atheists into a prayer group who just wanted to cause trouble in that group. Now, because of the policy, which clearly was not thought out, all kinds of mischief is afoot. This again is an example of political correctness run amok and its inevitable outcome, and as usual it seems to find its origins in the ivory towers of big colleges and universities.

When is this nonsense going to end? I have a simple explanation for the PC Patrol. There can be equality without sameness. To further explain my thesis, which seems to be necessary when dealing with the college crowd, everybody is not the same. That doesn’t mean they are not equal. Everybody doesn’t want the same thing, or to worship under the same religion, or to unite with a group with whom they have nothing in common. Birds of a feather do, in fact, flock together. The last thing a group of hummingbirds want is a crow in their midst. And judging from these latest pronouncements from Vanderbilt, the last person I would want in my group is a University policy setter. My group has no place for morons.

Ron Scarbro February 8, 2012

TO BE OR NOT TEBOW THAT IS THE QUESTION

2012-02-01T19:22:00.001-06:00

There has been a forward floating around the internet recently showing a group of Muslims on their hands and knees in prayer along with a picture of NFL quarterback Tim Tebow in his prayerful position. The question was asked, “Why was it okay for the Muslims to be shown in prayer but not Tebow?” Is Tim Tebow being subjected to criticism and mocking for attempting to live his conviction? Is the media being fair? They would never mock the Muslims.

I have followed Tim Tebow from his years at Florida where he was a winning quarterback for the Florida Gators to his ascension to starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. I am a fan. He seems to be just as he appears, an individual who lives his life as his religion dictates. He is charitable beyond belief. He has paid for and built a hospital in the Philippines for the poor and needy children of that area. He invites ailing people, mostly children, to his games and pays all their expenses. He also arranges to spend time with them tossing a football around and just generally making real human contact. In the off season he visits prisons ministering to people who have made bad choices in life. He is truly a positive influence. The press never reports this, do they?

His reward in this country seems to be a mocking media and mocking fellow players. His very name has become a verb and not a nice verb either. Tebowing has become a joke. To kneel and pray as he does has become fodder for some to make fun of.

I don’t know today if he will become a successful quarterback in the NFL. I doubt if he cares nearly as much as the press would have you believe. To me he is already a successful man. I have seen reporters dumbfounded by Tim’s seeming lack of concern for the non-football criticism he has faced. As far as football is concerned, he led his Denver Broncos to the playoffs and even won the first game against a heavily favored Pittsburgh Steeler team. He has since lost to New England and his season is over, but I suspect Tim Tebow has his priorities in order. I believe he will come back next season a better player and will win even more games. But football is football and life is life.

Here is my idea of what Tebowing should be. Instead of mocking his lifestyle, perhaps other NFL players should consider contributing to charities that help poor children. That would be true Tebowing. Instead of blowing millions on parties and fancy clothes, how about concerning oneself with the sick and ailing children who would love to attend a game. In the off season, instead of getting into trouble with booze and drugs, how about becoming a positive influence on one’s fellow man. Those are the kind of things I think of when I think of the word Tebowing.

Making fun of Tim Tebow is not funny. You don’t have to like him or like his choice of religious expression. The media wouldn’t mock women in burqas or men in yamakas. Nor would they mock nuns in their traditional habits. Why then, in a country where polls consistently show most of us professing Christianity as our religious choice, do they feel it’s okay to mock Tebow?

We all have to make our choices as to how we will live our lives. We all choose our heroes. I am pleased to tell you this kid is my hero.

Ron Scarbro February 1, 2012

SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS SPEAK

2012-01-25T14:05:00.001-06:00

Well the South Carolina primary election has ended and another winner has emerged. That means after three different Presidential preference primaries, three different individuals have won. I am relatively sure this will not continue primarily because there are only four candidates and there are many, many more primaries left.

So why did Newt Gingrich win? Two weeks ago he seemingly was behind by double digits, according to most polls. These are my thoughts on the subject.

The big turn around came with the last CNN debate. Gingrich came out on the attack from the start. His attack was not against his competitors however. His attack was not even against the current administration. No, he attacked the elite news media. He rightfully blasted John King, the moderator, for his first question about Newt’s ex-wife and her accusations. Let’s face it, it was a ridiculous question and was handled properly by Gingrich. Neither the question nor any possible answer would have added to the information needed to make a reasonable decision about a particular candidate. No one, except for possibly CNN, cared about what a scorned ex-wife thought or said. It was just a gotcha question. Newt turned the question against the media. The audience erupted with a standing ovation and screamed their approval of his attack. The gotcha was on the media.

I think it is reasonable to assume that across the board most people are fed up with the agenda driven media and their obvious support for Obama and his party. Any semblance of fairness or integrity has long since disappeared from this group. As Gingrich opined he also was fed up with the media covering for and protecting Obama. The audience agreed and leapt to their feet with their approval of that opinion. This was not a good day for the so-called elite media. They may want to re-assess their stance.

The second event that happened in that debate was Gingrich’s statement that he would love to sit down for a three hour “Lincoln/Douglas” debate with Obama and the president could bring his teleprompters and Gingrich would bring only his intellect. Who wouldn’t pay to watch that? In such a debate, Obama would look like the impostor that he is. Gingrich would not only be the smartest man in the room, he would also be the mentally quickest. He is skilled and glib and has years of experience in dealing with detractors and critics. He probably has never felt the need for a teleprompter. I am sure that such a debate would be one of Barak Obama’s biggest nightmares.

Now we are on to Florida which is said to be the biggest test to date of any of these candidates. The reason is that Florida is a microcosm of the country as a whole. The diversity of race, ethnicity, and economic status is far closer to the entire country than any state having held their primary thus far. I will watch with great interest.

I have these simple questions. Can Gingrich beat the field in this state where Romney is supposed to have a huge lead in the polls? And if he does, can he then beat Obama in a general election? As I have said before, and I will say again, getting rid of Barak Obama is the most important matter facing the electorate. This election may well be our last chance to stop the bleeding and turn this country around.

Ron Scarbro January 25, 2012

I DON'T THINK SO TIM

2012-01-18T19:52:00.000-06:00

Friday before the three day weekend was another day for the news dump. That is what administrations do when they want to release news but don’t want any particular scrutiny of that news. If it is released on a Friday before a three day weekend it usually just goes away until it is too late to do anything about it. Obama did just that last Friday by asking the Congress for consolidation powers of several agencies of government to reduce the size of government.

Now who wouldn’t want a smaller government? This looks for all the world like a Republican move. Not so fast, Skippy. As usual the devil is in the details.

Consider this. Barak Obama has never actually had a real job. He has never met a payroll. He has never served in the military. And yet here he is, the President of the United States, Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful military in history, presiding over the world’s largest economy. And by his own words and deeds has proven time after time that he is an enemy of free enterprise and capitalism. Now he wants to further consolidate his power over commerce and business in this country and he wants to have complete control of this new super agency? I don’t think so Tim. Frankly he is just not qualified. Let’s face it, most of these agencies need to be eliminated anyway, not consolidated.

In addition to his being unqualified, I suppose my biggest problem with this consolidation is that I just do not trust Obama. History is replete with incidents of individuals coming into office and then consolidating power to a point of dictatorship. We elected a President in the last election, we didn’t elect a dictator. You don’t have to think too hard to come up with other figures in history who were elected by the people and then altered their governments through consolidation and usurping to become supreme leader. There have been many and they now dwell in the trash heap of failed dictatorships.

This is what I would like from this president for his remaining time in office. Ride in parades, attend state funerals around the world, host one final Easter egg roll on the White House lawn, but don’t, under any circumstance, further screw up this economy. Leave it alone. To the Congress I have this bit of advice. Do not allow this unqualified community organizer any more opportunities to become a dictator. He has “czars” who were never vetted by Congress along with many recess appointments which go quite nicely with his numerous executive orders. Enough already. Do your job and stop him in his tracks. If I wanted to live under a dictatorship, I would live in places like North Korea or Venezuela, not in America. Obama is not a manager and has zero experience in business. He is absolutely the last person who should be in a position of authority over anything to do with a for- profit business.

As students of world history you and I have seen countries destroyed by giving away too much power to individuals. Normally one would expect Congress to hold down these overly ambitious potential monarchs. I fear our Congress doesn’t have the stomach for this. It is up to the people to scream loud and long. Failing that, where is the press? Oh, I forgot. They are in the tank for the Democrats and will not even discuss this latest usurpation until it is too late. It is pretty much going to be up to the American people to end this latest power play.

We have a constitution. It has served us for over two hundred years. No need to change now.

Ron Scarbro January 18, 2012

I ENJOY FIRING PEOPLE

2012-01-11T19:03:00.002-06:00

Did you hear Romney’s answer to questions concerning health care providers? His comments were basically that if a company who offers him insurance coverage fails to provide the coverage they contract for, he would enjoy firing that company. That is the same response you or I would have. If we are paying for a service or a product and that provider fails, then it should always be our option to get rid of them and perhaps replace them with a company or provider who will fulfill their commitment to us. This is of course, the American way. We are free people and we live in a capitalist society. We have the right to contract with companies and people for goods and services and we also have the right to fire them if they fail. So far, so good.

Here is the problem. The Democrats have decided to take this one little comment out of context and try to use it against Romney. Some of his Republican opponents have even gotten on the bandwagon to rail against Romney as an individual who enjoys firing people. This is just disgusting. This is what politics has become. The truth has no place in a political race apparently.

Here is some truth for you. Romney worked for a time as a venture capitalist for a company who would buy up companies which were often in trouble. They would then attempt to either revive those companies or, failing that, would extract any available assets and close those companies and move on. Many companies survived and prospered. Some failed. Such is life in the big city. There are no guarantees. Many, many jobs were saved and improved by these mergers. Some were lost. That’s just the way it is. If you do not like it, get a government job.

Romney’s answer regarding health insurance providers who don’t live up to their contracts and the subsequent firing of that provider had nothing at all to do with his previous job as a venture capitalist. It was a simple answer to a simple question.

Don’t tell Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat, FL. that though. She and the Democrats have decided to try to destroy Romney by saying he enjoys firing people. Well, it won’t work. The American people are too smart to fall for this nonsense. Even some of Romney’s opponents will try to gain some traction from this. Bad move.

This is what amazes me. Obama and the Democrats have been in charge for three years and by any definition, have failed and failed miserably. They have not performed up to any reasonable expectation. I am going to enjoy firing them. When I was in business in my former life I had to fire people who did not perform up to the expectations of my company. It was never a pleasant experience. I never enjoyed it, but it was a part of my job and I did it. This election is different though. This time I am going to enjoy firing people. I am going to enjoy firing Barak Obama. When a politician or a political party fails in their job and doesn’t measure up to the expectations of their employer, the American people, they need to be fired, period.

Trying to make political hay out of a simple statement by Romney is a classic example of nit-wits nit-picking. We, the people are better than that.

Ron Scarbro January 11, 2012

PIPELINES AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

2012-01-04T15:01:00.003-06:00

President Obama has an excellent opportunity today to, one, reduce some of our dependence on Middle East oil, and two, reduce unemployment by several thousand people. I am talking about good paying jobs of construction, driving, and all the management that those positions require. Of course I am talking about the Keystone pipeline from Canada to Texas. It should be noted that there exists today many pipelines in so-called environmentally sensitive areas. This proposed pipeline will have no more effect on this area than any of the others do now. For reasons that could only be political, Obama has refused to even consider approving this pipeline until after the election next November. The Congress, however, has snookered him into having to make a decision well before he would like to. He now has less than two months.

Let’s think about this. Who would be opposed to such an opportunity? What rational person could ever come up with any sane or logical opposition to this prospect of both jobs and energy? Well it isn’t the unions. No, they favor this job producer. The opposition comes from the so-called environmental movement. I say so-called because the environment is not at all what they are concerned about. No, they have a totally different agenda. These are the same morons who ride their bicycles in heavy automobile traffic headed for the recycling center to deposit their aluminum cans clad only in their little spandex leotards looking for all the world like rejected dancers from a ballet company. We call them environmentalist wackos. Now please don’t get me wrong. I see myself as an environmentalist. The big difference is that I am also a realist. I believe in protecting the world and all of its natural resources. I don’t want to waste anything and while I love the natural world, I also love my fellow man. Oh, and by the way, humans are also a part of the natural world. If I have to pick between a snail darter fish and a human being, the fish is in trouble. If some lizard is compromised by our need to feed, clothe, and warm humanity, sorry Mr. Lizard. You lose. If that sounds harsh to you, too bad.

The truth of the matter of this pipeline is something quite different. The wackos don’t really care about fish or lizards. They just hate capitalism. They despise the thought of American exceptionalism. It has been said that the environmental movement is actually a refuge for yesterday’s communists. I have no proof, but it certainly makes sense to me. The real troubling part of all this is Obama’s willingness to put the environmentalist’s feeble concerns over what’s best for the American people. He has a real dilemma. Does he listen to the unions or does he ignore them in favor of the environmentalist wackos? And why does he want to wait until after the election to deal with this issue? Seems pretty clear to me. He just wants to get re-elected. After that he will not need his base, either group. But then I am something of a skeptic.

Here is something else for you to consider. With one little eruption of one little volcano in Iceland, more pollution is spewed into the atmosphere than all that the green movement could change in a hundred years. All the Prius drivers and bicyclists combined couldn’t change the effect of ten minutes of volcanic eruption. Reality sometimes sucks, huh?

This whole thing is obvious to any thinking person. Obama is trying to please too many of his base at the expense of the only people he should be concerned about, the American people. They are the ones who will judge his actions and will hold him responsible in November. Here is an excellent opportunity for him to show true leadership and get this pipeline going. The positives? Jobs, and energy. The negatives? A few disgruntled environmentalist wackos. Doesn’t sound like too tough a choice to me.

Ron Scarbro January 4, 2012

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

2011-12-27T19:57:00.000-06:00

None of us can see into the future. I certainly cannot. We do however have the benefit of our years and our experience to somewhat predict what is coming down the road. From time to time I ponder what is happening and I worry about what the future holds for my kids and grandkids. As I see it now, I have some serious reservations. This column will try to offer some ponderings. I also will ask some questions. There is just so much that I don’t understand.

I have watched liberalism grow over the past few years at the expense of traditional Americanism and traditional values. I have watched as personal responsibility seems to have disappeared. I have watched as our great colleges and universities have despoiled the minds of our young people and created a group of dependent slugs. These youngsters seem to have the opinion that they are somehow owed success and a life without stress or worry. How would they have fared crossing this great country in the early 1800s on wagons being pulled by horses and oxen? If they had to dig in the dirt or go hunting in the woods for their food, how would they do? If liberalism as we know it today had existed then, would we as a country have survived or prospered? I doubt it.

Today it seems that the people who live in the Northeast portion of this country and in Washington DC believe they hold all the intelligence in America. They think they know best. What if they had to feed themselves? What if they had to produce their own fuel and electricity? What would their philosophy degrees from the Ivy League schools be worth then? How uncomfortable would they have to get before they changed their thought processes?

Here’s another thought. How much money do you think China has spent to get the favorable trade agreements they enjoy and to whom do you think this money was paid?

On that same line of thought, how many jobs have been and are being sent to foreign lands because of our tax structure, regulations, and our labor union demands? No one on earth can out produce us but we continue to buy foreign goods because they can produce them at much cheaper prices with much cheaper labor costs.

Why do we continue to re-elect the morons who have created this problem and flourish financially at the expense of the country? When will we hold their feet to the fire?

Now for some other questions. Do the jurors who found OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony not guilty of murder ever go to their respective police departments and ask how the search for the real killers is going? Just asking.

Why would anyone ever cite as an authority a newspaper like The New York Times on any subject? Never has a newspaper so lost its credibility as have they. As for me, I wouldn’t wrap my dead rotting fish in that paper for fear the fish would be contaminated by the process.

Who is paying to make sure MSNBC is still on the air? I think their audience is something less that two or three hundred a night. Just wondering.

What must one do in order to be put into prison for some serious time? It seems most of the crimes being committed are being committed by frequent fliers. We see twenty-somethings who have a felony record as long as your leg and they are running loose to commit more crime. Many have conviction on top of conviction and yet are on the street. Are the judges and lawyers looking for job security? Just asking.

Does anybody actually watch the reality shows on TV? Now there’s a puzzle. And who the hell is Kim Kardashian and why should I care?

Oh, and if Harry Truman was alive today do you really think he would be a Democrat?

Finally, does anybody else wonder about these and other things? There is just so much that I do not understand. I guess the world is just passing me by.

Happy New Year.
Ron Scarbro, December 27, 2011

TWAS THE TIME BEFORE CHRISTMAS

2011-12-18T19:57:00.002-06:00

Twas the time before Christmas and all through the House
The Reps and the Dems continued to grouse
There seemed to be nothing of which one could see
Where any of them could ever agree

The economy and budget were in disarray
With taxes and debt too heavy to weigh
Elections were coming too soon to forget
So they must look good lest they regret

That if one party exceeds and the other one fails
The voters might see to it that their ship sails
The country it seems is not high on their list
Re-election they think is all that they risk

When out in the country there arose such a shout
Get your job done or all of you are out
We tire of your nonsense and your silly games
Santa is too and has taken your names

From the top of the hills to the valleys below
The people have seen and are all in the know
It’s the country that counts so it’s not about you
I think you’ll be hearing it and you know it is true

Don’t be surprised if next Christmas you see
Unemployment checks in your stocking I hope you’ll agree
The people will speak and on this they’ll be clear
A very Merry Christmas to us all and a Happier New Year

There are so many things I could write about this Christmas week. My wife has scolded me and told me that I should just once lay it all aside to concentrate instead on the season. Among the many things that have upset me and I am angry about is the Keystone pipeline project and the failure of the Obama administration to think of the country first and put politics on the back burner until we experience some recovery. Next week I’ll write my thoughts about this little fiasco and what it means to this country.

But this is Christmas week and I know my wife is right. I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who regularly read these musings and to the many of you who offer your comments. I get great pleasure from doing the writing. It is a reward in itself. It gets even better when I know you read and enjoy these thoughts. Linda and I wish for you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. I believe it is going to be great.

Ron Scarbro Christmas 2011

THE GOVERNMENT WE CHOSE

2011-12-14T09:38:00.000-06:00

We have the government we have chosen. We, through our elections, have put into place the people who make the laws and set the policies that govern our society. That’s funny because I recently saw a poll which stated that over 75% of the respondents believe we, as a country, are headed in the wrong direction. Is this “buyer’s remorse?” The voters of this country elected Obama and Reid and Pelosi along with all the others and this is what we get. I believe we deserve what we get. After all we voted for it.

You have all heard the definition of insanity. That is when you continue to do what you have always done but expect a different result. That cannot happen. That is insanity.

Now President Obama says he needs four more years to complete his task and that the voters should re-elect him. That would be insanity. It is clear to me that four more years of Obama would probably be enough time for him to complete his vision of destroying America as we know it and replacing it with some sort of socialist European type country. If the voters in fact re-elect this incompetent to four more years, we deserve the destruction that will surely follow.

And so I ask the question, “Are you satisfied with the direction we, as a country, are headed? Are you among the 75% who said no?” If you are not satisfied, what are you willing to do about it?

I have heard some on the left say that the Republicans are hampering their attempts to change this country into the welfare state that they envision. I so hope that is true. I have children and grandchildren to consider. I want a world for them that in some way resembles the world I entered as a young man. One has only to look across the pond to see Greece, or Spain, or for that matter most of the European Socialist countries and see the trouble they are in. That, ladies and gentlemen, is our future unless we turn this ship of state around. Is that the future you want for your children and your grandchildren?

I watch in stunned amazement as the media and the Democrat party team up in an effort to destroy all that is good about America. Good people, many of whom are Democrats but also many Republicans, seem to park their brains at the door when they get to Washington. For reasons I cannot explain they fall into the pattern of spending money we do not have to buy things we do not need for people who are too lazy to care for themselves, and in the process weakening our military and lowering America’s position of influence in the world. It needs to stop now. Responsible people must get off their duffs and get busy electing the people who will bring this nonsense to an end.

In another poll I read that 42% of respondents believed Obama deserves another term as President. That group must approve of the fact that the stock market is in the toilet, unemployment is anywhere between 9 and 11% depending on whom you believe, real estate values are the lowest they have been in decades with foreclosures going through the roof, America’s debt is the highest it has ever been, and across the board there seems to be a general malaise about our lives. Is that what America is all about? I don’t think so.

We do have the government we have chosen. We are headed in the direction we have chosen. If, like me, you are unhappy with that direction, help change it. I remember an exercise I used to do in typing class, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” That says it all.

Ron Scarbro December 13, 2011

CHRISTMAS IS A CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY

2011-12-07T14:22:00.001-06:00

Governor Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island refuses to call the beautifully decorated spruce tree in the State Capitol a Christmas tree. Even though it came from a Christmas tree farm, he chooses instead to call it a holiday tree. My question of Chafee would be, “Which holiday is it? What holiday has, as one of its traditional symbols, a lighted, brightly decorated fir tree?” It would appear that in an effort not to offend a scant 1 or 2 % of the population whose life’s mission it is to be offended, he chooses rather to offend the other 80 to 90% of the citizenry.

News flash. Christmas is a Christian holiday. It is not a Jewish holiday. It is not a Muslim holiday. It is not an atheist holiday. Christmas, however, is observed all over the world in all countries with all faiths. Some observe Christmas as a religious time. Others do not. How one chooses to observe Christmas is their business. How you choose to celebrate Christmas doesn’t alter what Christmas is however. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and no amount of political correctness will change that.

Here is what concerns me. The PC police seem to find this as a time to spew their nonsense and try to interfere with the vast majority’s celebration. School districts all over this country are issuing new rules about what is proper and what is improper to say about this holiday. It seems they don’t want to upset non-Christians by calling this holiday by its proper name. Many retailers who use this season to fatten up their bottom lines require of their employees all sorts of PC greetings so as not to offend the atheists or the Muslims or even the occasional Jew. If you choose to do business with such a retailer, that is your choice. I will not. I met a Jewish lady once who was offended when I said Merry Christmas to her. How sad. I suspect she was one of the 2% whose life mission it is to be offended.

Here’s something to think about. Christians make up as much as 80% of our population. The total numbers of Muslims, Atheists, and Jews together represent far less than 10% of our population. In this country they all have the right to any religion they choose. I promise I will not try to interfere with any celebration they might be involved with or be offended by any greeting which might be construed as a religious greeting. Muslims can have their month long fasting period of Ramadan and dedicate five periods each day to prayer. That is certainly their choice and their right. All I ask in return is they all be a bit more tolerant of my religion and my religious holidays.

Finally, it occurs to me that those who would deny God, to their dismay, will discover soon enough their folly. You see, life is a terminal condition for us all. In the meantime I would not want to be standing anywhere near Lincoln Chafee during a thunderstorm.

Ron Scarbro December 4, 2011

BUDGETS AND DEFICITS

2011-11-29T16:02:00.001-06:00

Unless you are a sitting Member of Congress or a former Member of Congress, you did not create the current deficit or the budget problems so they are not your fault. If you are a senior citizen drawing your benefits, you did not cause the shortfall in the Social Security fund. That also is not your fault. The “Super Committee.” What a joke. This was doomed from the beginning. The reason for all our budget and deficit problems is simple. Members of Congress care far more about re-election than they ever cared about the American people and everything they do is directed toward that end. The reason we have a budget deficit is because Congresses past and present have developed hair-brained vote buying schemes with no regard to the ultimate requirement of paying for them. When their excesses are played out and their business unfriendly regulations upset normal business cycles, tragedy is bound to occur. That is where we are right now.

While it is true I am not an economics genius, common sense says there are right ways and wrong ways to approach this mess. The idea that we can increase taxes to create a recovery is ridiculous. Taxes are regressive not progressive. Taking money from productive citizens to give to unproductive citizens is absurd on its face. Consider this example of a baker. Let’s say he can take flour and sugar and make donuts. He can then sell those donuts to create profit. If he is successful he will hire employees who will also be consumers in the marketplace. His income is taxable as is the income of his employees. If the government decides to increase the baker’s taxes to a point where he cannot continue to hire or even has to reduce his staff, how on earth does that help with the deficit? If he does not make donuts he makes no profit thereby reducing his tax payments. If he lays off employees, they pay no tax and become dependents on the government. If he does not retail his product, sales taxes are not collected. Cities and counties are then left without necessary revenues. If he doesn’t buy flour and sugar the farmer’s income suffers. Is this so difficult for the morons in Washington to figure out?

The government doesn’t produce anything but laws and regulations. They do not create profit. They do not make donuts. They only stifle productive people and hamper growth. Are we going to have to face bankruptcy as a country before the geniuses in Washington figure this out? I have written before that for us to recover, government has to get out of the way. No good citizen of this great country would ever refuse to pay reasonable taxes for reasonable services. We know we must finance our military and our infra-structure. But things have certainly gotten out of hand. Now we must face some facts. We have over spent and over promised. The time has come to deal with our issues.

I find it amazing that we can send millions and millions of dollars overseas while here at home our senior citizens and veterans basically have to beg for the benefits they bought and paid for in good faith. I will never excuse the Congresses who raided the Social Security fund to buy votes. These benefits are legal debts which the government owes and as such are inviolate.

So here’s the deal. The only recovery that is possible will occur when business is allowed to grow without interference from government. You want to see the economy improve, reduce corporate taxes. In fact reduce taxes across the board. Encourage investment and entrepreneurship. Allow those businesses who are holding vast sums of money in foreign countries to return that money to this country without penalty. Change the attitude in Washington to a positive one. Quit doing battle with business and Wall Street. Stop all this class envy and class warfare. We are one people and the only way out of this mess is all of us working together to that end. Today I wouldn’t mind if every single Member of Congress was replaced. I especially look forward to the unemployment of Barak Obama. We, as a country, are better than this and we need a true leader who knows and loves this country. Time is running out.

Ron Scarbro November 29, 2011

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2011

2011-11-23T19:30:00.001-06:00

Today our Thanksgiving table will be set with our traditional meal. I would call it a feast. There will be a turkey and it will be stuffed with cornbread stuffing. I will once again make too much stuffing and so I will place the extra in a baking dish and bake it along with the turkey and it will be called dressing. When the turkey is done, Linda will make gravy to cover the meat, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Some people might call it sauce, but people from the south call it gravy. I will prepare fresh green beans with bacon and bacon grease. You should be aware that in the south bacon grease is a condiment. Most, if not all, vegetables are cooked in bacon grease. There will also be sweet potatoes baked with pecans and brown sugar that will more resemble a dessert than a vegetable. Dinner rolls will accompany the meal for sopping. That again is a southern term for gathering up any remaining gravy on your plate. Sopping is a very definitive word. And speaking of dessert, Linda will have made two pies. First a pecan pie. Southerners might recognize this as “Karo Nut Pie,” but the common name is pecan pie. Of course the other pie is pumpkin pie. You know pumpkin is a squash so you could say this is a vegetable too?

That is our traditional meal. There will be no tofu or tofurky anywhere near our home. In other words no soy beans will be harmed in the preparation of this meal. We will have the same meal whether we have a house full of people or just the two of us. Why, you ask? The reasons are simple. First it is our tradition. Secondly, the food and the smells coming from the kitchen remind us of our lives together, our families, and in some respects our childhoods. Finally the meal is delicious. What more needs to be said?

I know different people have different traditions. I think those mostly come from their childhoods. I know of some folks from Central America who prepare and serve tamales for Thanksgiving. There are those from The Middle East who serve lamb. I think all such choices are great.

Speaking of tofu, something else came up to discuss at this holiday season. Last week on the news was a story about PETA trying to sue a city in America named Turkey to change their name to Tofu. If ever an organization did more to make themselves irrelevant and foolish looking, I don’t know who it could be. And speaking of vegans and vegetarians, I once had a vegan nurse tell me that I shouldn’t eat anything with a face or a mother. I asked if I could eat oysters and clams. She couldn’t answer the question. So I guess I can.

Also I once saw a TV show starring Charlie Chase called Crook and Chase. Charlie was offered a veggie burger and asked what he thought. He replied that it was actually pretty good. All it needed was a little mayonnaise and some meat. That’s pretty much how I would feel. If you choose only to eat vegetables, be my guest. If you want to go out and graze in the meadow with the cows, have at it. As soon as those cows are fattened up, I will be happy to butcher them, eat and enjoy their meat. To me PETA stands for “People Eating Tasty Animals.” I fear vegetarianism has become a political statement rather than a food choice. Have you ever heard of a vegan conservative Republican? Me either. Whatever.

Today Linda and I wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving with all the traditions you enjoy. If you have the luxury of a house full of relatives and friends, good for you. Regardless of how you celebrate this holiday may your day be blessed beyond your dreams.

Ron Scarbro Thanksgiving 2011

THE CAT AND THE MOUSE

2011-11-18T08:11:00.001-06:00

The cat killed and ate the mouse. That seems simple enough. This essay will attempt to take this simple statement and report it to the public from the standpoint of the left, the elite media, and the right, Fox News and talk radio. As seems to be the case in events like this, no verification of the actual killing and subsequent eating were ever pursued. The story was just made available to the media by anonymous sources.

Information has reached the newsroom of a recent tragedy. A mouse, from all indications an innocent victim, was reportedly killed and then eaten by a mighty, overweight, and cunning predator. The mouse, in an effort to feed his hungry family and provide a better life for them, broke into the home of a wealthy Wall Street banker. Whether or not the break in was legal is unimportant. What is important is the mouse was hungry and the mouse was only eating the scraps of food the rich home owners and their cat would not eat. Upon discovery, the innocent victim mouse was then pounced upon by the stronger and better equipped cat, dispatched, and then eaten by the greedy predator. It is clear to this reporter that if the cat had been cared for by his wealthy owner and fed properly this tragedy would and could have been averted. Instead another innocent victim, one who could have possibly at some time become a contributing member of rodent society, has forever been removed just to satisfy the lust and greed of the fat cat. The wealthy owner, when asked to comment, said only that cats do what cats do and I am grateful the mouse has been removed from my house. Grateful? Really? Grateful? We here in the newsroom are saddened by this tragic event.

So much for the left wing media. Now for the other side.

Information has reached the newsroom of yet another illegal breaking and entering and its justifiable results. Unknown sources have reported to us that a mouse, by all indications an illegal alien, has attempted to subvert the American system and steal the resources of a hard working family and their beloved pet. This illegal mouse was spotted by the resourceful and diligent cat who did what he was supposed to do. He defended his domicile and was further rewarded by a tasty morsel of food. To those who attempt to defend this mouse it should be noted that he was not only representing himself but he was attempting to find a new home for his entire family. And, by the way, he had not just one family but many, many families and none by benefit of marriage. It’s reported that he has sired as many as fifty or more offspring and all of them are now attempting to continue in their father’s illegal footsteps.

The cat’s proud owner, a local businessman currently employed by a family owned and operated, neighborhood-friendly bank, was justifiably ecstatic at his pet’s ingenuity, patriotism, and entrepreneurship. His comment, “If we had more capable, energetic, and aggressive cats, this would be a better place to live. Vermin everywhere should take notice. We will not put up with your illegal activities.” Republican candidates for President, when asked for their reactions, all called for a special commendation for the heroic cat. We here in the newsroom all add our congratulations to the owner and his fine cat. Our future is indeed brighter because of this tremendous act and it gives us all renewed hope for America.

The story was that a cat killed and ate a mouse and I have taken certain liberties with this essay. You and I know it is silliness, but at the same time there is some truth here that needs to be discussed. It is incumbent on all of us to be very careful with what is reported as news and to remember to cull out what is obviously opinion and agenda from both sides of issues. I long for a time when news will just be reported and I will be allowed to come to my own conclusions and form my own opinions. I can hope, can’t I?

Ron Scarbro November 16, 2011

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

2011-11-10T19:30:00.001-06:00

When I go to my local VA Medical Center for care, my doctor and his entire staff say to me, “Thank you for your service.” That is a strange thing for me to hear. While on the one hand I am grateful that my service has been appreciated, on the other I feel my contribution pales to insignificance when compared to what so many others have given. I have written before and I will say again, I received so much more from my time in the military than I ever gave. I didn’t think so at the time, but the years have allowed me to analyze what the military meant to me. That’s what maturity does for you. I entered as a teenage boy from the hills of Tennessee and came out as a man. For that I am very grateful. I continue to receive benefits from my service.

When I was a kid you either joined or you were drafted. Today the new military is all volunteer. We have our finest young people joining and there are wars going on. I am truly thankful such people exist. Personally, I believe we would all be better off if we still had the draft. It would certainly give youngsters something to think about as they contemplate their lives, but that’s a story for another time.

And so today we celebrate veterans. We pause to think of them, the old and the young. The wounded and the dead. The able bodied and the challenged. We think of their families and of their sacrifice. We consider the children who may grow up without a parent. We think of the parents of soldiers and sailors who had to bury their own children and we are sad. The sentiment “Thank you for your service” seems so feeble. And yet, most would say they were just doing their job. Most of their families would say they gave as they did because the military was their lives. Today we will have parades. Today we will have speeches. Politicians will wax eloquently as to how much we appreciate our military and their sacrifices. And we will say “Thank you for your service.”

This is what I know. My life and yours is made freer because of their sacrifices. The morons who stand on the corner singing songs of hatred for America do so because some brave soul cared enough for freedom to give his or her all. The so-called church which pickets funerals of our brave warriors killed in action have that right because of the very soldiers who died so they could. The protesters who desecrate our flag out of some misguided idiocy are free to walk away from their despicable acts because veterans guaranteed them the freedom of action and thought. Perhaps these idiots would like to try their nonsense in some other countries like say, North Korea, or Russia, or China, or maybe even Venezuela.

And so we say, “Thank you for your service.” It does seem kind of lame, doesn’t it? As a veteran I like to hear it. When I have the opportunity, I say it. Many of you who will read this are veterans so this sentiment goes out to you as well.

Happy Veteran’s Day and may God bless the US Military.

Ron Scarbro Veteran’s Day 2011

I am including this poem for all to read. Many of you have seen it before but I am sure you will agree it doesn’t hurt to read again.

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

(A Soldier Died Today)

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho’ sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,

All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,

And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,

For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,

And the world won’t note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,

But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land

A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,

Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives

Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.

While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It’s so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,

That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know

It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,

Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend

His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier’s part

Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he’s here to hear the praise,

Then at least let’s give him homage at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

GREECE AND OTHER LUBRICANTS

2011-11-07T09:45:00.003-06:00

Greece is either a small insignificant country on the Aegean Sea or a lubricant for your axle or other uses. Regardless of any definition I am suffering from Greek fatigue. I cannot be alone in my opinion that we are weary of the word Greece. Now the news is that Italy will be the next major problem for the world’s economy.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what the problem is with these European Socialist countries. As Margaret Thatcher famously said, “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” These little Socialist countries have run out of other people’s money. Two big problems have emerged as these defaults have run their inevitable course, one is that their own people refuse to have their birth-to-death socialist care eliminated or reduced and problem number two, we and the world’s banks have been financing their excesses for years. Well, guess what, Greece and Italy along with all these socialist failures are going to have to figure out a different way to live or face falling into the sea.

For years and years, fabulously wealthy Greek citizens have hidden their wealth and cheated their own country. Now the “preacher” has to be paid. Ship building tycoons have refused to pay their taxes and (with the cooperation of the corrupt government officials) have fiddled while Rome has burned. Now the European Union wants us to bail them out. I say no way, period. Let them fall into the sea and the sooner the better. The banks who loaned the money to carry Greece and others all these years will just have to suffer losses. Like most of the Western world, I am sick of it.

To all of the “Wall Street protesters” who scream and advocate for this same socialism, can you not see? This form of government just doesn’t work. To survive in this country, you have to work. To survive in this world, you have to work. There is no free lunch. Even if all the wealth in America was suddenly confiscated and spread among all the citizens in this great country, in just a matter of weeks it would all be back to where it started. The wealthy would go back to being the wealthy and the poor would go back to being poor. The reason is simple, wealthy people do wealthy things and have a wealthy result and poor people do poor things and have a poor result.

Nothing has changed. To be successful at life, one must educate himself, apply himself, dedicate himself to success and work hard. Now and then a wealthy parent will die and leave money to their kids, but for the most part success comes from hard work and dedication. Wise investment, obedience to law, acceptance of social rules and customs, are all vital to the successful life.

There seems to be a growing population out there who somehow have come to the opinion that they are owed success. The rich must subsidize them. The producers must work to produce so that they can live the good life at another’s expense. They should not have to work. They should not have to pay for their education. They should not have to pay for their medical care. They should instead be supported by the “Nanny” state. Where do they suppose the money will come from?

This, my friends, in not rocket science or brain surgery. This is just common sense. The press needs to ignore this nonsense. Our government needs to concentrate on our problems and let Europe worry about their problems. I don’t need or want any more Greek lubrication.

Ron Scarbro November 7, 2011

WHAT IS THAT NOISE?

2011-10-31T15:42:00.002-05:00

So I sat down to write my new column. As I contemplated the great issues of the Nation and the world and how I could shed light on them, my editor/wife said that lately I had been writing nothing but political columns. She opined that I should consider something lighter with humor and less politics for a change. I proceeded to inform her as to who was the writer in this house and that I would pick the topics that I would write about when all of a sudden I heard the noise. It sounded something like Blackhawk helicopters were about to bombard our little condo. It wasn’t a new sound. No, I hear it every week. It always is loud and quite disturbing. The sound was leaf blowers.

Now we’ve all heard them before, but not like here on St. Simons Island. Everybody hires their landscaping work done and all the services use these wretched little machines.

Those of you who know me know that I am a modern guy and appreciate the new appliances that make life easier, but this noise is just ridiculous. And that is not the whole story. We moved here to this island last June and every week they come and blow the leaves away. But, and here’s the mystery, they don’t ever pick them up. The next day the wind just puts the leaves back where they came from. I have come to believe that the leaves that I see in my back yard are hundreds of years old. They have been moved from place to place over the years. Prior to the invention of leaf blowers Nature took care of the problem. Now man has come to the rescue of the wind.

Fortunately these trees do not shed that many leaves. These leaves that are being blown around have probably been in the rotation for eons.

My question is, is this just a way to insure there will be work for each succeeding week? If they actually picked the leaves up and took them away would they not have a job the next week? There would still be bushes to trim and grass to cut, but this happens all over the island so I know I am not alone. As of this date, I have never seen any gardener actually remove any leaves.

I have decided that I am just going to ask one of them why they never actually pick up leaves. All I have to do is find a translator to help me with the questioning and I am sure they will be able to shed (pardon the pun) some light on this problem. Until then I will just have to accept the fact of leaf blowers and the ensuing noise. Besides, it is normally too quiet on this island anyway.

Ron Scarbro October 31, 2011

ELECTION 2012

2011-10-25T15:23:00.000-05:00

It is going to be here before you know it. I am talking about the election of course. From time to time I will be commenting on this upcoming event and its importance.

The election of Barak Obama can be laid at the feet of the Republican Party. Obama was a part of what you could call a “perfect storm.” First, he was black. This was a big deal to the media. Second, he was essentially unknown. Third, he was unvetted. The Republicans left that to Hillary Clinton and she failed big time. Finally, and this is the most important thing, the Republicans nominated a candidate who could not win. This final thought will be the theme of this column.

Today there are several individuals seeking the nomination to run against Obama. In my view, all are qualified to be President, especially when compared to what we have now. The problem becomes one of being electable to the masses. I saw a poll recently that showed any generic Republican would beat Obama 55% to 37%. While that is encouraging, it is also a temptation to sit back and let the election happen. That is how Republicans lose elections.

The Republicans need to nominate a candidate who can win in the general election. Those among you who are ultra conservative and say that unless my candidate is conservative enough I will just sit this election out. To those who say my candidate has to be more liberal and reflect my more liberal views or I will just stay home, you are essentially guaranteeing the re-election of this complete failure who is destroying this country.

It doesn’t take a mental giant to figure out that we are headed in the wrong direction and that unless the ship of state is righted, we are in serious trouble. Obama, along with Reid, Pelosi, Schumer, Frank, and all the other hard core Democrats have to be sent home for the good of this country. To me that means ABO, anybody but Obama.

In the next presidential term, new Supreme Court Judges will probably need to be named. If for no other reason, we need to get rid of this bunch in Washington. Our very Constitution is at stake. Unless the Supreme Court throws out Obamacare, business will continue to be slow to hire and expand. Unless a new approach to regulation is enacted, business will stay on the sidelines or possibly even move to a more friendly climate for their success. The change Obama sought is here and it is killing America.

So, here’s the deal. Pick a candidate and work for that candidate, but, and this is a big but, if your candidate is unsuccessful, work to elect the nominee of the Republican Party. I sincerely believe the very future of America depends on getting rid of Barak Obama. He needs to be sent back to Chicago to continue his work as a community organizer, whatever that is.

To those who are influential in the choosing of the next Republican nominee, please remember the importance of this election. It is not just business as usual. Let’s pick someone who can win a national election. Someone who can appeal to the so-called independents. Remember the 40, 40, 20 rule. 40% will vote for Republicans, 40% will vote for Democrats, and a majority of the 20% will decide who our next President will be.

This I believe. If the American electorate re-elects Barak Obama, we deserve the results of that election and it is not going to be pretty. In fact it may the ugliest chapter in our history. Sometimes it is good to be seventy years old.

I am grateful to those who would put themselves out there as candidates. To those among you whose candidate is not selected to be the nominee, please work as hard for the final candidate of the party to make sure this mess is fixed. It has been said before but this time it is truer than ever. This is the most important election in our history. Let’s make this happen.

Ron Scarbro October 25, 2011

NO PLACE TO HIDE

2011-10-19T19:39:00.001-05:00

A Poem

Nixon tried
Clinton tried
What they both found
Is there’s no place to hide

The End

There are currently at least two major scandals brewing in Washington. One is Solyndra and the other is “Fast and Furious.” I believe both will prove to be much bigger than we now think and like all such scandals, these stories have legs and they are not going away. First let us look at Solyndra.

You have heard the story of this doomed solar energy plant, probably one of many “green companies” which will not be around very long. We, the taxpayers, loaned this outfit half a billion dollars and it appears they used the money to enrich a few executives and the rest to file for bankruptcy. There were many who advised against this loan, but it was made anyway. Now the excuses and alibis are being floated. I have heard some of the Washington elite say that sometimes we just have to gamble in order to create alternative forms of energy. I think it is a lot easier to gamble when you are using another person’s money. I have also heard that some of the Solyndra executives were major contributors to Obama’s campaign. It also appears that there are other companies who have, or will soon face, the same failure. The Obama Administration, in their wisdom, has now decided to not release any more information on this matter. They are telling Congress and the American people, just trust us, there is nothing more to be learned from our secret e-mails. What? Do they really think this is just going to go away? Fat chance.

Scandal number two involves Attorney General Holder and the “Fast and Furious” gun program. He has been subpoenaed to testify before Congress to explain why he apparently lied about knowing of this program. He says he didn’t read the memos that were on his desk. Now we have dead law enforcement officers and guns in the hands of ruthless drug cartel members and they originated with our own government. And Holder didn’t know anything about this program? Who does he think is going to buy that? My take is, stick a fork in Holder. He’s done.
Once again high powered people are trying to cover up matters and incidents which will be discovered and once again the results will be that the cover up is at least as bad if not worse than the original incident. Of course Solyndra got the money because of their connections through campaign contributions. Of course Holder knew of and probably approved the “Fast and Furious” gun program. Obama probably knew about it also. These things don’t happen in a vacuum.

How is it possible that so-called intelligent people like Presidents and Attorney Generals do not realize that everything they say or have ever said are probably recorded somewhere by someone just waiting for the opportunity to release their data. Fifty years ago you could probably get away with lies and deceit. Not today. Also, do they really think that the Republican controlled House is going to just let this pass? Are they crazy? Of course this will be pursued until the last breath of scandal is squeezed out, exposed and used for the benefit of the pursuers. As John Wayne once said, “Life is tough. It is a lot tougher if you’re stupid.”

Nixon tried
Clinton tried
What they both found
Is there’s no place to hide.

Ron Scarbro October 19, 2011

PREVENTING FORECLOSURE

2011-10-14T13:01:00.001-05:00

I recently was watching a show concerning real estate foreclosure. Lawyers were advising people of all their options in order to prevent the bank from foreclosing on their house. It seems there are government programs available to allow one to alter their home loans and even lower their interest rate. Some even allow the mortgagee to re-finance a lesser balance because their home has “lost value.” Please notice I put lost value in quotation marks. As I go further into this matter that will become clearer.

By way of identification, I have in my working life been a real estate lender as well as a real estate appraiser. I also had to collect back the money I loaned. In some cases I had to foreclose on real estate in order to collect.

As I listened to the lawyers explaining how to prevent foreclosure, I never once heard the phrase, “Just make your house payment and make it on time as you agreed to in the contract you signed.” I assure you if you make your payment, the lender has absolutely no desire to kick you out of your house. The last thing a banker wants or needs is a bunch of empty houses in his inventory.

I have heard the complaint that real estate has lost value and many who owe money on their houses are “under water.” What do you suppose happens when you finance a car for, let’s say, seven years. You don’t seriously think a car is going to increase in value, do you? Usually before you make your first payment, your car is worth far less than you paid for it. It is not the bank’s fault or responsibility to insure the value of your home grows or even remains the same. These things happen.

I am convinced our current real estate problem is the fault of the US Congress and Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae. They required lenders to finance homes for unqualified borrowers and to loan more than the appraised value. Real estate appraisers also are to blame for their phony appraisals.

What we have now is not the end of the world. We have a temporary glitch and we will look back on this and wonder why we didn’t buy up all the cheap houses that were available. We still have 330 million people who must have a place to live and that number is growing every day. They are not going to live in tents or caves. They are going to be in the market for homes for many years to come. In other words, this too shall pass.

Many years ago I met a man in Seattle. I sold him a very expensive car and he paid cash for it. As I got to know him I learned he lived through the big downturn in Seattle when so many people were leaving there was even a sign heading out of town that said, “Will the last person leaving please turn out the lights.” He told me that he started buying up empty houses for a song. In just a very short time, the whole situation turned around and he began selling those homes. When I met him, he was a very wealthy man. That same situation is happening now. If I was a much younger man, I would buy as many houses as I could.

Here’s the rule. If you don’t want to have your home foreclosed on, pay your payment. If you don’t want your car repossessed, pay your car payment. And finally, if you want to get very rich, start buying all the empty houses you can afford and get ready for the turn around. It will happen.

Ron Scarbro October 13, 2011

THE WALL STREET PROTESTERS

2011-10-08T20:29:00.000-05:00

Back in the sixties I had the misfortune to witness up close the hippie free speech protests in Berkeley and around the Bay Area. These were groups of rag tag hippies who seemed to worship all things ugly and filthy. Bathing was not an option. They would stand on the corner and scream obscenities about all things American. I suspect what we are now seeing on Wall Street is the offspring of those hippies. From a distance, they look the same. I would guess they smell the same.

We know that many of these protesters are paid demonstrators. Most seem to have no real idea of what they are protesting or why they are even there. If this was just a silly demonstration I wouldn’t care. The problem arises when things are carried too far. E-mails are now emanating from this group advocating the death and beheading of all rich people. I am not kidding. Some of them are planning to erect guillotines to eliminate the wealthy class in this country. They apparently believe they are a part of some wildly popular movement like the French Revolution. Nothing could be further from the truth. In most people’s minds, this latest gathering of misfits does not even register.

So, what is causing this mess? Who is instigating this? Where did this all come from? I believe the rhetoric coming from the White House is at the heart of this protest. The “class warfare” nonsense being preached by Obama is having what I think is an unintended effect. The “wealth envy” and hatred for business garbage coming from this Administration is stirring up some of these misfits and leading to what could become some very dangerous possibilities.

Attention President Obama and your underlings. Knock it off. Clean up your act and recognize the danger of your rhetoric. You are creating a situation which could very easily get completely out of control. If that happens, it will be laid at your feet. To those of you who are financing this so-called peaceful uprising, stop it. Remember, you are a part of the rich they are so unhappy about. You would be among the very first to face their immature and misguided judgement.

And to you who are among the demonstrators. You appear to have a great deal of time on your hands. I recommend that you spend some of that time reading a few books and documents which might be helpful. For example the Constitution and Bill Of Rights. It could be helpful for you to know what being an American is all about. This un-American idea of illegally taking the property and wealth of some of our citizens and giving those assets to the so-called poor is not going to happen. America is about individual initiative and one’s success is left to them individually, not to governments or anyone else. Sharing the wealth is one of your many pipe dreams. It ain’t gonna happen. What you seem to be advocating is right out of Karl Marx’s manifesto, “from those according to their ability to those according to their need.” That, my friends, is Communism and it has never worked and it will not work here. If I have to explain to you why, it would be a waste of print because you would never understand.

Protesters, go home. Learn what it means to be an American. Get a job and stop living off your parents. Use your energy for something positive. The vast majority of this country will never come around to your way of thinking, and they are armed. We are not about to let some rag tag group of latent hippies destroy America.

Like protests of the past, this too will disappear. I just hope it is gone before some moron gets to the point where he thinks he can become famous by taking it too far. As has happened in the past, that fame will be short lived and he will become nothing more than a footnote on the trash dump of history.

Ron Scarbro October 8, 2011

TWO OLD SONGS COME TO MIND

2011-10-02T16:09:00.000-05:00

This week two old songs come to mind. One is “It’s just a matter of time” and the other is “Another one bites the dust”. I am referring of course to the killing of the terrorist Anwar Al-Awlaki. He was identified as the next great leader of this rag tag group of baby killers and thugs. It turns out that he was just next. His body parts were strewn all over the country side in Yemen, a country he decided to call home. He came to have a very up close and personal relationship with a drone and a Hell-Fire missile. This piece of filth was born an American and knew what that meant. In spite of all he should have learned as a young person growing up in the greatest country on earth, he chose to be a terrorist. My congratulations to whoever made the decision and the shot that took him out.

So, what is next to come from this crowd? They will probably pick another moron to be called their leader. I don’t care. This one thing I know for sure. Whoever is picked will meet the same fate of the last few so-called leaders. It should be a lesson to anyone who might be considering an upgrade in position, but it probably won’t. They either have a death wish or they are just plain stupid. Either way, as the song says, “It’s just a matter of time”.

Contrary to the opinion of some of our more liberal friends, America has never and will never lose a war. Sometimes it takes longer than we would like, but if we choose to win, we win, period. Our problem is deciding to win. There seems to be a loud group who just want to keep the battle going instead of ending it. I favor ending it. War, by its only definition is an all out exercise. I believe we could end this mess any time we choose. It might be ugly for a short time, but it would end. Just ask the Japanese.

There is no place on earth for anyone to hide if we decide to find them. If any of these backward terrorists only knew what awaited them, they would cower in fear because it is just a matter of time. Bin Laden thought he had beaten us, but that proved to be a faulty opinion. How many others have there been? Gitmo is full of individuals who picked the wrong side too. Soon, I hope, we will be bringing them before a Military Tribunal for their look at American justice.

I clearly remember Pres. George W. Bush as he spoke of the attack on September 11. He said the terrorist decided when this war would start, we will decide when it will end. Remember as we kill off these low lifes that we didn’t start this mess but we will end it and that ending will come at our choice, not theirs. Obviously this is not a conventional war, but it is a war nonetheless. Our enemy has no allegiance to any particular country and flies no flag. They have no uniform. What they are are baby killers who are blood thirsty thugs. I leave you with these thoughts, “It’s just a matter of time” until “Another one bites the dust”.

Ron Scarbro October 1, 2011

TRAITORS OR JUST MORONS?

2011-09-27T14:09:00.003-05:00

I have been a music fan all of my life. I also have gone to many movies as well as live concerts. While I wouldn’t consider myself “star struck”, I do like to see the big names and watch them perform. I like to be entertained. I am probably like most everyone else in that regard.

From time to time however, we learn things about some of our so called heroes that surprise us, shock us, and sometimes even confound us. After all, they are just people. Talented, rich, and influential to be sure, but just people.

I, for example, am a fan of the music of the Dixie Chicks. These three young ladies are extremely talented musicians and singers. Not too long ago, one of them opened her mouth and spouted political opinions that cost them millions in money and untold prestige. They have never recovered and are now a footnote rather than a great musical act. They are still just as talented but they lost a huge portion of their audience. Barbra Streisand is a great talent. Her voice is angelic. Her politics stink. The problem is that you cannot just listen to her music without having to hear her politics. I pass. There are many others and that is okay. We have freedom of speech in this country. For the most part we are free to spout off at any time about anything that we feel. There are some restrictions of course, including but not limited to, libel, slander and treason. If the Dixie Chicks feel strongly about a political issue, I don’t care. I don’t have to listen to it. I also don’t have to ever spend another dollar in support of individuals who should just shut up and sing.

To me these are just morons not traitors. Jane Fonda is another issue completely, however. Hers was not political speech. She, to me, is a traitor. She probably caused the death of thousands of our military not to mention innocent civilians by her stupidity. I will never forgive her nor will I ever give her or anyone else like her a pass for their actions.

All of this brings me to singer Tony Bennett. In a recent radio interview he destroyed a lifetime of good will in about ten minutes. To paraphrase his comments, he opined that 9/11 was our fault. He further seemed to believe that we are really the terrorist in the world. In just a few minutes he lost millions of fans and showed the entire world who he is. Is he a traitor or just another Hollywood moron? I made my decision, you decide.

I have heard it said that we should just give him a pass because he is eighty-five years old. Nonsense. I will not give him a pass. Just a few short years ago in our history both he and Fonda would have been arrested and possibly executed for their actions and words. They have both made millions from the American people. They have lived the “good life”. They deserve nothing but disgust from me. There is a vast difference between political opinion and giving aid and comfort to our enemies. The former is a free speech issue and the latter is a serious crime. It is called treason. If you don’t know the difference, you probably should just keep your mouth shut.

I am tired of these so called stars who have made a fortune from the American people turning on them out of ignorance, stupidity, or just plain anti-Americanism. I have never watched a movie that Jane Fonda has made or looked at any tape she has produced since her little trip to Vietnam and now I plan never again to listen to anything Tony Bennett does. They both have become non-persons to me. I just wish we would enforce the laws we have on the books dealing with such traitors.

Ron Scarbro September 27, 2011

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT

2011-09-22T09:05:00.002-05:00

Wouldn’t it be great if just for one day every politician in the country had to tell the truth? No stretching for political purposes, just the cold, hard, truth. The truth regardless of who might get hurt. The truth regardless of who might benefit. I bet you and I would have a few questions.

I have been listening to the current debate over tax increases. Obama is proposing a “Warren Buffet” tax increase on the so called rich. Interesting name since Buffet wouldn’t be affected because he only takes a salary of $100,000.00 a year. His dividends from his billions in Berkshire/Hathaway however would not be subject to any increase nor would his massive wealth. Wouldn’t it be great if Buffet would pay the billion dollars he owes of unpaid taxes which he has been fighting for years? What a hypocrite.

Obama says tax increases would cause revenues to grow by enough to balance the budget and create jobs. The Republicans say that if taxes are increased on the job creators, unemployment will continue to grow higher and the economy will continue to tank. I don’t know whom to believe. I do know this however, some body’s lying. Wouldn’t it be great to really know who is telling the truth? If anyone?

Wouldn’t it be great to know where Obama was really born? Wouldn’t you like to know why he has a Connecticut issued Social Security card while he has never lived in Connecticut?

Wouldn’t it be great to know the last time Hillary actually spoke to Bill?

Wouldn’t it be great to know how much money is currently being hidden offshore? Business and private citizens alike ducking taxes by using this ploy? I would bet it is in the trillions.

Wouldn’t it be great to know the deals that are made in Congress that get laws passed and special exemptions for the big donors? How about if all politicians had to tell the truth about their “campaign contributions”? Not only how much but also who they are from and what they are promised in return. That would be revealing.

Wouldn’t it be great if the bumper sticker that says “celebrate diversity” didn’t also mean celebrate perversity?

How about the idea of picking up a copy of the New York Times or watching a news report from any of the big three network news programs and actually being able to believe what was reported?

Wouldn’t it be great if the whole concept of “political correctness” was buried in a really deep hole along with all the nonsense it causes? The idea seems to be the root of a lot of our problems and misery. It forbids our being honest about a number of things such as the real reason the black community is behind the white or Asian community. It also doesn’t allow us to even identify who our enemy is in this war we are fighting. What absolute nonsense.

Wouldn’t it be great if just once scientists, environmentalists, and weathermen would be honest about climate change? It has become a political lightning rod with no basis in scientific fact. If I see one more feature about a hapless polar bear swimming in open water looking for an iceberg, I am going to throw up. Climate change is inevitable. It has been happening since the dawn of this universe and it will continue long after man is gone and no amount of recycling, riding bicycles instead of gas guzzling SUVs, or forcing people to toss out their incandescent light bulbs is going to have anything to do with it. The climate is changing. Deal with it. Adapt or perish.

I guess what I would really like is truth. Unvarnished truth. Truth without agenda. Truth without strings attached. Truth without a profit motive. Just the truth. I just want my faith in government and institutions restored.

Wouldn’t that be great?

Ron Scarbro September 22, 2011

BUTT OUT, M.Y.O.B.

2011-09-16T19:56:00.002-05:00

Michelle Obama is out and about attempting to control the portion size of meals offered by privately owned restaurants because she believes there is an epidemic of obesity. Mayor Bloomberg of New York has declared war on salt and certain cooking oils restaurants use for their preparation of meals. San Francisco is attempting to dictate whether a privately owned fast food company can offer a toy or a prize in their meals for kids. I could go on and on, like the controls on adult smoking. Some states are trying to control whether an adult can light up in a car if a child is present. How about seat belt laws or motorcycle helmet laws? Is there no end?

When the electorate chooses a representative to do the business of government, they are not choosing an emperor. Dictators need not apply. If I choose to eat salt by the pound and drink cooking oil by the gallon, that is my choice. I might even eat lard. There is no one on earth who is qualified by his intellect or his position to decide for me what is best for me. I decide when I go to bed and when I get up. I even decide whether or not I will even go to bed.

I point out these recent events to alert you to a relatively new phenomenon. That is the idea that the government has overstepped its boundaries and gotten involved with matters that are none of its business. Nowhere in our Constitution is there any requirement that government dictate what we should eat, drink, or how, as a business owner, I should sell my product. Nowhere is there anything about seat belts. How has this happened? Why are we letting this bunch of politicians, most of whom have never run a business or even worked in a real job, why are we letting them dictate to us?

It would be easy enough to pick on the Democrats because they are the ones in power for now, but they are not the only offenders. No. this has been going on for a long time. The Republicans also are guilty of these offenses.

Can you imagine what might be next? How about a requirement to wear helmets on a golf course? Or what about prohibiting anyone from going out into the sunlight without sunscreen? Maybe inspections of your home to make sure you are not using any “non-green” items? Those old light bulbs might cause global warming you know. The reality is if you can imagine it, some moron in some obscure government office can propose it and try to get support for it. Before you know it, a new regulation is on the books further interfering with your freedom of choice.

Here is my thinking. Attention government, butt out. Get out of my life and stay out of my life. Mind your own business. Michelle, if you are concerned about obesity, take care of your own family and yourself. Have you looked in the mirror lately? Mayor Bloomberg, if you worry about salt and cooking oil, decide for yourself what you eat or drink. I promise I will not ever try to force you to eat anything you don’t want. Be gracious enough to do the same for me. Leave private businesses alone to make their own decisions. They and they alone are responsible for their success or failure. Haven’t you politicians done enough to hamper business growth so far? If I ever decide I want to live under a dictatorship, I am sure I can find several to choose from.

To you my readers, wake up and smell the regulations. Look at the many freedoms we are losing everyday. We absolutely have to get a handle on it.

Ron Scarbro September 16, 2011

THE TRADITIONAL AMERICAN

2011-09-12T18:41:00.000-05:00

Okay let’s see now. You have your Democrats, your Republicans, Socialists, Libertarians, Communists, Liberals, Conservatives, and who knows what else. Maybe just “I don’t cares.” Which one are you? This column will attempt to describe how I see myself . I hope you will read this and examine where you stand. What are you?

I see myself as a traditional American and this is how I describe a traditional American. I believe the Constitution is the absolute law of the land. It is not a living document but a literal set of laws and rights established by our founders to lead and guide us then, today, and into the future. I believe citizenship in this country requires personal responsibility whether that citizenship is by birth or by naturalization. I believe in law and order. If I don’t like a particular law, I still have to obey it until I can get it changed. Law breakers should be punished for their crimes not only to punish them but to protect the community as well. Failure on the part of the Judicial System cheats offenders of the lessons they should have received. I violate any law at my peril.

I am a capitalist. I am guaranteed by my citizenship freedom of opportunity. I am not guaranteed success. I have the freedom to try but that also means I could fail. That is on me. I am perfectly okay with helping less fortunate people with welfare. I am not okay with subsidizing generations of bums living off the largess of the taxpayers.

I support immigration. Legal immigration. I welcome new Americans. I reject trespassers who sneak into this country, living outside the law with stolen ID and phony documents. They all should be rounded up and sent to jail or sent back to where they came from. Children of illegals born here are not legal citizens, period.

I do not believe in discrimination on racial grounds or for any other reason. That means I would never approve of lowering standards to allow less qualified individuals into any school, business, or government job. I certainly would not want a surgeon working on me who scraped by getting into medical school solely because he was black, homosexual, Baptist, or whatever.

Some who read this are probably saying that Ron must be a Republican. I do vote that way most of the time, but. While I believe in the sanctity of life, I support the death penalty. I also support a woman’s right to choose whether or not to continue a pregnancy. That is between her, her partner, and her doctor. It is none of the government’s business. I believe life begins at birth.

I am fortunate to have been born in America. I sat beside my mother and brothers and sister in church every Sunday. We had family re-unions often where all the aunts and uncles and cousins attended. I spent my teen years during the 50s. What a great time. I joined the Army at seventeen. Not for any patriotic reason but because I would have been drafted had I not. I spent the next fifty years working to make retirement possible. I raised two kids who are now good citizens. All of these things I see as traditions of America. I think it is difficult to truly understand American traditions if you never experienced them.

Many, many others had similar backgrounds and came away with a different political opinion. That is what being an American is all about.

I further believe those we have hired to do the business of government probably are all good Americans. Many are mislead but loyal Americans none the less. I will work to try to put people in office who think more like me. I believe that is what is best for the country. You may disagree and that is okay. That is a part of what makes us the greatest nation on earth. We must all keep our eyes on the prize and the prize is freedom, prosperity, and peace. If we do, regardless of our political affiliation, we all then should regard ourselves as traditional Americans.

Ron Scarbro September 12, 2011

SOME ELECTION THOUGHTS

2011-09-05T13:04:00.000-05:00

Well here we are facing elections again. It is over a year away but the potential candidates are in full campaign mode. It seems that electioneering never ends. We no sooner end one until another begins. As I consider the last Presidential election some thoughts come to mind.

The election of Barak Obama happened because of the abject failure of the Republican Party. They made two primary mistakes. Number one was selecting John McCain as their candidate and number two was leaving the vetting of Obama to the Clinton machine. That machine failed. Here we are three years later and we still do not know anything about him. Rumors continue to fly as to his legitimacy as an American citizen by birth and his questionable social security number. I don’t know who to believe. Personally it doesn’t matter because even if he is legitimate, he still is unqualified to serve as President. His results have proven that conclusively.

Next year we have the opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past election. I just saw a Rasmussen poll that showed Rick Perry ahead of Obama 43% to 41%. I have seen other polls showing Mitt Romney doing equally as well. The reality of all the polls so far though is that no candidate is getting much more that 40% of the vote. Neither the challengers nor the incumbent.

Elections are won by candidates getting support from the independent voters to increase their 40% share. Obama probably has a 40% base just as any Republican would have. The battle is for the other 20%.

The President is going to address a joint session of Congress this week to lay out his “jobs program.” Personally I’ll be watching the football game. I am convinced there will be much more helpful information offered by the game than any speech by the incompetent neophyte who is currently filling the office of President. I will know soon enough whether he offers anything substantial. The stock market will tell me. The market has already told me plenty.

As we look at the next election here is what I am hoping for. We need a President who is willing to work with business instead of against them. Business is the engine that fuels and moves our economy. It is not the government. All the government does is extract money from the producers and spend it on who knows what in order to win reelection. A growing number of big business people have banded together to stop all contributions to candidates until they get the message to stay out of business’ way and let America deal with their own problems. All government can do is exacerbate our problems. We need a candidate who has had an actual job before. We need a candidate who has run a business, met a payroll, hired employees, and met a business plan. For me it would also be helpful if he were a military veteran. I am tired of Commanders in Chief who have never served in the military. I don’t particularly care whether the candidate is black or white, male or female, able bodied or physically challenged. I want a traditional American. Is that too much to ask?

In my next column I plan to discuss at length what being a traditional American means to me. I hope you will tune me in and perhaps we can begin a dialogue and have a discussion over cyberspace concerning these matters.

Ron Scarbro September 5, 2011

WHAT IF?

2011-08-28T08:41:00.001-05:00

My thirteen year old grandson, Nic, a regular reader of this blog, gave me a line to use in this column. Before we hand over this country to Nic and his peers, he asked if we could not “open up a can of common sense.” While this column is a pipe dream, it is an attempt at common sense. I recognize, however, this dream will never come true. The reason is simple, those charged with making the change would be the ones most directly affected by the change. Read my thoughts and tell me what you think. The title of this piece is “What If ?”.

What if there was no possibility of re-election, period? I am saying one could be elected for one term to a particular office but could never serve in that job again. And like other contest prizes, only one to a family and only once in a lifetime. No retirement benefits and limited medical insurance coverage. Just do your job and go home. Consider, if you will, how this change would affect us all. One of the first benefits to the constituency would be no seniority. Another, there would be no campaign “war chest” to receive so-called political campaign donations. Individuals would be elected and serve their one term, doing the people’s business, then return to their civilian life. They would not enter office with the foremost thought of being re-elected before they even start doing the people’s business.

How? Pretty simple really. First, we would extend the term of the House to a four year term instead of two. Elections could be staggered so that at any particular time we would be electing only half of the Congress at a time. That should help with those who would need on-the-job time to learn what their job is. We would treat the Senate the same way except we would also reduce their terms to four years. There would be no need to alter the Presidency in any way except no possibility of re-election, period.

Briefly now let us consider the benefit to the country. First and foremost this takes the money out of politics. Several years ago Assemblyman Jesse Unruh, D, Calif., said that money is the mother’s milk of politics. That crap needs to stop. John McCain said that money corrupts good people. I see it a bit differently. I think corrupt people seek out ways to get money. Today, being elected to the Congress is akin to winning the lottery. That is just ridiculous. Politics should not be a career. Serving in the Congress should be an honor and those who serve should be of the highest character and integrity. Is that what we have today? Could be that is why their approval rating is 13%.

The next phase of this new plan deals with the money. No one could ever contribute or accept any money for any political campaign. Any person or company contributing money or any candidate caught receiving any money would immediately be put in prison for a minimum of twenty years. Let’s face it, a bribe is a bribe. If that sounds harsh, it needs to be harsh. These clowns we have now in the Congress are destroying this country. We need to bring it to an end. I can already hear you screaming at me, “Only the rich would be able to run for office if we had this in place.” I understand your concern. All of these matters could be worked out. For example, we could have publicly financed campaigns. Persons wishing to run for office would submit petitions showing a modicum of support to qualify for public financing. There would also be limits on how much of their own money they could spend on any campaign. Violations of the laws regarding money for campaigns would be enforced from the beginning. Believe me, while it would cost some money to have publicly financed campaigns, it would not be nearly as expensive as it is now with Congress for sale to the highest bidder.

I told you from the beginning this piece was about common sense and so it is. One thing is clear. We the people have to get a handle on our government. We have to reduce the influence of money in Washington. We cannot compete with the big moneyed special interests. Can you imagine what this country would look like if honesty and integrity prevailed and our elected representatives just said no to the money? “What if?”

Ron Scarbro August 28, 2011

WHAT WOULD IKE DO?

2011-08-21T13:50:00.001-05:00

The so-called hikers in Iran have been found guilty and sentenced to eight years for the so-called crimes committed against Iran. Was there ever any doubt of what the outcome of that little fiasco would be? I have some thoughts on this issue.

Today I am ashamed of my State Dept. and of the President for allowing this crap to continue. Nobody, including the Iranians, believes these morons are spies. All I know about them is they are Cal Berkeley graduates who decided to tempt fate by wandering around in a war zone. Stupidity, however, should not be a crime. And so I ask myself. What would Eisenhower do? What would Harry Truman do? What do you suppose Reagan would do?

Personally I don’t care about the two idiots who are being sent to jail. When you play with fire, you are likely to get burnt. What I care about is being made to look like a punk by a third world government who is a cancer on the rest of the world. How do you think the world is viewing our response to this blackmail? Do you believe they see us as diplomatic for sitting on our thumbs while a backward little dictator makes us look foolish? Or do they think we are cowards? You be the judge.

I will tell you what my response would be. I also think the former Presidents I mentioned earlier would have a similar reaction to events like this.

I would put the message out to Iran loudly and clearly for them and all the world to hear. The message would be that Iran has twenty four hours to deliver these two hikers to a destination of my choice and in perfect health. No excuses would be considered or allowed. Failure to comply with this demand would result in the immediate attack on a target of our choice, such as a nuclear facility, or an army base, or possibly even a small city. If that did not get the job done, another target would be chosen and a lot more Iranians would die horrible deaths and cities would be leveled. I am confident this would end the matter for all time.

To those of you who think others in the world would rise to Iran’s defense, that is not going to happen. The reason is simple. They would not expose their own countries to the immediate fury of an irate America.

When these morons who caused this mess were retrieved, they would be imprisoned here for the situation that resulted from their idiocy.

Readers, I am tired of being treated like a punk. I am tired of backward little countries slapping me in the face. I am ashamed that they seem to do it with relative impunity and little or no penalty. The wusses in our government need to grow a set and step up. Our continued failures to hold these criminal governments responsible will only encourage them until we will have no other choice but to get much harsher. The time is coming when our electorate will finally choose a qualified individual who will not put up with this crap and then tens of thousands will be put in jeopardy. We need to end this before that happens.

How do you think Harry, or Ike, or Ron would handle this? I think I know. Are there no others out there like them? How long must we put up with these girlie men who would offer themselves as the “Leader of the Free World?” When will we decide to elect true leaders who would never permit these warrant-less attacks on our sovereignty and our citizens? What we are witnessing is shameful.

Ron Scarbro August 21, 2011

JUST ASKING

2011-08-18T09:27:00.001-05:00

A new Gallup poll was released this past week-end which showed Obama’s approval ratings. The numbers were 36% approval with 54% disapproval. These are somewhat remarkable numbers, not because 54% disapproved, but that 36% approved. As I considered these results, I had a few questions.

Who exactly are these 36% and what is there about the last three years that has so enamored them that they approve? Is it the fact of nine plus percent unemployment that they approve of? Nine plus with no relief in sight. Do they think this is a good job on the part of the president? Just asking.

How about a stagnant economy with a falling stock market and a down grade of our credit rating for the first time in our history. Maybe it is the sour business climate that is causing owners and managers to sit on their money with no desire to risk growth and hire anybody. Steve Wynn, a devout democrat who owns many huge resorts and casinos in Las Vegas, has stated for the record that he will continue to shy away from any growth until the government gets out of the way and lets business happen. Is this what the 36% like? Just asking.

Possibly it is the new health care law pushed by Obama and shoved through the Congress. A law which will doubtlessly be ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and tossed. A Federal Appeals Court has just found that to be the case for the 20 plus states which filed the suit. This law which has proven to be the primary reason business has, across the board, decided to adopt a wait and see attitude before even considering any new growth or hiring. Maybe this is the reason 36% of the respondents found favor with Barak Obama. Is this it? Just asking.

I’ll bet it is the fact that real estate has been in the dumper for all the time Obama has been in office with no relief in sight. That’s probably it. Who cares if your home isn’t worth what you paid for it? Maybe you can just hang on to it until things get better? Just asking.

Of course there is this. Our reputation all over the world is also in the toilet. Vladimir Putin says we are a parasite on the world’s economy. Vladimir Putin? Are you kidding me? China, who holds billions of our debt, has said we had better clean up our act. China? Are you crazy? These are the facts folks. These have to be the reasons 36% of those polled think Obama is doing a good job. Do you agree? Just asking.

I also read recently that regardless of whomever the Republicans nominate for President, at least 40% of voters will vote for Obama. It apparently is a party thing. Either they aren’t paying attention or they really believe this new direction is the proper way for us to go.

I have a different opinion. It seems to me that four or five more years of what we have just been through might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. I truly do not know if we are strong enough to repel this nonsense. We have an increasing number of dependent people coming out to vote. I am sure this is where you would find the 36% who found favor with Obama. He promised change and by golly, we have seen change. I am not alone in my belief that the real change the liberals want is the abolition of capitalism. I am sure they see government as the be all and end all.

Finally I do not believe capitalism and socialism can co-exist. One of them has to go. If you think you would like to live in a socialistic state, consider most of the European countries. After a few months, you may well change your mind. Is this what we as a country want? Just asking.

Ron Scarbro August 18, 2011

PRECIOUS MEMORIES

2011-08-13T13:19:00.001-05:00

For the most part this blog deals with political events and current events. I try to offer opinions on pressing issues and generally create discussion. I hope I have been successful in that effort. Today, however, my mind is wandering back to an event from my past that re-emerged recently and has haunted me until I decided to write this piece. I hope this has value for you. It has for me.

Several years ago I was driving with my aunt, who at that time was a recent widow. I don’t remember where we were going or why, I just remember that we had gotten ourselves lost. When I finally decided that I didn’t know where I was, I brought up the matter with my aunt. I noticed that she was crying. I thought this is crazy. We are going to figure out where we are in a few moments and everything will be fine. As it turns out, that was not the reason why she was crying.

She said “I used to get so mad at your uncle. It seemed every time we went driving, we would get lost. He would never prepare for a trip by checking a map and he wouldn’t stop and ask for directions. It used to just drive me crazy. Today though, I would give everything I own just to be lost with him one more time.” That comment stuck in my mind and as I said re-emerged recently.

My aunt died a few years later and went on to join my uncle. Who knows why such events come back into one’s memory. Perhaps they are lessons we are taught that from time to time come back to us to help us along our life’s journey. I am sure we all have those experiences.

Now that I am in my seventy-first year on this earth, I think of these things. How would my life be if I suddenly had to face it without my life partner? How important are those little irritants that are a part of life. Would they still be irritants? Or would they become precious memories? Our lives become so fixed and in some ways mundane. We eat, sleep, and the next day do it all over again. We fret about our kids. We worry about the market. And the next day we do it all over again. The reality is that this is my life. These are the memories that will sustain me if I were suddenly alone.

Some time ago I wrote a piece about living like you are dying. Don’t let a day go by that is wasted. You will never get to see it again. While it is easy to say, it becomes more of a challenge to live it. This is what I am going to do. I plan to live out my days with the understanding that all that is my life may well need to be the memories that sustain me later. Even the little irritants. I plan to hold those as precious memories. I hope you might do the same.

Ron Scarbro August 13, 2011

IMMIGRATION, WHAT IS IT?

2011-08-06T13:05:00.001-05:00

There is a serious debate going on in this country. That debate is about immigration. In 2006 I wrote a column that was published in the paper and I thought I would revisit it and update it a bit for this blog.

Yes, this nation is indeed a nation of immigrants. There is no doubt about the contributions they have made over the years and there is no doubt about the contributions they will make in the future. So, what is the problem? It’s really quite simple. What’s going on here is not immigration, no, what I am talking about is illegal trespassing.

Consider this. Let’s say you own some property. Let’s say you have fixed up the back yard the way you like it. You have a beautiful garden, fruit trees, and lovely landscaping. For reasons that you choose as a free American property owner, you decide to post the property with no trespassing signs. Then, out of the blue, along comes a family who decides to move into your backyard. They disregard your signs. They pitch a tent and set up house keeping. They decide to go into your garden and pick your vegetables. They climb your fruit trees and pick your fruit. Their children run wild and tear up your beautiful landscaping. It even goes beyond that. One of them gets sick and decides to go to the hospital. You are billed not only for the ride to the hospital, but also the entire bill for the hospital, doctor, and the medicine. Beyond that they expect you to change all the road signs to a foreign language so they won’t be in any way inconvenienced. It goes further. They decide to send their kids to school. For this to be successful you must provide the children an education in a foreign language. Now, to put the frosting on the cake, you can’t get rid of them. Some of your neighbors band together filing frivolous lawsuits, with the help of the ACLU, trying to prevent you from evicting them because they are poor. They are under-privileged and have no other prospects. This could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.

Immigration on the other hand goes something like this. A family from a foreign country wants to become Americans. They go through the proper channels, fill out the necessary paperwork, begin to learn to speak English, and wait their turn. When they arrive, they obey the laws. They get jobs, get educated, join clubs etc. In other words, they assimilate into our society. They become Americans. They do not try to turn this country into the cesspool they just escaped from. They go on to produce as any natural born citizen and contribute the same as anyone else.

Simply put, immigration is good, and illegal trespassing is bad. Is that so difficult to understand? Like you, I have heard all the arguments. My favorite is they take the jobs that natural born citizens will not do. Hogwash. They work cheap and drive down wages for everyone else. Another argument is if we kick out the illegals, avocados will cost five dollars apiece. That’s BS. If I want an avocado, I will pay what it costs or not. If the farmer who raises avocados cannot produce them at a profit, he will produce something else. I am not required to guarantee him a profit by subsidizing his illegal labor force.

The arguments fall on my deaf ears. We cannot continue to accept any and all the poor and downtrodden from all over the world. Depending on whom you believe there are around twenty million illegals living in our country taking American jobs and availing themselves of our resources. That is totally unacceptable. Let’s get control of our borders and keep them under control. We should continue to welcome new Americans to our shores. Legal, mind you, not trespassers who flaunt our system and our laws.

August 6,2011

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

2011-08-03T19:57:00.001-05:00

I was listening to a local talk radio program here recently. The subject of discussion was a shooting in a local housing authority complex. It seems that shootings at this complex are not necessarily rare. So the question arose, why? Why do people who are generally poor resort to violence and other uncivilized acts to resolve their differences? In most cases these are welfare recipients with subsidized housing and food stamps and they come from a long line of welfare recipients. They also have subsidized medical care and all other sorts of state care. Drugs are rampant in this area and dealers regularly ply their trade. I am sure this incident is not uncommon in housing authorities elsewhere.

The discussion among the listeners centered on the fact that these people were just ungrateful for the help they received from the state. As is always the case, no real solutions were offered during the discussion.

It occurred to me as I listened that I saw things a bit differently. I will take this forum to offer those thoughts. First, these people, for the most part, are irresponsible. They were not born irresponsible. They were trained to be irresponsible by the “Massa” of the plantation. That “Massa” is the government.

Liberal governments have for years believed it was necessary to subsidize this large segment of the population, probably to get their votes. This care has created a culture of dependence that pervades and chokes an entire society. Families are destroyed by absent fathers. Babies are born to little girls who themselves are children. The fathers of these babies show no responsibility for their offspring. They wouldn’t recognize responsibility if it hit them in the face. Many turn to illegal activities because there is little punishment. They use the excuse that they make much more money selling drugs than they could ever make doing legitimate work. The truth is that they probably can. Young girls say their benefits from welfare increase with every new baby they produce. That is also probably true.

The big question is would anybody want to change this way of life? What is in it for them to change? Generation after generation has been trained into this dependence and it is not going to end with a flip of a switch. Schools have been rendered impotent. The public school system has practiced discrimination through low expectation. The victims of that discrimination have responded by continuing their victimization all through their lives thus reproducing new generations of victims.

Here is a reality. You cannot expect responsible behavior when you encourage and reward irresponsible behavior. Why is that so difficult for the powers that be to understand? Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If the “Massa” truly wanted a different result, the “Massa” has to try a different approach. It kind of makes you wonder if our government truly wants a different result, doesn’t it?

So who is responsible? Is our government content with warehousing a huge segment of the population in housing authorities with no way of escape short of death or prison? Is a large segment of our population content with this plantation way of life with no escape? I personally cannot believe either of these choices is absolute.

For now, if you are in that life and you choose to get out, here are some recommendations. First, you must learn and use English, not street slang. You must dress in civilized clothing, not thug uniforms. Pull your pants up. Turn off the rap music. Stay in school. Keep your pants zipped up. Get a real job. Successful lives are not gifts for bums. They are reserved for deserving people who are willing to work hard and not look for excuses for failure. If you came to me looking for a job with your cap on sideways, pants down to your knees, and talking street crap, I wouldn’t even consider you. If you don’t like that, that’s just too bad. I regularly discriminate against morons. Incidentally, so do most employers in this country.

So who is responsible for this situation? I will let you be the judge. One thing is clear. It will not change until responsible people, either victims or perpetrators, decide to change it.

Ron Scarbro August 3, 2011

WHAT'S NEXT???

2011-07-29T10:24:00.001-05:00

I’m sitting here watching the stock market go to hell in a hand basket. It reminds me of Rome burning while the Emperor fiddled. Those people we have hired to do the business of government are showing their complete incompetence. It is clear they don’t care what happens to our economy or to the country. Our credit rating is about to be reduced because of our fiscal mismanagement. IRAs and savings accounts across the spectrum are in the process of tubing. Home values have continued to slide. Unemployment is staying at tragic levels. My question is, “What’s Next?”

Maybe I just don’t understand the nuances of big government. Maybe my lack of intelligence won’t let me grasp the intricacies of our economy. Maybe I just don’t know anything. Well, I’ve thought about that. I have considered that maybe it is just me. Maybe this is all going to work out and we will continue to exist and prosper as we have in the past. Or maybe I could be right. It looks to me like we are heading for third world status in all phases of our existence.

We are two countries trying to live as one. On one side, we have the producers who work and pay their way. On the other side, we have those who expect to be taken care of for their entire lives. In the middle we have our elected representatives who seem to want only to be re-elected and will do anything and say anything to that end. Meanwhile Rome burns.

Since we elected Barak Obama and presented him with a Democrat Senate our country has begun a slide that we may not be able to extricate ourselves from. It should be clear to everyone that the policies in play are not working. One more quarter of below 2% GDP and we will officially be in another recession. The change that was promised seems to be a change from prosperity to destitution. To those of you who voted for this moron, is this what you expected? Are you better off today than when this bunch of incompetents entered office?

We need to step back and look at the qualifications of people who we elect. These are the people who speak for us. They decide what we would decide if we were there. Consider what we have in Washington now. It looks more like a schoolyard game of tag than a serious effort to deal with the business of government. Intransigence lives on both sides of the aisle. Compromise is a thing of the past. What’s next? Don’t these morons know that if our credit rating is reduced, our costs, interest on the debt, home loans, and everything else, are going to skyrocket? The “golden rule” applies. Whoever has the gold makes the rule. That happens to be the rating agencies and for some reason they don’t seem to care if our economy tubes.

I promised myself when I sat down to write this piece that I wouldn’t continue the fear mongering that the media has been selling. I promised myself that I would try to find some bright spots in this mess. One major bright spot is that Obama’s popularity is tubing as fast as the economy. He certainly looks like a Jimmy Carter one term President. Another bright spot is that many of these firmly entrenched Congress people who have been responsible for this fiasco will be unemployed in the next election. Neither you nor I created this mess. This is the creation of Presidents and Congresses present and past. We didn’t cause this but we damn sure can fix it. Here’s how.

Destiny is calling you out there. If you are an intelligent American who has the country’s prosperity and security foremost on your mind, consider offering your services to this country. If you possess leadership qualities and know how to compromise, you may have a future in government. It is clear that you will not face much competition from those sitting Members of Congress. They have shown no such qualities.

So, what’s next? I wish I knew. I am ashamed of what politics has become. I am appalled with the idea of career politicians. America needs honest people willing to work. As always the future is up to us. Our children and grandchildren are depending on us.

Ron Scarbro July 29, 2011

WISHING WON'T MAKE IT SO

2011-07-23T18:39:00.001-05:00

The peace and serenity of one of Europe’s most socialistic progressive countries was exploded this week. Norway, a country with some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world, was assaulted by one of their own with guns and bombs.

Initially most believed this was the work of Islamic extremists, but as it turns out, it was a native son who just seems to be another nut case with an imagined gripe and the willingness to kill. And kill he did. As of this writing 71 are dead with several more wounded. The final death totals will doubtless rise.

Now I am not going to take this opportunity to pick on Norway. They have enough problems. Most of the dead were children from a camp. I am not even going to chastise Europe for their socialistic view of government. What I hope to offer is some common sense.

Once again this carnage was caused by an individual, not a weapon. Obviously this moron was able to arm himself as well as either build homemade bombs or get them from somewhere. All the laws in the world didn’t stop him. No, what stopped him was another gun. He was shot, but fortunately he has survived to have his “day in court.” If they can keep this piece of excrement alive, we all will get to hear his story and his tale of woe. Personally I would just as soon gut shoot him with double ought buckshot and feed him to the hogs. But that would be uncivilized, oh well.

There are lessons here for all the world. Lesson number one, there is evil in the world. All the wishing otherwise doesn’t change that. The “head in the sand” approach has never worked. We all need to face the reality of evil among us. That doesn’t mean we should be afraid. No, it just means we all need to be as prepared as possible for this evil. If the camp counselors in Norway had been armed, they possibly could have stopped this agony much sooner. Again, the only way to stop a gun is with another gun.

The next lesson for all of us in this tragedy is to pay attention to what is going on. There is a real effort afoot in this country to attempt to establish restrictive gun laws similar to Europe’s. It would work no better here than it has there. Complacency is the enemy of freedom. There appears to be a few billionaire socialists attempting to change our way of government. They are trying to buy this country through bribes and contributions to legislators. It wouldn’t take much investigation to discover who they are. Some of them are European transplants who are trying to turn our country into the cesspool they escaped from. We have to be vigilant.

The title of this piece is “Wishing Won’t Make It So.” We cannot wish ourselves into prosperity and we cannot wish ourselves into utopia. There are inescapable realities out there. Evil, envy, stupidity, and who knows what else. I believe today there are morons in caves trying to figure out ways to disrupt our way of life. They would love to topple our financial structure. We have been fortunate so far. Now is not the time to sleep at the wheel.

My heart goes out to the Norwegian people and especially the family members of the dead and injured. I wish for them a return to their peace and serenity. I wish for them a return to their utopia. But, alas, wishing will not make it so.

Ron Scarbro July 23, 2011

WHO OR WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSE TO BELIEVE?

2011-07-13T14:06:00.000-05:00

Of course the budget and debt ceiling talks are going on now. One side says we must not increase the debt ceiling without equal cuts in spending. The other side seems to favor an ever increasing government with unlimited money to spend. Which side is right? Is either side right? Who or what are we to believe?

The ads are all over TV and newspapers. Both sides seem to have plenty of money to further their agenda through advertisement. The professional medical lobby is crying about potential cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. Teachers unions are screaming for more money. Who should we believe?

Just recently President Obama said on TV that unless a budget ceiling increase is approved by August 3, veterans benefits and social security checks may not go out. This has been reported as total nonsense. The checks will go out. So, who are we to believe?

Both sides appear to me to be petulant children. It is reminiscent of kids playing marbles and one saying either you play my way or I will take my marbles and go home.

Those of you who know me know that I am not smart enough to have the answers but I do have some thoughts. Personally, if I were a sitting Member of Congress, and had any thoughts of re-election, I would pay attention to the last election. I think the people spoke loudly and clearly with their vote. There is a fiscal conservative awakening across this country. The Tea Party is having an effect. They will have an effect on the next election as well. Polls show that most people think we are headed in the wrong direction with the free spending and increased taxation that is going on.

None of us knows what the truth is regarding the budget or the spending. None of us really knows what, if anything, we are borrowing or from whom. None of us has the capacity to comprehend the amount of money that travels to Washington DC every day of the year, nor the amount of money that flows back out to who knows what project or group. We probably will never know. To most of us, they are just numbers. Call me a skeptic, but I think that is the way those in power want it.

What are we to do? Do we have a role? Do you really think your letters have any effect on how a Congressperson votes? If you are a conservative Republican and your representative is a liberal Democrat, do you really think they would pay any attention to your letter? Your representative will vote his party line, period. There is only one thing that affects how a representative votes beyond his party affiliation and that is fear of losing re-election.

That is the hammer that the voters have. It is the only hammer. Today we have a Congress full of children who pursue their own self interests without regard to their responsibility to the people who elected them. The moment their address changes, their allegiance also changes. They need to be returned to sender.

Our problem is simple. Most of the American people don’t care enough to even vote, let alone be discriminating in their vote. I think most people don’t even know why they think the way they do politically. We seem to be a flock of ignorant sheep who are led by any shepherd who is attractive and glib. We all need to get smarter.

As I said earlier, I’m not smart enough to figure this all out, but I have to believe if we got together and truly learned the plans and positions of our potential representatives, we could change this mess. We have to hold these people’s feet to the fire. We need to get rid of those whose self interest takes precedence over the needs of the electorate. They work for us. We pay their salary. They need to be treated as employees and not as celebrities.

As a side note, can you just imagine what would happen if veterans benefits and social security checks are not sent out? I’ll leave that to your imagination.

Ron Scarbro July 13, 2011

HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH YET?

2011-07-09T11:28:00.001-05:00

HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH YET?

This morning the Labor Department announced the unemployment rate for June increased to 9.2%. Last month when the rate went up to 9.1% President Obama said this was just a blip. What is 9.2%? Is this another blip or is this the straw that will break the back of this incompetent administration? We added less than 20,000 new jobs for the month and we need to add over 200,000 a month by the next election to get the unemployment numbers down to 8%.

Just yesterday David Plough, the guy who is primarily responsible for the re-election of Obama, said that we Americans were not troubled by these numbers and that it is much ado about nothing. Wanna bet? Obviously they are trying to lessen the impact of these unemployment numbers on Obama’s re-election. If he thinks the economy isn’t going to play a role in the elections he is sadly mistaken.

Just today a new poll reported that 68% of those polled thought the country is going in the wrong direction with only 24% thinking we are going in the right direction. This cannot be happy news for those trying to inflict this bunch of incompetents on us for another four years. As a side note, do you ever wonder who those 24% are? I can only conclude they must be recipients of the largess of this government. At any rate it will take considerably more than 24% to re-elect Obama.

It is clear to me that whatever this administration is doing, it is not working. They are attacking this problem from the wrong direction. The only way this economy is going to grow or expand is first the stock market has to stabilize. You cannot regulate it into prosperity. That stability will occur when the government gets out of the way. That is going to have to happen first so that people will once again feel they will have a future with enough wealth to exist. In fact it is even called the “Wealth Effect.” Secondly businesses have to feel that they know what the next few years are going to look like. They have to know what their costs are going to be, i.e., health care insurance, taxes, etc. Right now they don’t have a clue. Labor unions are going to have to be restrained so that businesses can stay in America and be competitive.

How is this going to happen? First the restrictions and regulations on business are going to have to be reduced. The government is going to have to get out of the way of progress. Governments do not produce anything but rules and taxation. Whatever money any government possesses has been purloined from the citizenry through repressive taxes and fees. No doubt we need some taxes to fund the necessary functions of government, such as defense, infra-structure, etc. Over the years we have gotten away from our constitutionally permitted functions though. I don’t know about you but I am tired of trying to support the world. Now the UN has decided we need to give them trillions of dollars over the next forty years to assist poor countries, under the guise of “global warming”. More nonsense.

Obviously we need a change in our government. That is why we have elections every four years for Presidents. The guy we have now is a miserable failure and it isn’t looking like it is going to get any better over the next few months. Every reader of this column needs to consider these thoughts and ask yourself, “Is this my choice of direction for America?” If you are like me and think we are headed for the toilet, then it is up to us to make some changes.

This mess is fixable but we need adults with some ability and intelligence in charge. We cannot spend ourselves into prosperity, because as Margaret Thatcher once said, eventually we will run out of other people’s money.

Ron Scarbro July 8, 2011

NBC'S UNMITIGATED GALL

2011-06-23T17:25:00.001-05:00

When Chris Matthews announced on his MSNBC program that the only people in favor of Anthony Weiner’s resignation were conservative Christian right wingers who weren’t sophisticated enough to appreciate and understand the nuances of sexual perversion, lying, and wife cheating, I thought the limit had been reached in stupidity. Incidentally, I thank God that I lack that sophistication. Apparently the limit had not been reached however. No, NBC, on their broadcast of the US Open Golf Tournament, chose to edit the Pledge of Allegiance.

If you didn’t catch it, NBC decided to omit the words “under God” from the pledge so as not to offend those among us who believe God is a four letter word. Anyway that was their excuse. They offered the standard “non-apology apology.” They seem to believe that all will now be okay.

Using their thinking process one would assume that the next step for NBC is to print their own currency. If they can write their own “Pledge of Allegiance,” why not print their own money? After all, doesn’t it clearly state on our currency “In God We Trust?” That surely must offend the morons at NBC. It must also gall them that “In God We Trust” is the official motto of America. I wonder how they deal with that and the fact that over eighty percent of polled respondents identify themselves as Christians here in the US. That could not be good news for the far left organizations which produce the news for our consumption. Maybe they need to create a new country just for themselves and for those who think like them.

Some would think that these eighty percent of us should boycott such idiots as NBC and all the others who feel the same way. I don’t agree. Watch what you want. Just remember that people who think the way they do are going to produce programming that reflects their thinking and their agenda. That most certainly would be seen in their news reportage.

The only time I watch any of the major networks is when a sporting event comes on that I cannot watch anywhere else. For the most part, to me, their regular prime time programming is ridiculous. I have tried to watch their news programs but quite honestly find them hard to believe. Their agenda overwhelms their coverage. One can literally see the same news story from the major networks and then find it on line or in some newspapers and it will be a completely different story. You just have to be careful with what you consume that is called news. If you choose NBC or any of the “big four,” that’s your choice. I think you would be wise to confirm what they report. You might find that the story has a different ending.

The time is rapidly approaching when we must face a fact. The vast majority of this country is viewed as fly over wilderness by the Northeast liberals who create and air news programs. You, who regularly read this blog, and millions of others, are seen as buffoons by those same morons. Why, you might even (gasp) own a gun, or stand when the flag passes, or attend church, or treat people with respect. To the Northeast liberals, you are the unsophisticated, unintelligent masses who they must instruct. In other words, you are an enemy of liberalism.

I don’t know how this all happened, but the America that I know and the America that is seen by the liberals are two different countries and I don’t want to live in theirs. One thing is clear to me however, our numbers are growing and theirs are shrinking. Another election is coming soon and we must all get out and make ourselves heard loud and clear. My television has an on/off button and I use it regularly. I recommend that you consume news wisely. As Reagan once said, “Trust but verify.”

Ron Scarbro June 23, 2011

WHAT CAN WE LEARN BY LOSING?

2011-06-20T15:36:00.000-05:00

I just finished watching the U.S. Open Golf tournament. If you missed it, it was truly a memorable event. I mention this because just a couple of months ago I wrote a column about the Master’s. It was not published in the paper nor did we post it as a blog. I know this is going to come as a shock to you, but not everything I write and submit is published. I know it’s crazy but that is just how things are sometimes. I decided to write this preface and attach the past column to it. The subject of my April column was Rory McIlroy. As it turns out, Rory won the US Open and almost lapped the field. His mastery of his game and of the golf course was stunning. If you are not a golfer, let me say that a US Open course is prepared in such a way as to test the best in the world. It often makes them look like amateurs. Many veteran pros end up talking to themselves. What young Rory did at the Open was unbelievable. I hope you will read the following piece, which was written in April, and see what you think. As always we appreciate your thoughts and comments.

Ron Scarbro June 20, 2011

Did you watch the Masters golf tournament last week? It usually is a fun event every year but this year it exceeded previous Masters. The drama and the excitement were palpable. While watching it I started thinking about winning and losing. I remember a statement by Vince Lombardi, I think, “Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.” That’s pretty harsh I know, but it seems to be the prevalent thinking in most sports. “Nobody ever remembers who finishes in second place, only who won,” is another statement that flies around after important contests. These thoughts were going through my mind as I watched Rory McIlrory who started the final day with a four shot lead only to lose by ten strokes when the final hole was played.

To those among you who don’t know the players, Rory McIlrory is a twenty-one year old youngster from Northern Ireland who has been playing golf for most of his life and has been a professional for just a few short years. While I don’t know him personally, all reports are that he is a quality young man, bright, genial, and someone you would enjoy just knowing and being around. As I watched his meltdown on the final day of the tournament, I was very sad. Let’s face it, it was painful. He had led the Masters for most of the event. But, he lost. Golf, it would seem, much like life, is unpredictable. Shakespeare once wrote, “Even the best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray.” Such seems to be the fate of Rory on the final day of the Masters.

I believe there are lessons here for all of us, including Rory McIlroy. Life is often a series of wins and losses and it has been my experience in life that I learned more from my mistakes and from my losses than from my victories. That’s good because the losses and the failures far outnumbered the victories. I am sure that is the way it is for all of us. If I am any judge of golf talent and potential greatness, young Rory McIlroy will come back stronger than ever.

In the Masters, as in most competitions, there can only be one winner. To me that does not mean that all of the rest of the contestants are losers. With all due respect to Vince Lombardi, incidentally one of my heroes, a good loser can be just a competitor who may win next time. That does not mean that we don’t try to win every time, it only means that every loss is an opportunity to learn and not the end of the world. What would happen if every time we failed, we quit? Would anything ever get discovered? Edison once said that the only difference between his inventions and others’ failures was that they just quit too soon. His stubbornness led to great discoveries.

Every day we face tests. Tests of our stamina. Tests of our ability. Often tests of our commitment. Our lives and the lives of those around us are made better by these tests. On some we succeed and on some we fail. The key is to pick ourselves up after a loss and keep going. The next win might be for all the marbles.

Ron Scarbro April 11, 2011

IS THERE NO SHAME?

2011-06-12T13:50:00.001-05:00

Many years ago some people of ill repute were branded with what was known as the “Scarlett Letter.” The purpose was to shame them before their neighbors. The shame was to be their punishment. Some were put into “stocks” as a display of their shame. Many of our laws were based on the idea that if a perpetrator were shamed by his action, that shame would also serve as a part of his punishment. When I was growing up, my mother often used words like “Shame on you,” and “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” Those were cutting words and they were effective.

I bring this up because of the recent revelations in the news about Congressman Anthony Weiner. You all know the story about his exchanging lewd photos and messages with people in cyberspace not knowing whether he was sending them to women, men, children, or possibly even vice cops. All this while he was a married man and a sitting Member of Congress. When discovered, he tried to cover up the mess by lying, but to no avail. I watched as he “apologized” to every one in the world as well as his wife. In all his stammering monologue however, I did not hear anything about his shame. How could one put on a press conference in light of these accusations and not be so ashamed that he would be unable to speak?

Just a few years ago in Japan, he would have been forced by tradition to commit “Hari Kari.” Even here in America he would have been laughed off the stage. He certainly would not have had a job to return to. What has happened to us as a country?

I saw a poll that was just conducted in New York whereby 51% of the respondents think he should not have to resign. What? Has this sort of activity become so common that it is acceptable with elected representatives? Do we not expect more of our so called leaders?

Bill Clinton, instead of becoming a problem for the Democrats, has become their standard bearer. Charlie Rangel was re-elected by a landslide. Elliott Spitzer now has a TV show. While I am naming Democrats, Republicans also have their share of idiots and morons. From Nevada’s Ensign to California’s Governator as well as countless others, it seems shamelessness is no respecter of political affiliation.

We have all heard the standard excuses that people in power have extreme appetites. They are also described as gregarious and egotistical. I have my own descriptions. How about arrogant? How about the belief that they are above the law? Another thought that comes to mind is maybe they are just plain stupid.

You may ask, “If Weiner’s constituency is willing to accept his misdeeds, why should I care?” That is a fair question. My answer would be that, while he does represent a small number of New Yorkers, his actions as a Congressman affect all of us. As a proven liar, he is not trustworthy. He should not have a security clearance. He should not have access to State Secrets. Simply stated, he cannot be trusted.

Finally he has become a big problem for the Democrat party. That doesn’t bother me but it should bother that group as they face an uphill battle to just exist as well as try to grow their numbers in the Congress. Weiner should be shamed out of Congress for the good of the country and all future such incidents should be dealt with in a similar fashion.

Ron Scarbro June 8, 2011

OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR NEW HOME

2011-06-05T11:54:00.001-05:00

Well, we have arrived in our new home on St. Simons Island, Georgia. I thought I would share with you some observations as we have noted them.

First, on our arrival our daughter and a friend brought us a house warming gift. The gift consisted of a bouquet of flowers and a basket including a fly swatter and a can of Raid ant and roach killer. There seemed to be a message here. Apparently this is the home of red ants. Now these are not like normal ants. No, they swarm and they bite. I am told it is a very painful experience. Secondly, the roaches are also different from what you might expect. Some of them can be saddled and ridden. When you discover them they don’t scurry away. No, they want to stand and fight. They seem to dare you to take them on. They are referred to as “Palmetto Bugs.” How quaint. I will have more to report on that issue later as I experience them.

Some of you may remember that I had previously reported on the language of the South. For example, I reported that the plural of the term y’all is all y’all. I have now learned that the possessive form of this term is y’all’s and all y’all’s. Y’all can and does refer to as few as one individual or to many individuals. Also, a new word I have learned is “n’” as in shrimp n’ grits, or biscuits n’ gravy. We are confident that we will learn these new words as well as others. It is important to learn the language of a new place. We don’t want to look conspicuous.

How about the weather? Of course one of the main considerations to us in moving here was the weather. I read in the paper the forecast for the weekend. It read hot and hotter. No temperatures, no numbers, just hot and hotter. As it turns out, they were right. We are supposed to be in the middle 90s with corresponding high humidity. That is going to take a little getting used to. This winter though, when you are in the single digits or lower, we should be in the 60s and 70s. I’ll let you know.

The main reason for our move, however, was not the language or the weather, and certainly not the bugs or snakes. No, the main reason was to be closer to our family, mainly our grandchildren. They live an hour away. Linda and I look forward to spending more time with them, especially holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is our opinion that we need that and we believe that our grandchildren need that. I have Grandpa things to teach and share with them. They surely have grandkid things to share with me. We look forward to watching them grow up and become adults. We hope to be a positive influence in their lives. I think today’s world is difficult. There are many challenges to young people. While we don’t have all the answers, it is just possible that we may have had some experiences that might help our kids through a difficult situation. Otherwise, failing that, we may just take a picnic to the beach and talk about it. At any rate we will have the opportunity to try and be helpful.

I will continue to comment as time goes on. My columns will return to the politics of the day as we go forward. I hope the fishing is getting better for all y’all as the weather improves, oh, and watch out for snakes and ants.

Ron Scarbro June 5, 2011

MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER

2011-05-06T14:26:00.001-05:00

This is the story of Granny June as she was to become known in her later years. Like all mothers she touched many lives in her time on earth. Her life and her story were simple but at the same time profound.

She married as a young teenager. Barely more than a child herself, she had three babies by age twenty-two. All three were boys with me the middle one. She went on to have a daughter a few years later. She was a country girl with a very limited education. Very soon all three of her sons towered over her. That didn’t matter though because size did not matter. She ruled with an iron fist. Had she lived, she would have been ninety-two this month.

As I contemplate this Mother’s Day, my thoughts go back to the simpler time in my parent’s home. While it was many years ago, it truly seems like just the other day. My hope is that this column brings back memories of your mother on this special day.

She made sure that we were in church every Sunday morning and evening as well as Wednesday night prayer meeting. There was never any liquor in our house or even beer for that matter. Off color language was forbidden.

She was a marvelous cook. In fact you might even say she was a magician in the kitchen. That was good because we were definitely dirt poor. Her magic was to take a little and make a lot out of it. You may remember the Bible story of the loaves and the fishes? I think of that when I remember how she would take a scrawny little fryer chicken and make a chicken pot pie that was about two feet in diameter. The strangest part of that was that everyone who ate the pie actually thought they had eaten chicken. That pot pie would feed at least six starving people, four of whom were growing kids with hollow legs. I can still taste the cobblers and cakes she would create. What great memories.

She taught me to read well before I ever attended school. She taught me to drive a car at a very early age. She also insisted that I learn to cook for myself because, as she used to say, she didn’t want me to starve.

All of this while she was pretty much a child herself. In fact you could say that we all grew up together.

While she died a few years ago, I still see her face when I look at my daughter and my granddaughter. My hope is that I have left for them some of the values that were left for me.

As we recognize this Mother’s Day, I ask that you cherish your time with your mother if you still have her with you. If, like me, she has passed on, cherish the memories of her. I know today, whatever I have become as a man, is the direct result of a precious mother who gave her all, did her best, and always expected the absolute best result.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers out there and a special Happy Mother’s Day to my late mother.

Ron Scarbro May 2, 2011

BITS AND PIECES FROM THE NEWS

2011-04-26T09:28:00.001-05:00

The state of Georgia has passed a new law that makes the Arizona immigration law look weak. Did you hear anything in the news about this? If you are in Georgia illegally and you are stopped by the police for any reason, you had better have available identification showing that you are in fact an American citizen or at least in this country legally or you are in trouble. If you are an employer in the state of Georgia and you employ anyone, they had better be legally able to be in America or you are in trouble. Did you hear anything about this in the national media? Probably not. Several other states are also working on similar legislation.

What you probably heard was that President Obama brought together a group of individuals who were purportedly gathered for the purpose of finding a solution to the illegal immigration problem. The group did not include any of the border state Governors who are directly affected by the illegal entry of people from all over the world. No, it was a group of liberal apologists who seemed to be looking for a way to grant amnesty to these illegals without bringing down the wrath of the American people. For some reason one political party seems to think that if illegals are granted immunity they will suddenly become voters for that party. What do you think? As for the big conference, nothing new seems to have come from the event. I think this is called kicking the can down the road.

Meanwhile Senator John McCain traveled to Libya and pronounced that the anti-government rebel fighters were his heroes. He also proffered the opinion that we should further arm them and help in their fight against Moammar Gaddafi. I hope he knows something that the rest of us haven’t learned yet. Like who are these people and who is financing them and what is their ultimate objective? I think a little skepticism might be in order until we know more.

In the rest of the Middle East rebellion is breaking out almost as if by magic. Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and now Syria. Who knows what is next? Are these legitimate freedom fighters or are these groups who will bring about a bigger problem than exists now?

Of course we all will know more as this continues to develop. I hope it is legitimate. I hope their objective is honorable. I hope that the Middle East joins the twenty-first century. If so, the world will be a safer place. Time will tell.

Let’s talk about gasoline prices. Four dollars a gallon and headed higher. Do you think Obama and Biden are in cahoots with the big oil companies? The media decided that during the Bush administration high gasoline prices were the work of the Bush/Chaney/Big Oil cartel. The press now seems strangely quiet on the issue. Does that seem odd to you? Regardless of the reason, the price of everything is headed up and by a lot. Fossil fuel moves everything in this country and will continue to. This current administration needs to understand this, skip the fantasy, and get on with drilling. Perhaps someday other forms of energy will take the place of oil but for now the reality is we must have an increased supply. Deal with it. Meanwhile, social security recipients will not get an increase because the head of that agency doesn’t think prices have increased. Really? I am not making this stuff up.

Finally, sixteen states have sued the Government over Obamacare. The cases will ultimately be in the Supreme Court for final judgement. I believe the law will be found unconstitutional and will be invalidated. Until then states will spend millions preparing for a situation which will be overturned by the Court. No reading of the Constitution could find any other way.

Sometimes I wish I was making this stuff up, but facts are facts. I report, you decide.

Ron Scarbro April 26, 2011

IS SOCIAL SECURITY AN ENTITLEMENT?

2011-04-03T15:22:00.001-05:00

I have been in Florida for the past few weeks and the news is out. Social Security expects to increase by a paltry 1.2% for the next year. The problem is, the cost of medicare will rise above that amount which means for the third year in a row there will be no increase in benefits to the millions of seniors who depend on their checks for survival. Here in Florida where the average age is considerably higher than the rest of the country, the news has been devastating.

Just last week the head of the Social Security Administration described the reason there would be no increase. His conclusion is that there is no inflation. His belief is that prices are not really going up. Apparently the rising cost of fuel, food, medical care, clothing, services, transportation, and all of the other things you and I spend money on is just our imagination. He seems to believe that Social Security recipients are in better shape today than they have ever been. I have a question. What planet is this moron living on? Does he go to the grocery store? Does he buy his own gasoline? I find that virtually everything my wife and I buy is going up and not by just a little but by a lot.

Social Security is called an entitlement. I believe that calling it that makes it easier for our elected leaders to treat it as some sort of welfare. As I have written before, Social Security is a contractual debt owed by the Federal Government to me as well as all those who have paid into this fund and have reached the age where that payment is due. It is not a gift to be doled out and treated as if it were some sort of privilege. It is instead a debt owed to the recipients just as cost of living increases are owed by the government. We never had a choice of whether or not to invest in Social Security. Our wages were hijacked by the government. Now the debt is called and payment is due. Don’t fall for the notion that senior citizens are some sort of dependents waiting with hat in hand for the largess of the plantation owner to take care of us. Nonsense. We are creditors and we demand to be paid our just and proper return.

I learned that the Social Security Administration has until the end of September to determine whether or not there will be a COLA increase for this year. You and I need to make sure our employees, our Congresspeople, hear our thoughts and know clearly where we stand regarding this debt owed by the government. They need to understand that we will not be passive any longer. It is not welfare. It belongs to us. Past congresses have raided and stolen from our funds and now the chickens are coming home to roost. The reality is that many seniors are living an entire year on less than just the raise Congress voted for themselves. Our elected representatives should be ashamed. Imagine, if you will, how different this all would be if Congresspeople had to follow the same rules as everybody else.

If Congress insists on calling Social Security an entitlement then know this. Entitlement means I own title to this fund. I bought it and therefore I own it, just like you do. Having reached the age whereby that fund has to start paying me back for my lifetime of investing, I expect no less than precisely that.

Ron Scarbro April 4, 2011

ARE WE INVOLVED OR ARE WE COMMITTED?

2011-03-29T08:36:00.001-05:00

You may have heard this analogy before. We used it back years ago in business during sales meetings. The question was, “Are you involved with the problem, or are you committed to its solution?” The analogy is the bacon and egg breakfast. In such a breakfast the hen has an involvement, but the pig has a commitment.

I think of this when I consider our bombing of Libya. Are we just involved or do we have a commitment? It’s a fair question when one considers our current use of military forces in two on-going wars. Wars which have been going on for more than ten years now as we have previously reported. Ten years and no end in sight. Are we in those wars as just an involvement or are we committed?

War, by its only definition is an all out affair. It is an unlimited act. For us to be involved must mean that we are committed to win. There is no other reason to bomb and kill thousands of people.

Where Libya is concerned, we are now being told that our commitment is over. We took out Gadhafi’s ability to fight so we can wrap up and go back to other wars. We are told that we will not send in ground troops. I hope that is true.

So, where is this discussion headed? What do you think is going on? Is it an accident that virtually the entire Middle East is rising up and attempting to throw off the oppression of their dictatorial leaders and live as democracys? Is that what we are seeing? I hope so, but I am a bit skeptical. Why, after thousands of years, are the people suddenly demanding freedom? Who is behind all of this? Is this a religious uprising or is this truly an uprising of people wanting to be free? Who is financing this? Where and when will it all end? Will a new Middle East come out of this unrest with a desire to join the twentieth century, participating in the modern world? Again, I hope so.

Even with all the questions, we still have serious interests in the Middle East. Primarily oil. Since we refuse to drill for our own oil and produce our own energy in our own country, we continue to need the oil of the Middle East. It is in our interest that oil continues to flow. In my view that is the reason for our involvement not only in Libya or Afghanistan, but all over the Middle East.

It should be clear to even the most devout liberal that our liberal President Obama has to keep the oil flowing. It is not a choice, it is a requirement. If that means bombing countries like Libya, then so be it. Reasons and excuses will be offered but the real reason is oil. Our economy, and for that matter the economies of the world, depend on oil. They have it and we need it. Imagine how much simpler this all would be if we just got off our duffs and drilled and produced our own oil, but I digress.

So, are we involved, or are we truly committed? Do we have the will and the stomach to face reality and produce our own energy? Do we have the will and the stomach to end our wars in the Middle East, or will we just continue to be involved? As I have said before, the only way a war can end is with a winner and a loser. What we are doing now is just spending military forces and millions of our treasure to keep the game going. We need a commitment. We have the ability. We have the weaponry. The question is, do we have the will?

Are we the chicken or are we the pig?

Ron Scarbro March 29, 2011

VISITING THE SMALL TOWN CAFE

2011-03-18T09:21:00.001-05:00

My wife and I are currently on a road trip. We often travel to the south to visit our daughter and our grandchildren. From time to time we try to find new routes to travel so that we may see and experience new territory. We try always, however, to stop in South Beloit, Illinois. Our primary reasons are, number one, it is about as far as we like to drive in one day and the second reason is a little cafe known as Mary’s Place. We accidentally found this gem several years ago on just such a trip south.

Mary’s is a small town cafe where everybody knows everybody. The food is wonderful and the prices are very reasonable. From our first experience, we enjoyed the place. It seems the same people are always there. The customers get up and help the waitresses. They help bus the tables and refill coffee cups. The conversation is never ending. Whenever any person comes in, it seems everybody greets them. Large gatherings occur as tables are pulled together. You overhear discussions about politics, national issues, local issues, and of course gossip about whomever might not be there. You hear about someone who is sick. You learn about their children and all they are facing. In other words, you hear Americana.

There are probably many such cafes and restaurants like Mary’s across this country, but I think they are a dying breed. The customers for such cafes seem to be older. People come for more than just the food. They come for the visits. They come to learn the latest gossip. They come because such cafes are friendly places where everybody feels at home. They also come to share their lives with their friends and neighbors. I know we have always felt welcome.

This column is not a commercial for Mary’s Place or for any other restaurant however. No, this is about what appears to be a disappearing part of American life.

Today’s young people seem to go to coffee shops and they bring their computers with them. They have ear phones in their ears. Their focus is never off their computer screens. They never talk with anybody else. All communication is electronic. They have thousands of on line “friends” whom they have never met. Inter-personal relationships are gone. All they know about these “friends” is what that individual has told them from the privacy of their own space.

Now I don’t want to be critical of this new social interchange, but I wonder if there isn’t something missing from such an arrangement. Is this new way the best way? Are these relationships as satisfying as face to face contact? Can true friendships be forged this way? As these young people age and mature will they not miss out on the companionship that our older generation has experienced? To me it seems a little sad. I wonder if, in the future, will a friend cry when a friend dies? I wonder.

In the meantime, we will continue to visit Mary’s Place whenever we are in South Beloit and we will continue to try to find other such cafes and restaurants across this great country in our travels. We will rejoice in the camaraderie we witness. We will continue to look for Americana and wonder if it will all change. I believe it would be sad if it disappears.

Ron Scarbro March 16, 2011

THE BUDGET BATTLES HAVE BEGUN

2011-02-20T20:03:00.001-06:00

What you see happening in Wisconsin is about to be played out in many other states as well as in Washington, DC. I am talking about the budget battles. To be sure, not everyone will be happy with the proposals or the end results of these battles, but changes are going to occur. I recently wrote a piece about issues which are, in my mind, untouchable unless they are increased. Those being veteran’s benefits and Social Security. I stand by those words today as I opine about the proposals now being debated.

In Washington the Republicans have determined that ending funding for public broadcasting is one way of reducing spending. They also just passed an amendment ending funding for Planned Parenthood.

First my thoughts regarding public broadcasting. Setting aside the fact that they have become a propaganda arm of liberal politics and also the fact that, in a typical hour of programming, a full twenty minutes is dedicated to commercials on a “commercial free” aired program, I don’t care what they broadcast. My TV and radio are equipped with a station selector and an on/off knob and I use them frequently. My concern is that they operate with taxpayer money and that is wrong. If their programming is of value to their viewers and listeners, they should have to compete along with all other private businesses for customers and advertisers. No free country, least of all America, needs a state run broadcasting outlet of any political view.

Now concerning Planned Parenthood. I personally do not oppose abortion. I do not oppose assistance with family planning. What I oppose is that my tax dollars are being used for those purposes. All across this great country are millions who also oppose this illegal use of taxpayer money. Again, if these services are of such value to their clients, then it is incumbent upon Planned Parenthood to figure out another way to pay for them. In no way should it be at the expense of the American taxpayer. Abortion and family planning are very personal issues and in many camps religious issues and as such are none of the government’s business. They are in no way issues in which the government should be involved. These are but two of many proposals and decisions which will be made in the near future which are going to displease some portion of the public, but hard decisions are going to be made.

Wisconsin is, like many other states, facing huge deficits and they have no choice but to find cuts in their spending. I understand their deficit is about three billion dollars which is small when compared to others. Minnesota for example is twice that amount. Consider California and other big states that have spent like drunken sailors for the past several years. Judgement day is at hand.

The vast majority of citizens of Wisconsin know what is coming and they seem ready for it. That is why they elected the people they did. What is happening in Madison is a small number of union members from Wisconsin as well as other states raising a ruckus as they face the inevitable. The delaying tactics being tried by the State Senate Democrats will only serve to further irritate the good citizens of Wisconsin and will, in the final analysis, fail. Wisconsin citizens’ reality is that either these cuts are made or several thousand of them will lose their jobs. Not a happy choice but reality nonetheless. Wisconsin’s problem is pocket change however when compared to others like California, for example.

I’ll end this piece with these observations. In my seventy short years of life I have seen several fluctuations in our economy. Prices and values have risen and fallen. But, and again this is a big but, we have always recovered and gotten stronger. This is no different. In a few short years we will look back on this time and be amazed by our own resilience and our ingenuity. My word for the day is PATIENCE. While that is a good word for every day it is especially proper now. We all need to adopt this word and look to a bright future.

Ron Scarbro February 20, 2011

ARE YOU THERE PATRICK HENRY???

2011-02-13T21:20:00.001-06:00

We have just witnessed the overthrow of the government of Egypt. For the past several days all the news has been of the people marching in the streets of Cairo demanding the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. Well, that has happened. He announced his resignation and the Military will take over until a new government can be installed. As I write this, I ask myself, “Is this a good thing, or is this a bad thing? Is this the equivalent of the Berlin Wall coming down or is this another Iranian Revolution?” It is so tempting to be hopeful and believe that this is a revolution of people seeking freedom. Is that what is going on? Is this rebellion what it appears to be? The problem is we really don’t know and neither do the people of Egypt.

Should we believe that this is a revolution much like our own? That this is the same as when we threw off the mantle of oppression from Great Britain? I would like to believe that, but I remember as a very young man how we cheered a radical militant who, with his ragtag army, ousted the dictator Bautista, only to learn to our great disappointment that Fidel Castro was in fact a communist and that his beautiful country would then be cast into despair under his brutal regime. In all the years since, Cuba has never recovered from the communist domination of her people. Even today Cubans are years away from being restored to any semblance of their former self.

Is more disappointment awaiting us?

I have watched the young people in their western dress, jeans and t-shirts with cell phones on their ears and I-Pods at the ready chanting with hope on their faces. In two months will they still be in those clothes or will the girls be dressed in Burqas? Will their pretty faces be covered? Will their hopes and dreams be dashed by oppressive dictators from a religious sect? You see, we don’t know. Will the young men be given jobs with hopes for a future, or will their future be destroyed by radical religious groups bent on domination of the entire Middle East? Again, we don’t know.

For the sake of the Middle East, Israel and freedom everywhere, I hope this is not the case. For the sake of the Egyptian people, I hope this is a revolution similar to our own. I hope the Egyptian version of Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere is there with you and can show you the way to freedom. I hope you can continue to show the courage that you have demonstrated these past few days. When you have to make the difficult choices in the coming days, I hope you make the right decisions. Ronald Reagan told us that all men yearn to be free. I am sure the Egyptian people are just like everyone else.

Egyptians are educated people, with talent in music and poetry. They have existed since well before Christ. Since the early days they were masters of building with great pyramids and statues still remaining after eons of time. Today their future is in their hands. Will they choose wisely? Will they install a democracy? Or will they fall for a Theocracy? In many ways, while they abide in the Middle East, they are Westerners. They have, for years, followed and pursued western ideology.

For now however, like you, I will watch. I will watch hopeful that my worries are silly. I will watch in the hope that Egypt will join The Community of Nations seeking peace, prosperity, and brotherhood with all mankind. I will look for Patrick Henry and hope that he shows up and helps guide these newly freed people in the proper path. Will they seek liberty or will they find death? The choice is theirs.

Ron Scarbro February 13, 2011

A REPUBLICAN DOES A DUMB THING

2011-02-06T19:29:00.001-06:00

Most of you who read my columns will recognize me immediately as one who thinks and writes from the right side of the political spectrum. I readily criticize those on the left when they do the silly things they do. Today, however, I am forced, by fairness, to criticize a Republican.

Our Congressperson, Michele Bachmann, has proffered the idea that in order to deal with our deficit, we should reduce our funding to veterans by some four hundred million dollars. We are in the middle of two wars. We are experiencing casualties from both Iraq and Afghanistan on a regular basis. To do anything short of increasing our financial commitment to veterans is dumb. That’s all, just dumb. Fortunately she has seen the error of her ways and has since retracted that idea. That is smart, just smart.

Like most concerned Americans, I readily agree that our spending has to be controlled. That having been said, I now suggest that there are two areas where reduction is out of the question, Social Security and the VA.

I am both a veteran and a Social Security recipient. What that means to me is that I have a contract with this government that is inviolate. When I was seventeen years old, I joined the armed forces of this country and signed a contract that gave over to the country everything I had including my life. America in turn guaranteed certain coverages for me in my later years. I kept my end of the contract and I fully expect the government to keep up their end.

In addition, for about fifty years or so, I worked and earned a living for me and my family. The government confiscated a portion of my income to “set aside” for my retirement years. I was never given an option to opt out. I was never offered the option as to how or where that money would be invested. It was clearly understood that when I reached a certain age, there would be money available to me for my “golden years.” I never agreed that the fund should be raided by various congresses to pay for anything other than legitimate recipients of Social Security. Again, I was not given an option or a say in the matter. Now, with prices rising to ridiculous levels for everything most of us buy, our government has not even seen fit to offer us a cost of living increase, all the while increasing their own incomes.

So you ask me, how would you cut our spending, Mr. Smart Aleck? That’s a fair question and I have a few thoughts. I read recently that we send one and a half billion dollars to Egypt every year. It now seems that a majority of that hard earned tax money has ended up in Mubarak’s personal bank accounts. How many other tin horn dictators are we propping up and supporting with our tax dollars? How much American tax money goes throughout the world for who knows what and to whom? My suggestion, quit it. Just say no. Did you know that in the very small state of West Virginia, there exists the best road system, dam system and government buildings of anywhere in America, and that they all seem to bear the name of their benefactor, Democrat, Sen. Robert Byrd? There are bridges to nowhere and highways in the wilderness in Alaska thanks to their Republican Senator, Ted Stevens. No, it would not be very difficult to find a number of ways to reduce the waste in our spending.

We do not need to buy security by funding outlaw governments all over the world. We can enforce our security at any moment of need. It is past time when we must face the very real fact that we can no longer afford to support the world. We need to see to our own needs first.

Let us instead keep some of this money at home. Let us maintain a strong military. Let us never forget our commitment to our veterans and to our senior citizens. Let us take care of ourselves before we begin to think about taking care of other peoples and countries. And finally, let us re-establish integrity in the halls of Congress and put the people of America first.

Ron Scarbro February 6, 2011

THE SHALLOW END OF THE GENE POOL

2011-01-28T16:54:00.001-06:00

In just the past few weeks and months we have seen what seems to be an upsurge in idiotic acts. There’s a guy from the Twin Cities trying to climb Mt. McKinley in January. I heard yesterday that the wind chills were in the minus 100 degree range. I understand some of our young people are looking for new and better ways to get stoned. Some are using synthetic marijuana while others have found intoxication from exotic bath salts. Bath salts? Where did that come from? Who was the first moron to try that? Of course there is always the old standby of sniffing paint or glue. The end result of all these acts is a fried brain and in some cases serious psychotic issues. Many individuals have committed suicide while under the influence of these inhalants. Some just become vegetables in constant need of care and supervision. What in the world is going on?

I am going to try to examine some of this phenomena. First, I am sure you would agree that we are all members of the animal kingdom. I grant you that we should accept that we might be a higher order of animal, but animals none the less. In the lower order of animals, individuals with a propensity of self destruction don’t last very long. In fact, entire species have disappeared because of their failure to adapt. Humans, one would expect, should use their brains for their survival, not their destruction. I don’t believe lower animals would ever intentionally dare fate by putting themselves in compromising situations. If a lower animal climbs a mountain it is for a reason other than just because it is there. They would be looking for food or shelter or safety or something of value. Humans are the only animals who dare fate by exposing themselves and their ultimate rescuers to danger just because they can.

Only humans look for ways to alter their consciousness by getting high. Apparently lower animals accept life as it is and deal with it. It would also appear that only humans suffer from the need for an adrenaline rush. Why else would anyone try to climb an ice covered mountain in the middle of January? Another question I have is why would the news media cover such an event? Is it like watching a traffic accident? Are we waiting for the eventual disaster?

All of these moronic acts are committed by selfish people seeking attention. These are people whose desire for the high, or the rush, is so great that they forsake their families and their responsibilities to their fellow humans in order to get that feeling. Often we are left to pick up the pieces of wasted lives. Often children face a life without parents because of those parents’ desire to dare themselves or test fate. And to what end? What has been accomplished? So you climbed a mountain. Big deal. Instead of celebrating you, I pity you. I pity your family and your friends who have to worry about your survival. I also pity the rescuers who often have to risk their lives to pluck your sorry hide off the mountain. No, to me, there is nothing to congratulate.

To those among you who are bent on removing yourself from the gene pool, be my guest. If this life is so bad and so harsh that you need to alter your brain, jump in. Through the many eons of animal existence on this earth, some species have excelled and survived. Alas, many others have died off. The gene pool is always open. Dive into the shallow end at your own risk.

Ron Scarbro January 25, 2011

GETTING PHYSICAL

2011-01-22T14:21:00.001-06:00

It is about time for my annual physical exam. Like most of you I go through this every year. I don’t look forward to it but I recognize its importance and its value. A friend of mine from out west once told me that he never went to the doctor for a physical. He said that if there was something wrong with him, he didn’t want to know. May he rest in peace. Would he be alive had he known of his condition? I don’t know but why take a chance. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

I am a veteran and as such am enrolled in the VA Medical system. They make sure that I know when it is time to come in because their computer tells them and they set me an appointment.

The lab will draw blood for testing and then the nurse will weigh me and take my blood pressure. Then she will ask, are you in any pain? On a scale of one to ten, where is your pain? This is where it starts to get sticky. Like most seventy year old men, I always have some kind of pain. Having never been seventy before, I don’t know how I am supposed to feel. I can remember when I wasn’t in pain but that was years ago. So what is normal? There is no doubt as I have grown older, I have slowed down. My body objects to sudden movement and sometimes any movement at all. It takes a while when I get out of bed in the morning to get everything going again. I guess that is my new normal. I know that feeling little aches and pains beats the alternative, that of feeling nothing at all. Mickey Mantle said on the occasion of his retirement, I still run as hard to first base, I just don’t get there as quick. That pretty much sums up my new normal.

So now I see my Doctor. She has been my Doctor for about six years and has seen me through some ups and downs. The first thing she will do is frown when she sees my weight. She will express concern about my blood sugar and my blood pressure. I believe she sees her job as keeping me alive as long as she can. Good for her. I hope she continues to do her job well. We have the same objective. I’d like to say a brief word here about my care at the St. Cloud VA. It has been superb. They treat me as if I were the only patient they will have all day when I know that there are many, many waiting in the lobby. I am never rushed or kept waiting. One of the reasons I tell you these things is that I know my Doctor reads this column and I don’t want to get her mad at me. Seriously though, the VA has provided me the best of care and I am always amazed at the quality of the care I receive.

I hope and believe that the physical will prove to be a normal exam. I know, however, that someday one of those pesky little tests will come back with an abnormality. I hope that is many years in the future. This physical is a present I give to my body. My body has served me well for these seventy years and I look forward to the next seventy.

How long has it been since you have had a check up? Do you owe your body a present? Do yourself a favor. Make an appointment with your doctor and get an exam. Think of how much better you will feel when you learn that everything is normal.

Ron Scarbro January 16, 2011

RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE

2011-01-11T20:48:00.000-06:00

Since the shootings in Tucson, the airways have been filled with accusations, theories, justifications, and just general nonsense. Extremist political types from both sides have accused each other of over heated rhetoric. Talk radio, some say, has caused this senseless act. Mentally unstable individuals, they theorize, are easily led by too much of such rhetoric. Can they not see that by making such ridiculous comments, they are just adding to the heated conversation?

I intend to offer a somewhat different view. I believe the “alleged” shooter in this case is just a whack job. That’s all. Just a whack job who should have been institutionalized years ago. From all we can learn at this point, everybody who knew him or came in contact with him knew that he was nuts. This killer probably didn’t listen to talk radio, watch TV, or read the newspapers. The only voices he heard were probably in his head. The shootings in Tucson were just a random act of violence committed by a deranged nut job who lived in a world all by himself. I am sure that he planned the event. I am sure it was premeditated. I do not think that just because he is crazy, that he cannot form intent. He knew completely what he was doing and in his pea brain probably thought it was the right thing to do.

I know it’s cliche, but this seems to be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could just as easily have been a building collapse, or a lightning strike, or a run-away rabid dog. I understand that this is not a very satisfying answer, but sometimes s--- happens.

So, that having been said, what should we do to try and prevent future such acts from happening? Remember we live in a free society. We cannot arrest a person just because they act funny. If we did, we would fill our prisons. The law is clear. In order to be arrested one must have committed a criminal act, not before he commits it. Then, of course, as in the case in Tucson, it is too late.

We need instead, to be more aware of individuals who demonstrate unsocial or uncivil behavior. As a society we need to take mental illness more seriously. We need to be able to commit people to hospitals for their as well as society’s own good. Obviously we will never be able to get them all off the streets. Consider the “uni-bomber.” A complete wing nut who took himself out of society and nurtured his madness while living as a hermit. Today there are probably hundreds if not thousands of people just like old Ted. I believe, however, that somebody knows of most of these individuals but will not say anything for whatever reason. Maybe it is family loyalty, maybe its political correctness, whatever. Once the crazies in question unleash themselves on the public, it is too late. I assure you, the family of this killer in Tucson knew he was a deranged madman and that sooner or later he would wind up on the front page of the newspaper. In many ways they should share in his guilt.

As far as heated political rhetoric is concerned, we enjoy free speech. One man’s criticism is another man’s compliment. If I feel that your political views are ridiculous, I am free to say so. You have the same right to criticize my opinion. That is what America is all about. I will not soften my views because some wing nut might get upset or offended, anymore than if someone who holds an opposite opinion might object. Free speech is what we are about. Mentally ill people need to be identified and dealt with for their own good as well as society’s.

Ron Scarbro January 11, 2011

ILLEGAL ALIENS AND THE FIX

2011-01-10T19:47:00.001-06:00

Recently in Minneapolis, a man of Chinese decent was arrested for a murder that occurred sixteen years ago. Federal marshals swooped in and picked him up at the Chinese restaurant where he had worked for the last seven years off and on. His employer apparently knew very little about him since he was a part of the so-called Chinese restaurant worker’s underground whose workers are paid under the table in cash with no records being kept. No social security number, no ID, no nothing. Today that restaurant is still in business with no apparent sanction for their violation of our law. The suspect was difficult to find because he had left little or no paper trail. Employers like this restaurant are hiring illegal workers violating our laws with no penalty; from meat packers to landscapers, to farmers.

I have been tuning in to the National Geographic Channel lately to watch “Border Wars.” It shows the millions we are spending chasing down illegal trespassers and drug smugglers. The Border Patrol’s struggle is a daily grind with thousands of illegals being picked up and subsequently returned to their homes, only to turn around and come back to try again. The so-called “border war” is a losing situation. It is heart breaking to see these poor people trying to get to America where they believe the money will flow like water and all their troubles will come to an end.

This nonsense has to come to an end. We cannot absorb all the poor people of the world who want to improve their lives. The situation is rapidly becoming impossible. That is why twenty-one additional states will be introducing legislation this year similar to Arizona’s immigration law. We the people have had enough. This is just the beginning. These new laws will only serve as a band-aid however. We need a permanent fix.

This is my proposal. First, fine or imprison any employer who hires an illegal alien, period. That means all employers from Hormel to the avocado farmer with ten acres of trees. No one can be legally hired without a valid social security number and those numbers must be verified. Secondly, all existing employees must prove they are here legally. They would be given a month to do so. Those who do not would be dismissed and deported. In a matter of days most of the illegals would deport themselves. With no job and no welfare there would be no reason to stay.

But Ron, we would have a serious shortage of people willing to take the jobs these illegals have been filling. Possibly, but remember we have an unemployment rate of near 10%. I am willing to bet that of the millions of our citizens who are without jobs, some of these situations might look better to them than you think.

This brings us to the next phase of the fix. Our government would immediately put in place a guest worker program whereby non-citizens could work here for a specified period of time legally and could even possibly extend their visit with proper employer recommendation, clean arrest record, and a willingness to obey our laws. These individuals would be issued a non-copyable ID card showing their dates of entry and their dates of required departure. Their spouses would also have to have such a card. Any minor children that come with them would be welcome in our schools. Further, any children born to them while they are in this country would not automatically become American citizens. They would be required to have legitimate driver’s licenses, carry necessary auto and health insurance, and would not qualify in any way for our welfare system. They would be expected to pay all legal taxes just as everyone else is.

Any employer who hires an individual without proper identification would be subject to fines and/or imprisonment. Any employer who retains an illegal employee is subject to these same sanctions.

This fix would serve us by, number one, stopping the flood of people coming to America illegally. Two, employers would be able to have available employees for their commerce. Number three, we could have a much better idea who is in our country and where they are. Finally, our unemployment would be reduced by half.

Should any of these guests wish to try and become citizens, they are welcome to do so legally.

I know some of this fix sounds harsh, but I assure you the alternative would be much worse. The time to get busy with this is now.

Ron Scarbro January 9, 2011

CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG

2011-01-04T19:46:00.002-06:00

President Obama has asked the new Congress to come to Washington with a commitment to get things done. He wants the Republicans and Democrats to set aside their differences and just do the people’s work. Sounds simple enough, right? When one examines this request more closely, one comes away with a different conclusion. I am reminded of the old statement, “Be reasonable, do it my way.” In order to set aside differences both sides must suspend their philosophies and take on the beliefs of the other side. Republicans must think like Democrats and vise/versa. Is it just me, or is this a potential problem?

First of all I believe both parties want what’s best for America. Both sides want to see the economy grow and unemployment greatly reduced. Both sides want a secure and a safe America. The problem lies in the way each of them would accomplish this goal.

In general Republicans want less government, less taxation, less regulation, and more private and individual initiative. Republicans, for the most part, think government is the problem, not the solution. Democrats on the other hand see the government as the savior of the economy. They seem to believe that the government is the better and wiser spender of your money. They see extensions of programs and projects as good for the economy. They want to centralize power in the halls of Congress and basically lead the way.

Call me crazy but I don’t see a lot of room for compromise in these two different philosophies. The question becomes, “Are we doomed to two more years of the same bickering and fighting, or is there any middle ground on which the two sides can agree?”

I am sure you would agree that the electorate as a whole was quite dissatisfied with what had been done in the last Congress. So dissatisfied in fact that they threw out a lot of career politicians of both parties and clearly stated, “Do a better job or whomever is left is next to go.” That seems clear to me. So, can it be done? Can people of such diverse opinion come together for the good of the country, or will they just continue to toe the party line? The first answer is, they had better. The second answer needs a bit more reflection.

In the history of our country, diverse thinking has always existed, but that hasn’t stopped our country from succeeding. On the contrary, our differences have in many ways made us stronger and wiser. We can do that again. The President and the Congress have to understand that. We are not an absolute monarchy. We are a republic. We are citizens, not subjects. We just fired a large crowd of people who had not satisfied their constituency, and that certainly could happen again in two years.

Here are some thoughts. Give and take. Co-sponsor legislation between the parties with compromise as the theme, and America as the beneficiary. Put the country ahead of your party. Utilize the talent and intelligence that exists throughout the country and not so much in Washington. To create jobs their must be a need for a product or service. Artificial shortages create artificial solutions. We have enough government workers. We need long term answers. Get out of the way of entrepreneurs. Let business happen. Don’t get so regulation happy. Allow the tax base to increase. In other words, do the job you are being paid to do. Finally, re-read the Constitution and pay particular attention to that part about the limits it places on Congress.

This job is doable. The greatness of America will shine through. Just get out of the way and let it happen.

Ron Scarbro January 4, 2011