Archives for April 2011

My “pets”

Leading academics have decreed that animals should no longer be called critters, beasts, or pets. From now on, they are to be referred to as "companion animals."  People are no longer owners, but "human carers." Oh, and wildlife isn't wild anymore -- it's now called "free living." Where exactly are these academics leading? I don't need anyone to tell me; I know my place when it comes to the animals living in my home. I am not their "owner." I am their servant.     … [Read more...]

Good cop, bad cop

The police have a thankless, nearly impossible job. They keep the peace and protect the general public from dangerous criminal elements. Los Angeles County Sheriff's homicide detective Kevin Lloyd is a good cop. While flipping through a collection of pictures displaying gang member tattoos, he recognized the scene of an unsolved homicide he had investigated. Rivera 13 gang member Anthony Garcia boasted of his involvement in the murder of liquor store employee John Juarez in a tattoo displayed prominently on his chest. Lloyd's alert observation led to Garcia's arrest and conviction on charges of first degree murder. Garcia faces a sentence of up to 65 years in prison, thanks to Lloyd's excellent detective work. He's a good cop. Derek Colling is a bad cop.  The Las Vegas patrolman physically assaulted homeowner Mitchell Crooks for videotaping the arrest of multiple burglary suspects.  Crooks made the mistake of initially denying he stood in his own driveway while he filmed the arrest. For the record, nothing unusual was happening while Crooks filmed the arrests.  No police brutality came into the picture until Colling attacked Crooks, who was merely tested out his new video camera. We should be encouraged to cooperate with the police, not to be afraid of them.   … [Read more...]

The redistribution of wealth

The United States of America originally formed as a republic of democratically elected representatives. However, Congress obviously no longer serves our best interests. Government officials now only serve themselves, in order to be reelected or keep their public sector job.  Apparently, virtually every Democrat (and most Republicans) willingly accepts the status quo. While the TEA (acronym meaning Taxed Enough Already) party advocates nobly suggest we prevent our country from becoming socialist, I'm afraid to be the bearer of bad news. I offer four examples of socialism that already occur under our existing form of government. Three of these examples I know for a fact to be true, having personally verified them.  The fourth example is an anecdote I heard on the radio and cannot confirm, but I have no reason to disbelieve the story knowing the first three examples are factual. When the BP oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, President Barack Obama ordered the international corporation to not pay dividends that had been declared, posted and were ready to be distributed to its shareholders.  Even though the company had cash to pay both the dividends and the demanded extortion of $20 billion dollars into the slush fund to be managed by the president's cronies, they were ordered not to pay.  Obama's unprecedented act of hubris personally cost my 98 year old grandmother a whopping $17,000.   The majority of her small retirement income comes from BP stock dividends from stock my grandfather earned after spending his entire career with American Oil/Amoco that … [Read more...]

Paying for tax cuts

President Obama recently admitted, "I said, 'You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We'll have that debate. You're not going to be able to do that by nickel-and-diming me in the budget. You think we're stupid?'" No, but he thinks we are. Government spending on social issues has escalated recklessly out of control.  The clever use of the euphemism "paying for tax cuts" is used in lieu of describing what is actually necessary, a massive reduction in government spending. It's a well-established technique.  Repackage the unpleasant truth in flowery language to win support from gullible people. Nobody is against or "anti" anything anymore. When anti-abortion activists declared their movement to be "pro-life", those opposed could not say they were "pro-abortion."  So they are "pro-choice", or cast their position as in favor of a woman's reproductive rights. How can anyone oppose choice?  Well, the baby might object. Of course, a man's reproductive rights begin and end at intercourse.  Once the woman is pregnant, it is only her choice whether or not to have the baby. If she chooses to have the baby, she can have the courts order the biological father to financially support her child even if she refuses to marry the father (in the rare case he's willing.) Courts have even ruled that if a man is not the father but pays support for an extended period of time due to a mistake, he isn't off the hook until the child reaches eighteen. Most often, his interest in the child ended with his sperm donation, and the "deadbeat" Dad will do anything to shirk his … [Read more...]