I have no idea who came up with this and perhaps it has been around for a while. But I saw it today for the first time and it gave me a chuckle.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Increasing taxes to pay for pre-k education
The ads are running frequently on television promoting a massive increase in the cigarette tax to pay for pre-k education. These promotions even use children to sway the hearts of those watching. The announcement proclaims this tax to be a "hands off" tax by the politicians meaning the money may only be used to fund pre-k education.
20 years ago the promotion was that the tax on casino gambling would take care of our education system. That money would all go to public education. That was a lie. Here we go again.
I do not promote smoking and have never smoked. Such smoke bothers me so I avoid it at all costs. I understand its addictive nature and feel badly for those who cannot shake the habit. But increasing their tax is not going to help education.
Suppose the tax passes. Suppose the money does go completely to education. Suppose the higher prices result in a reduction in cigarette smokers. What happens, then, to education costs? Who is going to pick up the slack when the funds begin to run low? The government will never permit this new bucket of money to disappear and soon a new tax will be proposed to help our kids. I suspect kids will be in that ad as well.
We pay more and more every year for public education. More money is not solving the problems with our school systems. While we have many very good teachers, we also have "slackers". The children are, for the most part, not learning as they should. I have taught in various colleges in the area and I see what the public school systems are producing: young men and women who cannot do math (especially if you take away their calculators!), who cannot write a paper, who know little of our country's history, and so on and so forth. Something is amiss and it is not funding!
I urge people NOT to support this tax increase. In fact I urge voters not to vote for ANY TAX INCREASE, PERIOD!
It's time our government takes a good, hard look at their budget and makes appropriate cuts. They do not need more of OUR money.
20 years ago the promotion was that the tax on casino gambling would take care of our education system. That money would all go to public education. That was a lie. Here we go again.
I do not promote smoking and have never smoked. Such smoke bothers me so I avoid it at all costs. I understand its addictive nature and feel badly for those who cannot shake the habit. But increasing their tax is not going to help education.
Suppose the tax passes. Suppose the money does go completely to education. Suppose the higher prices result in a reduction in cigarette smokers. What happens, then, to education costs? Who is going to pick up the slack when the funds begin to run low? The government will never permit this new bucket of money to disappear and soon a new tax will be proposed to help our kids. I suspect kids will be in that ad as well.
We pay more and more every year for public education. More money is not solving the problems with our school systems. While we have many very good teachers, we also have "slackers". The children are, for the most part, not learning as they should. I have taught in various colleges in the area and I see what the public school systems are producing: young men and women who cannot do math (especially if you take away their calculators!), who cannot write a paper, who know little of our country's history, and so on and so forth. Something is amiss and it is not funding!
I urge people NOT to support this tax increase. In fact I urge voters not to vote for ANY TAX INCREASE, PERIOD!
It's time our government takes a good, hard look at their budget and makes appropriate cuts. They do not need more of OUR money.
PROVIDE for the common defense (not merely promote)
PROMOTE the general welfare (not provide)
SECURE the blessings of liberty (not remove)
Friday, October 28, 2016
Grandchildren
Yesterday I received a photograph on my cell phone of my two twin granddaughters who are 21 months now. It is one of many grandchildren pictures I receive every week since I do have 17 such little people! I love it when each new picture arrives.
One of the reasons I so enjoy these pictures (and it is a somewhat selfish reason!) is because when I see my grandkids I see an impact I have made on history! I may never be remembered by anyone outside of my family and, in fact, will likely not be remembered by them in a few generations. But the world will be impacted by those grandkids and their grandkids and so on.
I am grateful to God that He can and has used me even in this small way. What an honor and privilege it is to serve Him. May my grandchildren each know my Lord personally and each serve Him diligently!
One of the reasons I so enjoy these pictures (and it is a somewhat selfish reason!) is because when I see my grandkids I see an impact I have made on history! I may never be remembered by anyone outside of my family and, in fact, will likely not be remembered by them in a few generations. But the world will be impacted by those grandkids and their grandkids and so on.
I am grateful to God that He can and has used me even in this small way. What an honor and privilege it is to serve Him. May my grandchildren each know my Lord personally and each serve Him diligently!
Sunday, October 23, 2016
More Election Fodder
One of the clear messages sent by the American public in the election of Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for President and the overwhelming support for Bernie Sanders during the Democrat primaries is they want new blood in government. Trump talks about "draining the swamp" and, I agree, much of it needs draining. Let's start with the Clintons, the Obamas, and the McCaskills of the world!
But we must also exercise caution.
In Missouri, there are two races of special interest. First is the race for Governor between Eric Greitens and Chris Koster. While Greitens is the true outsider in the race, Koster has been leading the polls for weeks, coming across as a level-headed politician, interested in helping the people. Yet Coster has been in politics for quite some time. Furthermore, he supports big government, he supports Obamacare, and he supports the legalization of illegal aliens in our country. None of those items will help our state or people. I am not a Greitens fan, but Greitens has a better plan for Missouri than Koster.
Even more interesting is the Roy Blunt/Jason Kander race for U. S. Senate. Blunt has been in Washington for many years and, so, he is naturally one of those "in the swamp" that needs to be drained. OR SO IT SEEMS. But Kander has been a government official (Secretary of State) since 2012. More than one election in our state was poorly run while he served in this position, a position in charge of elections. Kander, like Coster, is a big government, "I love taxes" politician who supports Obamacare. Furthermore, much of what he has said in his campaign ads against Senator Blunt is untrue. I like Roy Blunt. Perhaps he has been in Washington a bit long. But at least I sense he is fighting for me and my family. Blunt-yes; Kander-no.
Now some might argue that I simply support Republicans. Well, that is not true. Over my many years of voting, I have voted for people from both parties as well as for an independent here and there. But, in all honesty, I don't see any Democrat these days who has anything to offer us but the same, old, left-wing, big government, tax increase policies of the past 40 years! The party has continued to drift farther and farther left towards socialism and even communism. Democrats always talk as though the government has the solution to our problems, that they know what is best for us. But, in my 60+ years on this planet, I can count on one hand the number of programs the government has run which are truly successful.
Our Founders knew better. They made our Federal government a LIMITED government. It was designed to PROVIDE for the common defense (not merely promote it!), PROMOTE the general welfare (not to provide it!), and to SECURE the blessings of liberty (not take them away!). That's why the Constitution contains the powers given to the Federal government. They are limited to those powers so enumerated. Yet the bigger our government gets, the fewer our freedoms become, and the more power they usurp.
I know of no Democrat who has any answer to any problem unless it is MORE GOVERNMENT. Personally, I want the government off my back and out of my wallet.
But we must also exercise caution.
In Missouri, there are two races of special interest. First is the race for Governor between Eric Greitens and Chris Koster. While Greitens is the true outsider in the race, Koster has been leading the polls for weeks, coming across as a level-headed politician, interested in helping the people. Yet Coster has been in politics for quite some time. Furthermore, he supports big government, he supports Obamacare, and he supports the legalization of illegal aliens in our country. None of those items will help our state or people. I am not a Greitens fan, but Greitens has a better plan for Missouri than Koster.
Even more interesting is the Roy Blunt/Jason Kander race for U. S. Senate. Blunt has been in Washington for many years and, so, he is naturally one of those "in the swamp" that needs to be drained. OR SO IT SEEMS. But Kander has been a government official (Secretary of State) since 2012. More than one election in our state was poorly run while he served in this position, a position in charge of elections. Kander, like Coster, is a big government, "I love taxes" politician who supports Obamacare. Furthermore, much of what he has said in his campaign ads against Senator Blunt is untrue. I like Roy Blunt. Perhaps he has been in Washington a bit long. But at least I sense he is fighting for me and my family. Blunt-yes; Kander-no.
Now some might argue that I simply support Republicans. Well, that is not true. Over my many years of voting, I have voted for people from both parties as well as for an independent here and there. But, in all honesty, I don't see any Democrat these days who has anything to offer us but the same, old, left-wing, big government, tax increase policies of the past 40 years! The party has continued to drift farther and farther left towards socialism and even communism. Democrats always talk as though the government has the solution to our problems, that they know what is best for us. But, in my 60+ years on this planet, I can count on one hand the number of programs the government has run which are truly successful.
Our Founders knew better. They made our Federal government a LIMITED government. It was designed to PROVIDE for the common defense (not merely promote it!), PROMOTE the general welfare (not to provide it!), and to SECURE the blessings of liberty (not take them away!). That's why the Constitution contains the powers given to the Federal government. They are limited to those powers so enumerated. Yet the bigger our government gets, the fewer our freedoms become, and the more power they usurp.
I know of no Democrat who has any answer to any problem unless it is MORE GOVERNMENT. Personally, I want the government off my back and out of my wallet.
The Presidential Election 2016
The Presidential election is nearly upon us. I will admit at the outset I am not a fan of any of the candidates nor did I vote for any of them in the primary elections. I have read and listened to policy statements from the 3rd party candidates and, to be perfectly honest, much of what most of them say makes little sense. There is no doubt that NONE of them have any chance of winning this election. The next President will be Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton whether I like it or not.
I have voted for the Republican candidate for over 30 years because they most closely align with my political beliefs. Many of them have been decent men (no one is perfect). Some of the things Mr. Trump has said do not set well with me in terms of his character. Of course, much of what the media has said about him is not true since the Clinton server e-mails prove the media, for the most part, is "in the tank" for Secretary Clinton.
My other possible choice is Secretary Clinton. Mr. Trump has character flaws but this women IS a character flaw! She is a constant liar and a liar on a grand scale. She has spent her entire adult life with one goal: to be the first woman President. That has not been Donald Trump's lifelong goal, I know that much. In a battle over character, I will take Donald Trump any day over Hillary Clinton.
What will each of them do if elected? Go read their web site statements. Listen to their press conferences. Replay the debates. We can only rely on what Mr. Trump has said he will do since he has not served in a political office before. I do know Donald Trump can handle money and jobs so I put much more confidence in him to turn around our economy than Mrs. Clinton who intends to keep President Obama's course of action.
But, with Mrs. Clinton, I have not only her words but also her works. She has been involved in government for over 30 years as wife of the Arkansas governor, First Lady, New York Senator, and Secretary of State. What positive contributions has she made in any of those positions? ABSOLUTELY NONE! Our present world situation (ISIS, return of Russia) has occurred under President Obama while Mrs. Clinton was Secretary of State. Can anyone objectively say she has made a positive contribution in that position?
Mrs. Clinton has treated secure data loosely with her server. She has repeatedly lied to the American people about the server and her e-mails. She stood next to grieving relatives of those killed in Benghazi as their caskets arrived and lied to their faces concerning their deaths. Can you really believe anything she says?
She intends to "keep the course" and maintain President Obama's legacy. Are you REALLY better off today than you were 8 years ago? Our national debt has DOUBLED in 8 years and Mrs. Clinton wants to spend more money. Our nation cannot handle it. She wants to raise taxes again on those who create jobs. That only discourages job creation (as well as results in jobs going overseas). She supports Obamacare. In fact, if she had her way, we would move to a single payer insurance system where the government is that single system. Obamacare is presently falling on its face.
These are only a few of my issues with her policies. I believe she is the MOST dangerous candidate who has ever run for the office of President. If elected, she will nominate anywhere from 2-4 Supreme Court justices who do not support the original intent of the Constitution, resulting in a more radical turn in our courts. Kiss many of your freedoms goodbye (as her about your 2nd Amendment rights!).
While I have problems with Donald Trump, I cannot vote for Hillary Clinton. Some of you might argue that I should vote for a 3rd party candidate. But I am a mathematician and such a vote from me actually supports Mrs. Clinton by reducing Mr. Trump's vote by 1. Any vote that is NOT for Donald Trump is, in effect, a vote for Hillary Clinton no matter how you try to convince yourself otherwise.
This election is too important! I will vote for Trump, character flaws or not.
I have voted for the Republican candidate for over 30 years because they most closely align with my political beliefs. Many of them have been decent men (no one is perfect). Some of the things Mr. Trump has said do not set well with me in terms of his character. Of course, much of what the media has said about him is not true since the Clinton server e-mails prove the media, for the most part, is "in the tank" for Secretary Clinton.
My other possible choice is Secretary Clinton. Mr. Trump has character flaws but this women IS a character flaw! She is a constant liar and a liar on a grand scale. She has spent her entire adult life with one goal: to be the first woman President. That has not been Donald Trump's lifelong goal, I know that much. In a battle over character, I will take Donald Trump any day over Hillary Clinton.
What will each of them do if elected? Go read their web site statements. Listen to their press conferences. Replay the debates. We can only rely on what Mr. Trump has said he will do since he has not served in a political office before. I do know Donald Trump can handle money and jobs so I put much more confidence in him to turn around our economy than Mrs. Clinton who intends to keep President Obama's course of action.
But, with Mrs. Clinton, I have not only her words but also her works. She has been involved in government for over 30 years as wife of the Arkansas governor, First Lady, New York Senator, and Secretary of State. What positive contributions has she made in any of those positions? ABSOLUTELY NONE! Our present world situation (ISIS, return of Russia) has occurred under President Obama while Mrs. Clinton was Secretary of State. Can anyone objectively say she has made a positive contribution in that position?
Mrs. Clinton has treated secure data loosely with her server. She has repeatedly lied to the American people about the server and her e-mails. She stood next to grieving relatives of those killed in Benghazi as their caskets arrived and lied to their faces concerning their deaths. Can you really believe anything she says?
She intends to "keep the course" and maintain President Obama's legacy. Are you REALLY better off today than you were 8 years ago? Our national debt has DOUBLED in 8 years and Mrs. Clinton wants to spend more money. Our nation cannot handle it. She wants to raise taxes again on those who create jobs. That only discourages job creation (as well as results in jobs going overseas). She supports Obamacare. In fact, if she had her way, we would move to a single payer insurance system where the government is that single system. Obamacare is presently falling on its face.
These are only a few of my issues with her policies. I believe she is the MOST dangerous candidate who has ever run for the office of President. If elected, she will nominate anywhere from 2-4 Supreme Court justices who do not support the original intent of the Constitution, resulting in a more radical turn in our courts. Kiss many of your freedoms goodbye (as her about your 2nd Amendment rights!).
While I have problems with Donald Trump, I cannot vote for Hillary Clinton. Some of you might argue that I should vote for a 3rd party candidate. But I am a mathematician and such a vote from me actually supports Mrs. Clinton by reducing Mr. Trump's vote by 1. Any vote that is NOT for Donald Trump is, in effect, a vote for Hillary Clinton no matter how you try to convince yourself otherwise.
This election is too important! I will vote for Trump, character flaws or not.
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