Government Represses; Free Enterprise Empowers

Just read an article that the EPA is imposing harsh regulations on how to dispose of waste grains that will cripple small brewers and dairy farms.

Our government exists only to make our lives harder, make us pay more, and does NOTHING to create growth, jobs and wealth for the American People, the people it's charged with serving!

As we get poorer, the politicians get richer, then they come up with schemes like promoting "Income Inequality" to trick the public into thinking that biz owners and wealthy are keeping them down, when it's really the government that prevents average citizens from becoming wealthy.

There isn't a finite amount of money available.  Nine of ten millionaires made it themselves, they didn't inherit it.  Eight of ten billionaires, the same.

When are people going to wise up to these wolves in sheeps' cloaks in elected office???  When will have some relief from their tyranny?

Campus Intolerance

With phrases such as "evangelical types," "peddle hate and intolerance," "outsiders coming into our midst to provoke us, to taunt us," and more, he clearly shows that the UCSB campus is not an academy of higher learning, where ideas are questioned and explored, and differing viewpoints are accepted, but rather an institute of indoctrination where only one point of view is regarded as the correct one.  The thought police patrol the halls of UCSB much like at other universities, and those who may feel differently due to religious or political beliefs are relegated to second-class citizens at best, or even enemies of the state.  I'll post the letter in its entirety here, so you can come to your own conclusion regarding the content.

Letter from Michael D. Young, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UCSB

March 21, 2014

To: Campus Community

Fr: Michael D. Young Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Re: Students and Free Speech at UCSB

Below you will find an email communication that I sent out earlier this week to all UCSB students expressing my views on free speech. Sincerely, Michael D. Young Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

March 19, 2014

Dear Students:

Over the past several weeks, our campus has been visited by a number of outside groups and individuals coming here to promote an ideology, to promulgate particular beliefs (at times extreme beliefs), or simply to create discord that furthers a certain personal agenda. Some passionately believe in their causes, while others peddle hate and intolerance with less-than-noble aims. 

Whatever the motives and goals, the presence of such people and groups on campus can be disruptive and has the potential to draw us into the kind of conflict that puts at risk the quality of exchange of ideas that is fundamental to the mission of our university.

What is happening now is not new: evangelical types have been visiting UCSB and university campuses since time immemorial. What we see at UCSB today is simply the most recent generation of true believers, self-proclaimed prophets, and provocateurs. 

During the past few weeks, UCSB has been visited by various anti-abortion crusaders. Some have been considerate and thoughtful in promoting their message; others have openly displayed images that many in our community find distressing and offensive. 

We have also seen earnest and thoughtful religious missionaries, and we have seen proselytizers hawking intolerance in the name of religious belief. As a consequence of interactions with the more extreme of our visitors, students have expressed outrage, pain, embarrassment, fear, hurt, and feelings of harassment. Moreover, I have received requests that the campus prohibit the peddling of “fear,” “hate,” “intolerance,” and “discord” here at UCSB.

Those of you who know me are aware that I have strong views on the matter of intolerance. You also know that I hold equally strong views on the sanctity of free speech. If you have heard me speak at Convocation or at anti-hate events, or if you have seen me officiating at the Queer Wedding, you know that my message on both counts is clear. Recent events lead me to believe that this message bears repeating.

First, the principle of freedom of expression resides at the very foundation of our society and, most certainly, at the foundation of a world-class university such as UC Santa Barbara. Freedom and rights are not situational: we either have freedom of speech or we do not. We cannot pick and choose which views are allowed to be aired and who is allowed to speak. If that were the case, then only those in charge — those holding power — would determine who gets to speak and whose views are heard.

Second, freedom is not free. The price of freedom for all to speak is that, at times, everyone will be subjected to speech and expression that we, ourselves, find offensive, hateful, vile, hurtful, provocative, and perhaps even evil. So be it! Law and policy ban only an extremely narrow band of speech and expression-”yelling ‘fire!’ in a crowded theatre,” for example, and child pornography. The price we pay to speak our own minds is allowing others to speak theirs, regardless of how oppositional their views are to our own. Our Founding Fathers-all white men of privilege, some even slave owners-got it right when designing the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Having firmly stated my support for freedom of expression, I hasten to follow with a lesson my mother taught me when I was a small child, a lesson that has remained with me the rest of my life and that I relay to our entering students every fall at Convocation. My mother taught me that just because you can say or do something doesn’t mean that you should. Civility plays an important role in how we choose to exercise our right to expression. We all have the right to say odious things, to display offensive slogans and placards, and to hurt and disrespect groups and individuals that disagree with us. The question is: should we? Should we engage in these behaviors just because we can or because they serve our political, religious, or personal agendas?

At UCSB, our students have proven that we are better than this. While it has not always been easy, time and again UCSB students have demonstrated that they can disagree about the critical issues of our time — fundamentally and passionately but within a framework of humanity and civility, respecting the dignity of those whose views they oppose. Time and time again, UCSB students have demonstrated that they understand their role in defining the character and quality of this campus community — revealing their unwillingness to lower themselves to the tactics of those whose agenda comes wrapped in intolerance and extremism.

And now we are tested once again, outsiders coming into our midst to provoke us, to taunt us and attempt to turn us against one another as they promote personal causes and agendas. If we take the bait, if we adopt negative tactics and engage in name calling, confrontation, provocation, and offensive behavior, then they win and our community loses. While urging you to engage with differing ideas and opinions in a civil manner, I also want to remind you that you have the option not to engage at all. You do not have to listen to, look at, or even acknowledge speech or expression that you find provocative or offensive. The Arbor Mall is a free speech area, as is the area in front of the University Center. If you do not want to be confronted by certain materials or expressions, you should avoid the free-speech areas when you expect that you might encounter them, or simply ignore them. I promise you the visitors will hate that.

And, finally, if you think demonstrators, activists, or proselytizers are violating the law, report them to the UC Police Department. If you think they are violating campus policies, report them to the Office of Student Life (OSL). Similarly, if you feel harassed or think you are being subjected to offensive speech or material as an involuntary audience, please contact the Office of Student Life immediately. Katya Armistead, Associate Dean of Student Life and Activities, can be reached at 805-893-8912. If you do not reach her, someone at the general OSL number (805-893-4550) will be able to relay your message to her. The campus regulations address UCSB’s free speech policies further: :http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/Regulations/campus_activities.aspx<http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/Regulations/campus_activities.aspx> 

What I am suggesting may not be easy, and it may feel more satisfying (at least for the moment) to lash out. (My mom often reminded me that doing the right thing is difficult.) If you feel that you must respond, hold a peaceful, thoughtful, civil, and dignified counter-demonstration, and show how students engage intellectually and politically at UCSB.

Sincerely, Michael D. Young Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

How to Mine for Gold

I have found a gold mine and it's not in the hills.  It's on the hill, Capitol Hill, that is.  To unearth this prolific mother lode, I need to form a company.  Most importantly, one that researches problems in public transportation (or buildings, or schools, or whatever) and always cites "monetary deficiency" as the root cause.  Then--poof!--the Powers That Be will shower me with riches.  Gold strike!

Recently, such a firm teamed up with my state to find out that--now this will be a shocker--traffic and poor infrastructure are costing taxpayers thousands annually, and more revenue is direly needed to reinforce and maintain a decaying system, including bridges that do not. even. meet. code.  whoa...

No good sleight of hand is worth its weight in gold without an accessory, though.  Thank God for the Mainstream Media.  They lap up studies and research reports like kittens' milk.  The media will state or print the press release verbatim and pull in suckers (their audience) with a sensational teaser or headline.  The public is aghast!  The public is outraged!  Children will die unless we do something!

Smooth as silk, the politicians move in to fix the problem, only...oh, darn-it, there's no more money in the coffers.  We want to save your babies, we really do, but there's not a dime left.  If only there were some way, some obscure way we could help solve this calamity, we would.  Hey, wait a minute!  We know you're not going to like this, and it's an election year, but safety transcends politics, you know.  We're left with no other option. We coooooould raise taxes, just a little, to save children's lives.

And, they swindle the public into believing that the only viable solution to any problem is a tax hike.  And, we keep buying their load of pigs' droppings.

Politicians use these reports to gin up support for tax increases so they don't have to do the hard work of budgeting.  They'll pay these research firms big bucks to keep their jobs easy.

I've got to join this gold rush!

  

Let Them Eat Cake

So, Senator Dianne Feinstein is outraged that the CIA may have snooped into her computer use.  BUT, she's perfectly fine with the NSA spying on us average citizens.

This is the hypocrisy that is Washington.  What's okay for me, you, and the baker down the street, ain't so kosher for those who sit upon thrones up on the Hill.

All citizens, regardless of party affiliation or social agenda, should be livid that the politicians, the ones we elected to work for us, regard us as nothing more than vote- and money-generators.  They revel in their protected special status as Washington Elite.

This political elitism, to me, is the class-warfare we should be worried about.  The reprehensible gap in our country is not the fallacy and triteness of "rich versus poor," but rather, the Grand Canyon that exists between politicians and average citizens.

Washington has voted itself into a ruling class and has forsaken us, the ones who sent them there to do our bidding.  We are a proletariat so far removed from our reigning government that we might as well live on another continent.  We are the peasants to our rulers in Washington, and just as the Founding Fathers had fought against nobility--most notably George Washington who refused to be called "king"--today's politicians are our very own dissociated monarchy.

Dianne Feinstein and the others might as well be saying to us, "Let them eat cake!"

Obama: Sex, Lies and Videotape...Okay, Just Lies

I'm confused.  Obama said that if we liked our healthcare insurance we could keep it.  Obviously that is not true for millions of individuals.  His statement secured his re-election, but now that the truth glares us in the eye, what was really going on with his "promise?"

1. He was misquoted.
2. He misspoke.
3. The teleprompter was incorrect.
4. He lied.

If you're a brainwashed product of our public education system and throw the answer "government" to any problem or need, then 1, 2, or 3 are correct.  If you can discern logically and think for yourself, then you know the correct answer is #4.

The amount of backpedalling and covering up generated by the Administration is heading into Silly Land.  Even the New York Times has entered the arena, offering a lending hand highlighting the "misspoke" excuse and blaming Republicans for an overblown controversy.

Hardly.

The ObamaCare failings are in their infancy.  What people don't realize is that it's only going to get worse from here.  Just wait.  The website debacle and Obama's false promises are Phase 1 of the disaster.  The people need the truth.  We're nearing DEFCON 1 with this crisis, but the media continues to coverup for their golden boy as they whitewash the issue, while much of America remains in the dark.

Bigger Lies

President Obama's Lackeys are in full battle mode trying to explain his lies about ObamaCare using the politicos best weapon: even bigger lies.

Let's start off with the lie that must be redeemed: 

You can keep your healthcare insurance plan; you can keep your doctor; premiums will be $2,500 less with Obamacare; 

You can keep your healthcare insurance plan; you can keep your doctor; premiums will be $2,500 less with Obamacare; 

You can keep your healthcare insurance plan; you can keep your doctor; premiums will be $2,500 less with Obamacare...repeated ad nauseum until it was accepted as truth.

Enter judgment day.  

The day we found out our insurance plans were cancelled.  The day we found out we couldn't keep our doctors.  The day we found out ObamaCare actually costs thousands of dollars MORE than we were already paying.

Now Obama mouthpieces are busy bailing water from the sinking ship.  

Some of their hail marys:

The bigger crisis is that insurance companies are selling junk policies...

He didn't mean what he said, you're misinterpreting him (implied: because you aren't as smart as he is)...

George W. Bush...

He isn't responsible for what (the evil, behemoth) insurance companies do, it's their fault...

Only 3 percent of Americans have private insurance (which is 15 million people, btw)...

He compressed something extremely complex into one line and that's a difficult thing to do...

George W. Bush...

Anyone who questions Obama is being dishonest...

Democrats are the only ones who care about the uninsured...

The Tea Party...

Anyone who questions Obama is a racist...

...and so on.

The fact remains clear that the failing of the ObamaCare website is only the tip of the iceberg.  Over the next few months we'll learn firsthand how this program will negatively impact millions of Americans and strangle middle and lower class households.

More Franklin Stoves Less Solar Panels

In 2010 to resounding applause, President Obama touted Abound Solar as American's investment into green energy that would give us 1500 permanent jobs.  Today, it's bankrupt, leaving behind an empty shell of a building filled with broken glass and toxic waste.  Unsold inventory including 2,000 solar panels, which would have been sold to offset some of the hundred of millions of dollars in losses, have mysteriously disappeared.

With the $2 billion the federal government poured into green energy initiatives in the past few years, none of the companies highlighted by President Obama and drooled over by liberals are in existence today.

While one can certainly question the viability of green energy firms, the bigger picture here is worth scrutiny.  Why should government and not private enterprise promote any industry?  The marketplace will determine the viability and necessity of consumer goods, not the feds.

History proves that a majority of our modern conveniences, those that keep us safe or make our lives easier, have been born of private enterprise.  The great inventors of the last century weren't working for the government.  They were private entrepreneurs and they gave us the technological foundation of what we have today.  They are not the evil people portrayed in Common Core classrooms, they are benefactors of our modern way of life.

Benjamin Franklin invented the Franklin stove that used less wood and prevented fires.  He felt the benefits of this new kind of stove were so important that he sidestepped a patent on it so that everyone could benefit from his invention.

Private industry not the American government will bring us innovation and technology.  Private enterprise will give us better, faster, safer products and services.  The government cannot cherry pick that which they "feel" are worthy, or the ones they "want" to succeed based on political and social ideology.

The marketplace is the great equalizer.  The American people cannot be forced into buying what they do not desire.  Businesses cannot run at a loss.  The government cannot and must not prop up industries that simply do not work...yet.  If solar energy is our future, then it will be cost-effectively born of private endeavor.

"If a coal, oil or gas company pulled something like that the EPA would send out SWAT teams and the U.S. Marshals to track down the offenders, bankrupt or not."

- National Legal and Policy Center, a think tank