Writer’s Block//Conservatism – Really Now!

I just read a great article about the founder that could very well claim to be, at least by the “New Republic,” the founder of what we refer to as “NeoConservatism,” or more commonly known as NeoCon Politics.

I have to admit that I am what might be referred to as a NeoCon, at least by the standards established by this New Republic essay. I truly believe that the Republican Party represents the future of our country. I truly believe that the Republican Party is the progressive party of our time. The ideas that will benefit our present as well as the future come from the Republican Party. The ideas that will benefit our future are the ideas that will benefit the majority of people in our current society.

For too long, the Democrats have had the monopoly on being out there for the “little guy.” Well, let me declare once and for all, (for whatever it is worth) that the Democrats are not in touch with REALITY! They may think that they are out there for the “little guy,” but they don’t understand the reality of the situation nor do they appreciate the everyday challenges and opportunities the “little guy” is faced with! I really don’t want to get that personal about all of this but I need to expose a little about my own personal life to get this point across!

I, along with my wife of 33 years, am probably in the lowest tax bracket one could be. Now I’m not complaining. I feel very blessed and very fortunate for the opportunities that my wife and I have been able to take advantage of. And I feel very fortunate that we are able to have our own home and cars and be able to travel every so often, etc. etc.

Of course, the ability to do these things is a combination of 33 years of marriage and also being helped by my parents. And I really need to emphasize this point, the help of my parents.

It has happened recently that my father has passed away. An amount of monies were set aside for my sister and me as a result of his passing. Actually these were monies that were set aside by my mother, in the form of an IRA.

Now, for privacy matters, I really don’t want to get into revealing the actual amount, but I can say that by contemporary standards, it was average. I personally feel as if it was a large amount.

The point being is that this amount is taxable by the U.S. Government. Yes, it’s taxable as ordinary income. Yes, it’s only taxed at the 15% rate, which is low. However, as far as my family situation is concerned, it’s high.

I will end up paying a 15% tax on the monies I received. Thank God there isn’t an Estate Tax, which the Democrats had in place over the past few years; otherwise, I would lose even more of the few dollars I received to begin with.

During the last campaign, that is all one would hear from the Democrats, is that the Republicans are the Party of the rich! The Republicans are the party of the big corporate chiefs! You got the impression that the Republican Party consisted of only people who had a lot of money and just sat around watching their stocks get better and better. Well, if that really is the definition of the Republican Party, then we have to start calling a lot of Democrats, Republicans!

For example, Senator Feinstein from California is not exactly a poor person. She has a lot money in Oil Company related stocks.

Senator Kennedy isn’t exactly a poor person. He’s a 3rd generation child living off of an inheritance that is making money from a trust fund that is earning monies and growing from the profits of money market and mutual stock funds which in turn earn their profits from corporations that do well and make a profit. But you won’t hear that from the illustrious (hic!) Senator from Massachusetts.

And speaking of Massachusetts, we have the former Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, Senator John Kerry, who claimed that he was for the working class, the poor, the downtrodden, and the everyday individual. Yet Senator Kerry could not live the way he does without the monies he receives each month from the Heinz Ketchup foundation. He married into the Heinz Ketchup family by marrying Teresa Heinz (who became Teresa Heinz Kerry).

Yet he talks as if he really understands the average worker. And the sad thing is that there are average workers out there that believe this crap. They actually believe that these Democrats are really concerned for them. These people actually think that the Democrats are for the people, by the people and of the people. Yeah, Right!

How come most of the Democratic Senators and Congressmen are millionaires? Why are they so concerned about my welfare and yet don’t really seem to give a hoot if I do well once in awhile? Let’s face it; the Democrats want me in my place!

The Democratic Party really wants the average guy (or woman) to be just where they are! They want us to stay in our place. That’s really where they want us to be! They don’t want us to advance and do better in life. That would involve them to deal with us as a threat. I know this sounds harsh but that is exactly how I feel as a lowly citizen.

Now when I think of myself as a Republican (which this year I can officially say that I am since I’m going to pay some dues, like $30) well, I do not feel as if I’m a lowly citizen but rather a CITIZEN! A VOTING CITIZEN! I have a voice in what goes on in Washington as well as what goes on in Lansing, Michigan, which is the capital of my home state!

But with the Democratic Party, I am a Victim! Life is depressing! It’s all downhill! Everything is going against me! I’m only an individual and I can’t do anything without the Party and the democratically controlled government, which is what the Democratic Party has had a monopoly on for a long, long time! Let’s face it, this all sound so very much like coming out of the Karl Marx playbook! I mean really, is this not the “Communist Manifesto?”

I’m sorry but the Democratic Party is so off base!

Yes, I used to be a Democrat, many years ago! And some years back I switched parties without even realizing it. And now I have finally come to an understanding of why I switched. I really do hope that over the next few weeks and months I can reveal why I switched parties. But for now let me just be able to say that "I have seen the light! "

Writer's Block//Christian Century Equals Democratic Party?

I am on a roll tonight folks!

I just want to note some observations and criticism I have for the periodical, "The Christian Century." I don't have a link to the magazine right now but I promise that I will provide one in a future entry. (I don't have it available at this moment because I'm not at my home workstation).

But these guys are really trying hard to be "posterboys" for the Liberal Democrats.

It seems anything President Bush proposes requires the same response as the Democratic Party gives.

For example, the current issue just has to come down on the President's Social Security reform. And their criticism of the President's mention of reform is so similar to Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, Levin and Byrd that one almost wonders if they have a Hotline to the DNC office in Washington.

I will get into more discussion on this later when I get home (that is on "The Christian Century."

Writer's Block//Savage Slams Bush!

Just want to note here! And this really only applies to all of you Talk Radio fans out there.

But what's going on with Michael Savage lately? I used to like him a lot because he usually "tells it like it is". But as of the past few weeks (maybe a month or so), he's gotten really critical of President Bush.

METHINKS that he's trying to create a separate niche in the Talk Radio marketplace. In other words, distinguish himself from Rush (who I think really hits on the nail) and Sean Hannity(whom I also like) and others (a la, Michael Medved, Laura Ingraham, and William Bennet's "Morning In America"). But why so hard on the President.

I know your being honest. But right now, with the Democrats out there (or the Demoncats as you like to call them) constantly preaching Gloom and Doom to the country and constantly attacking anything the President tries to accomplish, I think we need to support him as best as possible.

I was listening to him this evening, reviewing the State of the Union speech from last night, and he just seems to come down on the whole Iraq issue and constantly harps on the Illegal Aliens.

Well, Dr. Savage, the President did address the Illegal Alien issue last night and it's open for more discussion and debate. The key is that it's ON THE TABLE!

And as far as Iraq is concerned, I have to disagree with the Dr.! When we stabilize Iraq, there will be a Domino effect on the other Middle Eastern Countries and we will sleep better at night and will improve our own national security without having to constantly look over our shoulders, so to speak.

If anyone out there is a Savage fan please let me know what you think.

Writer's Block//Gloom and Doom Democrats -- Part II

Ok! So here we are -- February 3, 2005. It's the day after the President gave one of the best speeches he ever gave. Actually, it's one of the best speeches that any President has given in the 56 years of my lifetime.

And then, right after his ebullient, uplifting, positive, "answers to problems," "providing a vision,"confident delivery of a speech, we get to hear (and really wince at) Senator Harry Reid and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi! PLEASE! I mean, talk about the doldrums! (From their demeanor and delivery, I was wondering whose wake they just attended? Maybe their anticipating the Democratic Party's wake?)

Now, I'm not really hoping anyone from the Democratic Party takes my advice (of course, I don't really know why they would anyway?) but guys, if you want to win some elections here, you at least could come with some stronger leadership.

Is this the party of the future? Is this the party with a positive outlook for this new century? What happened to Clinton "bridge into the new millennium!" Somebody must have bombed the bridge out for that bridge!

And talk about Gloom and Doom! Talk about Negativity!

And what the Heck (I want to use much stronger language but one my children tell me not to) is this hangup on an EXIT STRATEGY? Come On Guys -- the President has an Exit Strategy -- It's Called Victory!

They just don't get it!