• Cut gasoline consumption and stay home more
• Cut hotel stays
• Cut going to local restaurants for meals
• Cut food purchases to bare necessities
• Cut getting hair done by stylist
• Cut clothing purchases to only bare necessities
• Cut either TV or computer subscription
• Cut use of electricity and gas for heating by at least half
• I am sure there are more …

Do I recognize that businesses in my area will be affected? Yes. Does that “bother me?” Not in the long run.  No matter what I do, someone else is affected. 

I bear the responsibility to do that which expresses my sovereignty as defined in the Declaration of Independence.  

Q & A Section

Q: What’s in this for you?

A: I want to do my best to try and stem the tide of government’s hideous and insidious plans to deprive U.S. Citizens’ of their right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness endowed upon them by their Creator.  

Q: What if I don’t agree with your approach and think this undermines businesses?

A: Please disagree.  Discussion is good.  That said, I refuse to be emotionally blackmailed. These are personal considerations, period.

Q: Well if they are ‘personal considerations,’ why put them up here?

The previous installment inspired this one, thanks to poster MD/MG. 

Listed below are 8 groups of four words. For any of the groups of your choice, construct a sentence or short commentary/paragraph using the words in that group.  (No, the words don't have to be in the order given ... haha.)

I sincerely hope you have a little fun with this …

Sideshow / Acrobat / Elephants / Tightrope

Cloudburst / Sunny / Heat Wave / Cold

Strike / Contract / Leader / Labor

Declare / Consult / Address / Utter

Cottonmouth / Python / Anaconda / Rattlesnake

Bologna / Turkey / Cheese / Roast Beef

Bamboozle / Trick / Deceive / Swindle

Striker Spring / Rebound Spring  / Crossbolt Pin / Slave Pin

Ok, we all know what the heck is going on with the national government.  It’s called “collectivism.”  Correct?  Well two can play that game.  While the national government sends our way of life down the toilet, I have a few words for all elected and/or appointed officials:

You tolerate and want collectivism?  You got it. I can still learn. 

All of you are guilty of undermining our Constitutional Republic.  All of you are accountable for sending the ideals and moral underpinnings that could have lifted this country to even greater heights down the old porcelain bowl.  For those generations that follow me, all of you are guilty of throwing away their promise of a future filled with liberty and personal responsibility.    

‘Terrorist’ activity is being redefined by certain people in government.  Emotional semantic games relative to health care, cap and trade, amnesty for illegal aliens, the big lie called “hate crimes legislation,” etc are played daily by certain individuals in government.  I don’t care. You are responsible collectively for all this and more. 

No doubt many will point out that there are “individuals” who are working hard to stem the tide of this irresponsible direction for our Country.  Until I see evidence that those who claim to be opposed to these anti-Constitutional moves by the government are actually stepping up to the plate and rolling back “collectivism,” I will collectively hold elected and appointed officials accountable for driving personal responsibility, self-initiative and, entrepreneurship out of our culture.  

Irrational Rant ? over.

Note: To those whose blogs I may not have visited for a time – personal (not collective) duties + weather playing havoc with my connection to the internet have kept me off line more than usual.  I will be visiting (and trying to get comments to post) soon!  (Yea, guess that can be interpreted as a threat -- haha.) 

The object is to throw out words/phrases/names and have your family and friends write down the first word or phrase (does not matter what it is) that comes to mind when they hear it.  There is no right or wrong answer and on any given day, the responses may not be the same. 

Below is a sample of this game and the 3 words/phrases/names are spaced far enough apart (I hope) that you will only focus on one at time.  Record the first word or phrase that pops to  mind. 

If you post your responses and have a word/phrase/name for me (or other posters) to respond to, I will be happy to play.   Ready …

What’s the FIRST THING that comes to mind when I “say”:

Pool

When I say:

Chris Dodd

When I say:

Liberty

Since moving into our house, I have gotten used to things I had not dealt with when living in urban spaces.  Driving in rural areas presents all kinds of challenges like dodging deer (sometimes not possible), squishing squirrels, pulverizing possums, turkey vultures flying toward the windshield, crows that like to play chicken, and the like. 

Now I am not complaining mind you, but here we have a really neat new little car (for us really neat) -- however comma we have experienced what I consider two of the more bizarre incidents in the last couple of weeks.  

Picture this, my husband person is driving down the road, ahead of him is a pickup with some wicker furniture tied down in the back.  When out of nowhere this piece of furniture unties itself, jumps up and out of the truck and attacks the car!  Fortunately, only some scratches that rubbed out.  But being attacked by flying wicker furniture is not on the list of usual events, I say.

Last weekend I was driving along minding my own business.  You know when you hit a smallish rock and it kind of pings as it bounces around under your car/truck?   Well, it happened to me except the pinging did not stop and it was under the drivers side door.  This became annoying, to say the least.  After a bit I became concerned.  Got out of the car and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a screwdriver that had become lodged in the under carriage of the car and piercing the floor board under the drivers seat. Have you ever heard of such a thing?  

So here we are all concerned about being attacked by terrorists (oh sorry, forgot my PC, the overseas contingency planners or some such nonsense) -- and in the mean time we actually get attacked by flying wicker and jumping screwdrivers!

That’s my story.  WHAT’S YOURS? 

My thanks to Sgt. Relic for inspiring this first part of my blog with his post, “Honda Connects Human Brain to Robot” 

On to Part 2 of my post:

I trust you will have/have had a blessed, peaceful and, joyful Easter celebration. 

I would like to share one stanza of a favorite hymn of mine that we sang periodically when I was a kid.  It may not be your idea of an “Easter” hymn but it means a lot to me and thus, I am sharing it with you:

“Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered,

“To the death we follow thee.”

Chorus:

Lord we are able

Our spirits are thine;

Remold them – make us

like thee, divine.

They guiding radiance

Above us shall be

A beacon to God,

To love and loyalty.

The table is set … wait, we’re missing a few things: 

There is no additional seasoning in the soup

There are no side dishes to serve the guests

There is nothing to drink

There really isn’t a designated theme for this gathering and

Good grief the invitations have not gone out – no guests!

Help me out here …

add a seasoning,  a side-dish,  something to drink,  recommend someone to whom an invitation should be sent,  suggest a party theme, etc. 

I will start the ball rolling if that’s ok. I will invite my Virginia delegation and the seasoning I would add is “out of thyme.” 

Your turn …

Stoned Soup Ingredients*

HR 1572, The Hate Crime Legislation

New gun ban

The Commerce Clause

The Great Society (Welfare)

Roe v. Wade

The Federal Dept of Education

Just the "talk" of the fairness doctrine

Reagan's Amnesty bill that he thought would put a stop to illegal immigration

Any law requiring bike helmets and the like...

A sitting, elected president of the U.S. get(ing) the power to fire a CEO of an American corporation

All the PORK Congress has created

Stoned Soup Chefs*

Bobbie; Jennifer;  Eric; Rackoons; Garnet92; Gray Ghost; Marty; American Sweetheart ; Boaz; Glenn (glnflwrs); MD/MG; Dawndawn; Pen Captain;  Snow Knight; Jesse "The Mind" Norman; Virginia Daddy; Darvin Dowdy; Crossbow; KevInFl; GunnyG©

I had a co-worker who, once a year, would rally the office and we would make ‘stone soup.’  Everyone brought an ingredient to put in the pot and we would have lunch together.  Some of these concoctions were really bad tasting, but we had a good time any way. 

This version of “stone soup” can include any law, court ruling, program or piece of legislation enacted by the national government that you perceive violates the letter and/or spirit of the United States Constitution.  Go back as far in our country’s history as you choose for your ingredient. 

The pot is ready to go and you need to add one ingredient. 

Let’s turn up the heat … what do you think needs to go in this pot and be cooked?    

What’s complicated is for those with the moral authority to run for an elected office to be able to break into a system stacked against their candidacies. 

What’s easy is to continually play the emotional black-mail card all in the name of “helping people.” 

What’s complicated is finding elected officials who are not swayed by these types of underhanded and unsavory tactics. 

What’s easy is for State officials to stand with their hands extended, waiting for the federal government to “bail them out.”

What’s complicated is finding Governors and State Legislatures who have the guts to take real action and stand up for their States’ and Citizens’ rightful place in our Constitutional Republic.

What’s easy is for the elected bunglers on Capital Hill in D.C. to cry that their budget issues are “complicated.”  

What’s complicated is finding a large enough herd of elected officials who will admit that their “budget issue” is easy to solve. Cut spending. Cut taxes.

My Bottom Line  

What’s easy is to extricate the national government from those areas in which they have no Constitutional authority for involvement … operating businesses, education, the arts*, welfare/food stamps, healthcare, etc.  Phase out these unconstitutional programs/intrusions over time.  These are matters to be handled by the several States. 

What’s complicated is pushing for further government intrusion into those areas prohibited by the Founders via the DOI and U.S. Constitution. One must willingly violate their oath of office to continue advocating unconstitutional agendas.

* Not to be confused with Article I, Section 8 reference

Top Line Conclusion(s) and Observations

If the purpose of this speech was to inspire confidence in the federal/national government, it failed.

• “Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times… For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill.”
  
  
• “Not because I believe in bigger government – I don’t.” (Contradiction to the language / ideas contained in this speech)

If the purpose of this speech was to further undermine the Constitutional Republic ideals upon which it was founded via the “economic crisis,” it succeeded.   

Given the language and ideas expressed, this speech clearly laid out a “plan” to grow the size, influence and power of the national/federal government.

Attempting to substitute the word/idea of “investment” in place of “spending” by the government was not successful.

• “We have made the largest investment in basic research funding in American history…”
  
  
• “Our recovery plan will invest in electronic health records ... and it makes the largest ever in preventative care …”
   
• “… we have made an historic investment in education through the economic recovery plan… we’ll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools …and we will expand our commitment to charter schools.”
   
• “the budget I submit will invest in the three areas that are absolutely critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education.” 
  
  
• “We are creating a new lending fund …”
   
• “We have launched a housing plan … “
   
  
• “We will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks … have enough money to lend in more difficult times.”
   
• “… this plan will require more significant resources from the federal government …”

There is no reference in “cutting government spending.” Only token references to eliminating wasteful programs, etc by the government. 

Further, (from my personal perspective) there is a disturbing trend in the rhetoric associated with what this President perceives to be his duties and limits on his executive powers and, indeed, on the proper role of our government.

·        “… the goal of this administration is to ensure every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career.”

·        “I have told each member of my Cabinet as well as mayors and governors across the country that they will be held accountable by me … for every dollar they spend.” 

·        “I will not spend a single penny for the purpose of rewarding a single Wall Street executive, but I will do whatever it takes to help the small business that can’t pay its workers or the family that has saved and still can’t get a mortgage.”

·        So I ask this Congress to join me in doing whatever proves necessary … It is time to put in place tough, new common-sense rules of the road so that our financial market rewards drive and innovation, and punishes short-cuts and abuse.”

·        “I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater, for it could result in an economy that sputters along for not months or years, but perhaps a decade. That would be worse for our deficit, worse for business, worse for you, and worse for the next generation. And I refuse to let that happen.”

·        “In the next few days, I will submit a budget to Congress. So often, we have come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or laundry lists of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America – as a blueprint for our future.”

Sample Word Count Occurrences

America – 23

Americans – 33

Create(s,d,ing,tion) - 8

Cut – 5

Government – 7

I – 70

Invest(ment) – 11

Me/My - 7

Our – 108

Plan – 16

Responsibility(ies) – 14

Spend(ing) – 7

Waste(ful) - 5

We – 116

World - 11

5902 words analyzed 

This is the base text of the letter I have sent to my Congressman and Senators. 

**********************

I am disappointed in you and your fellow Congressmen/women and Senators relative to the ‘stimulus’ legislation. You are in a position to either do what is right or further erode our Constitutional Republic and you have chosen the latter.  

Notwithstanding how you vote, I hold you personally accountable for this legislation and the rhetoric surrounding its passage. Outlined here are the messages being sent to our young people and future generations by your passage of this legislation:  

• Individual responsibility is no longer a desirable trait for U.S. citizens. 
  
  
• Reliance upon family, friends and local community are a thing of the past.
  
  
• Government is the best means of providing for you and your family.
  
  
• The monies you earn are the property of the state. You are relegated to being ‘allowed to keep more of your money’ as the government sees fit.
  
  
• Emotionalism and fear are better motivators than reason and optimism.
  
  
• Constant cries of “crisis” and “catastrophe” are the means by which public policy are to be determined.  As citizens, we are not use/listen to reason and sound judgment in our private or public lives.
  
  
• The bedrock of individual effort/work is replaced with government taking over and making the decisions about where you should work and what you should do with your life.
  
  
• Small businesses are no longer the backbone of our country. Government make-work programs are more significant than individual initiative.
  

You clearly represent a nationalist movement.   You have had ample opportunity to restore rationality to the process and ensure that you represent Virginia and Virginia’s citizens.

Do not insult me by sending a letter patting me on the head and implying I don’t understand the situation. And do not extol the virtues of this legislation based upon what this expert or that expert says about our economic and/or financial situation. I am not a dolt and will not tolerate being treated as such.