Setting the table for the Party of No

Democrats have gotten very good at setting the rules of political engagement.  They have been allowed to frame every argument and set every agenda for every issue.
Let's take, for example, the argument over the health care reform bill, Obamacare.  Democrats came out firing with both barrels -- interesting since most leftists oppose the individual right to own firearms.  They set the terms of the discussion with the claim that "health care in America is broken."  Unfortunately, many Republicans and conservatives agreed.  "You're right, health care is broken, but our way to fix it is better."
Or, take for another example, recent legislation to extend unemployment "benefits."  The way I see it, there are no benefits inherent anywhere in being unemployed.  Again, Democrats said, "We need this."  Republicans said, "Yes we do.  But lets just do this and that.  We should probably make it 'deficit-neutral,' or at least give it that appearance."
It's a weak, weak argument.  It's the same argument the liberal and liberal-lite parties make all across Europe, and the reason they have not been an economic force in two hundred years and routinely face chronic high unemployment and ethnic groups that refuse to join the common culture.
The problem is this type of weak opposition reinforces an original premise which is wrong from the start.  It's awfully hard to counter an argument with agreement.
As a result Democrats have been able to push nearly every item of their socialist wish list with nary the meekest opposition from Republicans.  And, as a result, America is on the cusp of becoming a third-world banana republic dictatorship ruled by an elite class of "intelligentsia."
Think about this the next time you and your buddies crack open a 30-pack of Coors Light.  Your pal says, "Let's drink the whole case!"
But you don't think drinking an entire case of 30 cans of light beer is such a good idea.  You might say you "oppose" his idea.
"No, I don't think that's a good idea," you counter.  "Let's only drink most of the beer."
So you and your friend rock out and polish off 26 cans of beer, black out and awake weeks later on a Japanese whaling ship cleaning carcasses.
How's that for opposition?
Republicans need to embrace the concept of opposition.  They need to become obstinate.  "Party of No" ought to be badge of patriotic honor.  Conservatives have it right.  We know what works, and have mountains of empirical data to support it.  If we fight harder for our liberty maybe we'll be able to keep it.

Intellectual Dishonesty and Moral Equivalence

The furor over the Ground Zero Mosque is illustrative of the unbridgeable moral chasm between the left and the right.  The left tends to equivocate moral issues, rather than understand or accept the absolutism of morality that the right, especially the generally more religious right respects and embraces.  It is dishonest and intellectually dissonant.
Outspoken voices on the left are incorrectly and even antagonistically comparing the opposition to building the mosque to racism and bigotry.  It's the typical leftist deflective straw man.  Recent polling shows the majority of Americans support, understand and respect the concept of property rights and religious freedoms.  Yet the issue for those opposing the building of the mosque is purely an issue of propriety and sensitivity.  The gaping would left by terrorists who attacked in the name of Islam is still painful.  Opponents of the mosque are simply asking for compassion, for it to be built somewhere less confrontational.
But the left, long opposed to any semblance of religion in public life, and those who support the building of the mosque have inexplicably and suddenly found respect for religious freedom.  Is it because they are Muslim, rather than Christian?  A Greek Orthodox church was also destroyed in the attacks of 9/11.  Yet bureaucratic impediments have prevented it from being rebuilt for nine years.  The left always feels compelled to support its perceived victims of oppression.  Once again Muslims are, in the minds of leftist equalists, being persecuted by an intolerant America.
The left is taking an argument based on an unrelated principle and twisting it.  Recently prominent members of the media have made comparisons to Timothy McVeigh's supposed Christianity, equivocating opposition to the mosque to Catholic and Christian churches in proximity to the federal building that was bombed in Oklahoma City.  "What if people had asked for Christian churches to be moved away because Timothy McVeigh was Christian?" they ask.  Perplexingly, Christianity and Islam are equivalent in the mind of the leftist.  Never mind that Timothy McVeigh's purported Christianity was completely irrelevant to his actions, if he was even Christian to begin with.  His faith, or lack thereof, was not readily apparent, whereas Muslim extremist terrorists routinely and blatantly commit their acts of horror in the name of Islam.
Besides, according to the left, at the time of the Oklahoma City bombing McVeigh was driven to his despicable actions by the words of radio talk show hosts.
The right generally understands the concept of absolutism.  It is an integral component of the Judeo-Christian tradition.  Right is right, and wrong is wrong.  Good is good, and evil is evil.  Law is law.  There's not a lot of wiggle room.  Consequently the moral relativism of the left is maddening.  The acts of horror committed by a crazy man are attributed to a supposed Christianity equal to a violent Muslim extremism and convenient to today's argument, equated to a completely unrelated situation.  Moral acrobatics worthy of Barnum and Bailey.

7 Millionaire Myths - Investopedia.com

"Tax cuts only for the wealthiest!" Such is President Obama and the Democrats' invective whenever the subject of the Bush tax cuts, or lowering taxes in general comes up. It's the same old game -- class warfare at its bloodiest. "The rich don't pay their fair share!" If 40% of the nation's entire tax burden is not their "fair share," then what is?

7 Millionaire Myths - Investopedia.com

The newest reality television sensation!

Reality TV kind of makes me sad for the future of humanity. It's fascinating, enlightening and a just little depressing observing cultural degradation. Watching bits and pieces of “So You Think You Can Dance?” last night (bits and pieces of reality TV already strain my brain's limits) spurred me to contemplate the depths of our Romanesque debauchery. …Anyone remember "Elimidate?"

Reality programming frequently features certain broad commonalities across different show concepts. Like a lion staring down a sickly antelope, producers often lock onto the weakest participant. Let’s just say, “Least Likely to Succeed” if there were a vote.

This is, of course, not to say that watching someone try and fail is not thoroughly entertaining television. My life would be a ratings juggernaut!

What is depressing is the inappropriately overconfident individual is usually blindingly unaware of his woeful lack of talent, ability and good sense. Shameless in his ignorance, the indignation after being told by the judges he “doesn't have what it takes” is amazing. At some point someone should have grasped him by the shoulders and shaken him vigorously, telling him, “Stop! You are not good at this! Learn a trade!”

Instead he will likely return for the next audition not having practiced, studied, or worked to improve in any appreciable manner, expecting to be ushered into an exclusive world of awards shows and all the free gift bags he can carry.

Meanwhile, out in the real world rogue nations are plotting the destruction of their neighbors and devastating disasters are occurring daily. Imagine for a moment that Iran made good on its threats to wipe Israel off the face of the planet. Chaos would ensue, not to mention a likely US versus The World apocalyptic cage match of World War Three proportions. The real show is just outside your living room window.

Which brings me back to our current fascination with reality television. The allure and the illusion is that fame and fortune are available to anyone – not just the lucky, gorgeous and/or talented. The "stars" could be you or your neighbor. With a modicum of effort, a strong stomach and an astronomical embarrassment threshold anyone can achieve Hollywood Nirvana.

There was a time when people understood lazy entitlement and hedonistic obsessions are counterproductive to a prosperous and safe civil society. Have we too allowed ourselves to become so preoccupied with pleasure at the expense of our own safety, or even our own existence? The indomitable Roman Empire seemed invincible – until it was conquered by barbarians. So much for “The Eternal City.”

Can we survive? And if we do, what will we watch after dinner?

I'm thinking about pitching the networks a new show. I'm going to call it, "So You Think You Can Survive the Apocalypse?"

Remember...

It's important on this Memorial Day to remember not only the men and women who died to protect our Freedom and Liberty but also for what they sacrificed their futures, lives and sacred honor.  They died for an Idea, a grand experiment in freedom and diversity, openness and opportunity and a civil society based on the novel approach of Self Government.
In breaking the millenia-long tradition of imperial rule by kings and monarchs in which a class of privileged few ruled largely uneducated masses of subjects destined for meager existences in poverty and obscurity, the Founders of the United States of America introduced the concept of individual rights and citizen service, or government of the people, by the people and for the people.  The idea that man can govern himself and in doing so achieve a wealth of freedoms and successes beyond the wildest dreams of mere serfs, slaves, servants and subjects.  In the United States of America, the people are Citizens. 
In the process individuals are freed to go their own way and fulfill their own destinies.
As a result of the sacrifices of the men and women of all races, countries and origins who won our freedom from tyranny to lay the Foundation of this Nation, to the soldiers serving presently in Iraq and Afghanistan to help bring freedom to others, we are at liberty to worship freely, speak freely, travel freely, and dream freely.
Remember them, and remember US.