Who is To Do God's Work?!?

Charlie Rangle made an interesting comment the other day about Democrats.  He claimed that they were doing God’s work.

"And so what we have to do is send a collective voice," he said of the upcoming midterm elections. "Everything we're doing is God's work: education, healthcare, affordable housing, [protecting against] discrimination, paying people the minimum wage."

First off, allow me to state the obvious.  Any party that boos God publicly, promotes and defends the murder of pre-born babies, and defends homosexuality, is not doing God’s work. 

Secondly, government isn't supposed to do God’s work; God’s people are.  Where in the Bible does it teach that God’s work is even close to his list?  When the Bible speaks of education, it speaks to parents.  Healthcare?

The Good Samaritan didn't look to the government to take care of the beaten and robbed man.  He paid for it out of his own pocket.  Paul speaks to discrimination in Colossians 3 where he says that in Christ, “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.”   Also in James 2, James teaches about not discriminating against the poor in the church.  Affordable housing?!?  Minimum wage?!?  The Bible speaks much about working and that employers are to pay their laborers the wage agreed upon, but nothing about a minimum wage.  

Nowhere in the Bible does it teach that government is supposed to take care of the poor.  The Bible does teach however, that the Church is supposed to help the widows and orphans.   What was the welfare system in the Old Testament?  Let's look at Leviticus 19:9-10;

“‘When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest.  You must not pick your vineyard bare, and you must not gather up the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.”

It doesn't say that there must be special fields planted for the poor; it doesn't say that the farmers must pick the grain and then harvest it and take it a store where the poor come with their EBT cards to pick it up.  The poor had to actually work and harvest it themselves.  

Let's look also at Paul’s instructions to Timothy about widows.  I rarely ever hear this passage talked about.

“Honor widows who are truly widows.  But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.  She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.  Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.  But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

“Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.  But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.  Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.  So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.  For some have already strayed after Satan.  If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.”  I Timothy 5:3-16

It’s interesting that first off, families are supposed to take care of their widows.  Secondly, the widows who were to “put on the list” were to be at least 60 years old, wife of one husband and having a reputation for good works.  In other words, one who could not support herself because of age, one who was married only once and one who was known for her good deeds.  Interesting requirements, don’t you think?   

The Bible does speak a lot about work and laziness however.

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”  Genesis 2:15

Man was given work to do by God in the Garden of Eden.  Work isn't a curse.  God created man physically stronger so that he could both provide for his family, but also to protect his family.  The curse came after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and God cursed the ground so that man’s labor would be hard work.  See Genesis 3:17-19.  

Adam wasn't the first to work, however.  From Exodus, we learn that Jesus was the first Person to work.  

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”  Exodus 2:10-11

We know from John 1 that Jesus was the Word of God who created the world.  We also see from this passage in Exodus the principle that God assumes that we will be working.  This is why He instituted a day of rest.  Our bodies need time to relax and recuperate.  

Proverbs is full of references to those who are lazy.  The term that is used often is sluggard.  According to Webster’s Dictionary, a sluggard is “a habitually lazy person.”  Here are just a few of the references to laziness and sluggards from Proverbs.

“Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.”  Proverbs 19:15

“The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”  Proverbs 12:24

“Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.”  Proverbs 12:27

“The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.” Proverbs 15:19  

“The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.” Proverbs 21:25

“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”  Proverbs 10:4

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”  Proverbs 13:4

“The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.”  Proverbs 20:4

The New Testament also teaches about work.  

Paul is very clear in II Thessalonians 3:6, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”  The context of this verse talks about the example of Paul himself and his own work ethic.  

In Colossians 3:23, Paul instructs in whatever work we do, we are to do it unto the Lord.  

The problem that we have here in America is that we have people who have been deceived into believing that government is supposed to help the poor.  I have a friend who calls them “do gooders.”  If individuals like Charlie Rangle really wanted to help the poor, they would put in place policies that would allow the economy to grow; cut taxes and cut regulations.  Quit stifling businesses.  Which is better, Mr. Rangle?  A job or charity? 

One of my favorite quotes about the economy and helping the poor is from Milton Friedman.

“In the only cases in which the masses have escaped from the kind of grinding poverty you’re talking about, the only cases in recorded history, are where they have had capitalism and largely free trade. If you want to know where the masses are worse off, worst off, it’s exactly in the kinds of societies that depart from that. So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear, that there is no alternative way so far discovered of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by the free-enterprise system.”  Milton Friedman

Mr. Rangle, leave God’s work to God’s people.  The Constitution gives you your job description.  As a member of Congress, your job description is found in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.  Note that nowhere in there is anything about healthcare, affordable housing, education or the minimum wage.  That is not your job. 

To quote Jesus, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

5 Years of "Facts" of Obama

I have had two FaceBook friends post this graphic in the last couple of weeks.  Maybe it has popped up in your newsfeed as well.  I believe it is important to have the facts to counter these kinds of claims.

As with anything else, context is so important.  Here is my response to both of them.

When one is looking at stats, one has to have the whole picture. This graphic doesn't have the whole picture. Here's the context of these numbers. 

First, the timing of these numbers is misleading.  If you remember, the Democrats took control of Congress after the 2006 midterm elections. So the real effect of Democrat policies started taking effect in January 2007. Remember also that both Obama and Biden were in the Senate during that time ~as well as Hillary Clinton~. 

1)  The Dow is up because of Quantitative Easing.  Federal $$ being printed and pumped into the stock market.  Hang on to your hats.  Remember the .com bubble and the real estate bubbles? 

2)  For the real unemployment numbers, one needs to look at the labor force participation rate.
Jan 2007 – 66.40%
Jan 2009 – 65.7%
April 2014 – 62.80% 

Lowest labor force participation rate since 1978.  The reason that the umemployment numbers are down is because of workers that have quit looking for work.   

3)  GDP growth – US Dept of Commerce
2006 – 2.7%
2007 – 1.8%
2008 - -0.3%
2009 - -2.8%
2010 – 2.5%
2011 – 1.8%
2012 – 2.8%
2113 – 1.9%
1st quarter 2014 = 2.9%
4th quarter 2013 = 2.6% 

GDP after the Bush tax cuts
December 31, 2002 – 1.8%
December 31, 2003 – 2.8%
December 31, 2004 – 3.8%
December 31, 2005 – 3.4%  

The facts show that GDP increased after the Bush Tax cuts and started falling when the Democrats took control of Congress and the Democrats started spending like drunken sailors.  My apologies to sailors; at least drunken sailors quit when they run out of money.  DC politicians just borrow and print money.   

The federal budget goes from October 1 - September 30.  When we elected the Republicans to Congress in the fall of they took office in January of 2011 and the first budget they had was the 2012.  That was the fiscal year that the federal deficit started to decrease slightly.  Here are the actual numbers. 

The federal deficit the last year of the Bush/Republican Congress budget was $161 Billion. When the Democrats took control of Congress after the 2006 elections, the next fiscal year the deficit climbed to $459 Billion and $1413 Billion the year King Barry I was elected. That was when TARP was forced on us. We then had 2 additional years of $1300 Billion deficits with Obama/Democrat Congress. Finally with Republicans back in control of the House, the deficit has come down slightly to $1100 Billion and $973 Billion. So yes, the deficit is technically down from its highs, but doesn't really paint the whole picture. For comparison, the highest deficit during the Bush/Republican Congress days was $413 Billion. 

One fact that this graphic doesn't touch is the increase in food stamps.  If the economy is so great, why are there millions more on food stamps today than when Obama was immaculated?  Why has spending on food stamps doubled under Obama if the economy is doing so well?

So far, I have not had one of these friends ~one is my TN State Representative~ who have even tried to refute any of my facts.  I'll post updates when/if I hear from any of them.  Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Update:  I just had one of the friends that posted this make a comment.  She didn't try to refute any of my facts, she just basically tried to make the point that Obama is only one person and doing what he can for the "betterment of all."  Sorry, but that doesn't cut it for me.  Even if you ascribe good intentions to Obama and the left, ~which I don't~ there are consequences to their wrong policies.  She did say she loved my "deep knowledge" though.  I guess when you can't argue with the facts . . .

Update #2:  There have been two friends of the original poster of this graphic that have said that they agree with the graphic ~no response to the facts I posted however.~  One of them was one my dh's cousins that unfriended me a couple of years ago when she couldn't handle my challenges.  She could call me racist, but heaven help if I pointed out her hypocrisy, but I digress.  I asked her if she was going to post my facts along with the graphic.  She responded with a long rant and called me rude, argumentative and accusatory.  She also proceeded to tell me what I could and couldn't say on this common friend's page.  You've gotta love libs . .

Update #3:  I was asked for my source by a reader below.  I have revised my numbers and added the link to the U.S. Dept of Commerce.  At the link, you can create your own table of stats by year and/or quarter.  While my updated numbers are lower, they still show that the economy started to tank after the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007.

Meeting a Victim of the UK NHS

We have got to defeat the Democrats and Repeal the HellCare Tax Monstrosity.  I just got back from a friend’s house who was having a barbeque fundraiser to fund their mission trip to Peru this fall. I met a lady there from England.  She and her family have been in the US for 9 years.  In 2000, while still in the UK, she was diagnosed with MS ~Multiple Sclerosis~; she didn’t get any treatment; the doctor just told her that to return if she had any problems.  After being in the US for awhile, she went to a doctor here for an ear infection.  When the doctor looked at her medical history, he noticed that she had MS and asked her what treatment she was on.  The doctor was speechless when my new friend told him that she wasn’t on any.  Before she left the doctor’s office, she had an appointment with a Neurologist where she immediately began treatment. 

Her and her husband’s original plan was to work here in the US for 2 years and then go back to England.  After being here for only 7months, they were offered by her husband’s company to get a permanent work visa.  They immediately knew that they wanted to stay.  She said the living environment was much better here. With her history with the medical system in the UK, I’m not surprised.  

I had a “discussion “with a BO/BS supporter who says he supports the Hellcare Tax Monstrosity because he believes that only then will the elderly and sick get healthcare.   This was my response to him.

"I have personal experience with transplants and pre-existing conditions and your assumptions are just plain wrong.   First of all, how many of your “fantasy” scenarios actually happen?   How many abortions do happen?   Second, why do you believe that only the government can provide healthcare?  We personally were beneficiaries of charity when my daughter was on dialysis.  We could not have paid for her dialysis.  It was the generosity of fellow Americans ~not the government~ that kept my daughter alive while on dialysis.  It was ~and continues to be~ medical technologies that were discovered because of free-market healthcare ~not government bureaucrats~ that kept her alive.  It’s also those “evil” pharmaceutical companies that are keeping her alive right now.  Without the anti-rejection meds that she is currently on, she wouldn’t be with us.  In addition, we have already had to pay more because of Hellcare.  My dh’s employer had to change insurance companies because of the increases from HellCare, so our deductible that we pay out of pocket is several hundred more a month than last year.  The future of my daughter depends on medical technologies yet to be discovered; that will only be discovered within the private sector of medicine.

"You really believe that HellCare will save the elderly and sick?  Who do you think will be the first to be cut from treatment when it becomes too expensive to keep them alive?  Great Britain’s government healthcare kills off over 130,000 elderly patients every year.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2161869/Top-doctors-chilling-claim-The-NHS-kills-130-000-elderly-patients-year.html#ixzz1yLe4vSSr

"Or how about taking BO/BS at his word when he said that “taking a pain pill” instead of life-saving surgery for a 99 year old woman who needed a pacemaker would be the better option. 

"The hypocrisy of your “choice” of healthcare for the elderly and/or sick over the life of pre-born babies is astonishing.  It isn’t an either/or choice.”

My experience tonight with an actual victim of socialized medicine in the UK just solidifies my resolve to defeat BO/BS and the Democrats in the Senate and House so that we can Repeal not only HellCare, but the other job-killing and Liberty killing laws that the Democrats have forced on Americans. 

Steve Cohen needs a History lesson.

Here's Congressman Cohen on why he supports WIC.



As I pointed out on his FB page where he posted his weekly newsletter with links to his speeches on the floor of the House, "History is NOT your strong suit is it? The demonrats controlled Congress only during the first 2 years of Clinton's administration; America put Repubs in control of both the House and Senate in 1994 for the rest of his years. Seeing as it is Congress specifically, the House of Reps~ that spends and allocates federal money, it was the Repubs that balanced the budget and Clinton signed it. It was also Clinton who signed welfare reform that helped reduce the spending."

A Cohen supporter then commented; "Stick to the issue, TNWAHM. We know you hate Demoncrats"

To which my reply was, "Freudian slip there, LD? You called yourself Demoncrats. I don't hate Demoncrats; I disagree with your policies and hate what you have done to this country. It's not personal.

I am sticking to the issues. In his "speech" on support for WIC ~which I actually listened to~ Mr. Cohen says, "the Bush Tax Cuts were created when there was a surplus created by a Democratic Congress and a Democratic President, Bill Clinton; and these tax cuts were passed because we had a surplus." It's a joke when Demonrats try to take credit for the balancing of the budget during the Clinton years. It was the Republicans in Congress that did that. It's also a joke when Demonrats like Cohen talk about being fiscally responsible when they didn't pass a budget for 2011 and haven't presented one for 2012.

"2007 was the when the Demonrats took over Congress; ~it's also when Mr. Cohen first went to D.C.~ since then, the budget deficits doubled to $455 Billion in 2008, then tripled to $1.4 Trillion in 2009, $1.3 Trillion in 2010 and on pace for at least that this year.

"The liberal safety net has turned into a hammock. Not only has it destroyed lives by taking fathers out of the home by "replacing" them with a check; we can't afford it anymore.

'As far as the Republicans not "producing" a jobs bill; ~again from Mr. Cohen's speeches~ we don't need more government spending. What we need are tax cuts for small businesses and regulation cuts. When it comes down to it, the vote to repeal Hellcare was a jobs bill. There have been over 1,300 waivers given to businesses for Hellcare, Talk about a job killing bill. He wants to give tax cuts for "green energy" jobs, if it's good for them, why not for the rest of America?"




Steve Cohen on the Dems Jobs Creation Plan


The Demonrats didn't pass a budget for 2011 and haven't submitted one for 2012 and Steve Cohen is trying to go after the Republicans because they haven't submitted a jobs bill? Really? Cohen's idea of a jobs bill is the government sending more money to the unions. The only jobs bill that we need is to cut corporate taxes and regulations on businesses in the US. Get government out of the way of entrepreneurs and we'll see real job creation. Steve Cohen hasn't ever run a business; he hasn't ever had to meet a payroll. All he's done is been a "public" servant and spent first the state of Tennessee's taxpayer's money and now he's spending the entire country's taxpayer's money.

He says we need incentives for "green energy" jobs so "we don't have to spend so much money with our military and lives protecting the oil imports from the Middle East." We have the natural gas and oil reserves right here in our country, but not only is the BO/BS administration not allowing expansion of our own domestic energy supply, but they've shut down oil production.

Actually the vote to repeal hellcare is a jobs creation bill. One of the various reasons that business aren't expanding right now, is because of uncertainty of their costs going forward.

In Her Own Words, Founder of Planned Parenthood

The funding battle over Planned Parenthood continues. Here's a video that the African American community needs to see. The founder of Planned Parenthood in her own words about the Negro race and her plans for it.



The Democrat party is the party of death. They care more about killing babies in the womb than funding the military. What is wrong with this picture?

P.S. I've had friends object to my statement that the Democrat party is the party of death. In 2009, Planned Parenthood performed 332,278 abortions, while serving 7,021 prenatal clients and referring 977 parents to adoption services. Who was willing to shut the government down over funding to Planned Parenthood? That's right, it was the Democrats.

Thank You Steve Cohen!

The Federal government set a new record in February 2011. It had the largest monthly deficit in history; $223 Billion. See here. While liberals/Demonrats whine about the Republican spending during the Bush years, ~especially about the Iraq war~ the deficit for the whole year of 2007 was $161 Billion. WSJ article here.

Notice that 2007 was the last budget by both a Republican Congress and Republican President. Since Demonrats took control of Congress, ~which holds the purse strings of the government~ they have tripled the Federal Deficit. Republicans in Congress are trying to cut $100B out of the Federal budget and are running into opposition from Deficit Demonrats. Is it any wonder, when they hold the record for spending?

While the Republicans are fighting to cut the Federal budget by $100B, that is just a drop in the bucket compared to what must be cut. At the very least, we need to get back to 2006 levels. What needs to be done is to get back to Constitutional levels, which would be the elimination of many whole depts of the federal budget, the alphabet depts/programs. We could eliminate the whole defense budget ~which is the main job of the federal government~ and still only cut the current deficit by 1/3. That is unbelievable to me and unacceptable.

How did America come from a poor 3rd world country in 1787 to become one of the richest by 1920? It wasn’t because of the Dept of Labor, Energy or Education. The great cities of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit weren’t the result of HUD. From 1787-1920, the federal budget never exceeded 3% of the GDP except during times of war. Today, the federal budget is 25% of GDP.

Mr. Cohen was first elected to Congress in 2006. As a Pelosi lapdog, he is part of this history making fiscal fiasco. I wonder if this is an accomplishment that he’s proud of?

More Fun with Steve Cohen

TN-9 Congressman posted the following link on his Facebook page on Thursday, March 3, 2011.



He’s trying to paint Republicans as giving a death sentence to those with cancer and other catastrophic illness because their budget cuts $2 billion dollars from the NIH.

Following are the comments:

Supporter #1: “The GOP notion of cutting NIH funding is BRAINLESS!!!
Don't they want the US to be at the forefront of science which will help people and lead to more JOBS?”

Me: “It's NOT the government's job to fund any kind of research. As a mother with a child in renal failure, I am not looking to the government for a cure. We could solve the budget crisis easily if we returned to Constitutional government; national security being it's primary JOB.”

Supporter #2: “The republicans have an agenda and yours and the nations needs to not apply. If the Democrats don't stand together as one we will have to wait sometime before the nightmare will be over.”

Me: “‎@Supporter #2; like the Democrats don't have an agenda. They rammed hellcare thru against the wishes of the people, they spent taxpayers money like it grew on trees and how many 2000+ bills did they ram thru w/o reading, regardless of what the consequences were to the American people. All they want is power, control and bigger government. The last 2 yrs have been a nightmare for all those that are unemployed because of the policies of leftists like Mr. Cohen.”

Supporter #2: “TN WAHM your one of those special people who live in lala land. Do you still have your silver spoon?”

Supporter #3: First,” TN WAHM, I wish nothing but the best for you and your child.

Now, here's the thing: All the people who opposed Health Care Reform said that our health care system is the envy of the world.

But all those innovations that made it that way... are the direct result of government-funded research. The private sector has proven time and time again that it has neither the resources nor the will to sink serious research efforts into catastrophic disease.

Every advance that we make towards conquering catastrophic disease, be it cancer, HIV/ AIDS, juvenile diabetes, happens directly or indirectly through the work of the federal government.

Once, a cancer diagnosis was a death sentence. All the progress that we've made in beating it came directly or indirectly from government research.

When a pharmaceutical manufacturer develops a new medicine, they are building upon research that was funded by our government.

In a perfect world, the private sector would drive innovation. We don't live in that perfect world. If the government does not fund research, which is often conducted right her in Memphis at St. Jude and UT Health Science Center, the research does not get done.

When we reach that point where cancer is cured routinely, it will be because the NIH did the heavy lifting and provided organizations such as St. Jude and UTHSC with the means to conduct research, as well as their own in house research.”

Me: “@ Supporter #2, no silver spoon, I'm working middle class, but I know economics and I'm not jealous of the rich.

@ Supporter #3, obviously you believe that government is the solution to every problem. What did we do before all this government interference? How did America come from a poor 3rd world country in 1787 to become one of the richest countries in 1920? It wasn't because of Dept of Ed, Dept of Energy or HUD. If you cut out the entire defense budget ~which is the main job of the federal government~ you would only cut the deficit by a 1/3. From 1787-1920, the federal budget never exceeded 3% of the GDP except during times of war. Today the federal spending is 25% of the GDP. And for the record, I hold Repubs as well as Dems responsible for this. Repubs spent too much during the Bush administration, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to what the Dems spent since 2007 when they controlled the purse strings of Congress.

"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign invaders." -Samuel Adams”

Supporter #3: “Not every problem, but at the very least, THIS problem. The private sector does not drive medical research. If we do not fund it, it does not get done. The modern medical industry answers to its shareholders, not humanity. It's the reason there are more new patents for curing baldness and restless leg syndrome than curing actual disease.

The amount the Republicans want to cut from the NIH, $2.5 billion, is roughly the equivalent of 35 days in Iraq.

The debt explosion you talk of? That debt was there all along. The key difference is that the Obama administration makes Iraq & Afghanistan part of its budget (And thereby, part of the debt), while the Bush administration tracked it off budget. It's like saying your house note isn't part of your personal debt. It was an irresponsible sleight of hand designed to make the already bloated Bush deficits look smaller. His administration had a bad habit of doing things like that. His Council of Economic Advisers actually recommended reclassifying hamburgers as durable goods so they could make McJobs look like a thriving manufacturing sector.”

Me: “@Supporter #3, do you work for the NIH or the federal government?

You keep saying that w/o government there wouldn’t be any medical innovations and research. Just because you keep saying it doesn’t mean it’s so.

“Is it really true that political self-interest is nobler somehow than economic self-interest?” Milton Friedman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A

You sight the Iraq war, but even if we eliminated all defense spending, our deficit would only be cut by 1/3; and national defense is the main job of the federal government.

When was the last time the federal government had a balanced budget? The answer: 1957. http://www.geldpress.com/2008/07/us-budget-reporting-deception/
Unless I’m mistaken, George Bush wasn’t president in 1957.”

Having fun with Steve Cohen!

I’m having waaay too much fun on Steve Cohen’s Facebook page. Some of “his” supporters are such intellectuals and so very clever. Here are some examples:

Supporter #1: "If Republicans really believed this health care bill isn't going to reduce cost to all of us, then WHY did they exempt it from one of their new rules?

"The new rules also would streamline the process for repealing the new health care law by exempting the repeal bill from budget requirements.

"The Rule:
"...only spending cuts can be used to offset spending increases-a "cut as you go'' rule that takes tax increases off the table. It also allows taxes to be cut even if their cost isn't covered by spending reductions."

"I love how there's a principal here, but um, NO, not really. How ridiculous. Republicans don't even believe in this principle, so it's just a stupid idea altogether, and proves that the they believe the health care bill is going to reduce costs, too.

"Cutting taxes is SUCH a dumb idea right now. Most people agree with that...even the wealthy - which I am not. IF taxes are cut, Congress won't be scoring any points in this household. I'll just think they're stupid - my elementary students can do better math. Oh, and those taxes help pay for their education. We are the only country in the world that complains about having to make ourselves smarter. (???"

Me: "If cutting taxes is such a dumb idea then why did BO fold and keep the Bush tax cuts ~reduced taxes from Dem Bill Clinton's rates~ and Lawrence Summers warn of a double dip recession if taxes went up at the beginning of 2011? http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/12/08/summers-warns-of-double-dip-recession-without-tax-package/
History shows that lowering taxes increases revenues. The Fed government's problem is not an receipts problem, it's a spending problem. Even BO admitted in his debate in 2008 that he wants to raise taxes for "fairness."


"If you want to send in more money to the government, go ahead, but don't reach your hand into my pocket and confiscate more of mine."

Then comes this reply from an intellectual named “Clobber a Tea Bagger: "I do believe our President (Obama) addressed your question. It's called holding the poor and middle class hostage. Certainly the tax cuts for the top 1% is a loose-loose situation for the Country. If you consider Lawrence Sum...mers an expert on the American economy I recommend you seek serious economist. As for Clinton we had a much more robust economy which lead to his decision. What we have now is a complete debacle of the 8 years of the Bush Administration and policies. Brenda you sound like somewhat bright person, please consider doing a little more research. I am a firm believer with logic comes knowledge. Please don't reply as I refuse to argue with illogical individual"

My response: "Clobber, I wish I was as original and clever as you. I don't consider Summers an expert, but apparently BO does as he's the head of his economic team. So you agree that raising taxes slows down an economy? Oh, that's right, You won't be reading this. Well, just in case, spell check is your friend. Have a Great Day!"

Here’s another:
Supporter #2: "Watching C-span right now, When i hear the right wingers talking about employers being forced to provide insurance for employees that some bureaucrat has to approve, I hear them saying "that we can't just whip up some **** and call it insurance but have to meet some standard for insurance."‘

Supporter #3: "I wish people could see the good in eachother, then we could get along. Steve you sure do give it your all!!! I hope you can get through to these people who need to hear the truth!!"
Why can’t we all just get along?????????


Supporter #4: "Thank you Rep. Cohen for reminding people that the new healthcare legislation is a good idea. Thank you."

Supporter #5: "I've been saying this all along about this fringe party, thanks for being the first brave voice!"

Supporter #6: "You are a hero! Telling it how it is...the right wing and TP are brownshirts waiting to wear black shirts with yellow arm bands. Just saw you again on CNN...just awesome!"

Supporter #7: "I wrote my masters thesis on Nazi propaganda, and Mr. Cohen is correct that the republican rhetorical tactics are very similar to those used by Goebbels.

"Unfortunately, most seem to be saying that the congressman is comparing the republicans to Nazis, which is not the case. He is comparing the two types of political rhetoric."

Midsouth TeaParty: "Government Ruined Health Care versus Citizen Controlled Health Care?

"Or maybe there are some 'D.C. ELITES' who believe THEY can decide what's best for 90% of us...

"Take your money...Spend your money for you...then tell you what to do after THEY spent if for you...THANK YOU SIR MAY I HAVE ANOTHER"

To which another bright supporter replied: Why are people with educations and doing well for themselves called "elites" or "elitists"? It's like you want to hate them for being educated. As if being educated and being comfortable is a bad thing."

My reply: "Being an "elitist" has nothing to do with being educated or being comfortable. It's an attitude of 'I know better than you' and 'You are too stupid to make your own decisions.' Maybe you would understand the term 'ruling class' better; it's a synonym. It describes liberals like Steve Cohen to a T. He doesn’t respect people; he looks down on us “average” Americans. We’re seen as someone who needs someone smarter ~like him~ to think for us and make decisions for us. No Thank You! I don’t need a bureaucrat in some government office telling me how to run my life or what medical procedures I need or that they will pay for. I believe you have the same ability."

This same bright ~and apprently elitist~ supporter answered with this: "I am better than you. Period. I have enough confidence in myself to know that. I'm an American. I am better than most people worldwide. You will NEVER find me calling myself "average"! I consider myself to be well above average. I respect you as a fellow citizen, and I would HOPE you would find yourself to be better than status quo too, but clearly you don't. You just said you're personally "hovering above sub par"-- it's a synonym (ha!)... for "average". You are what you say you are so hear me say: I. AM. AWESOME-- AND IN AN ELITE CLASS of American citizens! I wil never be told what to do. Slavery is over. I choose to let civility rule. And civil countries take care of their own so that united we thrive in thought, actions. We've spent the last 2 years fighting over dumb s**t like, 'Should we take care of our health'? Elite people have other things to do. Let's move on..."

My reply to the elitist: "@elitist: I am in awe of your brilliance and superior intellect. I am unworthy to be in the presence of such greatness. /sarc

"Actually, your reading comprehension could use some sharpening. I never said that I considered myself “average;” I was explaining to you the term “elitist.” Thank you for illustrating my point so eloquently.

"Oh and about “I will never be told what to do” and “slavery is over;” you should use your awesome intellect to ponder the 2000+ pages of the Obamacare bill. You will find that it’s all about government control. For starters, you are mandated to buy health insurance ~health insurance that the government deems suitable for you.~ See if you can find the 2 dozen new/or higher taxes in the bill. Have a Great Day!"


The same supporter who didn’t know what “elitists” were had these words of encouragement for Mr. Cohen: "You're from Memphis. Shake the haters off. :) I saw you in a commercial for now-governor Christie in NJ last year when I was living in NYC. I loved the way you ripped him a new one when he was testifiying"

And then there’s this jewel: "First of all, thank you for serving your constituents and our nation in the the United States House of Representatives. You must have made many personal sacrifices in order to fulfill the duties of your office. I respect your passion for public service and your loyalty to the nation.

"As you are well aware, Congressman..., the need for civility in public discourse today is critical. With respect, you should apologize to your Republican colleagues for the comparison to Joseph Goebbels and the Holocaust. Such rhetoric does not help the cause of affordable health care for all Americans, it does not help the cause of the Democratic party, and it certainly does not help the cause of the nation. The American people are weary of bitter partisan recriminations. I urge you to set a higher, more dignified and civil tone. Today, the best thing you can do for your constituents and your country is to offer an apology and set a new tone of civility."

Black Genocide by Oppressive Liberals

Awesome video! Why do blacks support the party whose policies have decimated the black family in the inner cities?

Oppressive Liberals

I used the term “oppressive liberals” in a comment on a site and I was challenged to name some examples of such “oppression.” Here is my reply.

Let’s see, I’ll start with the oppression of those on welfare here in Memphis. First is our horrendous school system. Not only are many not learning the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, but they are also not safe. Why not give all parents the FREEDOM to choose the school that their children attend? Competition breeds excellence, but our children are stuck in a school system that has failed them.

Next we have failed them in their neighborhoods. Where is crime the highest? Neighborhoods that our government ~us the taxpayers~ subsidizes. Are you living in one of these high crime neighborhoods? I bet not. Why not? Because you have the FREEDOM to choose elsewhere because of YOUR hard work. The oppressive policies of the left give welfare recipients just enough to keep them in poverty with no incentive to work to get out.

Also, we try to replace the father with a check. Which do you think is better? A child with a father with a job who is taking responsibility for his family or a single mom ~most likely a teenager~ with no emotional or physical support? Men in the black community need to stand-up and take responsibility for their families instead of just being sperm donors; and young women in the black community need to be empowered to see that they are more than just sex objects.

I don’t know about you, but that’s what I would call oppressive.

Better Bail Faster, Billy

It is criminal what the Dems led by BO have saddled our kids and grandkids with.

Donkeys vs Elephants on Spending

Here's an article that shows the difference between spending under President Bush and spending under the Obama administration. Hey, Big Spenders Also noteworthy is the graph showing the truth of what happened to the deficit when either Democrats or Republicans controlled Congress. When things get tight in your family budget either thru unexpected expenses or loss of income, what do you do? Do you keep spending money or tighten your belts and eliminate some spending. We need to do the same as a country!