Freedom for all, but not when we don't like you.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/herman-cain-backs-mosque-bans-152052930.html

Herman Cain, one of the many less than inspiring people attempting a run at the highest office in the land, has come out on the side of proposed bans on Mosques. He like so many xeno-phobic people argues that Mosques are breeding grounds for terrorists and that Islam wishes to use the Mosques to foist Sharia Law off on us poor, unsuspecting Americans. Cain also told Fox (Not surprised it was Faux News) host Glenn Beck in June that he would appoint Muslims who pledged loyalty to the U.S. Constitution--and conceded that we would not require the same pledge from believers who have faced past charges of divided loyalties in U.S. politics, such as Catholics.

Now I have problems with this. Besides the fact that the arguments people are using today are the same exact arguments people used to make about Judaic Laws, Protestant Laws, "Insert name of religion that we don't like" Laws. Besides the fact that this man and so many others want to demand that a certain sub section of Americans ie Islamic followers be made to follow laws that others aren't. No what bothers me most is this man, who wants to be president one day, seems completely ignorant of one of our most basic freedoms.

Freedom of Religion applies to every religion practiced in this country. It cannot be granted to some and not to others. It really is that simple. Making the argument that this Mosques and Community Centers might be used as training camps for terrorists or used for Unamerican activities is an empty one. There is NO evidence that Mosques in the US are being used on a grand scale as staging bases for the destruction of America.

Now some argue that some of the terrorists captured visited certain mosques both here and overseas. That's true as true can be. That doesn't prove that the mosques were their bases. That's like saying all Christian Churches are breeding grounds for Serial Killers because Jeffery Dahmer attended services once or twice. As far as we know, these individuals are the exceptions not the rule. When it is PROVEN otherwise, then I will gladly change my tune.

People argue that Islam preaches that it is the only way to Heaven and that unbelievers should be put to the sword etc. Since I haven't finished reading the Koran as of yet, I really can't say if this is true one way or the other. I can say that most of the followers of Islam I have known over the years were very peaceful and well educated with a high degree of tolerance towards others. What I can point out is that there are any number of points in the Bible where Christians show those same attitudes including wiping out entire cities because "God" told them these people were evil. (Not dissing God or Christians, just making a point that all religions since the dawn of time have preached that theirs is the only way and that all disbelievers are bad.)

So what it boils down to is simply this. Muslims have the right to worship how they like, where they like and when they like. They have the same right to build their Mosques as others have to build their Churches, Temples etc. It is guaranteed to them by same things that guarantee it to everyone else. Our United States Constitution. Freedom for everyone or freedom for no one.

Turn out the lights, the party is over

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/07/12/house-turns-out-lights-bulb-ban

Okay far be it from me to quote Faux News on anything but this seems like a fairly safe subject since there is no footage to be doctored or photos to mix up. I mean, even those dimbulbs (Get it the blog is about light bulbs so I called them Dimbulbs as a kind of clever play on words? Get it?) can't mess this one up. If it turns out they fabricated, exaggerated or other kind of -ated this report I will offer a full apology.

Now as my good friend pointed out when he brought this article to my attention, we are facing an economic crisis of unparalleled proportions where all attentions should be focused on keeping us afloat and our politicians have time for this crap? Still, let us ignore that little tidbit and actually focus on the issue at hand. Light bulbs.

Here is a fact, the incandescent light bulb, which has existed pretty much unchanged since Edison threw the first switch well over a century ago, is woefully inefficient. For the meager amount of light each bulb produces, it also produces a hell of a lot more heat. The average bulb lasts a few months then burns out and we have to run around in the dark trying to find another one. They use way to much electricity for the job they do.

Here is the other side to that story. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs contain some small amounts of toxic chemicals (although newer models are correcting that) and cost much more than a IB does. They are difficult to make in lower wattage and tend to be funny looking. (Always remind me of pig tails or curly fries)

On the other hand, they use far less electricity and tend to last forever. I have CFB in certain parts of my house that have burned pretty much 24/7 for 5 or more years. Sure I paid $6.00 for one back then (They are much cheaper now) but if you figure $6.00 for 5+ years that's about $1.20 per year. I can promise you that replacing IB during that same time would have cost a lot more.

Briefly, the new Next generation LED bulbs coming out have all the benefits of both IB and CFB with none of the negatives except for price. They are still very expensive, but just like CFB, those prices will come down in time.

What the argument seems to be is, "Why should we change? This (insert product here) works just fine and has worked just fine since I was a boy/girl." Our Poli-tickans are stopping progress that will save money, energy and resources simply because they grew up with the IB illuminating their school books. Well, it is time to start changing and start rethinking. You can't stop progress, not matter how hard you try. The best you can do is slow it down a little. Green it and mean it, guys!

Don't pay 'em!

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-cannot-guarantee-benefits-checks-paid-debt-deal-183025203.html

Obama and other key figures have warned that if an agreement on the budget cuts/tax increase/debt ceiling isn't reached in time that Social Security checks and other forms of assistance won't be paid because of lack of funds. Some have even gone so far as to hint that certain other groups won't get money either ie Medicare and even pay for our armed forces and this (like so many things do) has got me pondering life, the universe and everything. After much musing, I have come to the decision that this is a GREAT idea! Lets not pay certain groups of people, especially non-productive groups that are worthless and a drain on the precious resources of our country! This will save us billions! What a clever plan! I am proud to be a part of this plan!

So here is what we will do. Come August, if a new agreement hasn't been reached, we stop paying the government! Cut out the fat paychecks to the White House, Senate and Congress. Cut out payments to all the benefits that they receive (Health Care, Retirement, Transportation, Housing etc) and just imagine the oodles of bucks we can save. Sure it might not be enough to balance the budget, but I can promise you it will be enough to make sure SS, Medicare etc get paid on time and maybe even enough to start putting money back into the SS fund that the bullies in Washington have so baldly robbed over the decades. It will certainly be enough to keep our brave men and women in the Armed Forces paid.

Now as an aside, let me state that I recognize Obama's statement for what it is just like I recognize all the statements made by the Damnocrats, Reboobicans and Tea Beggars (Thanks for that one Benjy) for what they are. All this flaming rhetoric is nothing more than posturing. As much as I would love to see us forced to live within our means by the Debt Ceiling not being raised, I know that it will be by the deadline because neither side wants to be responsible for the Fiscal Chaos that will happen if it isn't raised. The Ceiling will be raised, one way or the other and nothing will be fixed until everything falls apart and we are forced, like Greece and Ireland, to fix it.

I love this country. There is a reason why one of my nicknames used to be Captain America. I truly believe that the USA is the greatest country in the world and easily the best place to live. We can be a great country with great people in it. However, we can also be self serving, greedy and not too bright. This whole Debt Ceiling Disaster topic is an excellent example of that. One side blames the other. We blame the government. This disaster is always "their fault."

Well, it is time we all woke up and realized that it is not "their fault." It is not the Damnocrats or Reboobicans fault. It is certainly not the Tea Beggars fault, they just got there. Our money problems and the events leading up to them are everyone's fault. Yours, mine and every other person of voting age's fault because even if we did nothing to encourage this disaster, we sat back complacently and let it happen. Well, the time for complacency is over. It is time we stood up, took to the streets and tried to fix things. If we don't fix them now, our children and our grandchildren are screwed. Are you up to the challenge?