Class warfare is an ugly thing, especially when it is used in a country that is as bless as the USA. Yes we have the very rich, and most have done something or created something to get there. They didn't steal it from the rest if us. Take Fred Smith as an example. He certainly didn't come from poverty, but took an idea that his Yale professor said was not practical and gave him a C, and turned into one of the most successful American companies ever, FedEx. Yes, these class warriors at the occupy (name your city here) want to take all his money because he is a greedy capitalist who steals money from the workers. This meme goes right back to the Communist Manifesto of the mid 1800's. Communism, Socialism, Fascism, Nazism, all leftist ideologies have failed everywhere they have been tried. Fred Smith made nobody poor, but has made many people besides himself very wealthy. I'm one who gets a nice salary, and though the benefits have shrunk over the years, I'm better off than many.
So here we are again with this ragtag of misfits, anarchists, communists, socialists, Nazis, fascists and just stinky slackers who don't know how a shower works, occupying parks and squares around the country to pass on the message, that America Sucks. It's the 60's all over again. President Obama is with them. Apparently he thinks we all suck too, in his attempts to take away wealth from job creators, redistribute to unions and cronies has made the economy weaker, hindered growth in private business growth and driven more job off shore.
One thing I appreciate about living in the USA, is that we can let these Occupy idiots have there say, and though the mainstream media tries to contrast them favorably to the Tea Party, anyone with a brain can see who these people are, if they just don't take Diane Sawyer's take on it.
So let's talk about a few countries that the lefties really love.
Cuba - When was there last free election? How good is their health care for average Cubans. Can we bring in anyone other than Ray Suarez from PBS to fawn all over CastroCare?
China - Communist? Please, that is so Mao era. They are fascist where they use private industry to bring money to the state. You have the right to make money as long as you don't tread on a PLA company that is your competition. There are no civil liberties, and no other party permitted than the CPPRC
Vietnam - Ditto
Laos - 4th world is being kind
North Korea - The DPRK has a GDP that is smaller than Scranton, and that says a lot. It is hell on earth, when the people just across the border in the ROK have one of the highest living standards in Asia.
So slackers, misfits, anarchists and communists at the Occupy demonstrations, have fun. The rest of us have jobs, and are at least looking for them.
I've personally been around some real poverty, particularly in the Philippines. There is a huge difference between the rich and the poor, and most of the rich have had this money passed down for generations. They own land and businesses, and just throw scraps to the poor. However, they build shopping malls, sports centers, and movie theaters that employ a lot of people. I'm not a fan of the Ayala clan or even worse Imelda Marcos and her awful children (all who have government positions!) or a leach like Lucio Tan. They all have a lot of sins to atone for but, who am I to judge? Still even these people produce jobs.
So, how many jobs has Obama produced in the private sector? I'll wait with baited breath for your response,
America will survive Obama, at least if we can convince enough Americans that he needs to have a nice retirement to a 19th hole somewhere else in 2012.
Update: Every legal US citizen is in the 1% compared to the rest of the world. Where else can you be below the poverty line, own a car, have cable TV, and maybe even own a decent home? Hey Occupy Wall Street crowd, try selling your message to people in Zimbabwe, Sudan, or Chad and see some real poverty.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Was Delta Airlines just playing with us?
I posted back in July that the Essential Air Service program was out of date, needed to be repealed, and cost the tax payers millions of dollars. Delta Airlines announced that they would end service to many small cities and towns previously served. (mostly run by Northwest Airlines before the acquisition). Just out of curiosity I checked Delta's website recently and noticed that only a few of these towns have been dropped and several have picked up regional jet service who only had turboprop service previously.
So the question is, was Delta just playing the people in these small towns to lobby their congress-critters to pass the EAS bill to keep the pork rolling in to places that can't afford commercial air service, and want the rest of us to pay for it?
So the question is, was Delta just playing the people in these small towns to lobby their congress-critters to pass the EAS bill to keep the pork rolling in to places that can't afford commercial air service, and want the rest of us to pay for it?
Friday, September 9, 2011
Remembering September 11th, 2001 While Abroad
I happened to be a long way from my home in Memphis on 9/11/2001. I was currently on assignment in Lisbon, Portugal. It was mid afternoon there when the attack happened, and was really only covered at the time on TV by CNN International.There was no G4 network to send me live video, but I had dozens of text messages telling me to turn on the TV. I saw the attack on the second tower, and the subsequent collapse of the towers, My first feeling was shock. Once I got a little more news, I got angry, and once I found out who was responsible I wanted to go get the bastards (We Scots like to do that), although I was too old and had a disability that would prevent me from that.
Once over the initial shock, I started reading the local press that happened to have an English edition, and RDP English broadcast for foreigners. It was pretty much stock NBC footage. A lot of the comments in the local press disturbed me greatly. I don't speak Portuguese well, but I could understand that "America deserves it", and "Those arrogant bastards have it coming". Remember these are our "friends". I didn't see the solidarity that the MSM portrayed here in the US about the attack on our territory. Most was "what you got what you deserved".
A few days later I was in Spain, and had pretty much the same reaction. Platitudes from the government abounded , but the average person just shrugged his shoulder and said we had it coming. Spain learned the hard way, about jihadist Islam a few years later when Al-Qaeda attacked a railway station in Madrid.
I haven't been back to western Europe since 2002, and plan no trips there in the near future. They are no longer our friends and allies, with the exception of the United Kingdom, but with another 4 years of Barack Obama that may also change.
I have been to Eastern Europe, and specifically Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Folks there have just the opposite view from our traditional allies. The fear not only a revived Russia and seek out our protection, and fear Islamist's in nearby countries, and the havoc they will bring once civil unrest breaks out there. In the Asian countries I've visited, I've had mixed opinions on the 9-11 attacks that range from almost universal horror and shock in the Philippines to celebrations in Indonesia and Malaysia. Our "friends" the South Koreans, who we protect from the tender mercies of Dear Leader, are pretty blase, and consider it an American problem that doesn't affect them.
This gets me back to the original topic. We all will mourn the loss of over 3000 Americans just doing their job when attacked by Muslim jihadis 10 years ago, but to think that the world stood with us is a myth, especially our so called NATO allies.
World opinion should never matter when it comes to American national security, We need to do whatever it takes to keep out country secure, within the laws and constitutional authority, and the UN and "world community" be damned.
As we remember the attacks on 9-11, please keep in mind that this was an unprovoked attack on American territory by zealots who care nothing about human life, and want to impose a global Islamist caliphate, putting the world under the totalitarian 7th century legal and religious code of Sharia law.. A tragedy is when a parent loses a young child, or a young person contracts a fatal disease in their prime of life. These events were not a "tragedy", they were brutal acts of war.
We need to get back to America First. Our national survival depends upon containing Islamist imperialism, Chinese expansionism, Iranian quest to control the middle east.
Update: I should mention that our only real friend in the middle east is Israel, and "our friends the Egyptians" are busy burning down their embassy during this Arab Spring.
Once over the initial shock, I started reading the local press that happened to have an English edition, and RDP English broadcast for foreigners. It was pretty much stock NBC footage. A lot of the comments in the local press disturbed me greatly. I don't speak Portuguese well, but I could understand that "America deserves it", and "Those arrogant bastards have it coming". Remember these are our "friends". I didn't see the solidarity that the MSM portrayed here in the US about the attack on our territory. Most was "what you got what you deserved".
A few days later I was in Spain, and had pretty much the same reaction. Platitudes from the government abounded , but the average person just shrugged his shoulder and said we had it coming. Spain learned the hard way, about jihadist Islam a few years later when Al-Qaeda attacked a railway station in Madrid.
I haven't been back to western Europe since 2002, and plan no trips there in the near future. They are no longer our friends and allies, with the exception of the United Kingdom, but with another 4 years of Barack Obama that may also change.
I have been to Eastern Europe, and specifically Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Folks there have just the opposite view from our traditional allies. The fear not only a revived Russia and seek out our protection, and fear Islamist's in nearby countries, and the havoc they will bring once civil unrest breaks out there. In the Asian countries I've visited, I've had mixed opinions on the 9-11 attacks that range from almost universal horror and shock in the Philippines to celebrations in Indonesia and Malaysia. Our "friends" the South Koreans, who we protect from the tender mercies of Dear Leader, are pretty blase, and consider it an American problem that doesn't affect them.
This gets me back to the original topic. We all will mourn the loss of over 3000 Americans just doing their job when attacked by Muslim jihadis 10 years ago, but to think that the world stood with us is a myth, especially our so called NATO allies.
World opinion should never matter when it comes to American national security, We need to do whatever it takes to keep out country secure, within the laws and constitutional authority, and the UN and "world community" be damned.
As we remember the attacks on 9-11, please keep in mind that this was an unprovoked attack on American territory by zealots who care nothing about human life, and want to impose a global Islamist caliphate, putting the world under the totalitarian 7th century legal and religious code of Sharia law.. A tragedy is when a parent loses a young child, or a young person contracts a fatal disease in their prime of life. These events were not a "tragedy", they were brutal acts of war.
We need to get back to America First. Our national survival depends upon containing Islamist imperialism, Chinese expansionism, Iranian quest to control the middle east.
Update: I should mention that our only real friend in the middle east is Israel, and "our friends the Egyptians" are busy burning down their embassy during this Arab Spring.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Glen Campbell diagnosed with Alzheimer's
I was saddened to find out that one of the musicians I grew up with has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Glen Campbell was a well on our TV weekly in the late 60's and early 70's in my parents home, and had a string of hit songs and albums. And he proved himself a horribly awful actor in the otherwise great movie, True Grit. But his beginnings were more as a session guitarist in the Los Angeles area, recording with such luminaries as Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Johnny Cash and Leon Russell. He had a bit of a brush with the law a few years ago, but many suspect if was related to early onset Alzheimer's.
Well, Glen has recorded his final album and it is a gem, and is going on a farewell tour, that includes his adult children. His short term memory isn't good but he is still a great singer and guitar player, as these videos from his new album demonstrate.
Glen and is wife recently talked about his ordeal, and it is obvious to this casual observer that he has all the classic symptoms of the disease. He remembers everything that happened 40 years ago, but can't remember where he is going on his upcoming farewell tour.
So here is to you Mr. Campbell. Godspeed on your final journey, and make your last tour your best!
Well, Glen has recorded his final album and it is a gem, and is going on a farewell tour, that includes his adult children. His short term memory isn't good but he is still a great singer and guitar player, as these videos from his new album demonstrate.
Glen and is wife recently talked about his ordeal, and it is obvious to this casual observer that he has all the classic symptoms of the disease. He remembers everything that happened 40 years ago, but can't remember where he is going on his upcoming farewell tour.
So here is to you Mr. Campbell. Godspeed on your final journey, and make your last tour your best!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Who was your worst teacher?
I had a phone call last night from a guy I've known since kindergarten. He's on a reunion committee and wanted some updates from me. We went through elementary and high school together, and got to talking about students we both knew and more so about our teachers, many who have now been dead for 30 years. The topic came up on who was the worst one we ever had. No it wasn't a biology teacher in 10th grade that was a total incompetent, or the gay pedophile gym coach who came on to the boys in high school. We knew how to deal with them. It was Miss X. (I'm not saying the real name because I know her relatives quite well. Miss X was an older middle age spinster when I had her in my first year in public school, kindergarten.
This is a woman who never had children of her own, and had a deep disdain, and no tolerance for little children who did not fall in immediately upon order behave on command. Not a particularly good fit for a woman who was, year after year, put in charge of 35 five year old kids for an entire school year. Her classes were often right out of a Dickens novel. Children were routinely spanked, slapped and locked in the cloak roam for minor offenses, such as spilling milk, not finishing a puzzle on time, giggling, and chatting with classmates at inappropriate times. If you came to school without boots or rubbers over your shoes on rainy or snowy days, Miss X locked us in the closet and made us stand in ice water as punishment. Parents complained about her constantly to the principle, and school board, but it was to no avail. She had tenure, and the stock answer was, "That's the way it has always been done."
Today this woman would be locked up for child abuse, but 1961 was a different era. By contrast, Mrs. M., my 1st grade teacher, was a lovely woman who truly loved children and made learning a fun experience. All the kids who suffered the tortures of Miss X's house of horrors, began to breath a sigh of relief. Unfortunately I had to meet and greet Miss X. every Sunday morning until I moved away from home for college, as she was a local fixture and deacon in our church. (What were they thinking?)
If Young Frankenstein had been made back when I was a kid, I'm sure the would be compared to Frau Blucher. Instead she got off easy and only got equated to the Wicked Witch of the West, a title much deserved.
So who was your worst teacher? Lets fill up the comments area with your stories.
This is a woman who never had children of her own, and had a deep disdain, and no tolerance for little children who did not fall in immediately upon order behave on command. Not a particularly good fit for a woman who was, year after year, put in charge of 35 five year old kids for an entire school year. Her classes were often right out of a Dickens novel. Children were routinely spanked, slapped and locked in the cloak roam for minor offenses, such as spilling milk, not finishing a puzzle on time, giggling, and chatting with classmates at inappropriate times. If you came to school without boots or rubbers over your shoes on rainy or snowy days, Miss X locked us in the closet and made us stand in ice water as punishment. Parents complained about her constantly to the principle, and school board, but it was to no avail. She had tenure, and the stock answer was, "That's the way it has always been done."
Today this woman would be locked up for child abuse, but 1961 was a different era. By contrast, Mrs. M., my 1st grade teacher, was a lovely woman who truly loved children and made learning a fun experience. All the kids who suffered the tortures of Miss X's house of horrors, began to breath a sigh of relief. Unfortunately I had to meet and greet Miss X. every Sunday morning until I moved away from home for college, as she was a local fixture and deacon in our church. (What were they thinking?)
If Young Frankenstein had been made back when I was a kid, I'm sure the would be compared to Frau Blucher. Instead she got off easy and only got equated to the Wicked Witch of the West, a title much deserved.
So who was your worst teacher? Lets fill up the comments area with your stories.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Funny weekend story
Ok, maybe this is a little drunk blogging, but here's a funny, if not revealing story about travel in the third world. As anyone who reads my blog knows, I've got a lot of connections to the Philippines, and visit it frequently. Although when in a large city or resort area, I choose to stay in nice place with most of the amenities I'd expect from a decent place in the US. I'm no elitist, a nice place to me is a Comfort Inn.
But I have to tell this story about when a friend and I stopped at a small town in central Luzon for the night a while back. We had a great meal at a local restaurant, for almost nothing, and service better than at the Ritz (as if I've ever been to one). It was getting late and either we were going to move on or find a room.
Well, we did find an Inn that looked nice and clean, and the owner was a very nice elderly lady who told us we had a room with private bath and hot water was normally available. Well it turns out that the "private bath" really meant that we had a private entrance to the communal bathroom for the entire guest house.All the other guests had to enter from the hallway.
Ok, we had a laugh about that and hit the sack in a decent, clean room with lumpy beds, but, for $7 a night how could I complain. Motel 6 wasn't that cheap at this time. The next morning I wanted a hot shower, and turned on the faucet, and what came out was cold spring water from the mountains of Sagod in Northern Luzon. And though this is tropical, the mountain province it not so much, and the water comes out at 50 degrees. I asked the owner of the Inn if she could turn on the water heater, but was informed that it was currently was "under repair". Since we were going to be there for a few days, I asked if it would be fixed later that day. She very sheepishly apologized for lack of hot water and offered buckets of warm water she could heat on the stove, telling us that the water heater has been "under repair" for 3 years. I had a good laugh back in the room, but the nice lady was just trying to save face, and I embarrassed her by asking that question. This is a poor country and a water heater might cost here several weeks income from the inn and restaurant. I gratefully accepted a couple buckets of heated water, stayed 2 more days, and left a tip that would pay a weeks stay at the place.
Yes this was not 5 star accommodations, but we met a lady who ran a decent, clean (I mean really clean) inn, helped us with sightseeing and gave me a big hug upon departures.
Travel in the third world may not always be easy, but it can be very rewarding in its own way.
But I have to tell this story about when a friend and I stopped at a small town in central Luzon for the night a while back. We had a great meal at a local restaurant, for almost nothing, and service better than at the Ritz (as if I've ever been to one). It was getting late and either we were going to move on or find a room.
Well, we did find an Inn that looked nice and clean, and the owner was a very nice elderly lady who told us we had a room with private bath and hot water was normally available. Well it turns out that the "private bath" really meant that we had a private entrance to the communal bathroom for the entire guest house.All the other guests had to enter from the hallway.
Ok, we had a laugh about that and hit the sack in a decent, clean room with lumpy beds, but, for $7 a night how could I complain. Motel 6 wasn't that cheap at this time. The next morning I wanted a hot shower, and turned on the faucet, and what came out was cold spring water from the mountains of Sagod in Northern Luzon. And though this is tropical, the mountain province it not so much, and the water comes out at 50 degrees. I asked the owner of the Inn if she could turn on the water heater, but was informed that it was currently was "under repair". Since we were going to be there for a few days, I asked if it would be fixed later that day. She very sheepishly apologized for lack of hot water and offered buckets of warm water she could heat on the stove, telling us that the water heater has been "under repair" for 3 years. I had a good laugh back in the room, but the nice lady was just trying to save face, and I embarrassed her by asking that question. This is a poor country and a water heater might cost here several weeks income from the inn and restaurant. I gratefully accepted a couple buckets of heated water, stayed 2 more days, and left a tip that would pay a weeks stay at the place.
Yes this was not 5 star accommodations, but we met a lady who ran a decent, clean (I mean really clean) inn, helped us with sightseeing and gave me a big hug upon departures.
Travel in the third world may not always be easy, but it can be very rewarding in its own way.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Just how badly do we treat alien workers here?
About a month ago I posted about a young friend of mine who recently moved to Singapore from the Philippines, with the hopes of getting a better job and being able to send some money home to his family there. He is not an "undocumented worker" or illegal alien. Ron jumped through all the hoops to get legal status, and was enthusiastic about seems like a good opportunity. In the USA, any legal worker either a Green Card holder or just someone on a H1-B visa has pretty much similar protection under the law that we American citizens have. Sadly, Ron is finding out first hand, that in the Republic of Singapore, guest workers have very little or no rights what so ever.
His employer, though very please with his work, has at times withheld pay, due to "payroll irregularities", demands many hours of unpaid overtime, and even going to the home of the owner to mow the grass. In a country that fines you heavily for importing chewing gum amongst other things, they offer little to no protection for guest workers. The contract with the employer is only enforced when it is in the favor of the Singapore citizen. Withholding of pay is not a crime against guest workers, and the guest worker can not leave the country until the contract is fulfilled on his/her part.
If anyundocumented laborer illegal alien, let alone a legal migrant in the US were treated like this, the employer would be hauled off to jail and fined heavily.
I'm posting this as a caution to anyone who wants to work abroad. Understand the law where you are going before entering into a contract. In many places, rule of law does not apply to anyone who is not a citizen and in some countries not the right religion.
His employer, though very please with his work, has at times withheld pay, due to "payroll irregularities", demands many hours of unpaid overtime, and even going to the home of the owner to mow the grass. In a country that fines you heavily for importing chewing gum amongst other things, they offer little to no protection for guest workers. The contract with the employer is only enforced when it is in the favor of the Singapore citizen. Withholding of pay is not a crime against guest workers, and the guest worker can not leave the country until the contract is fulfilled on his/her part.
If any
I'm posting this as a caution to anyone who wants to work abroad. Understand the law where you are going before entering into a contract. In many places, rule of law does not apply to anyone who is not a citizen and in some countries not the right religion.
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