Who’s Setting the Thermostat?

Do we (United States) need a Cap and Trade bill?

Yes, the U.N. says we do; they say  it will be in the world’s best interest if America led the way in global climate change.  If we choose to believe the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) peer-reviewed research, we cannot wait any longer; we must act now!!!  “America has not led but fled on the issue of global warming.” John Kerry

The question now is what should we do?   President Barack Obama said “All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man, increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it’s here, and its effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster.”  A global phenomenon cannot be corrected by small changes.  It would require large steps forward: obligations and sacrifices from everyone.

But before the world and We the People sacrifice for the “greater good”,  shouldn’t we know for sure that global warming is happening?  The climate changes, no debate.   The debates usually focus on whether or not humans are the ones responsible for all the earthquakes, floods, temperature changes, ect.  The U.N. utilizes the IPCC’s research to push climate change laws on world governments. For example, the Cap and Trade bill ( a babe of the U.N.) is now being heavily debated in Congress.  But can we believe their research and claims?  I say no! Last year hackers discovered certain emails showing Global Warming fraud by IPCC on November 23, 2009.   Then,  the IPCC admitted to  falsifying  facts about the Himalayan glaciers on January 17, 2010.  Soon after on January 28, 2010 their claim that Global Warming was endangering the Amazon rainforest was proven incorrect.

“Some of the scientists, I believe, haven’t they been changing their opinion a little bit on global warming? There’s a lot of differing opinions and before we react I think it’s best to have the full accounting, full understanding of what’s taking place.”
George W Bush

Quoting Mike Huckabee “The most important thing about global warming is this. Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it’s all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it.”  That is true.  Individuals should take responsibility for their surroundings whether Global Warming or Global Cooling (1970s) rains down from the complication called the atmosphere.  We need to help clean up our communities, cities and states.  Lets recycle by reusing glass and plastic containers, replace our light bulbs with spiral compact fluorescent bulbs and drive hybrids.  But I do not believe in forcing these things on people that cannot afford a new car, do not want a new car, do not want a certain kind of car, or cannot purchase $30 worth of light bulbs….

But what is taking place?  Is Global warming the new Y2K?

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/28/save-rainforest-climate-change-scandal-chopped-facts/

http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/breaking-news-world-events/30224-hacked-un-email-site-admits-global-warming-fraud.html

http://www.denisdutton.com/cooling_world.htm

http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/globalwarmup.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Warming

CAPITAL[ImpliesSimpleManagement]

President Obama is under minding America’s economic system, capitalism, and at the same time many of the world leaders are condemning an economic system under which prosperity and wealth have flourished in our nation unlike anywhere else in the world or any other economic system.  There are many statistics providing evidence that the United States economy, a capitalist system, out performs every other nation.  America’s GDP is almost 25% of the world’s GDP;  no other nation is at 10%.  The US National Household Income average is about $50,000, only Switzerland beats the US average with about $60,000 but the US population is 307,611,000 people, Switzerland population is 7,745,900. There is a difference.   Capitalism has problems but the system itself does not need to be replaced.

President Obama has nationalized GM, the banks, and is now trying health care.  Socialist ideals will not work in a capitalist system.  There are only two options:  replace the system (not a good idea, but what he seems to be doing) or free the market and allow We The People, not the government, to create jobs and money.

“During one of Chavez’s customary lectures on the “curse” of capitalism and the bonanzas of socialism, the Venezuelan leader made reference to GM’s bankruptcy filing, which is expected to give the U.S. government a 60 percent stake in the 100-year-old former symbol of American might.    “Hey, Obama has just nationalized nothing more and nothing less than General Motors. Comrade Obama! Fidel, careful or we are going to end up to his right,” Chavez joked on a live television broadcast.” <http://www.reuters.com/article/ObamaEconomy/idUSTRE5520GX20090603>

The problems with capitalism here in America can be fixed.  The government must implement a Fair Tax, eliminate such hindrances as Cap&Tax from the market, and restrain from interfering with business and lenders (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). The system is not at fault, the management of the system needs new direction.  We can not use greed to guide us any longer.

CAPITALISM: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital  goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.   www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitalism

Let’s not forget the new movie Capitalism: A Love Story from the British film maker Michael Moore… Let’s boycott!

A “Promise to Diminish Her Importance”

The Federalist Papers. Paper NO. 5 The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence by John Jay.

Whenever, and from whatever causes, it might happen, and happen it would, that any of these nations or confederacies should rise on the scale of political importance much above the degree of her neighbors, that moment would those neighbors behold her with envy and with fear.  Both those passions would lead them to countenance, if not to promote, whatever might promise to diminish her importance; and would also restrain them from measures calculated to advance or even to secure her prosperity.

After reading this paragraph and overlaying it with the current world we live in, I believe that world today  is an international community where America’s neighbors are no longer based on their location, but China, South Africa, and Mexico can all be considered neighbors of the United States.

Discussion:

Regarding the Prosperity of America in the world community, how do you think America’s faulty alliances (recently with the back out of defense systems in Poland because of Russian objections) and US national debt being purchased by other nations diminishes our prosperity as a nation?

“Death and Taxes…Health Insurance”

            Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) discussed his health care proposal on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.  Individual Responsibility was a section included in his Framework for Comprehensive Health Reform. 

            In his proposal Baucus writes “Beginning in 2013, all US citizens and legal residents would be required to purchase health insurance or have health care coverage from an employer, public program…” or else they (the individual or the employer) will pay a penalty.  But there are some exemptions from the penalty:

1. Religious objections (same as Medicare)
2. Too high a cost (more than 10% of a person or families income)
3. Hardships
4. Native Americans
5. Individuals below 100% poverty (HHS poverty guidelines)
6. Undocumented immigrants

            Personally, I do not have an issue with the first five exemptions…but undocumented immigrants?  They are Illegal Immigrants.  Why does changing a title or name matter so much (War on Terror to the more politically correct Overseas Contingency Operation)?  Illegal immigrants should not have health coverage at the expense of legal citizens. 

            But this is not my major concern.  Baucus’s idea of individual and employer responsibilities reads more like forced obligations.  The legal non-exempt citizens will be forced to purchase health insurance.  If they fail to purchase creditable coverage, there will be a penalty, a fine, a punishment.  Is it to be like auto insurance?  Our health is not something we go out and buy; we are born with it, and it is a part of us (good or bad).  So if you’re born in to the obligation or debt without a choice, is it more like paying taxes (more similar to the dreaded “death tax”)?

            Health Insurance is expensive. That is the problem.  Some people cannot afford insurance and some people just do not want to buy it.  We need choices! Let me purchase coverage from any state, any company, and any group.  Putting another burden, responsibility or obligation on the American taxpayers helps nothing!

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/BaucusFramework.pdf

“I Am Not a Racist”

“I Am Not a Racist”

Why do so many racist hold powerful positions in our government?

Charles Rangel said Tuesday, September 1, 2009 that “bias” and “prejudice” toward President Obama fuel opposition to health-care reform.  Rangel asked, “Why do we have to wait for the right to vote? Why can’t we get what God has given us?” He says, “that is the right to live as human beings and not negotiate with white southerners and not count the votes. Just do the right thing.”

Yes, the right thing! We the people want the right thing!

First of all, I am a 25-year-old white southerner. I am not a racist. My 70-year-old father, a southerner raised in Missouri and Arkansas, was not a racist. He taught me not to judge anyone based on their skin color, but to judge people on their actions, ideas, and principles.

Have I, a white southerner, been reduced to some uneducated, emotional nonhuman? My rights and opinions have been taken away because of my race and where I call home! Racism is not secluded to “white supremacy”. I define racism as the animosity toward other races by any race.

The direction I feel this country should go in results from my principles, not racist beliefs. I am able to believe in leaders of my country regardless of race.  I know an educated person is no less educated because of race, gender, or ethnicity.

I am weary of this so called “Race Card”.

Yes, I’m a southerner, but I am not racist.

Yes, I’m white, but I am not racist.

Yes, I’m a conservative, but I am not racist.

I am an American who is not obligated to pay retribution to anyone. Retribution will not cleanse the sins of guilty generations or change past actions despised by this nation today.  Punishing an innocent generation will not mend future generations. Race must become a forgotten concept and cease being a separating dynamic burdening our American culture.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr.