socialism or capitalism

I'm gonna jump right in since this is really just a way to vent my thoughts in a semi private way, so I can move on to think about other things.

Occasionally we're given a glimpse into who this mysterious genius we call our president is. People usually miss it and make excuses for what would otherwise be called crazy talk. Why? Because he makes us feel warm and fuzzy: like we are compassionate humans caring for our fellow, less-fortunate, brothers and sisters, or like our dear mother earth would be doomed without our loving hands tending to her. But by putting these glimpses together over time you get a clear view of the entire pretty picture.

Basically the election is coming down to these two options:
1) A socialist hiding behind a bunch of garbage like "fairness" and "we are in this together" that somehow works on many people (which I find more and more astonishing), who can't run on his record which is a wasteful use of crazy amounts of money, an economy that won't rebound, etc etc etc. He instead distracts people by talking about fake wars being waged on women, why you should hate anyone that makes more money than he deems acceptable, and a theme that every person needs the government to hold their hand through life and make everything fair for everyone.  And by fair, he means replacing the ideal of equal opportunity with a mandate of equal outcome. Weird, I only wish he'd mentioned something about fundamental change last time he ran...

2) A man who has been successful in leading people, creating jobs and wealth and solving a variety of problems in his years of experience in the private and public sectors. I'll let Jack Welsh, who's lived longer and accomplished more things than me, break it down:



It seems odd that this is even a choice for people. The country is hurting and Obama refuses to take responsibility for any of the last 3.5 years. He talks as though he's running for his first term. Also, just like last time, he still loves blaming Bush for everything, talking about how what they inherited was far worse than they imagined. He also drops hints constantly that the Republicans want to go back to the "failed policies of the last 8 years", which I don't know what he's talking about exactly and can't find any evidence of anything in specific, but it just helps scare people into thinking Bush is actually running again. As Obama said himself when he ran the first time, "If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from. You make a big election about small things." Wow, maybe he is a prophet.

The following inspiring and unifying clip is from a recent speech by our President-



What is he talking about? I know it's the same old hate the rich, class envy stuff that plays so well to his base. But does it even make sense? The business owner didn't create his business and success why? Because they had a good teacher in the 3rd grade? Maybe he meant the business owner didn't build the roads and power grid himself. Fine, that's true but a dumb argument as everyone has access to the same things. But then he goes on to say that SOMEONE ELSE built it, as if everyone else in the country paid for the infrastructure the businessman used, but businessmen don't pay so they can't use them without sharing their profits with everyone else. What? Business owners, of course, DO pay taxes. And if they make more money then they pay MORE taxes, so they can say they contributed MORE than many others to build that infrastructure. Many people don't even pay taxes because they don't earn enough, many of them are probably in this crowd cheering for Obama because he is Robin Hood. How do those people that contribute nothing get to be upset about anything? Obama is, I think confused about capitalism, or maybe not. Maybe he just hates it. What other conclusion can one reach? That's why Romney is, to him, the devil. Many people complain about having to vote for the lesser of two evils. At least this time, there's a pretty stark difference between the two and it's not just about who's less evil than the other. I think it's about a lot of pretty big things.

Obama says whatever garbage he needs to to get his fawning fans worked up into a frenzy. Never mind that much of what he says is an outright lie or just doesn't even make sense. He's an organizer: delivering stemwinders to agitated groups of people is his specialty. He talks about a country that's stronger when it works together, yet he has been the most divisive President I can think of- dividing people by race, gender, income, geographic location, religion, etc and getting them to fight against each other. The hypocrisy is glaring.

Below is Charles Krauthammer, who is always great, dissecting Obama's attack on business owners. It is perfect.




Obama can't talk about what he's accomplished over his first four years so he makes up stuff about the person he's running against and distracts people with other things. He (single-handily, according to him) killed Bin Laden, but can't talk too much about war as he's continued much of what he and the left whined about during the Bush years, including Guantanamo. Plus the left hates war, although they're strangely quiet about it these days... He can't talk about his beloved health care law, more than half the country doesn't want it and it was only deemed constitutional by describing it as a tax (something Obama pledged not to do). He can't talk about the stimuli and the money they used to save our economy; as it turns out it didn't do much of anything, lots of money is unaccounted for and lots was given to now failed companies. Oh, and the economy still isn't turning and fear of it worsening hasn't gone away either. Another bad jobs report, another excuse: 'We still aren't where we need to be....but we're headed in the right direction'...how many times can he say the same thing and people still have hope that he knows what he's doing?

I wonder how many people are actually still buying this crap. They say the race is close so far, so I guess quite a few. Lots of people buy crap all the time: occupy wall street, the war on women, Kony 2012, on and on and on. So much is just sensational rubbish to get you fired up by the media or fancy marketing people. Some of it is so subtle you almost can't detect it: what do you think of when someone says Capitalism? (greed, people taking advantage of others to get ahead, etc...) Then what about Socialism? (A unified country where every person has what they need and there's no inequality) Is that about right? Is that based on reality & history OR hyper-sensationalized visions of idealistic/ cynical people with the tools to shape people's thinking?

I feel like I'm good at seeing through it or at least holding out longer than my peers before jumping into or out of something. It's frustrating to see garbage fed to us and many people eating it up without thinking it through. Then, when what they ate up is later found to be a joke or a failure, it silently just goes away... no admission of being wrong or deceived or anything, it just goes away...quickly because everyone is already jumping onto the next bandwagon.

yay for unions!

Been hearing about the stuff in Wisconsin with unions. Their buddy representatives running away and hiding so they don't have to vote on sensitive issues affecting them. That's great government.

Then I heard this video on the evil Glenn Beck's show. Glenn is such a liar, and this kid has clearly been well educated in college and molded correctly. I mean come on, listen to what each person is saying and you'll come to that conclusion.


i don't know where to begin talking about what a joke this guy is. i feel sad that he's forced to live under such a terrible regime like the Noodle company. Whiny, entitled, clueless- scary how common that is now.

Here's an article from today's paper. On a day when the island is nailed with a big storm and a bunch of people are without power, the electrical company union workers go through with their strike and leave them hanging. On the radio they talked about what bad PR this is for the unions, but that really doesn't matter in a state so completely brainwashed into voting democrat. Elections show about 70- 80% the vote is democrat and democrat politicians here are voted in over and over from the time they're around 20 until they're 100.

The whole idea that the company or government you work for is the enemy and trying to destroy you so you need a union to protect you is very odd and unhealthy to me. Just a strange way to start a career or job. Why don't they just work elsewhere? But all businesses are evil! How sad, paranoid and cynical.

My own experience? I went to the capital a year or so ago to listen to arguments for and against the rail here. The American Institute of Architects Honolulu opposed what was being discussed and had a panel there to present their case. I thought it'd be interesting as I had learned about rail and community development etc in school and also had opinions. There were many people there with signs opposing and many people for what was being presented. (not whether the rail should exist or not, but what type of rail construction basically).

The unions were there in full force to oppose the AIA's position and suggestions. They had been given signs and had been told what to say. They were full of rage and couldn't be talked to. They had a chance to ask questions of the architects and planners research and presentation but wouldn't listen to their answers. It was as if they all had ear plugs. They had been so fully brainwashed that they couldn't see any other point of view.

They complained about a rail design requiring more out of state union labor and specialized labor: the AIA recommendations would use more local and less specialized labor, but the unions didn't care.

They complained about the rail being delayed and work for them being delayed: the AIA plan would allow for a quicker start time for the project. but the unions didn't care.

They complained about the need to get it finished sooner to alleviate traffic congestion quicker:
the AIA plan would finish the rail much sooner. but the unions didn't care.

They complained about the overall cost of the rail being more: the AIA plan would bring down the cost by millions. but the unions didn't care.

They didn't care about anything that was presented that day. The unions had been told: "Go to the capital and protest the AIA panel. Anyone who opposes the Mayor's current rail design and plan is the enemy. Don't listen to anyone that disagrees."
And they knew the Mayor is democrat and the Governor (the one who thought it was important enough to hold this at the capital and invited the absent Mayor) was a republican. They left angrier than ever because this alternate plan threatened the one the Mayor and their union bosses had agreed on, when if they had come with an open mind they could have learned something.

It was interesting to see everything in action. Some union people even went to class warfare and said that the President of the AIA Honolulu doesn't understand anything because he's basically 'a rich haole from the rich Kahala area' and they are poor 'working people' from the other side of the island.

Us against them. 'Working' people vs 'wealthy' people (who apparently don't work?). So unhealthy and vital for unions to succeed. Sad and strange.

To sum up, maybe some unions are good, I don't know. Many are out of control and full of corrupt bosses and brainwashed followers. When I see our President and the state of Hawaii is in bed with them it is frustrating.

presidential update

heard this today and thought it was sweet.

'if you drive a car, i'll tax main street... if you try to sit, i will tax your seat. if you get too cold, i will tax the heat. if you take a walk, i will tax your feet." so great.

remember how no one making less than $250,000 a year wouldn't have an increase of taxes? right.

really, can you believe anything that comes out of his mouth?

he was right though, it isn't politics as usual. It's far, far worse.

Let's make a list of current events:

1- oil spill. day 80 something now. how's that going? forget cleaning up, let's bash oil companies, stop drilling altogether and put more people out of work (and lie about recommendations regarding a moratorium). Push cap and trade and environmental responsibility (while the environment there is being completely ruined). bravo. never let a crisis go to waste.

2- new black panther voter intimidation. After they were found guilty, the DOJ drops the case against them. Look it up on youtube, it's right there and it's crazy. But there is a new policy: no case where white people are victims and black people are the ones committing the crime against them will be taken seriously.
- remember the 'beer summit' after Obama said the white policeman acted stupidly when in the same sentence he acknowledged not having the facts. hooray for a post racial America, united under the Chosen One.

3- Immigration and Arizona. The vast majority of humans understand a border is necessary and without that border being secure it is pointless. Obama would rather get votes from clueless and far, far left people and ignore the American people and go ahead and sue Arizona. Sue it for a basically harmless law that mimics the federal law. Imagine being stopped by a cop for doing something wrong (like speeding or shooting someone) and he asks for your license! WOW, that IS like Nazi Germany. Give me a break and cry me a river people. When asked about whether law suits would be considered against sanctuary cities that openly defy immigration law, they couldn't answer. One more double standard in my book of evidence. And chalk up another one on the 'Obama on opposite side of America' board.
Perhaps they should drop the lawsuit and get to work on fixing the problem.

4- Economy. Get ready for the double dip is what i'm hearing more and more. My hours at work just got cut. Obama continues to give speeches about how awful the country would be if they hadn't run up the debt and wasted money on stimuli. Oh, and don't forget how messed up everything was from EVIL BUSH. That's not getting old at all. Like his 'created or saved' garbage that can't be measured, we are just supposed to take his word for it that he's all knowing and taking great care of us. I prefer to look at reality. He has no clue what he's doing. He and all his socialist textbook reading academic friends are still going for the big government take over with redistribution of wealth and trickle up economics to fix the country. The rest of us have history and reality to look at and understand they're only making things worse.

5- NASA- isn't involved in space anymore, but Islamic relations. Making them feel good about contributions they made to science and math hundreds of years ago... google it. it's happening.

I'm getting tired and don't want to waste more time on this.
The point is Obama is exactly what I thought. That is why i didn't vote for him. Let's hope he doesn't fundamentally change anything beyond repair and will kindly disappear when his lone term is finished. Maybe go get a massage with his buddy Al Gore. Then, hopefully the country will be woken up enough and have their eyes open next time and will elect an actual leader to be president.

a nice entry

from a house in an old issue of dwell. http://www.dwell.com/articles/opdahl-remastered.html

bathroom sign

in a house = awesome?

coexist bumper sticker

Driving with Shandra yesterday I noticed on a car one of the most annoying bumper stickers. It's one that I've seen occasionally, as we live in a place that appeals to hippie types and has several colleges/ a university nearby. But this one struck me as particularly annoying:



The Obama logo had been slipped in there...
but I guess it only makes sense- Islam, Judaism, Christianity and Obama.

I wanted to roll down my window and ask the guy driving that car what planet he's from, and also that he should go back...before I punch his face. How can human beings be expected to 'coexist' with people like that?

Obama hasn't transformed the world into the garden of Eden like he promised and his followers voted with hopeful tears in their eyes for.

- He's not 'open and transparent' at all
- He's not bipartisan at all
- He has a clear dislike for capitalism and other basic principles that make this country what it is.
- He hasn't made the country less hated or more safe by being 'like-able' or incessantly apologizing
- The country is even more racial than before
- Unemployment is still high- he continues to blame Bush- and wants to make every new job be a government one.
- He ignores things that need help and focuses on his predetermined agenda items like health care and global warming. He then ignores data (or the fact that data may be fake) and the American public that disagrees with his own views and proceeds.
- To sum up, I don't understand what people are still in love with him about.

Here in Hawaii I see lots of people wearing clothes by local companies with Obama's face or name on it because he's 'local'. Some of it is pretty sweet. Good designs- because 'cool' artists like Obama. Cool people wear Obama. "Malama Obama" or "Obama Ohana" etc. What are all the props for? Nothing that I can tell. He just exists, and thus is deserving? He truly is an American Idol President, and like most trends and celebrities I think he's annoying. Can't wait till he's out of style. Until then I just wish people would look at the man and what he's doing and talk and think about him accordingly. He's not a God or Religion(not for normal humans, at least). He has done nothing to prove otherwise. Please be realistic. Don't tell me to 'Coexist' Obama style.

I heard this quote a while ago, it's Obama describing himself from one (of two) books he wrote about himself.
"I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views..."

Obama the blank screen. Doesn't that sound like a great philosopher or prophet? Someone that stands for ideals and truths and is a shining example for others? Someone willing to take persecution for his beliefs? Don't think so. Sounds like the guy I saw running for president. A guy who stands for nothing (that he'll be open and honest about) but speaks well of vague and positive things that make you feel good. A guy that instead let's others believe what they wish about him and make him into whatever they want him to be- which he'll then use to gain favor and get ahead. It's not rocket science. but then I may be wrong, I didn't go to Punahou and Harvard.

all that from a bumper sticker?

kitchen cabinetry

I saw this kitchen renovation on AT and liked what i saw. If plywood is involved, more than likely I'll be on board. I'm not afraid to say I like materials many people cringe at or think sound cheap: concrete, concrete block, plywood, corrugated metal, it's all very good. I like this kitchen's clean lines, colors (or lack of) and simplicity. I'll file this under my nice interiors section.

political (again?) observations: blasphemy in the temple

"Hey, hundreds of thousands of people- Go home. You're wrong."

It's not that I love politics and I don't spend much of my leisure time at all talking to people about it. But when something seems strange, annoying or frustrating and is always in the news or being talked about on the radio, then I sometimes feel the need to chime in and state what I agree or disagree with.
I've written before on the blog and others in comments about politicians being out of touch with reality or the common people they're supposed to represent. Written also a lot about Obama's campaign of feel good ambiguity, subsequent deification and worship and the whole elitism thing.
I haven't written here lately about the whole health care thing, czars being exposed and thrown under the bus, push for propaganda by artists, etc and etc. Sometimes the material seems like too much, it's too overwhelming. But for now I thought I'd write a quick note on the overall situation.

The majority of American people don't want the health care plan Obama is pushing. He ignores that fact and makes another speech. The dems in congress say things like the Repubs are blocking it and want the status quo. That's two lies in the same sentence: They don't need the Repubs, they can run them over if they have all the Dems, and 2. Repubs don't necessarily want the status quo, I've heard lots of suggestions to fix the system everyone recognizes needs changes. They just don't want the plan that Obama and Pelosi want. It makes perfect sense to me, but this garbage is repeated by them daily. Obama says he's open to ideas and the door is open. McCain says the door has been shut on Repubs since April. I believe McCain, he has a history of working together with people, Obama does not.
But Obama gets to say whatever he wants and gives his speeches almost on a semi-daily basis. He just doesn't want to budge.

In his speech to congress he says things like 'We must stop with the scare tactics...if we do not pass (my) health care reform now, "our deficit will grow, more families will go bankrupt, more business will close, more Americans will loose their coverage when they are sick and need it the most, and more will die as a result." Wow, that's not a scare tactic, people will just be dying as a result. I'm sorry, what? Do as I say, not as I do! What about a shortage of doctors? -nope, that's a scare tactic, ignore it. It really is comical.

When the left protest, they are noble and 'grass roots' and should be listened to. But when people (who happen to be more conservative) all over the country protest government spending and taxing in huge numbers, they're called 'racist' and 'astroturf'. Today, Obama Senior adviser, David Axelrod, says that the thousands and thousands of protesters that came to Washington from all over the country on 9/12 'do not represent the views of the broader public when it comes to health care reform.'

"I don't think it's indicative of the nation's mood," Axelrod said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "You know, I don't think we ought to be distracted by that. My message to them is, they're wrong."

Talk about elitism on glaring display. What happened to championing free speech? Representing the country? Nope. If you're on the conservative side and have a difference of opinion and you choose to protest, you're wrong. That's all there is to it. End of discussion. You're mocked, ignored, called phony. That's something that I've seen more than once and I think is hilarious, hypocritical and sad.

When Obama is 'disrespected' or shouted at, then the people are 'racist', 'extreme', 'plants' and should be harshly dealt with. To disagree is hateful, shocking and disappointing. Did you see Nancy Pelosi's face when that congressman called Obama a liar during his big health care speech? It could melt your face off. It read: You have blasphemed in the temple of Obama! I know it was maybe wrong place, wrong time, but seriously, what's the big deal? Do you think Bush was never challenged, disrespected, called a liar? If you can say that with a straight face then you're brain dead, I'm sorry. But did you hear Bush complaining? Gasps of shock and disgust that someone disagrees? Calls for apology? NO WAY! Bush said over and over he knew he couldn't please everyone and that people have a right to opinion. He shrugged it off. Man, it makes me appreciate Bush more.

When that reporter in Iraq threw the shoe at Bush, the video was played over and over on the news. All over the radio. Sketches on SNL. It was hilarious and had to be shown to the world! The Iraqi was championed as a hero. The left embraced him as a symbol. Bush's response? 'That guy is entitled to his opinion.' and he laughed about it.

It's clear that Obama has unbelievably thin skin and the Pelosis of the world can't handle disagreement or 'disrespect' of any kind. It's a double standard made apparent over and over in many situations and is, again, hilarious, hypocritical and sad.

And why is dissension during Bush justified and reasonable, but under Obama extreme, hateful and unreasonable? I'm not understanding. I know Obama is relatively new, but at the same time he has done ALOT and I think there has been ample time to critique what he's got going on. When he says things like fundamental change I believe it's important for close and constant dissection, otherwise if we let him work it and question later, then we got a whole new system going on and it might not be pretty or easy to repair. Health care? I think the people know what he wants, it's been discussed, (albeit not always clearly-not the public's fault) for months now. The people have voiced their opposition. His response? 'You're all wrong'. wow.

I don't want to continue on with more stuff, but just wanted to get some thoughts out onto computer screen.
It's because of stuff like this that I continue to see the left as more extreme, hateful, intolerant and hypocritical than the right. It's as simple as that. And I totally agree with Courtney that labels are stupid and unproductive. When discussing things like politics right now i don't know any other way to distinguish the two sides than to use words like left, right, conservative, liberal, etc., And since our system only has two sides at the moment I have to look at it accordingly. When people step up to be bi-partisan I'll check them out. So far I haven't really seen that. Hopefully next election will allow us to bring in some new blood who aren't so divisive/ set in their party line ways. And I don't agree with Republicans 100% of the time, but time and again I have seen things happen like the above examples that make me think that Republicans/ Conservatives tend to be less ridiculous than non-conservatives. They tend to use reason and common sense over emotion and trends.


**breaking news**: As I was about to post this I see an article on Obama being on 60 minutes tonight, I suppose as part of his semi-daily health care speech schedule. He is going to say - "There are those in the Republican party who think the best thing to do is just to kill reform. That that will be good politics." He's still got the talking points going! Keep it up, It's really effective! Obama's door is open (as long as your ideas align identically with his!) He's missing just three words keeping that first line from being truthful: My Version Of.

"...kill my version of reform..." That would be openness and transparency.

interesting conversation in The Fountainhead

Was just reading a little tonight in Ayn Rand's Fountainhead. I thought a conversation between Ellsworth Toohey and some of his followers, a group of educated and cultured men and women who like to sit around commentating on society and how great they think they are, was pretty interesting. One in the group refers to them all as 'liberal businessmen'. I became confused and disoriented as to whether I was still reading the book or had magically and secretly transported to a meeting held by Obama and the liberal empire in Washington. Some quotes from the conversation:

"The basic trouble with the modern world is the intellectual fallacy that freedom and compulsion are opposites. To solve the gigantic problems crushing the world today, we must clarify our mental confusion. We must acquire a philosophical perspective. In essence, freedom and compulsion are one. Let me give you a simple illustration. Traffic lights restrain your freedom to cross the street whenever you wish. But this retrain gives you the freedom from being run over by a truck... Whenever a new compulsion is imposed upon us, we automatically gain a new freedom. The two are inseparable. Only by accepting total compulsion can we achieve total freedom."

"People make too damn much fuss about freedom...I'm not even sure it's such a blessing. I think people would be much happier in a regulated society that had a definite pattern and a unified form- like a folk dance. You know how beautiful a folk dance is...That's because it took generations to work it out and they don't let just any chance fool come along to change it."

"What makes people unhappy is not too little choice, but too much...Having to decide...torn every which way all of the time. Now in a society of pattern, man could feel safe..."

"No intelligent person believes in freedom nowadays. It's dated. The future belongs to social planning. Compulsion is a law of nature..."

"Everybody can't be as competent as you...We must help the others. It's the moral duty of the intellectual leaders. What I mean is we ought to lose that bugaboo of being scared of the word compulsion. It's not compulsion when it's for a good cause...But I don't know how we can make this country understand it. American's are so stuffy."

"It's stupid to talk about personal choice. It's old-fashioned. There's no such thing as a person. There's only a collective entity..."

"Something's got to be done about the masses. They've got to be led. They don't understand what's good for them... I can't understand why people of culture and position like us understand the great ideal of collectivism so well and are willing to sacrifice our personal advantages, while the working man who has everything to gain from it remains so stupidly indifferent..."

"No, you would never be able to match Gail ('evil' self-made capitalist) Wynand's career. Not with your sensitive spirit and humanitarian instincts. That's what's holding you down, not your money. Who cares about money? The age of money is past. It's your nature that's too fine for the brute competition of our capitalistic system. But that, too, is passing."

Rand wrote this in 1943 and now people with the same mindset as those in this fictional group are running the country. Capitalism is evil, we must teach the masses the correct way, we are so much more enlightened, we must force people to rejoice in collectivism, we must bring CHANGE to this old-fashioned society. Sound familiar?
Kind of eerie.

Change one word in this sentence from above and you have the theme of a cover article from Newsweek since Obama was elected: 'What I mean is we ought to lose that bugaboo of being scared of the word socialism'.

No thanks. Compulsion and freedom aren't the same. Is this the change people believed in and voted for, honestly?

well said, jon voight

I heard some of this speech and had to go listen to the whole thing. I haven't written about politics or 'The Messiah' for a while- I don't know what to say, there is too much. I'll let my friend Jon Voight say things for now. I think he does a pretty great job of laying it out and describing our current situation to the T.



I love his descriptions of Obama. It's not often that people (on tv, news, from hollywood, from hawaii, etc, etc) look at him critically, realistically, logically or with any degree of common sense. The blind faith, obedience and unfounded trust of his followers is scary and frustrating, as I have gone on and on about before...

It is refreshing to hear someone who is well known speak critically of His Highness. Thanks Jon.

let us mourn on earth day

"...bring me to this rock, that has the most incredible life..."

-i know that inspired me to be a better human.

no more nukes! no more nukes!

weird. even SLATE agrees that Obama wanting to disarm the U.S. to help transform the world into a place of peace and tranquility without nuclear weapons is unrealistic. To live in a Utopia sounds nice, that's why he sends chills through you when he describes the world he's going to create. But the real world we live in doesn't function the way it does in his dreams. and to pretend it does, or that he has the power to change it into his idyllic vision, is not only unrealistic but dangerous for the rest of us.

presidential update

I hate to waste energy dwelling on this stuff, but our President is doing too much good in the world to ignore.
The Obamas went to Europe for the G-20 recently - where some fans in the streets still cheered as they did before his election, but many world leaders weren't quite as in love. He asked for other countries to pour money into their economies to bail out banks and other hurting companies/ industries, preaching what he does here, that the government is the answer (and also that the key fixing a huge deficit is to increase it). Some European (Germany, France, etc)countries' leaders said no thanks, they've been there before.
Funny how Obama dreams of making the U.S. more European while much of Europe becomes more conservative and less like the Europe Obama romanticizes about. He's still convinced socialism is the solution. Meanwhile countries that have been down that road are now turning away from it.

Obama's trip has turned into an apology tour, telling the world he's sorry for the U.S. being a superpower, sorry for the last 8 years, sorry for being so bossy and independent. And then he goes around saying how the U.S. and the world needs to get rid of nuclear weapons and will quit being so annoying and pushy. We'll quit trying to lead the world and just work towards a one world government where our constitution is replaced with a panel of leaders from around the world representing different cultures.

I think he looks weak and naive and is making the U.S. look pathetic.

Now a word about Obama making himself the CEO and head car designer of GM and Chrysler.
I already wasn't into most American cars due to there ugliness and my belief that other car companies like Honda or Subaru make better cars. Thus, I (along with many, many Americans) wasn't planning on buying one from them. That's why they're failing (that and labor unions, also something Obama won't let go away)! Obama somehow thinks that by the government taking over these car companies and then dictating what type of car they should make, people like myself will suddenly buy a GM. I actually am now even more, far more, inclined to avoid buying from these companies because of this. I think Obama's vision will fail and companies that continue to do their own research and development and make cars accordingly will succeed. Obama will probably tax us all if we buy a non Obama-motors car so we slowly all must obey, at which time I'll move to New Zealand.

A caller on the radio made this comparison: it's like sending a package to someone. You know the Post Office is probably the cheapest, but FED Ex or UPS is probably faster and will get the package there more reliably. That's the nice thing about having choices. The government does some things that are fine, but often times private companies do the same things better and more efficiently. Imagine your car being designed and made by government employees now. No incentive to be inventive or excel beyond the minimal requirements. Sound good? I'm just afraid that by using taxes, Obama will try to MAKE it sound good.

I enjoy and take seriously the power I have as a buyer and consumer (and want to write posts on the subject more, what items i like, which business deserve our business, etc). I know that we are the backbone of a capitalist economy. If stores sell things we want at the price we want, they succeed. If not, they fail and disappear. Obama and his minions, as the elite humans they are, believe their opinions and preferences have more weight than we the buying public. They, for some reason, think they have the power to take companies over, tell CEOs they don't like to quit, and then tell those companies how to do business. That is not capitalism, that's not even constitutional, as far as i can tell.

New polls show Obama is already one of the most divisive presidents in history, shown by the huge numbers of approval by Democrats and huge disapproval numbers by Republicans. He said he was beyond partisanship, he was going to be a uniter! But we've quickly learned it's his way or the highway and his way is just as extreme as some of us feared. His followers in the Democratic party fell in love with his image and his promises of change, even though he never really outlined what the change would be. Strangely, now that we see him taking the country to a place it shouldn't be, many of his devoted are willing to close their eyes and trust in him- This is supported by the polls showing a much lower percentage of people that approve of his policies than of him in general.

I am excited for the day that people wake up and realize the mess he's making.

ps: no, the fact that Michelle is planting an organic garden at the White House doesn't cancel out all the other crap her husband is doing. I still cannot support the Obamas. My priorities must be messed up.


photo: Obamas taking care of business- breaking protocol (left) and bowing to the Saudi King (right).

this must be the place

i just want this video on here. i watch it often and it makes my day a lot better when i do.
everything about it: the lamp, the smiling guitarists, the dancing backup singers, and david byrne. it's happy and amazing.
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also, i love this interview with david byrne by david byrne. it also makes my day a lot better. he's sweet.



"I'll tell you later..." - genius.

i love you mr. president!

Example of Obama in campaign mode, trying to, I guess, keep the romance going during this time when he looks to be failing miserably. This is our new President, isn't it wonderful. It looks like a cross between The Price is Right and Dr. Phil or something. Obama love fest is still in full swing, and Obama's love for himself is as clear as ever in this video. 'Sit down women, it's needs to be a man...' Gosh, aren't I the coolest.

Give me a break and get to work!

p.s.- Julio: here's why you haven't found another job in 4 years: You're a freak. (sorry, that's a little mean)

Listening to the radio today there was a lot of talk about the 'stimulus' and what's happening in the country. Lately, Obama talking to D.C. sounds kind of like a cry baby threatening to take his toys elsewhere. Or when he's speaking to the media or going out to communities he sounds identical to his campaign speeches (trying to be funny, get the crowd all excited with promises his government will take care of them if they surrender themselves to it.) It's very odd, but I don't think he's being a leader or at least a good one. I'm not sure how anyone can defend or feel good about him right now. Some things were mentioned by John Gibson and Tom Sullivan I thought were interesting.

The unemployment rate is over 7 % now. That is high, I know. So Obama is going around with his new word 'catastrophe' and words like that, threatening everyone. He says the country's doing the worst since the Great Depression.
-But when Reagan was elected it was higher, some sources have it up to 13% and he got it down to 3-5%.
-When Clinton took office unemployment was up at about 7-8% and things turned around.
- how did Reagan and Clinton get out of the slump? lower taxes, less government.
-During the Great Depression, unemployment was up at about 25-30%.

-have some perspective.

Obama and dwindling supportors of running up our debt more and spending a trillion dollars to save us from destruction say 'we can't afford to do nothing.' But they want you to ignore the fact that over the past year hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent to help banks and other problem areas in the economy. Have you seen the positive effects of that money? Is throwing more money at it going to bring different outcomes? -especially when people like Tim Geitner have been involved in the bailouts that have already failed, and are now running these new bailouts and stimuli? We heard before the first bailout that if we didn't do it there would be certain disaster. Now all that money is nowhere to be found and Obama and his buddies are back repeating the exact same thing. I know Obama is magic, but how is this going to solve anything?

Tom mentioned the quote about democracies failing when the people figure out they can vote themselves gifts. Then he shared this quote from Alexander Tyler in 1787. It is kind of scary, and basically the same as cycles seen in civilizations we know about that he doesn't mention.

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. From bondage to spiritual faith; 2. From spiritual faith to great courage; 3. From courage to liberty; 4. From liberty to abundance; 5. From abundance to complacency; 6. From complacency to apathy; 7. From apathy to dependence; 8. From dependence back into bondage "

I've already written about how our country can't deal with hardship, we've grown fat. That is why the crisis we're in now IS different from times past. The people of today are accustomed to living a certain way and never dreamed of having to live otherwise. The way I see it we are in the apathy to dependence phase of the above cycle.

Thus, Obama and liberals have gained favor of this country by promising things like bigger government, universal health care and income redistribution. Artists like Shepard Farley have made themselves famous by making Communist/Socialist-propaganda-poster-type art of Obama. Chairman Mao is in cool designs of clothing or household goods, and portrayed as a great and kind caretaker of his people. Newsweek apparently has an article out saying we are official socialist now. The word that couldn't be uttered during the campaign is now proclaimed by Obama supporters. Socialism is good. Government control of our lives is good. Mao and Obama are hip and benevolent leaders we must trust and obey. It is cool and trendy to talk of such things. Capitalism is the new bad word. It failed. That's why we need change.

Is this not alarming? I don't agree with his trend. I hope it's not too late to turn back. America was not made great through such ideas. Why are they now deemed the antidote to our problems? Is Obama's encouraging apathy and increasing our dependence the answer here? Read Tyler's quote again. Does it sound nice? Are we not on that cycle? Is socialism really that sexy?

think about it

To quote my friend jemaine, 'what's wrong with the world today...?'
There's a lot of crazy stuff going on right now and wanted to share some thoughts.


global warming- Gore argued again for support and money this week in d.c. and I'm sure he'll get it from this presidency. While our economy is tanking, we're gonna spend millions and millions to combat environmental problems that Gore peddles. He is smooth though, I mean he's set it up so now when the country is suffering from crazy freezing cold or even the earth takes a break from warming (even for a few years/decades at a time?) He's able to say, 'Well global warming symptoms include 'changes' and 'fluctuations' in weather and temperature. Ok, so he's safe when we start freezing or we even stop warming.
What about when in a few years and we are still here and the earth is doing grand, what does Gore say for himself then? 'Well, we made just the right changes to avoid certain disaster! thanks everyone for your cooperation (and your money!) Politicians cannot be trusted, apparently unless they tell you they love mother earth. that's tender.

So this must mean I'm a typical pollution-loving, trash creating conservative right? Give me a break. I appreciate the earth as much or probably more than Gore. I appreciate and want clean air to breath, I hate trash and pick it up where I can. I even have a couple of totes in our trunk to take shopping (hate saying that now that it's such a trend thing....that my mom started about 30 years ago, thanks mom) But I'm not a crazy overly dramatic person who bases all my political thinking on trends and emotions. I am practical and realistic. I also think that freedoms should remain with people, they should be able to make choices and not have the government dictate their lives. Because while we know there's plenty of idiots out there, we've seen that politicians are often greedy and corrupt and too much governmental power ends up being a bad thing.


our economy- I saw an article on msn about our country's present state being compared to the great depression. They had an old picture of soup lines stretching down the street. I haven't seen any here in Honolulu, I didn't know it was that bad. oh wait, it's not.
When you look at history, even recently history, it shows that our country has had it worse than it has it right now. It's a recession, it happens from time to time. If bad choices are made, it can become a depression. I think that the media that got Obama elected are now telling us that we are all on the verge of economical collapse, that our country has never been worse and that people are actually killing themselves because it's so bad.
They want us to be scared, could it be perhaps that they want us to be terrified for reasons two fold?
One, when Obama tries to spend the country to prosperity and it fails and forces us into a depression, then the media will be able to truly say, see, the country IS that bad. Obama couldn't have done anything about it.
Two, we the public will not question his highness and his big plans to save us. We will realize our hopelessness and need for a larger, more powerful government and resign ourselves to it, giving Obama and his socialist friends power to federalize banks, businesses, etc. and expand their domination over our lives. Far fetched? Maybe. But the fact that Obama's already got a bunch of the country to believe he is their savior and the only hope this world has shows us that it wouldn't be too difficult to take it a step further and just make himself King over us.

I think Obama hasn't a clue what he's doing, but in light of his knowing the above paragraph is true, he is seeking to spend more money than other time in the history of the world for the latest 'stimulus'. He knows no one will question him, he knows the country wants free stuff and wants to love him and serve him. So why not do it? Liberals complain about the cost of the war? Well, Obama's gonna top it his first month in office. But that's no problem. Really people?

And his right hand man who's gonna fix the money problem? Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. He was caught not paying his own taxes and tried to cover up, but he is clearly the only person fit for this job. Of course he lied and said it was a little mistake he made, of course Obama says he believes him and covers for him. It is astounding. Geithner's the only person fit for this job, right. Even if it was a mistake and he messed up his taxes(for a few years), we really want to have him running the entire IRS and treasury. Really?

Times are hard for many, I know. We have a few good friends who have lost their jobs and it's super sad and rough for them. But it could be much worse. I still go shopping and I still see long lines at most places. And I'm not talking soup lines. It is just frustrating to be told that we live in the worse time in our country's history and we should surrender to the power and majesty of Obama and have faith. Give me a break, and I thought only conservatives were fear mongers.

I have to finish lunch now, and have a new lego truck I want to put together, so will stop.
Please, don't believe the hype! Our lives are not horrible and hopeless, it could be worse and probably is in almost any other part of the world. I just wish we had the power to take our leaders out and put new, trustworthy and competent people in to fix these problems. WAIT?!! I thought that was what was supposed to happen after the election of His Holiness. Guess not, it's business as usual. Overspending by politicians trying to give handouts, and keep their positions of power, shady and questionable characters being given a pass as they rise to power and make choices that affect our future. Is there anyone that Obama has appointed (or even been associated with) that isn't questionable and controversial??? Surprisingly no. He came from the sewers of Chicago politics clean and unspotted. But, all we can do now is HOPE for the best.

p.s.- I drive a subaru, does that make me a progressive?

presidential shaka

I wanted to acknowledge that today, as I walked to the bus stop and looked at the front page of today's newspaper, I felt something warm inside.
This is the image I saw:



Obama throwing a shaka yesterday. I admit I thought that was pretty sweet. I felt a portion of affection inside for Obama that I'd never felt before. I thought he could be a cool President, and it would be nice to see him do well and support what he does for the country.

But just some thoughts on yesterday's events...
I have to say that I heard most of Obama's speech yesterday and I didn't cry. I thought it was pretty standard really. Thus far I think President Palmer on 24 got me far more proud and excited, as I still don't really know what to think or believe about Obama (whereas Palmer was tested and tested and always showed his integrity!).



I had to think yesterday, as people around me were recovering from personal sob fests, what I would do if I were walking to the bathroom here at work and the elevator opened and the new President walked into the office. I really thought about it and concluded I would say, 'oh, hi President Obama!' and shake his hand and then continue on with my life. I wouldn't disintegrate into a puddle of mush, I wouldn't pee my panties, I don't think I would even shed a single tear. I had to share that with Shandra when she picked me up due to all the ellation around us. To me, Obama is just a man. A good orator, a lawyer and a politician. That is it- I realize I left 'deity' off the list. I am proud that even though many countries put us down and pride themselves on being more progressive, that even they would not elect an African American to preside over their non-black majority population. It is a great thing and our country continues to be an example to the world. But the whole love fest is a little ridiculous. If you found yourself crying uncontrollably yesterday, I would suggest taking a deep breath and trying to grab a hold of reality (of course I'll make an exception if you actually suffered through segregation first hand). Let's have hope Obama can keep us safe and help turn around our economy, sure. But let us all remember, he is only human, he is just a man.

Thanks, George W. (& thoughts on the state of the union)

Just wanted to write a quick note at the end of our President's time in office. A little thank you note.

W.-
Thanks for keeping us safe from another attack, I was sure we would have another something happen after 9/11. I'm sure the people under Sadam appreciate not being killed by their evil dictator anymore too. I'm sure that that jerk who throw his shoes at you secretly appreciated the fact that he wasn't instantly taken out and hung for committing such an act. It is a bit ironic.

I know that in the future, when the ridiculous hatred towards you has been purged and the ever negative, radical, conspiracy theorist, confused, whiny, paranoid and bitter feelings have had time to fade and such people find something new to complain about or have had to face the fact that other things/people affect our world besides you, then you will be seen as a decent President and man. You have not been a failure and disgrace, you have done much good. I know that your keeping the country safe will be seen as a huge accomplishment by historians. I could care less what some of the other countries of the world think and I'm glad you didn't allow them to dictate what we do here.

I appreciate that you weren't afraid to make tough choices that you knew some people wouldn't like. You did what you thought was best for us. Thanks for pouring water down KSM's nose, thanks for listening to phone calls that caused suspicion, thanks for not giving terrorists and any random person in this world trying to kill others the same rights, protection and freedom that we law abiding citizens of the U.S. enjoy. Thanks for not caring what the media or crazed bloggers say and write about you but doing what you thought was necessary. The disapproval of such people/outlets has only increased my appreciation and belief that you're doing something right.

Thanks for trying to help stop the craziness in the home mortgage industry. All efforts to stop the nonsense of no money down and low interest loans were shot down and you were told you were against affordable housing. You were told there wasn't a problem. Now you're blamed for the problem by those like Barney Frank who created it, but I know it wasn't your fault. I know that there are many issues we are dealing with as a country that are not your fault, even though everyone else tries to convince me otherwise. To accept the idea that people are responsible for themselves, for their own choices and consequences, is to be in the minority.

To sum up, G.W., thanks for keeping it real and keeping me safe. I don't mind the way you talk even if sometimes it didn't sound like a Harvard professor. I don't care that you said 'use the google', or whatever it was. That was good times. I know that your actions are what counts and you've done good in this world that is appreciated.

I saw an article on MSN today about the good you've done in Africa against AIDS. This must truly be an impressive thing you've done to get MSN to stop the bashing and hateful obituary writing they and most other media here are looking to run up until the moment you leave for Texas. Thanks for the ignored good you did there, I'm sure the people actually living there appreciate it too. So keep your head up and go enjoy some well deserved R&R.

Your Friend,

C

Thoughts in closing:
Our country has changed and will now continue as a place filled with people blaming others for their own problems and looking to the government to be their babysitter. More and more people will learn and accept the idea that the government should do everything for you. Future President Obama in his recent speech said that the government is the only thing able to fix our problems. He is the anti-Regan, who said that the government was the problem, not the solution. And our country has evolved to accept and crave this new President's view of the government. People thought Bush had too much power? hmm, so the answer is to give the next one even more?

In our time of wealth and growth we have learned to take everything for granted, to always expect that what we want will be provided for us. We've evolved into a gluttonous place where humans are actually trampled to death by other people trying to buy a flat screen TV- and further into a country where these same people take their new TV home, clean the blood off to watch a movie and complain the whole time about how hard their life is and that they need help from the government.

We have seen money spent at an insane rate in recent months to avoid the inevitable consequences of the mess we've made of our businesses and economy. Businesses expect to be provided with what they need to continue to live, even if it is continuing an unsustainable and lame business model, and many have been given money. Obama promises to give about $1 trillion more despite it being unclear whether the money used thus far is going to do anything. I fear things will only be made worse and our problems postponed.

Our government has become a group of inbred career politicians, and we've just given a single party the power to do almost anything they want. It should be interesting, I just hope that when it comes time for questions or criticisms that there will be people willing to step up. Bush cannot be blamed forever.

shelving idea i like

I saw this shelf on apartment therapy, talking about using found objects and recycling to make different shelving/ storage space. I really like the idea of using different pieces to make a new and interesting one, and since my goal is to make everything in our house I wanted to post this and have it as a reminder and source of inspiration down the road. peace