Has it come to this?

One of the first emails I opened this morning was from Oak Norton, the guy who exposed the leftist leanings of the administration of the Alpine School District. I think I've posted a link to his website here a few times (www.utahsrepublic.org) a few times. He keeps on top of important issues here in Utah, most of them dealing with the schools, and he periodically sends out emails on these topics. Our legislative session ends next week, so today I wasn't too surprised to see an email from Oak asking people to contact their reps and senators about three pieces of legislation still needing to be acted upon. The first one on the list is on the list is: HJR 5 - Joint Resolution on Parental Rights and Fundamental Liberty. I clicked on the link to check out the resolution, and the first thing that jumped out at me is that the primary sponsor of the resolution is none other than my own Utah representative, Chris Herrod, whom I am supporting in his run for the U.S. Senate. This resolution urges congress to propose the Parental Rights Amendment to the states for ratification in the U.S. Constitution to protect the rights of parents in raising their children.

http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/hbillint/HJR005.htm

It takes my breath away to think that our country has come to a point where we have to consider getting the states to pass resolutions or bills to try to add a specific amendment to the U.S. Constitution to protect the rights of parents to have the primary say in the raising of their children. Did you know that a sophmore Utah representative, Carl Wimmer, wrote the legislation that became the tool by which the 26 states have been given standing in the case now before the Supreme Court to overturn Obamacare? Without that legislation, almost certainly there would be many fewer states who could have been included in that case.

I don't know what the chances are that Chris's resolution will pass (and thus beginning the process of process of garnering support amongst other states to write such an amendment), but the fact that we have to even consider it is appalling to me. And I'm so grateful for forward thinking representation in our state legislature.

Welcome to America

Arizona's new immigration law, which mirrors federal law, has gotten plenty of negative media and has stirred some interesting discussions on Facebook, in the blogs, and amongst friends. This morning I emailed my niece a link (http://projects.latimes.com/mexico-drug-war/#/its-a-war) which describes the lawlessness that has become prevalent in Mexico and is spilling over our borders. We exchanged a few comments back and forth, and she finally wrote:


"You know what, I'm more or less a live and let live type of person for the most part, Mexicans, Blacks, Whites, Homos whatever (I admit I have difficulty lumping the muslims in there though). People are what they are and can be whatever they want to be as far sexual identity but really it is my belief that they should just all assimilate, speak English, get a job, be a contributory member of society, don't whine about inequality and fairness or lack of it, don't force their viewpoints on others. They don't need their own clubs. The problem is they all want to be in the good ol' USA but they want to foist all of their "crap" on us. If you're going to live in America do it legally, contribute, live the dream and speak English, leave the burqa at home, become an American, melt in the pot or get out. We shouldn't need to change our way of life for people coming to our country to accommodate their ways and beliefs, etc. You don't go to someone else's house and rearrange their furniture, they shouldn't either."

In this day of weighing all our words and often our very thoughts against the political correctness of our time before speaking them, her words are boldly and refreshingly frank. I couldn't have said it better.

The Patrick Henry Caucus

Check out this video about Utah's "Patrick Henry Caucus". You can find their website at www.thepatrickhenrycaucus.org

What PC is doing to our children and grandchildren

Yesterday, a friend was telling about a situation with her 16 year old daughter who badly wants her own cell phone. The mom had put two requirements this girl would have to meet before she could get one. These were simple enough conditions, things any 16 year old should have been doing without a bribe. One was that she would have to be turning in every homework assignment without exception (no grade requirements, even), and the other was that she would keep her room clean. For some reason, the daughter was having trouble accomplishing these basic tasks. Still, the daughter blamed her mom that she could not have a cell phone. The mom was mean and unfair. The mother said her daughter seemed to have no concept of actions and consequences, or that she (the daughter) was the master of her own fate.

I thought about this briefly, and realized that the concept of "consequences" has been un-taught in our schools. No one is allowed to fail, and great accomplishments by students aren't given the recognition they should be. Everyone must be "equal". Our team sports, at least in the younger grades, publish the same misconceived trashy lies. Every team gets a trophy. All players get trophies. Exceptional teams and players are not spotlighted, for fear someone else's feelings might be hurt because they weren't noticed. Even though they did not excel. This concept of "everyone is the same" insidiously teaches our children that there are no consequences for what they do. Responsibility for one's own success or failure is erased by these policies, and the lesson learned spills over into other segments of these kids' lives. What they want, and what their friends have, should just be given to them, regardless of what they do or don't do.

Fortunately, we still have some say in our own homes and families. At least for now. It's up to parents to teach these important concepts, that we can and should achieve all that we strive for, that actions do in fact have consequences in life whether the PC Police say they do or not. But we must teach our children. They will not learn this important lesson in their schools or activities.

Promises vs. Reality

The President has repeatedly made promises of "bipartisanship", "transparency", and "open doors", but has yet to live up to those promises when it comes to legislation that is potentially life-changing for the citizens of this country. I'm one of those "American people (who) don't want the future of their health care being decided behind closed doors..."

I wonder how our Democrat friends would feel if this shoe were on the other foot. Does fairness matter to them, or only getting what they want, regardless of the consequences to others? I haven't talked to a single conservative who does not agree that we desperately need health care reform. Not one. But the Democrats only want health care reform done their way. No bi-partisanship there. The really sad thing is that so many of those who are blindly insisting this bill must pass are in serious denial about what it is going to do to even their own healthcare options, and financial situation. And if they do know but continue to push for it, that is even more tragic.

So what are the Democrats hiding that necessitates this process to be held behind closed doors without the input of representation of the other half of the country? I want to know. Before the bill is passed. If he really is the president of the whole country and not just a select few, then what does Obama have to hide?

The following article says it better than I can:


Boehner to President Obama: Keep Your Promises of Transparency in Health Care Negotiations
GOP Leader: “The American people don’t want the future of their health care being decided behind closed doors by three liberal Washington Democrats.”
Washington, Dec 23 -

WASHINGTON, DC – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement in response to news reports that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will hammer out a final government takeover of health care bill behind closed doors with President Obama:

“The American people don’t want the future of their health care being decided behind closed doors by three liberal Washington Democrats.

“Instead of keeping his campaign promises of transparency, President Obama has allowed Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to operate in secret and play ‘let’s make a deal’ with one-sixth of our economy. It’s just wrong to shut taxpayers out and then spend their hard-earned money on payoffs, kickbacks, and sweetheart deals to jam through this monstrosity.

“Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) has introduced a resolution (H.Res. 847) demanding that any health care negotiations be opened up to the public, and Democrats should join Republicans in supporting it. Given all that's at stake, including whether taxpayer dollars will be used to fund abortions, the American people are right to demand an open and honest discussion of the consequences of this government takeover of health care. That’s what Republicans are fighting for.”

Click here for the rest of the article

Uncle Sam, MD by Dr. Fred Shessel

Uncle Sam, MD
By Dr. Fred Shessel
December 23, 2009

As a doctor, I know that the most important thing in quality healthcare is my relationship to you, the patient. You are a unique individual, not disease entity. I must tailor my diagnosis and treatment to your particular needs rather than simply assign you to a disease category. Because none of you are exactly alike, there is an art as well as a science to medicine.

Tragically, the so-called healthcare reform legislation currently before Congress will make it impossible for me to do my best for you. Both the House and the Senate Bills will firmly insert a Washington bureaucrat between you and me. The House legislation creates a National Health Care Board whose mandate is to reduce your care to a cost-benefit analysis. It also establishes a Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research that is designed to slow the development of new medications and technologies in order to reduce costs. The Senate Bill gives sweeping powers to the Secretary of HHS to delineate the appropriate treatment for any given diagnosis. In all of these cases, non-doctors who have no relationship to you at all will determine your care.

Read the rest of the article here

FYI

If you've come here from link from my posting on your personal (i.e., non-political) blog, just want you to know I also write a personal blog and will give that link to personal friends if you'll email me. Just trying to protect my extended family's privacy by generally using this ID on blogspot.