CHOICES: Mice or Men

I do not believe in fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in fate that falls on them unless they act. - GK Chesterton

The other day I sat down in a local eatery for what promised to be a pleasant lunch of enchiladas, refried beans, and rice. I was dining alone at my table due to several factors, including the fact that I have no friends. There were several other occupied tables in the restaurant: two pairs of women, an assortment of men, a couple in their 60's, and a young fella of undetermined age. This last was actually sitting with his back to me at the adjoining booth. I noted he had long, stringy hair, was wearing a "Louisiana" hat indoors and at the table, and was listening to an iPod or some such device.

Shortly after my food arrived his phone rang. This fella proceeded to talk on the phone while eating. And he talked loudly, his hearing no doubt affected by the earbud still plugged into the hole on the other side of his head. Now, this combination of behaviors was enough to annoy me, but I'm a live-and-let-live type of guy. But then the language turned south. At first it was just an a-s here, or a sh*t there, but then it rapidly escalated. F-bombs were being dropped at a rate that would make The Dude blush, hurled across the room at unsuspecting diners, propelled by this Bayou Bum's awesome level of tactlessness.

I watched the wait staff: perhaps out of fear of a tipless reprisal, or because of a tenuous grasp of English profanity, they did nothing to stop him. I watched the man eating with his wife: he was in his 60's but a pretty large guy. He did nothing but look offended for his wife. I didn't look to the other men in the room to do anything because I was as capable as they; my pause was out of deference to the wait staff and the man dining with his wife. Having heard more than I'd wanted I got up and walked over to the public offender, interrupted his phone call, and said, "Hey, there are ladies present in this room... would you cut out the profanity." While technically a question, the intonation made it clear this was a command. He understood, apologized, and cleaned up his act (the language, anyway... I doubt the hair had been cleaned in days).

Why do I tell you this? To look like the hero? No. I most certainly wasn't a hero; I merely requested that another guy show some respect to the women in the room. I wasn't looking to get into a fight either. I'm at the age where I don't even want to fight. It's not that I can't or won't. I've won and lost many in my life. I've forcefully taken swinging bats away from people. I've gotten into a fight (flanked by my brother and former brother-in-law) against 30 people... while dressed up as an M&M (the green one, right Philip?). I've bloodied and been bloodied. Fun and games back in the day. Recently, though, I had an experience that convinced me those days are gone.

Earlier this year, as I did some ring mastering for mixed martial arts fights, I realized just what is walking the streets out there. It wasn't that these fighters were any stronger or tougher than me. I don't even think most of them were that much better at fighting. But what I came to accept is that there are a heckuva lot of people out there who care far less about their own bodies than I care about mine. These guys were getting the fluids beat out of them for a chance to win less than I was making just talking. Of course, those guys are young and can heal while I'm at the age that blowing my nose wrong could result in a stress fracture.

Anyway, back to the restaurant. What astounded me was that not one other man in the restaurant - not even the employees - would do anything about this guy's behavior. I felt a stunned silence fall over the dining room as I confronted the foul-mouthed magpie. Why? Is it that shocking when a man stands up and does what a man should do? Evidently - and sadly - it is: the magpie did as instructed. I certainly didn't mind doing it, but why did the other men refuse? Especially the employees whose job it is to provide a pleasant atmosphere for their customers?

I experienced a similar incident when I was working at McDonald's back in college. A woman and her teenaged daughter came in, followed by two rather drunk 20-something nothings. One of the two drunk men stood right behind (no more than an inch between them) the teenaged girl and proceeded to make lewd comments about her to his friend. The woman and her daughter were scared to death, as evidenced by the looks on their faces. I came out from behind the griddle and informed these two dunderheads that they were going to apologize to the young lady and then leave, thus avoiding a very embarrassing beating in a fast food restaurant. (I was not bluffing as it would not be the first time I'd fought in a restaurant... or even the second. I was a bit wild in those days.) Short story long, they apologized, the two women shot out of the restaurant, and the two drunks wandered out, figuring I meant what I had said and could back it up.

The manager then pulled me to the back, told me to go home, and informed me that I would likely be fired unless I apologized to the drunks. I put the likelihood of that happening in terms of snowballs in hell and his growing of huevos. Alas, my job was spared on my way out when both mother and daughter ran into the restaurant, wrapped their arms around me, and thanked me profusely for standing up for them when no one else (including said manager) would.

Again, I don't bring this up to claim to be a hero. In both incidents I merely did what any man should, so it has nothing to do with self-aggrandizement. And this piece isn't about the deplorable state of American eateries, their employees, or patrons. My whole point is that we have become such a feminized society that men don't stand up in the face of even the simplest of circumstances. Could there have been trouble from the swearing TexMex customer? Unlikely. The two fast food drunks? More likely, but they were both drunk and I was young, sober, and disaffected. I'm sure you see these failures every day: Men ignoring rude behavior. Doors closed in women's faces. Thank you's going unsaid. These are but little issues of civility, yet we as men seemingly can't stand up and demand them. What does that mean for the future?

We needn't wait for the future - the results are all around us. We have a government that is spending us into a $12 trillion national debt that our kids and grandkids will have to pay. While between several thousand and several million (depending upon your news source) people marched on Washington, DC in opposition to this, it's still just an empty gesture. The current administration knows all about symbolic actions, empty gestures, and escalated threats. They mean nothing; therefore, they garner no respect from those in charge. At some point someone must stand up, say, "Enough is enough," and do something about it. Aren't you glad George Washington did? What if he'd said to himself, "Well, it all might cause an ugly scene?"

This manless state of ours is resulting in far worse and immediate dangers for us. Take the current situation with Iran. For quite some time the Iranians have refused to allow international inspectors to examine their uranium enrichment program in order to evaluate whether the rogue state is trying develop nuclear energy capabilities or nuclear weapons. There have been clandestine programs put in place by the Israelis and the U.S. to sabotage Iranian enrichment efforts, but none have been given the green light to act. It is likely the U.S. program has been dismantled, though I have no substantiated information either way (please feel free to comment). On September 20 of this year, Iranian President Mahmoud "Members Only" Ahmadinejad stated that U.S. officials know they are wrong about claims that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expounded by saying:

The U.S. officials who talk about Iranian missiles and their danger while saying Iran intends to build a nuclear bomb, they know these words are wrong.

Our response was to invite Iran to "dialogue" about its nuclear program. Five days later Iran revealed the existence of a secret underground uranium enrichment plant near Qom. This time the Western world's words were tougher. At the G-20 Barack Obama himself pointed out that "Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow." England and France joined the U.S. in demanding Iran disclose its nuclear ambitions "or be held accountable" to an impatient world community. Just three days later, in what was a surprise to these same leaders, Iran announced the testing of a missile that could reach any perceived threat to Iran, including Israel, parts of Europe, and U.S. military bases in the Middle East. The U.S. reaction has been a sort of stunned silence.

Quite frankly, I'm surprised the empty gestures and hollow threats haven't been more numerous, given that it was just last month that the Russian cargo ship Arctic Sea went on its bizarre tour of the terrorist world, likely delivering nuclear and/or missile materials to Iran. Of course, this policy of downplaying the importance of keeping nuclear technology out of the hands of dangerous, fanatical extremists is quite consistent with how the administration has dealt with North Korea.

If I had asked you a year ago to name the two most dangerous and downright unstable national leaders in the world, what percentage of you would have replied with Kim Jong-il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Well, guess what? These two mad men now (or very soon will) have nuclear material and viable ways to deliver them across a wide arc... unless we do something right now.

But then, if we as men can't stand up to a four-letter word like F*CK, how are we ever to face one like NUKE?

HELTHКAЯE ЯEFORM (Part 5)

Barack Obama pulled it off: The Full Ginsburg. This little maneuver is named after William Ginsburg, Monica Lewinski's lawyer, who once took a damage-control tour of the five big Sunday morning talk shows. (It should be noted that The Full Ginsburg is very different in nature from The Full Lewinski.) So, Obama hoped to match the success of that tour - who doesn't have the utmost respect for M.L. today? - by attempting the same. Last weekend he hit ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and... Univision. Okay, so maybe it was ¿todo el Ginsburg?

This conspicuous absence from Fox News came as a surprise to some and a shock to none. It seems no one wanted to come to terms with Obama's blatant avoidance of the Republican-leaning network, but he really had no choice. For weeks the administration and media had built up the importance of his joint address to Congress in the fight to turn the reddening tides of Health Care Reform. Representative Joe Wilson put an end to that effort with just two words: You lie. Say what you will about decorum, tradition, and self-control, his outburst took every bit of the hot air out of the Helthkare Яeform balloon. I am not defending Joe Wilson because I don't know him and he is a politician, but I will state this move was - intended or not - brilliant.

So when Uncle Barack hit the airwaves he wanted to make sure no one had the opportunity to take away from his agenda by shouting out anything like the truth. [A little explanation here: In his joint speech to Congress Obama stated: The reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally. This was untrue and that is why Wilson shouted you lie. The media reported that the President's plan does not endorse insurance for illegal aliens and therefore Wilson was wrong. Perhaps they are playing semantics like the President, but in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute he... well, I'll let him speak for himself (as reported by The Washington Times):

"Even though I do not believe we can extend coverage to those who are here illegally, I also don't simply believe we can simply ignore the fact that our immigration system is broken," Mr. Obama said Wednesday evening in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. "That's why I strongly support making sure folks who are here legally have access to affordable, quality health insurance under this plan, just like everybody else."

Mr. Obama added, "If anything, this debate underscores the necessity of passing comprehensive immigration reform and resolving the issue of 12 million undocumented people living and working in this country once and for all."

It appears that in politicospeak both Wilson and Obama were right. People in this country illegally right now are going to be insured; people in this country illegally right now will be legal by that time. There - no illegal aliens will be provided insurance because there will be no illegal aliens. Gee, no wonder he chose Univision to round out his Modified Ginsburg.]

Back to Fox News. The President skipped appearing on Fox News to send a message to all you Red County rural people out there: The Democratic Party doesn't care what you think, what you believe, or what you have to say. We have the power and we will do what we want, and you slow-witted, homophobic, racist dirtballs are gonna take it.

I know it sounds as though I'm putting words in their mouths now, but consider these:

1. 
   
   Robert Gibbs on Presidential School Speech
   
   
   
2. Nancy Pelosi on Conservative Dissent
3. Jimmy Carter on Joe Wilson
4. Department of Health and Human Services on Free Speech

And that last one takes us to the main subject of Part 5 in this series: Medicare and Medicaid. The purpose of this health care reform initiative (aside from using U.S. taxpayer money to buy votes from the uninsured) is to eliminate Medicare and Medicaid... or rather, shift it to private insurance carriers. How do I know this as a fact? The central stated objective is to provide (read: force) EVERYONE in this country to have health coverage. Medicaid is coverage for the very young and the destitute. Medicare is for older folks who can’t afford the expenses associated with their advancing years. Private health insurance policies are for, seemingly, the people in the middle who can work and pay for coverage in the event of illness.

Currently, this is optional, as it should be. A healthy 22-year old single male really has no major reason to carry health insurance. Can bad, expensive things happen to him? Yes. Statistically, is that possibility worth him spending cash that could otherwise be used for education, professional training, or career advancement? No. Yet he will be forced to have health insurance. Why? Because that's the only way the system will work.

This same 22-year old will no longer need Medicare when he gets older: his employer-provided, mandatory health insurance will be there... into perpetuity. (Yes, employers, get ready to provide health insurance as a permanent - i.e.: post-retirement - benefit.) And his kids? They will have mandatory coverage under his employer’s policy as soon as they come out of the shoot. And if he isn’t employed? The government will ultimately assign coverage from a private insurer. [Please see Part 1 where I compare it to auto insurance, or listen to Obama's own recent comments where he confuses it with auto insurance (4 minutes and 16 seconds mark).] Why? Because Medicaid and Medicare are doomed and Congress knows this. For that matter, anyone with a smattering of mathematical knowledge should also know this. Let me explain:

There are approximately 8 billion Baby Boomers out there right now, steadily approaching the age of incontinence, with only about 47 Gen-X’s to pay the tab. (The totals may be a little off, but I stand behind the ratio.) There is no way for the members of Generation X to provide enough tax revenue to pay for the demands on the Medicare system of so many Baby Boomers. Turn the numbers any way you want. Have the GAO shift the columns in any magical way it chooses. Ask Congress to retroactively shift fiscal-year dates up and down. (These are all tricks the Federal Government regularly uses to convince Joe Public that the balance sheets are legitimate.) No matter how you stack it the system is grossly top heavy. But Medicaid and Medicare in particular are untouchable.

Remember when George W. Bush wanted to shift Medicare to private insurers? The AARP talked about marching on Washington with walkers and torches. “You want us all to die!” they shouted. Yes, actually, that’s what they are waiting for. But you refuse to comply. No politician will touch these programs because they fear reprisals from the voting block that the AARP represents. But if they shifted the burden onto insurance companies and employers, why, you'd have insurance coverage throughout your career and retirement, your kith and kin would also be covered, and only big, bad corporations would have to pay for it. [I've already covered the fallacy of taxing corporations - please go back and reread the second half of Part 4.]

There is a lot here to digest... and my lunch hour is over... so I will stop at this time and continue Part 5 over the next several days.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ME!!!!

My wife, Benita, was informed today that two of her photographs have been selected to be included in a set of collector cards to benefit The Literacy Council and The Walker County Arts Alliance. The cards will go on sale at The Heritage Festival in Jasper, Alabama on October 17, 2009. I would include a copy of the photos but, alas, they are part of the fundraiser, so I can't reproduce them here. Do yourself a favor and take a look at her NEW website and some of her photography: http://asweetlifestudio.com/

Why are the congratulations for me, you ask? Because I had the wisdom to marry such a talented, intelligent, enchanting, sensual, and absolutely incredible woman. Kudos to me!

Not Just Another Pretty Face

It’s been a while since I’ve written here and I know I promised another part to the Healthcare Reform series. I promise it is forthcoming – I will explain that the objective of health care reform is to eliminate Medicare and Medicaid, and that the only way to fix the health care ills in this country is through a single-payer system. But for now, something lighter because I’ve been rather ill over the last several weeks, undoubtedly caused by Joe Wilson’s blatant racism.

A few weeks ago a friend informed me that he had been enjoying the healthcare series and that he wasn’t offended by what I said about mechanics in Part 2 because he used to be a mechanic. I’m glad he wasn’t offended because the last thing in the world I’d want to do is offend someone, especially a fellow former mechanic. But it seems no matter how hard I try to stay on people’s good side I usually find a way to offend.

Take, for instance, the email I sent out announcing the posting of Part 2. I inadvertently sent it to a couple of MENSA members whose addresses were in my contact list, and the responses I got were quite rude. It was an accident that they even got the notice in the first place because I am careful to send my writings to the only conservative MENSAN I know: Maryann. You see, most MENSANS gravitate toward liberalism… and chocolate… and nudism. These do not go together well. I hate to pick on them that way, but truth is truth. In fact, I’ve noticed that nudism and liberalism in general are not complimentary isms. They should not be mixed. You may not have noticed this phenomenon yourself, so let me provide you with some examples.

On the left I’ve placed photos of famously liberal individuals, and on the right, well, good looking conservatives. Again, my intention is not to offend, just observe. Decide for yourself:

Yeah, I'm still going with the one on the right.

I think you can clearly see from this list that it's tough for us conservatives: people tend to think we're just beautiful people with nothing else to offer. But that's just not true. We're not just another pretty face... we're conservatives.

If you feel like one of us, show your colors in a nice, new T-shirt. What a great gift for yourself or a loved one. Christmas is just right around the corner.

http://edwardgroberts.shirtcity.com/

The Battle for Decatur

On Saturday we attended a reenactment of the Civil War Battle for Decatur. This was a commemoration of CSA Lieutenant General John B. Hood's 23,000-man Army of Tennessee's attempt to cross the Tennessee River near Decatur, Alabama. Union Brigadier General Robert S. Granger was able to force Hood west approximately 45 miles with a force of between 2,000 and 5,000 men... then he promptly burned Decatur to the ground. Everyone did a great job (Saturday, not in 1864) and my family and I are thankful that so many people are dedicated to preparing for and performing these reenactments so that we may - if only for an afternoon - imagine what our forefathers went through in the course of building this nation.

I took some video and photos of the event without planning to do anything with them, but ended up putting this together with a standard program on my computer.