Jesus Camp

“Kids on Fire”. Yeah, they’ll be on fire alright, when they blow themselves up outside the nearest mosque.

Although parents have the right to raise their kids the way then want, I must admit that I question the sanity of any parent who would not only allow, but pay for, their kids to experience proselytization. Worshipping a picture of George Bush? Seriously.

You Tell ‘Em, Mr. President!

http://www.bluestateobserver.com/2006/09/you-tell-em-mr-president.html

Kimveer Gill, the Dawson College Killer

Hello all, it’s me again, Kevin. Sorry for not writing more frequently-junior year is really busy.

Anyways, it looks like we have another school shooter on our hands. His name is Kimveer Gill. On Sept. 14, Gill walked into Dawson College’s cafeteria during lunch hour armed with a Berreta Storm Cx4 carbine rifle, a sawed-down pump action shotgun, and a 9mm pistol. After firing 60 shots into the crowd, Gill committed suicide.

Gill was, in essence, a 25-year-old adolescent. He lived in his mom’s basement and spent his days drink and flirting prepupescent Goth girls on vampirefreaks.net. Gill was most likely depressed and delusional, in my opinion. He ranted and raved against “jocks” and “preps” in his online blog (just as Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold did 7 years earlier), despite the fact that his three closest high school friends said Gill fit in at his school, and wasn’t bullied. Anyone who is still obsessed with the high-school clique system, at age 25, is a complete and utter loser. I’m 16, and I’m over it, frankly.

It’s murderous losers like Kimveer Gill that make me wish I believe in hell.

Trailer – Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against The West

www.ObsessionTheMovie.com – a powerful new documentary that exposes the threat of Radical Islam in ways never before seen in the mainstream media. This is a must see!!! Political Correctness doesn’t keep us safe in our beds at night. Movies that show the TRUTH just might. America needs to see its enemy. It’s enemy is extreme, worships “Allah” and kills in his name….

The Devil?

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez refered U.S. President, George W. Bush, as the devil today in front of the United Nations Assembly! When I heard this, I absolutely could not believe it! Let me tell you, while I may not agree with everything that our President does or stands for, he is certainly NOT the devil by any means. If you look at our way of life and that in Venezuela, I think the roles should be reversed…

I just cannot believe that Chavez had the balls to tell the WORLD that our President was the devil! There are and have been much worse dictators/leaders in this world than George W. Bush!

Do you think that GWB is the devil? I want to know! Leave a comment.

The Government Revenue Enhancement Plan

The government is currently $7 trillion in debt, with considerable gaps in funding for essential programs like public transportation, education, environmental initiatives, homeland security, border control and defense spending. Tax rates are currently causing a number of companies to take employees and money over seas. Talks on expanding the government and creating new programs like national standardized testing, universal access healthcare, continued Social Security and a federal alternative-fuels program have stalled or failed due to a lack of money available for government use. The government must seek out ways to become more economically robust and fiscally sound. Raising taxes and cutting spending are options that might return the government to the status quo, but the burgeoning debt will limit the effectiveness of these options. Furthermore, both are unpopular views in America.

It is time that the government begins a concerted effort to make money and increase revenue. Although America has long practiced a free market style of capitalism, the government has to find ways to boost its budget. This can be done in a number of ways. The most non-intrusive is detailed here.

One way to make considerable sums of money would be through the issuing of Economic Development bonds. These bonds could be issued at a higher interest rate than traditional bonds, which coupled with an advertising campaign would make them sell rather quickly, especially as bonds are founded on faith in the government. All dollars raised through these bonds would go immediately into subsidies for targeted industries in both the private and public sectors. In five to ten years, these industries would begin to grow and pay greater amounts of tax revenue, meaning that the bonds would be payable to their owners and the government would still have a greater tax pool to make revenue from. In addition, wise targeting of industries to receive these bond dollars could mean a great boost to research into alternative fuels, security technologies and consumer goods, improving the quality of life for the American people. A national lottery would accomplish the same goals on a smaller scale and could be used as a supplement to new bonds.

Another way to increase revenue is by re-establishing the Bank of the United States. Although it has been defunct for about 180 years, a national bank has been found constitutional by the Supreme Court. By providing low-interest loans to businesses and entrepreneurs, the government could either grow its tax base or collect interest on overdue payments, if not both. This bank could also be chartered to provide loans to Americans looking to obtain higher education, job training, personal transportation, self-employment, health insurance or other factors that can increase productivity and tax revenue. Again, this simultaneously raises the standard of living for the population and equates to more sustainable, long-term tax revenues for the government. Furthermore, it does not equate to the government overstepping its constitutional boundaries.

Nationalization of industries or providers already receiving substantial government aid is a third way to increase funding. The government already spends millions of dollars on the transportation industry, particularly on commuter rail services and commuter airlines. To nationalize these service providers would not cost much for the government, as it already pays considerable subsidies to them. If the government assumed ownership of these bodies, it could then take profits for government funding. Any net revenue could go to the government, rather than to exorbitant personal salaries or other unnecessary expenses.

Along the lines of nationalization, government ownership of key industries like oil, steel, coal and ports could provide great amounts of money. Each industrial field could pay for a massive program, such as single-payer healthcare, national education standards, subsidized tuition at state universities and strict enforcement of border security. In addition, more federal money would be available for homeland security, making scanning of all cargo entering the country and screening of all airline passengers realistic programs.

Tariffs are a proven means of increasing revenue. By protecting domestic industries and placing taxes on imported goods, industry would be forced to maintain near-full employment. In addition, goods produced in America would be more likely to be used in America. This increases spending at home and protects American jobs, both of which increase federal revenue. Tariffs must be strategically implemented to protect weak or infant industries while more essential goods like medicine, food or clothing could be freely traded. To put tariffs on luxury and high-tech goods would help American industries compete with those abroad. To maximize the impact of tariffs, tariff revenue could be spent primarily on subsidies for the specific industries they protect.

The foreign aid system also has to be restructured. Fair trade and economic development loans or gifts are far more effective than simple governmental aid. Although humanitarian aid should be maintained or increased, giving discretionary money to foreign governments is not a wise policy. Providing grants for industries abroad, on the other hand, creates new markets to buy and sell goods with America. Consider the examples of the Marshall Plan, which provided substantial funding for economic development in Allied countries, versus the current foreign aid system, where money is largely given away to needy governments. The former successfully boosted the standards and qualities of living for free people while eventually paying America back through increased trade. The latter is largely wasteful and ineffective, as is evidenced by the defunct economies throughout African and Asian nations. Trade and aid have to be provided in a way that fosters economic independence and prosperity, rather than short-term political appeasement.

The government needs new sources of funding to carry out ambitious goals that the people want. With a balanced budget as a constitutional requirement, earmark transparency the law, public campaign financing and strict government ethics rules regarding lobbying and disclosure, the government could begin to explore new sources of revenue. The aforementioned checks must be implemented to ensure efficiency and fiscal integrity, but once the government is sound it could consider public enterprise and economic controls as a means of providing new services while cutting a number of taxes.

The rebirth of American public enterprise, implementation of checks on government irresponsibility and the subsequent increase in government revenues could be the solution to America’s most pressing problems.

Wake Up Washington!

Anyone else wondering where on earth centrists, both politically and religiously, have gone? Does it at all anger people that we are living in a time of evangelism and polarization? Don’t get me wrong- I’m a Christian and I have some strong political views (duh), but these days are just plain depressing. It seems that everyone who is vocal and active in the media and out in the public eye is either authoritarian-conservative, whiny-liberal, agnostic or right-wing evangelical. Of course there is nothing wrong with these groups, but they certainly don’t represent everyone!

Kudos to Blue State Observer for featuring a Green, a Socialist, a Libertarian, a Conservative Democrat and a Small-Government Conservative among regular contributors. Thank you also for featuring several Jews, a centrist Catholic and a conservative Catholic in that same group. Diversity really is refreshing!

Clearly, people are not happy with how things are going. Look around at America. People hate their politicians, they are fighting a self-proclaimed culture war and they feel no considerable sense of unity. With soaring gas and medical prices, a divisive war, a failed immigration policy and pathetic marks on national security, we need something better. America’s attitude and sense of moral strength has been sapped.

In November, please consider voting for something truly good, not just the “lesser of two evils” or the candidate closest to your views. Consider voting for people with ethics, respectability and appreciation for the views of others. There are serious issues facing America that we have to deal with immediately. Why are we seriously arguing about free trade with Oman when we don’t even have a national language? Why are we arguing about stem cells when even the living can’t stay alive without a fat wallet?

I am not using this post as a soapbox for any specific views. I am using this to ask you to think beyond ideology and start thinking for your country. The guy who disagrees with you might be the best bet for getting some respect back into Washington.

When our leadership stops fighting and starts acting, America will start moving on the right track again. Vote for wisdom and experience, respect and decency, even if you don’t agree with everything a candidate supports.

Hence my support for war hawk Joe Lieberman, peace dove Lincoln Chafee, civil libertarian Russ Feingold, conservative Jim Inhofe and other good statesmen. Please vote for honesty and respect. We need moral high ground and good standing in Washington more than any ideology right now.

After two terms of Clinton and two terms of Bush, it’s the thing we are starving for.

This guy has the right idea.

http://www.bluestateobserver.com/2006/09/this-guy-has-right-idea.html

Ann Richards.

Ann Richards died of cancer tonight. More information coming soon.

Mike Kole, Bring Hope to the Libertarian Party

Hey Everyone! It’s been awhile.

Mike Kole, Cleveland State University graduate and father of two, announced his candidacy for Secretary of State of Indiana in September 2004. Last April, he was unanimously nominated by the convention of the Libertarian party of Indiana. Before starting his own Right-of-Way agency, Mike hosted a local talk radio show becoming the Rush Limbagh of the Libertarian party.

But what is a Libertarian? A Libertarian believes in smaller government, lower taxes, and greater personal freedom, as long as those freedoms don’t interfere with those of others. Kole claims on his blog that he is a modern Libertarian who believes the essentially Libertarian government left to us by the founding fathers has become the bloated, expensive, unresponsive form it is today. He hopes that soon, Americans will rely on themselves once again, instead of on their government. Kole acknowledges that Americans are not ready for wholesale change. He proposes small changes, such as a 1% budget cut, certainly not a radical slash. He believes this is something that can be done easily, but the question remains. Do Republicans have the will?

Kole will not back down from the issues. In Indiana, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles performance recently has been underwhelming at best. Many blame the governor, who has authority over the BMV, but Kole has a different approach. He suggests that the BMV be placed under authority of the Secretary of State, an office with only three other responsibilities to date. He believes that under new leadership, the bureau will be able to take accountability in it’s performance and truly improve it’s efficiency.

Being somewhat dissatisfied with our government, I urge the citizens of Indiana, and all of you out there to vote for your Libertarian candidate. Other parties like to talk and think. Libertarians like to do. It is action that defines a people, and in times like these we can’t afford to be vague.