One of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, was born on this day back in 1743.
Mr Jefferson was quite more wise than people mostly credit. It would seem that the bulk of his writings and quotations are prescient and even more valid and applicable during these tumultuous times.
– A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government.All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
– Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.
– Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. – I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.
– I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
268 years later, what do you suspect Mr Jefferson would think of our current government?
What might he think about our budget deficit and the government’s profligate spending?
I can hear Texas Fred now: “tol’ya so.” Yeah yeah. I’m still hopeful but engaging some different gears.
I’m not far from trotting down to my county service center in Auburn and officially registering as an official Independent.
To those who read me: it still amazes that I have any number of readers because I can be, in terms of my posts, all over the radar screen, day-by-day. I’ve noticed that comments are significantly down.
That said, the question is: how many of you, my readers, were just terrifically pleased with the budget deal agreed upon over the weekend?
There were $38.5 billion dollars in cuts.
The president will then speak about coming tax hikesthis coming Wednesday, the 13th. Oddly enough, that’s the birthday of Thomas Jefferson — in 1743.
Just one state — my state — Fornicalia has a budget shortfall of $26 billion. The state is considering budget cuts of $18 billion, just to begin with. $18 billion dollars’ worth of cuts from just one state — ? As contrasted to the ENTIRE federal budget cuts of $38 billion?
The US government spends $38 billion on toilet paper for its bathrooms every year. In just the past 1.5 years, the federal government has added156,000 jobs. In this economy? How can that be?
That’s akin to being $50,000 in personal/household debt and patting yourself on the back because you’ve decided not to buy a carton of ice cream the next month. What a savings! What a sacrifice!
I called Hugh Hewitt on Monday. I asked: just how long will you support the GOP? He disappointed me: he’ll keep on keeping on though he spends a good portion of his showtime and prep excoriating the Republicans and Stating The Obvious: he’s unhappy with the budget deal. Really, Hugh? From the Department of Redundancy Dept.? You lay out the argument, sir, but you won’t, you refuse to take the final step?
Let’s continue to state the obvious here:
– Bernanke insists on printing more money – He merely delays the crash – By delaying the crash, it’s only going to get WORSE – Geometrically
When will we, as I asked Hugh, begin to get truly serious about the opposition to spending? When the deficit can be measured not just in trillions (1012), but in quadrillions? Quintillions? Sextillions? Septenvigintillions (which is 1084)?
We have a debt crisis. We either handle it ourselves or other people and entities will DO IT FOR US.
Paul Ryan made the best offering to date. He was summarily rejected out of hand.
The GOP continues to set itself up for a continuous series of sucker punches. The nation spoke in November. And still, despite that, the GOP continues to promulgate squishiness.
But here’s the rub: the Republicans bleat: “Don’t punish us. Punish the Demorats.”
Really??
But still, they — at the end of the day — meet in dark, upholstered DC bars and backslap their own and their “colleagues” across the aisle.
I’ll make it simple: because they have theirs. And everyone else can go straight to Hell. It’s as fundamental as that. DC pols don’t suffer the pain that you, the American Taxpayer, do.
And, in general, Boehner crows about his accomplishments whilst — simultaneously — Steny Hoyer says the GOP shouldn’t be responsible for shutting down the federal government.
These two flaccid pols have, in fact accomplished nothing. The federal government never did shut down. It didn’t shut down now and it hasn’t shut down in the past. Not truly.
In retrospect, there is no “strategy” whatsoever. No one knows. No one has an inkling. Because it simply doesn’t exist.
The various TEA Party patriots are about to save this nation. Despite being held in contempt by the Demorats, Leftists, Socialists, and even many in the Republican Party.
Despite, as I write, this nation working, clearly, against them.
But that comes as no great shock, truly, does it, my dearest readers?
Does it?
BZ
P.S. Are there truly Senators and Representatives possessed of actual gonads and spines?
The new season of Deadliest Catch starts tomorrow, Tuesday the 12th.
Much has changed since Cornelia Marie’s captain, Phil Harris, passed away on February 9th of 2010, at age 53. My father passed away on February 11th of 2009, at age 88. The pain of Josh and Jake? I know it, and recently.
In cutting to the chase, the rumors and truths have been flying:
Kick-ass deckhand Freddy Maugatai left the Cornelia Marie for the Wizard, under Keith Colburn. CM’s Engineer, Steve Ward, also left due to his treatment by Derrick Ray. Derrick Ray was subsequently fired and CM’s new captain is Tony Lara. Both Phil’s kids, Jose and Jake, are on drugs and have tanked the boat. Are they really?
Will Time Bandit be back? Will Jonathan Hillstrand — clearly unhappy at the end of Season 5? Northwestern? Will Edgar Hansen return — clearly unhappy at the end of Season 5? How about Jake Anderson, the newest hand? Information indicates he skipped King Crab season.
And isn’t that a new boat I see — the Seabrooke, chaired by Scott Campbell?
This Tuesday, April 12th: the new season of Deadliest Catch begins. Set your DVR.
No, I’m not paid by anyone — in fact, Discovery sues and eliminates those blogs that post videos and revolve around the DC theme.
That’s an issue unto itself.
I just enjoy the dynamics, the drama, the weather, the challenges, the business of fishing in America. And, folks, you don’t know the HALF of the regulations, strictures and laws required to fish as these boats do. Our country does its best to eliminate the fishing industry on every coast.
Statistically, Alaskan crab fishing remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States.[4] In 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked commercial fishing as the job occupation with the highest fatality rate with 141.7 per 100,000, almost 75 percent higher than the rate for pilots, flight engineers and loggers, the next most hazardous occupations.[8] However, Alaskan crab fishing specifically is even more dangerous with over 300 fatalities per 100,000.[9] Over 80% of these deaths are caused by drowning or hypothermia.[10] The fishermen are also susceptible to crippling injuries caused by working with heavy machinery and gear.[11]
If you’re complaining about the price of gas and you’re only getting 8 miles a gallon, you know,” Obama said laughingly. “You might want to think about a trade-in.”
A 1978 Peterbilt tractor gets 8 mpg. A 2011 Bugatti Veyron gets 8 mpg. Most American vehicles get twice that, on their worst day. Here’s what 8 mpg really looks like:
Mr Obama finds your plight humorous.
Mr Obama’s newly-built Cadillac limousines, constructed on GM Top Kick truck chassis at a minimum cost of $350,000each (there are more than three, shall we say), with a weight of 6 to 8 tons, showcasing a turbocharged diesel engine, get up to 8 mpg on a good day. I wonder why the number “8” stuck in his mind?
Ha ha ha. What a laugh. Ain’t that a knee-slapper! Groundlings will have to suffer and pay. Your regulations were not meant for the Imperious Me.
At the same time, Mr Obama wants to radically increase the number of electric vehicles in the nation — while, simultaneously — putting dampers on the construction of additional electrical generation stations.
– No water-powered (means more dams and reservoirs)
– No geothermal (not enough, too unstable)
– No solar power (eats too much arable land)
What’s left?
YOU. Pedaling a bicycle on a pulley system connected to some fan blades in summer.
Good luck with that.
No electrical generation stations. No drilling. On US soil or off US coasts. No desalinization plants for water. No refineries. No transport of oil. No utilizing advanced technology. No fair.
