Our future before our eyes.

Hear that swirling, sucking sound?  Yeah, that's us, California.  Here are some salient points from a  very sobering article.

It took years for liberalism's redistributive itch to create an income tax so steeply progressive that it prompts the flight from the state of wealth-creators: "Between 1990 and 2007," Voegeli writes, "some 3.4 million more Americans moved from California to one of the other 49 states than moved to California from another state."

Voegeli says that if California's spending had grown no faster than population growth and inflation from 1992 to 2006, it would have been $65 billion less in 2006, and per capita government outlays then would have equaled not those of Somalia or Mississippi but of Oregon, which is hardly "a hellish paradigm of Social Darwinism."

The state, which between 1990 and 2007 lost 26 percent of its factory jobs and 35 percent of its high-tech manufacturing jobs, ranks behind only New York, another of liberalism's laboratories, in the number of outward-bound moving vans.

It took years for servile liberalism to turn the state into what Voegeli calls a "unionocracy," run by and for unionized public employees, such as public safety employees who can retire at 50 and receive 90 percent of the final year's pay for life.  (CDCR employees included. Tough situation as a lot of friends here are CO's.)

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is one reason why California's government employees -- their numbers grew 24 percent between 1997 and 2007 -- are the nation's most highly compensated.

Well, if it wasn't clear before why I cringed each time I called myself a Californian, it is now.

Blessings,
theMK

Dr. Phil & Gen. George Casey...the new Muslim Jihadist apologists

The madness continues.  To be expected of Dr. Phil, I guess.  It would be a shame if his honorable occupation was besmirched by a coldly calculating terrorist instead of someone who just "snapped."

Much more disturbing are the excuses offered by one of our nations top "warriors."  I expect more of our top military brass than to spout the proper politically correct BS on national television.  What, Gen. Casey, do you not believe that your subordinates are watching the news programs too?  Do you not think the family, friends, and coworkers of those slain at Ft. Hood are watching you get your panties all in a twist because you think that...

'"This terrible event," Gen. Casey noted, "would be an even greater tragedy if our diversity becomes a casualty."' 

Screw our military's diversity!  I don't care how diverse it is.  I want it to be an organization that bears the title of "warrior" with pride, not the cowardice that you display.  Shame on you, Gen. Casey!

Guns blamed for Ft. Hood massacre

Amazing!  Astounding!  But not at all surprising.  Mayor Daley strikes again.

Parent or Peer?

This article by Terry Paulson makes some great points and essentially I agree with it.  He makes some great points and highlights some great inefficiencies in our current government and national psyche. 

However, I cringe at his use of the parental example to describe a good government.  Myself & my family are not spoiled or immature children to be sternly guided by the wise hand of government.  That's the mentality of the government that we have now & look where it's getting us! As the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic says, it's the "road to hell."

The government is not my parent, it is my peer.  You might give your friends advice if you believe they're screwing up their lives.  You might even offer to help and make tools available for them to help themselves.  But you let them make their own decisions and lie in their own bed if they choose not to change their course and decisions.

There's a lot of "help" that I don't need from the government.  When the government believes that it is my & my neighbor's parent it imposes it's "help" on us no matter what I think.  Frankly, I'm tired of paying for the "help" that our "parent" gives to those of my neighbors who've chosen to make poor decisions. 

Thank you very much, but I think I can take care of myself.  And I think my neighbor should too.

theMK

The immorality of America

Walter E. Williams has a great short commentary on one aspect of America's social decay.  Poignant & pointed.  Well worth the few minutes to read.

theMK

Where is your charitable giving going to go?

Hugh Hewitt gives us a little clearer picture of what Obama's budget means for the rest of us.

theMK

The Goopy Mess in Zimbabwe

It seems that there is some progress in Zimbabwe, albeit controversial and very much less than perfect or desired.  In accordance with SADC's decision on 27 January to push through the Global Political Agreement, the Zimbabwe parliament has passed constitutional amendment 19 which makes way for a power-sharing government. 

While dictators & thugs march in lockstep with Mugabe (see the Chinese xinhuanet.com where they give Mugabe a stage he doesn't deserve...

"Our condemnation, our isolation is because my
government took the necessary measures to create conditions for equal
opportunities, for de-colonization, for creating conditions in which our people
could regain their lost resources," he added.

and the ever-encouraging Al-Jezeera

Mugabe will remain the head of state and Zanu-PF and the MDC will share the cabinet posts.  "It has been a long, frustrating, quarrelsome journey characterized by animosity and name-calling, but notwithstanding this, what is important is we have reached this path," Patrick Chinamasa, Mugabe's lead negotiator, said.")

there are at least some who still oppose this pretender to the throne.

The Anglican church stood up for what's right.  Botswana, who has remained the most stalwart regional opponent of the Mugabe regime, also spoke out this week.  You can also see the Zimbabwe diaspora's response to the SADC declaration from last week.  Look in the comments.

It frys me that the Chinese and Al-Jezeera are claiming that "Mugabe will remain the head of state."  That's either gross ignorance of the deal, piss-poor reporting, or more likely blatant complicity with a fellow thug. 

Time will soon tell if this progress will be maintained...if you can call it progress.  Tsvangarai should be sworn in next Thursday.  We'll see if it happens.

theMK

You, Mr. American, are silly

The Dems are just flummoxed because of the outcry against lawbreakers being Presidential nominees.  John Kerry says:

"We're getting silly here," he said when asked what the withdrawal meant for Obama. "I think people ought to step back and just measure these things against the larger picture."

And Craig Holman says:

Obama deserves credit for trying to set new standards for ethics in Washington. 

and

"The administration is trying to change the way things are done on Capitol Hill."

Gosh, the hope for change I feel is just overwhelming.

theMK

Barack turns his back on Africa

I knew it would happen.  In the midst of the post-election euphoria people would grin at me and say "USA? Obama!"  And that was in Africa!  You should have seen the headlines.  They all rejoiced that America had finally overcome it's inherent racism (gag me!) and looked forward to a US administration that would shower support and international leadership on the continent of Obama's ancestors.

Two weeks into it, the people of Zimbabwe can now see the kind of support and international leadership that he's willing to give.

The Obama administration has toned down U.S. rhetoric against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, dropping for now a public demand the veteran African leader step down, said U.S. officials on Monday.['Cause we don't want that!]

The goal...was to give southern African nations breathing space in dealing with Mugabe [because they've been so effective so far] who has agreed on a power-sharing arrangement with Zimbabwe's opposition.

"What Robert Mugabe needs to do, is to do what's best for the people of Zimbabwe [he's already demonstrated a desire for this, obviously] -- and an effective power-sharing arrangement [it's been so effective so far with Mugabe just rolling over and conceding his power] ... that's what needs to happen," Wood said.

With friends like Obama, who needs enemies.

theMK

Just when you thought the African Union couldn't be more inept or ineffective.

And why don't we add our own shovelful to the pile...

"We are going to continue to work with the AU," spokesman Robert Wood told reporters. "It's a critical institution in terms of our dealing with the continent."

theMK