Well, allow me to retort!

Yes indeed, I'm quoting Jules Winnfield, that great American movie character portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction...but it sure seemed like the right thing to say in response to Nate over at his blog called "Common Sense."

Here's Nate's original post, "Dammit Joe"

My response follows in it's entirety if you choose to read more.... Nate...

"using payroll taxes"

That is your money...and my money. Most people don't really think about the witholding as being part of their salary, but you really should.

I believe Mr. Lieberman and others are simply considering alternatives rather than turning a blind eye to a problem.

While some in Congress argue there is no problem, I'll look to the former savior of the Democratic Party, Bill Clinton and his estimation of the situation late last decade. I know that he and I certainly don't share much common ground, but I've believed for quite some time that there's a fundamental problem with the Social Security system.

If the Republican Party found the money, time, and resources to provide each American family a new home (1 bedroom per child and 1 per "couple) and the keys to a hybrid SUV to every American citizen of driving age...the Democratic Party would complain about the color of the tiles in the bathrooms and the interior of the hybrid SUVs.

I think that it's time to put political affiliations aside and start solving problems that are good for the country...not just the RNC or DNC.

Capische?

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Figures Lie and Liars Figure

Not to go back and beat a dead horse...but I just happened to run across this little tool on the Web. Allegedly, it will help you compare the standard benefit as promised by the FDR incarnation of social security vs. the one proposed by President Bush in his State of the Union address.

Social Security Benefits Compared...

Go back and look at the address on that web page...is anyone actually surprised that President Bush's plan takes a beating here?

Here are two key things that this calculator DOES NOT address...

1. There isn't enough money coming in anymore to pay for the benefits for the retiring population. It was great when you had over ten workers supporting one retiree's benefits, but we've gone upside down on this one. It's time to let the engines of industry help grow the money we'll need for the future. (I just wish the government would get out of the retirement game altogether. Investing isn't THAT hard to get right...)

2. The calculator does not address the fact that when you die, that's all there is. The payments stop...and your family doesn't receive any more benefits. Under the Bush Plan, what you pay in is yours to keep, spend to the last penny, OR leave to your heirs as part of your estate. I'm all for a plan that allows me to keep more money in my name...and that I can pass on to the next generation in the form of an inheritance or an endowment.

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Immigration Court...Appearances Optional

Well, that's the way it would appear at least in Harlingen, Texas where about 88% of the illegal aliens apprehended fail to appear for the day in court with the immigrataion officials.

Don't believe me? Check out this story from "The Monitor."

Immigrants Fleeing Justice? No, say it isn't so Jose!

Follow me to read the rest of my opinion on this gem. I'm sure you can probably figure out what direction I'll be heading.


Well, let's see if I remember the process correctly.

1. You're apprehended trying to illegally enter this country.
2. For lack of better terminology we "book" you and give you a court date. (Yeah, kind of like a traffic ticket!)
3. We let you go for 6 months.
4. You report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Court to plead your case.
5. Maybe we let you stay in the country...maybe we send you home.

Now if you were willing to enter this country illegally in the first place, why would anyone think that these lawbreakers would abide by this law...and follow the procedures above?

Okay...here's MajorDad's solution to this problem...

Get some of the old Voice of America and Radio Free Europe assets we used to have and blast this message into Mexico...not only will it be heard by the Mexican nationals that choose to flagrantly violate our borders, but also those other nationalities that choose to use Mexico as their "hopping off" point.

"Attention all potential criminals contemplating illegally crossing the border between Mexico and the United States. Today we have completed the deployment of a series of barriers both physical and electronic to discourage you from entering our country illegally. These fences, walls, and sensor systems will pick up the body heat from anyone over the age of 3 years old. You cannot enter our country undetected.

Having tripped these sensors, we will do our level best to dispatch the appropriate authorities to take you into custody immediately and incarcerated for a period of no less than 3 years at hard labor.

If we cannot take you into custody, we will dispatch aircraft that will mark you with an indelible ink that will penetrate your clothing and turn your skin a bright orange color that will prevent you from being able to move without being noticed inside the United States. At this point, you will undoubtedly be reported by a citizen of the United States, arrested, and incarcerated at hard labor for no less than 3 years.

If you think that you will not be turned in, think again. At midnight tonight, every tip that leads to the capture of an illegal alien will be rewarded with a $500 bounty.

The United States is still open to legal immigration. If you have come to Mexico in order to sneak into our country...it's time to think again. If you are Mexican and want to sneak into our country...it's time to re-evaluate your strategy as well. The American Consulate in Mexico City remains open to accept applications for LEGAL IMMIGRATION and WORK VISAs on a case by case basis.

The United States is closed to criminals.

We now return you to your regular programming that consists of extremely bad soap operas, silicon based, peroxide blonde actresses in skimpy outfits, and masked luchadors (wrestlers)."

If this sounds harsh...it's time for Mexico and the nations that are running their people off to the point where they see the US as their only hope need to take better care of their citizens. Obviously they're not doing such a bang up job!

See y'all on the high ground...with the flood light and the guard dog!

MajorDad1984

Homespun Symposium XIII

This week, the HomeSpun Bloggers will answer the following questions...

• Do you believe there is a downside to encouraging nations to move toward being free societies?
  
  
• Can all nations benefit from the move from dicatorship to freedom, or are some cultures simply incapable of it and why?
  
  
• Might they end up worse off?
  
  
• Also, do you believe these shifts are always in America and the West's interests, or will we simply create democratic enemies that are worse for us than the dictators they replace?

Find my pithy response inside...

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Do you believe there is a downside to encouraging nations to move toward being free societies?

Just like you can't make an alcoholic go to the Betty Ford Clinic until they're ready to go...and want to go on their own, you probably can't force democracy on people until they're ready for it. I believe that the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are at the points in their development as nations where they're ready to give it a try. Both nations have known a long history of rule by colonial powers and military/religious strongmen. Maybe this is the time both nations have been waiting for. Through their successful adoption of a more civilized, humane and democratic approach they might be able to serve as examples of how former Islamic republics can maintain their faith to Allah AND provide for the most basic of human rights.

Can all nations benefit from the move from dicatorship to freedom, or are some cultures simply incapable of it and why?

I have to believe that all humans deserve to live in a world where everyone enjoys the same freedoms we've almost come to take for granted here in the United States and much of the civilized world.

I'd say that there are certain points where the basic freedoms can be granted and the iron grip of a dictatorship can be released. I think we're much closer to that in Afghanistan in comparison to Iraq, but I'd also say freedoms as we know them here are still years off.

I would say that some cultures may never be able to enjoy the freedoms that we do...for a number of reasons. Even when religion doesn't come into play, I believe that there are some cultures that have become so used to dictatorships, that they actually prefer them. If you ask some older Russians whether they would like to return to the days of Stalin, I'm sure you'd be met with a resounding, "Da!" (That's Russian for "yes" for you folks reading in Rio Linda."

Might they end up worse off?

It's possible...Russia has been in a better state before. The new freedoms their people enjoy are also being enjoyed by a very hardcore criminal element. It's hard to believe that a little more than 20 years ago at the height of the Cold War I walked the streets of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg again) and Moscow at all hours of the day and night without any concern for my well being. I wouldn't do that today!

Also, do you believe these shifts are always in America and the West's interests, or will we simply create democratic enemies that are worse for us than the dictators they replace?

Only time can tell here. I would maintain that if a nation truly believes that men and women should live in freedom, I can't imagine a situation where democracies cannot peacefully resolve the differences between them. Even though America and Great Britain have distanced themselves from other Western powers, they would quickly forget the troubles of the past if they were faced by a threat to all.