If you were unnerved by the debt ceiling spectacle of the last month, where America came across like a Third World nation, get used to it. It’s a sign of things to come. Americans often talk about our uniqueness, of how we are a shining example to the world. When it comes to providing freedom to its … Continue reading
During the 2008 presidential campaign one of the mottos of Republican John McCain’s campaign was “Country First.” The implication being of course that the country’s best interests trump that of either political party. Well McCain lost and his party has decided to ignore that motto as well. The fight over raising the debt limit, what … Continue reading
In the latest budget battle the Republicans are finally living up to their oft stated, but little deserved, title of fiscal conservatives. Or so it would seem. The reality is that the Republicans are not making much of a dent in the budget at all. Instead they are seeking to axe the low hanging fruit … Continue reading
Due to protesting government workers, the capitals of Wisconsin and Indiana are looking more and more like the capitals of Libya and Yemen these days. Workers are understandably upset that certain bargaining rights that they have always had may be taken away from them. I come from a family that has several public sector workers … Continue reading
It is mind numbing to watch the Republicans and Democrats argue over who should continue to receive the Bush tax cuts. The Republicans believe that everyone should continue to pay less than their share to a bankrupt Uncle Sam. Democrats feel that only those making under $250,000 should benefit. They state that the tax cuts should only go to … Continue reading
Now that the Republicans are back in charge, I look forward to them following up their tough talk about runaway government spending with concrete action. The first thing they should do is cut their own pay by 10% and reduce their office budgets by the same amount. Those in the ailing private sector fortunate enough … Continue reading
The GOP released their long-awaited update on 1994′s Contract With America. Clocking in at 21 pages, this one is a bit more wordy than the Newt Gingrich penned Contract. Basically, the party of supposed fiscal conservatism has pledged to Americans that they will continue to run up massive long-term debt by returning government spending to what it was before … Continue reading
On a recent jaunt around Idaho and Montana I noticed a lot more anti-government lawn signs and bumper stickers than I usually encounter in my purple state of Pennsylvania. Here are a few that caught my eye. Leaning against a barn I saw a piece of white plywood hand painted in black: “Keep the governments hands off … Continue reading
A few months ago I started to write a post decrying the Obama is Hitler signs at Tea Party rallies. I never finished it as things cooled off and it seemed like the Hitler analogy was just a passing trend, like Crocs. That is until news came in today of a billboard put up by the North Iowa … Continue reading
Lost On Planet China by J. Martin Troost is one Westerner’s attempt to understand the world’s most complicated country. The China that Troost portrays is not all that appealing. It is obviously crowded, 1.3 billion people have to go somewhere, but it is also incredibly polluted. Wherever Troost goes he describes the air as (continue reading)
You would think that when one party controls both Congress and the White House they would make great forward strides together. But history over the last few decades has proven just the opposite. The American political system is based on checks and balances. It’s proven to be an effective way of governing. Some of the … Continue reading
Note on the chart above how there was a dramatic increase in the National Debt during the Reagan/Bush I and II years and a dramatic decrease during the Clinton years. Is this some sort of bizarro land? I thought conservatives were supposed to shrink the size of government and liberals were to increase it. At least … Continue reading
