A week ago a co-worker and I made an appointment to meet with a local business man and entrepreneur to discuss the patenting process. The reason we decide to meet with him was that he has over 40 patents registered with the Trademark and Patent office and his company spends over 6 million dollars a year on research and development so obviously he is an authority on the subject of patenting.
After walking into the lobby of his office, which was surrounded with portraits of great inventors such as Marchoni, Einstien, Oppenhiemer, etc., we were given a security pass and asked if we would like anything to drink. After a few moments of looking around the lobby we were escorted back to a humble office and invited to sit on a couch while Mr. S. finish a phone conversation.
Mr. S. profession is centered around mining, primarily coal. With the technology he has invented he spends a good amount of time dealing with the governments and businesses of China and Russia.
In his phone conversation he was explaining that because of China's willingness to mine and use coal as an energy source that they will continue to out produce us. That their middle class and therefore their economy will continue to grow and that the United States will not be able to compete. He said that what make s a nation prosperous is the manufacturing and exporting of goods and technology. It was what made the United States achieve and maintain its dominance as a world power after World War II and is now making China a economic and world power. This year alone Mr. S. said that China is constructing ten new coal burning energy plants. He also made the statement that what would happen to the world economy if China decides to raise the price on its manufactured goods. What happens if China starts charging for products what American manufactures have to charge for theirs. He said for America to regain is dominance as a economic world power we need to encourage companies to to manufacture its good here in the United States with less government regulation and interference and develop cheap energy (coal) to sustain this growth in production.
He also said that the current administration is slowly putting a noose around the neck of our economic system, with purposed legislation such as card check, cap and trade and other policies that discourage the growth of our manufacturing sector.
He also said that he had read some of Karl Marx's works during college and had begun to listen to some of them again on tape while he travelled. He said that he was shock how similar Pres. Obama's campaign messages were to the words and philosophies of Karl Marx.
It was extremely interesting to hear someone who isn't a politician or talk show host who is actually a person who is in the trenches make these observations.
His phone conversation lasted about ten minutes. But it was a pleasure to be allowed to eavesdrop on it.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Parents: The Key to Education
I live in a state that has a 40% drop out rate. This fact ranks us forty-ninth in the nation in regards to high school graduation. Not a statistic to be posted on the roof tops. Education has been a hot topic during this election year, particularly in the state's gubernatorial race. Of course each candidate promised to fix the education problem and both plans focused on education funding and how it should and shouldn't be spent.
Unfortunately neither candidtate understood that the cure for the education problem isn't the money, it's the family. The dissolution of the family unit. Until there is a concentrated focus on the strengthening of the family it wont matter how much money is thrown towards education there will still be little improvement. Now, there will always be some students that no matter what teachers and parents/ family members do that will always drop-out. But those are the rebels and the renegades and are a relatively small part of the student body population. The majority of those who do drop-out do so for the simple fact that there is no one at home who cares if they don't. I don't believe that of the 40% drop out students 100% of them are those kind of individuals who are the rebels and renegade, who aren't going to go to school no matter what anyone does. I would say maybe 5% of drop-outs fall into that category the rest are individuals who are apathetic to education, who have no parental or family support and as a result there is no driving force at home to encourage, motivate, discipline or hold these students accountable for their decisions. In my opinion money spent educating would have a better and longer lasting effect if it was used to strengthen the family unit. There is a reason the family is the fundamental building block of society.
Unfortunately neither candidtate understood that the cure for the education problem isn't the money, it's the family. The dissolution of the family unit. Until there is a concentrated focus on the strengthening of the family it wont matter how much money is thrown towards education there will still be little improvement. Now, there will always be some students that no matter what teachers and parents/ family members do that will always drop-out. But those are the rebels and the renegades and are a relatively small part of the student body population. The majority of those who do drop-out do so for the simple fact that there is no one at home who cares if they don't. I don't believe that of the 40% drop out students 100% of them are those kind of individuals who are the rebels and renegade, who aren't going to go to school no matter what anyone does. I would say maybe 5% of drop-outs fall into that category the rest are individuals who are apathetic to education, who have no parental or family support and as a result there is no driving force at home to encourage, motivate, discipline or hold these students accountable for their decisions. In my opinion money spent educating would have a better and longer lasting effect if it was used to strengthen the family unit. There is a reason the family is the fundamental building block of society.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Art of the Coup
Currently our local government is in chaos. As a result of our recent recall election 3 city commissioners including the Mayor and the Mayor Pro-Tem have been removed from office only leaving two seated commissioners. Since there has to be three commissioners to have a quorum to make any official city decisions, we are effectively without a city government until a special election can be held to replace the ousted commissioners.
A few days after the results of the recall election were finalized some other city employees and I were having a discussion as to the ramifications of the election when I said this would be the perfect time to instigate a coup. They were confused as to what I went so I explained.
When there is an a weak, ineffectual government or anarchy the void created needs to be filled. This is the time for those in the right positions with the right connections to effectively over throw or seize control of the government.
I explained that the first thing to be done to accomplish a successful coup by plotters is to gain the allegiance/support of the military. In a country this is the army/national guard, in a city or town it would be the police. Once the military is on board you then arrest any political opponents and other government officials. In a public venue you execute the political opponents and those officials who have come out openly against the coup in front of those other government officials who have been arrested. This eliminates potential threats to power and shows surviving officials that non compliance is not an option thereby assuring their allegiance. Once this has been done the overthrowing party then puts its people at the head of every department at the same time contacting neighboring governments informing them that there has been a change in the government and demand them to recognize the new one.
With the change in power complete, the new leaders them go about assuring the public that there will be peace, security and prosperity. If the populace in general is in favor of the change things usually return to normal. However history has shown that what usually happens is the new power begins to exploit the area's resources and people, rounding up "undesirables", confiscating property and limiting personal freedom.
Regrettably this has been the plight of most third world and developing countries. We are extremely fortunate that our political system allows the voice of the people through the power of the ballot box to determine who will take governmental power.
As it looks we are set for a people's instigated coup this fall as the popularity of liberal/progressive view and policies is about to be executed in a coup of public opinion. Thank goodness.
A few days after the results of the recall election were finalized some other city employees and I were having a discussion as to the ramifications of the election when I said this would be the perfect time to instigate a coup. They were confused as to what I went so I explained.
When there is an a weak, ineffectual government or anarchy the void created needs to be filled. This is the time for those in the right positions with the right connections to effectively over throw or seize control of the government.
I explained that the first thing to be done to accomplish a successful coup by plotters is to gain the allegiance/support of the military. In a country this is the army/national guard, in a city or town it would be the police. Once the military is on board you then arrest any political opponents and other government officials. In a public venue you execute the political opponents and those officials who have come out openly against the coup in front of those other government officials who have been arrested. This eliminates potential threats to power and shows surviving officials that non compliance is not an option thereby assuring their allegiance. Once this has been done the overthrowing party then puts its people at the head of every department at the same time contacting neighboring governments informing them that there has been a change in the government and demand them to recognize the new one.
With the change in power complete, the new leaders them go about assuring the public that there will be peace, security and prosperity. If the populace in general is in favor of the change things usually return to normal. However history has shown that what usually happens is the new power begins to exploit the area's resources and people, rounding up "undesirables", confiscating property and limiting personal freedom.
Regrettably this has been the plight of most third world and developing countries. We are extremely fortunate that our political system allows the voice of the people through the power of the ballot box to determine who will take governmental power.
As it looks we are set for a people's instigated coup this fall as the popularity of liberal/progressive view and policies is about to be executed in a coup of public opinion. Thank goodness.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
In Defense of the "Bred"
Posted by the better half of The Vigilant American...
After reading Jonathan V. Last’s article “There Goes the Neighborhood” in the September 13 issue of The Weekly Standard, I have run a mental gauntlet of emotions. I sped through rage and over indignation only to be side-swiped by horror, then compassion, and what I was finally left with was a sense of responsibility. So I write now on behalf of the as-of-yet politically voiceless pre-reading citizens of the world—“the bred”—children.
First and foremost, I am a Mother. That is one of many jobs I have sought thus far, and one in which I am employed for a lifetime. I do not criticize those who do not seek this job. By all means, we have free choice in the United States of America, or at least we do for now. And I think every mother knows that being a mother is a somewhat thankless job without promotion or pay suitable to constant and varied duties (CFO, Personal Chef, Chauffer, Nurse, and the list goes on). Mothers are incredibly criticized and undervalued in today’s world. However, as a mother it is important that we advocate for our children as we are the front-line experts.
Perhaps it is first important to note that child development specialists agree that children obtain much of their future success based on their lives before age 3. Perhaps this is why “graylandgal” whose parents “did not inflict [her] on society until [she] developed continence, self-ambulation, and social skills” maybe needs a little more work. If her parents had gotten her out of the house a little more to interact with the human race before age 3, she might find her self-proclaimed social skills more apt to dealing with others, even small others. I call for a little childhood re-development.
To agree, though, I too am not happy when any child, even my own, with their little “grubby, crusty” hands attack something I am wearing, “Mommy Wardrobe” or not. And I even get a bit embarrassed when we are out and about and I notice the pudding on my son’s chin was never wiped off from lunch. However, these little people were born with rights, the same as any other citizen of our country. And they are not to be “confined to a fenced-in area of the park” as suggested by a dog owner mentioned in the article. Some parents may need to do better with child/societal interaction. Anyone who has let a dog off a leash knows that one cannot be exactly positive what the dog will do. Although I hate kid to pet comparisons, it is analogous. Each child has a unique personality and will that changes by ages and stages. But you can leave a dog home alone when you run to the store. Not so a child.
With any Christian religious background whatsoever, this anti-child viewpoint is absurd, and I would not toy with any reader’s intelligence by citing scriptural doctrine reminding us of the fact that we ourselves are always children in God’s eyes. However I feel great compassion for people who cannot see that the family is the unit of life. No matter if that family includes children, couples, or self alone. But we all come from somewhere, don’t we? People with children generally enjoy most time as a family, and venture out in society together both out of necessity and—gasp!—desire. Should a family not go out to eat for fear a child might actually LOOK at someone in another booth and smile? Give me murder and mayhem, but I truly can’t deal with a child looking into my booth.
I could also attack this ridiculous idea that there is “societal machinery which supports and encourages baby-making”. Really? I guess we parents do get a tax break per child. But I really thought it was nature that encouraged baby-making. Silly me. Maybe I’ve been doing it all for the tax break and those nice, sanitary baby-changing stations in restrooms.
Absolutely one can live childless by choice and love it. But I can live with children by choice and love it. It is absurd to even talk about how being “family friendly” hurts America. The poor coworkers who work so hard to compensate for “child-loving colleagues”? And when these childless people die, who will work? These children that are such an inconvenience now are the same adults that will run America in the future. To not see that is just plain senseless. Or perhaps just plain self-centered. And we wonder why narcissism is on the rise, more so now than in any previous generation.
As we age, we see ourselves return to the traits of childhood with perhaps less “continence, self-ambulation, and social skills” but by that time we have earned it, right? So it must be excusable. I do hope the poor people that are childfree by choice (loving it!) and cheated out of their true selfish life in America will love it when no one is around to take care of them in their old age. Or even care about them, period. They’ll have to hire someone to care. And when they have no voice of their own left, no one will speak for them. Maybe they will find themselves fenced in at the park; leaving us normal folks alone so we don’t have to watch them in this disgusting state of old age. Or maybe a child will run up, sit on their lap, and put their grubby hands on them with a smile.
After reading Jonathan V. Last’s article “There Goes the Neighborhood” in the September 13 issue of The Weekly Standard, I have run a mental gauntlet of emotions. I sped through rage and over indignation only to be side-swiped by horror, then compassion, and what I was finally left with was a sense of responsibility. So I write now on behalf of the as-of-yet politically voiceless pre-reading citizens of the world—“the bred”—children.
First and foremost, I am a Mother. That is one of many jobs I have sought thus far, and one in which I am employed for a lifetime. I do not criticize those who do not seek this job. By all means, we have free choice in the United States of America, or at least we do for now. And I think every mother knows that being a mother is a somewhat thankless job without promotion or pay suitable to constant and varied duties (CFO, Personal Chef, Chauffer, Nurse, and the list goes on). Mothers are incredibly criticized and undervalued in today’s world. However, as a mother it is important that we advocate for our children as we are the front-line experts.
Perhaps it is first important to note that child development specialists agree that children obtain much of their future success based on their lives before age 3. Perhaps this is why “graylandgal” whose parents “did not inflict [her] on society until [she] developed continence, self-ambulation, and social skills” maybe needs a little more work. If her parents had gotten her out of the house a little more to interact with the human race before age 3, she might find her self-proclaimed social skills more apt to dealing with others, even small others. I call for a little childhood re-development.
To agree, though, I too am not happy when any child, even my own, with their little “grubby, crusty” hands attack something I am wearing, “Mommy Wardrobe” or not. And I even get a bit embarrassed when we are out and about and I notice the pudding on my son’s chin was never wiped off from lunch. However, these little people were born with rights, the same as any other citizen of our country. And they are not to be “confined to a fenced-in area of the park” as suggested by a dog owner mentioned in the article. Some parents may need to do better with child/societal interaction. Anyone who has let a dog off a leash knows that one cannot be exactly positive what the dog will do. Although I hate kid to pet comparisons, it is analogous. Each child has a unique personality and will that changes by ages and stages. But you can leave a dog home alone when you run to the store. Not so a child.
With any Christian religious background whatsoever, this anti-child viewpoint is absurd, and I would not toy with any reader’s intelligence by citing scriptural doctrine reminding us of the fact that we ourselves are always children in God’s eyes. However I feel great compassion for people who cannot see that the family is the unit of life. No matter if that family includes children, couples, or self alone. But we all come from somewhere, don’t we? People with children generally enjoy most time as a family, and venture out in society together both out of necessity and—gasp!—desire. Should a family not go out to eat for fear a child might actually LOOK at someone in another booth and smile? Give me murder and mayhem, but I truly can’t deal with a child looking into my booth.
I could also attack this ridiculous idea that there is “societal machinery which supports and encourages baby-making”. Really? I guess we parents do get a tax break per child. But I really thought it was nature that encouraged baby-making. Silly me. Maybe I’ve been doing it all for the tax break and those nice, sanitary baby-changing stations in restrooms.
Absolutely one can live childless by choice and love it. But I can live with children by choice and love it. It is absurd to even talk about how being “family friendly” hurts America. The poor coworkers who work so hard to compensate for “child-loving colleagues”? And when these childless people die, who will work? These children that are such an inconvenience now are the same adults that will run America in the future. To not see that is just plain senseless. Or perhaps just plain self-centered. And we wonder why narcissism is on the rise, more so now than in any previous generation.
As we age, we see ourselves return to the traits of childhood with perhaps less “continence, self-ambulation, and social skills” but by that time we have earned it, right? So it must be excusable. I do hope the poor people that are childfree by choice (loving it!) and cheated out of their true selfish life in America will love it when no one is around to take care of them in their old age. Or even care about them, period. They’ll have to hire someone to care. And when they have no voice of their own left, no one will speak for them. Maybe they will find themselves fenced in at the park; leaving us normal folks alone so we don’t have to watch them in this disgusting state of old age. Or maybe a child will run up, sit on their lap, and put their grubby hands on them with a smile.
Monday, September 6, 2010
One Bad Apple...
I work in the public sector. The town I currently reside in is run by a mayor-commission form of government. There are 4 commissioners and a mayor all of which have a vote. When I took the position that put inside city hall it was two weeks before the previous election. One of the commissioner was mounting a coupe in an attempt to throw the balance of power in his direction with the hopes of being mayor. The candidate whose campaign he was endorsing (and financing) lost to the incumbent by two votes. Instead of bowing out gracefully the commissioner in question pushed his candidate to cry foul claiming election fraud and took the results to district court.
To make a long story short the people of our community had had enough of this commissioner's antics. So some citizens in town circulated a petition to have him recalled. In response to this the commissioner in question circulated a petition to get the the former mayor (who is now a commissioner) and the current mayor (who was the incumbent that defeated his candidate by two votes) recalled. So when the dust settled he, another commissioner, and the mayor are now on the ballot to be recalled. Now should all three be recalled there would only be two commissioners left which would not be enough to run the city (there has to be a majority (3) elected officials present to make any binding decisions). This would mean that the state would have to intervene until there could be another election to replace the recalled officials. So since the last election the city govt. has been in crisis mode and pretty much at a stand still. This is a perfect example of how one person can act as a human wrecking ball and, in his effort for personal glory and gain, cause others to suffer.
This commissioner and his cronies are the Barak Obama and Liberal Progressives of our community not caring what happens to other in an effort to promote their personal agendas. At least our community has had enough and is taking the necessary steps to fix the problem by voting him out. Lets just hope that the American People have had enough of the Obama wrecking ball to vote him and his henchmen out this coming fall and in 2012.
To make a long story short the people of our community had had enough of this commissioner's antics. So some citizens in town circulated a petition to have him recalled. In response to this the commissioner in question circulated a petition to get the the former mayor (who is now a commissioner) and the current mayor (who was the incumbent that defeated his candidate by two votes) recalled. So when the dust settled he, another commissioner, and the mayor are now on the ballot to be recalled. Now should all three be recalled there would only be two commissioners left which would not be enough to run the city (there has to be a majority (3) elected officials present to make any binding decisions). This would mean that the state would have to intervene until there could be another election to replace the recalled officials. So since the last election the city govt. has been in crisis mode and pretty much at a stand still. This is a perfect example of how one person can act as a human wrecking ball and, in his effort for personal glory and gain, cause others to suffer.
This commissioner and his cronies are the Barak Obama and Liberal Progressives of our community not caring what happens to other in an effort to promote their personal agendas. At least our community has had enough and is taking the necessary steps to fix the problem by voting him out. Lets just hope that the American People have had enough of the Obama wrecking ball to vote him and his henchmen out this coming fall and in 2012.
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