Gump On Illegal Immigration

A Times Magazine article (I read it on Yahoo so don’t worry) talks about illegal immigration being the hot issue for this presidential election. The author of the article discusses the candidate’s positions on illegal immigration and what I read certainly opened my eyes to the reality of the situation.

The first thing that came to mind is the Gump phrase, “Stupid is as stupid does.” The article alludes to most of those seeking the highest office in the land not understanding why the country is in such an uproar about the flood of people breaking the law by illegally entering the country. Why should they be concerned about people breaking the law? Isn’t the executive branch responsible for enforcing the laws? There must be a disconnect between getting elected and actually performing the job.

The Democrats see it as a racist / class warfare issue. Those in American who are afraid of losing their jobs or not getting ahead in life want to keep these poor innocent people from coming to America. I now know why the symbol for the democrats is a jackass. This is their argument for everything. Instead of realizing that Americans are not mad about welcoming immigrants that go through the process in the lawful fashion, they go to their tried and true play of throwing the racist trump card. Fortunately they are playing the wrong suit. Americans understand that immigration is a way to keep America strong. To deny citizenship to those who have followed the law is to deny our own heritage.

With this election, I can throw out one more Gumpism. Life is like a box of chocolates…. With the field of politicians all lying to us to encourage a vote for them, you never know what you are going to get.

Icool

Cobb

Bad News

One of the headlines on Yahoo today is "Despite Economy, Malls and Stores Jammed." What kind of horse hockey is this? Despite economy? What in Sam Hell does that mean? For that matter, where does the phrase Sam Hell come from? But anyway, what is wrong with the economy? We have near record employment. The stock market, although jittery, is still up in a big way this year. Sure there is a slow down in the housing market and gas prices are up. The house prices are only down until supply catches up with demand and gas prices, well we aren't willing to car pool and they are not expensive enough for the market to develop the solution.

When Americans turn up in record numbers it says one of two things about what we are. Either we are optomistic about how things are and realize that things really are good or we are lemmings following the barrage of advertising about sales and special time sensitive prices. I know which one I hope it is but realize that we have become a nation of followers. Somehow, I think we are just adding to the overall debt load instead of making well thought out purchases that are plannned and will be paid for on the next statement.

The one thing that Americans can be sure of is that our government will step in when things get too bad. Our politicians are always willing to step in and take control of a little more of our lives. When we prove through our actions that we are incapable (at least a vocal minority) of managing some aspect of our lives, there is always a government official that will champion our cause. Thus removing the burden and depriving those who "have" to support those who "haven't". Sooner or later the middle class will no longer be able to support the deprived and will sink into the same hole those who "won't" live in. Can someone say depression? Maybe that is what it will take before we realize far we have sunk. Of course, if the last depression is any indication, the patient may not recover. The last big economic sink hole gave us social security, public works and led to the development of the current government solves everything mentality. Break out the paddles folks and hope we can still pay the electric bill.

Icool

Cobb

Someone To Watch Over Me

We are fortunate in America to have a government that is so concerned about our welfare. New York City recently banned trans-fats from being used in dining establishments. I feel so much better now that I do not have to worry about the consumption of that nasty food by-product. Most of the presidential hopefuls are touting a national health care program where everyone in American would have equal access for their medical issues. We have the social security system that entitles us to a financial monthly stipend when we retire. This is truely a great and caring nation. The sooner I can have the government take care of those troubling issues that keep popping up in our lives, the less I will have to think for myself. Ow, my brain hurts.

When did we become a nation that no longer wants to control our destiny? I appreciate the desire of our government to protect our food ingredients but if something is harmful to the human body, it should not be available to the general public. Isn't that what the FDA is for? They got rid of red dye #3 when I was a child and we had to do without red M&M's until a suitable substitute could be developed. So why is there an uproar about trans-fats? If they are harmful, scratch them off of the food list. Unfortunately, the government is treating them like cigarettes and not making them illegal, just banned in certain spots.

As far as government managed health care, if it is anything like social security, I do not want it. I want access to the doctors and hospitals I want to go to and am willing to pay for that privlege. Once the government gets their hands on medicine, we will be herded like cattle into whatever program the bureaucrats can dream up. The more they try to equalize access, the less access we will have. Hopefully we will be able to opt out of the system. Unfortunately, I will still have to fork over more of my pay in the form of tax dollars for those who cannot pay. It is not that I would not support access to medical treatment for those who cannot afford it, it is just that the government has a poor record of managing anything and holding a gun to my head to make me pay does not set well.

Icool

Cobb

Confessor

I finished the long awaited end of the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind this morning. I will say that although it ended the way I wanted, I was left with a feeling that the author was tired of writing and chose the creative path of least resistance. Goodkind is a man with firm convictions about how we are to live our lives. Each of us is responsible for the actions we take and the choices we make. Blaming anyone else for our failures or bad decisions is chosing to give up our freedom. Once we have gone down that path enough, it becomes a way of life and we are nothing more than followers for those who would command us to their will.

Blindly following someone because they promise a better life is another way to give up our freedom. If you cannot think for yourself and reason through what someone says to you than you again become nothing more than a slave to that person. This goes for gang members or religious zealots that are convinced that their vision of Christ is the only way to salvation. If you fail to really read the words of Christ for yourself and instead listen to those that spew words of hate, it diminishes you and empowers them.

Goodkind's message comes though loud and clear. Be in charge of who you are. Love life and those around you. He uses his characters to show the full display of those beliefs. What he fails to do is create the dynamics of his beliefs into the finale. His conclusion brings most of the threads together but the power behind the other books fizzled in the last 15 pages. I guess it is impossible to maintain the momentum through eleven books. Well, at least Harry Potter managed to surprise and delight to the end. That makes it one for three this year. Potter was first and managed to delight. Dune came next and was a rewrite of the third Matrix film. What a waster of paper. At least Goodkind let the good guys triumph and the bad guys die the death of true villians. So much for epic novels.

Icool

Cobb

Don’t Call It Thanksgiving

I have discovered that I find the use of the term Thanksgiving to be offensive. Henceforth, I am starting a campaign to either eliminate the undeserved day off from work (and the subsequent start of the mad rush to Seasons Greetings Day) or change the name to something that is less offensive and more descriptive of the current reason for the celebration. When the pilgrims originally celebrated their thanks for everything they had and the hardships they had endured, the name Thanksgiving actually meant something. Today it is nothing more than the day before we all rush out to start our annual spending spree.

So what should be the new name? There are several avenues that can be taken in the search for just the right descriptive. How about Turkey-Lastic Day? That would be what most people eat and what they wish they were wearing afterwards. While mostly accurate, it leaves out those who have another type of meat or simply do a tofu turkey. How about Dysfunctional Family Holiday? Since this is one of those times when we are forced to sit with relatives for a meal (and actually remember why we do not do it more than once per year) and be civil, that description would be accurate but not for everyone. So Dysfunctional Family Holiday works for some families and provides fodder for the mediocre Hollywood script machine but would not be a universal solution.

Since we are such a consumer society and have come to expect bigger, better faster and at the same time have developed into an entitlement society in which we expect to be rewarded just for wanting something, there may be an opportunity to combine those two characteristics into a common theme. The pilgrims had to make everything they used and grow or hunt everything they ate. For them taking a break to thank the Lord for the bounty He provided was a reflection of their faith and a true devotion to the Lord. Today we expect our place of work to give us the day off, with pay and provide the meat for the meal. So as we approach November 22, 2007, let us all join in a jubilant celebration of Unrealistic Expectations Day. It is the one day when all of those things we expect and deserve can be truly brought to light. Nah, I think after long thought, I will stick with Thanksgiving. All I did was provide the hands to prepare. The rest came from the Creator and Giver of all things in life.

Icool

Cobb

It’s Not So New

On this date in 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote one of his classic phrases in a letter to a friend. The quote goes, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” That was 217 years ago and we have made major strides in ways to prolong life and possibly even escape the grasp of death for a little while longer. However, taxes are still a large looming beast that threatens to smother the life from our representative democracy. While science has made great strides in eliminating disease and the suffering associated with illness, our government has made major strides in its march toward fulfilling the dreams of Karl Marx, with equality for all. That would be everyone equally unemployed and broke, not the sharing of everything equally and everyone contributing to the overall good of society. But I rant again about our slide into socialism which is thinking about the problem instead of the solution.

I am reading a series called the Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind. It is 11 books with the last book in the series due out today. The premise behind the series is to expose the fallacies behind the socialist/communist doctrine and demonstrate that only through hard work and accepting responsibility for our actions, can we triumph and succeed in life. The series is based in a mystical world of wizards, dragons and swords but Goodkind uses the journey through life as the basis for showing how flawed the dependency society is and how it will eventually lead to a collapsing house of cards. I point out the failed experiment of the Soviet Union but that is only history. What about all of those in need now?

That we must help our fellow man is a central tenant of Christianity. We are driven by Christ to be there for those who are less fortunate than us. The only thing Christ says on taxes is to give Caesar his due. It does not say encourage Caesar to tax you out of existence to help the underprivileged. It is your responsibility to assist those who need your help, not the governments. Yet we have those who continue (can you say Congress) to consume more and more of our income to support those who Christ say are our responsibility. We all know that if you want something done well, let the private sector manage it. For the government to think that it can fix anything is a colossal mistake. Just ask Benjamin Franklin.

Icool

Cobb

National Park May Soon Be Americas Biggest Polluter

A Yahoo news article provides the shocking news that the ground has begun rising under Yellowstone National Park. At first they thought that the Pillsbury Dough Boy had fallen into Old Faithful and the combination of heat and confined space was causing him to rise to the occasion. But the Dough Boy has recently been spotted sandwiched between Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton at a posh Mexican resort so another line of reasoning had to be brought into play. The latest suggestion is that magma is rising from the Earth’s crust and accumulating beneath the surface.

Geological evidence sheds light that the Yellowstone area has been the site of at least three massive volcanic eruptions in the past. The first event has been dated at 2 million years ago and the most recent was 642,000 years ago. I love the precise estimate of 642,000 years ago. All three of the eruptions were estimated to be greater that Mount St. Helens which for those who were too young to remember can be found on you-tube I am sure.

So what happens when our beloved Yellowstone Park starts to spew ash and caustic gasses into the atmosphere? All of the tree hugging, spotted owl saving, environmentalists will all have a new target to go after. They can no longer blame inanimate objects like SUV’s or coal plants for blotting out the sun and being the major cause of environmental decay. With all of the sulfur and ash in the air, it won’t be a matter of global warming anymore. It will be a little chillier and we may have extinction on a massive scale for any species in the path of the clouds. Wow, you can get PETA in on the act as well.
I can just see their new bumper sticker campaign. It will be a picture of a volcano with that red circle around it and the slash through it. The slogan underneath will read Just Say No To Eruptions. Boy that will tell them.



Icool

Cobb

That Is $39 With A B

The big business news this morning is that General Motors lost $39,000,000,000 in the third quarter of this year. For those who struggle with decimals, that is $39 billion. Most of us struggle with companies losing millions of dollars but $39 billion sounds more like an issue with the national debt than a loss sustained by a business. It is more than the gross national product of most African nations. The question is how can GM lose such a ginormous amount of money and still be solvent? It all on paper baby, just like the way our government handles its money.

One would think that since the UAW caved in the last round of labor negotiations and GM managed to shuck its health care costs, it would have been a positive to their bottom line. It looks more like they have been saving a whole list of things gone bad and waited until they could maximize the effect in a one time shot. All of the news I have been hearing on the GM side is that things are looking up and everything is coming up roses. Sounds like someone was putting on their game face.

Even after losing $39 Billion, GM is still in business and making vehicles. How many businesses can take a paper loss of that magnitude and still walk away from the ordeal? The loss was not due to a collapse in sales or the result of selling an under performing asset. Cars are on pace to sell just a few less than last year and GM has not lost that much market share this year. What we have is nothing more than the adjustment in the accounting process for years of poor decision making. What I hope is that it is a wakeup call to concentrate on the business of making cars and being profitable and giving up the aspirations of being a mega-conglomerate. When they make cars, they are good at it. When they branch out into other areas like data processing (EDS) and mortgages (GMAC) they lose focus on the end product, making good cars that consumers want. Who remembers the Lumina and the return of Nova? I am sure someone would like to forget them.

Icool

Cobb

Here Is What I Would Do…

I read the Upper Room on line this morning. Every once in a while, someone writes a daily devotion that smacks you up side of the head. It is not that they are profound or that you have not heard them before, it is just that it fits neatly into the rut you have been trudging through for a while. It is one of those little miracles that God puts neatly in your way to stumble over. It is up to the stumbler to recognize the gift of the obstruction.

Today’s Upper Room is about listening. I know that I can be a good listener but lately I know that I have not been hearing. It is so easy to get wrapped up in everything that is going on that the big ME comes out and there is no time for little you. We spend our time thinking about how we are going to handle this or do that and those around us suffer from a lack of just being there for them. What is even more difficult is that when I do listen, the problem solving mode is in high gear and I end up trying to solve the problem instead of just being there as someone who cares. If someone wants my advice, they’ll ask.

It is so easy to just say here is what I would do instead of just listening to a problem, concern, wish, desire, hope or aspiration. The art of listening is something that a good friend will always have. Sometimes, they are distracted by the daily storm and strife but you can always come back to them when the chips are down. For me, I know that I can pour out my heart daily because Someone is always there to silently listen to my problems. It is called prayer. He has also provided a road map for what to do so it is a full service relationship.

Icool

Cobb

Nagoya II

I had the privilege of being at the grand opening of Nagoya in Perrysburg tonight and I must say that I am impressed with the entire package. We had dinner at Nagoya in Port Clinton last weekend and it was wonderful but the Perrysburg restaurant has a completely different feel. I would not say that it is better, just suited to the location. The new place has a wider feel to it and the location of sushi bar and adult beverage refreshment station make it a more convenient place to stop.

My friend Mel and his lovely wife Barb threw a great bash. The food was top notch, the staff was very attentive, and Mel and Barb made sure that their guest were appreciated for their attendance. We had a table of nine and no one lacked for anything the entire night.

The table chef had come up from Atlanta to help with this evening. He did the usual hibachi style tricks like the onion volcano and the catch the food morsel in your mouth. There was the spatula pounding and the metal canister clanking that adds to the overall dinner theatre atmosphere. Nagoya is one of those places were you can feel relaxed and just enjoy your meal while feeling welcome. Of course it helps when you have been friends with the owner since 1968. Boy that sounds old.

Icool

Cobb