Reflections On 2012 Election

November 9, 2012 by 2 Comments

GOP flag at half-mast (photo via msnNow.com)

When asked about the election, my response typically has been that it is encouraging that Washington voters once again re-instituted a 2/3 requirement for the state legislature to raise taxes.

As for everything else, I can find some bright spots here and there, but they are few and far between.

The big enchilada, the contest for President, is a particular disappointment.  11 days before the election, I made a prediction that Romney would get a majority of electoral votes.  This was based on his increasing momentum coming off the debates, which stalled out when Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast.  Key states that were close went to the incumbent.

States I was wrong about were Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin (which is Paul Ryan’s home state).

One famous libertarian leaning Congressman from Texas said that the Midwestern states that received benefit from auto manufacturing bailouts were to blame.  A conservative radio talk show host said essentially that “You can’t beat Santa Claus.” A blogger I follow lamented what he calls the “infantile” mindset of the majority of American voters, that want to be “taken care of” rather than show the “can-do” spirit this country is traditionally known for.

Media stories are warning of a “fiscal cliff,” and the American voters just put the hammer down.  Make no mistake about it, the politicians will discern from the election results that Americans want more government programs, and the increasing taxes that are required to fund them.

Conservatives of the future will likely resemble those of the more socialist European nations.  When running against the “liberals,” they will say they can run the government’s bureaucratic machine more efficiently.  The debate over whether the government should even be involved in these undertakings (i.e. auto manufacturing, providing healthcare, etc.) will not even be brought up for consideration. That debate was settled in the election of 2012.

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Confederate War Veteran Buried Near White Swan

July 2, 2012 by Leave a comment

From an informational marker at Fort Simcoe:

A LAST REQUEST

Born August 4, 1841, Ruffin Thomson was a young man in Mississippi when the Civil War broke out.  He enlisted in the Confederate Army and was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg.  In 1864, he was appointed Second Lieutenant and ended the war at Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1865.

Following his military service, he became a medical doctor, married, and eventually settled in Florida with his family.  While there, he was offered an appointment as clerk at the Yakama Indian Agency.  He arrived here at Fort Simcoe in February 1888 at the age of 46.  Within a month after his arrival, he became ill and died.  At his request he was buried here, near the oak grove, “where the sun shines brightly from heaven and the birds sing over my grave.”

On Father’s Day, 1966, a new grave marker was placed commemorating Thomson’s military service.  Water from the Pearl River (which bordered his family farm), Lake Wier (near his Florida home) and the Mississippi River was poured on the grave site.  Soil from Mississippi and Florida was mixed with the earth of Washington and the Yakama Nation, and spread over the grave site.

English: The blockhouse at Fort Simcoe.

English: The blockhouse at Fort Simcoe. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fort Simcoe (near modern day White Swan) was established by the U.S. Army in the 1850′s to help keep the peace between settlers and various groups of Indians that make up the Yakama Nation.  During the Civil War, the Army left the fledgling installation.  Following the war, the Yakama Indian Agency (created by the federal government) operated a school and other institutions at the site.

The site is an oasis, with oak trees sustained through natural springs which bubble to the surface in the area.  Because of the water source, this area was highly prized by both natives and settlers.  The Army located their fort here because of this strategic value.

My personal connections:

During my Army service in Korea, I was assigned to the 9th Infantry Regiment (which traces its history in part through Fort Simcoe).  This is the regiment that was tasked with founding Fort Simcoe.  This is history I can personally identify with.  In addition, at the time the fort was founded, the unit came from Virginia.  When the Civil War broke out, officers and soldiers ended up fighting on both sides of the conflict.

As a native of Tennessee, I have ancestry that fought for both the North and the South.  Realizing that men left Fort Simcoe, Washington,  in order to join units that would eventually fight each other, was an emotional moment for me.  It is hard to imagine such a thing happening with our current military, but it is important to realize how vital it is to have a unifying national culture we can all support.

A number of the officers serving at Fort Simcoe went on to have prominent careers in the U.S. Civil War.  I encourage you to make the drive to Fort Simcoe to learn more about the site for yourself.

Fort Simcoe is currently a Washington State Park, and is about one hour’s drive from Sunnyside.

Barracks, CO. I – 9th Infantry

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Space Shuttle Atlantis Lands Safely In Florida


					

						

							November 27, 2009
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The most recent mission of the Space Shuttle ended earlier today when Atlantis landed in Florida.



This is the last Space Shuttle flight for 2009.  The last scheduled flight of a Space Shuttle is scheduled to take place in mid 2010.


The Space Shuttle took parts and supplies to the International Space Station, helping it to be prepared for 5-10 years of continuing operation.  This will ensure the space station stays in operation even after the shuttle fleet is grounded.


When I was a small child, my father allowed me to stay at home and watch the Space Shuttle Columbia take its first flight in 1981.  Afterwards, I received my first “tardy” when I arrived late for my kindergarten class.  My mother was furious at my father for this, but he felt the historical significance of the launch made it worthwhile.  (Plus, as a little boy, watching a shuttle blast off was pretty cool from my point of view!)


I am now watching the end of Space Shuttle flights while remembering the excitement of being able to watch it from its beginnings.


Will space exploration capture the imagination of future generations of Americans?  We shall have to wait and see…

		


				


				

					

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