Aftermath

Well... in the aftermath of my previous post on the mommy board the Oprah Watchers asked me 3 questions... These are my answers. This post resulted in 5 replys all saying "I thought about debating Nate... but this isn't the right thread for it."

Bwak Bwak Bwak.

1) What's wrong with healthcare today and how would I fix it: First of all the problems with our healthcare system are extremely over stated. If you need treatment in the US.. you get it. Anyone that says otherwise is either knowingly lieing or ignorant. Remember that movie with denzel washington and his dieing kid? It was roughly as realistic as Star Wars.

There is a problem with our healthcare system. That problem is government. There is way to much government involvement. You wouldn't believe the regulations involved. Its insane. Doctors cannot speak to their spouses about their work for fear of the dreaded HIPPA violation. Seriously is this the CIA or something? Virtually ever problem facing our healthcare system today is the direct result of government involvement. For example... costs... costs are driven up by added bureaucracy mandated by the government. Drug costs are artificially inflated because of insane FDA requirements... the strictest such requirements in the world. Why are drugs cheaper in Canada? Because Canada's requirements are easier to meet. Medicare and Medicaid are by definition social medicine. They are the biggest payers in the game, so they control prices... and they also get to set the rules for everyone else... even those not on medicare and medicaid.

What would I do to fix the problem? I would get government out of the way. The government sticks its big butt into every transaction that takes place and it bogs down the system. Remember... HMO's were actually created by congress. Not good. I would UNcreate them. I would deregulate the medical industry at every level possible.

2) After I burn the schools (don't forget shipping those NEA folks to Cuba!) do I expect everyone to homeschool: No. But neither do I want to provide government sponsored day-care for your kids... call it school if you want but that's not what it is. Its daycare. I know its daycare because if it were a school then I could hold the teachers accountable for the results. I can't. Therefore its a daycare. So... you have kids... you have to work all day.. what do I expect you to do? Well.. you're a grown up. I expect you to take responsibility for your choices and your children and work it out without putting a gun to my head and forcing me to pay for your daycare.

I absolutely believe every parent is potentially a better teacher for their children than those in public school. How can I say this? Well... who potty trained your kids? Who taught your kids to walk? If you can teach them that stuff... then you can teach them to read... and if you can teach them to read... you can teach them anything. You know your kids better than anyone else. You know their individual needs better than some so-called professional that spends all day telling 25 other kids to shut up, and has to call the police every time a 7 year old climbs on a desk.
But... would i force you to homeschool? no. Never. You kid's education is totally up to you. I would simply create a much bigger demand for private schools by shutting down the government ones, and the market would then meet that demand. Private schools would spring up catering to all different needs and budgets. Why? Because there is money to be made. We spend billions and billions on education... more per student than any country in the world... and yet our kids still can't read as well as those in Iceland. Its pathetic. I'd give that money back to the public where it could be used to get real, effective education... as opposed to day care.

3) Hard times and Safety Nets in Nate's perfect world: I am morally opposed to all forms of forced charity. How much more could you give to charity... or church... if you weren't giving a third of your income to the government? How much more could you save? How much less would you need those so-called "safety nets"? Charity is the job of individuals and the Church. Its not the place for government. Davie Crockett used to say... "I don't see the word charity in the constitution anywhere."

The best example I can think of is social security.. arguably the biggest mistake we've ever made. Why can I say that? Because it did the exact opposite of what it was supposed to do. Prior to social security employers offered pensions, and folks saved for retirement. Once government got involved, employers stopped offering them.. and people stopped saving... because they thought the government was going to take care of them.

Then they turned 65 and realized they'd be trying to live on 1200 per month.

See? Its not a safety net. Its a trap. Its trapped millions into virtual poverty. Ya think all those old women working at walmart are doing so to fight off the boredom of retirement?
Look at SSI disability... how many people are trapped on 1200 dollars per month, unable to supplement their own income because doing so would jeopardize their government handout?
And to bring it back to the original point... the end does not justify the means. Stealing is stealing. Now.. if you want a safety net.. fine. You enroll in Social Security and you can enjoy the benefits. Just don't force me to do it. But the truth is that's not possible. You have to have me involved or the system doesn't work.

Why not just put a gun to my head and order me to give you 1200 bucks a month? Why make the government do it for you?

This is the best proof I can offer that government safety nets are a myth. If they were financially possible... you wouldn't have to force everyone to enroll. You don't see insurance companies forcing folks to enroll. Yet they are financially viable. Ya want unemployment insurance? Go buy some. Maybe if the government wasn't taking all that FICA money out of your check each month you could even afford to! Seriously... take a look at your pay stub. How much do they take out for FICA each month? OK... look at the year to date. Now add that to last years... and the year before and the year before. Add it up for your whole life... put it in a savings account earning 5% and what do you have? You have one helluva a safety net, and you don't need Aunt Samantha (you might call him Uncle Sam but I changed his name when he turned into such a sissy) giving you permission to us it.

Fishy

Boy ain't this just convenient... I mean... of course this is totally legitimate... IRAN IS THE DEVIL!!! WE MUST INVADE NOW!!!

We Stand Down as They Stand Up

Trouble is... if you're to fucking stupid to do jumping jacks then I suspect "standing up" just might be to much to ask.

Here's the problem I have with people like our buddy Bill. See Bill knows how incompetent our government is domestically. He knows they can fuck up a county fair... but in his mind... somehow... as soon as they leave our borders... these morons who asshole to asshole couldn't make a beer fart in a whirlwind... suddenly they become damned geniuses... capable of transforming prehistoric tribes of Aborigines into a bonafide Republic.

Brilliant!

Pardon the salty language today... I'm fired up.

Stirring Up Trouble

I doubt you're aware of it but apparently there are message boards for pregnant mommies out there. My dear wife plays on one regularly... and the subject of politics came up... a woman asked DrWho what she thought about Universal Health Care.. Public Schools and such... In turn.. my wife asked ME to answer for her.

UNWISE!!!!!

This is what I wrote:

Do we support Universal Healthcare: Not only no, but HELL NO. And when I say HELL NO please understand that it means if Candian or European style Universal Healthcare is implemented here, we will be gone in a matter of months. Let me be clear... the more the government is involved in Healthcare.. the worse Healthcare gets. All Universal Healthcare will do is drive providers away, limit your options, bankrupt the nation, and ultimately kill people. That's what happens when you can't get treatment. You die. The good news is... you died with an insurance card in your pocket. The bad news is, that insurance card doesn't do you any good if there aren't enough doctors left to accept it. Canada has learned this the hard way.

I'm going to go into a little more detail here... so bear with me. I know when I say "Supply and Demand" some of your eyes glaze over... but that is really what its about. Universal Healthcare takes something that is very valuable and in very short supply ( healthcare) and makes it appear to be free to the end user ( the patient). Well when something is free do you worry about using to much of it? Are you careful with it? Here in Tennessee, we implemented a program called TennCare which was basicly HillaryCare. No one outside of congress had insurance as good as TennCare recipients. What happened? Well ER visits were free... office visits were free... ect ect ect.. so everytime they had the sniffles they were in the ER. They were calling for ambulance rides for the sniffles. Abuse was rampant.. small town doctors left the state... major hospitals closed down... and the state had to kill the program because it was going bankrupt. Now imagine that on a national scale... and combine the fact that many doctors will simply leave the US before they'll work under those conditons. I suppose you can tell we're a little passionate about this issue. That's because we have a lot at stake. We don't want to move.

Ok... next question... Public Schools: Considering that we're homeschooling... our position is probably predictabe. We hate public schools. We hate the public school system. Its a dangerous and foolish system that is designed to do exactly what it does... which is produce good little consumers and worker bees. The public school system was not designed to educate. It was designed (by Rockerfeller) to condition. That's what it does. It conditions kids into little herd animals. The Nation may need little herd animals, but the People would be better served with strong minded educated individuals. Strong minded educated individuals are far more likely to come from home schools and private schools than public schools. Personally if I had my way every public school would be burned down and the grounds on which it was built would be sown with salt and left as a desolate reminder of the minds lost there... and while I was at it I would ship every member of the NEA to Cuba where they belong.

I'm sure by now you can imagine what my answers are going to be to just about any question you can think of. We don't see government as a solution to the problem. We believe government is the problem. We do not want "safety nets" because we see them for what they are; traps.
Now all this is not to say that we are anarchists. Anarchy is just Might Makes Right. We do favor some extremely limited government. It should protect the weak from the strong... but it is not Charity. It should protect our borders. Its one of the very few legitimate responsibilities.
In general we want to be left alone. I don't want the government telling me how to live my life, what I should, when I should sleep, how much water I should have in my toilet, or what safety precautions I must take while I travel. My wife is the same way.

Our whole political philosophy boils down to responsibility. A child asks who is going to take care of her. A grown up takes care of herself. We take full responsibility for our lives and the lives of our children. We don't expect nor ask for anyone's help. We certainly would never put a gun to your head and demand that you help us. And see... when you use the force of government to take money away from someone, and give it to someone else... that is what you're doing. You're stealing. Disagree? Consider... what happens if I don't pay my taxes? I go to jail. I am harmed. If I resist to much... I could be killed in the struggle. So what you're doing is taking money from me, by force. You're using just as much force as a masked gunman at a convenience store... you're just more polite about how you demand my money.

But in the end it all comes back to responsibiliy. Who is responsible for your life? What I would ask you is... are you a child? Do you need Mommy to save you from the Big Bad World?
Just remember before you answer what Mommy does when you say yes. Mommy comes to my house with a gun... puts it in my face and says give me your money or I will hurt you. Then Mommy takes that money and gives it to you.

In our view... That is what "social services" are. In our view... That is what "safety nets" are.

Yeah... something tells me that will be REALLY well recieved by the post-partum crowd!

This is for Jamie

Somethin' tells me this song wasn't big in Austrailia back in the ealy 90s... But anyone that hangs out here just has to be aquainted with Copperhead Road.

ATF DAMMIT

Of course... this edition is for medicinal purposes only.

We pick up the story as our hero debates with his loving wife the use of super glue to seal small cuts. Ignoring both her objections and decade of advanced medical training... he's glued the cut.

So that's the debate. You have a cut that could probably use a couple stiches. Glue it? Or go to the ER? I maintain that the risk of infection through exposure to whatever toxins may or may not be in super glue is less than the risk of infection through exposure to the many and varied bugs in the ER.

At any rate... Its handled... and of course I'm now stuck with the swelling ache bit... so I've decided to self medicate a bit further... this time with bourbon.

Now... Judging by his insane comments of late... both here and at JAC's I can reasonably conclude that Bill's been on about 2 week bender... and God bless him for it. If he keeps it up another 50 weeks they'll make him an honourary Australian.

Speaking of Aussies... I wonder if Jamie's loaded yet...

Charting New Territories of Stupid

Bill wipes his ass... inspects the paper... and then decides to share his findings with us:

Bush does not have open trade agreements with dictators, he imposes embargoes. Bush encourages open trade with governments that respect human rights and have representative governments. These are both classic pro-freedom positions which Ron Paul opposes. Bush also has expressed a willingness to use force against nations that use force against American citizens around the world, particularly where those American citizens were acting in a capacity representing America as an entity. Ron Paul stridently disagrees with this position. Thus, Ron Paul would remove both positive and negative reinforcement against dictators - trade if they behave and force if they don't. This not only lends legitimacy to dictators, but it solidifies their power.

So...

Bush is more pro-freedom than Paul, because Paul would remove embargos that hurt dictators in various places around the world... like say... Cuba.

We have a word for this... we call this "hypocracy". See Bill conveniently ignores the fact that Bush, and the US, not only support various dictators around the world... some of the worst regimes have actually been placed in power by it.

Iran anyone?

Saddam himself was put in power by the US!!! The same assinine meddling that Bush is attempting in Afganistan and Pakistan has consistantly resulted in anti-freedom dictatorships. The House of Saud is about as anti freedom as any ruling class in the world... and we prop them up!

So never mind that Bush is all for running around installing and supporting dictators all about the globe... his only criteria being that they kiss his ring.

Oh... but he won't let us buy cuban cigars... so clearly he's more pro-freedom than Paul.

Bill has embarassed himself. Boo him accordingly.

So Falls the Record

In 1980 Gold hit its all time high of 850 dollars per troy ounce.

Today it trounced that record.. hitting $860.00 in London trading. Who knows what might happen in the US. You know how we love a front runner.

Don't think for a second this is the end of the gold rally. Gold will peak in the 1300's.

An Alternative Means to Slow Government Growth

Government... like fire... has a natural tendency to grow. It wants to eat more and more... it HAS to eat more and more. Its just the way of things.

Our forefathers sought to combat this natural phenomena with laws that restricted the goverenment... hedging it in tight between the few things it was allowed to do, and the things it was never allowed to do under any circumstances.

As we've seen over the last 200 years this approach failed... so... I've decided to offer my own solution... and its a completely original one at that!


See... those drawn to government power aren't particularly bright... and they suffer from the ailment of taking themselves and their positions far to seriously. I seek to cure them of that ill... and make use of their lack of wit to effect my ends... a small barely noticable government.

How?

I shall degree that any government official that speaks publicly... or in any government meeting or official capacity... must only speak in rhyme. Failure to rhyme will result in immediate an immediate silencing and a suspension for the rest of the day.

Further more... all laws must be written in iambic tetrameter and must also rhyme.

Now... lets see you create a 2 trillion dollar budget in I.T. that rhymes... Mr Halfwit "public servant".

In addition to these rules I would also require ridiculously silly parades once a month... where-in government officials would be forced to walk in bizarre and silly ways around the capital. Those judged to not be silly enough would be suspended without pay for 2 months.

There would also be a hat... resembling a penguin astride a massive pineapple... which would be warn by anyone speaking in congress. This hat would be a cherished national treasure and would be passed from speaker to speaker during sessions.

Now... what say you?

Regional gods

A subject was heavy on my mind for time... Someone I have a relationship with is deeply involved in teaching Christianity internationally. Mostly in South America but recently she taught in Tailand. When I spoke to her after that trip to Asia... she was both encouraged and deeply sad. She saw miraclulous things... but she faced some challenges in forms she didn't expect... at least not to the degree they were presented.

One of these challenges was not a lack of belief... but the belief and worship of other gods.

Now this isn't a problem we westerns deal with much. If you believe, then you are either a Christian, Muslim, or Jew... that's really about it. We don't find ourselves debating much with each other about God.

Instead we find ourselves debating with atheists, not about which god is the true creater, but if there is a creater at all. A popular atheist debate tactic is to point out that different regions of the world worship different gods... therefore they conclude that all of them must be false.

Now this is sort of the long way around the barn but it occured to me that the questions are actually the same, and should be dealt with the same way.

***Warning: God and I did not have breakfast together this morning. He didn't tell me this over bacon and eggs. While I pray that these words glorify God... I do not claim divine infallibility here. Proceed with caution.***

So why are there these regional gods? Well... the short answer is... we're not the only ones here that are being judged. Job mentions a council meeting in Heaven... attended even by Satan. What was this meeting? Well... I suggest that it was a meeting of Principalites and Powers called by God.

See... God sent out these Principalities and Powers to govern various areas of the earth. They were to defend the weak... help the poor... and do God's will. God also makes it clear that these beings will be judged just as we will.

So how did we end up with all these regional gods worshipped throughout the world? Well.. because God put them there... and they gave in to temptation and allowed themselves to be worshipped in God's stead.

So who is the Great Spirit worshipped by the American Indians? He was a principality created by God and sent to watch over North America.

Who is Allah? In short... if not Satan himself... he's just another principality. Perhaps more clever and more powerful than most... but nothing before the might of God.

Ah... but why have all of these beings failed? Why are all of them being worshipped? I don't know but I know the Bible speaks of God reading them the riot act for being such abyssmal failures... which is how we know they'll be judged.

Think of the bizarre behavior of these so-called "gods". Tell me this doesn't make all the sense in the world.

Now this is basic stuff. .. sunday school stuff. But then I am reminded... Sunday School stuff is rarely taught in Sunday School anymore. Now days Sunday School is a means to insure that Christianity is a Church of eunuchs.

We're in the Christmas Spirit

Just watch... trust me. And note the VIP in the audiance.

Ninja's are Pussies!

And there goes the record

Its official. Ron Paul has now broken the all-time single day fund raising record. 12/16 Ron Paul collected over 6 million in donations... breaking the previous record by over $300,000.

Understand... this is not some Internet record... this is the all-time record by any means necessary record. This includes those days when people like Mitt Romney donate 10 million to themselves. Ok obviously 10 million is more than 6 million... but a self donation isn't a contribution... so quit your bitchin'.

If Hillary or Obama or Giuliani did this... it would be front page news everywhere you looked. Ron Paul did it... so tomorrow no one will know.

Unelectable Indeed

At 10:37pm EST Ron Paul's 4th Quarter donations smashed through the 17 million mark.

I've maintained that the one with the most money will win any given election... not necessarily because of corruption but because donations are an excellent indicator of support.

The polls are wrong folks. In a few days... everyone will see that.

Its a Tuesday...





people work on Tuesday.




Elkan and Tildabelle say hi!


Skippin' rocks! Feedin' Ducks!


So if she weighs the same as a duck...


All hat... No cattle.


I sincerely recommend camping. Right now. Stop what you're doing and go buy an RV. Grab the wife and kids and get the hell away. As for us... we'll be back.

Someday.

This is the way we roll...

Its a cold rainy Dismember day... we've got a fire going... popcorn... a case of capri sun... RC and vicaden for Dad... piled into the recliner watchin Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with my boys.

Now go away and leave us alone!

On the Birth of a Child

Feel free to disagree with the theology... but the ancient hebrews believed that a man's prayers could only be heard by God after he'd sired. Children were a blessed gift that came not from a choice or physical act... but from God.

I remember the morning I found out DrWho was pregnant with Jeb... I rememeber being humbled... as if a great joyous boulder had been dropped on my shoulders. It is an honour and a privilage to bear the weight.

To those whom God has so recently blessed... congratulations.

Tell me if this is normal...

At 2:00pm I had an appointment to have my wisdom teeth removed. They finished up around 3:05 or so...

At this point... shouldn't I be staggering around groggy and doped up?

Seems odd that I should be typing... walking up and down steps.

Ya know what else is odd?

Waking up before they're done.


God damned do I hate dentists... and apparently that includes oral surgeons.

I'm gonna kick someone's ass over this.

This Just In...

The Wii kicks ass. Seriously. I boxed so long I literally woke up sore. I've not had this much fun since our first atari.

My Young Alphas

One of the more amusing aspects of homeschooling is watching other parents complain about how easily their children cave to peer pressure. Wait... you mean you send your kids off to a prison for 8 to 10 hours a day specificly designed to segregate them by age and foster conformatiy and consumerism... and they aren't independant???

I'm shocked!

Jeb doesn't do well in classes. Mostly because he's liable to get bored and simply go off by himself and ignore them. This is well documented.

Eli though... he's just now getting to the age where fun stuff like that starts show up... like yesterday...

See we had the boys at one of those play areas that can be found in various malls. This one is bigger than average and there were lots of kids there. As usual... there was one little brat. That's a universal rule. There will always be a little brat there.. and his mother will always be yammering on a cell phone, totally oblivious to what he's doing... and then she'll have the nerve to get all pissed when a frustrated parent justifyably punches her in the face... I hate that.

Anyway...

So this brat... as soon as he sees Jeb... walks over and tells my son that he is not allowed to participate in their game. Jeb being Jeb looked at the boy like he was an idiot and went on to join the game. Irritated, the brat reiterated that Jeb was not allowed.

Confused... Jeb came back and asked his mother why the boy told him he couldn't play. Understand he wasn't complying. He just was legitimately curious. Heeding his mother's advice, he walked back over to the brat... got in his face... and explained that he was going to play, and that the brat was being very bad... very naughty... and that he should act better. Not satisfied with dressing down the boy... Jeb then went and dressed down his mother... who upon hearing about her child's poor behavior... laughed.

Again.. they get pissed when you punch them for this... I don't understand.

Anyway... Eli wasn't feelin' good.. but he was clearly paying attention to all this. He watched Jeb go back to lecturing the brat... who by the way was 5 years old and a good 6 inches shorter than Jeb. The Brat at this point decided to take a few swings. It was noted by almost everyone though that The Brat was being very careful to make sure that none of those swings connected.

This is where Jeb looks at The Brat like he's a bug... and Eli decides he's seen enough.

Eli hopped up and walked over to check this out. He didn't appear angry... just interested. Once he got over there though.. he immediately began punching and kicking the Brat... who tucked his tail and ran like a scalded dog from the wrathful 2 year old.

Thus ended the confrontation... excepting that for the rest of the time the Brat was there... Eli never left his side. He followed him around... watching him... as if to give him every possible opportunity to start another fight... and therefore forcing a constant state of submission in the Brat.

This was greatly amusing...

Few things are as entertaining as watching a natural born gamma male (the brat) instinctively react in fear to an alpha (jeb) and then be totally cowed by a younger, less patient alpha (eli).

I can't wait till Elkan gets to join in.