Pick up your signs and march, Americans. We're headed down to Zions National Park to protest against the park being shut down, and to protest against the government reopening it. We'll carry a sign, and it will say, "If you're moving out, we're moving in." And, we'll demand that the state government or us as the citizenry, or someone be allowed to run the park in the government's absence.
Oh, but that is not nearly enough. We'll carry a sign that says, "Really, really, we're okay. Stay closed, Sam," and another that says, "No! You've got us wrong! We don't want you to reopen."
See, there's a bunch of us who have been saying all along that the government ought to get out of this, and ought to get out of that. We've been saying for years that government spends way too much money.
And, now it stops, and we're going to complain? No, guess again. This is our opportunity. This is our chance to step forward and do all the things the government has just left for us. Hungry people not getting fed? We can help. Was there ever a Katrina or a time when the Trade Towers were hit when we didn't step up and help? Why shouldn't we now? Eight-hundred thousand federal workers left without jobs? I'm not rich enough. I don't own a business. But, I believe America has thousands of businesses willing to take them in and employ them either on a temporary or permanent basis.
We could step into this void, if we wanted. We could show we don't need so much government, anyway. We could carry a sign that says, "Don't hurry back, Sam. We're doing just fine without you."
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Stop Your Bickering, America, and Seize this Opportunity
Not sure we didn't hear we were deprived more things with the Sequester than we have with the shutdown. Well, maybe not, but, though there is a lot of pain, consider that everything considered non-essential has been shutdown, and is it so awfully terrible?
As for the pain we do have, I wish we as a people would jump in to help meet the points of pain. If we would do this, this government shutdown could prove a decent little experiment, showing we can survive without much of the government spending.
Instead of standing around whining and bickering, it would be neat to see the nation -- the people -- lift themselves up. Oh, and instead of complaining about the ineptitude of the politicians, it would be neat if we saw this as the opportunity it is. It is a golden chance to prove so much government is not needed. But we will not make that point unless we step in the void and do the things the government can't do due to being closed. And, it is an opportunity to serve others. People unemployed? I think it would be neat if private employers stepped in and offered the furloughed government workers temporary (or permanent) jobs.
Stop your whining, bickering and fault-finding, America, and get to work.
As for the pain we do have, I wish we as a people would jump in to help meet the points of pain. If we would do this, this government shutdown could prove a decent little experiment, showing we can survive without much of the government spending.
Instead of standing around whining and bickering, it would be neat to see the nation -- the people -- lift themselves up. Oh, and instead of complaining about the ineptitude of the politicians, it would be neat if we saw this as the opportunity it is. It is a golden chance to prove so much government is not needed. But we will not make that point unless we step in the void and do the things the government can't do due to being closed. And, it is an opportunity to serve others. People unemployed? I think it would be neat if private employers stepped in and offered the furloughed government workers temporary (or permanent) jobs.
Stop your whining, bickering and fault-finding, America, and get to work.
Friday, October 4, 2013
I'm Warming Up to the Partial Government Shutdown
So, how terrible is this government shutdown? I consider with the rest of you. I started against it. But now, I am warming to it.
Though I warm to it, it is true, a government shutdown should not be allowed without much thought, for we do fear the dangers. We wonder about consumer confidence, and about the confidence of the credit rating agencies, and about whether we will entice another recession. We wonder that so many people should suddenly be unemployed, with no way to feed their families, and we wonder about those who will miss government assistance. We worry about national security.
But, public reaction is as though these people in Congress are voting for a shutdown. They are not, not on either side of the aisle. Both sides are voting to keep the government open. They just can't agree on whether to keep Obamacare open, too. Consider the position of that part of Congress that supports shutting down Obamacare. They are willing to fund the government. Indeed, they are voting to fund the government, and they are voting to keep the government open -- all except Obamacare. They are saying, Yes, let's fund it, all except for this one part.
I say, these are the people who are empowered to say what shall be paid for. Yes, they already passed a law creating Obamacare, but it remains their right, the same, to come along after that and decide what will and will not be funded. This, too, becomes law, and this, too, they have the right to decide.
In the past, they may have taken the choice between funding it all or funding nothing, and always they have chosen to fund it all. But, it remains their right to pick what they will fund.
With this said, I do believe they should choose to pay the bill for any service that has already occurred, simply because you pay for what you walk out of a store with. But, if the money hasn't been spent yet for portions of the Affordable Care Act, they have the right to say the money will not be spent.
If a shopper in a store takes an item and puts it in their shopping cart, they still have the right to change their mind before they get to the checkout stand, as long as they have not damaged the item in any way. They still have the right to go back and place the item back on the shelf.
So, put Obamacare back on the shelf. Buy everything else in the basket, but put Obamacare back on the shelf.
Though I warm to it, it is true, a government shutdown should not be allowed without much thought, for we do fear the dangers. We wonder about consumer confidence, and about the confidence of the credit rating agencies, and about whether we will entice another recession. We wonder that so many people should suddenly be unemployed, with no way to feed their families, and we wonder about those who will miss government assistance. We worry about national security.
But, public reaction is as though these people in Congress are voting for a shutdown. They are not, not on either side of the aisle. Both sides are voting to keep the government open. They just can't agree on whether to keep Obamacare open, too. Consider the position of that part of Congress that supports shutting down Obamacare. They are willing to fund the government. Indeed, they are voting to fund the government, and they are voting to keep the government open -- all except Obamacare. They are saying, Yes, let's fund it, all except for this one part.
I say, these are the people who are empowered to say what shall be paid for. Yes, they already passed a law creating Obamacare, but it remains their right, the same, to come along after that and decide what will and will not be funded. This, too, becomes law, and this, too, they have the right to decide.
In the past, they may have taken the choice between funding it all or funding nothing, and always they have chosen to fund it all. But, it remains their right to pick what they will fund.
With this said, I do believe they should choose to pay the bill for any service that has already occurred, simply because you pay for what you walk out of a store with. But, if the money hasn't been spent yet for portions of the Affordable Care Act, they have the right to say the money will not be spent.
If a shopper in a store takes an item and puts it in their shopping cart, they still have the right to change their mind before they get to the checkout stand, as long as they have not damaged the item in any way. They still have the right to go back and place the item back on the shelf.
So, put Obamacare back on the shelf. Buy everything else in the basket, but put Obamacare back on the shelf.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Government Shutdown is Your Chance to Shine, Private Charities
Would now be a chance for Americans to respond like they did after 9-11, or after the earthquake in Haiti, or after Hurricane Katrina?
The crisis is that many of those on government assistance are being shorted aid as a result of the government shutdown. Each day I open my paper to read of the need. I greatly wish Americans would step forward, like they did to help others after 9-11, and the Haiti earthquake, and Hurricane Katrina.
I like the idea of private charities doing the work of helping the poor. I wish private charities did a lot of the work Uncle Sam is doing, freeing him up. It seems if we believe private charities can do it, now would be the time to prove it.
Now would be a great time not to judge who needs help, but to just help.
The crisis is that many of those on government assistance are being shorted aid as a result of the government shutdown. Each day I open my paper to read of the need. I greatly wish Americans would step forward, like they did to help others after 9-11, and the Haiti earthquake, and Hurricane Katrina.
I like the idea of private charities doing the work of helping the poor. I wish private charities did a lot of the work Uncle Sam is doing, freeing him up. It seems if we believe private charities can do it, now would be the time to prove it.
Now would be a great time not to judge who needs help, but to just help.
Government Shutdown a Signature Moment for Who We have Become
If you don't have an opponent, you will never go to war. The first step to create war -- if that is what you want -- is to divide, to create two sides, to create enmity, hatred and vitroilic fervor between the two.
I will tell you this, there is about as much hatred and blaming between the Democrats and Republicans now, October 2013, as has been seen in decades and decades. It has reached a peak. Calls for civility and putting aside partisanship have gone unheeded. And, as the government shuts down, the impass is glaringly apparent.
That we are not on the verge of physical war gives me no comfort. What is it that makes us think that to have hatred for each other, like this, is such a good thing? Love your neighbor, but hate all Democrats. Love even the stranger, but despise those dirty Republicans. Such is the reality of the way the Second Great Commandment is practiced in this Christian nation.
I fear the government shutdown is a signature moment for who we have become.
I will tell you this, there is about as much hatred and blaming between the Democrats and Republicans now, October 2013, as has been seen in decades and decades. It has reached a peak. Calls for civility and putting aside partisanship have gone unheeded. And, as the government shuts down, the impass is glaringly apparent.
That we are not on the verge of physical war gives me no comfort. What is it that makes us think that to have hatred for each other, like this, is such a good thing? Love your neighbor, but hate all Democrats. Love even the stranger, but despise those dirty Republicans. Such is the reality of the way the Second Great Commandment is practiced in this Christian nation.
I fear the government shutdown is a signature moment for who we have become.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Speaking Evil of Leaders has Nothing to do with being Civil?
I joined a Facebook group that seeks to have civil discussion. Alas, the page is littered with vitriolic language. Speaking civilly of leaders seems especially ill-regarded, as if that has nothing to do with civility. So, I write my comment to the group:
"Still do I like the idea of being respectful of those we discuss (government leaders) as part of being civil. Part of why I like it, is that helps set the tone of how we treat each other. Just as much, though, we are a nation divided by hatred, by parties. Why do we suppose this is necessary? Are we a nation of hatred? Have we become a nation of hatred? It does not speak well of us, as a nation, as a people. Do we speak of our neighbors the same as I see us speaking of the politicians? If so, love your neighbor has drifted far from America's heart. Why do we suppose we should treat people right, but somehow that should not include politicians? For those of you who are Christians, I know only of a scripture that says the opposite: 'But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.' " (2 Peter 2:10
"Still do I like the idea of being respectful of those we discuss (government leaders) as part of being civil. Part of why I like it, is that helps set the tone of how we treat each other. Just as much, though, we are a nation divided by hatred, by parties. Why do we suppose this is necessary? Are we a nation of hatred? Have we become a nation of hatred? It does not speak well of us, as a nation, as a people. Do we speak of our neighbors the same as I see us speaking of the politicians? If so, love your neighbor has drifted far from America's heart. Why do we suppose we should treat people right, but somehow that should not include politicians? For those of you who are Christians, I know only of a scripture that says the opposite: 'But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.' " (2 Peter 2:10
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
2013 was the Year Defunding got its Start
Thus it was, in 2013, the idea of defunding programs got its start. At the moment, it wasn't meant as a way to reduce the national deficit, but it didn't take Congress long to realize if they could defund Obamacare, they could defund other programs, as well.
Probably not, but who knows but what history will record something along the lines of the paragraph above. I don't hear anyone even thinking along such lines at the moment, so, like I say, probably not.
But, me, as we finish our first day of the government shutdown, I consider more on the idea of shutdowns as a way of reducing the national deficit. Now, this does not mean I like the current shutdown. It is very comprehensive. What I like is just picking some things, and defunding them. And, only defunding programs we have not already paid for, only ones where the money isn't already out the door and it is just a matter of whether we pay the bill, because we should pay our bills.
Now, here's perhaps the biggest argument against defunding any part of the government: jobs. You defund a program, you lay off people, send them home to feed their families without having money to feed their families. Not a good thing. I've thought in the past that if we cut federal workers, we should place them in jobs in the private sector. I think this should be done, even if the federal government has to shepherd the creation of new jobs in the private sector in order to accomodate the dismissed federal workers.
Doubt Congress would do this.
And, what would likely happen instead, is many of the out-of-work federal employees would simply file for unemployment.
Probably not, but who knows but what history will record something along the lines of the paragraph above. I don't hear anyone even thinking along such lines at the moment, so, like I say, probably not.
But, me, as we finish our first day of the government shutdown, I consider more on the idea of shutdowns as a way of reducing the national deficit. Now, this does not mean I like the current shutdown. It is very comprehensive. What I like is just picking some things, and defunding them. And, only defunding programs we have not already paid for, only ones where the money isn't already out the door and it is just a matter of whether we pay the bill, because we should pay our bills.
Now, here's perhaps the biggest argument against defunding any part of the government: jobs. You defund a program, you lay off people, send them home to feed their families without having money to feed their families. Not a good thing. I've thought in the past that if we cut federal workers, we should place them in jobs in the private sector. I think this should be done, even if the federal government has to shepherd the creation of new jobs in the private sector in order to accomodate the dismissed federal workers.
Doubt Congress would do this.
And, what would likely happen instead, is many of the out-of-work federal employees would simply file for unemployment.
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