Lazy Hands Make a Man Poor...

I think King Solomon would look on recent legislation supported by this administration with grave input: "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." Proverbs 10:4. It appears that we are rewarding idle hands while punishing those who work. And that my friends, will never prove prosperous.

Proponents of recent congressional partisan legislation have no sense as to what really makes the world go round. Put folks to work and inspire charity, I say! I don't give a hoot what profits are happening with the gamblers on wall street. Nothing produces well being to a nation like jobs for its citizens. And what is this administration doing to improve the highest unemployment since 1983 at 10.2% (that's not including a more accurate % @ 17 - 20% when you include those, like me, who are looking for full time, 18mos. now, and are not getting by on part time. Also those who have gotten discouraged and stopped looking)? Nothing - absolutely nothing. In fact, stimulus or not - it doesn't create new jobs! Until folks are working again and unemployment goes down will I applaud this leadership's actions and get excited that the economy has improved. Quite the contrary - it's bad and I suspect going from bad to worse.

A look at a little history should teach us the way out of this slump. Reaganomics folks. It was the answer then and will do the same now. With the mistake of printing money at nearly 10 times the rate of the Jimmy Carter years; it would behoove us to rethink the direction we're going. Printing money begets inflation. Inflation begets high interest and that begets less capital out there. This means lost jobs with high unemployment. Less people paying into the coffers means less revenue. And there's not enough wealthy people to fund that mistake. Seriously, when I had my water meter rates raised due to not enough city revenue (50% increase over the next 2 years!); the first thing I plan to do is replace my lawn with desert plants and rock beds ~ or move. The point being: we're not gonna get the money to cover the short falls. We've got to lower taxes, unyoke small businesses and spur on, with our blessing, entrepreneur-ism. I realize that the oxen of free enterprise have different obstacles today that have contributed to our demise; but we've got to get back to that "no worky, no eaty" principle. It does a body good... generally speaking.

It looks pretty bleak even so, when I figure that interest rates will climb to highs like we've never seen (the Carter years are a glimpse of what's to come and why). I was there and remember the hell of those years (18% - 22% prime). That's from the stupidity of printing money to pay for all this deficit spending. In itself, that will hold back the capital necessary for a healthy come back. And now adding to this is the aggravation of legislating more spending for Health Care reform; (which pays for itself by taking from Peter to pay Paul).

I do have this hope though - on that which usually yields from adversity... a couple of things, actually. One: folks will find faith in God. There are no atheist in foxholes (and that's a good element for our present society). And two: when they find faith; the church will provide better for the social welfare needs of grassroots America. As it should be - where relationships (black and white) bond and truly develop, healing a broken nation. The private sector, even with its ills, does it better than the government.

Perhaps that sounds cold. But I suggest that within its cold approach there's mercy. Because when we are left with only each other to depend on; human compassion is at its best.

Wickedness wil be Exposed

Throughout a controversial debate on health care reform, I've noticed deceit on the part of its proponents. When President Obama addressed both congressional bodies in a speech recently to sell his health care plan; his charming oration was once again, beautifully delivered. Our ears were tickled with every good possibility concerning the merits of these reforms. We heard how it is our right to health care and everyone needs access. We heard how through policing fraud in the current system, we can keep costs down and over time, curtail the costs. We even heard that the opposition have lied about what the bill from the house mandates. And when he said that undocumented illegal immigrants would not be covered; US Rep. Joe Wilson shouted in a uncontrolled zealous rebuttal, "You lie!". Unbecoming a congressman as that may be (and it certainly displayed unprecedented disrespect); I think he may be right. Deception is at the heart of this debate and primarily by those who support the President's plan.

"A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly." Proverbs 26: 24-26. I hope so - before it's too late and this congress passes a magnitude of intrusion by big government like we never seen.

Firstly; everyone can access our elite health care system. By law, we have to treat any and every emergency. And yes, that means for those who don't carry insurance, their costs will be passed on to the rest who are paying. So, EVERYONE DOES HAVE ACCESS, including illegals Mr President. But the President is right - that drives up the cost. And fraud drives up the cost. Tort (that's not a whore or a pastry, folks) that perpetuates frivolous suits also greatly drives up the costs. And Tort reform is at the top of my list because not only does it directly affect overhead costs; it frightens health providers to practice defensive medicine, which makes for a lot of nonsense medicine.

The problem is that for most folks chronic care and preventative care, which is sensible medicine, is so expensive - we, the people, don't get the care we need. Therein lies the need for reform. How can everyone afford coverage for what has become too expensive for (I daresay) most Americans?

I still believe in a free market system. And when I can shop freely with choices; I'm able to find what I need relative to the cost that works for my lifestyle. Freedom is the big element here. From state to state, is there a competitive drive for the consumer to affect costs when buying health insurance? The answer is no. If you have a pre-existing condition or are unemployed; choices are greatly limited. That should change. Here in California where I live, I buy an independent plan and there's really only one reliable that serves me best: Anthem Blue Cross. With great sacrifice I only carry catastrophic major medical insurance, which suffers a high deductible. And I get a birthday present from them every year; my premium goes up - and I haven't even gone to the doctor. I should simply pocket the premium and self fund my own plan. Or simply show up when I have an emergency and let everyone else pay for my care (which apparently happens a lot). Because after I pay my premiums, I can't afford to go to the doctor for preventative care. And that's not smart.



Then there's the young invincible ones who think they don't need it. The ones who have motorcycle accidents, drunk driving accidents (or texting)and how about those injuries incurred through extra curricular high risk activities that by nature happen to those invincible?

The point is: there are lies at the heart of this debate and those are driven by political activism. We do need reforms. Just not the kind the President is selling. We Americans have a great health care system. As to how we'll pay for it is on what we need to work and namely the previously mentioned problems - none of which seems to be remedied in the plan supported by the President. I recognize that he is a smart man, so why doesn't he understand what we really need? Does he have another agenda? Why does he want a grand scale of government intrusion with a public option that will pry into our lives so intimately? So what then - Uncle Sam is going to parent us in His subjective values concerning quality of life issues? And what about those "reproductive health needs" that are covered in this current plan? I'm convinced abortion is considered by some to be a reproductive need. If it wasn't, don'cha think that the pro abortion folks would be screaming with that remark? Shall I mention it's pretty easy to harbor deception in a bill this large? Not many can or will understand the undertaking of reading it. Besides, has the government ever done anything well concerning social welfare? So why would this be better? I wonder what this is really about, Mr. President? And trust me when I say, my opposition has nothing to do with the color of skin. So people, stop throwing down the race card! It's a distraction to real honest debate.

Unleash competition, legislate tort caps and regulation, and yes, mandate for all legal documented folks living here to pay in - either through private coverage or like an IRA - create tax incentive for self funding your health care. Tighten our borders and deport the illegals. Otherwise, we'll have to pay for their care. I don't think reform needs to be complicated. Utilize what's already in place. Policing fraud has been in place but obviously needs a better administrative task force to successfully bring down costs and lock up the criminals. That's about all the government should bring to the table. I call it the K.I.S.S. principle - keep it simple stupid!

I trust we'll get to the bottom of this. I hope the wickedness in high places will be exposed. I believe in the American people to hear what the truth is. I hope...

A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath

In a society that treasures freedom of speech; I think it's a good idea to apply the King's wisdom when unleashing our tongue. In Proverbs 15, verse 1&2, he proclaims an applicable edict: 'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.'

Last week there was a firestorm of controversy surrounding the issue of freedom of speech at an unlikely venue - and many have expressed their fair share of verbiage about it. During the Miss USA pageant, a contestant for the crown of Miss USA, Carrie Prejean, honestly (and gently) answered a provocative question posed. Her answer earned her a poor score costing her the crown and later a tongue lashing from one of the judges, Perez Hilton. Not only was his tongue lashing harsh, profane and hateful but it lit the flames of a controversy that stirred up a great deal of wrath. Wrath by Perez and others that later Carrie publicly forgave and now hopefully, will turn away anymore ugliness.

This is a good example of what the King is saying. I suggest that had Perez exercised wisdom; he may have had more power to communicate his argument of persuasion surrounding gay marriage. It was just an opinion as was Carrie's. Yet he abused his position as a judge on the panel when he let that differing opinion affect the outcome of the crown with his low score (something Donald Trump, the owner of the pageant, announced). Then he opened his ugly mouth.

My point is: 'He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3). And though this episode put Carrie through great adversity; she is far from ruined. Her public image is more attractive now, than even her outer beauty, which I propose makes her message a powerful one.

I won't address the issue of gay marriage - that's for another day and it's just an opinion. But if we want to have powerful, respected authority when saying what we say; we must exercise wisdom and bridle our tongues. Profanity and harsh words won't win arguments. That kind of delivery is a turn off and unattractive, proving nothing except foolishness that gushes folly. And where were all those free speech advocates on this one? The ACLU, NOW, or even the gay lobbies that are constantly using the free speech thing to flaunt their message (frequently in obnoxious, insolently audacious expression). All should defend this woman's right to speak an opinion without being punished. I daresay a politically correct answer is not a point of critique in the rubric used for judgment in this competition. Was she eloquent? Did she answer the question with apparent consistent content in her opinion? Did she have genuine charisma in her delivery when responding? A differing opinion shouldn't be a part of the rubric.

Suffice it to say Perez is a fool and I'd venture a guess, eventually he will come to ruin. On the other hand, Carrie stood tall with honest integrity under this adversity and I'll bet this controversy will do her proud and bring all things together for good. But, that's just my opinion...something that for all Americans; we should be able to voice. And if we do it wisely, we just may get heard.

Don't Be Deceived

Proverbs 16: 25 warns us to be mindful of where our chosen course is leading. Some roads lead to nowhere; some lead to a bountiful prosperous success and some lead to death. It's our responsibility to choose wisely with regard to the end of the road. Presumably however, we need to be discerning with mature foresight to the extended 'down-the-road' consequences. King Solomon, reputed as the wisest ruler of all times puts it this way: 'There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.'

If the Obama's Federal budget plan (3.4 trillion, the largest deficit spending yet in history) that now contains some modest cuts (if not next to nothing) finds congressional approval; one prudently wonders the long term consequences. I much appreciate those zealous tea-baggers who are fed up and won't take it anymore. They're looking ahead to future generations, recognizing the consequences and it's not looking too good, folks. We need to understand something my grandparents and parents knew: money doesn't grow on trees. There isn't this kind of revenue out there, period. We have to either borrow or print it and neither option supports effective, sound, fiscal responses. Do we become enslaved to the foreign nations from whom we borrowed money (recently, China has indicated they're cutting up our credit card) or will we devalue our dollar and accelerate inflation? You think prices on goods and services are high now; just wait...

Point being - death is awaiting our prosperous existence ahead. This is a doomed course. No matter how eloquently the President waxes this destined demise; discerning folks sense an alarm signaling trouble ahead. The logistics of the plan just don't add up. And I'm one of those pragmatic types that estimate reasonable practical action. It's a realty check to those subjective beautiful ideals that tickle. It may sound good and strike a fancy to our compassionate hearts, but this touchy-feely stuff doesn't seem right to me. And I don't care how smart some people say this president is (and we certainly love a smart guy)! Bear in mind, his supporters had to rebut Obama's inexperience somehow.

So much for change. The only change I have these days is what's left in my pocket after taxes. And at this rate; it's only gonna get worse. Somewhere along this road though, I expect we can't squeeze any more 'blood from a turnip'...

Be Wise and Show Restraint

King Solomon tells us within the first few verses in chapter 23 of Proverbs that the delicacies of riches, though seducing, are deceptive. He warns us to beware. A mere glance and very quickly; they are gone, as if they sprouted wings like an eagle and swiftly soared to the heights of the sky. In other words, riches invite us to enjoy its pleasures and seduce us to believe that if we had enough of it; we would be happy and secure.

These times are proof of how fleeting riches are. I know many who were hard working and good stewards of the wealth they had acquired; investing wisely and saving for their retirement as sound counsel would have encouraged. Yet now, it's half its worth and in many cases, gone completely. And it didn't matter how many millions a person may have once had. There is no security or lasting pleasure in riches.

I, like anyone else, desire to retain my holdings in these precarious times. But I appreciate the King's advice: 'Don't won't wear yourself out to get rich; but have the wisdom to show restraint'. Pursuit of riches provides a fleeting security that has no lasting posterity. The wealthiest among us are a good example of this principle as they lose, in some cases, billions.

What we're undergoing today in our harsh economic times is more than diminishing wealth. A spirit of greed and quest for power infected a bunch of folks who were strongly influential. That influence permeated all aspects of our national cultural existence, defiling it with far reaching latitude.
We're in so deep; I suggest we'll all be faced with some pretty hard decisions in the days ahead - maybe years.

The scary part for me is that I have NO confidence in Uncle Sam. And folks - we shouldn't. Remember: 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely'. Government is a detached, cold and inept entity. To expect it to solve our problems is ludicrous - especially in the area of messing with the economy. I propose that the recent mandates from our assertive Congress sets us up for deep failure whilst giving up our constitutional rights. Rights for which were bought with the blood of soldiers from every generation throughout our history. I suggest that our forefathers would be rolling in their grave to see this day from whence we came. From a mere skeleton of governmental framework that they had constructed in the Constitution; (knowing government wasn't the answer) to huge Federal involvement that has made that skeleton obese. They understood that less interference from the Feds enlisted entrepreneurs of invention. And that formula made us one of the most globally prosperous and powerful nations in all of history. On a scale of no government, escalating to total government; both Democrats and Republicans are far left of center. We've caved...and all because of fear, hunger for more and perhaps sheer ignorance (or we've bought a lot of lies).

In the words of Bill Cosby, "Come on people!" Use some restraint and exercise some resourceful initiative instead of looking to a fat uncle for help. I can assure you, he won't be singing our song!

Be Kind to the Poor

It's good to be back - sorry guys. I've been caught up with other work and the load was occupying. Alot has gone on since my last post; but oh well, the big rocks are in the jar, so to speak.

One of the matters I missed addressing was the change of the guard in the White House. We have a new president. It was a historical inauguration, of which I expect was duly inspiring to everyone - especially for those who have hopes of flourishing in our great land of opportunity. His example leads us to believe our hope, I think, when pressed against all odds.

I want to acknowledge this president's apparent compassion for the poor. King Solomon would say in the Proverbs, 19:17 - 'He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.' Surely Barrack Obama's work in community organizations (so his biography tells us) has perhaps proved his sensitivity to the needs of the poor and working class of America. I like that. From the grass roots, he has experiential knowledge about those in dire need within our midst. And given a downward turn of this gloomy economy; I expect there will be more among that throng.

I think it is a timeless truth to note that the poor has always been and surely, will always be among us. It is because life presents discrimination of all kinds and preys upon the weak with unjust oppression. And like beauty - justice may be subject to the eyes of the beholder, not always best serving as we perceive it should. But the better side of that is that when each of us have opportunity; we can serve our neighbors in their need. I propose that these are times for that initiative.

But who are the poor? I suggest that's also subject to relative conditions. Someone out of work, who can't pay the mortgage surely has needs. But when two months prior they lived in affluence; do we consider them poor? Perhaps not. Hard times fall on anyone and everyone. Yet, where there is a need; a person of means can help out and lend a hand. It's easy to say that the indigent of our society are the only ones who deserve relief. Is it a subjective judgment we make? Have you ever looked the other way when someone in need crossed your path and you rationalized that there's a social welfare program for that person - or - I already gave at my charity? And how about having compassion for the small (or large) business that dries up and goes away? Some one's dreams are dashed - and there are others hurting with that closure. I venture a guess that if we practice this proverb in our personal ventures of all walks of life; it'll work out better for everyone. There's a reward for those who would comply.

I propose that we be sensitive these days to anyone in need around us. That seems to be our responsibility - an order of natural prompting. Who knows? It may be a divine appointment of which brings redemptive quality to our lives, even if there is great sacrifice.