In the past, whenever I’ve tried talking reasonably to a ‘FLWD’, I’ve ended up walking away with two lasting impressions – 1) that they’ve been totally brainwashed by the Media and 2) that they’d rather have someone else in control of their miserable lives. Like a Big Brother perhaps. Not a single one of these ‘useful idiots’ can stand up to the pressure of anyone who asks them informed and thoughtful questions. (Under such pressure, they simply get mad and try to make the topic into an emotional issue). As an example, please read up on the California bill SB 140 (which recently passed), and see if you can equate it with this statement by Senate President (Pro-Tem) Darrell Steinberg concerning SB 140.

“Today, each California community is a step closer to being safer,” He said. “This swift action by the Legislature and the Governor to enforce the laws we already have is a wise and worthy investment to reduce gun violence.”

Wait! Reread that statement again…’laws we already have’?? What he’s saying is that they’re dumping 24 million tax payer dollars into law enforcement coffers to aid them in enforcing laws that they were supposed to be already enforcing as a daily part of their jobs! Huh? This is what I call a ‘feels so good’ expenditure of hard earned tax payer money, by golly! Yes sir, it must be ‘totally awesome’ to be a state that’s so well off financially (ahem), that they can afford such seemingly redundant actions!

It’s a sad comment on the state of this country that we have people like Mr. Steinberg among us. Sadder yet, that they are in positions of power.

Read more: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/14322-gun-owners-refuse-to-register-under-new-york-law

My thoughts: Well I’m sure you know, the law is the law and in view of what looks to be the great potential for massive defiance of this ‘well thought-out’ law, I can only guess that Cuomo will be forced to impose MARTIAL LAW on his minions! Then, it will be up to the police to seek out, identify and confiscate those illegal and unregistered weapons from these ‘nouveau  criminal elements’ who apparently have so little disregard for the law of the land. I’ll even wager a bet that prosecutors for the state will ask that this crime be considered a Class D felony! And as such, all these men and women should considered felons after they’ve been found guilty in a court of law. I say let justice be done in the New Progressive Obama United States!

Are we all now so retarded that we allow the Media to emotionally push us in whatever direction they happen to choose? Take the ‘knives on planes’ debate. To hear the media talk, the TSA and their decision to allow small pocket knives onto planes again is very close to treason. Left leaning outlets like MSNBC and ABC would have you believe that the minute these small pocket knives are allowed on board, some stewardess is sure to have her neck slashed! Give me a break. In a town next to me, the police recently stage a live shooter scenario at a local school. Even though the odds of such an incident happening are 1 in 143,000!  (I’d wager that kids are much more likely to be hit by some mom or dad who’s talking on a cell phone while driving through in a school zone). People! You need to quite letting these idiots on TV influence logical thinking processes. OK? Now as to the suspension of that young boy who fashioned a ‘gun’ out of a pop tart. Well, hey! That was more than justified.

ObamaCare will destroy the US Economy!

Who is saying such things? Is it those crazy old Republicans? I’m sure they’re still desperately clinging to the hope of saving all those rich Corporations at the expense of the poor and down trodden. Why just the other day, our President assured a scared Nation that everything is looking up! Obama has made it crystal clear that the only thing holding the economy back IS THOSE DAMN REPUBLICANS! Were it not for those insane Right Wingers, this country’s 17 trillion dollar debt would like vanish almost overnight. (And, we can all make sure that happens by voting a straight Democratic ticket in 2014)!

Once both houses are in the hands of the Democrats, our illustrious President can forge ahead with His plans to create a set of vast new entitlement bureaus that will allow his vision of Big Mamma Government or BMG to come to fruition.

Uh, hold one a sec – a friend just informed me that it was not the Republicans who said ObamaCare will wreck the nation; it was a statement issued by the General Accounting Office of the government. Sorry, my bad….

OK, so how long will inflation stay away?

A key concept that underpins the many plans by Senate to deal effectively with the National deficit depends heavily on interest rates remaining low. The mantra in Washington is that as long as that continues; we can all ‘party on dude’.

If, or should I say when, those rates begin to creep upwards, a whole new reality will quickly settle over the land. Consider this. Last year our government forked over $220 billion (that’s 18 billion per month) just to pay the interest on our debt. That’s about $227 out of every taxpayer’s pocket. And, at the current rate of increase in borrowing, our nation will be looking at a staggering yearly figure of 1 trillion in interest payment alone with most of those payments going over to Asia. And, that is at current interest rates. We are in a trap and it’s a fact that as we continue to borrow more and more (above and beyond) what we make, the interest rates will begin to climb higher. And, even modest 1.8 percent increase would have potentially catastrophic consequences for our economy.

America, I sure hope you wake up soon.

It was yet another cold and heartless winter day in early March and all eyes were focused on the Thursday, March the 14^th as that day would mark the beginning of an honest to goodness early spring warm up. And just in time too! My thoughts had grown darker and darker as a seemingly endless procession of forty degree days had left me looking forward to one thing and one thing only….TACO TUESDAY!

Yes, you can call me crazy or even call me dull, but please don’t call me late for those oh so tasty treats that originate from Mexico. Every Tuesday, promptly at 1PM, you’ll find me occupying a bar stool at the Junction Bar and Grill where I’ll be munching down at least three spicy tacos along with a beer chaser! And let my diet be damned!

Let’s tax ammo – what a great and charitable idea!

Oh really! It seems some politicians (I’ll let you guess which party) have gotten it into their heads that a nice hefty tax levied on the sale of bullets would be a good thing for the Nation! Huh? They state that such a tax (as much as 50% per bullet) would in reality be a SAFETY MEASURE! The declare that, by taxing the bejesus out of ammo, less of it would land on the streets that could harm people. (Yes, that is their argument, I swear it). They also insist that the monies (100’s of millions) collected could go to the government (what a surprise) to help (ahem) spur additional growth! They also, unbelievably, insinuate that in some vague way it will be a form of payback for what happened at Sandy Hook; although you can bet your bottom dollar no one at that school would ever see a penny.

I have a much better idea. Let’s impose a tax, to be paid by the members of Congress, for every word they utter. I’d say ten cents per word would be fair. All that money could then go directly to whatever state the congress person happens to represent. It’d be sure to cut down on a lot of totally useless rhetoric while doing some good for states with reps who cannot keep their mouths shut!

On Space X and the lucky couple who will go to Mars!

It’s my understanding that at some point in time, maybe months; a couple will be chosen to go to Mars and back! The (un)lucky couple will be asked to fit themselves into a very cramped and Spartan space capsule where they will remain for 501 days as they fly merrily through space to do a fly around of the Martian globe.

If this actually takes place, just think of the media possibilities that could spring up. A live webcam could provide for some ‘interesting’ viewing. Hey, maybe a new prime time reality series called ‘Bliss in Space’ could air for that 1 ½ year period of time. (Of course there is some likelihood that the title will have to be changed over time to possibly ‘Trapped in Space’ and then maybe to ‘War in Space’ as the two lovebirds attempt to commit mayhem on each others bodies. (Of course the rating would also have to be changed from PG to something a little more restrictive by that time).

I know a statement like that is bound to raise a questioning eyebrow or two. The year 2013 caps a string of years where technology has never made it easier to connect with others. Smart phones, the internet and social circles like Face Book have made staying in touch a snap! Every day, I get texted, called on the phone, poked and emailed just about to death. But, that’s not what I talking about…

An interesting phenomenon of the times has been the paradigm shift in the way people get around and even in how they shop. Not too long ago, I would think nothing about jumping into my car to run 15 miles over to a shopping center to buy something or maybe meet with friends at a popular eatery for a casual lunch. That was when gas cost $1.85 and it really didn’t figure into my thinking process. These days, with gas at $3.60 or more a gallon, it does! Now that trip of 30 miles round trip (assuming I only went from point A and then right back home), would cost me over $6 just to make the trip. So, yeah, I do think about it! And as a result, I’ve tended to group my errands, shopping trips and luncheons a little more carefully. Truth be told, when I need something now, I tend to jump online and order it (often free of taxes and shipping costs)! I also try and keep my trips to the grocery store down to a minimum and when I do shop; I tend to buy less as rising food prices have also had a bad effect on my budget. Luncheons? Yes, I still meet people on increasingly rarer occasions for a quick bite, but invariably the location we choose is close to everyone’s home.

So, now I’m told that our illustrious President has it in his mind to go around Congress (if needed) and pass a tax on industries that emit CO2 as a part of their manufacturing process. Uh oh! That would definitely include such ‘luxury’ items as heat from coal fired electric generators and gasoline from refineries. God only knows what long term effects that move would have on heating costs and oil prices. I’d personally have to face the fact that, at say $7 a gallon, I’d need to think seriously about investing in a motorcycle; because that’s the only way I could afford to get around!

As a retired person on a fixed income, my overall shopping habits have changed considerably over the past year, a process that has been exacerbated by skyrocketing food costs! What used to be a long shopping list of twenty or so items has now shrunk down to just a few that still manage to cost me thirty dollars by the time I’m through the checkout lane. (Perhaps that name could even now be modernized and referred to as the ‘cash out lane’).

Gone are those carefree days of my grabbing something that just happened to look good or was a spur of the moment purchase. These days, each item is carefully planned out and scrutinized to fit at least two criteria; is it on sale and is it generic. I’ve long since forgotten what it was like to buy a name brand item. Even my daily bread has now been reduced to some nameless loaf made by the folks at ConAgra at a buck twenty five.

On the way home, I take note that the gasoline price that was $3.30 a gallon yesterday is now at $3.36. No telling what it will be tomorrow – higher-lower? Chances are it will be higher, I think, as I make my way straight home while not passing go. No side trips for me, no not anymore. I can’t even remember when it was I took a trip over to Branson (30 miles round trip) to go shopping either. It’s just too expensive when you have a vehicle that gets only 17 miles to the gallon. In this wacky and oh so progressive world, it’s actually cheaper for me to order stuff online where I often do not have to even pay shipping or taxes! (And, let me tell you, that makes a big difference)! Never mind that my purchases have to travel all the way from the West Coast. I scored my junk at cheaper prices than I could have found in Branson and I didn’t even have to leave my easy chair! But, it that normal? Is that the way things should be?

Well, never mind. I’m sure the folks up in Washington have my back. I’ll bet they’re up there, right this minute, burning the old midnight oil figuring out ways to make my life even better going down the road.