Samhain 2009

Samhain 2009 has arrived and the weather at the bruig mirrors the the state of the world, cold and gloomy. The bright colors of the remaining leaves cannot relieve the overbearing sense of foreboding and doom of the coming death of the world.

Hope and change have turned to lies and destruction. This Congress and administration have picked over the bones of the murdered US economy and put us on the path to financial ruin. Who believes that the US economy can generate the trillions of dollars to pay for current and proposed legislation without destroying the middle class? We are led by liars and blemished demons unfit to tend a herd of swine.

Our Congress and this regime hide behind closed doors, unwilling to show their work. Are they afraid or just so arrogant that they don't believe that they must share their work with their subjects? They make a mockery of our Constitution and law as they impose tyranny on the people. Only time separates this regime and Congress from King George and King Louis.

My family is lucky! I found contract work without benefits at 2/3 what I was making before the government/business ponzi scheme collapsed last year. We are surviving but not making any purchases other than necessities. We will not be participating in the consumer economy that is the engine that drives the US economy. We consumed a big chunk of our savings surviving 10 months of unemployment and lost another large chunk of savings when the stock market went balls up. I don't see much chance of replenishing the losses in this environment where the fruits of my labor must be taken and doled out to the worthy victim classes.

We have fallen from the upper middle class to the lower middle class. When the tax bills start coming for ARRA, health care reform and carbon cap and trade, as well as the passed through business taxes, we will be pushed out of the middle class completely. So much for 40 years of working towards the American dream.

This Samhain I'm mourning the loss of trust in man, and leaders in particular. I will not follow leadership any more, nor will I believe a word that falls from their ever-lying mouths. Their words are poison that has ruined 40 years of my work and my family's future. They deserve a pitchfork and torch treatment from an angry mob. Nothing else would do.

But....

This Samhuin I'm celebrating a new found trust In God. I asked God to help me endure the troubles of this past year and find a way forward to provide for my family. He has comforted me through the storm and He has delivered work to provide for my family. I thank God for my blessings.

So....let the great cat come to the exit of the cave to ravage the world tonight. Let the spirits of the dead mingle with the living. Let the old year die and the birth pangs of the new year begin. Let man fall as I stand with God and may God stand with me.

Oath Keepers

Recently the Oath Keepers have received attention in the blogosphere. At the risk of getting myself added to the Whitehouse Enemies List, I must confess that I too am an oath keeper.

I have taken an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. My duty is to God, family and Constitution and I shall do my duty.

So there, I've publicly said it. Let my identity be found out by regime thugs and let my name be added to the Whitehouse Enemies List. Let them brand me as a racist, clinger, terrorist, criminal that needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the cult of O. I stand opposed to tyranny.

Regime Report Card

Here we are in late October, the new regime has been in office for 9 months and it's time to evaluate what the new national leadership team has delivered.

The most important function of the federal government is national defense. We haven't been attacked or invaded so our defense is intact, for now. Iraq has gone quiet as US troops move to garrison in country. The US victory in Iraq will never be celebrated by this regime because Bush policies enabled it. Afghanistan is a defeat in the making due to administration rules of engagement. Defense programs from aircraft to missile defense are canceled. The regime wants to unilaterally and drastically reduce our nuclear arsenal. There will be no military adventures during the term of this regime no matter the provocation, except, of course, putting down Americans expressing constitutional rights.

As part of national defense, foreign policy is important. The US has backed off the world stage except to embrace tyrant-thugs like Zelaya, heap praise on murderers such as Mao and turn US foreign policy over to the UN. The Russians, Chinese, Iranians can do as they please. Our allies see the pattern and are cutting deals with nations that actually have national interests to ensure some stability. Meanwhile the US has no national interests nor is a force for freedom and human rights in the world.

The government of a capitalist republic doesn't control the economy. But it can set economic policy that influences the economy. This regime has looted the national treasury, put the nation in debt for generations while destroying the currency as it creates a soviet style planned economy. We are witnessing the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind, from the middle class to global elites. ARRA, health care reform, carbon cap and trade legislation are destroying the US economy and with it the middle class. Ten percent of American jobs have been permanently lost and entire industries are on life support as they slowly die. The government now runs large swaths of the economy and will run more if health care reform legislation passes. Clearly a Soviet planned economy is envisioned by this regime.

On the Constitution and law, this regime embraces totalitarian rule, appointing czars who are not accountable to elected officials or the people. Czar is Russian for caesar. Nowhere in the Constitution is caesar mentioned. The regime has made clear that czars may not be questioned or even interviewed. What does this sound like? This regime campaigned for nonpartisanship, transparency and post-racial unity. Anyone who questions the regime's policies is labeled a racist or terrorist and locked out of discussion. This is the most partisan administration in my lifetime that operates behind closed doors and smears dissenters as criminals. The Constitution is clearly under attack and will fail if this regime has it's way.
This administration rules by crisis. Everything on their agenda is a crisis that only more government can solve by giving government more power. The economy, health care, carbon restriction, swine flu. Everything is a crisis that needs a czar to tell us what to think and do. To disagree is to be a racist, terrorist criminal. This is policy.

I could go on, but these three functions are clearly huge failures that illustrate the utter failure of this regime. If the US were a business, it would be shuttered and in liquidation. The management would be disgraced and in seclusion, waiting for the inevitable indictments and law suits.

This regime failed this grading period and is on probation. If the regime doesn't turn this unacceptable performance around, it will be dismissed.

Ian Anderson Passes into History

I've enjoyed the music of Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull for four decades. Ian was a very witty, cynical Scottish poet who was able to capture the essence of Celtic music and fuse it into modern rock and jazz. In his later years, Ian explored music from the middle east and southwest asia, which was interesting but not as entertaining as his earlier music.

I never could determine Ian's particular religious or political beliefs as he kept them well hidden from view. His lyrics suggested that he was skeptical of power in all forms and particularly cults of personality.

Recently I read Ian's comments regarding the new year on the Jethro Tull website. I was sorely disappointed by my old friend's musings. Ian said "So, now it’s the New Year, 2008 done, dusted and discarded. A new American President and a new dawn for US international relations. In the wake of Israeli adventures (or misadventures as they may well turn out to be), Mr O will have his work cut out and his supporters will have to maintain the faith, display patience and trust that some things might actually start to come good by this time next year. The economy, however, might not be one of them. Let’s hope that it is not a one-term presidency and that he gets a real shot at the Change he talks so eloquently of. "

I really didn't need to know this man's specific political opinions. Oh sure, he has every right to have them but did he really need to share them with his fans? Now that Ian has tossed these ideas out into the public arena without the benefit of prose and music I am obligated to contrast them with his previous artistic endeavors and make some decisions about the artist. Let's dissect Ian's remarks.

Ian says there will be a "new dawn for US international relations". What does that mean? Were US international relations living in a dark night? As a British subject, why would Ian care about US international relations? Was Ian troubled because America struck back at 7th century barbarians who murdered innocent civilians while practicing slavery and treating women as livestock? Gee Ian, what a guy.

Ian states "In the wake of Israeli adventures (or misadventures as they may well turn out to be), Mr O will have his work cut out ". Hmmm. Israel is surrounded by murderous islamic thugs who kidnap, murder, shell civilians and threaten Israel with nuclear annihilation. When Israel defends those civilians, Ian calls it a "misadventure". And what "work" is Mr. o supposed to accomplish? Eloquently soothe savage 7th century barbarians into behaving like sane 21st century civilized folk? Or just let the islamic barbarians kill, rape and enslave the jews as euro trash has been wont to do for centuries. Ian is clearly a very sophisticated euro-elite here.

Ian fawns over the American pretender saying "Mr O will have his work cut out and his supporters will have to maintain the faith, display patience and trust that some things might actually start to come good...". Faith? The cynical bard invokes faith? Trust? Ian lays his head and hands on the knees of a great man and swears fealty? This is just hypocritical and wrong.
The minstrel who made his fortune heaping scorn on great men gets a case of lumpen-slut jungle fever for a sweet-talking communist racist. Something might "come good" if you keep your head in Mr. o's lap long enough Ian.

Ian shows his concern for the common fellow when he says "The economy, however, might not be one of them". What? Messiah o won't heal the global economy even as he heals the world's peace? Is Ian suggesting that American communism won't improve the lot of the common man? So dwindling CD and ticket sales won't hurt the bard? Ian would never relocate to another country based upon tax policy like he did in the 1970s. Why that would just be wrong.

And finally "Let’s hope that it is not a one-term presidency and that he gets a real shot at the Change he talks so eloquently of." I'm not sure what "change" the bard speaks of here. I suspect that he wants American change. An America that is as bankrupt, weak and unprincipled as the UK. Well Ian, I don't share your hope nor do I embrace the change that rolls off the lips of the racist, communist from Chicago. And why would a subject of the Crown care if the pretender is a one-hit-wonder?

For me, Ian Anderson died in the 1980s and this hypocrite that speaks today is a zombie that snatched the minstrel's body. So, no more Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull CD purchases or concerts for me. Rest in peace Ian.

Once again, an artist speaks his opinion and destroys his career. These brilliant artists can't comprehend that once they tell us what they really think, we can't put it aside when they perform. All the world is a stage once you become an artist, and every second of every day you are working. How an artist can work so hard to create a brand just to destroy it with offhand comments is just amazing.

I won't support artists that want to destroy my culture, get my family killed and redistribute the fruits of my labor.

There is nothing left to debate

I've come to believe that we are witnessing the utter collapse of leadership in the West. It is as if children were allowed to make the rules. What could possibly go wrong?

From city councils to corporate board rooms to the very leadership councils of nations, individuals sit to decide how we will go forward based upon principles so delusional that one wonders if these leaders are insane or just wish to destroy our civilization.

In my city, tax revenues have fallen off the cliff because the two biggest employers are both automotive companies recently emerged from bankruptcy that can't pay back property taxes. The mayor and council can't decide if they should cut the budget to match the shortfall in revenue or borrow from the state. Neither company appears to be able to survive so how does the council think that the loan from the state can be repaid? The state has also seen a severe decline in tax revenue, so they would have to borrow from the federal government who in turn would either print or borrow the money.

Meanwhile the library board is moving forward with a project to build a new library. As streets crumble and police/fire protection is threatened because of lack of funds our leadership builds a library. The library reduced hours and manpower because they can't operate on their reduced budget. Soon we may have a new library that is open for two hours a week because they don't have the budget to keep the lights on and pay staff.

Meanwhile one of the city's biggest employers can't perform at even 20% of capacity because they early retired everybody that knew anything about the operation then stole their pensions and retirement medical benefits. Needless to say, when the company calls former salaried employees with a question they are abruptly disconnected. The company can't recruit two cleantech engineers in the worst recession since WW2 because their reputation and future are ruined. The company's giant local plant will become an abandoned superfund site within a few years.

Then there is our congress and president ruining our currency, our military and supporting tyranny across the globe. If that weren't bad enough, these leaders encourage irresponsible behavior by promoting loose sex through abortion, homosexual rights and diversity. Open borders assure a continuous stream of criminals into the country while ACORN tutors existing criminals how to loot the country.

US foreign policy leadership regarding Honduoras and Zelaya kind of says it all. The right thing to do is to let Zelaya get himself 'elected' as presidente for life to rule as a tyrant-thug. Then Zelaya can emulate his hero Hugo Chavez by running drugs, acquiring nuclear weapons and supporting international terrorists.

The West is abandoning the war on radical islam, freedom and human rights, financial responsibility and example by leadership. The dream that was Western enlightenment is swirling around the drain and will disappear completely unless we find and support better leaders.

I believe that unless the descendents of Western culture return to their God and His teachings then resolve that these are not the moral equivalent of other cultures that the West will fail and cease to exist in a few generations. And future generations will be poorer for it.

This week the Norweigan Nobel committee decided to give the Pretender the Peace Prize. This award diminishes the Prize to meaninglessness. The Pretender has not brought peace but sowed the seeds of destruction and human suffering for generations. Perhaps forever in human terms, because there may never be another Western enlightenment.

I am bewildered and disgusted by this award. Ancient wisdom says that you can know a man by the company that he keeps. The Pretender stands with Wright, Ayers, Zelaya, Chavez, Ahmadjihad, Stalin then down the line directly to satan.

As sad as it is, the last, best hope of mankind is that the current failed leadership reaches too far, too fast and awakens all those patriots who keep jump bags at the door with some Concord event. There is nothing left to debate.