STIMULATE THIS!
by Gary GrahamSTIMULATE THIS!
So now it’s time for another bailout. The one last month didn’t do the trick, apparently. 800 billion wasn’t quiiiiite enough. We’re gonna have to try harder.
Hey I got an idea for stimulating the economy. Everybody who reads this, go to www.garygraham.com and buy my damn book! (ACTING & Other Flying Lessons) Yeah, it’s a little cheaper on Amazon, but get it from my site and I’ll even personalize it for you. (WOW!!!! I know, huh?) But really…I need the money, now that I’ve self-immolated my acting career by coming out Conservative. Baby’s horse needs two new pair of shoes. And what better way to engage in pure unapologetic Capitalism, than to shoot me a twenty-spot for a cool book. Money-back guarantee. Did I mention garygraham.com?
All right, enough shameless self-promotion! Back to the Stimulus Package our new leader proposes.
“We will create jobs.” — Pres-elect B.H. Obama
Huh?? Sounds like one big ‘make-work’ scheme to me. Just coming up with erroneous projects, simply to have people occupied with a lot of activity merely to draw a paycheck seems a fool’s errand. Like, “Move that rock pile over there. And when you finished, move it back over here.” (Okay, maybe not moving a rock pile… but do we need another railroad museum? I didn’t realize there was a shortage.) Oh, but we’ve got to rebuild out infrastructure, you say. We need to do these projects.
Oh really? If we needed them so badly, why didn’t the voters vote for a bond to fund them? If these projects are so essential to the lives of average Americans, why weren’t they willing to cough up the green to pay for it? Because they’re make-work projects, that’s why.
“This plan would create more than four million jobs,” said Obama on his website. The report also stated the estimate was “subject to significant margins of error, depending on what Congress does.” (Man… Talk about making it up as you go along…)
A ‘job’ arises from the need for some task to be accomplished. Mr. Obama, as most Democrats do, believes that dynamic is actually in reverse; that the task arises from the need for a job. Aside from being just plain goofy, this belief is in conflict with any rational economic model of fiscal cause-and-effect, and what’s more, it completely defies the laws of physics. Physics are not arbitrary. Causal dynamics travel in one direction. Even the Messiah can’t reverse them, regardless of how charming and clean and articulate.
In the Cart-Before-the-Horse category, this one ranks at the top of Liberal dumbthink. We can extrapolate this absurdity out further to include the government assuming completely the job search and placement for the prospective employee. Government will find out what skills the prospective employee has. What interests he has. What personality traits. What hobbies, likes and dislikes, perhaps what astrological sign, and whether or not he enjoys long walks on the beach. Then and only then can the Federal Government determine just what sort of job our prospective employee might be comfortable with, be ethnically and culturally compatible with, and which would fit into his particular schedule and/or bio-rhythms.
This, times four million. Sound like fun? I can’t wait to hear what they call this new department. Maybe, the Bureau of Job Creation and Placement. Nah, too simple. How ‘bout, The Department of Emergency Economic Reacquisition and Employee Re-dissemination? Now that’s a title I can get behind. That’s a title that can fill a government wall. And that’s, what, maybe ten thousand jobs right there! Oh yeah, it’ll cost. They may need to raise your taxes to fund this new department. But we shouldn’t begrudge the higher taxes – hell, we’re patriotic!
And by the way…how much is this new department, the “Office of the President-Elect” costing taxpayers? (Hey, that nifty sign on the podium can’t be cheap.)
“We will create jobs,” says the President-elect.
Shut uuuup… That’s not your job description, Mr. President-elect. We create jobs, Mr. Obama — private industry, businesses, large and small, free market capitalism. Your job is to protect the nation from our enemies, foreign and domestic, and protect against fraud. Or didn’t you read the Constitution? And no — “promote the general welfare” doesn’t mean hand out welfare checks in the form of tax rebates to people who don’t pay taxes.
Once again, I am absolutely positive that I was conked on the head and have been in a coma for thirty years. In the interim of my slumber, somehow the major obligation of the federal government in this country (funded by the hapless, yet apparently affable and compliant American taxpayer) has become finding you a job. And now, to get that job, you don’t even have to get out of your robe and fuzzy slippers – the jobs come to you! That knocking you hear on your door – why, it’s a job! Presto-Change-O!!! Thank the Good Lord we’ve finally got a truly compassionate man in the White House. Can’t pay your bills, too many mouths to feed, don’t want to work in a McD’s? No problem! You don’t have to worry about a thing now; President Obama is going to take care of our every need. Don’t know about you, but I got a tingling up my leg!”
FTS!
We’re told we borrow too much money. We’re told we’re supposed to live within our means, to save and budget. Then the government forces banks to okay home loans for people who can’t afford to pay the mortgages. And now we’re told we have to bail those people out, to keep them in their homes they can’t pay for. But then, apparently, according to the new administration, we’re not spending enough. That we need to go deeper into debt as a nation (stimulus plan) to free up money, so everybody can spend more, to help out the economy. So which is it? Spend, save, limit debt, overextend debt, what? It’s hard to keep up.
President-elect Obama this week toured the Lincoln Memorial with his family. He called President Lincoln “an inspiration”. And I thought to myself, ‘an inspiration…to do what??’ Bury the taxpayers and future generations in hopeless trillion-dollar debt? Laminate our youth with the notion that individual responsibility is an arcane concept? That they are incapable of understanding the complexities of sound economic decisions, so, in overriding compassion, the federal government will abrogate private responsibility with the bail-out paradigm. From banks to auto conglomerates to porn purveyors to the Average Joe Victim-of-the-System.
It’s the Bail-Out Boogie!
The government seems to want us all to be wards of the State. Helpless and needy, the Daddy Government will come to our rescue and give us our daily bread. Man…I don’t know about you, but I get this dead feeling in my gut when I even contemplate these things. I never wanted to work for the government; but here we all seem to be…all of us, soon…working for the government. (Hey, a couple trillion dollars has to come from somewhere!) FTS!
Let me tell you about my Dad. A farmer’s son, growing up in rural Arizona, he and his two brothers were so poor they were the only ones at their school who had no shoes. Kids made fun of them — at which point my Dad learned the art of pugilism. Times were tough and my Gramps could barely put food on the table, much less afford shoes for his three sons and two daughters. So my Dad and his brothers worked summers in the field, and made enough money to buy their own shoes. The family moved to San Diego where Gramps got a job driving a tractor-grader. My Dad wanted to go to college, but there wasn’t enough money. So Dad got a paper-route and within a year, expanded that route to cover half the city, delivering newspapers on an old Harley-Davidson he bought junked, and then fixed up. He made it into college, supporting his education being the ‘motorcycle paper-boy’, and he even was elected Class President. Then calamity struck. While on his route one day, a driver ran a stop sign and T-boned my Dad’s bike, completely destroying it. Fortunately, at the last second he had leaped straight up, as the bike was decimated beneath him. His quick reactions saved his life, and he escaped with only scrapes and bruises.
Dad had dreams of becoming a doctor and even though he’d been accepted into a prestigious medical school, he now had no way to finance it. So my father put on his best clothes, and starting at one end of the street, went out looking for work. He didn’t stop when he heard “No, thanks.” And he heard it a lot, along with,“No, son…times are tough. Sorry.” But he kept going. It seemed no one was hiring. Still, he kept going. All day long, all week long, keeping a positive attitude, seeking out work. And he didn’t stop…until he had three jobs secured that day! Medical schools are expensive. He got a job working at a soda-fountain in a drugstore at night, and then he went to a night watchman job, which is when he did his studies. Then, in the early morning, before classes, he’d go up and down the streets painting address numbers on the curb for 10 cents a house. That’s a lot of walking – a lot of big hills in San Diego. But he made it through med school and began his internship, then his residency.
At the hospital, there was one assignment no one seemed to volunteer for – the cancer ward. No one wanted to deal with the emotional impact of dealing with the dying, with the advanced cases of pathology, the ugly smells, the filthy conditions. My father’s father had suffered a skin cancer on his ear that had resulted with partial amputation. Recognizing that since no one wanted the cancer ward assignment, and that he could possibly find an opportunity there, even explore the causes for his own father’s cancer, Dad quickly volunteered.
The chief resident was so encouraged by my Dad’s willingness to tackle this tough role, he left my father to his own devices with full authority. My Dad started by opening the windows, giving the patients air, insisting on clean bed linen, clean bandages, changed daily, and a brighter cheerier outlook from the nurses. And wouldn’t you know…patients responded almost immediately. Some actually went into remission, solely due to the new attitude. And more – my father began to learn about surgery. He researched and began to perform various cancer surgeries. Tumors were excised, resections were performed. Radiation therapy was brand new and he led new research into that, often with dramatic success. Over the two years he was there, Dad acquired advanced skills as a surgeon, which was to make him an extremely valuable asset to any medical clinic.
He moved to Orange County, California with his new wife and found a group of doctors to start private practice. He saw up to 100 patients a day, often putting in 20-hour days. He kept studying and gained a specialty degree in Abdominal Surgery. He sat on the California Board of Medical Examiners, and with the expertise he accrued, built three hospitals, and managed nine more. Never one to sit still, he developed and owned 11 different companies in the early ‘70’s. Unfortunately, as a businessman, he turned out to be a terrific doctor. (As he told me, “Gary, it’s weird. Doctors are used to being told the truth. Patients come in, they tell you what’s bothering them. To lie to your doctor could mean mis-diagnosis which would be disastrous – so… people tell the truth. Then you go into business…and everybody lies!”) Of the eleven, only three of these companies ever made money. And of course, the three money-makers were medical companies. He made money doing the things he knew.
My father held to an apparently outdated value system. He looked to himself for answers. When he wanted to become a doctor, but had no money…when he wanted to go to school, but couldn’t afford shoes… did he make it anyone else’s problem? Did he get angry with the government? Demand a stimulus package? Ask for a tax break? Beg for a bail-out?
No. He manned up and took care of business. Which is what I would suggest out country would do: Man up! Quit crying, quite begging, quit quitting on yourself! Grow a pair! Or so help me, I’m gonna channel John Wayne and the two of us will come over there and kick your butt.
Okay… I don’t want to project the impression that I’m really into violence as a remedy for conflict resolution. JBut I would like to propose nothing more earth-shaking that this: Let us not abandon the values — individualism, personal strength, steady resolve, rugged self-determination — that built this country into the most successful example of Liberty and Freedom the world has ever seen.
My Dad was a Conservative from the day he got into a fist fight over coming to school barefoot…to the day that he passed from this life eight years ago. And though his wayward rocker of a son turned Left at the University…it was amazing to see how intelligent my Conservative Dad seemed as I grew into a man.
The government has no business…in business. Get the hell out and stay out. The economy goes up, it goes down. Prop it up artificially at your own peril – a peril that has now come home to us with a vengeance.
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106 Comments
Okay, it’s not a rerun. But I’m not sure ‘growing a pair’ is the solution to each and every problem. Also? Your description of the way job creation works is wildly inaccurate. Is this meant to be comedy? Intentional falsehood? Deranged flight of fancy (pants)?
Anyone interested in an actual working knowledge regarding the way this may work — and hey, it may not work, that’s always a possibility/probability — should check out the detailed analysis here:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#invest-for-jobs
Obama’s talent is telling people what they want to hear. He has shown no evidence in his career of accomplishing anything of significance. But, like the Music Man, he knows how to sell an idea. The big problem comes from when he tries to make good on his promises. He’s already saying he has to scale back his plans because of the economy. But he will use tax money to do his smoke and mirrors act.
His familiarity with smoke and mirrors must have come from his druggie days.
As you say, creating jobs is not a president’s job. But Dems have been aching for a depression so they can spring a new new deal on the public. That’s why they have been using the D word for the last two years. Whether we’re in one or not, they want one. A desperate public will sign up for any scam they spring on them.
A racist is lurking between your lines, sir.
When people around me are losing jobs left and right due to the irresponsibility of Business and the “pro-business” crowd, you forfeit the right to be left alone. If MY job hinges on the activities of American businesses, then I will be poking my nose right in it all. And nobody, not even actors who think they’re tough guys are going to tell me I can’t.
Maybe you can tell the people whining on the other threads about Hollywood gays controlling who gets a job your little theory of how business should be left alone.
And really, all the macho posturing is scaring no one. I’m beginning to suspect you’re a little lacking in the package department.
Awesome Gary. I would have liked to have met your Dad. I think our parents came to the world with more wisdom when they were born than Obama and that cabal in DC. My own Dad worked two jobs, commercial fisherman in the morning, his knuckles bloodied from work, superintendent of a factory on second shift. Mom worked at a shoe store. My siblings had to wear hand me downs. But my parents never would have asked for a thing from anyone. There were 9 of us but the sent every one of us to Catholic schools and there was always food on the table, a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. That means something. These are the people we look to for answers. Not Obama, not Pelosi, none of them. They don’t have the answers. Our parents, grandparents, they did and I believe they would say it is in your power to fix. You are the one that can make it right. No one in Gov. can. Unless you want to be a serf and I have to say my ancestors didn’t fight a revolution to have the country they were trying to create become a nation of serfs.
Amen! Man up, indeed. When did this country become a bunch of whining losers who need the government to do for them? I don’t think we are that. I think that’s what they’re trying to make us in order to gain power. Don’t believe it, folks. Tell them to stay out of our back pockets. Whose money are they throwing at “the economy”? Yours and mine.
What are you talking about, Ned? Is it now racist to say “man up”?
Great stuff! Thank you
Wow the trolls were waiting for this post. I bet they have a contest to see who posts first. Dang. And one even used teh word subtext though he doesn’t seem to know what it means. WOW!
Here is a clue you want a job, go find one. Do not ask me to pay for your goal of eating jujubees and playing Grand Theft Auto. Sorry won’t do it.
Once again Ned, if someone does not agree with BO then you are a racist. Give it a break and man up to do the right thing. Your not a racist if disagree with a mans views. I’m sick of hearing these kinds of attacks!
Stephanie, I’m confused. Does everyone who disagrees with you spend their time eating jujubees and playing Grand Theft Auto?
And by the way, you forgot to add ‘in your mother’s basement.’
As for the post, if one does not understand what ‘job creation’ means, one may in fact have a hard time arguing either for it or against it. My guess is that Gary’s just foolin’. The problem is, I’m guessing you take it quite seriously.
Again, I’ve posted an easy link for you to follow and learn all about job creation and what it actually means. Enjoy!
One last thing. Nobody ever wants the government messing around with their lives. Until they need their road paved. Funny how that works.
Don’t cha know – phrases like “Can’t pay your bills, too many mouths to feed, don’t want to work in a McD’s?” are racist.
I work in a cubicle with a guy from India. He has a 5 step plan for the USA. Steps 1-4 involve the govt taking care of our needs. Only then can we go out and experience free enterprise! “They” just don’t get it and “they” are diluting this country’s population.
I’ve got an idea. Everybody watch John Adams! Learn something useful for God’s sake!
“lacking in the package department”
Wow, he really told you this time, Gary.
Actually in the time of bail outs you will have to man up, because no one will come to help you, in fact if you look like you’re doing well they will come and beat you down.
The best way for government to help is to get out of the damn way and let us get on with it!
There are two types of people in this world. One when confronted with a problem ask someone else for a plan to overcome it. The others say “to hell with your plan, look where it got us so far. I’ll get there my own way!”
If you want sucess you have got to be in the 2nd catagory.
Good stuff Gary. I’d wager your father’s father was equally self-sufficient when he got off the boat (assuming your great grandpa was the first to arrive here).
I love how TEHSTUPID thinks the notion of business being left to its business is your idea or even a reality. Take a look at the regulatory laws in this country. Sickening.
As for Ned’s racism comment… Only a lazy idiot with serious self-confidence issues would find anything you’ve written as racist. You can be sure any time you criticize Obama over his term you will be accused of being a racist. Get used to it, but please keep writing the truth.
Hey Steph,
Have a job, thanks. Pays the bills just fine.
If you haven’t noticed, Gary calls these diatribes “salvos” implying that posting on a blog is somehow warfare. So I would say he’s antagonizing.
And as far as my speed goes, I have GG’s RSS feed bookmarked. He just so happened to post this upchuck on my break. As in, while I was working.
I didn’t ask you for a GD thing. I can afford the GTA, the PS3, the broadband connection, AND the sushi dinner, so go F yourself.
Actually Harley the government paves the roads not out of kindness, but because we the tax payer give them to the money to do so.
What else ya got?
Harely I sat through two college econ classes when I was doing my basic studys for my BA…can I say over kill on Keynsian Economics. Or does the fact that Milton Friedman basically took everything you have said or pointed out and destroyed it. Gov. does not and never has created jobs. If you don’t like that fine. Whatever. Now listen honey child, here is a book you need to read, The Forgotten Man, read it, live it learn it. I can argue you both sides of this issue. And Harley if you want to be a serf fine go for it. Just take your wish to be a slave to the machine to North Korea or China. You know your utopian vision for the world realized. Oh and thanks for adding Mom’s basement….I forgot.
Remember what got us here. It was not money. It was not government. It was not safety. It was not a surveillance society. What got us here were a few rebels who said enough. They declared their independence. And brought forth the largest bastion of freedom, both personal and economic, than has ever existed on Earth. Now all of you want to throw it away for a pittance? Not me, not now, not ever. . . anyone who thinks otherwise can hang.
Stephanie,
How dare you talk of GTA in disparaging tones? You know, plenty of us Conservatives enjoy eating candy and playing GTA!
We just buy our own games and pay our own electric bills.
You Dad has got what it takes. My Dad lost his leg in 1935 and he never let it slow him down. We are in for several years of people with their hand out and a willing govt that is going to fill it. I like to think of it as Carter on Crack.
Teh just proved the point you can’t fix stupid. And my advice to him if he wants to be taken seriously then perhaps he should get the foul language down because he just digs himself a deeper hole.
Harley said “Nobody ever wants the government messing around with their lives. Until they need their road paved. Funny how that works.”
What an inane, pointless comment. You don’t think that there are tons of private companies that exist to pave roads? They would get paved better, cheaper, and infinitely quicker if the government stayed the hell out of it altogether, and that goes for pretty much every other industry.
Amen to another great article Gary!!! I espically liked the story about your Dad. They just don’t make’em like that anymore do they? Thanks for another great read. Any possibility of a daily column? It’s hard waiting for a week for my “Gary Fix”. lol
Gary you speak my language. “Givernment” is never the solution. They have ruined the economy and continue to want more intervention in our lives. And the drones that follow the flowery language of Obama is giving up a lot of their freedoms to be part of the “cool” factor.
Are they kidding me?
This generation is really out of the loop due to the liberal education and countless liberals in Hollywood that are splashed on the front of gossip magazines and declaring their love for Obama and their hatred of republicans. Hopefully this website could bring a sea change in thought.
Thank you Mr. Graham for the timely comments of self-reliance, perseverance, hard work, and pride in one’s accomplishments.
Stephanie, I love how you make their little heads explode.
I just pray that what I’ve always seen in my generation..late 60’s holds true. I’ve always thought we had much more in common with our grandparents than our parents generation. We live in Idaho and it is completely normal and average for our boys to man up. Something huge about hunting and fishing in developing ones confidence and self reliant personality traits.
Thank you for stepping out of the closet and inspiring others. Thank you for stating your view points much more eloquently than I can seem to find to agree with you = )
A GREAT POST GARY, While my dad did not have it quite as bad as yours, it took a lot for a miners kid from Idaho to graduate Summa Cum Laude from Harvard.
Well NED TUFEKCIC – First Child, during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s while living and or being stationed in the South, I put my physical well being & even my life on the line FOR Black Civil Rights
Second, Oh Uninformed One, as I am a 74 year old Agnostic Atheist and a long time Atheist Activist, do not think I am even close to being on the right wing of the Republican Party. Rather I am an Independent and vote for the MOST qualified person who comes closest to supporting the things I do.
Next, Clueless, anyone who calls anything in Gary G’s post “RACIST” is a an stupid, illogical, irrational, uninformed IDIOT! Racist CHILD, is what EVERY person who voted for Oduma, a dishonest, elitist, lying, socialist whose judgement skills are so poor and integrity so low he includes Racist Preachers who hates Whites and America, Convicted Felons who stole millions from us and Low Life TERRORISTS like Ayers and Doarn among his close friends ONLY because ODUMA is Black IS! ALL of those people are TRUE RACISTS!
Most who voted AGAINST ODUMA did not do so due of his color, we did so as he is NOT even close to being qualified to being our president. We voted against him as he REFUSES to LEARN FACTS & HE DENIES PROVEN FACTS! Oduma high IQ (160) certainly PROVES a person’s intelligence is like the size of a man’s penes. It ain’t the size which counts, it is how it’s used. If Oduma screws as poorly as the thinks, he must be one terrible lay for his Racist and America Hating wife.
Hell, the IDIOT is going to close Git-Mo which proves he NO “F”–ing Clue what is going on the world.
Neil C. Reinhardt
Great post!
Would you like a Link Exchange with our new blog COMMON CENTS where we blog about the issues of the day??
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com
Government is never the solution…. until a war needs to be fought. Then it’s typically ’shut and up let them do whatever they want.’ Not that that isn’t sometimes necessary, but I think you understand my point.
Also I wonder how many people here listen to Laura Ingraham, brought her book ‘Shut and Sing’, thought Laura was correct, and then find themselves here cheering on this Hollywood actor as he lectures us on the fundamentals of the economy. Maybe we should all ask Chuck Norris about the finer points of international diplomacy. Or Pat Boone can enlighten us on the quantity theory of money.
Aw, Stephanie. I’m not sure what definition of ’serf’ you’re using, but it’s not applicable here. As for the government creating jobs, the government is, in fact, the largest employer in the United States. Needless to say, the gov’t is not always the solution, or even usually the solution. But knee-jerk animosity to gov’t action of any kind is more wingtard theology than practical thinking.
After eight years of Republican misrule — and for six of them, the GOP controlled two of three branches of government, and some would argue all three — we’ve got soaring debts and soaring unemployment. Manning up and growing a pair will no doubt be of some small help. But I’m guessing stronger measures are in order. There are a number of areas where job creation is not only necessary, but inevitable — Gary would call these ‘tasks’ — and almost all of them will help us do something I’d think you would support: free ourselves from an addiction to foreign oil. A good friend of mind is currently working for a hedge fund that is looking for ‘green’ companies to invest in. This is not only the future, it’s the present. And business is very good. That’s private enterprise, of course. But there’s nothing wrong with the gov’t investing in this area as well. Particularly when it creates new jobs — and jobs that are far more important than the silly ‘moving rocks from one pile to another’ formulation Gary offered.
But I liked the stuff about his Dad.
The Real Meaning of “Stimulus”
By Victor Davis Hanson
1/8/09
For just one week we should ban the verb “stimulate” and the noun “stimulus” — and substitute instead the more honest “borrow,” or “print,” or “debt”; as in “The government plans to borrow another $1 trillion for the economy,” or “The administration today decided to print another $300 billion in cash.” Or “Congress met to consider a $1 trillion debt program.” But as it is now, the euphemisms only take us ever more distant from reality, as trillions of dollars are bandied about as if they were mere five and tens in the government wallet.
http://tinyurl.com/9oyfjc
Drew, I did think, and still do, that Laura is correct. Since no one’s shut up to sing, though, should just one faction feel free to express their opinion?
I don’t think this Hollywood actor is lecturing us on the fundamentals of the economy. I feel this Hollywood actor is sharing with us his family’s work ethic, common sense and independence.
Great post, Gary!!! Love the stuff about your Dad. My Dad passed on seven years ago, and he was in the same Big Cojone League.
We live with too many fellow Americans who are economically illiterate. Government cannot ‘create’ jobs because the government can’t actually create wealth–it can only take it from the people who do make it. Aside from laying down rules for the playing field, the best way for the government to ‘create’ jobs is to get out of the way of those who have the energy and the vision to make things happen, and watch them create new wealth and the jobs that come with them.
A ‘job’ created by the government only futher dissipates an ever-shrinking pool of wealth in an economy ruled by arbitrary top-down decision-making.
For those liberals in your peanut gallery like Harley, Tehstupid and Ned, a recommended reading list:
The Forgotten Man by Amity Schlaes;
Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell;
The Mystery of Capital by Hernando De Soto
Viva Big Hollywood!!!
Alright Gary! Get out of my head and stop stealing my thoughts LMAO.
Great Article!
Ned wrote: “A racist is lurking between your lines, sir.”
Of course, ALL criticism of PEBHO must be, by definition, “racist”…
He’s kidding, of course… right Ned?
You know Stergeye you can give them lists of books to read but by the level of their writing I don’t think any of them got past See Spot Run….
Drew — I don’t think “Shut Up & Sing” is meant to suggest that entertainment figures aren’t permitted to have opinions at all; just that it would be nice if they would refrain from using their positions of celebrity to inflict them on their audiences at every opportunity, no matter how out of place or inappropriate.
Entertainers like Bruce Springsteen, Barbara Streisand, Bono, etc., are perfectly entitled to their political views — and if they want to express them on their own time and nickel by writing newspaper editorials or blog posts, hey, more power to them. That, after all, is what the “audience” of an editorial page or a political blog comes there for. (I still reserve the right to *disagree* with their opinions or think the people expressing them are foolish and ignorant, but that’s a separate issue.
)
Where I draw the “shut up and sing” line is when they insist on bringing their personal views into forums for which they are *not* appropriate. If Mr. Graham were starring in a stage play, for example, and he was coming out on stage during the intermission between acts to deliver personal political commentary like the above, I’d *still* resent it and tell him to “Shut up and act!”, even though I might *agree* with his opinions, because that’s simply the wrong time and place for it.
IMO, during that 2-3 hour window a play, or concert, or movie is supposed to last — a show which I and my fellow audience members *paid* to attend — as far as I’m concerned, the entertainers in question are on *our* collective dime, and we came to be *entertained*, not lectured to.
Off the stage, on your own dime? Say whatever you like.
On the stage, on your *audience’s* dime? Shut up and sing.
See the difference?
When people around me are losing jobs left and right due to the irresponsibility of Business and the “pro-business” crowd, you forfeit the right to be left alone.
Except that the “irresponsibility of Business” that you complain so forcefully about was the direct result of government interference with business. You know, using the Community Reivestment Act to browbeat lenders into making loans that ran counter to all business judgment, then selling the loans that the new homeowners could not pay to Fannie and Freddie, then run interference for Fannie and Freddie in Congress and resist all attempts to prevent exactly what happened, and in the meantime, the Dems at Fannie and Freddie could pay themselves enormous bonuses and exhorbitant salaries for their role in the perpetration of the housing market fraud/mortgage crisis before going back to their roles in Dem adminstrations or Congress. Or perhaps mandating environmental standards to American auto companies that that helped to make them grossly uncompetitive with other companies not saddled with similar legacy costs. Relying on government to fix problems it helped to directly create in the first place is a little like asking a mugger to not take all of your money. I love all the cries about how this has been a failure of the free market when the market has been anything but free. Innovation, productivity, and success cannot be mandated. If it could, then the Soviets would still be in power. No matter how hard you want to stamp your feet and declare, no, DEMAND! that you, through government have a right, a RIGHT! to dictate to a private entity how it conducts its business, and micromanage the day-to-day affairs, then you have abandoned every principle that made this country great. The minute government gets involved in business to the degree that it is currently attempting to do so, it is essentially picking the winners and the losers, and doing so with our tax dollars. Only thing is, we also want it to be the regulator. How does the regulator do its job impartially when it has a stake in the outcome?
I am disappointed that we seem to believe that bailouts are necessary. Everyone but the individual is “too big to fail”, and that the government, and only the government is fit to determine which businesses should be saved with our money that they have no right spending.
Capitalism works. It has everytime it has been tried. But that requires that the left, with its true believers and pseudo-intellectuals be made to get the Hell out of its way and let it work without trying to control it as a player.
Drew you sound like a bed wetting liberal. You’re right…how dare a conservative celebrity voice their opinion!? We all know Stuart Smalley will save us from our economic troubles. Maybe he can berate a few wall street executives on the senate floor like he berated anyone who disagreed with him on his failed radio show.
All I know is people like Gary’s father seem few and far between today. People who work hard, are self reliant and live within their means keep getting screwed from politicians on both sides of the isle. You’re just too much of a brain dead partisan leftist internet troll to realize that. Have fun hiding behind the anonymity of the internet.
P.S. to Mr. Graham: I just want to say, you and Eric Pierpoint *rocked* in the “Alien Nation” TV series…
To this day, I still think that was one of the best, and most underappreciated, shows FOX ever had…
Heh. Stephanie commenting on ‘the level of writing.’ See? Irony isn’t dead!!
Drew- No, I’ll listen to the new Treasury Secretary and not pay my taxes and hire illegals. Not that’s experience and leading by example.
Gary, you should be so proud of your father. We need more men raising children with his values today.
This may be a gigantic waste of time, since libs don’t understand economics, but I think I have got to speak up (on my own, of course) in defense of how I read Gary’s article.
Obama thinks he can magically create money out of thin air and then re-direct all of our efforts in the way he and his crack staff of economic experts thinks. This presumes that a) we don’t know what our own problems are and b) he can take our money and use it to solve problems better than we can (”we” meaning private business). Gary rightly points out that this is putting the cart before the horse.
You see, at the root of Harley’s and all his “fancy pants” friends’ vision for the future is arrogance. Arrogance and disrespect for the “equality” of people’s abilities to run their own lives and choose their own destinies.
It is no accident that the godless left suffers from the devil’s sin of pride. And you atheists can take that as allegory if you choose.
To get to the Occham’s razor point of why the left is 180 degrees out of whack with economic reality is because their Marxist/Keynesian economics are fatally flawed. Marx’s “labor theory of value” neglects intellectual property and the risk inherent in investment, and Keynesian economics looks as the national economy as a pie to be divied up “equitably” (which is not based on merit mind you, but simply the de facto state of having a pulse). This is nonsense. The economy is created from labor, which is variable. If you take to the producers to give to the non-producers, you kill the incentive to produce. I know, I know. You libs can brainwash people into enjoying altruism/exploitation.
What Gary is saying is that the government will take our money by coercion and malinvest it. Either that or they will cause inflation with their prestodigitario philosophy of political economy. I don’t see what is so controversial about it. It is Economics 101 to everyone who isn’t a utopian lotus-eater.
MCP- I do see your point, and I appreciate your reply. But when Andy Breitbart says “something has gone drastically wrong and…Hollywood should return to its patriotic roots” I interpret him to mean “Hollywood should be preaching conservatism and not liberalism”. I think a lot of what is written here reflects that belief. When ‘24′ advocates torturing people for information, is the show “preaching” to its audience? When David Zucker’s movie ‘An American Carol’ openly attacks Michael Moore and includes explicit appeals to support the military is it “preaching” these ideas? Would people here care if the Dixie Chicks told its audience to stop criticizing President Bush and get behind the war, or would they cheer it on?
I would argue that people have no problems with lectures as long as these lectures conform to their opinions. The judgment of when and where these opinions are inappropriate or out of place is entirely subjective. If you believe the conservative voice is under served in mass culture then places like this is a good start. It ain’t much, but it’s a start. But don’t assume people, including Laura Ingraham, wouldn’t love to hear their own opinions shouted back at them in a dark theater.
Please provide one example where govenment run is better (country, program,anything). Anyone? Didn’t think so. However, Obama will now build bridges to nowhere (like the one in Minnesota). I suppose we’ll continue to have jobs as we’ll need to rebuild all those government projects (until China pulls the money).
Curse you, BiW!!!
Had my filet-knife all sharp and everything, dammit.
– MuscleDaddy
Hey! I don’t know where else to post this but I want to lend my support to Ann Coulter. She’s taking a beating!
Great essay Gary.
Your dad sounds so much like my dad that it’s scary.
(Well except for the Doctor part)
I’m proud to say I instilled the same values in my children, who are all gainfully employed.
To the haters who have to erect straw men and resort to ad-hominem because it’s all they have, let me add another abbreviation to go with Gary’s ‘FTS’, STFU. When you have something intelligent to refute the actual content of the essay by all means come back, and let’s debate, otherwise you’re nothing but noise pollution.
This site is becoming an addiction.
)
NDISILVESTRO- “Drew you sound like a bed wetting liberal. You’re right…how dare a conservative celebrity voice their opinion!?” And you stay classy, Nd. Gary or any other celebrity of any stripe is free to say what they want in any way they want to. And I’m free to criticize. And you’re free to criticize and call me names. And then I’m free to criticize you right back, without calling you names. It just never ends! How dare us?
SAMMY- I wasn’t aware our only two choices in people to listen to are the possible future Treasury Secretary or Gary Graham. I have an uncle who’s pretty smart. Can I listen to him, too? What about my high school chemistry teacher? He really had it going on.
Yeah Harley I was commenting on actually dunno getting something out of what people say. Its funny when a Conservative says something that makes you blink twice you all immediatly run to the I am smarter thanm they are because I cross my t’s. Do you realize oh Genius of the internet that most of the finest minds out there don’t cross t’s, or dot I’s. Unless of course you are so bogged down in minutia that the meaning and truth of something is lost all for the want of a period. WOW! Awesome. Good for you.
And as far as that paragraph of nonsense you aimed at me…if you need that much bandwidth to prove something well OK wow…you win. Ever see the movie Rob Roy? Betcha haven’t…ok…here is teh scene. Liam Neeson is being menaced by this guy who is angry because Neeson killed this clown’s cousin. Anyway, the guy gets too close and Neeson runs his hand over the blade of his Claymore (that’d be a Scottish Highlanders sword and they are not light) he draws blood and basically says see you won. Thats me. Are ya happy now. Harley? Oh and the end of the scene is Rob Roy does the guy in. Good flick. And I really don’t feel like getting into a debate with an amature.
DREW
Most people grow up and listen to themselves.
So the job of the POTUS is to “protect against fraud?” We’re doomed. How can anything or anyone coming out of the Chicago political machine protect us against fraud? Heck, those Chicago boys have elevated fraud to an art form!
Keep writing Gary.
Keep up the good work. Great article! Sad that we are become a nation that expects people to bail us out. As a college student I wonder how these idiots in D.C. can spend our money so unwisely, not to mention I wonder if they will bail us out from our ultra liberal professors.
Agreed. No need at all to get into a debate with an ‘amature.’ There’s simply no value in it.
ReasonsJester,
Just for the record, I’m not sure thinking that the gov’t can invest in infrastructure and green tech and create jobs while they’re doing it counts as arrogance, or a derogation of the basic principles involved in choosing one’s destiny or running one’s life. I simply think that some limited gov’t involvement can be a good thing.
This of course has nothing to do with Marxism, and less to do with Occam’s Razor. It has nothing to do with the Devil’s Sin of Pride. And naturally very little to do with brainwashing. Or lotus-eating.
There’s a drama queen element to these exchanges, and your comment in particular, that puzzles me. Why is it that any disagreement must inevitably be cast in the shape of a holy war? All the shouting and arm-flailing seems counterproductive to me.
Gary rules…
However, for the race-baiting trolls, some of us already know that saying anything against the new prez will be spun to become a hate crime.
You advantagiously live by the ‘Freedom of Speech’ mantra that you forgot the speaking your opinion is ‘Freedom of Speech’.
What are you going to do when they take that right away from you, huh? Oh wait, I can answer that; you’ll become one of the Geheime Staatspolizei, or gestapo clowns that Rahmbo and BO are planning on implementing on the unsuspecting serfs to suppress that right.
Sempre Fidelis
And Freekirk comes along to make my point. Just for the record, I completely disagree with the racist stuff, that’s way off-target. But I’m not sure being wrong is the same thing as wanting to become a gestapo clown.
Also, and this seems as epidemic as the anger….
It’s ‘Semper fidelis’. Just like it says on the Marine Corps flag. Not ’sempre.’
Vallejo, CA, largest city in CA to file for bankruptcy. Somewhere around 70%-80% of the city’s budget was spent on police/fire protection. The city government was dishing out waaaay more than it could take in to survive.
How did those government created jobs work out for the city and its economy?
How many states are in deep, deep financial trouble? That’s government in action for you. Some ‘business’ model.
PS–great story/example Gary. Also, there was a report out last year (I think by the UN) regarding the growing disparity between rich and poor. This disparity continues to grow even in more welfare friendly countries in Europe, Canada, etc. In fact, it concluded that more generous welfare systems DO NOT have much effect regarding this problem. It determined one of the main causes is the ‘new’ way we live; more single and single parent households, less pooling of resources/money.
Even in Canada, that utopian place Liberals love (with all its ‘free’ stuff), the poor are getting poorer and the middle is stagnating.
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/05/01/censusfeature.html
Apparently, government CAN’T solve the problem.
The President-elect knows a lot about the Constitution since he was a Constitutional law professor. He also knows that he’s not qualified to become the next President. To this day he hasn’t shown his REAL birth certificate (and not the fake one posted online).
If there is one article that you need to read, go and read this one:
http://newswithviews.com/Vieira/edwin186.htm
There are several lawsuits at the Supreme Court about the fact that he’s not natural born citizen. For those who don’t know what a natural born citizen is, it is someone who was born on US soil from parents who were both born on US soil. Obama’s father was born in Kenya and was a British subject whose citizenship status was governed by The British Nationality Act of 1948. (check this website: http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/does_barack_obama_have_kenyan_citizenship.html)
John
Gary – Your Dad was one of the reasons this country still has a legacy of greatness that I hope even this new administration won’t be able to louse up.
My Dad was airborne and fought from Normandy to Holland where he was badly wounded, medically retired, and then went to night school – at the U of A, by the way, a Wildcat through and through – I watched him graduate. Lots of vets found their way to Tucson in those immediate post-war years.
He and your Dad would have gotten along just fine. No-nonsense, self-reliant, fearless (Golden Gloves and he taught me how to box which came in handy a few times – I tried to teach my son the same moves but I never won a match against Dad and I’m not sure I was as good a teacher as he was.). He was honest and about as hard a worker as I’ve ever seen. We lost him six years ago and I miss him, his example, and his counsel every day. I’ve tried to raise my kids holding them to the same high standards he expected of himself and of us when we were growing up.
He would be appalled at what the dopes in DC are doing with what’s left of our creditworthiness. He earned every penny he got and never expected a dime from anyone.
It is past time for those of us in the generations that succeeded those great men and women and who were lucky enough to learn from their example to start doing a lot more to perpetuate the legacy they left us. Allowing DC to hand out our children’s future taxes to idiots who lived beyond their means has got to stop, now!
We need to work our butts off to make sure the bi-year elections of 2010 start to send more people with common sense to Congress. I just hope the damage these profligate spenders and the new administration do between now and then isn’t irreversible.
OPPS, SORRY DES! MY BAD!
SLAP MY HANDS! SHAME ON ME! Sometimes, I DO STUPID THINGS!
With my WebTV, I have to highlight everything to read it without great difficulty, I just read my name and between my too quick temper and being sometimes stupid, I jumped to a totally
incorrect assumption.
I apologize to you.
I am VERY SORRY for my error and will make effort to not do something so stupid as this again. (At least not in these forums)
Neil
PS On Monday, I did NOT have o “highlite” it to read it. I sure wish they would put it back to the way it was yesterday
Ned Tufekcic – January 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
A racist is lurking between your lines, sir.
——————————————————————
Thank you Ned, I almost made the mistake of being impressed by Gary’s Dad until you pointed out how “racist” this story is. How could I miss it.
If you are dirt poor and have no money for college and you go out and get part time jobs to help pay for it! Wow that’s so racist.
And oh yeah going out and studying and working 20 hours a day. Geez must be a Nazi or something.
And the piece de resistance (sp) tyring to cure people with Cancer. Oh man “cure cancer” only a GD Klansman would even think of doing that.
What WAS I THINKING.
———————————————————————–
Oh I’m sorry I forgot, I did not go through the logic stripper today. Guess I’ve no clue what deranged lunatic assylum one must come from to make that statement.
Wow, Gary!
Not only is this post chock full of truthful goodness, it’s funny as all get out! Your thoughtful writing and research skills continue to impress me, which is why you are now a must read in my book.
Thanks for another inspirational n’ motivating post that is as much fun to read as it is to ponder.
Semper Fi, Gary!
Gary-
Your Dad reminds me of my Grandpa. A huge inspiration to me growing up.
Men like that teach us how to be men by providing the finest examples.
Of course women can learn from them too, just as I learned lots of wisdom from my Grandma. What I mean is men and women need good role models as they grow up and really, throughout our entire lives.
I believe one of the biggest problems our country faces today is fatherless boys (and girls to a lesser extent). Much as Leftists keep sayin’ that single mothers can do the job of mom and dad it’s simply not true.
Before some of you start throwin’ eggs at me, I’m not sayin’ moms can’t do a spectacular job. Or that all kids without a father or father figure will have major problems throughout life. But it is a growing problem and something the government can’t fix. In fact, government has made it worse in many ways.
I was blessed to have spent enough time with my Grandpa before he passed away, and there’s no way the govt. could ever fill his shoes, but they keep tryin’. Running mad scientist social experiments in public schools, tellin’ us there’s no difference between men and women, and the list is long.
Many in Hollywood has also hurt kids by belittling men at every opportunity, which is why I don’t even bother to watch most sitcoms anymore. Feministas still work hard to feminize men make women more masculine and how’s that workin’ out, btw? Anyone else sick of it yet?
Thank God the feministas are losing their influence, but they won’t give up so neither should we.
Gary, your Dad has a son to be proud of in you, and don’t let anyone tell you different. I regret he isn’t here for me to thank personally, and I look forward to meeting him when it’s my time.
Our warped society has truly created a nation of whiners. If it even remotely offends then every step is taken to eradicate or legislate it out of existence. The more whining, the more it “gets taken care of”. I live in an emerging “Nanny State”, emulating California’s screwed up left wing insanity and it makes me ill.
It will no doubt get worse before it improves.
Sometime in the future, I am sure our times will be seen as more insane than any other time in Americas history.
Firstly I would like to THANK everyone on this site who has, is, or has a family member serving our country. You deserve your country behind you.
Secondly, is it just me or are liberals some of the snarkiest meanest people ever? So much for the party of compassion.
Whats for sure is they can dish it out but they can’t take it. Freedom of Speech as long as its approved by the PC stormtroopers.
John, in hopes of alleviating the paranoia…
1) According to 8 U.S.C. § 1401, all persons born in the United States are considered citizens at birth.
2) In 1790, the original definition of citizenship was amended to include: “And the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens…” Also known as jus soli.
3) There is no requirement that both parents be citizens.
4) Three United States District Courts have ruled that private citizens do not have standing to challenge the eligibility of candidates to appear on a presidential election ballot — which sorta impacts the Supreme Court urban myth.
5) B. Obama is your president. Deal with it.
Sorry, one error to correct. jus soli refers to citizenship conferred by birth on US soil. Not the 1790 alteration. Urban legends has all the details if you’re interested.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/barackobama/a/obama_citizen.htm
How come every time I see Harely’s posts I hear Twighlight Zone Music…heed the warning signs you are about to enter Harley’s World….
And awesome link. Way to bring up a relevant unbiased information source Harely. YAWN!
Once again, Mr. Graham echos the thoughts of many.
WOW! Gary, your article generated a most amazing thread of discourse. Free speech at its best.
And thank you. Even though this is only your second article (I think) for Big Hollywood, I look forward to them and I just have to say… Big Hollywood Rocks!!!
I love ya Gary. I laugh every time I read one of your posts.
Your father sounds a lot like my grandfather. Even during the great depression men like this managed to feed and raise large families. They are deserving of our respect.
As evidenced by some of the comments posted here, another outdated concept is respect. Many people seem to have overinflated opinions of their own self worth. So much so that they cannot resist the urges to criticize others whose onions are not in sync with their own. Let’s consider, for example, people who hurl the racist label about without presenting any argument. Not only do they inevitably see racism every where they turn but they seek it out and attempt to expose it that they might feel vindicated. The same can be said of those who seek out conservative threads to correct us. When they catch the scent of a disbeliever, not unlike radical Muslims, they make subtle attempts to convert us but ultimately seek to destroy us simply for disagreeing. These are the same kind of people who created the “fairness” doctrine. Because they can’t overcome their own urges to correct us they simply wish to silence us so they can get on with their lives in the knowledge that “their will be done”. All I can say to that is FTS.
You got it totally right with the whole save, spend, overextend bit. We’re a nation that has a split economic personality. On the one hand, we’ve had Bush’s tax cuts which have helped businesses and families in many ways, but on the other hand, we’ve got the Community Reinvestment Act and other feel-good, bleeding-heart measures that prop up fictitious home-ownership and risks without consequences.
Hows about this for a new idea: You want to buy a house? Build your credit. Don’t think you can walk into a bank and say I want a mortgage loan. It doesn’t work that way, no matter what Barney Frank and Andrew Cuomo say. Business and banking is color blind. So my advice is like I said build your credit by saving, and not using your Visa for things you really don’t need. Buying a House is a priority not merely a number on a to do list. To experience the right to pursue property (Real John Locke quote which Jefferson et. all changed) you have to bust your behind. My Dad and Mom did. We do. Building credit is HARD. Its supposed to be. Buying a house is not easy. Never has been. So for all of those who think they are entitled to a house of their own and expect the worker ants to pay for it I have one thing to say, no way no how never. No one is entitled to anything in this country but an opportunity to succeed or fail on their own merits. Charity like the Churchs and other Non Profits are the way to go. Once you have the Government involved things fail like falling Dominos. That is a hard fact.
Wasn’t it Clint Eastwood that made the comment the other day about wondering when the “pussy generation” started? Jeez, they’re everywhere and spend all day long making excuses for themselves and each other.
The British Nationality Act of 1948, jus sanguinis.
1.—(1) Every person who under this Act is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or who under any enactment for the time being in force in any country mentioned in subsection (3) of this section is a citizen of that country shall by virtue of that citizenship have the status of a British subject.
(2) Any person having the status aforesaid may be known either as a British subject or as a Commonwealth citizen; and accordingly in this Act and in any other enactment or instrument whatever, whether passed or made before or after the commencement of this Act, the expression “British subject” and the expression “Commonwealth citizen” shall have the same meaning.
Gary Rules, Harley doesn’t(get over it)…
Semper Fidelis
Harley:
.DUAL NATIONALITIES
It is respectfully submitted that the Framers sought to exclude dual national Citizens from holding the office of President since having dual nationalities, at birth, would help create the conditions whereby a future President might take the office with a competing loyalty to another nation. And at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, the Framers would have been particularly wary of the British monarchy calling for some degree of loyalty by the Commander in chief.
As to the problems associated with dual nationalities, the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual at 7 FAM 081 states:
“e. U.S. Policy on Dual Nationality: While recognizing the existence of dual nationality, the U.S. Government does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Dual nationality may hamper efforts by the U.S. Government to provide diplomatic and consular protection to individuals overseas. When a U.S. citizen is in the other country of their dual nationality, that country has a predominant claim on the person. A foreign country might claim you as a citizen of that country if (a) you were born there; (b) your parent or parents (and sometimes grandparents) are or were citizens of that country or (c) you are a naturalized U.S. citizen but are still considered a citizen under that country’s laws. (The oath you take when you are naturalized as a U.S. citizen (8 CFR 337.1) doesn’t mean the foreign country does not still regard you as a citizen of that country.)”
And at 7 FAM 082 it states:
“Current U.S. nationality laws do not explicitly address dual nationality, but the U.S. Supreme Court has stated that dual nationality is a ’status long recognized in the law’ and that ‘a person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both.’ See Kawakita v. United States, 343 U.S. 717 (1952).”
.NATURAL BORN CITIZEN vs NATIVE BORN CITIZEN
In United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898), this Honorable Court held that a child born in the United States, of parents of Chinese descent, who, at the time of his birth, were subjects of the Emperor of China, but had a permanent domicile and residence in the United States, was, at the time of his birth, a citizen of the United States, by virtue of the first clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
That case also engaged in a thorough discussion of the history of citizenship in as much as the United States has been influenced by the English common law. Indeed, the opinion in that case is a dissertation on citizenship wherein it was discussed that “natural born subjects” of the King were person’s born in the King’s land. But despite the exhaustive undertaking of that opinion, and the careful deconstruction of British and United States common law, the Honorable Justice Gray comes to the conclusion that those born in the United States are “native born” citizens.
And for well over 200 years this phrase “natural born Citizen” has continued to remain elusive. The Framers were very aware of the common law but the weight of evidence is against the term “natural born Citizen” being equal to “natural born subject”. If one returns to the pre-Amendment initial Constitution, the most compelling evidence available that “natural born Citizen” status – as it pertains to Presidential eligibility – was intended to restrict rather than enlarge the pool of possible Presidents can be found in the grandfather clause and the requirements to be a Representative or Senator.
.THAT WHICH IS NATURAL IS SELF EVIDENT.
It is common parlance to say that one has a natural born right to something. Being that one has the natural right to it, there is no need for a statute to confer it. The absence of statutory use of this term “natural born citizen” for 200 years witnesses to the truth of this interpretation. Because statutory grants of citizenship confer citizenship when there is some defect to or absence of the claim of a natural right. Indeed every statutory grant of citizenship, excepting naturalization of a foreign born foreigner, is a certain sort of sanation of the defect which bases its title of justice to confer the rights of citizenship on the partial right the person already has. Thus the very requirement in the minds of some that the phrase be previously defined in law for it to have a clear meaning is itself a testimony to their misunderstanding of its authentic meaning.
Throughout the writings of the Founders there is a constant reference to the natural right to do this or that, whether regarding expatriation, freedom of taxation, self determination etc.. It would be historical to confer a meaning on “natural born citizen” which conforms to statutory definitions. Indeed to expand on its meaning apart from a Constitutional amendment – which opportunity was present in the past, but rejected – would alter the contract of the sovereign people with the government and violate the fundamental norms upon which they have conferred authority on the government and the court to exercise their appropriate powers.
.CONCLUSION
For all of the foregoing reasons, it is respectfully submitted that a natural born Citizen – as required by Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5, of the Constitution of the United States – is a person born in the United States to parents who are both citizens of the United States, and as such Barack Obama would not be eligible to be president.
They say that politics is show business for ugly people.
Obama tax/job proposal:
Hold your hand up, far enough to see your entire hand, your palm must be facing you.
Then starting with your pinky/small finger fold the digit to your palm.
Next, fold your thumb to your palm (this could be a difficult position so you can cheat and use your other hand to keep the digits from returning to their original position).
Next fold your index/pointing finger to your palm.
Then fold your ring finger (the one next you’re your pinky/small finger), to your palm.
This should leave one finger not folded to the palm (for some of you this in not a natural position and might prove difficult to maintain for an extended time) .
The govt. can maintain this position for ever.
John–Its no use being all technically right and all…anyone who supports BO has no ability to process reason and truth anyway. But nice work!
John…its no use being all technically right and all. Anyone who supports BO has no ability to process reason and truth anyway…but nice work!
Living in Europe I have heard countless promises from politicians to create jobs. Not just any jobs but made to order: high tech jobs, part time jobs, jobs for women, green jobs. Meanwhile unemployment was significantly higher than in the US and usually rising. It´s a racket. You never hear about the millions of jobs destroyed by taxing, regulating and litigating the life out of the private sector.
sorry I posted twice…
El Gordo…yeah you’re right. The left has been successful at pulling the wool over the eyes of the general public. Also they have been able to marginalize and discredit the conservatives here in such a way that when we bring it up, we are instantly shut down. Its sorta demoralizing.
Freekirk, jus sanguinis is only half of the equation, relating to blood (sanguinis) as opposed to geography. Both are relevant here.
John, thanks for the info. The dual citizenship stuff is interesting. But thus far, no court in the land has been willing to hear the case. And i doubt they would have some lefties complained about a McCain election either (he was born in Panama).
Stephanie, when the adults are having a discussion, we’d appreciate it if you’d try to keep the noise down. Thanks.
Stephanie makes a good point Harley. You sir are a long way from home…
But thus far, no court in the land has been willing to hear the case.
I didn’t see if cert had been granted in the case, but it looks to me as if the Divine Nine is granting leave for a party to submit an amicus brief in Berg:
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/orders/courtorders/011209zor.pdf
See pg 19.
Thank God the old man never lived to see this embarassment.
Interesting.
http://www.traigerlaw.com/publications/traiger_hinckley_llp_cra_foreclosure_study_1-7-08.pdf
Bit of a blow to social Darwinism, I suppose.
[...] Another from Gary Graham… Filed under: Deep Thought, Economics, Family Stuff, Patriotism, Politics, Truth — cmblake6 @ 15:23 Sumbitch! Remember that Hollywood conservative I wrote about a few days back? Here he is on the stimulus package! [...]
My god, you sound like a Neanderthal.
Ever hear of the New Deal? Ever study European economies? “The economy goes up, it goes down.” Like this one? The one in front of you, right now?
You Z-list dope.
Stick to acting; if we wanted a bar-stool philosopher, we’d watch Bill O’Reilly (and we don’t.)
You sure as hell are too mindless to comment on current events.
You were “conked on the head”, all right.
What an idiot.
Amity Shlaes wrote The Forgotten Man. She’s a Bloomberg writer, and hardly a non-partisan observer. She’s a right-winger, so of course she doesn’t agree with the success of the New Deal.
Ask any WW11 vet? Like my Dad? Like my uncles? Yup, WW11 vets, and FDR men, straight down the line.
If you are trying to sell a Bloomberg writer’s rewrite of history, honey, you’d better sweeten that deal.
Better yet, get a New Deal.
Bloomberg is hardly a “right winger”.
The prevailing knowledge is the New Deal only extended the depression. WWII brought us out. The rest of the world recovered way faster than we did.
Our market was never meant to go through boom and bust cycles. Those are the result of outside manipulation. If we would have follow Adam Smiths model AND not a central bank, it would be much more stable. Unfortunately, the American people have been sold a bill of goods from Teddy Roosevelt on.
Thomas Jefferson wrote…”If the American people ever allow the banks(the Fed) to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corps that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers occupied. The issuing power of money should be taken from the banks and restored to Congress and the people to whom it belongs.)
More profound than anything from Karl Marx.
And all the money FDR threw at it did nothing.
All those jeeps to protect freedom sounds worth it. Or we’d all be speak german or japanese right now.
Nowadays you’re right. Back then most of it was American made though.
I understand he cut unemployment. Give a guy a shovel and pay him to dig a hole in his neighbors back yard while you pay the neighbor to fill it in does create jobs…for awhile. Ultimately it didn’t do anything but waste tax payer money and straddle us with enormous entitlement costs still weighing us down to this day. When people are starving, FDR decided to look to fascist Europe and “experiment” with our Founders grand design.
The only jobs the government can create are government jobs. A lot of times, useless and very expensive, they would have us believe that the more they steal from us the better our lives will be. The New Deal was a shining example of that hollow promise.
I am amazed with it. It is a good thing for my research. Thanks
NASA and the Pentagon are hardly the same thing as jobs created out of thin air for the sake of it. Or a result of the New Deal.
Labor riots were ended by giving them massive power and influence over corporations that are weighing them down today.
And Im not sure I understand what you are trying to point out about China but as for the points you HAVE made, I know why jobs are leaving but profits would be easier to make here if the government would back off.
There is a reason that we had 6% of the population and created 1/2 the world goods in our first century. For that you might want to consult Adam Smith, John Locke or Thomas Jefferson this time and not Google.
Again, excellent column. Keep ‘em comin’.
Countdown to Doomsday 12…11…10…
Hmmm….according to Reich, the stimulus should not be going to people who are white and male. interesting.
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/02/05/isnt-it-reich
Interesting and typical.
Speaking of China and stimulus packages — the numbers are in, so here's a followup. According to Reuters, one year after their $586 billion stimulus package (proportionate to GDP, ours would have had to have been $1.95 trillion), China's "8 percent growth target for the year — derided by some prominent economists as fanciful well into 2009 — is in the bag. And the solid consensus is that growth will be stronger, possibly a lot stronger, in 2010, when China is set to overtake Japan as the world's second-largest economy."
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