Account Problem

Due to a blogspot upgrade, I had an issue with this account and will now be posting articles at http://botheconservative.blogspot.com

Hope to see you there!

My Tax Dollars Hard At Work

Supposedly in President Bush's speech tomorrow night he's going to talk about a plan to make health insurance more affordable. According to a story from Reuters, "Bush is proposing to make health insurance premiums taxable income, with people who get employer-provided plans that cost more than $15,000 a year facing a tax hike if they do not get cheaper insurance, the White House said." Excuse me? Let me get this straight...because I decided to actually apply myself, take student loans to finish college, and work for what I have, I might face a tax hike to pay for someone else's health insurance??? It's not MY fault someone can't afford it, so why in the heck would I be penalized? If I want to help someone out I will, but do NOT force me to do it.

When I was 19 I worked at Burger King. Guess what, they had a health insurance plan for people who worked more than 30 hours a week. And because I was out of school at the time, I no longer qualified to fall under my parents' plan so I signed up for it. My next job at a record store offered a similar plan and I signed up for that one as well. My point is, if you are employed then you probably have access to some kind of health insurance. The only way I can see someone doesn't have health insurance from an employer is if two conditions exist - 1) You are self-employed and are probably smart enough to have some kind of insurance, or 2) Have no job.

If you fall under reason number one and don't have insurance, then you might want to take on a job that offers it if you have a family. If you fall under reason number two then get off your butt and go get a job. I didn't borrow all the money I did and keep trying to improve myself so I can pay for some lazy bum's health insurance. What...do I sound cold-blooded? Too bad because it's exactly how I feel. If I choose to give I will, but I DO NOT want the government penalizing me because I actually tried to improve my life. I can't believe that this President is actually considering this. Well, then again I guess I can considering illegals get free healthcare which is one of the TOP contributing factors to rising costs. That and the ridiculous lawsuits...which John Edwards got rich off of.

I just love getting up every day, going to work, paying my bills on time, and then being penalized because I actually try my best to play by the rules. I've got a great idea on how to make health insurance more affordable - just renounce your citizenship. That way every time you even get a cold just go to a nearby ER and get free treatment that the rest of us will have to pay for.

I hope this story is wrong and Bush won't talk about this. If he does, then he will once again lose any respect I had...and there isn't much left.

When is Enough Enough?

Two border patrol agents have now been sent to prison for shooting a drug smuggler who crossed the border. The criminal was granted immunity for his testimony against the agents, and our tax dollars went to treat him at an American hospital. And I also see today that Mexican President Felipe Calderon is expressing outrage over the shooting death of an illegal immigrant. This agent thought his life was in jeopardy as he fought with the law-breaker, then shot and killed him. Now, this may sound cold, but I can't feel much pity. I know that sounds horrible, but it reminds me of the case here in Nashville about a year ago where someone who was wired on drugs was shot with a tazer gun and died. People were outraged, but my take on it was that the drugged-up individual would never have been in that position had he not been breaking the law. Did he deserve to die? No, but if that person hadn't been breaking the law in the first place, the event would never have happened. It's the same thing with this illegal immigrant...if he hadn't been breaking the law, then none of this would have ever happened. If you decide to break the law and something horrible happens, don't come crying to me about it because YOU put yourself in that position. This agent has now been placed on leave pending an investigation. Don't you love it when someone does their job and then is chastised for trying to enforce the law?

So the President of Mexico is outraged. What I would like to know is where is the outrage from OUR government? Who has the guts to tell that President of Mexico to shut up? Who has the guts to tell the President of Mexico that it's AGAINST THE LAW to run across the border and sneak into this country? We have a government that REFUSES to secure our borders and will always undermine the efforts of those whose job it is to try and secure it.

Oh wait, it's nothing but people wanting to come here for a better way of life. Yeah, whatever. Watch the documentary "Border War" and then come talk to me. Watch an agent's life put in jeopardy as an illegal smuggler rams his truck trying to get away. Listen to the story of a woman whose father ran one of the first safe-houses in California for illegals speak about being molested constantly as a little girl by these hard-working people looking for a better life.

So what can we do? Our government apparently doesn't care. Yes, there are very few in Washington that do care, but others are too concerned with raising the minimum wage and making sure people get free digital TV converters. Tony Snow even said that the government has not been enforcing the law....no....really?

Until we are no longer held hostage by this two party system, we will all continue to be expected to be good little serfs and till the land while The House of Lords tells us what's best for us.

Today the big news was that Barack Obama is filing papers and whatever to form an exploratory committee to look at a presidential run. haha...hahahaha....HAHAHAHA! Is this guy for real??? Every single time I hear the media report anything about him, his name is always tagged with "the rising superstar of the Democratic party"...but what in the HECK has he ever done??? I was in line at a grocery store the other day, and was looking at the various magazines in the rack at checkout. One was the latest edition of Ebony. Yes, I know it's a magazine geared towards blacks, but the cover was Obama and his wife with a headline that said something like "America's Next First Couple?" My question is "Why???" Honestly, I would LOVE to know what this guy has done to qualify him for President...I really would. Now this is me thinking out loud here...for some reason the media has fallen in love with this guy when he's never done a thing. I personally think that if he gets the Democrat nomination that the media will guilt-trip swing voters into voting for this guy. I really do. His voting record shows he's pretty liberal, but he tries to portray himself as someone who will cross party lines and try to do what's right and blah blah blah. Tennessee voters heard the same thing with Harold Ford last year. Sadly we didn't end up with any better since we got stuck with Bob "I'm against amnesty but now that I've been elected I'll look at this guest-worker program" Corker. Now what I mean by a guilt trip is that in 2006 I kept up with a lot of the blogs and other various internet sites regarding the election since I was a candidate, and SO many times I would read about how people who don't support Ford are racists. To me, race had NOTHING to do with it...I know that Ford was a used-car salesman which is why I would refer to him as Harold Fraud. I don't care what race someone is...a fake is a fake. Ford is a fake and Corker is a fake. Both are "politicians" in every sense of the word and the only difference is one had an "R" by his name and the other had a "D" on the ballot. Race means nothing to me...I want someone with vision...and Obama has none. Do NOT fall victim to any guilt-trip if he runs.

I can say I was pretty pleased to see Tom Tancredo start an exploratory committee today about running. This is one guy I will take to the streets for. Yes, he is completely against illegal immigration, but there's another reason. When I hear him talk, he truly comes across as genuine. I don't think it's an act and I'm as cynical as anyone. If Tancredo truly makes a run in 2008, I will throw every bit of support behind him because he is one guy in Washington that truly gets it.

So what are my plans in 2008? I honestly don't know. I appreciate the emails saying they will support a run of mine for the Senate in 2008, but one thing this past election taught me is that an independent without millions of dollars has no chance. I did everything I could and was shut out of many events and denied a lot of media coverage. So what about forming a legitimate third party? Stay tuned.

Yes, it's time to get things rolling again. After taking some time off after the election and enjoying the holidays, I couldn't help but feel this need to get back online and start spouting my thoughts and opinions on politics and issues. First, let me say that I have hundreds of emails in my inbox that I am currently going through, so please be patient. I don't mean to sound like some pseudo-celebrity or anything like that, I just haven't logged into that email address since mid-November so it will take me a little time to catch up, and I do want to get back to everyone.

So here we are with the Democrats in control of Congress. What will this accomplish? Probably about as much if the Republicans were in control. I think more and more people are really starting to wake up to the fact that this two party system does not work anymore, and we are all being held hostage by it. For example, what is the new Congress' big accomplishment thus far? Let's see...securing the borders? No. How about fixing Social Security? Ummm...no. Wait, I know...giving our military everything they need including SUPPORT to do their job? Hmmm...again I'm wrong. The answer is a higher minimum wage! Yes, thousands of illegal immigrants flood our nation every day, we are still in a war against savages who want to cut our heads off, and Congress pats itself on the back for passing a bill that raises the minimum wage. Wow...I'll sleep better tonight.

If you've never read any of my previous blogs from the campaign, let me explain something - a raise in minimum wage is a BAD thing. Oh I know, I sound like I hate poor people and want to keep them in poverty, but allow me to explain. First, nothing in the Constitution gives Congress the authority to legislate this. Oh I know, I'm one of those people who actually think that we are a nation of laws and that the Constitution is the document that isn't open to interpretation and should be adhered to. After all, this document outlines very specifically what our federal government is allowed to do...but what do I know...I'm just supposed to be a good little serf and till the land. Second, I would love for those who support an increase in minimum wage to explain to me where all this extra money is supposed to come from. I believe the plan is to increase it to $7.50 and hour which would mean about a $2.00 an hour increase. So who creates all this extra money for the companies to pay? We do, that's who. Prices will rise a little to make up for the higher salaries and in some cases people will be laid off. For example, back in 1990 when the minimum wage increased from $3.35 an hour to $3.60 an hour (and the next year went to $4.25) I was ecstatic because I was actually living off minimum wage at that time while going to college. Yes, I was trying to pay my rent and bills off minimum wage, and was having a difficult time doing it. So when the increase was announced, I was pretty thrilled...until it actually took place. The day the new wage went into effect, I had to adjust all the prices on the menu by a dime on average (I was working a fast-food job at the time). And that week when I went to the grocery store, I noticed the prices on the things I bought were a little higher. Why? Because the companies now had to pay out more money so they raised prices. Basically I was at the same place financially I was prior to the wage increase.

Minimum wage jobs are designed for people in school, not for someone trying to support a family of four. I heard one Congressman say that people on minimum wage haven't had a raise in 15 years...or something like that. Ok, if you have been working a job for minimum wage and haven't received a raise you are either a) a complete loser or b) a moron. He tried to make it sound like there's thousands of people who have been stuck in minimum wage jobs for a decade with no hope for a raise. Give me a break. I know this may sound harsh, but if you are trying to support a family on minimum wage, you've made some bad decisions and really need to make some changes. It shouldn't be up to the government to reward you because you have no drive...you have to go out and get it for yourself. Improve yourself...work hard...learn new things and improve your life. It's out there if you really want it.

Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime. It all comes down to personal responsibility.

I know this blog looks crude right now...but I'll get it shaped up soon. And thanks for everyone who not only voted for me, but emailed me after the election. Like I said, I'll get back to you.

Also, stay tuned for some announcements about 2008. I've got some plans and ideas and I will definitely need some help.