Are the fat ladies singing in Holland?

It's official....officials in the Holland area have floated (no pun intended) the idea of grovelling in front of Washington/FEMobamA for help with their little bit of water...WHY? Let's answer the question from an individual's point of view...

The city of Holland is like a homeowner...their basement got wet (very wet), as did their car. Now, if this homeowner was intelligent and thoughtful, they either bought flood insurance if availiable, have an emergency savings account, or are allowed lines of credit. The logical course of action would be to remove everything from harms way (enlisting the assistance of neighbors to whom this individual would return future help if anything happened to them) and then pull in repair funds from insurance, savings, and/or by taking out a loan. What, then, is the FEMA-equivalent in this metaphor? God.

I've always been raised on the idea that "God helps those who help themselves" and it fits: the city of Holland psuedo-conservatives wish to pray to FEMA/Obama for intervention. If an individual did this, they would sit on the entry floor's comfiest couch and pray that God would make everything right downstairs...would he? Probably not. Will FEMA? Probably not.

God could get rid of your basement's problem by burning your house down (it would be fittingly ironic)...FEMA will make everything right by moving thousands out of their houses and into "temporary" trailers while they paid thousands to go to lunch, break things, and stand around watching city employees do work...oh, and they would put signs in that say "This assistance brought to you by President Barack Obama, our lord and savior."

According to the metaphor of the homeowner (within which is my advice to individuals with basements flooded: buck up and do it yourself), the course of action for Holland is simple: enlist help from surrounding counties based on a gentlemens' agreement of an 'owed favor,' pull out some loans, draw off your savings (which you should have, always), and work the union guys beyond union limits paying time-and-a-half...after the job is done, ensure that future heavy rainfalls will be efficiently drained into the Big Water right next door.

We have local governments for a reason...as far as I know, the local governments are still standing so there is no need for FEMA mobile bases...buck up and do it yourself!

A Night Without the Internet!!!

I cant help but comment on the awesomeness of the storms last night....but, thankfully, I had only left my laptop at Katelyn's and our power, thanks to a wonderful nuclear plant just south of here, stayed on.

Just wanted to drop a few lines about the media response as well as the preparedness of our area for the flooding....

Point 1: Why dont reporters help anybody? Back when the norovirus was hitting Hope, the reporters didnt help anyone get out before it was quarantined and, last night, WOOD TV 8's reporters just stood there and watched people get stranded...its sad, really.

Point 2: I was told that last night's kind of rain happened about 10 years ago...and again last year...and, of course, this year. I wonder what can be done...what great undertakings can be accomplished at your local (and I mean LOCAL) town hall to prepare West Michigan for these regular floodings? We have one of the biggest lakes in the world right next to us...we just need to dump the water into it...very easy, yet so hard.

Thank you and I'm sorry its so scattered :(

Recognizing Real Economic Recovery

I've come up with a method of tracking economic gains in your area...on your own. It all started with the question: "Why the heck do we watch the stock market anymore?" It's so very politicized and, thus, gimp as an economic tracker. Same goes for the Treasury department and all the other 'politically recognized' tracking institutions along with all their numbers, figures, and projections. My alternative: food serving staff.

Waiters and waitresses, restaurants and bars: these jobs are a direct beneficiary of real economic recovery. If property ownership is easily and plausibly attained, they can own houses; if real unemployment begins falling and consumer confidence is really on the rise, tip revenue rises and the work/reward ratio becomes more favorable. When the economy falters in one area or another, these 'little guys' suffer much more than others and in much more diversified ways.

This diversification enables a secure tracking system no matter what policies businesses have to......endure; for instance, if taxes climb and reduce extra cash-on-hand, servers at Restaurant Toulouse in Saugatuck suffer more than, say, a Bob Evans franchise. Well...there's more to this line of thinking but I think I've gotten the basic point across...some econ nerd should test this theory out...

I hope you're all well and surviving Il Duce...Katelyn's mother was talking to the few of us sometime over the weekend about something to do with Obama's car companies (I have a bad memory...just look at my report cards) and reminded all of us to accept that we cant change Granholbama's policies and that we must acheive our happiness through looking forward to the bright, post-Obama future for America's.

Facebook politics

We all know that there is a tremendous impact on our culture from emerging social networks...yet older generations are largely absent from this sphere.

One application I use when discussing this impact is in the realm of workers' unions...my argument is, simply, that Facebook makes a continuous union entirely irrelevant. With real-time group updates, any employee can communicate en mass with all other employees; if there is a perceived abuse (lets say a contract violating staff meeting OMGrsh!!), the employee that feels strongly about it could contact all others and organize resistance against said staff meeting very quickly...and for *free.* This bypasses all need of and all use for union personnel which have classically been committed to doing said organizing for a living. Further, this decentralizes 'the union' to the point where it not only gets back to caring about the workers, it is composed entirely of small, voluntary efforts directly from professionally equal workers. The most recognizable flaw in that framework is human laziness and the will to $pay$ a bit to have someone else make your career decisions. Regardless, this is a small-scale example of the greater decentralization of American culture.

Our nation began as one focused as much as possible on decentralization of power and culture. As we "progressed," we happened upon a little guy named FDR and the trend was reversed until, as technology has progressed, we return to the upward course toward a generally decentralized culture (not government....in a democracy, political changes always follow cultural changes). We can use television as an illustration: in the 50's, you have 5 shows to watch at any given time; today you have (in my household) over 900. The difference isn't just the amount of channels, of course, its what is on: today's shows/songs/entertainment are much more tailored to specific demographics and lives where people will be most comfortable with them...this is at direct opposition to the beginning days of TV where, if you were to watch television, you had to accept culture you weren't used to...this socialized a more monolithic cultural unity.

Today, I don't have to watch MTV or other liberal stations. I can watch a Fraiser re-run every night, be entirely content and fully secure in my cultural identity. This disassociates me with Monica Conyers, Hank Williams Jr., Pierre from Montreal, Adolf from Germany, Abib from Saudi Arabia, etc. etc. With our type of selective data accessibility, we don't have to see outside our adopted norms nor do we have to even speak with people from our colleges.

My Blackberry Pearl allows me to just speak with Katelyn and a handful of pre-existing friends; if I choose, I don't ever have to 'make' friends again and it's not even necessary that I speak to my Laker peers. I can block all but an isolated group of peers from my Facebook StalkerFeed (a list of news on what your 'Friends' are doing). Effectively, we can cut ourselves off from any and all socialization beyond that which has already occurred...and we do.

As stated above, this is nothing new: geographically-based social isolation is in our American blood! The post-war rise of the 'sub-division,' small towns ('nuff said), pop-culture-famous neighborhoods in New York City, lifestyle based isolation (Saugatuck/Douglas), immigrant communites (Holland, Chinatown): these all have existed for hundreds of years and all are based around the cultural pluralism that existed at the Founding. Now, the current trend is nothing bad...you cant stop it, I cant stop it, and the government surely cant stop it.

The latter point destroys hope for a D.C. central government with anything above basic power: decentralization of culture MUST be followed by a return to the wells of democracy at the local and state levels. If you don't, you end up with the USSR's premiership in the Oval Office...someone (like Obama is now) who presses ideas based on the President's perceptions (which are vastly different than, say, mine) leading to totalitarian domination of segments of the population (i.e. what is typicalized as the the "white middle class" but is actually made up of all races, nationalities, religions, etc. It is the achievement class, a group centered around personal drive and capitalism, that is being targeted by this administration in favor of those Obama thinks inherently 'deserve' to be bettered.)

The threat is not that Obama is doing things "wrong" (we simply see them differently...the money is going away from us to those "deserving," but for Democrats, the money always comes from benevolent and kind government officials) but that he's being powerful, period. It's not right to force your norms and mores upon anybody, a decentralized system prevents this type of oppression. With Facebook generating 'artificial towns' and the economy being more and more online, we are shuffling to be with those we're comfortable with in settings of our liking. Socialism doesnt work because it overrides fundamental differences and dismantles productivity (See: France). The only sustainable answer is returning to localities/states, where government stays with people already on my Contact list, that think along the same lines as 'me,' and are right down the street/highway.

Journalists, Courage, and Union

I know I said I would do a tradition of Lincoln post if the news was slow...it hasnt been, but my noodle has been cooked by a recent event...

From what I've heard, two female journalists were working near the DMZ for Al Gore's company and have ended up in North Korean (commie) custody. Being that the communists of the last, oh, 185 years havent been known for their kindness and compassion, Kimmy Il sentenced them to 12 years of hard labor (a.k.a. cruel and unusual punishment) for "Grave crimes against the Korean nation."

This situation reminds me of something TR had to deal with back in 1904. For the record, TR is one of my favorite Presidents (I respect his modernization of government...more importantly, he first broached an early conservatism both at home and abroad) and I did remember much of the topic, yet I'm not that smart and did do some research.

"Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead!"

Ion Perdicaris was a Greek-American working as the American consul to Morocco...in 1904, the diplomat-aristocrat was abducted by a rebel band (Moors titled Berbers) lead by a notorious Robin-Hood-like brigand named Raisuli. Raisuli's demands were $70,000 and some territory out of the Morrocan sultan. This didnt fly under a courageous president.

Roosevelt immediately issued the big-stick line "Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead!" which was toned-down by John Hay, the Secretary of State, in a telegram "The government wants Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead." Following the telegram were several warships, dispatched by a direct order from the president, and, upon their arrival, the hostages were released.

Lets compare results to Obama....the 2009 White House released this statement: "We are all focused on the journalists very closely. And by we, I mean all levels of the US [Federal] government. These are young women with families - one with a 4-year old daughter - and we are making clear to North Korea through many channels that they should be released and reunited with their families."

. . .

THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

Liberal journalists or not, these are American citizens and it is our spineless President's JOB to get them out of there! I'm afraid that Mr. Obama will never understand that you cannot simply talk to madmen...I fear more that these women, most likely raped and tortured already, will be forgotten by a political machine too alike North Korea in its willingness to sacrifice many for an ideology.

With wimps populating the highest offices, all we can do is pray for them.

Trailing thoughts sparked by Allegan's Lincoln Day Dinner

Hello again, Katelyn and I spent the evening at a fruitfully attended Lincoln Day Dinner for Allegan County GOP earlier tonight...for those who are unfamiliar: the county GOP's have been holding Lincoln Day Dinners as fundraisers...this evening was 'ours' and I dragged Katelyn along. These events are typucalized as generally 'insider' and I'd like to comment a bit on the thoughts provoked by the two I've experienced.

For one, Katelyn and I were probably the only two people under 21 there...that's bad...it's always irked me with the defecit in Republican incursions into the 'youth vote.' Young people WANT conservative values! People dont seem to get this...Obama won a bunch of youth votes over with the word "Change;" this directly tells us one thing: young people dont like American political culture. If I could fully classify American political culture here, I'd be a much more wealthy young man (we can file that under the "Projects" catagory....right next to explaining why people vote and retracing Louis and Clark's journey via kayak)...but the pervasive idea -maybe you've noticed this- traces to government and political dialogue being dominated by 70's liberal entrenchment.

The bureaucracy is big-government liberal, the Congress has been big-government liberal for nearly a decade, Bush was being big-government liberal - Republican/Democrat, the politick walks and talks like the government is the actor. Intelligent youth who, like their Obamaniac peers, are seeking a direct outlet for these pro-change attitudes have turned to Ron Paul...one who is the true opposite of the contemporary politick. Still, both of these groups are generally small and, even then, reduce their involvement in the minimalist tradition (seeking to avoid participation in the corrupted politick they wish to change). This puts them at the same level as their apathetic peers in their understanding of the format of party politics.

In doing that, what they and most people dont understand is the remarkable lack of politics at meetings like the Lincoln Day Dinners. Perhaps my life is just so jam-packed with useless political squabbling, but I noticed that most attendees tonight mostly discussed things normal people discuss (WHAT?!?!) like how the Red Wings were doing or about 'the kids.' There is a mass issue with lumping together the real and calcuable divide: the conservative formulates political positions based on how he lives his life; the liberal conforms to positions and then bases their lives around them. For instance, a conservative doesnt change their appearence to make a political statement, liberals do (see illustration...I'll post later with more of an explanation)...

-----(In an 'To Be Continued" conclusion)-----

R's do mean something different than D's...when they do strongly, R's win. If we go after the multitudes of young people, treat volunteers well, and expose our common-sense-intelligence, this party will be back to power even before the election!

I wont drone on further...I do wish to, for attention purposes, leak the subjects of the upcoming pieces which will be published quite consecutively: why I'm not worried about the Republican party, about 'perception politics,' and maybe one on Lincoln's tradition if the early week is slow on news.

Remember, if you have anything you'd like me to write about, just leave it in a comment, send it to me via facebook or email, or tell me personally.

Dont let Obama getcha DOWn!

Call to Action: Local Government

I thought I'd do a quick reminder for you to not forget your local township or city meeting this month.... Ours is next week monday and, given the past few weeks' developments, it should be something 'fun.' I was reading up on local news (can we call it that?) to prepare for it when I happened upon some wonderful idiocy on the part of our township leaders: (from Heath Township Minutes)...

• "The township does not know why this is taking place."
• "Ron [supervisor] has spoken with one of the members and due to economic conditions they do not feel this would be a feasible issue to place before citizens as a ballot issue."
• "This needs to be adopted in order for communities to remain eligible for federal and state mitigation funds. A motion was made by Boerman and supported by Schipper to adopt. All ayes. Motion carried."
• "Sheila [clerk] commented he is free to contact any reporter and ask them to do an article addressing his concerns."
• "Misti will contact our retired workers to fix this." For clarification, it's a gate that needs a Master Lock...
  
• "Supervisor Jones was absent.;" "Schipper and Boerman were absent.;" "Treasurer Lindholm was absent.;" "Jones was absent."

I've made the decision to get involved because of the above list. The next predictable step is to urge you to make sure that the people your taxes are paying are actually doing their jobs...this is much more possible when these people are just 5 minutes away in one's go-mobile...that being either a legitimate car or an Obamamobile made kindly by UAW bureaucrats at Guvmint Motors....

So...go google your township or city, hit the meeting, and stir up some conservababble! American politics is opposed ( ;) ) to the economy: it's not trickle-down, our politics clamber upward...just like our president...it is up to YOU to get rid of Chicagan cesspools in your area in order to prevent more infected pols.

UPDATE: Take the blog written by 'Live Dangerously' for example: "ORGANIZE: Take Muskegon Back!" That's getting involved and we ALL have to in order to beat a machine with more $ behind it. We'll take votes over contributions anyday :P

Minus posting droughts.......

I have to apologize for the lack of posts in the last few months...I realize many people have forgotten about Conservababble and moved on with their lives...hopefully not under Obama's spell.

A lot has happened since March 27th and we, as a family, have to get back to pooling our ideas together...and I, personally, have a few for discussion. These will have to wait...

In the future, I want this to be an intellectual forum. For instance, I'll put up a topic with some sources and, via the anonymous comment option, you can expand on it. Does this seem like a good idea?

Further than that, I think we can expand the scope to incorporate a common-idea outreach to conservatives in crisis. This stems from a former mill(?) worker I talked to in Plainwell that was supporting Obama due to his needing the benefits the Dems promised...though he was 'one of us' before he had lost his job. This is a situation we're seeing more and more...especially as men/breadwinners are disproportionately effected by recession. 

In order to win those votes, we have to win this argument. To do that, you have to reassure (i.e. use logic) a vast majority of unemployed conservatives against government "security"...this means giving to charity, studying scriptures for verbal use, talking to people you wouldnt generally discuss politics with, and anything else you can use to both divert attention away from Daddy Government and make necessary attention negative.

You and I can expand on this idea later but, for now, everyone has to keep up the fire alive within extended families and among neighbors, and co-workers. My next post will be logging what I've been doing since late March in the context of developing political relations skills....it has been interesting working in my antithesis (French restaurant in a gay mecca) and still spreading Conservababble at its usual pace.