Occupy America? It's About Time

I've been following with special interest the stories of civil disobedience at our national parks.

That's OUR national parks. The parks belong to We the People, not to "the government." We pay for the parks out of our hard-earned tax dollars. The park personnel work for us. (As do the clowns in Washington D.C., heaven have mercy on us, but that's a different disgrace.)

When I read about citizens scaling gates, stepping over and under "Barrycades," and driving through orange cones, I have hope that some small spark of the USA I grew up in still exists. When I hear and read about the outrage caused by barring World War II veterans from their open-air memorial, I'm encouraged that enough people are waking up to the creeping tyranny that has surrounded us to make a difference in the tenor of the country.

Some are saying that the "Truckers Ride for the Constitution" scheduled for tomorrow is a hoax, but I'm skeptical. I think there's a lot more going on in the nation than the "officials" have a clue about. I'll be surprised if the Truckers for the Constitution don't "Occupy America" for the day.

It looks like everyday Americans from coast to coast are drawing some red lines of their own. It's about time.

An Idea Worth Considering

It appears that Facebook is not a complete waste of time. Below is an excerpt I read in the home stream tonight. In view of current events, it's a creative proposal worth thinking about. 

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling: "I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election. The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971 - before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc. Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year or less to become the law of the land - all because of public pressure." Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around. Congressional Reform Act of 2013 1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. 2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. 4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/1/13. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women. Congress made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Don't you think it's time? 

The Spirit of Miramar

Photo: Gretel C. Kovatch, San Diego U-T

The annual Miramar Air Show was canceled on Thursday--one day before show time. Another executive order of epic stupidity and spite from our kingly Commander-in-Chief.

It's difficult to explain what a big deal the air show is to the San Diego area. People wait all year for it, invite out-of-town guests to visit for it, plan parties around it, spend a full weekend enjoying it. It brings multitudes of visitors and hefty revenues to the City, along with an impressive education in our military defenses.

This year, a New York City fire truck that responded to the September 11, 2001 attacks would have been one of the exhibits. What an enduring memory that would have been for attendees, especially the youngsters.

But we'll have none of that. No chills-inducing thrills of US strength and goodness. The White House chefs may keep working on the off-chance that the president feels like eating a grilled cheese sandwich at midnight. But a cherished annual tradition to honor our service men and women in one of America's most prominent military towns? Oh no, that must go.

As the many disappointed planners and suppliers packed up to leave, skywriters spelled out "Spirit of Miramar" across the blazing blue sky. I noticed a couple of other messages throughout Saturday afternoon, including "Tea Party Express" and, most notably, "We the People."

Better hurry up and finish that grilled cheese, Mr. President. I think your oft-touted "Change" definitely is coming, but not exactly the kind you had in mind.

A Monumental Mistake

That's what the Washington Post headline on Kathleen Parker's article called it--a monumental mistake to shut down the World War II Veterans Memorial.

There is more news today--the barricades, which have been moved without hesitation since the shutdown are now wired in place. This is an open-air, privately funded memorial. Yes, that's right--over $200 million in private donations built it, vs. about $15 million in federal money. As Mark Steyn so eloquently puts it, "the feds paid for the grass."

The National Parks Service is following executive orders. A NPS spokesperson stated that the White House's Office of Management and Budget "sends everything down to all other departments. We are part of the Interior. Interior gives us our instructions." 

This means that the order to shut down the WWII Veterans' Memorial comes from the White House.

This is more than a mistake. It's an insult to every U.S. veteran, especially our vanishing treasure of WWII vets. The D-Day beaches and Normandy's cemetery for U.S. military have also been closed. These are the mean-spirited acts of a petty bully who is working hard to sink to the level of a tyrant. The veterans themselves, who risked their young lives facing down tyranny, have voiced their opinion of this travesty with their customary courtesy and grace.

But help against the "barrycade" may be on the way. "Honor Riders" to greet and escort veterans have poured into Washington DC. Check out the Facebook page for 2 Million Bikers to DC. This is like watching Sons of Anarchy unfold live in the nation's capital. I hope the president has training wheels.

Stop and Remember

MacArthur Airport is located in Islip, Suffolk County, NY, heading east on Long Island. The air field is on the small side, serving a limited number of carriers, and it offers Eastern Long Islanders a conveniently located alternative to the brutal drive all the way in to JFK or LaGuardia airports.

I often fly to MacArthur when visiting my mother. One trip this year, on the way home to California, I was hurrying towards my gate when I rounded a bend and came upon this display of "Dog Tags of the Fallen." The project was started by the friends and family of a fallen U.S. Marine from Long Island. Believe me, the sight of it stopped me in my tracks for a few minutes. After I read through the placard and several rows of the name tags that were swaying, shining, and chiming on their chains, I stepped back and fished out my camera for a photo.

When I continued on my journey, I walked a bit more slowly.

With all today's news spotlights upon budget showdowns and international carnage, it's easy to forget that our troops are still fighting and dying so that we are free to hurry safely through airports. We lost one this week who, like so many others, left a young family behind. It's always worthwhile to stop and remember the troops and all they sacrifice for us, so much of which can never be repaid.

The Amazing Archangels

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
~ Psalm 91:11

Raphael - Patron of Health

    Being a bit of an angel nut, I always like to make note of this date. On the Catholic Church's calendar, today is the feast of the Archangels Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael.

    The archangels are very busy celestial beings, with earthly responsibilities far beyond their most famous areas of patronage. For example, Raphael watches over travelers and young people as well as human health, both physical and mental. Gabriel, in addition to all aspects of communications including postal employees, also keeps an eye on stamp collectors and the country of Portugal. Michael, who guards police officers, soldiers, sailors, paramedics, ambulance drivers and dying people, also keeps watch for grocery workers and bankers. On top of all that, Michael has a hefty list of countries to monitor.

Gabriel - Patron of Communications

    It's tough to pick a favorite, but I've always been kind of partial to Michael. I mean, what with the sword and the armor, not to mention the fierce facial expression, he looks like the kind of angel you'd want walking down a dark alley with you. But they're all interesting, even fascinating, and all of them appear in various books of the Bible; although you'll only find Raphael in the Catholic Bible. Since I'm Catholic, that works fine for me.

    These amazing, holy, supernatural creatures are intimately involved in human life and strife on earth. How much trouble and grief do you suppose their workings and interventions have prevented in this world? And just how busy do you think human beings will keep them in the future? I don't mean to be flippant, but truly--God only knows.

Michael - Patron of Protection

Can We Talk?

Oh, dear, Mr. President. Your intractable refusal to sit down with Republicans and discuss a deal on the Affordable Care Act, better known as “Obamacare,” will be tough medicine for most Americans to swallow.

You see, the majority of U.S. citizens don’t like the healthcare law. We don’t like that you lied to us when you said we could keep our health insurance plans. Those plans are disappearing at an alarming rate, but that seems to be fine with you. That’s our problem, not yours. You have your oligarchy-only healthcare plan, and you’ve seen to it that your friends, supporters, and campaign donors get exemptions from Obamacare.

But the “little guy” (undoubtedly, that’s how you see us) is screwed. And if you look at the polls on this issue, along with your rising disapproval rating, you’ll see that we know it. The ACA means more government in our lives and more power in your hands. How nice to be you.

But refusing to even talk about it with Congress? That’s beyond comprehension. After all, just two weeks ago you were jumping through hoops to negotiate with a Syrian dictator who slaughtered his own people with poison gas. A couple of days ago you were ready to shake diplomatic hands with the head of the Islamist terrorist government of Iran. So why the complete and bitter refusal to sit down for a chat with your fellow American elected officials?

If only you showed this kind of resolve in holding to your “red line” in Syria.

If only you were this firm in laying down harsh terms to Iran.

If only you had been so unmistakably plainspoken over the Benghazi massacre, the IRS scandals, or the NSA wiretapping.

If only you were a strong leader.

But you are what you are, and we’re stuck with you for more than three years. How sad to be us.

Falling Off the Floor

I've been waiting for Mark Steyn to weigh in on last week's pathetic performance by the Gang that Couldn't Talk Straight, a.k.a. President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry.

In the Washington Post, Charles Krauthammer elegantly fillets the president in "The fruits of epic incompetence."

There's much more to read on the subject of our national collapse upon the world stage, but these are two of my favorites. Oh, poor USA--our current chief executive always finds a way to fall off the floor. How low will we be by 2016?

A Day for Reflection

Remember September 11, 2001

The Syria Dilemma

Almost everyone I have talked with this week wants to discuss Syria. Should we or shouldn't we intervene? That is the question of the minute, the hour, the day, the week.

It's very interesting to hear how people are deciding their position on this crisis. There are many surprises, such as diehard anti-war liberals calling for "surgical air strikes" and rock-ribbed conservatives backing away from any type of military engagement. The reactions definitely do not fall along party lines. It makes for fascinating conversations.

I've read a lot about the Syrian situation, and I've listened to a lot of debate pro and con our involvement. As for me, I think we should stay out of it. For dozens of reasons. Below are a few.

President Obama has displayed no real conviction on this matter. He shot off his mouth last year and painted a "red line" that he's now unwilling to cross without dragging the "international community" and "Congress" along with him. This is a president who has no trouble doing an end run around Congress whenever he wants to get his way. "We can't wait!" is one of his favorite remarks when he's about to rule by executive edict. Yet suddenly, confronted with a tough decision, he needs Congress for cover. Of course, it will be the fault of Congress when the whole operation goes south.

A man who refuses to be held accountable for his own ill-advised statements can not lead troops into battle. Not successfully. And our military men and women are too precious to be risked on such a poor and uncommitted leader.

A man who does not have the courage to take a stand on his own convictions should not be in a position of such power. His indecisiveness makes him dangerous. He tells lies, and he will continue to tell lies no matter how much truth is staring us in the face. With a different leader, I might feel differently about Syria. But then, with a different leader--one willing to take action up front rather than to "lead from behind"--the Middle East might not be in such a sorry state.

A man who will go to war over "international credibility" shouldn't be president. But he is. So to minimize the bloodshed that will inevitably flow out of control under such an inept commander-in-chief, I hope we stay home.