Where Do The Constitutional Rights End?

Today the local newspaper ran an Associated Press story about stimulus money being used to provide broadband access to rural areas. The story highlighted a woman in Vermont who had dial-up access, but that it's too slow for a business (medical transcription) she has started. By the way, she only moved there five years ago and has since started her business.

Notice she has access to the internet, but now the federal government is going to use your tax dollars to provide faster internet access. This under the guise of "economic stimulus."

While I don't claim to be a constitutional expert, I'm pretty sure this one isn't provided for in the original document. I mean, let's be serious people; not only doesn't the constitution provide for funding of fast access to the internet, we're to accept that providing this service somehow "stimulates" the economy. Hence the use of "stimulus" funds.

I freely admit that it might be a nice gesture to offer broadband service to rural areas, but vital to the security of our nation or its commerce? I don't think so. Thank you to all the idiots that voted FOR the stimulus bill from BOTH parties!

Political Discourse?

The recent tragic killings and attempted killings in Arizona have prompted many to call for a "more civil" political discourse. I find it disgusting that these same people (many of them politicians) had no problem when elected representatives said our military had "lost" the war in Iraq. No problem when politicians called GW Bush an idiot. No problem when politicians said GW Bush "needs help" referring to psychiatric help. No problem with pornography paid for with tax dollars being classified as art (as in some displays paid for by the National Endowment for the Arts).

Now, some idiot with an axe to grind and who has previously been identified as being unstable, decides to shoot people and we're somehow to believe this moron acted because of heated political rhetoric by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck? Anyone who believes that is just not paying attention to the facts. This guy was not a follower of any of these people. And what about those "targets" on Sarah Palin's website? I say so what? Politicians and activists (on both sides of the political aisle) put bullseye targets on maps all the time. Does that mean it should translate into an order to kill? I don't think so.

I say it is high time our moronic society wake up and face the facts. Our elected officials lie to us, the media lies to get us to believe what they want and many people vote for the person who promises the most freebies.

Should the Arizona shooter have been locked up long ago? Yes! Why wasn't he? I don't know; maybe we believe there's too much good in people to lock them up. Maybe we don't want to stigmatize the poor loser. Maybe we don't want to spend the taxpayer's dollars to put away people who show a penchant for violence but might be rehabilitative.

In any case, it wasn't the "political discourse" that caused this. Right is right and wrong is wrong. It is high time we live up to that moral standard. This country used to. Not now. Now we blame everyone but the guilty. Well sorry people; as a member of the village, I am not responsible for the actions of this crazed lunatic. If it had been up to me we would have kept a few asylums open for nut-jobs like this guy.

Comments?

Responsibility?

So a friend suggested...no, urged me to file a BP claim from the oil spill that happened in April, 2010. I had always considered this person fairly level-headed. Not because I've known him for a long time, but he's educated, a professional and has held positions of authority at companies in various locations here in America.

Not wanting to ask for handouts, but realizing that my business had dropped off significantly, I set out to look at my numbers and what transpired in 2010 compared to 2009. I came to some interesting conclusions; primarily I discovered that when faced with adversity, you do whatever it takes to survive.

I believe that there were three types of casualties (economically speaking) from the oil spill. I believe these three types happen in any disaster. First are the true, authentic casualties. These are the people who's income or business was directly impacted and there's no denying their plight. In the BP situation they were primarily fishermen, fishing and charter boat operators, the local tourist sites such as hotels, restaurants and retail shops. Second are the businesses who decided to milk every opportunity to get money regardless of their experience or level of expertise. Many times these are just people who show up to get the high pay that disasters bring. They come in and as soon as a disaster hits another area, they are off to cash in on that one. They travel the country and follow in behind every disaster. If you've never experienced a natural disaster that leaves long-lasting effects, trust me, these people exist. Third are the people and businesses who weather the difficulties and grind day in and day out to survive. Their revenue/business may suffer, but on paper their losses will be relatively minimal.

I believe the third group is the heart of America's greatness. Throughout American history it is people like in the third group that have persevered to build manufacturing plants, invent innovative products/services and support the development of various arts. This is the group of people we need to promote, encourage and reward.

Back to the claim process. Yes revenue was down. But I had taken action to significantly reduce expenses as well. So the profit & loss statement (though claims adjusters will rely on it) doesn't tell the whole story.

I believe that years from now, we'll learn that relatively little of the $20billion that BP is setting aside for claims, will have been applied for. But I find it interesting that our local newspaper is doing everything it can to keep this story in the front of people's minds. All while ignoring investigative reporting that would expose the sorry state of affairs within our local government, which is killing jobs and businesses.

I hope that someday, I will have been considered to be one of those that was in the third group of people. As for my friend's advice to file a claim, the moral dilemma goes on. No claim filed.