Blogging? Breathe A Sigh Of Relief


No.

You will not need a License To Blog.

You may now exhale.

The Federal Election Commission decided Monday (03-27) that the nation’s new campaign finance law will not apply to most political activity on the Internet.

In a 6-0 vote, the commission decided to regulate only paid political ads placed on another person’s Web site.

The decision means that bloggers and online publications will not be covered by provisions of the new election law. Internet bloggers and individuals will therefore be able to use the Internet to attack or support federal candidates without running afoul of campaign spending and contribution limits.

“The law was never intended to regulate private citizen communication on the Internet,” said Commission Vice Chairman Robert D. Lenhard. “I believe that we have achieved that goal today.”

Commissioners said the new rule also specifically changes several other FEC regulations to make it clear that Internet activity, such as blogging, e-mail communications and online publications, is not covered by the campaign law.

For example, the rule says individuals can use union or corporate computers or other electronic devices for political activity, as long they do it on their own time and are not coerced to engage in such activity by the union or corporation.

Bloggers would be entitled to the same exemption from the campaign finance law that newspapers and other traditional forms of media receive.

Chalk this up to the government, specifically the FEC, actually doing the right thing.

Shocking.

BZ

WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS — Or Are We?


I find it difficult to place myself into the mindset of another entire system of thinking, but I shall try, regarding the disparate sides involving illegal immigration. In truth, by even phrasing the issue as “illegal immigration” I have revealed a major portion of my mindset, say immigrant proponents. There are those who would prefer “undocumented” workers. Or what I would call “euphemisms.”

Oh, there I go again. Heavy sigh.

The issue of illegal immigration has come to the forefront recently because various bills are up in the US Capitol, and the weekend has been filled with scenes of protesters in Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles and other locations.

I will attempt to list the talking or bullet points of immigrant proponents with the following:

  • These bills are racist as they only target Mexicans
  • America enjoys the sweat from workers’ brows but refuses to compensate them properly
  • The US is a nation of immigrants; why are Mexicans different?
  • We have the same rights as everyone else; we are already here in your country
  • You can’t just pretend that these people aren’t present

I strained my Brain Housing Group (BHG) but could elicit no further points. I’m sure this is a biased and racist conclusion.

First, let me attempt to address each above point.

— The bills are racist? No. I don’t care which nation you come from; if the issue were involving Canadians, you would be within my sights. Mexico just happens to be involved because it resides on our southern border and its people are flooding my country.

— America benefits from Mexican workers? — true. No dispute there. I have written at length about the tacitly corrupt and ethically improper benefits enjoyed by businesses and corporations nationwide. I’ll write it again: overall, the Democrats want the “voting block” and the Republicans want “the labor.” Both sides are ethically wrong on the issue. And it creates a situation where, with such a base, businesses must become corrupt in order to compete.

If business “A” can replace your roof for $17,000 using American or legal citizens, and business “B” can do it for $10,000 — who would you pick? If you are business “A” — how can you compete?

— The US is a nation of immigrants? Correct. But, like everything else, there is a limit to physicality. There is a limit to expansion. There is no more Manifest Destiny. We have reached our shores and our borders. We have a capacity. And at this point I proffer: there is No Vacancy for any number of reasons. When we can no longer build infrastructure (get over this, Greens!) then we can no longer afford to pack people into central warehousing districts — once known as cities. Where does the oil come from to power the additional cars? Where does the electricity come from to power the additional homes and drain? Where do the additional sewer systems come from to deal with the waste? Where does the water come from to slake the additional thirst? Where do the additional roads come from to deal with the additional traffic? Schools? Courts? Prisons? Law enforcement? Fire stations? Public works? Probation departments? Signage? Welfare? Entitlements? Medicare? Health care?

We will have to get down to this: do we lean towards quality, or do we lean towards quantity?

— We have the same rights as everyone? No, you do not. You are creating an extension that does not, by law, naturally exist. We are a nation of laws — or are we? — my base question.

— We can’t pretend immigrants don’t exist? True. They exist. It is then up to us to determine what we do with them. Do we roll them over into an amnesty program, deport them, or continue to pretend they are merely background? We either deal with this up front, now, or let it fester until it explodes in our face later. Anything paid for, later, is ALWAYS more expensive.

Now let me attempt to address what I see, starting with the above photograph.

I see people protesting the upcoming bills. These are people with an agenda, clearly. They are talking about America. I do not see an American flag. Oddly enough, I see a Mexican flag.

Allow me to stop right there. When I talk about this issue, I do not talk about the Spanish or the Hispanics. I talk about Mexicans. Because that is the issue. I do not recognize Latinos or Hispanics or Spanish. I recognize Mexicans. Because they are from Mexico. The country. Let me also allow another truism: Mexicans speak Spanish because they were conquered by Spain. They do not speak Mayan or Toltec or Aztec or any other number of formerly-indigenous indian languages. Compare the faces of those from Spain from those from Mexico.

I also see graffiti. Graffiti is commonly linked to Mexican gangs. For good reason. I also see a male on the right wearing a headband that falls so low as to shade his eyes. Also: gang related.

These are what I call Facts In Evidence.

I do not see an American flag. I do not see placards written in English. I see cards indicating “Si Se Puede.” Yes We Can.

Yes, the Los Angeles school system has 78% of its students who are Mexican. Indisputable.

Here is what I see:

A Sea of Ingrates.

They wave the flag of the country they seem to be so pleased to leave, and not the flag of the country they attempt to occupy.

Why leave Mexico? Why not stay, if one’s resolve is so strong?

I call these persons’ character into question. It must, by its presence at these protests, be flawed. You seem to expect entitlements. And privileges. And rights. That you would expect in your own nation?

You are ingrates, all. You should be blessing this country, that it could present you with such an unhindered (until now) opportunity. But I do not see you supporting my flag. I do not see you embracing my culture. I do not see you embracing my language. Gratitude moves to comtempt. I see you contemptuous of my country and my culture.

Free education. Free health care. Taking advantage of your melanin. And then bringing your corrupt culture to my shores? You are nothing more than brigands. You bring La Mordida, inculcated in every bureaucracy you create.

But oh no, the exception exists in your country. Any human being from Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, is to be ignored. I have visited your country, I know this from 2003 and 2004.

Why do you want to be here anyway? If your culture is so perfect why do you not embrace it and remain?

People: if we cannot defend our own borders, our own culture, our American Identity — then I submit we are collectively in Great Jeopardy.

BZ

To Rebecca: Only The Best!


Rebecca at Revka’s Take is leaving the blogosphere. She has made her last post today. I present her final posting:

Monday, March 27, 2006

Saying Goodbye!

To those of you who spend your time reading my blog, I want to thank you for your comments, and for the things I have learned from you as well.

I am going to sign off for good either tomorrow or the next day because I have had an opportunity arise that takes precedence over blogging.

I never thought about having online buddies, but I have made a few and it has been pretty cool! Mahndisa, Suzie, Gayle, Echotig, Big White Hat, Chatterbox -of course, A.Jacksonian, Bloviating Zeppelin, Ace in the Hole: Texas Fred, Dell Gines, James, Kirkrrt, Adrianne, and supplymadam, I do apologize if I forgot anyone!

I am heading out the door right now so I have to run! You all take care, and if I have time, I may do a blog honoring the people I have met in the blogosphere! I may continue to comment on your blogs when I have the time though!

P.S. I almost forgot about my troll friend, Josh Rosenau at “Thoughts from Kansas”.. Dude, what are you going to do now that I am not here? You will have to go elsewhere for material. All is forgiven on my end. You have a great day! (I mean that sincerely, not sarcastically).

____________________________________________

I left this comment on her blog:

Rebecca:

First, congratulations! It’s good when a person knows what they want to do, finds an opportunity, and then has the commitment and wherewithal to do it. Your devotion to autism is remarkable and the support group will find themselves only better for working with you and providing them with the drive I’m sure you possess — much to our detriment.

That said, I want to thank you personally for the times, writings, insight and humor you have provided not only me but all of us who have had the pleasure of “knowing” you in the Blogosphere.

You must do what you must do, and we all understand — that does not makes us any less sad or melancholy.

I would only ask this, if I could be so impertinent: leave up your blog, and throw a post at us whenever you might have a spare minute. It doesn’t matter how long or how frequently you write — it’s just that we’ve all gotten used to you and, greedy us, or at least me, we don’t want to see you go away. I don’t think it’s more complicated than that.

Now, go do what you must and enjoy your new tasks. I know you’ll do well and all those around you can only benefit from your presence.

_____________________________

If you have not already done so, please visit Rebecca and leave your thoughts. Perhaps now I better understand why she left this comment on my blog, Saturday, March 25th:

Blo: This is the best post i have read since I started blogging . . . By the way, you and Jacksonian are the two so far, who have caused me to think about where I stand in some areas politically, and how I can be guilty of being blind to what is really going on in our country with the two party system. If you got into blogging to change minds and hearts possibly, it is working. Keep up the good work, both you and AJ.

_____________________________

Thank you, Rebecca, for all your input, your comments, your insight, your drive and commitment. Thank you for being one of The Usual Suspects — a membership you’ll always possess.

Finally: Rebecca, we will all, truly, miss you. God bless.

BZ

Truism


A photograph I took in the cab of a GE Union Pacific locomotive, idling on the Gold Run siding, earlier this month.

You would do well to never forget this.

BZ

Another Sunday’s Reflection

I made a comment at the end of my last post that Gayle indicated should be a post in and of itself; I thought: why not? The cat’s been interfering with my posting recently (as well as Blogger itself — anyone else finding Blogger “twitchy” this past week?), so I cut and pasted quickly before Mose sent me to an entirely different website. Here goes:

Folks: thank you ALL for commenting, and thank you all for the kind words! Thank you for linking this post to your blogs and, thank you Revka, for your comment about the importance of the post and its ability or our abilities to change hearts and minds.

I had no idea things would go this way when I began blogging. First it was simply kinda fun. Then it got bigger and bigger and I realized, likely as does AJ, that along with being an escape valve when necessary, it can also help me to understand what I’m thinking — and has helped to solidify and, more importantly, CLARIFY my beliefs and views.

I started out “big” on the GOP when I began to blog; now I’m more cognizant of my conservative bent and my allegiance to the overall values of “conservatism” than to a party itself — and, to a degree, how libertarianism sneaks into my wrinkled brain.

AJ makes an excellent point about blame and about solutions. And at this point, that is the greatest difference between Conservatives and Liberals, GOP and Dems. The liberals and Dems are so quick to point, peck and burn. But where are THEIR solutions? THEIR in-depth plans? It is always, ALWAYS so much easier to follow than to lead.

The Japanese have a saying we should embrace: “Fix the problem, not the blame.”

This Republic is not perfect nor will it ever be. But in terms of a Great Experiment it is a functioning wonder; we cannot ever give up on the values that created this nation — why else is she so loved and hated?

Why else would people risk their lives to come here?

Why else would people try to bring down her achievements?

People hate what they fear and, vapid and empty, at night, alone with their own sordid thoughts, it is always easier to tear down than to build, to destroy rather than create, to let the fears overtake common sense.

We face enemies on many fronts today.

Our nation is assailed from within and from without. We must all, individually, do our best to ensure her continued survival.

We must continue to embrace the values we know are right: honesty, loyalty, bravery, strength, judgment, courage.

We must pledge our allegiance, every day, to this Great Experiment — because it is STILL the FINEST nation on the planet.

BZ