Excuse Me While I Save The World!

March 28, 2013 by 2 Comments

Review of Righteous Indignation

by Andrew Breitbart

righteous indignation

A free speech advocate, Andrew Breitbart believed in encouraging more engagement in the civil discourse.  To say it another way, he wanted to promote ideas and discussion where the left-wing “Democrat Media Complex” seeks to stifle discussion to promote their liberal beliefs.

Breitbart passed away in March 2012 at the age of 43, but made a serious impact in his short time on the national scene.  The book details his involvement with the Drudge Report, Huffington Post, other media outlets, and goes great lengths in explaining how and why the “BIG” sights launched.  (Big Government, Big Hollywood, Big Journalism, Big Peace)

The first impactful story that Big Government helped bring to the people led to the downfall of ACORN, a community organizing group tied closely to the election of Barack Obama.  You may recall the infamous videos of the “pimp and prostitute” seeking government grants to support their start up business of prostituting underage girls illegally brought into the country from Latin America.  Workers at ACORN offered tips and advice on how to get taxpayer funding, suggesting using code words to obscure the link to prostitution.

In his book, Breitbart discusses taking the story first to the mainstream media, who did not run the story because it was “too political.”  This played right into his hands as it exposed media’s leftist agenda of protecting liberals no matter the cost.  When the story went big, they were eventually forced to report on it.

Part blogger, part publisher, part activist, part provocateur, Breitbart is greatly missed for his entertaining antics and great courage under fire.  He never shrank when the lefties attempted to silence him by calling him “racist” and other such epithets.  His unwavering spirit in the face of repressive political correctness is an inspiration for all Americans.

The book gets 5 stars out of 5.  It is the best book on politics, pop culture, new media, and current events that I have read in recent years.

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When Your Boss Asks Too Much Of You

March 6, 2013 by 2 Comments

Umm, Yeah. I’m gonna need you to come in on Saturday.

Umm, Yeah. I'm gonna need you to come in on Saturday.

Image via funnyjunk.com

We have all heard stories about the evil boss, who expects too much of the employees.  While most people can tell stories of working weekends, mandatory overtime, or giving up planned time off, these are simply everyday inconveniences.  What do you do when your boss asks too much of you?

Some readers may not like open ended questions that I do not have the answers for.  If you are turned off by speculative questions about the nature of life, stop here.  If your curiosity is up, then read on…

What if your boss asks you to do something against company policy?  This might be tough if the boss is the one who makes the policy.  What if your boss asks you to do something unethical?  This can be tougher, because different people have different values that drive them, although I never will suggest anyone violate their personal principles.

What if your boss asks you to do something you know is illegal?  What if you are asked to hire someone that is not legally authorized to work in the United States?  The fact that millions of people are employed with lack of proper documentation does not make it legal.  Are some laws more important than others?

Yes, some laws are more important than others.  For this reason, our justice system dispenses punishment differently, depending on the nature of the illegal activity.  Thousands of companies and millions of people willfully violate labor laws each day, and are willing to risk the legal consequences for the potential gain of profits and/or increased wages.

Are some labor laws more important than others?  What if your boss asks you to adjust the “hours worked” on an employee’s payroll in order to reduce or eliminate overtime?  Would you risk your own livelihood by opposing this?  Sadly, many people in this position do not have the moral courage or conviction to do so.  Class action lawsuits both nationally, and in our local area, testify to the fact that too many workers get cheated on their paychecks by unethical and illegal business practices.

What if your boss manipulates payroll accounts to reduce the company’s tax liability?  What if they simply pay employees “under the table?”  Does that make it okay?

What if programs such as Social Security and Medicare are threatened because too many people are dodging the payroll taxes that support them?  Is it still okay?

A Line Almost No One Will Cross

What if your boss asks you to murder someone?  What if they are willing to pay a hefty fee for the “job?”

That is what allegedly happened in Union Gap recently.  It is being reported that a manager of a business in our county offered to pay money to a coworker in order to kill his wife.  The coworker refused to be the trigger man, but according to news reports, was willing to help dispose of the murder weapon.

Killing another person is a clear moral boundary for most people, and we thankfully don’t need to worry about this being repeated millions of times across the country.  The murder suspect also is being accused of having an affair, and this may be a part of his decision to murder his wife.

Don’t get me started on how many people cheat on their spouses; let’s just say I’m against the idea, and leave it at that.  The fact that this happens frequently in our society says something about where we draw our collective values from (or don’t).

Values Being Taught To Kids

One set of “rules” that is trendy in many of our nation’s schools is boiled down to three simple things:

  • Make Good Decisions
  • Solve Problems
  • Be Respectful

Is it a good decision to violate the law?  While it may solve problems for some, does it cause problems for others?  Is it being “respectful” to help your boss break the law?

What if it is your job on the line?  What will you be willing to do, and how will you respond?

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Remarks On Gun Rights At Sunnyside Council

January 28, 2013 by 2 Comments

Monday night, I made the following remarks about gun rights during the meeting of the Sunnyside City Council.  My thanks to the City Clerk for researching the text of Ordinance No. 15 (passed in 1902).  In the future, I would like to make a visit to the city archives to see some of the other treasures our city’s founders bestowed to us.  It is my great pleasure to serve the people, and promote freedom everywhere I can.

STATEMENT ON GUN RIGHTS, 1/28/13 SUNNYSIDE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Recent discussion of gun rights has prompted a public response from some officials in our state. These responses include remarks from the governor, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, our legislators, and also our county sheriff.

Some are begging for more government control over citizens, and think they should be in charge of allowing them to possess firearms, and where (if ever), they should be allowed to carry them. Others advocate for greater freedom, pushing for increased rights of individuals.

Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin issued a statement last week in which he cited the U.S. and State of Washington Constitutions. He later clarified that he is opposed to the proposed ban on certain types of firearms that is being put forward by the President and his allies in Congress.

Elected officials take an oath to uphold the federal and state constitutions mentioned by our sheriff. Unfortunately, some municipal government officials in Washington do not always respect that.

For example, on January 15, 2013, at a meeting of the City Council in Oak Harbor, a failed attempt to trample on the 2nd amendment rights of citizens occured. Video of the incident is making the rounds on the Internet.

During that meeting, a Councilman asked a gun rights supporter if he was carrying a firearm in council chambers. He demanded an answer even after the city attorney said the citizen was not obligated to give one. The citizen did choose to answer, and confirmed he has a Concealed Pistol License, and was carrying a firearm.

In response, the councilman made an unconstitutional motion to strip the citizen of his firearm on the spot. The motion failed, causing the Mayor of Oak Harbor to apologize to the citizen for the behavior of some of his colleagues, and spoke to the oath of office that all electeds take. The councilman who made the motion left the meeting rather than stay in a room where citizens exercise their right to bear arms.

I would like to take just a moment to remind my colleagues, and members of the public, just what our oath of office supports, as it relates to gun rights.

The 2nd amendment of the US Constitution states:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

For those that question whether that applies to individual citizens; can you imagine George Washington leading an army if citizens did not possess firearms?

The other constitution that warrants our attention, is our own Washington State Constitution. Article I, Section 24 has the relevant language on the right to bear arms:

The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.

If one is still in doubt, our state constitution is much more explicit in its language that the right to bear arms is an individual right.

This is not a new debate among the people, nor is it the first time restrictions have been proposed by politicians.

Our city founders first regulated the rights of citizens to carry weapons within three months of the city’s founding. Ordinance No. 15 Prohibiting Carrying Concealed Weapons and Fixing Punishment Therefor was passed in 1902. This handwritten ordinance was signed by our first Mayor, James Henderson. One should take note that at the time, the city also did not allow gambling, alcohol, or dancing.

Times have changed since then, and I am not about to suggest we take away our citizen’s guns, anymore than I want to take away their dance halls or their beer! In over 110 years as a city, our citzens have repeatedly demonstrated at the ballot box that they prefer more freedom over less freedom.

In the present day, citizens of Sunnyside may obtain a Concealed Pistol License by submitting an application through our local police department. I encourage everyone to do this, even if they do not own a firearm.

By exercising their rights, citizens can send a message to politicians that they do not want more government restrictions on personal freedoms. When more citizens apply for a Concealed Pistol License, it demonstrates that the people are serious about maintaining their rights and personal safety, as outlined by both our federal and state constitutions.

 

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What Do You Really Know About Rush Limbaugh?

January 16, 2013 by Leave a comment

RUSH LIMBAUGH

AN ARMY OF ONE

By Zev Chafets

Rush Limbaugh: An Army of One

Considering how many years that Rush Limbaugh has been on the radio, and his countless hours of broadcasting, how much do you really know about the man?  What was his family life like when he was growing up?  What was he like in high school?  What do people who have worked with Rush think about him?

Zev Chafets wrote a profile of the man for the New York Times Magazine.  Later, he expanded his piece, and this book is the result.

Very few books have been written about Rush Limbaugh that do not include the words fat, liar, and idiot in the title.  Chafets makes a serious effort to give readers a true biographical sketch of the man.  He is one of the few people from the media that Rush grants access to.

While the author gives a mostly positive portrayal of Limbaugh, he deals head-on with some of the most controversial aspects of the radio man’s life.  Rush’s drug use, multiple divorces, and battles with ESPN and the NFL over the issue of race are given their fair share of attention in the book.

For a man that is so famous, and so influential, it is amazing how few authors have written about Limbaugh’s personal life in such a meaningful way.  Readers will learn how Rush got into radio in the first place, including his non-traditional path to making his career.

The book was published in the early part of 2010, prior the Republicans regaining majority control of the House of Representatives.  In its final chapters, the book is a little out of date on its political analysis, but is still worth a read.

Whether one is fan of Rush Limbaugh or not, he is not to be underestimated.

4 stars out of 5.

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An Old Novel Finds New Life In Pop Culture: Ender’s Game

January 4, 2013 by 2 Comments

A Review of Ender’s Game By Orson Scott Card

EndersGame

It is hard to say what first drew me to this novel.  I have seen it, and its sequels, in public school classrooms in our area.  A friend, concerned about censorship, and teachers getting treated badly by school administration, sent me a link to a news story where a person was nearly fired for reading from this book in class.

The teacher in question was also the subject of a criminal investigation related to this book being taught, and the story made national news at the time.  Here is how Forbes reported on it: South Carolina Teacher Suspended For Reading Students ‘Ender’s Game’ Will Not Face Criminal Charges

This story was originally published in 1977, by Analog, edited by Ben Bova.  It was not until 1985 that Tor published the story as a novel.  The book has staying power, and is being made into a movie starring Harrison Ford. At this time, IMDB, lists its release date in November 2013.

The story line is that aliens have twice attacked Earth, and humanity’s existence is at stake.  The government, through genetic breeding, is making a person to assume command of the battle fleet.  That person is Ender Wiggin.  He is only six years old at the start of the book.

As Ender, and others like him, are taken from their families for intense training, Ender must learn to adapt and survive.  Ender’s survival is not the only one at stake, for although he does not know it, time is running out.  His training may or may not be enough. No one knows.

This book is mandatory reading.  There, you have your assignment!  For young adults, the suspense will make a great story.  For those interested in leadership, the historical references will provide food for thought.  For educators, the moral purpose of education is good debate material.

For its originality and great story telling, this book gets 5 stars.

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A Hard Hitting Look At How Police Decide To Use Force

December 14, 2012 by 2 Comments

REVIEW OF

FORCE DECISIONS

A CITIZENS GUIDE

Understanding How Police Determine Appropriate Use of Force

By Rory Miller

The average citizen may not understand why one person pulled over in a traffic stop will be arrested without incident, while another person in the same city is pulled over and ends up being shot multiple times by law enforcement officers.

This book explains how and when officers use force to regular folks like you and me.  Rory Miller takes a hard look at the training that officers receive, tools available within various departments, changing case law, and environs where different techniques may be necessary (such as within a jail).  The author writes in a plain and direct style that is easily understood.

Miller is a veteran corrections officer, with extensive martial arts training.  He has taught Police Defensive Tactics, and wrote much of the book while working overseas for the Iraqi Corrections Systems.

The author takes into account societal changes in cultures and technology.  He advocates for law enforcement’s use of cameras in an age of cellphone pictures and video being able to instantly spread to wide audiences.

Considerable attention is given to Miller’s 12 “Hard Truths.”  To give an idea of what they are like, consider #1, “The only defense against evil, violent people is good people who are more skilled at violence.”

Police officers spend many hours working with people from subcultures that do not adhere to the values and norms most of us are accustomed to.

Due to this, officers may react to situations in ways average citizens do not expect.  The way in which officers evaluate potential threats is explained in ways everyone can understand.

This book is highly recommended for its direct and hard hitting explanation of the sensitive issue of force application decisions made by law enforcement officers everyday.

***

Disclosure of material connection: I received this book free from the publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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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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Electoral College Prediction: Romney 291 – Obama 247

October 26, 2012 by 1 Comment

With 11 days to go, I am going to make a prediction on how the Electoral College votes will be distributed.

My prediction: Romney 291, Obama 247

This is just an exercise in fun, and if you wish to offer your own predictions, please respond and let me know.  The only caveat is that you are not allowed to leave any states in “toss up” status.  You must make a prediction as to which way it will go.

Nebraska and Maine potentially split electoral votes between candidates, and if you think that will happen, please let me know.  I don’t think this will happen in 2012, and my prediction shows all votes going to one candidate or the other from each state.

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Bulldozers for McKenna Lots of Fun at Sunshine Days Parade

September 15, 2012 by Leave a comment

It was fun joining other supporters of Rob McKenna for Governor in the Sunshine Days Parade today.  Thanks also to State Representative David Taylor for having his own entry in the parade.  It is great to see the high school bands, beauty queens, cheerleaders, and businesses supporting a local event.

“Bulldozers for McKenna” happily rolled through Sunnyside during the Sunshine Days Parade today.

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Why Obama Is More Holy Than The Virgin Mary

September 4, 2012 by Leave a comment

Image via Wikipedia

  • Mary is not feeding a record 46.7 million Americans with food stamps like Obama did in June 2012.  Source: Bloomberg
  • Obama is now on record supporting gay marriage, saying his views are “evolving.”  Mary is still silent on this issue.  Source: CNN
  • Mary did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, or kill as many terrorists as Obama.  Sources: Huffington Post and The Telegraph
  • Mary is not speaking in favor of government sponsored bailouts of private sector union companies like Obama is.  Source: Forbes
  • There is no evidence of Mary supporting abortion, or free contraceptives for women like Obama does.  Source: Fox News
  • Mary has no plans to visit 57 states, like Obama in 2008.  Source:  Snopes
  • The Virgin Mary is not endorsed by the National Education Association, like Obama is.  In fact, mention of Mary’s name in public schools is highly discouraged.  She is not politically correct.  Source: NEA
  • Obama credits unions with building the middle class, something Mary is not on record as doing.  Source:  The Hill  (On a side note, Obama also says that if you have a business, you didn’t build that: see YouTube)
  • With government regulations threatening her family’s status of living, Mary and her family moved to a state with greater “right to work” provisions.  In her case, Egypt.  Obama seeks to prevent these kind of moves.  Source: The New York Times
  • Obama supports higher taxes on struggling businesses.  Have you ever heard Mary advocating for higher taxes? Source: The Examiner

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