Why I Stand With George Bush

First, I didn’t fall off the pickle truck.  I know George Bush is not and will never be the on level Genius Bill Clinton (to his detriment, “is, is”) was or is today.

 

He is just George.  An accidental president.  I remember when his campaign crucified McCain in 1999.  It was brutal.  I didn’t like Bush then. 

 

But, now he is our president for good or bad.  I am ever thankful that in the seat of power that GWB occupies today, that Al Gore or John Kerry isn’t there.  It’s not their politics.  It’s who they are.  Who I can believe or not.  Who can and will make things better as opposed to just talk about it.

 

Bill Clinton was a remarkable man.  His wife will probably be the 44^th president of the USA.  But he was nearly always form over substance.  I’ll never forget a trip to Russia he made in the 7^th year of his presidency.  After his return on NPR radio Veteran reporter-commentator Daniel Schorr, who is well over 80, was waxing eloquent on his conquests and accomplishments as a result of  this trip Clinton had just returned from.  His two guests, both Russian experts, both well versed in the things of the world were asked to list the main accomplishments of Clinton on the trip.  Both said none, they said, he had done nothing, it was all smoke and mirrors.  Schorr astonished asked, NOTHING?  Nope, Nothing.  He accomplished nothing they said.  These were not right wing conservatives.  They were scholars who had an objective view of what they hoped might happen.  

 

Bill Clinton was a heck of a guy.  I would enjoy hanging out with him.  He certainly would be fun.  But he was all form over function.  Today People long for the Clinton days.  The Tech bubble that he fed with fantasy that exploded a year after his departure from the White House.  The artificial surplus that so many people talk about because he cut spending and reduced military and raised taxes that eventually created the market collapse.  Just after he was gone.  I think madam President will be smarter.  Bill will be good to make speeches.  We might be back to the days of co-presidency.  Just as long as Hillary is in charge.

 

So why do I trust and honor President Bush?  Because, in spite of low approval numbers (like Truman), a hostile press (like Lincoln), explosive national catastrophes (like Roosevelt) and an unpopular war with a divided nation (like Washington) he stays the course.  People call him an idiot, stupid and a moron.  They regret voting for him if they did and they think others that did are beyond understanding.  He is considered elite and aloof (like Roosevelt), out of touch with the people (like Eisenhower), and too stupid to hold the office (like Carter). 

 

So, with those disqualifications I think he has a good bet to be one of our all time great presidents in the rear view mirror.  Popular and approved doesn’t make for presidential quality, it just makes good press.  People who are influenced by negative press need to start thinking for themselves.

 

I don’t want the likes of a cynical Bill Mahr or Michael Moore to be leading this country.  Thank God for President Bush.

 

Here is why I back him:

 

I can trust him to do what he says.  He does very little hyperbole and empty promises.  If he says it, count on it.  He’s a man of very few eloquent words and much follow thru to the chagrin of his critics.  When he said he was going to take on the terrorists, he did.  It’s not done, but have you visited any training camps protected by the Taliban in Afghanistan lately? Neither has anyone else. 

 

He is loyal to a fault to his staff and his friends.  The lack of political executions of those who fail him is admirable.  Michael Brown was a dope.  Should have gone.  I don’t know the man but he hung around longer than most people would have given him.  Loyalty to a fault is better than falsehood.  I can admire this and respect a man who is loyal to those to whom he makes a commitment.

 

He is at his core motivated to help others if he can.  Sometimes he can’t, sometime he doesn’t know what to do.  That’s why he has staff, but in the end you can trust him to help if he can.  It’s who he is.

 

His using pet names for people, even to the preposterous limits he does (Putti Put Putin) irritates me at some level but I have known people like this.  They in their heart are friendly folks.  Take em out the ranch and barbeque, even the prime minister of China.  I think a smile has power, Bush knows how to do this better than many of his stiff predecessors.

 

His heart is kind and compassionate.  He is moved sincerely by the needs of people if he knows about it.  Sometimes he is too insulated by his schedule and his staff but when he becomes aware of a situation he responds with kindness and action.  Real Kindness.  Only Jimmy Carter is his equal in this.

 

He knows his role and he stays within it.   He understands his place in the scope of things.  Sometimes I wish his staff would stay out of the way but he knows there is an order and a structure and he tries hard to stay in it unlike the image many try to lay on him of a wild cowboy.  I don’t see it.

 

He is an optimist.  He never seems to be downhearted.  He is always cheerful.  Sometimes more than I am.  He hangs in there.  When the world sees a destroyed New Orleans he sees the new dawn of the Crescent City better than ever.  I may think it naïve, but sometimes I want to believe.

 

He is a fiscal conservative but with too big a heart.  I have often wished he would spend less, take away his credit card.  The NOLA spending scares me.  But I’m timid.  On the other hand he has already talked about the changes needed to fund this.  I am hoping his core thrifty bent will dominate.

 

He is courageous.  At the UN, in Iraq, against an Axis of Evil, against naysayers.  He is not deferred.  He doesn’t take a 3pm poll and adjust his policies to fit the mood of the country.  Clinton did.  He was popular but ineffective.  I hope his wife when she becomes president does better. 

 

He exemplifies order and decorum in every way.  He has been criticized for working out as much as he does.  OK, I’ll bite.  He always wears a suit.  He always looks the part.  And that is wrong how?  He’s trim, ready and alles in ordnung.  He makes other walk the walk too.  I admire him for being in order.

 

He is a God fearing man.  I have been lambasted by enough so called Christians to know that I’m in good company with George Bush.  Jesus was accused over 20 times of being in cahoots with the devil, not being a good Jew, of breaking religious ordinances.  So, if Jesus got it, I get it, and George Bush gets it, I’m ok with that.   I know this, he knows God.  You might not understand this but with him as the head of our country knowing his ear is had by the likes of TD Jakes, James Robinson, and Kim Clement makes me sleep at night.  He will hear the word of the Lord loud and clear.  I don’t think Bill Mahr who is an avouwed atheist has much to say about this.

 

In Conclusion, George Bush is better prepared in many ways to be president at these critical times and the times to come than any other person we might have had in office.  (There will be two more MAJOR crises equal or greater than 9-11 or Katrina in his presidency before his term is done)

 

I for one along with many am thankful he is there.  Perfect, no.  But even the perfect one was crucified.  Why should GWB get off any easier. 

 

So, hang in there, he’s going to the president for the next 3 years no matter what any of us thinks  He is one of the great ones.  Maybe the greatest we ever had.  Only history will tell.  I’ll wait.

 

We’re in good hands.

 

 

 

ABC News Experiences Shock and Awe

An ABC News reporter who apparently expected hurricane evacuees to criticize the president after his speech Thursday night, instead heard words of praise for Bush and blame for local officials.

Dean Reynolds, in the parking lot of Houston's Astrodome, spoke with black evacuees from New Orleans, but "not one of the six people interviewed on camera had a bad word for Bush – despite Reynolds' best efforts," said the Media Research Center in a report on the segment.

A video excerpt can be viewed here.

Reynolds asked Connie London: "Did you harbor any anger toward the president because of the slow federal response?"

"No, none whatsoever," she said, "because I feel like our city and our state government should have been there before the federal government was called in."

London pointed out: "They had RTA buses, Greyhound buses, school buses, that was just sitting there going under water when they could have been evacuating people."

Reynolds asked Brenda Marshall: "Was there anything that you found hard to believe that he said, that you thought, well, that's nice rhetoric, but, you know, the proof is in the pudding?"

She replied, "No, I didn't," prompting Reynolds to marvel to anchor Ted Koppel: "Very little skepticism here."

Reynolds pressed another woman: "Did you feel that the president was sincere tonight?"

She affirmed: "Yes, he was."

Reynolds asked who they held culpable for the levee breaks – a problem national media have blamed on Bush-mandated budget cuts:

One evacuee said, "They've been allocated federal funds to fix the levee system, and it never got done. I fault the mayor of our city personally. I really do."

The full text of Reynolds interviews is as follows:

"I'd like to get the reaction of Connie London who spent several horrible hours at the Superdome. You heard the president say repeatedly that you are not alone, that the country stands beside you. Do you believe him?"

Connie London: "Yeah, I believe him, because here in Texas, they have truly been good to us. I mean-"

Reynolds: "Did you get a sense of hope that you could return to your home one day in New Orleans?"

London: "Yes, I did. I did."

Reynolds: "Did you harbor any anger toward the President because of the slow federal response?"

London: "No, none whatsoever, because I feel like our city and our state government should have been there before the federal government was called in. They should have been on their jobs."

Reynolds: "And they weren't?"

London: "No, no, no, no. Lord, they wasn't. I mean, they had RTA buses, Greyhound buses, school buses, that was just sitting there going under water when they could have been evacuating people."

Reynolds: "Now, Mary, you were rescued from your house which was basically submerged in your neighborhood. Did you hear something in the President's words that you could glean some hope from?"

Mary: "Yes. He said we're coming back, and I believe we're coming back. He's going to build the city up. I believe that."

Reynolds: "You believe you'll be able to return to your home?"

Mary: "Yes, I do."

Reynolds: "Why?"

Mary: "Because I really believe what he said. I believe. I got faith."

Reynolds: "Back here in the corner, we've got Brenda Marshall, right?"

Brenda Marshall: "Yes."

Reynolds: "Now, Brenda, you were, spent, what, several days at the Superdome, correct?"

Marshall: "Yes, I did."

Reynolds: "What did you think of what the President told you tonight?"

Marshall: "Well, I think -- I think the speech was wonderful, you know, him specifying that we will return back and that we will have like mobile homes, you know, rent or whatever. I was listening to that pretty good. But I think it was a well fine speech."

Reynolds: "Was there any particular part of it that stood out in your mind? I mean, I saw you all nod when he said the Crescent City is going to come back one day."

Marshall: "Well, I think I was more excited about what he said. That's probably why I nodded."

Reynolds: "Was there anything that you found hard to believe that he said, that you thought, well, that's nice rhetoric, but, you know, the proof is in the pudding?"

Marshall: "No, I didn't."

Reynolds: "Good. Well, very little skepticism here. Frederick Gould, did you hear something that you could hang on to tonight from the President?"

Frederick Gould: "Well, I just know, you know, he said good things to me, you know, what he said, you know. I was just trying to listen to everything they were saying, you know."

Reynolds: "And Cecilia, did you feel that the President was sincere tonight?"

Cecilia: "Yes, he was."

Reynolds: "Do you think this is a little too late, or do you think he's got a handle on the situation?"

Cecilia: "To me it was a little too late. It was too late, but he should have did something more about it."

Reynolds: "Now do you all believe that you will one day return to your homes?"

Voices: "Yes" and "I do."

Reynolds: "I mean, do you all want to return to your homes? We're hearing some people don't even want to go back."

Mary: "I want to go back."

Reynolds: "You want to go back."

Mary: "I want to go back. That's my home. That's all I know."

Reynolds: "Is it your home for your whole life?"

Mary: "Right. That's my home."

Reynolds: "And do you expect to go back to the house or a brand new dwelling or what?"

Mary: "I expect to go back to something. I know it ain't my house, because it's gone."

Reynolds: "What is the one mistake that could have been prevented that would have made your lives much better? Is it simply getting all of you out much sooner or what was it?"

Mary: "I'm going to tell you the truth. I had the opportunity to get out, but I didn't believe it. So I stayed there till it was too late."

Reynolds: "Did you all have the same feeling? I mean, did you all have the opportunity to get out, but you were skeptical that this was the really bad one?"

Unnamed woman: "No, I got out when they said evacuate. I got out that Sunday and I left before the storm came. But I know they could have did better than what they did because like they said, buses were just sitting there, and they could have came through there and got people out, because they were saying immediate evacuation. Some people didn't believe it. But they should have brung the force of the army through to help these people and make them understand it really was coming."

London: "And really it wasn't Hurricane Katrina that really tore up the city. It was when they opened the floodgates. It was not the hurricane itself. It was the floodgates, when they opened the floodgates, that's where all the water came."

Reynolds: "Do you blame anybody for this?"

London: "Yes. I mean, they've been allocated federal funds to fix the levee system, and it never got done. I fault the mayor of our city personally. I really do."

Reynolds: "All right. Well, thank you all very much. I wish you all the best of luck. I hope you don't have to spend too much more time here in the Reliant Center and you can get back to New Orleans as the President said. Ted, that is the word from the Houston Astrodome. And as I said, when the President said that the Crescent City will rise again, there were nods all around this parking lot."

Not Every Sad Tale is True

You saw it.  The Parish President from the New Orleans area on Meet the Press telling the tale of a woman in a nursing home who called her son every day for several days as the water rose to ask:  "Are they coming, is anyone coming".  And tearfully he assured, "Yes Momma, they're coming". 

 

Then we were told she drown because no one came.

 

It broke my heart.  Peggy cried.  The man on TV cried.  It was tragic. 

 

EXCEPT

 

It was all a lie.  He broke my wife's heart for POLITICAL gain.  I doubt some sad stories I see on TV.  Sometimes they are just too darn convenient.  So should you.

 

I have been accused of being just a little cynical.  Accused of not being the Christian I "Pretend" to be.  I'll let others decide.  I know in whom I believe.

 

My only question is, will this play on NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MSNBC, CNN, NY Times, Washington Post, or perhaps the show which started it all, Meet the Press.    We'll see.  This is my little coal to help see if more heat will stoke up the feet I hope are in the fire.

 

I'm the Guilty One

I'll come clean.

That mess in Southern Louisiana and Mississippi. I did it. I caused the Hurricane, I made sure that the evacuation was incomplete, I didn't send the busses, I just left them in the parking lot, I bombed the Levy so it would flood the city, I stranded thousands in Convention Centers and the Superdome to be abused.

I kept the FEMA crew away a few extra days for sensitivity training. I didn't use the national guard when I could have. I didn't send the military as quickly as I might have. I stole money for pet pork projects in New Orleans for years so the infrastructure would fail under pressure.

I am keeping the remains of the victims hidden to keep the death count down.

Don't bother blaming anyone else. I did it all by myself. Guilty as charged.

What? You don't believe I did all those things? I'm holding me accountable. Why can't you?

So why in heck do we blame our President or the Governor of LA for these things even if they are willing to say the buck stops there. HUH? I admire both for saying I didn't do as well as I should have. I think it shows true statesmanship. Something that is missing in politics, I've been watching the Roberts Hearings. The left should hang their head in shame. When I fix the next election I'll make sure GWB and LA's Gov get re-elected (I'll have to fix the constitution too, but with Roberts as Chief Justice that's no problem).

This is so Stupid - the we gotta blame somebody society is out of control.

Blame your cat, he's just as guilty. MEOW

Money is NOT the Answer

Unless you ask the right questions.

 

This is true in life, in business, in government and in politics.

 

The New Orleans rebuilding and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts are about to demonstrate the truth of this.  You,Me, FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and the US taxpayer continues to throw money at a problem that needs much more.  Short term it is OK.  People are being fed, clothed, housed, and in general welfare ways being placed where they can live, work and create a life.

 

That's all admirable. 

 

I remember an experiment from the late 1970's.  50 different people from all backgrounds, poverty, wealth, color, ethnicity, working class, middle class were all discovered at a time where for one reason or another they had all found themselves flat broke.  Out of money.  Destitute.  Lots of reasons.  Lots of backgrounds.  Over 3 years when these people were discovered they were give an equal financial stipend.

 

Each of them was given unrestrained a significant amount of money.  $200,000 dollars.  This was a grant.   Given to them.  They had to agree to be tracked for the 3 years following the grant.

 

The results were not surprising.  Those who came from poverty returned to poverty after the money ran out.  Those from wealth emerged wealthy.  Those middle class, middle classed, those working class working classed. 

 

So, what does this mean?  It means that to give money without a cultural and sociological change only means you interrupt a cultural dependency mentality which money can't break.  Eventually they will return to what they were. This is not about education.  It's about a cultural expectations.  It's about who they are and what they see themselves becoming.  Low expectation low results.

 

When I saw what happened in New Orleans after Katrina was not color, it was culture.  If the culture of these people doesn't change New Orleans will not be better.  It will end up ultimately like those people of the grant who returned to their former state. 

 

One cultural condition in Southern Louisiana particularly in the metro New Orleans area among leadership and power brokers is a culture of corruption, graft, people on the take and crime.  If we as the American taxpayers and those who contribute money and time are going to really help we must not pour money into a black hole with no accountability.  I implore those who can to be careful and discerning in how you give.  I implore those in positions of authority to not just give money. 

 

Let's do what we can to change the culture with those people who need the change or nothing will change. 

I couldn't disagree with him more but I like him

Jack Sunday is a radio star on WDAY in Fargo ND.  He also writes a blog called NODAK JACK.  He's a real guy with guy issues.  One issue he differs from me with is politics.  It's ok.  I think it would be fun to chew the proverbial fat with him.

 

His latest post was full-on left wingnut crazy again.  He mentioned something about a SCOTUS test.  That was a new one on me.  I decided to look it up on google.  Here's what I found.  Take the SCOTUS test and decide if you are politically properly centered (Right Wing Wacko) or a (Outer Space Left Wing) Progressive.

 

I'm proudly a Right Wing Wacko thank you very much. Now about invading Belgium....

 

Send Money, but Send it to the RIGHT Charity

I will get in trouble with some of you. You will think I'm awful. But I must take a stand. I have friends on the front lines of Katrina right now in Louisiana and Mississippi. I get reports from them about what's going on there every day.

I have considered publishing the emails directly but I don't want to jaundice them. I don't mind being a little jaundiced. Two examples:

Catholic friends of mine in Biloxi were feeding thousands. The Red Cross came in and stopped them. If they continued to do so any aid they might have gotten would be cut off. They ended up throwing away pots of Jambalaya because of this.

FEMA thru the Red Cross will not help people with relief who are being housed if that housing did not come thru the Red Cross. This from another friend of mine. This is happening right now. It's tragic.

I have a dozen others I am cataloging. This is not a pretty sight. It's all about power and control.

The Red Cross has done many good things. They have become a controlling bureaucracy which may not be the best use of our contributions.

A few days ago a fellow blogger rebuked me in my questioning of the Red Cross, I backed down. I now have to take it back. I have continued to get backchannel feeds which tell me something is really wrong. Either all those people who don't know each other are lying or.....What?

My suspicion is no one who is in a position to be hurt or not helped by the Red Cross is going to say anything right now. My further suspicion is there are so many stories like this which will come to the surface in time. I hope the Red Cross can resolve the questions that will be raised. I have doubts.

Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, any good sound faith based organization is a better way to give. Lutheran Relief. Baptist whatever your bent is, most of that money is funneled properly and without the control, agenda and the bureaucracy that the Red Cross has become.

Hang on to your hats. When the stories start coming they will be brutal. Red Cross, this shot is directly across your bow. Your future depends on it. You can't afford a scandal now. The work you do is too important for you to mess it up now.

I appeal to any representative of the Red Cross to contact me, I would like to get to the bottom of this. I await your email.

Told Ya So

Larry Ristvedt used to say the cure for high prices was high prices. I commented a while back that the best news in the world was the high price of oil because it meant that Gasoline prices would come down. Only artificially controlled oil prices keep gas expensive and in short supply. There has been a foolish petition to ask Bush to lower gas prices. I didn't sign it. It's counterintuitive.

Larry used to say that if Soybeans were $20 a bushel everyone in America would be growing them in their back yard. And the price would come down.

Adam Smith's invisible hand at work.

Don't top off your tank just yet.

I Dream of Cars

I have recurring pleasant dreams at night. 

 

No, not that kind. Shame on you for even thinking that. 

 

I dream of Cars.  Wonderful cars.  Cars of my youth.  Cars of pure pleasure. 

 

I confess, I was a gear head as a youth.  I loved the smell of burning rubber in the morning.

 

When I left home I left behind two huge boxes of assorted “Hot Rod” type magazines.  All with wonderful cars in them with flames on the side.  If I had them today I would be financially better off.  I digress.

 

My friend Charlie Comstock (He’s now Chuck) had a car I thought was wonderful.  A 56 4 door Chevy Bellaire.  It had a piston knock.  It smoked.  He painted it sea green.  It was a beautiful thing.  I dream of that car.  That series of automobile was one of Detroit’s finest ever made.

 

I dream of old Dodge’s.  48-50.  You sat upright, you could wear a hat in the car. 

I never owned one but always wanted to.  I had a straight eight 53 Pontiac Cheiftan Black and Chartreuse (I painted it).  It was 400 yards long.  Slow as molasses.  Still in all a wonderful car.

 

I dream of all these cars.  AND MORE:

 

Last night I dreamed of a 57 Chevy Station Wagon.  It had a 37 gallon gas tank and got 30 miles to the gallon on the road.  Do the math.  That’s a thousand mile range or better.  In my sleep it had one of those on board computers that shows all the MPG and stuff like the Buick I drive now has.  It was luxurious inside.  Had power windows, door locks and power rear gate air and the 367 engine.   I suspect in my stupor it was a PT Cruiser type reiteration of the 57 wagon.  Sort of like, if you could go back and get the beauty and charm of the 57 wagon combined with the modern plusses of today’s vehicles.

 

In my dream we (Peggy and I are younger again) are with our kids going somewhere on one tank of gas driving this wonderful car. 

 

I have these perfect car dreams often. 

 

Am I weird?

 

Maybe.  But I note that Detroit keeps trying to reinvent cars that were perfect.  Look at the new 1950 Chevy pickup.  Or the new Chevy 1948 suburban.  And the PT cruiser.

 

I know where this all comes from.  Lloyd Ertelt had a 57 Chevy, Brown and White with a 367.  It was a beaut.  I never forgot it.  55-57 were great Chevy years.  Then the Aircraft carriers came along.

 

Detroit, take a hint.  Build the 57 Chevy Wagon again.  I can see it.  4WD.  367.

30 mpg.  37 gallon tank.  The marriage between the SUV and the Minivan with mileage. 

 

Call me, I’ll tell you where to send the royalty check.

Bush is Hiding Dead Bodies in New Orleans

I am constant in my amazement at Bush Hating liberals. They see everything thru their darkly clouded lenses. The REDLIN COMMISSION report will appear in a few days. I will then give you the truth about what happened in the wake of Katrina, who to blame and what should be done next. What gives me the right you ask? I have as much right as those on the left (like Molly Ivins) who continue to beat this already dead dog. They know less than you (or me).

A writer of some quality has parodied the left wing mentality in his new blog. It's pretty good read. He's from Berkley California. There are conservatives in Berkley.

Sadly, here is a news story written by a liberal reporter that in essence accuses Bush of hiding dead people and their body count for political gain.

You would think the fact that we will end up far less than a thousand total dead from Katrina is good news. That the fact people were wise, saved, rescued, and now being housed, clothed and fed by volunteers nationwide would be a positive. If you take the total of the population, subtract the dead, the percentage saved is very high.

This is bad news for liberals. Really bad. It means that the flotsam of dead bodies upon who's graves the liberals intended to dance their victory dance will not be there. They really counted on this albatross to hang around Bush's neck.

The Lost Art of Economics - A challenge

I'll admit it, I'm not an economist. I do understand economics like I understand how to walk, sit and speak. If you live it, you understand it, unless you aren't paying attention.

I have 4 major disagreements with current economic forecasting theory in the mainstream media and politicians.

MY THESIS:

Inflation isn't caused by high prices. High prices aren't even a harbinger or indicator of inflation. In fact high prices often can be a deflationary influence. Yet, every time I hear a report about oil prices, diesel prices, gas prices, home heating prices and steel prices it's always followed by the statement that this could lead to higher inflation. Then worse, politicians push on Greenspan and the Fed to do something about inflation (by raising interest rates).

MY FRUSTRATION:

How dumb can you get and still breathe? Sorry to be so blunt but I wish one cogent person on the planet would help me understand where this grand delusion comes from. Don't they teach economics in high school anymore?

MY ARGUMENTS:

1. High prices for inelastic demand goods (Gasoline, diesel, home heating in some part steel) act as a TAX on the economy. (the word taxing has nothing to do with IRS and everything to do with negative stress). If I have to pay more for things I MUST buy I will have less money to buy things I would LIKE to buy (discretionary income). I an expert on having too little discretionary income.

2. Inflation comes from shortages. Shortages? Oil, nope. Gasoline, Temporary. Diesel ditto. Steel. All of the above has to do with interruptions in logistics, not from core scarceness. We have little genuine scarceness. Oh, those prices will be higher for a while, but they aren't inflationary. Not inflationary because there far too much capacity for everything else. Name me ONE item that is short (for real). Milk, bread, rental property, automobiles, clothing, food in general, tires, name ONE. Every item in our economy is in abundance or surplus. I thought about this long and hard. I can't come up with one thing you can't buy all of that you want at whatever price you are willing to pay. That's a harbinger of deflation not inflation. Too many goods chasing scarce dollars. That brings me to #3.

3. Real inflation comes from too much money chasing too few goods. Look in your heart of hearts. Even among wealthy friends. Does anyone have so much money they are chasing too few goods? Do you? The big problem we have in our economy is liquidity. People have too little money. Real incomes in America on average adjusted to 1970's dollars basis is DOWN, a great deal. I (and you) are making less money than you did then in real dollars. In 1972 I knew many people who were making $50,000 per year and it wasn't considered big money. The shop workers we had then in our factory during that time were making $15 per hour and they tried to organize for more money. UPS workers in 1985 used to start at $18 per hour to load trucks, today it is HALF of that! Too much money. Not on your life.

4. High priced inputs only impacts profit not selling price. This is the issue I have the biggest argument with the MSM on. If it costs me more to produce a widget because of fuel prices I can NOT automatically pass on that higher cost to the consumer. I can try. But, the buyer who looks at my goods, prices them and makes a decision based on reduced discretionary income to buy or not at a higher price decides if I will be allowed by the market to sell at a higher price. The real price anyone can get is what I am willing to sell it for paired with what you are willing to buy it for. If we agree to that transaction that's the price. Not what I asked and not what you thought you were willing to pay. The actual price is after the transaction has taken place. So, for inflation to begin means lots of people willingly pay higher prices for discretionary goods. I don't see that happening any time soon. Discretionary goods are the only source of inflation, inelastic demand items higher priced are a drag on inflation pressures.

MY CHALLENGE:

I would hear anyone out who thinks I'm all wet. Your experiences might trump my theories. I need you to do more than tell about old aunt Helen, what happened to her, poor soul. Give me sound economic rationale that supports your argument. I, like many of you, lived thru and learned well from a rampant inflationary cycle that ended up with interest rates of 20% as normative. I see NOTHING like this in our economy at all today. AND?

MY CONCLUSION:

The biggest concern I have is an Illiquidity in the money supply as happened after 9-11 that causes a near miss with deflation and potential depression. We are tottering on that today.

THERE IS NO INFLATION!

The Terminator Terminates the Courts and Dumb Politicians

I love the fact that AHNOLD had the courage to do what the people of California wanted.

They voted fair and square in Prop 22, no gay marriage in CA

Legislators and Courts said, uh uh, you can't do that, we know better. They passed a law that said Gay Marriage is OK. Take that you voters. We know better than you..

SO, the legislator's petulance?
.

Arnold vetoed it.

Good on him!

The courts and the legislators, Oh, They'll be Back. They know better than the vote of the people, So let's have prop 33. Vote all over again. The the courts will rule against the vote of the people and spineless politicos will cover their butts by voting PC and on and on.

Hang in there Mr. World. The courts don't make law except in Iran. (and sometimes Californaya)

Frustration with FEMA

I watched the news tonight. People are frustrated with FEMA. No answers. No answerers. If you get a human on the phone they have another phone number you have to call. I hate to say it, typical government. But that's what you get when you recite the 23rd PALM (as in handout) The Government is my Shepherd, I shall not want..

I have dealt with another Governmental agency I-S which shall go nameless, for the last year. When I call the (no) Service Center I get either a person who's retired, does this part time and knows little about his or her job or someone who, how can I say this properly, is there in part because of an equal opportunity employment policy (not that there's anything wrong with that).

I understand these people I saw on TV. I have compassion.

Where's General Honere. He'll kick some butt! (and take some names)

I'm calling my congressman next, who just happens to be Denny Hastert, my close personal friend. Between those two bulldogs maybe something will happen.

Now you can put your money where your MOUTH is!

I love Chicago. I came here as part of the Trading Establishment 20 years ago. You know, soybeans, pork bellies, bonds and gentlemen don't trade oats.

Some enterprising traders have put together a real life environment to allow you to trade on events, their probability and outcomes.

If you have an opinion and you got the guts you can trade for real money.

You take a position and at some point it either happens as you predict or it doesn't. It all works against a clock. If it happens it goes off the board at 100, if it doesn't it goes off at zero.

So, now if you believe whatever you can put your money down. The site is a little hairy but I'll bet you can find your way around it. Click on markets. You'll find it.

I will have Compassion on whom I will have Compassion - God

Many people with a poor understanding of the nature of God is that he always blesses everyone, that everyone gets an unlimited measure of mercy and compassion, that God is just a big sugar daddy looking for ways to make your life better. This misunderstanding usually is parroted by people without much depth who criticize others with statements of the following preface:

• How can you call yourself a Christian if
• Jesus only spoke about Love and Forgiveness
• If God is a God of Love howcome
• and my all time un-favorites, Jesus said, don't be judgmental toward sin
  
• and he said: let he who without sin cast the first stone so we aren't supposed to be ____________

So, we are supposed to be as un-wise and indiscrimating as this god they have in their imaginations. It suits their purposes of course, don't question my motives, just give and close a blind eye to what I do. We used to call that being an enabler. Too harsh? OK, read on.

I'm not going to try to help you understand the Holy nature of God. I don't myself. But if you believe any of the above, I need you to think about this verse. God says to Moses in exodus 33:19. "" I will have mercy on those I will have mercy and compassion on those on whom I will have compassion"". Paul the Apostle reiterates this in Romans 9:15. Read all of Romans 9 and you will get a big picture of the situation.

The essence of these verses is simply this, God is no respecter of persons, we are not to ask why. God is not injust but he's not just according to human measurements. He does discriminate in his mercies, judgments and compassions.

So should we.

Julie Neidlinger (I will stop promoting her when she gets boring which may not be anytime soon) writes a brilliant essay on Compassion. I think everyone who struggles with wise giving needs to read this. I have forwarded it to several pastor friends and have found it to be pretty sound theology. They agree.

In The Chronicles of Narnia, an allegory by C. S. Lewis, the author has two girls, Susan and Lucy, getting ready to meet Aslan the lion, who represents Christ. Two talking animals, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, prepare the children for the encounter.

"“Ooh,"” said Susan, "“I thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."”

"“That you will, dearie," said Mrs. Beaver. "“And make no mistake, if there'’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they'’re either braver than most or else just silly."

"Then isn'’t he safe?"” said Lucy.

"“Safe?"” said Mr. Beaver. "“Don'’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn'’t safe. But he'’s good. He'’s the king, I tell you!"”

We have a King, Jesus, he isn't safe, but you can trust him.

Rehnquist and Me

Everyone has a double, a doppelganger, a un-genetic twin.

There are people who make a living impersonating famous people because they look just like them. I never cashed in.

My double just died. Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

20 years ago when I moved to Chicago I was always amazed at people who would look at me funny, who would comment they knew who I was, and some would outright ask me. Walking thru airports particularly on the east coast was a hoot. Here'’s the strange part. I didn'’t know what it was all about until one day a man stopped me on the streets of downtown, asked me, then said, ""“You look exactly like the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court""”.

Of course, that'’ll get your attention. So, I found pictures. Sure enough. He had the temerity to look like me. The rascal.

Remember the movie Dave? The President of the United States has a stroke, they find a man that looks just like him, he impersonates the President. Does pretty well. Falls in love with the soon to be widowed first lady. Happy endings all around. I liked the movie. Thought it might mean that someday I would get a call to sit on the supreme court in lieu of the Chief Justice. My phone never rang. I guess my shot at power is gone. Pity, I would have been good at it. HEH!

I gained a pound or two. He got older. It was always interesting to see him age. I kept thinking, maybe I'’ll look that good 20 years from now. When he was 60 and I was 40, he looked young and I looked, well like I look now. We Redlins have this habit of hitting an age and stopping.

I hope the Chief Justice rests in peace.







He always was a good looking fellow.

Economic Fallout from 9-11 and/or Katrina

This is number 3 in a series of how 9-11 and Katrina are radically different in their impact. Again, if someone says, “Like 9-11” to make a point, ignore everything he or she says after that. They are full of poop.

I have asked very smart people to offer their views on this. The only comments I have received is, “I don’t know if I feel qualified to make a comment on this”.
That’s never stopped me before, it won’t now. I could be wrong, Or right. Ignore my viewpoint at your own risk.

So, here goes:

MONEY
9-11
Money stopped. You may have forgotten. People quit paying their bills. People lived in fear that the next day could be their last. Liquidity dried up. The government didn’t get it. Millions went bust.

Then several months later things loosened up. Too late for many, including yours truly. The damage was done. The happy talk didn’t help much from the government. Resources were taken to put in place policies which did nothing but inhibit the free flow of commerce (air travel).

Eventually after stock market free fall from fear the economy began to recover. For most of 2002 it sagged, surged, sagged. Unemployment was tremendous.

The economic shock rooted as much in fear and loathing as reality. People gave but it had no effect. The government paid off litigants. Money was used in place of compassion and impact. It was badly executed. The war on terror, Iraq and all has done little to really change the financial landscape. Only by the sheer determination of the American economy have we come this far.

Katrina and Money
There is no negative impact from the disaster in New Orleans. It’s all a zero sum game. Money in, money out. The best thing the government can do is leave hands off as much as possible. There are short term impacts which will be discussed below but for the most part this is a non event in the gross economy. No one is living in fear in Chicago that a hurricane will drop in and destroy us.
All the giving, all the federal help, all of everything that will happen in the next years will be zero impact. It in fact is a positive. It frees up money in the economy that might not otherwise been set free. I know it sounds callous but think of Hurricane Andrew. Locally a catastrophe, nationally no impact, net effect probably positive. Restructured insurance reinsurance a little.

OIL
9-11
Limited net effect. Market jerked around. It always does. There is no shortage of oil. In 3 months the effect on people’s pocketbook was negligible. There was an underlying view that invading Iraq would free up lots of oil. Of course that never happened.

Katrina
Oil will be short for a short time. Price will be high. It’s not crude. It refining and logistics. There is no global oil shortage. The good news is, the relaxation of boutique refining which will stay in place. It was a dumb idea to start with. Then there are refineries that will be brought on line to make up the shortfall. Several are sitting idle in the USA. Now the gates are open. Anwar. Drill. Offshore Mass. Drill. Drill. Every Russian is looking at the worldwide market and looking for a quick buck. All over Africa profiteers are looking for the quick buck before the market goes south. They are chasing the rabbit. There will be oil, it will be refined. A year from now, New Orleans will be open for business refining wise. Gas will be $2, crude $40 and all you want. This is the best thing to happen to oil since Regan took off controls in 1981. I’m taking bets for anyone who doubts this. This will fuel a great resurgence in the economy. Don’t sell that SUV yet.

A few other effects of Katrina that will you need to be aware of:

Shipping of grains and other commodities will be done by traditional ports. Duluth, Burns Harbor, (St. Lawrence Seaway) Seattle, and lots of other places. It will be inconvenient but grain will find a market. It will mean the elevator price will be lower than might have otherwise been but it will still be good. Crops are short. In a year or so New Orleans will open up for the 2006-shipping season.

Lumber will climb in price but supply will be OK. New building will push the inventories. Cement will be somewhat short. All building product will be harder to find than it was a year ago. This is a 2-year cycle after something like this. But in the end it will equalize.

Trucking and transportation (including airlines) will find fuel short and pricey. It will drive up prices and drive out weak competitors. This is a short-term effect and in 2 years after oil prices come down will back off some. But prices for transportation in general will never again be the bargain it was 2 years ago. This is a permanent price change.

Interest rates will hold or drop. There is a great deal of pressure from jitters about potential high priced oils effect on the economy to keep the rates down. I think we could see interest rates drop in all areas from here.

One area that will do well is trailer homes. Manufactured housing they call it. None the less, these evacuees will have to be housed somewhere. Some will be housed in trailers. This will be a 3 year exodus. I don’t expect more than 20% of the evacuees to return to New Orleans because I don’t expect New Orleans as we knew and loved her to be there other than as a symbol. Kind of like the business towers that are now 9-11. Get it?

Overall, I’m optimistic. This will have less effect than New Orleanites hoped it would have. In the big picture New Orleans and it's population just aren't that big a part of the national economy.

What gives me the right or edge to make such bold predicitons? I use a wide angle lense called 60 years. I've seen this all before.

Cheer up, give to the Salvation Army. It'll be OK.

Political Debris from Katrina vs 9-11

Nothing happens in a vacuum. Particularly in Politics. The differences between 9-11 and Katrina are significant for those in power.

THE PRESIDENT
9-11
President Bush became a spokesman for the heart of the county. Approval ratings thru the roof. Standing on the wreckage a few days after 9-11 was symbolic of our national resolve. “”We hear you, the whole world hears you””. This was the high point of his young presidency. Not that this was desired by President Bush but it was the best of times and worst of times for him. Never again has he ridden that high in the public’s estimation.

Katrina
President Bush said nothing. He didn’t know what to say for a bit. His approval was lax to start with. This has caused the public and press to pummel him painfully. He can do nothing right in their estimation. Too slow, too inattentive, too distracted. Oil prices, Iraq, and a dozen other things on his plate have put him off base so much he might not recover. This is the lowest point in his presidency. I feel sorry for him, I like the man, I voted for him, I’m glad Kerry’s not President in all this, as I was glad Gore wasn’t President during 9-11. Bush may find his sure hand but I think it might be too late. Were I in the White House I don’t know if I would have done any better.

CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE
9-11
There were no liberals or conservatives, no Republicans or Democrats in the weeks and months directly following 9-11. Unity prevailed. I emailed Tom Dashle to congratulate him on his solid leadership. The press was measured and supportive. The country responded in unity.

Katrina
The wind hadn’t yet subsided and Bozo’s on the left, most notably Robert Kennedy Jr were blaming the Republicans for Katrina and it’s impact. The liberal press NPR and CNN have gone out of their way to harp on failed policies. How Iraq exacerbated the problem. The gale of hot air following the Hurricane is worse than the blow itself.

I’m ashamed of the people on both sides of the aisle who can’t be centered for the good of the people and not on their own political power grab. Where are the Revs? Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. They love a photo op. Show up with a semi load of water downtown Orleans why didn’t ya boys? Jesse’s boy owns a big beer distributorship that also sells bottled water in Chicago. I’ll bet they could get a truck. That’s what I hate about the left, all big talk, writing checks with their mouth their rear ends have no intention of cashing. Power is all they want. Get off your butts and do something other than jawbone about the situation. The congressional black caucus has been outspoken critical of Bush. I’ll bet they didn’t put in a phone call to see how they might help to any of the agencies in New Orleans. Any of the cable news channels would gladly carry their offer of help live. They could do that. Don’t hold your breath. Hypocrisy thy name is politics. Sometimes I hate democracy. It’s the worst form of government in the world except for all the others.

CORRUPTION
9-11
There was some profit taking. There were people scamming the system. Mostly they got caught. Some steel was stolen. Some companies cheated. But by and large the deal went off pretty well. It’s still an unfinished tome of course. But it was pretty corruption free.

Katrina
I won’t even mention the looting. That’s lawlessness. There is a deeper problem. Have you ever wondered why New Orleans is called the big easy? Ask the contractors who were hired to do work on the levees that burst. Payoffs, skimming, hands in their pockets in exchange for “Permission” to do work. I live in Chicago, one of the more corrupt places you can do business. New Orleans makes Chicago look like a peanut gallery. It goes up and down the power structure from the top to the Police. Everyone is on the take. There has been a spirit of corruption that keeps the poorest poor. This is what makes this so tragic. Once this is all sorted out and they truth starts to come out what a black hole money sent to New Orleans has been all these years we will discover why it has become the city that doesn’t work. It parties hearty. It just doesn’t work. It’s not what you can do, it’s who can you pay off and how much to get it all done.
If you really want the root of the problem look at these links and ponder why the situation is as it is.
The Current Mayor came in to wipe out corruption
Someone asks how come corruption is part of New Orleans
Futility in fighting corruption
How gambling has corrupted corruption further
How the Democrats hide thier head in the sand at New Orleans corruption because it fits their needs

REBUILDING
9-11
There was established infrastructure after 9-11. Power, access, equipment, labor, and there was a reason to build New York back to make that area look like the rest of the city. New York needed rebuilding and it has for the most part. It was a thing of pride.

Katrina (New Orleans)
In a previous post I questioned the wisdom of restoring something so fundamentally flawed structurally. It’s not going to get better. There is no more infrastructure. It’s gone. There is no power access, equipment, labor. Does anyone really want to rebuild the “red zone” of New Orleans that represents the bulk of the flooded out poor people? There is nothing left to make anything from. Now if the purpose is to make a Disneyland-like main street (Bourbon Street), convention center and hotels in the areas that didn’t flood too badly perhaps. It will now be all faux. Faux balconies, faux old buildings, faux colorful old bars. It will look old, look real but be hollow like the Magic Castle is in Disneyland. Great for tourists but without andy soul. When you rap on it it’s all hollow. The soul of New Orleans is dead. Any rebirth will be a commercial effort like Vegas trying to look like Venice.

It’s over, it’s done. There’s no reason to rebuild except as an adult playground if that’s what you want. Who wants the squalor back that was much of New Orleans anyhow? I know the question has been asked, where will all the debris left from this storm be landfilled. Do you want me to really tell you the truth?

THE FUTURE?
My crystal ball is fuzzy on this one. I don’t think either political party shines in this. I don’t think 2008 rests on what happens in New Orleans. I do think this weakens any potential Republican candidacy no matter whom and strengthens Madam President and first husband Bill. Think I’m kidding? I got a hundred bucks says I’m right. Any takers out there?

2006 congressional. No huge shift to the left. The left is totally impotent to make hay out of anything. They just yell and point and accuse. As long as they do this I can live in confidence for the future. Conservatives will stay in power (except in the White House).

Last, there has been a long history of ignoring the problems regarding the levees and their funding. This is not Democrat or Republican. It's a fear of putting more money into a corrupt black hole. Neither Pres Clinton or Bush ever did what might have been done. They did what they thought was prudent.

An Excellent Perspective on Katrina

The person who's blog and encouragement placed me on your screen right now is Julie Neidlinger. She has recently changed her Website / Blog.

For a while she was AWOL from blogland. She's back again. Her new policy is to do less better.

Her brilliant perspective on Katrina is here. Check back with her from time to time. I updated the link on the right. Thanks Julie. I would like to hear about the squirrel however.

She is publishing some of her old writings in book form. I'm looking forward to the J letters. I smell movie rights.

PS: The word Katrina means Pure in German. If you verb the adjective with a ver (which all german can be) it would be to purify. Is that a coincidence? I don't think so.

9-11 and Katrina BIG DIFFERENCES Part 1.

Some of the news talking heads are trying to draw parallels between 9-11 and Katrina. Sorry guys, that dog ain'’t huntin. If one of them says, "like 9-11" to start a sentence, turn him or her off. This is NOT like 9-11!

9-11 was the result of aggression on the part of an ideology against the USA. People were unified by the act not the result. Hero'’s were easy to find. Firemen, police, Giulianini, Bush, and ordinary people.

Katrina was natural, random, and without cause against whom people could unite in their anger. Hero'’s are hard to find. Many there are who are there are not visible. Oh, there are heroes. We will see them eventually. But the ones who rose so quickly in 9-11 are absent in this event. Meanwhile the villain count is tremendous.

WHO AMERICA THINKS IT IS
9-11 changed the way the USA saw itself. Needing security. Needing to stop the evildoers. Mostly unified in its efforts. We saw ourselves as victims who would strike back at whomever were victimizing us. We saw ourselves as good people who did good things attacked by bad people who did bad things. Good and evil was easy to identify.

Katrina is also changing the way the USA sees itself. Not for good. Yes, there are good people doing good things. I won'’t mention them all here, you know who they are, Doctors, Red Cross, Salvation Army etc etc etc. But the ugly underbelly of humanity has been exposed for what it is. The looting, anarchy, violence, lawlessness of New Orleans has shocked everyone. The impotence of government, local, state and national to do anything has been dazzling. The lack of leadership has left people astounded. We are much more vulnerable to anything than we thought we are. Half the police in the New Orleans area have just quit. Our military is helpless. Oh we'’ll get it under control at some point but the damage is done. What we have seen on our TV screens is indelible.

Every state, every large city has these cesspools of human debris who at the drop of a metaphorical disaster hat will now replicate what we have seen in New Orleans. Permission has now been granted. Go ahead, they can'’t stop you. I am more than a little concerned that the fallout from this will be increased anarchy and lawlessness. Up until now at least they believed there could be consequences. There isn't. Barney Fife has left the building.

SPIRITUAL DIFFERENCES
9-11 spiritual spurt. For a few weeks after 9-11 there was some modicum of spiritual activity. People went to church other then on Easter or Christmas. It didn'’t last. In 6 month the pews were back to their less then capacity occupancy.

Katrina has demonstrated the total fallen nature of man. We sin because we are sinners in need of saving. Jobs won'’t solve this, welfare doesn'’t solve this. CHURCH --- The whistle has blown. The game is ON. The line is drawn. You are either going to get in the game or be sidelined as useless. This is the day you prayed for. ""Lord, give us the chance to be your arm, to reach out to the world"". Well, guess what, it just happened. I am heartened to see and hear of many small, medium and large churches in LA, MS, MO, AR and TX taking on the task of sponsoring these refugees in their Church buildings, taking them under their wings, educating their kids, helping them find places to live and talking to them about a better life in Jesus. CHURCH --- Don'’t just pray, you are a part of the answer to every prayer you pray. If all you plan to do is pray and sit on your blessed assurance, please don'’t BOTHER, it'’s taking the Lord'’s name in vain. If all you can do is pray (by reason of infirmity) then please do. God'’s arm moves in response to prayer but his hand is US. This line in the sand will result in tremendous victory for those bold enough to take it. Every Church can do SOMETHING. We have a responsibility to our culture and to our God to restore the fallen spiritually and physically so this kind of descent into chaos never happens again. Church, you have prayed for God to send you sinners in need of a savior. You will never have this chance again. This is Romans 8:28 alive and well. He wants to take this evil and make it for good. There are hundreds of thousands ready to see the gospel lived out in your actions. Hut Hut Hut, You'’ve got the ball, now what you gonna do with it?

Wal-Mart steps up

This may shock you, but I am not a big fan of Wal-Mart. In fact I have taken them to task for their corporate hypocrisy in this blog often. However: they are contributing $15,000,000 to the New Orleans disaster relief fund. I must begrugingly say, Good for you Wal-Mart.

You are still the anti-Christ. But if you want to rule the world you have to throw some help to the serfs from time to time. Oh, by the way, to put this in it's proper perspective, for the average earner (like me) this is equivalent to throwing a hundred bucks in the pot next Sunday. Not a radical sacrifice but not too bad either.

I Honestly Couldn't say it Better

If you know, (Knew) me you know that the opinon I respect most is my own. Except--------

I must offer up a brilliant editorial from a writer I respect as much.
Peggy Noonan.
Her analysis of Katrina and aftermath is stunning.
I wish I could write as well as she does. Maybe Someday?

False and Real Charity in Times of Crisis

I am intolerant of false charity. Writing big checks with your mouth that no one can ever cash. The New Orleans humanitarian crisis is one of these that brings out the best and worst in real and false charity.

The common man in America is very generous. They dig deep and give unselfishly. I wish I could say the same for much of governmental and corporate yokels who take big long bows for their fake charitable spirit.

REFUGEES - AN ANSWER TO DEPOPULATION?
We have a refugee crisis on our hands. I know something about refugees. I have brought them over from Sudan, Kurdistan, and Romania when it was communist. I have made employment for them. I have housed them. I have put my house and heart at their disposal.

Now we have a refugee crisis of tremendous magnitude. The southern states are busy absorbing these refugees for the year or two they will need to be taken care of. I think those of us in Rural American and the North need to step up to the plate. No free lunch, but there are schools in rural American who need students. These refugees have kids needing an education. There are jobs these refugees can do. They may be menial but they can pay something. I am guessing they will maintain residency in their home state and the support they will receive will help.

Now is the time for all those who have whined about depopulation in rural America to do something about it. Repopulate with refugees. Some may even stay. Don’t bring these folks to our overcrowded and expensive cities. Use this as a leapfrog to show off what rural America offers. Step up Buffalo Commons!

DIG DEEP – GIVE
The press generated by the publicity machinery for Wal-Mart (and others) who gave the Salvation Army ONE MILLION DOLLARS frustrated me. Wow! Sorry, I’m not impressed. Let’s see, last year Wal-Mart made $8,861,000,000. So a Million is .012% Really big hairy deal big spender.

Maybe we should all follow Wal-Mart’s sterling example of fake munificence. On my net income if I gave at the same rate it would be about $7.20. Do you think the MSM will fall all over themselves to applaud me for my great generosity? Don’t hold your breath.

None the less, in spite of the fake charity of corporate America, give anyhow.

Let’s show real charity. We can’t count on anyone else other than ourselves and God anyway.

The Best Arguments for and Against Evolution

Argument for:

I watched the news channels late last night and early this morning. I saw all those looters in New Orleans including some that were supposed to be policing the streets shopping for shoes.

I submit those represent un-evolved apes just barely out of the trees (sorry to all apes for the insult). I am not going to claim or allow them into the ranks of civilized mankind on my watch. Whatever happened to Marshall Law? Just send a couple dozen rednecks down there with 30-06’s and a belt full of ammo with a 4-power scope and say, “go ahead, loot, and make my day”. Believe me the gene pool wouldn’t miss them.

This is not a race-based comment. There were white un-evolved vermin there as well. They have to be lower on the evolutionary scale since no evolved human does what they were doing.

We were created to be a little lower than God (higher than the Angels). How far the race of man can fall is beyond me. I shouldn't be shocked but I am.

Argument against:

I don't deny Dinosaurs existed before the catastrophe whenever that happened and destroyed life on earth as we knew it, (Meteor) and disappeared Genesis 1:1a (first half of the verse) seems to support this.. I don't deny that the earth is very very old. Eternity has a habit of tricking us that way.

My question is, if man was not created as a divine being,

WHERE ARE THE BONES?

We can't help but trip over fossils of all kinds everywhere we dig. Bones of every ilk. Dinos, birds, fish. Bones bones bones.

But HUMAN bones, fossil or otherwise? Am I supposed to believe that all other bones of all other species were preserved except man? If man walked about the earth in some form or another evolving for millions of years as evolutionists say then there should be bones, lots of bones. Fossil and otherwise.

I'm puzzled.

That's the part about intelligent design that haunts open minded people.

And we are supposed to teach a thesis that intentionally doesn't ask the hard questions to the exclusion of all others. That's real "religion" and it takes a lot more faith than I'm willing to invest myself in blindly.

Where are the bones?

tip of the hat to Brad

Past it's EXP date

A few years ago the Red River of the North which flows between North Dakota and Minnesota flooded badly. You might remember that Grand Forks was flooded under feet of water.

The federal Government came in and demanded that those people living in flood prone areas had to sell their homes to the government and move out. Those areas became parks, levees and such.

It made sense.

If you build on some of the Outer Banks on the east coast and a storm comes along destroying your property, collect your insurance and go home. Federal insurance agencies are refusing to allow you to rebuild.

So, for New Orleans, 20 feet below sea level here are some absolutes:

• What just happened will happen again
• The sea is rising
• You can’t go up and up and up forever

I know this sounds cruel, but, would someone make a good argument for rebuilding the lowest parts of New Orleans. Or what about raising the whole city. First raze then raise.

I love New Orleans. I have been there often. It’s a rollicking place. It could be just as rollicking 30 feet higher.

This may be a city just reaching it’s expiration date.

Like Atlantis.

Something’s Fishy at the Bottom of the Sea

Remember Titan, moon of Saturn? The Cassini Spacecraft probee made a soft landing and took pictures. One of the pictures it took was of a petroleum lake on Titan. Petroleum lake. Is that from all the Dinosaurs from thousands of years ago on Titan? I don'’t think so. They were quick to say it was just a pool of very cold hydrocarbon compounds methane based. Ethane they said. Read about it here.

Ethane is a base for Gasoline. Yep.

So what? Read on.

Right now oil wells in Vietnam and Siberia are about 5 miles deep. 5 miles. Now, let me get this straight, that oil is trapped under 5 miles of sediment. No, oil geologists say, it'’s occurring in Granite cavities. So, Dino died, and his residue drifted thru 5 miles of various geology to a granite cavity 5 miles deep. Does that make sense? Is there something wrong here?

Some people believe that the core of the earth contains hydrocarbons which are generated by the molten reactions. These hydrocarbons drift UP and create petroleum which we now tap in to. They believe this is produced by abiogenic means. That means without plants or animals.

Are they crazy in the head? You decide after you read all about it.

Then, at the bottom of the deepest parts of the ocean they are discovering methane which combines with water and creates a liquid hydrocarbon petroleum substance. They are discovering a lot of this material. No one is thinking (yet) about harvesting this but it exists, it'’s in liquid state and it'’s lying there.

Something is fishy. Something smells wrong.

I don'’t think there'’s a conspiracy. I do think we haven'’t collectively connected all the dots.

If Titan, Deep Pool Oil and Naturally occurring petroleum like deposits are being created at the bottom of the ocean, I have a question..........

Perhaps crude oil is in fact a naturally re-occurring resource. That crude oil is always being created. That the whole deal about dinosours etc was only partially correct. That in fact oil is a byproduct of neverending processes and that new deposits are being created all the time. The low hanging fruit is off the tree. But at the base it's growing every day.

I don'’t think we should be stupid in using it. Trees are a natural occurring resource but cutting down all the trees would be stupid. Maybe if oil is regenerating itself we need to treat it like trees. Harvest some, leave some to grow.

I'’m only asking. What if? I think there'’s more here than meets the eye.

Bad Religion and Global Warming

There is a volcano on the big island of Hawaii. If you take slag from it you will have bad luck. I took some; sure enough I had bad luck. So see there, it works.

In older times if there were a drought or other crop failures they would sacrifice virgins by throwing them alive into the Volcano. This was supposed to appease the gods of the earth and by this sacrifice made everyone feel better.

I can hear those priests at dinner after a particularly sacrificial day with lots of virgins, “” Boy, I hope that does some good. Maybe we’ll get a break and we won’t be next into the caldron””. That’s the way bad religion works.

This has ever been thus. The mantra is, ‘we must do something, even if it’s wrong or foolish’. Bad religion always depends on us doing something to appease the gods. They do nothing, you are responsible or you anger them.

It’s a little bit like homeopathy. I know lots of people who swear by it. They get better or worse because of a few drops taken which has a few drops per million of something. It’s a religion. It takes lots of faith.

I like good religion. It depends on me NOT AT ALL. I’m a receiver not a giver. For that I worship. I commend it to you, but that’s another story.

WE ARE ON AN EARTH WORSHIPPING BINGE IN THE WEST
For lots of reasons, we no longer worship father God, but Mother earth as our provider.
So now the climate is changing. We aren’t sure why. Many postulate it’s a normal part of the global cycle. Many claim man has done this. I’m not here to argue that although I believe it is an incredibly egotistical self centered and self important individual to believe that man has the capacity to change the climate.

I don’t think man has done well. We cut down too many forests. We cultivate too much land foolishly. We are bad stewards of the earth. I’m for good stewardships.

I don’t believe we are, have or will change the climate. It’s like homeopathy. If you take all the influences that exist because of man which might influence global warming it is parts per billion.

The earth is warming because sometimes it does that. It did it in the past and will do it in the future. The sun is in a warm cycle. It will cool. Lots of this current arm waving will subside. But we are in a stupid cycle.

BAD ECO-RELIGION
The other day a man from England pronounced that we should spray water up in the air to put moisture in the way of harmful sunshine. If you have ever created and maintained a closed terrarium (as I have) you will know that heat in the atmosphere makes clouds. It then cools, precipitates but the moisture comes from the earth. This is normal and cyclical.

There is already a mechanism in place which sprays mass quantities of water into the atmosphere creating clouds and a solar shield. They’re called monsoons and hurricanes and typhoons. Have you noticed they are intensifying in power and frequency? That’s normal in a warming cycle. This does what this joker from England wants to do.

What he is really saying is, I’m a priest of the earth, give me lots of money to create this altar of water and I’ll spray it so that the gods are mollified.

Worse, some government nut will do this.

Nearly as silly is a good man (Byron Dorgan) badly directed saying we should pump captured COD back into the empty oil wells in North Dakota to stop global warming. Yea, that’s the ticket, spend zillions of dollars, go thru lots of activity and nothing happens. This is so silly as to be ridiculous. Even scientists admit (who aren’t on the take with this deal) that this won’t work.

But, some of these priestly schemes will take effect, then the climate will shift a bit and they will take credit for the change just as the island priests of 200 years ago took credit when after the sacrifice of many virgins it rained. Don’t buy the lie that “we have to DO something”. Who said, where is it written?

The only virgin being sacrificed in this foolishness is your pocketbook.

If you want to sequester a few pounds of CO2, plant a tree. Otherwise give it a little more time. It’ll cool off. Then you will wonder what all the hubbub was about.

Blue Laws Revisited

When Peggy and I lived in Germany in the early 90s we fit right in. I think if I had found another Job to pay me we would have stayed. It certainly was an option we considered carefully. We loved the Church we were part of; we loved the people who were our friends. We loved the culture. We toured more castles and attended operas at the drop of a 3-cornered hat. Many times on Sunday afternoons.

I enjoyed the fact that Germans never could quite figure us out. I spoke well enough with an accent that didn’t identify me as an American. They thought I might have been a Frieslander. Peggy didn’t have an accent at all with what German she spoke since she didn’t know she was supposed to.

It is even to this day one of those “”what if”” deals for us. What if we had decided to stay and even become citizens? We both qualified. Germany is one of those countries where your bloodline gives you entree to citizenship. Even today I get a German language feed on our TV. I keep up with German politics and economics. I also like the Taggeshau, which gives a non-American perspective on world events. We were there during the Gulf war. That was interesting. I’m quite interested in the upcoming election. I hope Frau Merkle wins. She most likely will.

I guess it was the will of God for us to come back when we did. I’ll never know.

One thing in long retrospect I miss is Saturday afternoons and Sundays the way they’re done (or were done) in Germany. Stores closed for the most part by 2pm Saturday. And didn’t open again until Monday Morning.

This made rushing off to the mall on Sunday PM for a little shopping or someone not able to be home (or in church) because they had to work on Sundays.

Sunday was a forced family and friends or go for a walk day. There was NOTHING else to do. Gasoline was expensive. So we talked, we ate, we walked, we window-shopped, we went to the park, and we went to the Sunday afternoon dance. It really broke up the week. In fact Germans often number their weeks and don’t say, you’ll get it on the 15th of June, but they will say, you’ll get it week 23.

When I grew up in North Dakota we had “”Blue Laws””. Stores closed, you couldn’t buy liquor on Sunday, and Bars were closed. I don’t know the origin of the name. I suppose if I cared enough I could look it up and find out why.

The Saturday afternoon and Sunday Sabbath rest was a part of life. I don’t think our lives were worse because of it.

Today the world is busier; Tuesday and Sunday for many working people are interchangeable. Even if they were not religious folks Sunday was the Lords day.

My guess is our economy would do just fine if blue laws were implemented nationwide. People would figure it out. I have heard and read all of the arguments for and against Blue Laws. I have seen it work well in a modern age. I don’t think North Dakota is better off for repealing them.

I know Germany isn’t better off for relaxing the restrictions (Wal-Mart, that great paragon of virtue, pushed for repeal of Blue Laws in Germany).

I’m not imagining that anything is going to happen. I just wish it would.

I have lived both and I like it blue better.

A Predictor of your Future??????

There is a theory, it'’s sort of horoscopic so I put less credence in it than others. But, here goes.

The song that was number one on the hit parade on the day you were born has a long term effect on your life'’s destiny. You will like the song. It will form and mould your life like the stars.

There is a website which will tell you what song was number one when you were born. You can test this theory.

I have heard of many people who have done so and they claim it to be true. I would appreciate hearing from you if it'’s true in your life.

HereÂ’s the only sad part. They only have songs back to some time in 1952. Evidently there was no top 10 before that.

So for you ""“more mature""” folk, sorry. We don'’t count I guess.

For all others, I have opened up the full regalia of commenting access. You no longer have to jump thru any hoops to do so. Comment away, I don'’t know who you are.

Wait that'’s kind of dangerous.

Paying off the old Mercedes

I know I am not the only one to have a root canal in history. Most of your who are good enough to read this have been thru it.

I remember an old Star Trek movie, the one with a whale they were transporting.

There was a scene where Bones (The Enterprise Doctor) found himself in a modern day hospital setting.

He was appalled by the nature of medicine in 1995 . He saw some doctors treating Captain Kirk.

He said, “STOP you Butchers, Savages, stop your primitive fumbling”.

I may not have the dialogue right but the sense that if we were to go back 200 years to the day of leaches, battlefield amputations without anesthetic or sanitary efforts which killed more than it saved we would scream the same thing.

I have to say that the root canal of today is still a savage rude clumsy way to treat a problem. In the day and age of lasers and I don’t know what in 50 years Bones would say STOP if he saw today’s root canal procedure.

This is a procedure which is far too:

• Painful
• Complicated
• Expensive
• Invasive
• Clumsy
• Time consuming (4 visits)

If a dentist today would offer a root canal for $300 in two visits all-inclusive he would own the market. There are millions of people walking around with dead roots that flare up from time to time and need a root canal type procedure who would avail themselves if it weren’t so brutal.

I do feel much better, but when I broke my arm I would have felt better if they had amputated it. I wouldn’t have been better off later. The parallel holds.

So, my dentist friends (and relatives) can you figure out how to do this right and make this ordeal workable? Someone will and when then do you will have to. Be a pioneer.

I fear too many dentists look at the root canal as another avenue to paying off the old Mercedes. Follow the money and you will better understand the current state of root canal procedures.

Root Canal

There’s a reason Root Canal and Hell Rhyme. I just had one. Wow. I’m numb. My fingers still work. I will end up paying the price of a pretty good used car for this. I’m irritated with someone, not my dentist.

I don’t know how much of this fun I can stand or afford.

Can't France just secede from the World?

I lived in Europe for a few years (Early 90's). We had a joke (in Germany). Q - Why are there trees along side the roads in France? A- So the Germans don't have to march in the sun.

Always good for a yuk. Particularly from Germans who on any given Tuesday think about invading Czechoslovakia, Belgium or France.

So that you know, outside of Paris the French are really great. It's the ecocentric French in Paris who are now accusing Lance Armstrong of doping up to win the Tour de France.

Hey Fifi, could it just be that he's better than you baugettephiles??

Just asking.

Sore losers.

Toothache

I have been fortunate to have good teeth most of my life. But age ravages all things. I have had a world class toothache. I go to the dentist for really "good" news at 10AM tomorrow (that's positive confession).

My toothache was so bad I had to take (am taking) an antibiotic so the dentist can work on the tooth. This can't be good. (Wait, that was negative confession).

I'm a pansy when it comes to taking prescription drugs. No side effect is good. I take almost none. I will tough it out. I tried to with this one. Didn't work.

Yesterday in pain I attempted to work. I could barely drive. My mind was preoccupied with the pain, my body swooned. My face pulsed with every heartbeat.

I got a glimpse of how those on Chemo or other serious disease (that's why they call it Dis- Ease) can become discouraged. That's why they see themselves hopeless.

My reliever was an antibiotic and a dentist. Theirs may be only time and eternity.

I will be more tolerant and caring with those with chronic pain in the future.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop

Right now in my life are several shoes one of which has dropped and the other is still dangling on the metaphorical foot. This dangle is uncomfortable and I don't like it.

They used to say it was the angle of the dangle that mattered, I think it's the dangle.

Yes, this is about you!

Some things need to be left behind closed doors

Pat Robertson announced in front of God and everyone that the US CIA needs to assassinate Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

OK, he's a bad guy. Not good for the USA to have in their domain (The western hemisphere). I'll bet Pat has President Bush's phone number. He isn't the first one to think about this. That's what we have doors for.

So take the wacko out. I'm ok with that. But for everyone's sake don't talk about it on the air. It only makes you look like the wacko Pat.

Now, if and when Ol' Hugo goes on prematurely to that great junta in the sky, the finger pointing, pontification and palpitations on the part of the press will be preposterous.

File this under dumb moves Pat.

Don't fill your tank all the way to the top (See Ethanol Below)

I predicted a long time ago that this oil price surge would be temporary. I still believe that and want to help allay your fear. An OPEC member who has every reason in the world to see oil stay high agrees with me. His technical analysis is better than mine but as my friend Larry Ristvedt continues to say, The cure for high prices is high prices.

So, next time you fill your tank relax. Don't fill it all the way to the top with high priced fuel. Trees have tops and we just hit one. When I heard some young oil analyst on FOX NEWS proclaim that prices were going to $90 and $3 gasoline was here to stay I said thank God. The oil crisis is over.

This isn't contrarian thinking exactly, it's more the reality of the market. Think Lag and Reaction. Think long view.

Don't fill up your tank.

UPDATE: A column in todays Chicago Tribune (Sunday) is pretty revealing. The price of gasoline and crude oil is coming down. Read it for yourself. I also posted it here to make sure you could read it without subscribing.
These people are smarter than me and I say again. Don't fill your tank all the way to the top.