STARVE THE FEDS

This is my blog site that I decided to retire, at least for now. If you decide to read further, you will find a diary-like chronicle from early 2009 to late 2011 regarding politics and conservatism from one person’s perspective. The entries are chock full of mistakes, incorrect predictions, lashing out frustrations, and temporary joys.

I have decided, along with my wife, to give our lives to our Savior, Jesus Christ. I have also decided here on earth to go back to school, pursue my MBA and CPA, and give running for office another try. It is tempting to try and disown my past thoughts, especially if they are documented on the internet for all to see, and possibly be quoted out of context as a weapon against my candidacy or myself personally. However, I will leave everything up “as is”. That includes occasional written profanities, even though I refrain from swearing now.

If you have arrived here due to Google, or from word of mouth from anyone who thinks I’m some extremist, you may feel free to find whatever you like. For all the imperfections you will see on display, you will not see any of the following: racism, advocating for violence, and any other derogatory stereotype one may have heard about conservatives or Tea Party activists. If you want to take so much time as to find evidence to the contrary, be my guest.

God bless you all.  -Kory

I haven’t written in awhile, because I thought we were strong enough to weather any political event that heads our direction. It’s now looking like things might be going to the next level, and not in a good way. F3 means there is political tension hanging in the air everywhere. F5 means we are in the midst of civil war. We may be entering the beginning stages of stage F4.

It has been established that the Obama Administration has decided early to make it a point not to call radical Muslims “terrorists”. There would be no “War on Terror”, and acts of terrorism were famously derided as “man-made disasters”. I don’t agree, but at least we know where they stood, and early.

More recently, it has been established that this wasn’t due to their dislike of the word “terror”, as folks such as Vice President Joe Biden freely use the term to describe Tea Party principled Congressmen who dared not cooperate with the debt ceiling madness that is the status quo. Being political warriors, we all knew we would get slaughtered in the media for making a big deal out of cutting spending. Even with the backdrop, it seems that the audacity has been stretched to new levels with the blame game, and it goes a little something like this: Government grows, government gets larger, government spends more than they take in, government is on the brink of financial disaster. Obama dangles Social Security, Medicare, and military pay hostage in order to bully the House into giving in (not to mention insisting on tax increases). And now the Tea Party is getting blamed for almost going into default?! People are angry enough to blame somebody, so something like this is an F3 in and of itself.

Onto the other side of the world: Now what was once the “Arab Spring” illusion has now turned to rioting in Europe; mainly Great Britain. It seems to be about a week of this madness and England hasn’t been able to put a stop to it yet. The media can tie this to a police shooting all they like, but the essence that accompanies riots that seem to sustain itself for a period with not much end in sight seems to be evidence of a government-dependent society gone awry when cuts have to be made. While riots in Europe have lately turned into nothing new, people are fearing that it will come to the USA. Normally, I’d scoff.

Enter in the Violent Flash Mob era. In Milwaukee, Chicago, and Cleveland Heights; blacks use social media to coordinate “spontaneous” acts of group violence. Facebook, Twitter, and Blackberry used to be used back in the olden days (read: 2010 and early 2011) to show cool YouTube clips of spontaneous dancing in the street, or singing of Christmas songs in crowded shopping malls (read: the ones that haven’t been abandoned and tore down or turned into crime magnets), or even the nonsense “planking” going on. We had hope Egyptians used the same tools to demand freedom and hope for their people. Now, they are being used as tools for senseless, random violence. Not revolutionary violence; I mean the ugly violence that comes with looting big screen TVs in 2005 New Orleans or 1992 Los Angeles.

With that said, more people ARE talking revolution here in the United States. So far, it appears as all talk, and nothing more. We live in a country where we think political activism is sitting on a couch complaining about political topics online, as opposed to just sitting on a couch watching Jersey Shore. If the revolution talk turns out as more than just talk, then we may have an F4 on our hands. For right now, it appears some folks are getting loosely organized and want to sit in on Wall Street. Fair enough, do what you want – but if you add the ingredients such as 1) the Democrats stalwart bread and butter approach to their existence (which is stirring up wealth envy with the “corporate jet” and “millionaires and billionaires” talk), along with 2) the racial (black-on-white) violence stemming up in Midwestern cities, look out. We are ticking away.

It’s more important than ever to use our energy to stand firm on what we believe, because what we believe is right. It’s more important to stand firm than to be angry at those who are obviously wrong. Even if there is a difference between those who are wrong out of naivete and ignorance, and those who purposely spout forth misinformation that conflicts directly what is in front of their eyes, we must stand firm. 2012 is coming up. Even November 2011 is a big election for Ohio, with votes on Senate Bill 5 repeal and exercising the state right to reject Obamacare. We must speak softly, and carry a big stick in the voting booth. We need to pick our primary candidates carefully, now more than ever. We need not get mad ourselves, but we must be ready should someone mad come after us.

We need to be an open heart for those who have not yet soul searched where they stand, and forgive those who haven’t done so. Forgive those who think they are the first time anti-establishment protesters, not knowing the Tea Party is doing just that. As the Joe Bidens of this country continue to slander us with the “terrorist” remarks; eventually, reality will hit our brothers, sisters, friends, etc. They will be forced to confront whether to believe the accusers or side with their loved ones who are being accused. Hopefully, they will recognize our open hearts enough to know who to go to, and what they need to prepare for the oncoming hard times. Hopefully, violence is not needed for us to recognize that we are all Americans, and that we are all helpful neighbors. And it is only fitting that the 10th anniversary of 9/11 is less than a month away. 9/11 got us united for a week or two. Dare I ask what horrible event will have to take place in order for us to be united for a lifetime? For complacency is not treating us well.

It’s possible that I let myself be fooled into thinking the system was the problem. We can change the system all we want to, but people are still the stewards. A person will always be in charge, not a theory or idea. Cuyahoga County, Ohio, can change their government from one based on three county commissioners to one based on twelve county councilmen; but if the officeholders are still corrupt, it matters not how government is carried out. It all comes down to each individual’s heart.

How do we go about guaranteeing that an elected official would have a good heart? By a “good heart”, I mean one without corruption, one who does the right thing regardless of worldly consequences, one who looks beyond himself or herself for guidance.

If there is one thing I learned from running for Richland County Commissioner, it’s that God will show Himself to you. I could not possibly imagine going through an experience like that without any absolutes, or without any spiritual guidance. I do not know my next step, but I will not worry for I will wait patiently for that guidance. I could not fathom possibly being trusted by thousands of people without looking upward. I don’t know how other non-believing politicians can endure being godless, unless they see themselves as God, or as some special person blessed with some sort of gift that gives them tacit permission to rule over others. I’d rather run for office reluctantly.

I also understand the reason why multiple people can claim that “God led them to run” for office, even if it is the same office. I used to think that was enough to debunk the idea of God altogether. But in reality, not all who are led to run will win. I must have not been meant to win in 2010 here in Richland County, although the Tea Party has made great strides since 2009.

God has to be omnipresent. The innate yearning for freedom and beauty cannot possibly explained by science. Science cannot explain the reason that those with the unquenchable thirst for infinite power will eventually enslave the rest of humankind to demean them, make them less than human, for their own purposes. Science cannot explain how no matter we’re dehumanized, no matter how they may try to take our souls away from us, there is no overcoming the human spirit. And when I say “human spirit”, I mean “God’s spirit”.

This IS the secret to life. It’s only a secret because we let ourselves be distracted from them. We’re all trying to find our way, and there are many who won’t hesitate to point us in some direction. We may end up taking two thousand detours from Point A to Point B, but how do we guide ourselves there? How do we even know there’s a Point B to attain? What mechanism in us gives us the strength to want to find this?

I feel tricked in some ways. To know that beauty surrounds me constantly while my mind was distracted onto who was doing me wrong and who wanted to (or seemed to want to) make my existence miserable; it all seems a waste of time now because once you know where you are, it makes all the times you didn’t know seem insignificant. In reality, maybe we needed to take all the detours we’ve taken in order to provide comparison, to solidify the idea that we know now.

God can be mysterious, but His works surround us. For me, I’m surrounded by forest and the creatures of the earth. I’ve found the lady I cannot wait to call my wife. And the love! Our world is a world rife with evil because we have free will here on earth; what is to stop us from killing and enslaving each other? What’s the glue that holds each of us together? I’ve contended for as long as I can remember that humanity was born evil because good takes more effort and inner strength. How in the heck have we not wiped each other out in a short period of time?

The love and the human spirit has overcome the likes of Hitler, Hussein, Stalin, and Mao. It’s yet to be seen what will happen with Ahmadinejad, Jong-Il, Sudan, the Arab nations, and the China Communist regime. The most beautiful parts of our world history are full of various rebellions against tyranny in humanity’s quest for freedom. We smile with pride when we talk about the American Revolution. There was unspeakable joy when the Berlin Wall was finally taken down. I cried with tears of joy right at my workplace when I found out that Ingrid Betancourt, the three detained Americans, and other Colombian officers were rescued by probably the most daring rescue the world has ever seen from the jaws of the FARC terrorist regime in 2008 (“We are the National Army. You are free!”).

On the other hand, we can become overcome with great sadness when those rebellions fail – such as the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the Iran Protests of 2009 (remember the beautiful Neda Agha-Soltan) that lead me to silently weep in sorrow to myself. Even the revolutions gone wrong, such as the ones in Iran (1979), Nicaragua (1979) and Egypt (2011 “Arab Spring”), when the people are so wrapped up in their quest for freedom that they neglect to have a replacement government in place, ready to go, that will solidify that freedom. In essence, it’s a tragic wasted revolution, because they escape one tyranny and go on straight into another without realizing it until it’s too late.

I know from traveling cross-country in my vehicle several times that the United States of America is a beautiful place. Our freedoms have eroded slowly, yes, but we still have the freedom to worship God (or anyone else) as we please. We still can own property, and we can still control our own financial destiny through hard (and smart) work along with persistence. We have beauty in the palm of our hands. To be stewards of this beauty and freedom is a great responsibility, one that many have relinquished due to not knowing where their “Point B” is.

Our God is an awesome God because of the freedom he allows, even the freedom to reject Him over and over again. I’ve done it many times, so have many others, yet I find myself returning to Him.

I pray that our misguided leaders’ hearts will be changed so that they follow His will, instead of their own. Our leaders are a fallen people. However, they have been chosen by our people, and I feel the need to pray for them accordingly, instead of mocking them. It will be difficult, as Christians and Tea Partiers will be mocked incessantly, and both are seen by the major media networks as patrons of hatred. There is a lot to overcome. However, I need to trust that the human spirit will win this battle, because God will come out in front. Let us win over the hearts of others so that a shot would never need to be fired.

There is so much going on all at once.

Obviously, I’m not running for President of the United States. I couldn’t even win a seat with the local county commissioners. Granted, the effort exerted campaigning was well worth my time and money I paid into it. It almost takes a full-time career ambition to get into politics, but if that’s what it takes to make a difference, so be it. My objective has switched to finding out which presidential candidate closely resembles the values and principles I would undertake had I decided to make a go at it. With the GOP field being considered “weak” (by whom?), the urge of duty still tugs at my heart. Alas, I need to take this war one battle at a time.

Herman Cain and Ron Paul are my front-runners. Others are horribly weak or haven’t announced their intentions to run yet.

Mitt Romney – ruined by RomneyCare in Massachusetts. Smart businessman, horrible leader. He lost before he decided he wanted to play the game.

Tim Pawlenty – used to love Crap & Trade. Can’t do it. I can’t believe conservatives fall for flip-floppers when the flop is in their direction. It’s time we are finished with panderers. Then again, I think Romney and Pawlenty are only “top-tier” candidates because the media said so. I don’t think we say so. Nobody’s excited.

Newt Gingrich – morally inept. I’m not the epitome of perfection either, but I love my wife-to-be. Maybe God has forgiven Newt, but many Americans won’t forget.  If we can’t trust a man’s heart, how can we trust him to lead us? Smart man, right answers, foolish heart.

Donald Trump – The man isn’t a conservative; he just craves publicity. I do give him thanks for taking the shot for the birthers to get the birth certificate mess squared away, but his contribution ends there.

Rick Santorum – I don’t hear much from him anymore, but I’m not giving up on him yet. Principled, he is. Let’s see what else he’s got.

Gary Johnson – A libertarian that vetos more bills than he passes; but seems to only believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to everybody except the unborn.

Herman Cain – Common sense, charismatic, intelligent. I would be proud to call him my country’s leader. The factor that’s almost the elephant in the room: his running would certainly make those “racist” accusations look like idiots to those who didn’t realize that already. However, that in itself is not a good enough reason to vote for him. Cain is a champion of the FairTax, but his Federal Reserve background troubles me. I need to hear more what he has to say about that. Just working for the Federal Reserve is not an automatic disqualification, for a truthful anecdotal opinion is worth much more than a conceptual one. It seems he favored the TARP bailout at the time, and that is the only major factor holding me back thus far. I would very much like to hear what his thoughts are on the Federal Reserve and TARP are now, and what he would do now to handle them. I have to confess, even if Herman Cain fully repented his TARP support, he’d be a flip-flopper at best. We’ll see.

Ron Paul – This man has always walked the walk and talked the talk. If his 2008 run was supposed to be a joke, 2012 proves that this man is serious, and more and more are ready and open to his ideas. His following is growing by the day, and a victory for Ron Paul would be a huge victory for liberty and states’ rights, just as the Founders intended… only as long as the condescending subset of Ron Paul followers do not ruin his campaign for him. What holds me back? Ron Paul’s foreign policy ideas. I am all for the idea of reining many of our troops back to make America a great country instead of a moderately weak empire. I do not agree that the reason for 9/11 was that Americans triggered the evil on Muslim extremists. America’s role in the world is a tough one for me, for there is so much I do not know. However, I fear the day that Sharia Muslims or Communist China become that superpower, for they will not be as benevolent as America has been, even with America’s foreign policy flaws.

Others I would back for the time being should they decide to run: Sarah Palin, absolutely. Michele Bachmann, only if she can keep her history straight so we don’t get the conservatives’ version of Joe Biden. Allen West, if he changes his mind, for that man is all principle. Jim DeMint, for his strong role and influence in the corrupt U.S. Senate.

The old Tea Party vs. The Country Club Party is rearing its ugly head here in Mansfield, Ohio. It’s almost not worth talking about, for the pettiness of self-interest that permeates the story behind the Mansfield mayoral candidates shouldn’t be shocking in today’s times, yet it still is. Even after the mayor controversy died down, the local Republican party has put people on notice that they want to rid themselves of undesirables by attempting to amend the bylaws so that elected officials can be kicked out for not being a good Republican. Long story short – I vow to myself and everyone, swearing myself by love of God and by duty to protect our Constitution, that I will be a good American first before I’ll ever be a good Republican. What I fight for isn’t to be a thorn in the Republican Party’s side just to be rebellious; it’s so the Republican Party can shed their individual selfishness and stand up for something that we can be proud of, where others wouldn’t shake their heads or be ashamed to be associated with. I want Honor and Integrity back in this party, for the mechanism is there, but the changing of hearts has not occured yet. I hope for miracles, but expect the worst. We shall see here too.

Jack Davis of NY-26 should be a reminder that plants are a part of politics. For as flawed as the Republican Party is, I’ve never seen a Republican Party plant, ever. I’ve seen plants at the Jon Stewart show filming almost two years ago, and now we have Jack Davis. Is it any wonder what evil Democrats will do to ensure headlines like “Tea Party Candidate Assaults Reporter” will appear on papers in advance of the 2012 elections. They don’t fight fair. If the Republican Party is the “party of ideas”, then let’s act like it and let’s do this right!

Another case in point of the evil that is the opposition is how they treat people when they disagree with you. I try not to make a big deal about disagreeing with friends about issues, especially one as tough as Ohio SB5. I try to find the balance between finding/keeping friendships that are politically supportive, and surrounding ourselves by an echo chamber. I try not to lash out at anyone who makes an honest effort to figure out the world around them, even if their views are what would destroy this great country. As much as my reptilian mind wants to shoot low blows, I try to debate and fight fair. I want to lead by example, and I want to forgive those who do wrong to those close to me. I will debate you anytime, and will do my best to keep sharp and pummel you with ideas. If they don’t hold up, I’m ok with adopting the new ideas so long as they hold greater intellectual weight.

Link (may break with age)

“An open letter to all Mansfield mayoral candidates:

It has been a month since the previous post. SB5 has passed, and the referendum effort is underway. I’m still uncomfortable with the bill, because there is still some elements wrong with it, though the general concept is what Ohio needs. If the public sector union backlash is successful in their efforts, it will be just another swing on the political pendulum. I don’t know if I have the patience for wild political swings. Democrats in 2008, Republicans in 2010, will it keep going back and forth every two years?

I don’t think it will. Conservatism is principled, and will be the rock wherever the wind of moral relativism blows. We may be 20% by most counts, but that’s only because we’re still waiting on the 80% to hop on the bandwagon, because we’re not going anywhere. It’s been a huge blessing to have a nationwide organization built from the bottom up, and not need an Obama or a Richard Trumka to give marching orders. We don’t even need Judson Phillips, Dick Armey, or the Koch brothers. We wouldn’t fall apart should Sarah Palin decide to retreat back to a quieter private life again, theoretically. There is only one consistent leader, the leader of all life and all things, God.

Even Eric Odom was disturbed when Senator Harry Reid recited the pledge, omitting the words “under God”. I’m hoping the abortion/Planned Parenthood battle illustrates that it’s not all about the money, it’s about honor in life. On September 12, 2009, the million-plus marchers in Washington D.C. surely understood this fact long before this past budget battle, as illustrated when we recited the pledge ourselves before marching. I never mentioned this before, but the loudest words during that particular pledge were the words “under God”. The phrase was purposely emphasized spontaneously by everyone, shouted with such fervor that it gave me the chills – not because it was such a beautiful moment (which it was), but because it was as if we all briefly contemplated what it would be like not to have the freedom to worship or even mention the name “God”. It was as if everyone wanted to shout afterward, “…and don’t you forget it!” in case anyone fell asleep.

The Tea Party is still being shown the door by the political establishment, and they’re finding new ways to do so. Our organization brought in Usama Dakdok, an Egyptian-born Muslim-turned-Christian who came to reveal God’s good news, preach the perils and dangers of Islam, and warn us as a country how dumb we’re being by going the way of pacifist Europe. Under pressure from the local NAACP and CAIR chapters, the superintendent of Mansfield City Schools pulled the rug from underneath this event just hours before Usama was scheduled to speak, claiming that he couldn’t guarantee the safety of surrounding students.

The media brouhaha that ensued allowed our Tea Party leader, Bonnie Oleksa, to change venues and draw the largest crowd to a Mansfield North Central Ohio Tea Party meeting (non-rally). The organization is suing the school district in federal court for failing to uphold constitutional rights. Even the flippin’ ACLU agrees! I am thankful for someone like Bonnie, who refuses to back down from a constitutional fight. That’s more than I can say for the Mansfield mayoral candidates, who decided altogether (all FIVE of them) to boycott the subsequent Candidates’ Night Forum. They claimed they supported the First Amendment, but it was in bad taste to sue a financially strapped school district in the city they want to be elected to lead. Say what?

On to the federal level, and Boehner caved in on a puny budget deal that will save us another 25 cents or so from the national debt. I didn’t expect House Republicans to get all that much done while facing the Democratic Senate and Executive Office; however, Boehner had momentum on his side and let victory be snatched away by the jaws of defeat. It’s being spun in the media as a victory, which makes me suspect that something more sinister is underway.

In addition to Usama Dakdok’s passionate pleas for the USA to remain a great country by recognizing our enemies when we see them, Robert Owens graciously visited our Tea Party in lieu of the missing mayoral candidates and made his case for the idea that the two major political parties are controlled or heavily influenced by the same folks that rub elbows at the Council of Foreign Relations. Can’t get much argument from me there. It may be time for more parties to be introduced to major debates. If the R’s and D’s don’t appreciate how third candidates split the vote, maybe the Constitutionalists and Libertarians can fight the Republicans for one slot and the Socialists and Green Parties fight Democrats for the other, so there would be two candidates left over. Whatever or however it works, more parties MUST be included in the debate. Republicans and Democrats should have nothing to be afraid of if they are so confident that their ideas are superior to the minor parties’ ideas. Why shut anyone down?

I’m really considering Ron Paul to be The Man. There’s no one else that compares. Almost every other candidate announced has one major weakness – Romney has universal healthcare, Cain favors the Federal Reserve, Bachmann would be wonderful if she could keep her history straight and watch her Biden-level gaffes, Pawlenty liked Crap and Trade, Gingrich likes cheating on his wives, Trump likes business over principle. Ron Paul is the only Congressman who always abides by the Constitution. Even my man Jim Jordan along with Allen West voted to extend the Patriot Act.

The debt ceiling fight is around the corner. I suspect the Republicans will blow this one, but I am ready for a fight anyway.

At the time of this writing, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed the bill that will do what needed to be done. Ohio Governor John Kasich will do the same after the General Assembly is anticipating on passing SB5 this week. Michigan is taking controversial steps to take control of public sector unions. Is it controversial because we’ve been doing it wrong all along and are taking harsh steps to right the ship? Or are we all going underwater?

The unions have made it clear that they have woken up and are ready to fight. Inspired by the Tea Party to fight against the Tea Party, they are speaking the same language in the opposite direction. Even though public sector unions will feel the pain of the Republican State Legislatures’ onslaught, private sector unions seem to stand with them under the general union banner. All the “fighting the middle class” rhetoric is out in full force. All the ingredients are there for a Tea Party countermovement except one critical criterion: time. The Tea Party is two years old; and while many elected positions have turned Republican as a result, the true consequences have yet to be seen. As of today, it was promising at first at the federal level, but the squabbling over cutting 25 cents (actually $61 billion, same difference when we’re talking $14 trillion, not including accounting for unfunded liabilities such as Social Security and Medicare) has made those like Rand Paul and Jim DeMint stand as true leaders against the backdrop of the usual politicians.

Will the unions carry their fire into recalling Republican state senators and governors in 2012? I’m not underestimating unions, but at the same time, I’m not quite certain they can hold strong. This will be yet another test to the Tea Party Movement’s holding power, and ability to fight battles even when we’re “in the lead” (if I’m allowed to use sports jargon here). The media, while we have been getting fairer treatment in the sense that our movement name is being carried by them, still side with the unions (and democrats, liberals, communists, and what-have-you). The year 2012 will become mighty interesting in the U.S.A., and not solely because of the Mayan calendar.

Libya is also quashing the beautiful momentum of uprisings in the Africa and Middle East regions. Not that Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, and Russia have done that already; but Qaddafi is yet another bloody murdering oppressor that may become the world’s future should we as a people ever take freedom for granted again. Then again, Christians in Egypt are getting torched by Muslims. So much for beautiful democracy.

With everything in Japan and the tsunami, it’s evident that people are not the center of the universe. I read somewhere that the power of tsunamis reaffirmed a struggling believer’s faith in that Noah’s Ark can, did, and could happen. God can do anything. Here’s hoping that we can honor His name here in the United States, as many in this world are looking toward us to lead the way through these troubled, yet amazing, times. Here’s hoping that people see the U.S.A. as a God-honoring place rather than the loose-tongued fool who claimed Japan’s suffering was some twisted karma-like retaliation for Pearl Harbor. Absolutely not – my prayers go to Japan and all the recent earthquake/tsunami victims and their families, as that is the best I can give them as a person.

I have given public employees in general the benefit of the doubt, especially to firefighters and law enforcement. FF and LE do not work the typical 9-5 desk jobs until Social Security age, so I felt they should be last in line concerning any potential budget reductions, especially because they put their lives on the line for the rest of us. This alone was enough for me to decide not to throw my support behind Ohio Senate Bill 5, and I even emailed my State Senator Kris Jordan pleading my case.

Then Eric Odom posts this link on Facebook: http://activistsandairplanes.com/2011/03/02/saul-alinsky-visits-ohio-for-senate-bill-5/

In a nutshell, the link describes in detail how the unions were not only super-prepared and super-organized for the SB5 protests in Columbus and Canton, but they made a theatrical pageantry show out of the whole deal – using timed marches, intimidation tactics, “accidentally” bumping into people on the protest front lines with opposing views, have the big men go after the little old ladies, etc. None of this should be surprising, I suppose, but I was struck by a realization when it occured to me that the local version of Communist China was marching on my adopted home state.

I used to be understanding of union workers who did not like being part of the union, although they paid the mandatory dues and took the benefits. The whole union/”scab” soap opera has a long history in Ohio (especially in nearby Mansfield), and still has a stronghold on many workers’ hearts and minds.

However, if anyone has learned anything about the Tea Party Movement, it’s that we stood up to the most powerful man-made authority (the federal government) because we had to. Regardless of the insurmountable odds against us, the negative press, the libel and slander, and the possibility of losing liberal-minded close friends; we did it anyway because our inner gut told us that our country would be on the brink of failure if we didn’t do something and do something now. Our representatives were not representing, so our objective the first two years was to show up and teach them a lesson. It’s looking much better for us now in 2011 than it did in early 2009, but it’s not over by any means.

So if we can stand up to the federal government, why can’t unhappy rank and file stand up to their unions and union leadership?

If the unions were peaceful and provided strong viewpoints to their credit, then this would all be different. However, Eric Odom’s link showed that unions- the organizations that freely take on the responsibility of representing Ohio middle class workers - exhibit completely despicable behavior. If you’re union and you despise how your unions are treating people in the public – sometimes so intimidating that journalists flee the scene – then it’s up to you to change it. If you choose not to do anything about it, then you are tacitly approving their behavior. You can’t “opt out” of this one and “stay neutral”. As the quote says: “All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Just like in politics, not voting is exactly the same as accepting what or who the others voted on. You don’t get to opt out of the effects when you decide not to be part of the cause.

What kills me is that firefighters and law enforcement were part of the bullying union behavior. If I gave you an inch and you take a yard, I want my inch back. I want back the benefit of the doubt. Until union workers stand up and disown their leaders’ behaviors that bring up images of Communist China from our backyards, then consider me a newly converted supporter of Ohio Senate Bill 5.

Look everyone,

We’re all tired. I can’t speak for those on the floors of State Capitols in Wisconsin and Ohio, as I am sure they are more tired than I am; though they continue to fight and stand firm for what they believe in. I’ve never seen Ohio as divided as I ever have since I moved to this state in 1988. The troubling thought is that Ohio can be much further divided than it is now; it almost seems like child’s play compared to what could happen. The attention that Wisconsin has gotten this past week for their version of the public sector union control bill is the only domestic event overshadowing Ohio.

As my bride-to-be and I maintain friendships with various teachers, we have exhausted our sanity levels to convince them that we don’t hate them or their position on Ohio Senate Bill 5; at least as much as they are willing to consider an opposing opinion (ours), which I am thankful for. Understandably, they are very emotional about this issue, since many of their jobs lay on the balance. One close friend of ours has a new house and a baby girl. Another just got his feet off the ground as the lead music director of a high school near Dayton, Ohio. Another friend of ours is in the process of finding herself as she landed upon substitute teaching for elementary school students. Our families are ripe full of teachers or teachers in the making. They all love their jobs, they know what they are doing. All of them can cite various examples of other teachers that are jaded by the system, or don’t care about the well-being of their students as much as receiving their own paychecks, and all of them can give reasons as to why they don’t like their teachers’ union.

As soon as my young lady and I have children, we want the best for them just like any other caring parent does for their children. We want them exposed not only to language arts, science, math, reading, writing; but also to citizenship, government, the arts, astronomy, nature, economics, and much more I’m sure I can’t think of at the moment. The problem is, is that we all very well know our public schools do not provide piano lessons, frequent trips to planetariums, daily walks in the woods, or spontaneous field trips to anywhere history is being made. Our schools have not been able to afford that for all their students, at least at a consistent basis even when economic times were good. As much as various aspects of our learning and culture are vitally important to the upbringing of our children, it just can’t be done.

The thing is – I don’t hate people. I don’t even hate people in unions. What drives me nuts are the emotional appeals to state governments, local clubs, and anyone on Facebook willing to read their side of the story; because they’re barking up the wrong tree. I understand the political advantage to gaining public sympathy, but public sympathy alone does not increase the state budget. Just because we feel a teacher should have every advantage afforded to them for all the hard work they do for our kids does not mean that we can do so. Emotional need and financial ability do not go hand-in-hand; otherwise, everyone in the world would have sufficient food, clothing, and shelter.

Before I go any further, I do want to make some points clear. I do NOT support Ohio SB 5, because 1) The bill is way too cumbersome of a read, chock full of unrelated subjects, and too long to consider seriously. This is crap that Democrats pulled in the U.S. Congress, and Ohio Republicans should not stoop to that level. 2) One of the unrelated subjects is that it defines marriage in Ohio as between a man and a woman. While I fully agree with that idea, that’s not for government to decide. 3) The bill does not exempt firefighters and law enforcement. Firefighters and law enforcement are the only public employees that risk their lives daily just to do their jobs, and they should be last in line for any sort of budget cuts. They’ve earned that right. Just like military, as Ted Nugent would say, this isn’t “public welfare”, this is repayment of a debt we owe to them for what they have given us. 

Again – I respect teachers; despite bad apples that occur in every profession, many do one hell of a job. However, they don’t typically go to work wondering if they’ll live to return home that night. Ditto for administrators, superintendents, and any other public employee.

The balance has shifted, and the taxpayers have voted for this change to happen. Governors like Chris Christie (NJ), Scott Walker (WI), and John Kasich (OH) have campaigned on these ideas, so there is no Obama surprise here. We knew this was coming. Just like with any other employer, if the employer has run out of money, or wishes to be more stingy with the money they do have, then that is their right. Such is the message of the taxpayers, the ones who provide the public employees with their salary and benefits in the first place. To be a public employee is to accept that risk. The same goes for any government-funded entity – whether it be non-profit organizations or companies that receive direct corporate welfare in the form of subsidies. If the funds dry up, so do the jobs.

I think we all know this is only the beginning. I do not anticipate this issue letting up in a month or so, and everyone would move on to the next political abomination. This one won’t end. Even if Ohio and Wisconsin pass their laws (however flawed OH SB 5 is), other states will have this battle fought in the near future, and unions will continue to exert their pressure – whether it would be in the press, or the funding of 2012 political campaigns. This isn’t over by any means.

This is also the beginning in that this won’t solve all states’ budget ills. I’m sure state parks, state forests, historical landmarks, and other social programs are next. The states have become the battleground because any government entity that isn’t federal is required by law to balance their budget. The states can’t print money like the feds can.

Another factor that will come into play is Medicaid funding – a federal program whose financial burden is shouldered by the states due to the non-fully funded mandate by the federal government. It also comes with strings attached; you know, “Do as we wish or we’ll cut you off”. I haven’t studied Ohio’s books, but from what I have heard is that Medicaid eats up at least 20% of the State of Ohio’s budget. My gut feeling is that even if the states can fix everything they can within their grasp, they will have to confront the federal government directly. Some states are already doing so in other realms: Arizona and it’s immigration bill, 28 states suing the federal government over the health care bill, Alaska refusing to implement the health care bill, 3 states openly contemplating printing their own currencies (I’d argue the constitutionality of that one), or states flirting with the idea of decriminalizing marijuana trafficking.

We’re witnessing a slow unraveling of American History. We are the history; all of us. As tired as I am fighting for the minds towards what I know is right, somehow I still hold out hope. The only major failure of the Tea Party Movement is that it failed to capture the hearts of all Americans. We hoped for landslides for conservatives that have the courage to reset our country back on our founders’ principles. The best we could get was landslides for the Republican Party. However, the political battles that we are confronting now, and will have to confront for many years ahead – we all have to face regardless of affiliation. Right and wrong will be sorted out. February 2011 will be to many what September 2008 was to many Tea Partiers – when beforehand we may have avoided confrontation and ran away from it, it’s the time when confrontation confronts us, and we have to make a choice. If it hasn’t come to you yet, it will. Wait awhile.

The more we learn, the less we know. Even in today’s fear- and political-driven journalistic environment, there seems to be a challenging new mini-era. It seemed that whenever a hot-button issue manifested itself, that it was well understood which side the Republicans, conservatives, Democrats, etc. would take. It was too easy. Here comes a local appeals court decision that decides Judge DeWeese can’t post the Ten Commandments in a hall outside his courtroom. Minutes after the news breaks, all the idealogical lines form almost immediately with their assertions, rebuttals, some insults, and so on. Ditto for any cases involving Nativity Scenes in public lawns, Christmas in public schools, Guantanamo Bay, the trial of KSM, you get the picture. It may have gotten tiring at times.

Then the whole Ground Zero Mosque issue muddied things up a little bit. It was apparent most Americans did not want a mosque so close to the 9/11 site, though it was equally apparent that the powers behind the construction of the site had a right to do so. Many conservatives were taking a beating in debate because it was assumed by those doing the arguing presumed that we thought that those who wanted to mosque had no right to build there. Hence, all the stuff about where we build churches, synagogues, and temples came out of the woodwork; as well as the statements about how strip clubs are also nearby, therefore negating any “sacred ground” argument, supposedly. The controversy died down in time; probably due to lessened media coverage, and America moved on. Maybe the small victory that transpired over the past couple days will go under everyone’s nose (construction was halted); we’ll see.

Now with Tunisia, Egypt, the Suez Canal, the Middle East – it all has opened up collective debate over the United States’ role in policing the world, energy in/dependence, freedom and democracy, and revolution. Conservative talk show hosts were caught off guard. When Mark Levin discussed at length about how Mubarak was an American ally, I wondered if I was the only one who seemed to wonder if he was insinuating that the Egyptian people’s freedom was rendered unimportant in the scheme of things. Granted, the Muslim Brotherhood is definitely a political red flag that needs monitored at the very least, for they seem to be at the advantage when it comes to filling the power vacuum that will commence once Mubarak leaves.

Unrelated note – I’m not so sure Mubarak will leave now. It seemed inevitable, but he has stayed put longer than I anticipated. I wonder how much stamina the Egyptian people have?

Wikileaks has also put the usual talking heads in an odd position. To defend them, or to attack them? That seemed to be the question the week after the embarrassing foreign policy related leaks came out. Julian Assange does not seem to be the savior prototype, and he even comes off as hypocritical for whining about how reporting leaks led to his arrest. But at the same time, we couldn’t stop looking. It was like foreign policy gossip. I would have thought that this would continue, because who wouldn’t want a soap opera out of politics (“Hollywood for the ugly”, as Rush Limbaugh would say)? Now some conservative commentators are revealing that Wikileaks has proven there was WMD in Iraq, so naturally the stories are being buried by a liberal media.

It all leads to this – as long as the internet and instant communication outpaces the government’s will to stop/control the flow of information, then the truth shall set us free. All shall be exposed in due time.

I remember when I was writing a research paper at the University of Akron back in 2000, I was highly amazed at the power of Yahoo/Google because I discovered an article that was published just one minute prior to me bringing it up on screen. Coming from the age of annual encyclopedias, and even daily newspapers, up-to-the-minute news was almost unthinkable. I think that is why television newscasts have shifted toward the 24-hour format with the annoying ticker tape at the bottom of the screen. When competing with instant news on the internet, what do you do?

Facebook and Twitter have made the almost impossible, possible. Even Yahoo articles seem archaic now. All that’s needed is the correct trending topic for Twitter, and you can get the news as soon as the sender hits “Send” on his cell phone. Egypt is now the hotbed for that phenomenon. I can only imagine what the 1989 Chinese demonstrators would have fared with Tiananmen Square had they had the social networking that we do now. Africa and the Middle East are crumbling over the internet’s power; or at the very least, the plate tectonics of their history is shifting in speeds far surpassing decades’ worth of movement. We’re not quite at earthquake stage yet here in the United States, but we are very close.

We’re also very close to the world being on fire. It seems that no matter how we try to picture the War On Terror the past ten years, this is shaping up to be an Islam war versus the Western Civilization. Assuming the unstable countries achieve democracy and elect Islamic leaders, it almost seems inevitable. However, I’m wondering much more often about a much more bigger picture – the realm of good versus evil. It’s what everything boils down to, I suppose, and why not here and now?

As I am typing this, postings about the Pale Rider from Revelations appearing in Egypt are lighting up my Facebook. While much of America is facing themselves with who will win the Super Bowl (Go Green Bay Packers!), good and evil will come to a head inevitably. Those in power that use deception and dishonesty and rely on the lack of information flow to catch up with them – their time will soon end once the Instantaneous Age confronts them and puts them on the spot. You’re either good, or you’re plain evil, and you must choose one. Here’s praying for the world to choose the correct side.