1984: George Orwell and Steve Jobs Had It Right

January 22, 1984.

Most will remember this as the day the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins in Superbowl XVIII.  It was the day the Raiders scored 38 points.  More points scored by one team in a Superbowl in history up to that point.  It was the day the Raiders defeated the Redskins by 29 points.  That was also a record at the time.  Superbowl Sunday is always great.  This one did lack something for me though.  As a Forty-Niner fan seeing the Raiders win is always a struggle.

But something did happen that day.  Something that was very memorable.  During a commercial break in the 3^rd quarter the image appeared.  We all remember it.  It started with a line of marching minions making their way through some sort of blue/grey industrial tunnel.  The marchers are nondescript in gender, clothes or expression.  It seems they are there without being there.  They enter an arena where more of the zombie-like individuals sit in front of a screen listening emotionless to their leader.  Big Brother if you will.

Then we see the first blast of our heroine.  Like an Olympic runner she runs through the tunnel towards the arena.  With her spiked blonde hair, white shirt and orange shorts and shoes she is a stark contrast to those around her.  She enters the arena and runs towards the screen with the image of the bellowing Big Brother.   She carries with her a large brass hammer.  Following closely behind are four storm troopers.  These are, as Orwell described them, the “Thought Police”.

As shocking and stirring as the commercial is most people missed the most important part.  They view the images but have never truly listened to the words being spoken by Big Brother.  Those words were:

“Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives.  We have created for the first time in all history a garden of pure ideology, where each worker may bloom, secure from the pests of any contradictory true thoughts. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!

As those last three words are spoken our heroine hurls the hammer towards the screen and in a huge explosion the image of Big Brother is gone.  The blue/grey minions can only sit in shocked silence.

The commercial was for the upcoming release of the legendary Apple Macintosh.  But whether experiencing Orwell’s book 1984 or Steve Jobs commercial of 1984 the message was clear.  Do not accept conformity.  Be individuals in thoughts and actions. 

I thought of this commercial yesterday as I sat and read a story of a Michigan teacher who chose to change the words of the song “Deck the Halls”.  This was all because her first and second graders decided to giggle when they reached the part about “gay apparel”.  The Welsh song was published for the first time some 227 years ago but is believed to be much older.  So our teacher, rather than making this a “teachable moment” (ugh!) decided to just change history.

I looked the word up on Dictionary.com.  Dictionary.com provides five separate definitions for “gay”.  Two refer to “homosexuality” and three to merriment, lively moods and social pleasure.  But apparently that doesn’t matter.  Society, or at least this teacher, has decided that “gay” means one thing and one thing only.  And that my friend is apparently not a good thing.  How very PC of her!

This reminded me so much of my experience back in the mid-nineties with my oldest son.  While in elementary school during their “holiday program” they sang song after song celebrating diversity.  Of course there was no Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanza songs sung.  Instead they sang festive hits like “Here Comes the Sun”.  The schools “celebration of diversity” was about as diverse as the minions marching into the blue/grey arena in the Apple commercial.

But actions like these are getting more and more prevalent.  Political Correctness increases daily while personal freedom and opinion is squashed.  We can no longer say Merry Christmas.  It is now Happy Holidays.  We no longer say Jesus.  We say the “higher power” of your choice.  The word terrorist is replaced by “Freedom Fighters”.  What we are doing is removing the line between good and evil.  We are simply becoming grey, lifeless, emotionless figures marching to one drum, one beat.  We are in the words of Big Brother becoming “one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause”.  But to do so we are sacrificing ourselves.

Isn’t that what the Occupy Movement is all about?  Sure they will tell you it is about making the top one percent pay their fair share.  But isn’t it really about making everyone equal?  No matter how hard you work or try.  They would prefer to have everyone live in tents in a park, eat the same food and have the same advantages (or disadvantages).  They want us all to look and feel the same.  Oh and don’t forget we should all have the same medical plan!!!

What is truly ironic is that the “Occupiers” are focused on the wrong thing.  When the “Occupiers” refer to the “1 percent” it would be equivalent to Orwell’s Inner Party.  Those in control (i.e. Big Brother).  At the same time they, “the Occupiers”, see themselves (99 percent) as the Proles, or the lower class.  In Orwell’s book the bottom amounts to 85% of society.  Now I am not saying I buy their premise.  But obviously they do.   What they fail to see is that there focus is so skewed towards the “evil 1 percent” they are failing to see that they are losing themselves.  They are failing to recognize the fact that they, themselves, are becoming the “Thought Police”.  They are the ones insisting that we all think, act and get treated alike.  They are making themselves the lifeless, grey group attempting to control individuals.  They want to be Big Brother.

Sure, there are those that are fighting back.  Those of us who refuse to become that grey marching minion.  There will always be some of us.  But it seems as there are less and less of us.  Society is slowly and assuredly moving to that grey place.  The place where there is no right or wrong.  No joy or sorrow.  No rich or poor.  No good or evil.

But the real question is this.  Is there a hero or heroine out there with a hammer?  Someone who is willing to risk all they are.  The person who will defy the “Thought Police” and enter the arena on a mission.  The person who will charge forth and destroy the image of Big Brother and allow us to be the individuals our forefathers meant for us to be.  I pray that person is out there somewhere.

To watch the original Apple Commercial: http://bit.ly/iivZ7

College “Freshman Experience” Now Includes Nose Wiping 101

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ll be brief. The issue here is not whether we broke a few rules, or took a few liberties with our female party guests—we did. But you can’t hold a whole fraternity responsible for the behavior of a few, sick perverted individuals. For if you do, then shouldn’t we blame the whole fraternity system? And if the whole fraternity system is guilty, then isn’t this an indictment of our educational institutions in general? I put it to you, Greg: isn’t this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can do what you want to us, but we’re not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America. Gentlemen!” – Otter

Quietly announced during Thanksgiving week was the fact UNLV is redesigning their curriculum.  No, we haven’t found another “new math”.  No, there isn’t a new version of the “English language” (I would prefer college students start speaking the current version properly).  Instead we have redesigned the curriculum regarding the “Freshman Experience”.  Freshman Experience???  I went through some of my old college books.  I saw my old Drafting and Design books.  There were one or two old English books.  I even found a Physics book.  But there were no “Freshman Experience” books.  The reason was simple.  Way back when, in the 90’s, when I attended college there was no such thing as “Freshman Experience” courses.  Back then the “Freshman Experience” was considered a PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY issue.

When I first started attending college in 1990 we had freshman orientation.  That amounted to some speeches by staff and other students.  Their message was simple.  We are not your mommies and daddies.  Go to class, do your homework, pass your test and then move on.  Then we had a brief tour of the college.  It was over and done within two hours. 

Sure there were other parts of the “Freshman Experience” they didn’t cover.  No one mentioned that going out to drink (I was over 21) was best done after your “team” worked on their project – not before.  I was never told that hacky-sack on breaks was a requirement.  Most of all no one mentioned the little café on campus hidden on the far west corner.  They served the best burgers.  Nope – I was left to my own devices to figure it all out as was every one of my classmates.  Low and behold the college friends I attended with, at least those I have talked to since, are all relatively successful and have made it into their 40’s – ALIVE.

This is not the first time that UNLV has offered this type of curriculum.  But it is a redesign and expansion.  They will now follow the new and improved “Freshman Experience” with the “Second Year Experience” then on to a “Milestone Course” and last a “Culminating Experience”.  Quoted in the LVRJ the idea of the “Freshmen Experience” is to “focus our students on critical thinking, global awareness and multiculturalism”.  Here is a thought.  Teach them how to run a business.

Biology Professor, Carl Reiber, who helped to write the new UNLV curriculum said he is very excited about what they have produced.  According to Reiber we can no longer “simply hope they (freshmen) cope with it on their own”.  In one of his more laughable quotes he follows that with “We are an intellectually based society now. Gone are the days when a college education was a luxury”.  He may want to talk to the teacher’s union about that statement.  Aren’t they the ones who claim a college education can only be afforded by the “rich”?  That sounds like a luxury to me.

For me what is the most infuriating is the cost of the new curriculum.  In one of the toughest economic times in the State’s history we have spent money over a ten year period to develop a curriculum that makes people more dependent.  Don’t suck it up and do it yourself.  Let someone hold your hand and do it for you.  In addition we will be required to have more classes and more teachers to teach these courses.  All in a time when on a daily basis we hear someone in the academic community cry “poor me” because they are not paid enough or their tuition is too high.

It appears the days of reading, writing and arithmetic are gone.  We now have classes on global warming and citizenship.  You know – “Liberal Indoctrination 101”.  But trust me the “dependent mentality” is not just limited to our colleges and universities.  Oh, no!  My youngest son started middle school this year.  Now what you need to understand first is that my 11 year old is required to leave for school at 6:45 AM so he can get all of his classes in every day.  He spent the first six weeks of the semester taking Spanish.  Now I have no issue with Spanish.  A second language is great.  But after six weeks of Spanish that class ended.  He is now in Consumer Education.  Not by his choice.  You see his first period class will change every six weeks during his first year in middle school so that he can decide what class he really wants to take in year two – for the full year.

But that is not the best part.  He also has PEP.  That is in the 23 minutes between second and third periods.  PEP is an acronym for something that I have erased from my brain.  For those that don’t have kids in school these days they also have a very cool system.  In our town it is called Power School.  Every Monday we receive my son’s grades via an email.  We can even see every assignments and what grade he received or if he failed to turn it in.  This allows me as a parent to be very involved in my child’s education.

But let’s go back to PEP.  As stated that is a 23 minute non-class. PEP has no curriculum and no grades.  My son goes every day and brings a book of his choosing.  He writes no reports and gives no homework to the teacher.  He simply sits and reads.  Once a week the teacher calls him up to review the same program I get, Power School, and goes over his grades with him.  In other words the teacher takes time with my child to do MY JOB as a parent.  I once asked one of the school administrators why there was a need for PEP.  They simply said that not all parents are as involved with their children as my wife and I.  PEP helps to make up for that.  So, as I see it, my son spends almost an extra half hour a day at school doing nothing because some parents can’t be bothered to raise their kids.  Again, let’s teach to the lowest common denominator. 

There was a time in this County’s past when people stood on their own two feet.  They were responsible for their own children.  They were responsible for their own education.  They were responsible for their own mortgage.  They were not a dependent society.  It was not about what they deserved.  It was about what they needed to do to earn their place in the world.  Someone should mention this to the Occupy Wall Street folks. 

I understand that some things in our past were bad.  This is the part where someone usually tries to say “we used to have slavery, was that good?” To them I say SHUT UP.  Of course not everything in the past was good.  But by the same token not everything was bad.  Raising our children to pull themselves up by their own boot straps was a good thing.  Teaching our children to assume that no one will give them a free ride and their success is their problem is also a good thing.  Showing them that sometimes you are given limited resources and you need to figure the rest out on your own is a good thing.  Most of all teaching them about the strength and perseverance of our forefathers and how we got to this point is a great thing.  Maybe then we can return this country to an attitude that says it’s my job. It’s my responsibility and I WILL DO IT!

Educating the Educators: The Real Problem with Education

“It was the best of times, It was the worst of times” in the Hastings’ household that is.  Our little boy is growing up.  He has graduated from Elementary School and is heading for Middle School.  When you hit this point in a family it truly is the best and worst of times.  Our youngest has grown up.  That makes me sad.  But on the other hand our youngest has grown up.  That makes me happy.  I think you get the picture.

Now as he is about to transition into Middle School we had the inevitable “Middle School Orientation”.  I remember when I was going to Middle School for the first time.  We actually called it Junior High back then.  All the new students would file into the Junior High auditorium one evening.  We usually were accompanied by our Mom.  We were given some sort of handout with a brief agenda that was made on a “ditto” copier.  I would always ask to see the agenda.  Not because I cared about what was going to happen but instead to sniff the paper.  Every kid loved the smell of “ditto” copies.

About this time the Principal would start.  They would discuss the bus schedule, how the first day would proceed, how kids could get their locker (but you must supply the lock) and then introductions of the staff.  Almost every teacher was present as it took an act of God to miss this momentous event.  We would usually get an overview of homework and policies regarding assignments.  Maybe there was a little talk about possible electives from the wood shop teacher who had only three fingers.  Last was the Q and A period which was normally about three questions.  Then we were dismissed.  If you were lucky they might supply some dry, hard ginger cookies and overly sweet cherry kool-aid.  We were in and out in less than an hour.  Most important was the fact that we had enough information to get through the first week of school. 

But Dorothy, you’re not in Kansas anymore!

Fast forward to August 16, 2011.  My wife, son and I headed off to “Middle School Orientation”.  We shuffled into the multi-purpose room/gym and headed to the far end.  By the time the “event” started the bleachers were pretty full.  Before us was a table with a laptop and a screen showing the beginnings of a power-point presentation.  I was flooded with anxiety.  What, no dittos?  No ditto smell?  “What is this world coming too?” I thought.  The Principal started promptly at 6:00 pm.  With her stood the vice-Principal, the school counselor and one other teacher/administrator.  I believe a few other staff may have been elsewhere but I could not confirm this.  Again I thought to myself “what happened to the days of death being the only out for teachers attendance” but I digress.  After some brief announcements and introductions the Principal dismissed all of the students to the other multi-purpose room.  They were going to play bonding games and start to get acquainted.  At first I thought this was a bit ridiculous but then it hit me.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  The Principal is going to explain “reality” to the parents.  Sure she was nice to the kids – to their face.  But she was about to tell the parents how it really works in Middle School.  She would tell us about the solid wooden paddle found in her desk drawer hidden behind the Kleenex and JuJu Bees.  Then she would bring out Bubba.  They said he was a custodian but he was really the mountain of a man who took care of the “tough” discipline problems.  Now I was excited.  This finally all made sense.

But alas, wrong again.

The Principal launched into her presentation about start times and class length.  She mentioned she had to re-write the bell schedule due to district changes. She hoped she wouldn’t have to do it again next year.  She also said we would likely be asked to supply items for the classrooms.  She made sure we knew her office door is always open and we are always welcome.  I suspect that will change about the third time my wife shows up at the school.  Then we discussed testing.  Mainly we discussed the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress).  She showed a beautifully colored slide.  In 2007 the AYP for the school was 70%. Oh, but in the years following it dropped as low as 62%.  But excitement – it is back up to 68%.  The Principal even prompted us to clap at the 68% rating. 

You’re probably saying to yourself about this time, “what the heck is an AYP?”  Well thank you for asking.  I looked it up on wiki.  I honestly read all five pages.  Wiki defined AYP as

“2001, blah blah blah, no child left behind, blah blah blah, testing, blah blah blah, standards, blah blah blah, graduation rates”.  

Crystal clear – NOT!

Here is what the Principal explained AYP as (paraphrased): The percentage of students meeting or exceeding the set standard by the time they are in the 8^th grade.  Wait a minute.  We were supposed to clap because 2 out of three students are proficient in eighth grade studies when they are in the – eighth grade? But doesn’t that mean 1 out of every three students is not at grade level? I was set-up.  If I had known the truth I would have NEVER clapped.  Curses! About this time the Principal was finishing up and introduced the school counselor.

NOTE: Before I go on I should explain that the previous events were the “best” part of the orientation.

So now the school counselor is up.  OK, I thought, this is the part where we get to the wooden paddle and flogging – right? Wrong!  The counselor, who seemed nice enough, starts telling us about teenagers.  About what they do and how they operate.  She started discussing brain neurons.  Then she mentioned something about how kids process information and think.  Ah-ha!!!  Think?  This woman knows nothing of teenagers.  Eleven and twelve year olds don’t think.  But she continued on and on – for twenty minutes. 

Please understand, that wasn’t the worst of it.  Then she switched gears to bullying.  Another 20 minutes of peer teams and how to talk to our children about how they get bullied, why they get bullied, the prison rates of bullies and …..  I didn’t hear one thing about how the counseling office at the Middle School actually worked.  They never mentioned detentions or suspensions.  It was all about the “psychology of bullying”.  My wife and I finally got up and left.  As we passed the Principal my wife quietly said “when you are ready to get back to orientation we will be outside”.  I don’t think the Principal appreciated that.  I also don’t believe she appreciated the fact that at least a dozen parents followed us out the door.  One of our friends later told us that the Principal made the statement that she “would release the parents” when they were done talking.  I find it odd that the school is tougher on the parents than they are on the kids.

The last thing I will mention was in regards to supplies.  When someone mentioned “pens” they were told “we don’t use pens here, only pencils”.  Damn that toxic blue ink menace.

After an hour and fifteen minutes they finally took some questions.  I’m sure that answers were given to some of the questions I had but I was not there to hear them.  I thought, after leaving, that maybe the wife and I were having a bad night.  Maybe it was us.  But after talking to several people outside and then reading multiple statements on Facebook it became obvious.  It was not our problem.  It was their problem.  They were the ones more focused on test scores, bullying and brain neurons.  Are those things important? Yes, they are.  But not on this night.  This night should have been about bus schedules, school lockers, homework and expectations.

This, in a nutshell, is the entire problem with educators today.  The focus is completely gone.  Now it’s about relationship building, green energy and test scores.  What happened to math, history and reading.  Now it is about supporting the ESL kids and making all others lower their standards and wait on the lower achievers.  What happened to immersing children in English speaking classes and forcing them to learn and catch up?  It worked for my grandmother.  The focus is now on PEP (Personalized Education Plans) that cater to the individual and allow for that ever important one on one time for the students.  But what we now fail to see is the need for a set of high standards that must be met BY ALL in order to graduate.  The same standards for every child in every class.  Are we afraid that a “generic” set of standards will cause lower graduation rates?  In June it was reported in Nevada that the graduation rate is 42% statewide.  That is lowest in the Nation and far below the 67% national average.  Also with all the newly required PEPs and AYPs and ESLs we require more T-E-A-C-H-E-R-S.  So in a time when we hear the whining about lost jobs, in fact we have added scores of teachers over the years for every specialized program under the sun.

So here are some suggestions for our educators to a myriad of problems:

1) Go back to the days of one set of standards.  You either sink or you swim.  There is no in between.

2) Stop babying the kids.  Pens are not bad.  My son has used pens for years.  I’m really proud of his achievements with a stapler too. 

3) Stop trying to solve all the social problems in the world.  If a kid bullies someone send them to detention.  If they do it again – suspend them.  A third offense – expel them.  If it rises to the level – call the cops.  It worked for my grandparents.  It worked for my parents and it worked for me. 

4) Stop with PEPs, AYPs and ESLs and focus on the ABCs.  Go back to reading, writing and arithmetic.  I bet you will find a huge drop in the need for so many teachers and administrators.  What a huge cost savings.

5) And last – most of all – when I show up for orientation I would simply like to know where is my son’s friggin’ locker?

Class Dismissed!

The Political Pitfalls of Walking with the Devil

I am just curious.  Have you ever heard of the band the “Mucky Pups”? Me neither.

The Mucky Pups were a thrash band in the 1980’s and 1990’s.  They had some limited success in Europe and the US.  That explains why I never heard of them.  They are not my cup of tea.  But as I was doing a little research I came across the lyrics of a song they did.  The song was called “Walking with the Devil”.  Not the more famous “Runnin’ with the Devil” from Van Halen.  This is how the lyrics start:

Went walkin’ with Devil,
walkin’ in his shoes,
went walkin’ with the Devil,
thought I had nothing to lose,

Isn’t that how we all think it is?  We have this grandiose idea that we can “walk with the Devil”.  We see the Devil as someone who, as long as we are aware of whom he is, we can outsmart him.  Now I’m not necessarily going to focus on “The Devil” of the Bible.  This is more the concept or idea of evil.  Aligning ourselves with those we don’t believe in or don’t trust for expediency and to promote our own cause. So the question becomes, do the ends justify the means?

In my mind the answer is clear – NO.

First you have to pay attention to the facts.  We believe we can avoid the pit falls of “evil” ourselves by simply knowing that the “evil” exist.   That is a very nice thought that brings about visions of unicorns and rainbows.  We paint ourselves as just a little too good to be deceived into bad actions.  Where this notion falls apart is in the fact that those who we classify as “evil” don’t have the same behavioral limits we do.  “Evil” is deceitful.  For those who are NOT “evil” there is a point at which we will stop.  We will go no further.  We will not risk doing “evil” even for our own benefit or to promote our cause.

“Evil” on the other hand has no limits.  It (they) will do or say anything it feels is necessary to promote itself or its cause.  “Evil” has no problem with stretching, twisting, manipulating what is right as long as their desires are fulfilled.  “Evil” will sit you down at its dinner table, feed you the finest meal, give you their finest wine and give you the nicest gifts but will also discard you and stab you in the back at its first opportunity should you no longer be of use.

When it comes to “Walking with the Devil” there are three possible scenarios.  The first is when we are confronted by “evil” and we simply turn away.  Now understand I am not making this a Republican vs. Democrat thing.  Are there “evil” Democrats?  Yes there are.  But there are also “evil” Republicans and Independents.  I’m not talking of those who have a strong belief in what they do and follow that path.  Those who believe what they are doing is truly the right thing even if they have a different thought pattern than us.  They may be misguided or misinformed but they are not “evil”.  I am speaking of those who know their position is flawed (i.e. evil) but will move forward in order to promote their desires.  They are driven by their own greed.  If we see and know “evil” is present you should walk away.  That is the easy answer

Scenario two is the situation where we don’t know we are “walking with the Devil”.  We are unaware that those around us, those we are reliant on are “evil”.  They simply have us fooled.  First, there is some innocence for us in that ignorance.  If we are “unaware” of the “evil” nature of those around us we get somewhat of a pass.  But it also does not exonerate us from the need to always be looking.  Plenty of people have started out with good intentions only to see the power and influence turn them to the dark side.  We see this in politics often.  People who start out strong but eventually get caught up in the hysteria.  We cannot forever use the excuse of having blinders on.  If we have those blinders on it is because we allowed them to be put on.  We must always be open to the potential change in those around us, even those we call friend.  We must always strive to be diligent. 

The last, and least forgivable scenario, is when we know we are “walking with the Devil” and choose to continue on.  We have that belief that we can control what is happening.  It is the belief that we can walk with “evil” but not be influenced by the same “evil”.  That we can move forward and assume that what we do is not, nor will ever be, tainted by the wrong things. That is simply a fantasy.  The fact that you would allow yourself to “walk with the Devil” is the first step on that very slippery slope.  That is the slope that will allow you to make flawed decisions to move your voice or your cause forward.  The best way to avoid this scenario is to simply not take that first step. 

This may all seem a bit cryptic but in reality it is not.  It is a simple warning to all.  Democrat, Republican, Independent….  If you see and choose to associate knowingly with “evil” regardless of your own honorable desires, you risk being tainted.  You also risk being taken advantage of.  But most of all you risk being found “guilty by association”.  Once you have chosen to associate with an evil person or group – the bell is rung and it cannot be un-rung.  You will forever have that association.  Think of it as getting a divorce when you have young children.  Sure you can split from the person, you can move, you can desire to never see that person again.  But with kids involved you will forever be associated.  There will be weddings and funerals, grandchildren and the list goes on.  You will never be able to get completely away. Your choices contain lifetime risks.

So here is my advice.  Avoid “evil”.  Even to the point of avoiding potential “evil”.  We as individuals and groups must choose our “friends” carefully.  If we choose to risk what we believe in for the easy path by trying to “walk with the Devil” the “Devil’s” deception will eventually capture us.  We can believe with all our heart that, as the song says, we “thought we had nothing to lose”.  But reality is we have everything to lose.  Especially the respect of those who we actually trust.

Pay For My Pimp, Please

So here is my dilemma.  I am stressed.  I have too much to do and too many places to be.  I need to relieve the stress in my life and I have decided that the best way is SEX.  That is right.  Sex, multiple times a day.  If that doesn’t de-stress me nothing will.  But of course it would not be right for me to expect my wife to be available every moment of the day.  That would not be fair.  She is also very busy.  But I am lucky.  I live in Dayton.  Dayton is 5 miles from Mound House.  Mound House is the home of several brothels.  The Bunny Ranch, the Kit Kat Club, the Sagebrush and others.  It is perfect except for one thing.  I hear they are very expensive.  So how can I afford this?  Isn’t it obvious?  The Affordable Care Act!!!  In other words -Obamacare.

You may be saying I’m nuts but I beg to differ.  This is the ultimate in “preventative care”.  On one hand it relieves the stress that can bring on heart attacks, ulcers and strokes for me.  In addition it will reduce my need for the costly, over –the-counter Compound W.  Lastly, my wife will have far fewer headaches.  That is right – Obamacare will now cover my daily trips to the “Love Ranch”. 

Obviously I am being facetious.  This is a silly and foolish idea.  But is it any more silly and foolish than every woman being given free birth control on our dime?  Not only birth control but breast feeding pumps, support, supplies and counseling and all without as much as a co-pay.  They have in fact deemed birth control as “preventative care”. 

The Obama administration has ordered that insurance companies must supply birth control at no cost to the user.  There is a minimal opt-out clause for some religious groups, but otherwise it covers all women.  This is all being done because of those individuals who claim they cannot afford the contraceptives. 

A recent and regular caller to the Heidi Harris show is a pharmacist.  He estimated the average monthly cost for “the pill” was $38-40 per month.  There are about 29 million women between the ages of fifteen and thirty, prime birth control years.  Using those numbers there is a potential cost of over $13 billion to United Stares insurance providers.  Now that won’t drive the cost of premiums up – will it???

The argument that is being made is that the cost of contraception is cheaper than the cost of a child.  But for who?  This again goes back to individuals who do not want to take responsibility for their actions.  The U.S. Institute of Medicine, recommended to President Obama, that all forms of contraception should be covered under the Obamacare plan.  This would of course, long term, reduce the drag on society brought on by unwanted children and single mom’s unable to afford to care for their children alone.  The problem is by moving the issue back to contraception to be paid for by “the people” the burden then becomes societies.  A person’s desire for sex is costing me at my bottom line.

I would suggest the burden should be pushed back one additional step.  Don’t make this societies issue, make it the individuals issue.  You know – personal responsibility.  If you cannot afford a child and you cannot afford birth control – DON’T HAVE SEX.  Abstinence has been proven to work 100% of the time.  It is the only full proof plan for avoiding an unwanted pregnancy.

If someone tells me they can’t afford birth control then that tells me they can’t afford sex.  Remember sex is a privilege – not a right.  If you choose to exercise that privilege it should not be a requirement for any  American, aside from yourself, to protect you from the consequences. 

I recently attended a two day music event.  Many in the crowd were couples in their late teens and early twenties.  They paid $65 per person per night to attend.  They paid for parking and food and drinks.  One couple came really close to needing a room right in front of me.  Each couple probably spent $150 to $200 to attend.  This is the same demographic who often complains they can’t afford birth control and it should be supplied for free. 

Or what about the woman who heads out on a Friday night in her $100 jeans and $80 stilettos for drinks and dancing with her “man” and then wants to close out the evening it a bit more passionate way.  But she can’t afford $38 for birth control this month.  And by no means am I making this a “women’s issue”.  This should be just as much the responsibility for the man.

Understand, I’m not trying to come across as a prude here.  I’m not preaching at you to save yourself for marriage.  But what I am saying is that if you are willing to take the risk, you should be willing to accept the outcome.  You should not expect me, or anyone else, to supply the protection or cover the cost of your outcome.

Since the advent of Obamacare I have heard many argue that health insurance, guaranteed by the government, falls under the “general welfare” clause of the Constitution.  Now, I am sure you can guess that I don’t agree with that argument.  But even if I were to allow for a bit of latitude on that point, I might accept government supplied healthcare for the person who has cancer and needs treatment.  I can possibly accept free vaccinations for children to avoid polio or whopping cough.  But I cannot accept a requirement that I pay for your birth control so you can go out and do the nasty with some guy on Saturday night.

It is a really simple concept.  If you want a car, you pay for the gas.  If you want an apartment, you pay the rent.  If you want a drink, you pay for the water bill.  And if you want to have sex, you pay for the contraceptives.  It is really pretty simple.

The Randomness of Nevada Politics

So what has Harry Reid’s Depends in a bunch this week?  None other than House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor and all for following the words of Barrack Obama.  Apparently Mr. Reid sees the fact that Eric Cantor is sticking stead fastly to his beliefs and refusing to give President Obama respect that (IMHO) has not been earned.  For that Mr. Reid says Cantor is “childish” and “should not be at the table”.  Funny thing is The Prez himself had this to say about sticking by ones ideals:

“We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. And we honor those ideals by upholding them not when it’s easy, but when it is hard.”

So sorry Mr. Reid.

Don’t Call Me a Career Politician: On Monday Nevada Assembly Speaker, John Oceguera, announced he will be running for Congress.  He doesn’t know what district or who he will face but he has already determined he is the best candidate.  I wonder if he will still be able to double dip salary if he is in Washington D.C.?

You Said It Madam Chair: Regarding Oceguera’s bid for Congressional District “who the hell knows which one”, Nevada GOP Chair Amy Tarkanian, released the following statement:

“Today’s announcement by Speaker Oceguera is the sad cry of a career politician looking for a new gig. Oceguera’s bid for Congress, made before even understanding or caring about the constituency he claims to want to represent, is an action of a termed-out assemblyman who is panicking at the thought of losing one of his government paychecks. Speaker Oceguera’s signature achievement in the state legislature is failing to bully through a $1.5Billion tax increase; Ocegeura’s colleagues rejected his proposal then and Nevadans will reject him in 2012.”

Kudos to Elliott Anderson:  Many of the State’s Legislators, both Democrat and Republican, enjoyed Tweeting about their every move during session.  But once session ended they suddenly became “Tweetless”.  I give Kudos to Assemblyman Anderson who has remained very active in the Twitter land even after session.  Anderson seems like a good guy who I would not mind having a beer with.  As long as we don’t talk politics!

Thank You Captain Obvious:  Cut taxes, Cap spending and Balance the budget.  Who came up with that cockamamie proposal?  Gosh darn it! That’s not the socialist values this country was founded on.

You Are Giving Me A Headache: So the latest attack on Presidential candidate, Michelle Bachman, is that she has debilitating migraines that cause her to take medication and this should eliminate her from contention.  Uh, Mr. Democrat – is that the best you’ve got?  Migraines affect 303 million people worldwide.  29.5 million in the United States alone.  So I guess those 29.5 million people should stop working and go on disability.

What Do You Get…: What do you get when you cross Sharron Angle, Edith Bunker and a bottle of helium?   Kate Marshall (buh-dum-bump)!!!

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.:  According to Casey Anthony defense attorney and GQ wanna be, Jose Baez, he believes the public needs to get past the jury verdict in his client’s case and accept what the jury decided.  Respect their decision he said?  Curious, do you think if he had lost he would have respected the jury’s decision and waved all his clients rights to an appeal?  It just makes you go hmmmmmm!

Dayton, Nevada: OK – 99.3% of you don’t care but Dayton Nevada now has a Chinese Restaurant and MMMMMM Yogurt is scheduled to open soon.  It may not mean much to you but my life is getting better.  Now if we could just get a Purple Penguin (wink to SB).

Kate Marshall Quote:  I wanted to share what I thought was the best quote I have heard from Kate Marshall.  I tried, I swear.  She just hasn’t said anything worth repeating.

Republican’s For Marshall: Who is Guy Felton and why should I care that he is the leader (and apparently only member) of Republican’s for Marshall?  He apparently sees himself a bit like Harry Reid.  Mr. Felton, I know Harry Reid, and sir, you are no Harry Reid.  THANK GOD!!!

Finding the Real Killer:  Rumor is Casey Anthony is planning on hanging out at dance clubs and wet T-shirt contest trying to find the real killer.

Getting Transparent:  Website “Transparent Nevada” has released most of their 2010 salary numbers.  I have been waiting for those to finally come out. See www.transparentnevada.com

Speaking of Ass. Men: Why are some people so obsessed with Assemblyman Mark Sherwood?  It’s a little creepy if you ask me.

Will Oceguera Pump Joe Heck Up? Question: If John Oceguera is voted into Congress, can our representatives assume they will get a new Congressional gym on the taxpayer’s dime? I’m just asking.

The Doctors In Da’ Houz Part 1: From the Great Dr. Daliah Wachs on Facebook – “My son Broc’s new nickname is Brocamole.  Hope he likes it”

The Doctors In Da’ Houz Part 2: Follow-up from the Great Dr. Daliah Wachs on Facebook – “Older son Stone now wants a nickname too, so his nickname will be Gall-Stone (urethral stone was taken already)”

Classic!!!

USA! USA!! Thank you to Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach and the rest of Women’s World Cup Team.  You may not have won the tournament but you did America proud.  We are looking forward to 2015. 

Holy Wal-Mart Batman: A couple from South Carolina said they went to pick up photos at Wal-Mart.  The receipt was thrown on floor of their car.  Later, as they looked at the receipt they said the image of Jesus appeared.  Really?  Jesus showed up on a Wal-Mart receipt laying on the floor board of a car in South Carolina.  Some say that the image looks more like Charles Manson.  I saw the receipt and to me it looks more like a troll.  But it, in my opinion, is definitely NOT Jesus.

In or Out:  General wisdom tells us that Governor Rick Perry will likely dip his feet in the Presidential Primary waters.  But we are not sure.  Sarah Palin is also up in the air.  Nothing personal towards either candidate (or anyone else considering a run) but make up your mind already.  Get in or stay out.  I really don’t care, but make a decision.  The GOP needs to start vetting candidates and deciding who can actually beat President Obama.

I Prefer A Quick Cup of Coffee: The Tea Party Express is about to embark on their latest rendition of the “Fleecing America Tour”.  The latest version starts on August 27^th.  The Express is calling it “The Reclaiming America” tour.  It would be more honest to call it “Reclaiming profits for Russo, Wierzbicki and Kremer” tour.  Folks, I can only lay it out so many times for you.  They use this organization to push money through several companies and pay themselves big salaries at each stop of every dollar.  Remember, this is the group who got Harry Reid re-elected.

And The Survey Says:  According to Rasmussen, Generic Republican Candidate 47%, Obama 41%.  This guy “Generic Republican” is the only one who seems to have good enough numbers to beat Obama.  How can we get this guy to throw his hat in the ring?

In All Seriousness: This issue is dedicated to Command Master Chief Dave Remington.  Chief Remington suddenly and unexpectedly passed last Thursday at the age of 61.  Dave was a 30 year veteran of the Navy, former school teacher, co-worker and friend.  He was my “politics buddy” often coming into my office to discuss the latest issue.  There were two things I could count on Dave saying to me each week:

1)  “My guy, John Thune, won’t be running for President.  I really like him” and

2)  “We can’t afford another four years of this knucklehead (i.e. Barrack Obama)”.

Dave was a good husband, good father, good grand-father and good friend.  He was also a Great American.  It was an honor knowing you sir.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T – Disrespectful Children Become Disrespectful Adults

Image via Wikipedia

NOTE: The following article was written prior to the announcement that Casey Anthony was (in my opinion wrongly) found NOT GUILTY of the murder of her daughter.  As you read this article please think of how the failure to apply consequence to your children can affect so many lives.

QUOTE: “It is easier to build strong children then repair broken men” – Fredrick Douglas

The Casey Anthony trial has been big news around my house.  Not so much by me but by my wife.  She has been diligently watching the trial.  I myself see it much like taping a baseball game and watching it the next day.  You probably already know the outcome so why bother.   I realize there is a chance that one of the jurors may see rainbows and unicorns and decide that Casey Anthony is misunderstood.  If that happens, it will be as big a travesty as the O.J. trial. 

Now you may think that my article around disrespectful youth is about Casey Anthony.  It could be but it is not.  Instead it is about Matthew Bartlett and the joy he and Judge Perry brought me.  This is a story about circumstances and consequences.  It is also a story about how disrespectful, unchallenged and misguided our younger citizens have become.

You always hear things like “40 is the new 30”.  I know my in-laws, in their 70’s, do things my grandparents wouldn’t have done in their 50’s.  But if 40 is the new 30, I think 30 is the new 18.  People just don’t understand the responsibilities of growing up.  They don’t understand the responsibilities they have.  Mostly, they don’t understand the consequences they and others face because of their actions.  Let me be clear.  This is not all youth and young adults.  But it is a growing trend.

So why did Judge Perry make me so happy?  Simply – he understands the need for respect.  He made Mr. Bartlett’s consequences appropriate for his self created circumstances.  As prosecutor Jeffrey Ashton was addressing the court last week the TV camera was focused directly on him.  In the background were two gentlemen intently listening.  One of the gentlemen, Matthew Bartlett, slowly rubbed his face with both hands.  Then as he slid his hands down his face he extended his middle finger at the prosecutor.  It was very subtle and almost unnoticeable – ALMOST! 

Not long after that, after the jury had exited the courtroom, Mr. Bartlett found himself standing before Judge Perry.  He was presented with photos.  He extended his apologies.  He was then asked questions.  We are not exactly sure why Mr. Bartlett did this dirty deed.  That is because according to Bartlett he doesn’t know why he did it.  He was shown the posted sign regarding gestures and facial expressions in the courtroom.  He admitted he had read it.  They then discussed how the bailiff had reiterated the rules before court.  Bartlett admitted he heard the rules.  To his credit he offered no lame excuses other than it was stupid.

At the time Mr. Bartlett looked a little shell shocked.  There was in fact a bailiff to each side of him.  The judge then explained that had a juror seen the gesture it could have caused a mistrial.  Bartlett said he understood.  The judge discussed the cost to Florida as well as the time put in by the jurors who have been sequestered for weeks.  Again Mr. Bartlett understood.   I think at this point Mr. Bartlett was still under the impression he was going to get off with a slap on the wrist.  But instead he received a pair of handcuffs on his wrists.  They were on before he even knew what hit him – click, click.  Judge Perry then imposed sentence.  Bartlett received a $400 fine, $223 in court costs and six days in the Orange County jail. 

You see – Judge Perry gets it.  This is a 28 year old “man” who feels he is above the law.  He thinks he can be sneaky and get away with things.  A man who has been able to vote for ten years and drink for eight doesn’t believe the rules apply to him.  This type of behavior did not just come on.  This was not a moment of insanity.  This was not a “bird of passion”.  This was a “well” thought out plan that miserably failed.  So Mr. Bartlett has self made circumstances that had him in a court room and gesturing on television.  Because of this he now has the consequences of six days in jail, cash outlays of $623, spending the 4^th of July in jail and also spending his 29^th birthday in jail.  I would be willing to bet a slap on the wrist was all Bartlett ever received growing up.  Worse yet it was probably more like a discussion and a time out to think about what he had done.

We’ve heard it a million times before.  It is not a Matthew Bartlett problem.  It is a problem of society.  As Bob Dylan said “The Times They Are A-Changin’”.  Unfortunately not for the better.  We live in a society that is eroding the second most important document in history.  We are constantly losing our rights to live by the Constitution that our fore-fathers based this country on.  But it is even worse than that.  Because as we fight to keep our right to free speech – our children are being told they can say anything.  As we fight to keep our right to bear arms – our children are told that the violence is not their fault and given a pass.  As we fight for our right to freedom of religion – our children are taught to remove and ignore God.  It is bad enough when the Government does this but it has now crept into our homes.   Maybe it is fear.  Maybe it is simply a case of disinterest.  But like the Constitution, our rights as parents have been taken away and we have relinquished power to our children.  The problem is children do not know how to handle power.

We have empowered our children to say whatever they want.  Calling a parent by their first name or yelling about how unfair taking the garbage out is. We, as parents, claim it is just allowing the kids to express themselves.  When I was a kid “expressing myself” was usually followed by some form of punishment.  Sometimes even the cruel and inhuman spanking.  Life was very different back then.  We respected adults, we ate what was put on the table, we didn’t speak out of turn, we only hung out with those our parents approved of, we did our chores, we went to school and we worked hard.  Failure to do any of these things caused circumstances that required consequences – and they were not pleasant.  We didn’t talk things out with our parents.  We didn’t dare try and negotiate and we, for the most part, followed the rules.  Newsflash – WE SURVIVED.

I am always amazed at the fact that those who claim to be “for the kids” cannot see how children’s lives have been harmed by the changes in society’s process.  And please don’t give me one of the “was the world better when we had slaves” speeches?  Those arguments are hollow and foolish.  We are talking about the raising of children.  It is about raising our children as responsible, hard-working, “the world owes me nothing”, respectful youths.  And responsible, hard-working, “the world owes me nothing”, respectful youths grow up to be responsible, hard-working, “the world owes me nothing”, respectful adults.

So here is my advice.  If you want friends – join a club.  If you want companion – get a dog.  But if you want loving, well adjusted adult children – be their parent when they are young.  Otherwise it might be your son or daughter on the news being arrested for being stupid and disrespectful.

The Seven Dirtiest Words

George Carlin courtesy of Time.com

In the 1960’s famed comedienne, Lenny Bruce, was arrested on multiple occasions.  His crime was to utter nine profane words during his stand up performances.  Oh, I promise you, they were the most profane of profane words.  But it makes me laugh now.  I remember watching Eddy Murphy’s “RAW” in the late eighties at my brother’s house.  There was Murphy on my brother’s living room TV repeatedly saying the same words that got Bruce arrested.  I honestly think Murphy’s performance would have made Bruce blush.

Bruce’s act, arrests and subsequent convictions were the inspiration for another comedienne.  In 1972 George Carlin, in response to the FCC, developed a routine known as “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television”.  He did a similar monologue known as “Filthy Words” but the act was truly best known as “Seven Dirty Words”.  That act is still considered a classic today.

SIDE NOTE: For the record I will NOT mention those “Seven Dirty Words” here.  I still find them to be quite obscene and offensive. If you want to know what they are I would suggest checking the Internet.

Fast forward about forty years.  It seems we have a new list of words and phrases.  To some these are even more profane and offensive than anything Bruce ever said.  The other ironic part is the fact that many of the words Bruce was arrested for are now common place in our language.  We see them on TV daily.  They have in fact become “less offensive”.  The irony is that the new words and phrases are quite the opposite.  These words seem to get more and more offensive to more and more people as time goes on.  I didn’t think that was possible,

So what are the new “Seven Dirtiest Words”?  Here is my list of words and phrases:

1) One Nation Under God (also includes In God We Trust, God, Jesus and Lord)

2) Liberty (also includes Freedom)

3) Terrorist (also includes Extremist, Jihad and sometimes Muslim)

4) Amen (also includes Bible, pray and/or prayer)

5) America (also includes American and Patriot)

6) Marriage (also includes Traditional Family)

7) Illegal Immigrant (also includes Illegals and Illegal Alien)

You may think I am being funny.  You may think this is a big joke.  But it’s not.  Sadly, this is serious. 

On Sunday, Father’s Day, during the U.S. Open Golf Championship NBC chose to blank out the words “under God” not once but twice during the reading of the Pledge of Allegiance.  Their worry was that they would offend someone.  They did – ME – and millions of other Americans.

Over the last month we have seen several cases of High School valedictorians being told that the tradition of a prayer at graduation was a violation of law.  Others were told they could not speak of the things God has done in their lives.  They could not pray or say “Amen”.  They could not even utter the words “God” or “Jesus”.  These rulings were not coming from some liberal, do-gooder principal.  They were coming from the U.S. Court system.  You know, the one based on the Constitution.  Some rulings were overturned but others stood.

We have a President who struggles to use the word “terrorist” or “jihad”.  He is afraid he will offend someone.  We can no longer use the word “illegal” when we describe those who broke the law to come to this country.  We now refer to them as “undocumented workers” and weep as we discuss how they came here for a “better life”.  We spend BILLIONS upon BILLIONS propping up countries who don’t even like us while our own schools go to pot and our own citizen’s struggle. 

So no I am not kidding about this.  This is not a joke.  I had a liberal friend ask me recently what “we” mean when “we” say “we want to take our country back”.  She asked, take it back from whom? 

Personally, I want to take it back from those who have forgotten what the Constitution says and means.  I want to take it back from those who have forgotten what the Constitution says about my 1st Amendment rights.  I want to take it back so it is alright for a teenage girl in Texas who is graduating high school to say “I’m doing okay and it is because GOD is in my life”.  I want to take it back from those who believe saying “Amen” or “Merry Christmas” is NOT me trying to offend them but instead that I am wishing them well.  I want to take it back from those who think because I follow a Bible that says a man marrying a man is wrong and that doesn’t make me evil or hateful because I also believe you hate the sin not the sinner.  I want to take it back from those who think that being a Patriot and loving this nation, with all its flaws, is a bad thing.  I want to take it back from those who think I am wrong to want to see all those who support the killing of American’s – because they are Americana – dead.  Better them than us I say.  I want to take it back from those who think that the word terrorist is wrong despite the fact they killed 3000 people in New York City.  You are not Freedom Fighters, you are evil.  I want my country back from those who refuses to condemn terrorist acts and try to appease them because that makes you as guilty as the terrorists.  I want my country back from those who believe taking care of others before taking care of our own is a good thing.  I want my country back from those who don’t understand the term “illegal”.

Lenny Bruce was arrested and convicted for “his crime” of using the “nine dirty words” in his concerts.  After his death he was posthumously pardoned for his crimes of offending people by the state of New York.  Now, as I said, I won’t use the seven dirty words of George Carlin.  I instead will use the seven dirtier words, phrases and expressions I listed.  I will use them openly, repeatedly and proudly.  And I suspect that when my time comes – I like Bruce will receive a posthumous pardon for my crimes from the only judge I truly worry about.

God Bless America!!!

Democrat Kudos Because Size Doesn’t Matter

I have to admit it has been a fun ride.  It is the likes of Leno, Letterman, Colbert, Stewart and every GOP member who has to thank their lucky stars.  Does it get any better than a sex scandal involving a Congressman named A. Weiner?  It has been a field day for all.  But this is not new to us.  Sex scandals in our government are old hat.  Do these names mean anything to you?

John Edwards, John Ensign, Arnold Schwarznegger, Mark Sanford, Kwame Kilpatrick, Bill Clinton, Elliott Spitzer, Gary Hart, Larry Craig, Mark Foley, Rudy Guliani, Bawney Fwank, Gary Condit, Bob Packwood (the 2^nd best name to Weiner for a sex scandal), Jack Ryan and about a thousand others.

Sex scandals are not new.  They are not Republican or Democrat.  They are likely just as common today as ever.  They are constant.  They have a certain “rhythm” to them.  The difference today is it is getting harder to keep it quiet.  There are packs of reporters chasing politicians. The National Enquirer pays for stories. There are cell phone records that are easy to trace.  Then of course you have the dumb politicians who challenge the press to catch them doing something wrong.  Lastly you have guys like Weiner inadvertently publicly tweeting pictures of “Lil A”.

But I do want to send kudos to some of the Democrats.  With the scandal only being a few days old we have already seen a large contingent of Democrats calling for Weiner step down.  As of the writing of this article those calling for him to step down are:

Rep. Allyson Schwartz – Pennsylvania

Rep. Mike Michaud – Maine

Rep. Niki Tsongas – Mass.

Senator Patrick Leahy – Vermont

Rep. Mike Ross – Arkansas

Senator Mark Pryor – Arkansas

Rep. Larry Kissell – North Carolina

Rep. Joe Donnelly – Indiana

Tim Kaine – Former DNC Chair 

In addition, of all people, Nancy Pelosi is calling for an ethics investigation.  Also, when asked what he would do if Weiner called, Harry Reid stated, “tell him to call someone else”.

The message has been sent LOUD and CLEAR to Weiner.  Pull out!!!  But Weiner insist he will not resign.  He is content with dragging it out as long as he can. Eventually he will go the way of John Ensign.  He can only hang on for so long.  He will inevitably lose his grip on his office.

But many, not all, of those Democrats I mention deserve credit.  They have immediately and clearly called out Weiner.  They have demanded his resignation.  Like a bad Lorena Bobbitt joke (as if there is one) this Weiner has been cut off. 

Unfortunately this doesn’t happen enough in politics.  Far too often as parties we defend a person based on the letter next to their name as opposed to the actions they take.  Am I saying every one of those demanding his resignation is doing for the right reason?  Not likely.  I for one am frustrated that our own state Rep. Shelley Berkley has not called on Weiner to resign.  But I also remember our own little scandal involving John Ensign.  As I recall it was the citizens, more than those in office, who were calling for Ensign to leave.  Where is the leadership in that?

You have to realize the Weiner, on the Democrat side, is as big as it gets.  I looked at three very liberal Congressional report cards: 1) The National Education Association 2) NAACP 3) Citizen’s for Global Solutions.  All three rated Weiner as an “A” for his liberalism.  Weiner is a big dog in his party with lots of power but some Democrats couldn’t care less.  To them, size doesn’t matter.

The point of all of this is simple.  It is time we as parties stand firm against those who embarrass us.  And as a point of fact, in my opinion we should worry MORE about our own party than those across the aisle.  We should be policing ourselves.  We should all be willing to go after our own because it is apparent they are NOT concerned with how their actions affect us.

We can continue to choose to judge a person’s character by the letter before their name.  Or we can choose to judge them by the actions they take because actions speak louder than words.

In Memory of the Illegal Immigrants

On Wednesday night my wife and I had the distinct pleasure (sarcasm) of attending a school board meeting at Dayton High School.  I’m sure my son, who is 10, enjoyed being dragged along.  The Lyon County School Board was discussing the possibility of Lyon County going from a five day school week to a four day school week.  Among other things there would be cost savings.  With Lyon facing a two to three million dollar shortfall, the funds are needed.  Despite the fact the Governor and Legislature agreed to a budget that day, how it will affect the schools is not yet known.  One thing we are told when trying to close the budget gap for the schools is to “think outside of the box”.  So I did.

That is right, I thought outside the box.  I thought and I thought and I thought.  It must have been a good forty or fifty seconds and then it came to me.  Stop supporting the illegals (sound the trumpets).  Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?  Stop paying for those who are not here legally – hence the term illegal. 

But seriously folks, let’s look at some facts.  First the groundwork:

1) On Wednesday the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that based on census numbers the PEW Hispanic Center reports that 7.2% of citizen’s in Nevada are here illegally.

2) The Federation for Immigration Reform (FAIR) states that approximately $630M is spent annually on illegals (schools, medical, etc.)

3) Illegals, through taxes and such, return about $216M to Nevada.

4) That means the net cost to Nevada is about $414M per year.

Based on those facts I said to myself, “self, where could we use that money if it were only spent on those who are in Nevada legally”?  Here are a few thoughts:

Education: At the school board meeting it was said Lyon County is looking at a net loss in the upcoming year of about $100 per child.  This will come from the usual subjects – layoffs, salary reductions and program loses.  But what if we had that $414M in Nevada?  Well, according to the census there are 548,850 kids in the 5 to 19 age group.  In other words school aged children.  Take away the 7.2% of illegals and 509,333 legal students remain in Nevada.  Divide the $414M by student and we can spend an additional $812.24 for each and every legal child in the state.  In 2009 the average dollars per child spent nationally was $10,499.  Nevada spent $10,305 per child.  Add the $812 and we would be far ahead of the National average.

Law Enforcement: I am using Lyon County as an example again.  Lyon County (population 51,980) could be looking at losing 11 deputies.  That is in addition to officers who have already left and not been replaced.  I looked at Transparent Nevada and determined the average deputy, with salary and benefits, makes about $90,000 per year.  Assume that is a state average.  Put the $414M into law enforcement and we can keep/hire 4597 law enforcement officers state wide.  I bet that would make you feel safer.

Plug The Budget Hole:  The current budget put forth by Governor Sandoval will fall short due to the Supreme Court ruling.  The deficit could be as little as $63M or as much as $700M.  The $414M would go a long way, maybe all the way, to plugging that hole.  No sunset extensions needed. 

And not wanting to be accused of being insensitive, I offer these suggestions to the bleeding hearts out there: 

Unemployment: Recent numbers put out by the labor department state that unemployment in Nevada is at 12.5%.  Basing that number on the workforce it appears that there are approximately 194,000 capable workers out of work in Nevada at this time.  If we were to put the $414M into unemployment we could pay each of those LEGAL citizens an additional $2134.02 per year.  That works out to about $177.83 per month.  I bet that would help. 

Medical Savings Accounts for the Elderly:  This is a good one.  With all the cost of medical care and medicine for the elderly we can use the illegals money (it’s actually our money) to support those most in need.  It is estimate that in 2009 there were 297,000 residents of Nevada over the age 65.  We can take the $414M in illegals money and divide it among the elderly.  This will be a windfall of $1390.66 per senior citizen.  That money can be placed in a medical savings account for each person to use for doctor’s visits, medicine, etc.  How great is that? 

Sure, I realize my numbers may be a bit fuzzy.  But they are close.  And for all the absurdity I think they prove a point.  

Here is the real issue.  As we try and support our schools, elderly and the general population we see millions being spent on those that should not receive it.  We must take the candy dish away.  We can talk immigration reform all you want but the fact is that is like telling a bank robber “if you promise you won’t rob banks anymore we won’t prosecute you”.  I also understand that of the $414M some will always remain for those in emergency situations.  I wouldn’t want anyone accusing me of allowing a person to “die on the streets”.  But we as a Nation need to figure out our priorities are and work from there. 

Every election cycle we have masses of candidates explain how bad the immigration issue is.  They tell us we must remove incentives.  We talk about how we must secure the border.  They are all the same.  Then they get into office and the conviction they had disappears.  They don’t want to be called a racist.  They are afraid they will be considered insensitive. They fear not getting elected again.  But it is time to end this craziness. 

My question: Is there one politician who will stand up and do what they promised with the conviction they had when elected?