80% Services For 100% Payment

In one of my rants that has nothing to do with politics, I am very upset with the day care my child attends. She goes to one of the better day cares, Primrose, in the area. Primrose is a national franchise, so there are at least local owners. It is very expensive; in fact, it is more than a mortgage payment each month.

I have been getting irritated a little more each holiday that the day care decides to be closed. I understand being closed on a holiday. I would probably not take my daughter to day care on those days anyway, but I am not given the choice. The only reason this irritates me is because they still charge the full weekly rate for those weeks. This week is a good example. They will be closed on Friday, July 4th, but they wanted the regular weekly payment on Monday. They are going to deliver on 80% of the services but want 100% of the payment.

What other industry can you deliver 80% and ask for 100% payment? Apparently, this is a common trend in the child care industry. I understand if I don’t take my child to their facility one day, but when they know well in advance that they will be closed, and they are not giving me any option for that day, I don’t feel I should have to pay for it. The only response I get is, “It’s our policy.” I want that policy for my company.

The biggest reason why this is starting to really tick me off is because I have to pay for whole weeks that my child will not be there. My mother is coming to stay with us for a week 5 weeks from now, and even if I give them adequate notice, they still demand payment for that week. So they can close when they want, and I still have to pay for it. She doesn’t go, I still have to pay for it. I give them plenty of notice, I still have to pay for it! What is going on??? Can someone please explain the rationale to me? Can someone please give me the argument of the day care, because I think this is a bunch of crap!!!

Rep. James Fagan threatens victimized children everywhere!

If you have not heard about the threats coming from Rep. James Fagan, a Democrat (you could have guessed that) from Massachusetts, click here to watch the video: MyFoxBoston video.

This is extremely outrageous and cold, but it is not a surprise. Secular-Progessives everywhere are rejoicing his comments. I had to send him an email, and the email is listed below. Please read, especially my example case from Vermont, so you can understand why Jessica’s Law is a good idea.

Dear Mr. James Fagan,

I recently read a story about your comments regarding Jessica’s Law and sex offenders. I’m sure you have received many emails about this, and you won’t even give me the courtesy of a form email in response to mine, but I thought I would express my disbelief and concern for your statements.

At first, I found it hard to believe that anyone could make threats on children as you did. I understand that you must cross-examine a witness, especially if that witness is saying things that may put your client in jail for a mandatory 10-20 years, but you specifically threatened any child that you cross-examine in a sex offender case. I didn’t believe it until I saw the videos, and there you were, “I’m going to make sure that the rest of their life is ruined. That when they’re 8 years old they throw up; when they’re 12 years old, they won’t sleep. When they’re 19 years old they’ll have nightmares and they’ll never have a relationship with anybody.”

WOW!!!! Are you serious??? You want to make an 8-year old throw up?

I completely believe that it is your ultimate responsibility to defend your client to the best of your ability, but aren’t you supposed to do that in all of your cases? Why don’t you threaten the middle-aged men that you cross-examine? You make it sound like you will be extra harder on children.

You know why our politicians are trying to pass such a law as Jessica’s Law? Did you ever heard about the case in Vermont in 2004-2005 when Mark Hulett confessed to raping young girl for 4 years? The wonderful, honorable, and secular-progressive Judge Edward Cashman decided that Mark only needed 60 days in jail and then send Mark to rehabilitation, outside of prison. Is this not ridiculous? Later, after he supposedly learned that the state would treat Hulett in prison, he sentenced him to 3-10 years, and Hulett will probably get our in about 3 years (which will be fairly soon). You do realize he will spend less time in jail than the length of time he was raping the little girl???

THIS IS WHY WHE SHOULD PASS LAWS LIKE JESSICA’S LAW!

There are lenient, ignorant judges that would sentence someone to 60 days who has no problem stealing the innocence from a child. If our children can’t be innocent and free from such outrageous crimes, what do they have to look for? I understand you have kids? What would you tell your child when they were raped and the person that did it will go to jail for 60 days and go to rehab? Why don’t you tell them that you would make them puke at 8 years old and never have a relationship? Then you would not get to attend a wedding for your child, your child would be emotionally scarred, and possible commit suicide. Tell your child that and see what happens!

I know you are a democrat, and I’m sure you are a secular-progressive liberal also. There is no other explanation for your actions. I believe in our Constitution, our Judicial system, and everything involved, including innocent until proven guilty. I would want you to defend your clients properly, but if I lived in your state, and you tortured my child like you say you would, we would have some problems. Why can’t you stand for worthless sex offenders going to jail for the maximum allowed sentence? Why do you have to opt for the lenient side of crime??? Good job, James!

Let Mr. James Fagan know how you feel. Email:Rep.JamesFagan@Hou.State.MA.US and if you want to call him, which you should, here is his number: 617-722-2040.

Good Job, James! Free the sex offenders so they can ruin another child’s life. Oh, wait, you are going to do that for us!!!

Windfall Profits Tax Is A Tax On Success

I am very upset about the price of gas today, just as everyone else in the country is. I think we need to start drilling in ANWR, the Rockies, and the outer-continental shelf. I think we need a lot of things done now, but one thing we don’t need is a WINDFALL PROFITS TAX!

First point: windfall profits taxes are nothing more than a profit on success. Basically, the idea is an extra tax on a company that makes an unexpected profit. Does this make sense??? Every company can hope for a profit, but realistically, they are all unexpected. You can project, forecast, expect, and so on, but no one really knows if they are going to make money. Also, isn’t the point of being in business to make money? If we wanted to start a business and only make as money as the government told us we could make, we would move to a socialist country (by the way, this is what the Democratic Party would like to see). The last time I checked, a capitalist economy allows people to privately own a business, including its profit. I think a windfall profits tax is against capitalism and everything America is built on!

Second point: did windfall profits taxes work out in the 80’s? One component of the taxes in the 80’s was a 70 percent tax that was levied on the difference between the market price received by oil companies and the average base price of $12.81 per barrel (http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/1168.html). 70 percent? Doesn’t this seem like excessive taxation, one of the reasons we revolted over 200 years ago?

Following the windfalls profits tax, the government projected $320 billion in extra tax revenue, but it only ended up with $40 billion. Next, domestic production was decreased by 3 percent to just 6 percent. Now if we all agree with the laws of economics, less demand increases price; more supply decreases price. Is this a good idea, Democrats? Should we really pursue a windfall profits tax, Barack?

I want to pay less for gas, but the Democrats’ solutions are just going to raise prices, decrease production, and delay any real relief.

How Pristine is ANWR?

One of the biggest discussions right now in everything is ANWR. It is supposed to be this pristine, beautiful place that environmentalists don’t want to us to disturb or drill in. I wonder how pristine it is?

I watched a segment on FOXNews, “Hannity’s America,” and a congressman was interviewed about what ANWR really looks like. They actually showed a video clip of the area, primarily where drilling is proposed, and it actually looked like a video of the moon, just flatter. It was nothing but flat, icy, plains of nothing. Why is this such an issue, if there are no pristine environments that would be disturbed? I believe that everyone, for and against, should visit this area. See what is really being disputed. How many politicians that are against drilling in ANWR really what is there?

One person that has been there, Jonah Goldberg, is quoted saying this about ANWR:

“In summer, the coastal plain is mostly mosquito-plagued tundra and bogs. (The roughnecks at Prudhoe Bay joke that “life begins at 40″ – because at 40 degrees, clouds of mosquitoes and other pests take flight from the ocean of puddles). In the winter, it reaches 70 degrees below zero (not counting wind chill, which brings it to 120 below) and is in round-the-clock darkness.”

Now this doesn’t sound like a pristine situation. It sounds like a barren plain that covers a valuable piece of earth containing oil. There is much speculation about how much there, how long it will take, etc. Even it takes 10 years, shouldn’t we start now? When Bill Clinton vetoed drilling in ANWR back in 1995, it stopped drilling and production that we would be feeling now. We must not allow the Democrats to continue screwing things up. Write you representatives and let them know how you feel. Let them know what sacrifices you have made to put gas in your vehicle. Tell them that the Prius is not an option when you have 3 kids.

Luckily, John McCain has changed his stance on this situation, since over 70% of the country is agreement that we should drill. Other Republicans should follow suit, but the Democrats in office will not let this happen and neither will Obama. Since ANWR is really not so pristine, why are we wasting time and delaying drilling?

Obama Leaves Church; For Political Reasons?

By now, most people have heard Obama has decided to leave his church in Chicago, Trinity United Church of Christ. He said, “I make this decision with sadness.” He goes on to say, “This is where I found Jesus Christ, where we were married, where our children were baptized. We are proud of the extraordinary works of that church.”

I understand why Obama decided to leave the church, but I don’t agree with it.

First, Obama didn’t sound like he was leaving because he felt he didn’t belong there or agree with Trinity’s teachings. He sounded upset and mad that he had to leave, but it was something he had to do. In fact, if the outrageous remarks by Rev. Wright hadn’t surfaced, I’m sure the Obamas wouldn’t have ever left that church. I don’t like that Obama has basically played a string bet (betting a little to see the reactions, then betting more based on those reactions) all along with the controversy that has arisen with his ties to Rev. Wright and Trinity. He started by saying I don’t agree with what was said. Once he determined that wasn’t enough, and it was hurting him politically, he went further to denounce Rev. Wright, but we all know he only did it for the sake of his presidential race.

Second, I would rather see a candidate stand for what he believes in, and stand behind his church than run away when it is not all peachy. Obama has been involved with Trinity since 1988. I don’t think that we would return to a church week after week for 20 years, if he didn’t agree with the message and teachings. It would be hypocritical of him to sit in a church for that long and not believe in the words taught, and we definitely don’t want a hypocritical presidential candidate, do we? So, he must have believed in MOST of what was said. This is his church. Why didn’t he grow some and stand up for his church? If the church was not guilty of teaching ideals that the country wouldn’t like, why didn’t he just stand up for HIS church and say, “Back Off!” This is small and minute in comparison to things he will have to face as president, but if he negotiates with the wrong leader, and the world doesn’t like it, will he stand up for what he does, or run away like a little girl and hide?

Our current president has made many mistakes in my eyes, but at least he stands behind his decisions until the end. At least he has a set…

I have stumbled across a quote by Sen. Barack Obama, and I think it is only fitting to include it with every blog post about him:

“My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you’ll join with me as we try to change it.”

– Barack Obama

How much could we save with gas and oil alternatives?

Did you know the US is expected to spend $86.5 billion dollars on oil in 2008? Did you know that this is 26.5% of the worlds total expenditures for oil? (Here is the numbers and more about the world’s oil spending: http://www.worldoil.com/Magazine/MAGAZINE_DETAIL.asp?ART_ID=3434&MONTH_YEAR=Feb-2008) With so much investment from foreign governments in US companies, primarily US utilities, shouldn’t we look at how we would benefit, and make our country safer, if we started using fuel alternatives?

Why don’t we dig into fuel alternatives? Why don’t use synthetic coal from Montana or invest in ethanol choices? Think about the amount of money we are spending in foreign oil. Why should we give countries that despise us and would love to be able to put a strangle-hold on us because we depend on them to function?

Today, OPEC and the middle eastern countries have said they will not produce more oil. Doesn’t this basically mean, “The US needs more oil. Let’s not produce more to help ruin their economy!” It is obvious that gas prices are the cause of higher food prices and the recession the media has been “warning” us about for months now.

I consider myself a traditionalist and conservative, but I am not sure if I the way i feel about this issue falls in those lines or not, but I think we should spend the money, time, technology, etc. to use our own resources, people, jobs, and everything that is necessary to produce a fuel that can power our country. I know at this point, there is much debate on whether hybrid cars are more cost-effective, save gas, and so on, but if there was a real push to incorporate these type of vehicles, then the demand would go up, fuel costs would go down, and more stations would pop up making this a more feasible alternative. To add to this, wouldn’t it make sense for us to be buying corn-based fuel that put money in American companies instead of middle-eastern companies???

Finally, we have been talking about fighting terrorism for several years now, and everyone has a different answer. One thing I think everyone is overlooking, primarily because it wouldn’t put money in their pockets (and I direct this statement at every politician, no discrimination), is the fact that we have established a great terrorist threat with our dependence on foreign countries to run. Everything we do, including food production, requires oil, which usually comes from some other country. This is a major terrorist threat along with the massive investment in US companies by the same foreign countries and their governments. The power other governments have over our country really scares me…

Obama almost threatens the Tennessee GOP

By now, most people who follow the election trails have heard about Obama’s almost threats against the Tennessee GOP for their video they have created featuring Michelle Obama’s statement, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country.”

This statement has been played out by now by most medias, but Obama made an inexperienced mistake by saying, “If they think that they’re going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful because that I find unacceptable, the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family…” Now, Barack, when you send your wife out there to speak for you, campaign for you, and make statements on your behalf, you are throwing her to the wolves. When she speaks for you, she is no different from any other spokesperson on your team.

I am proud of Obama for standing up for his wife and family. Any stand-up guy would defend his family, such as Obama has, but a presidential candidate is in a different world. He should not allow her to campaign for him if he doesn’t want someone to comment on her remarks. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of his inexperience in politics. I am afraid that he Obama is elected president, every time another country or leader makes a comment about him (although he voices his opinion all of the time), he may run to the teacher and tattle instead of handling the situation like a real leader!

Illegal Immigration: How much does it cost?

I came across a posting on HuckPAC today, and the numbers are startling. I think it is a great post, primarily because the information is listed with verifying sources. I am reposting below so you can see the breakdown of the cost of illegal aliens in our country.

I want everyone to read through these numbers as the country argues over illegal immigration and what we should do. If we don’t slow down the rate of illegal immigration, this number will only increase! Also, many members of a certain party would like to keep illegal immigrants in our country because if they do vote, they usually vote for their party. These same people don’t want voters to have to show a valid ID to vote either. I understand the need for votes, but these votes cost too damn much!

THE TOTAL COST IS $ 338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

• 1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments.

Verify at: http://tinyurl.com/zob77

• 2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens.

Verify at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html

• 3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.

Verify at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html

• 4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English!

Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.0.html

• 5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.

Verify at http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

• 6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.

Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.
Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

• 8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.

Verify at:
http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html

• 9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens.

Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

• 10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that’s two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US

Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html

• 11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border.

Verify at: Homeland Security Report: http://tinyurl.com/t9sht

• 12.. The National Policy Institute, ‘estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.’

Verify at: http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deportation.pdf

• 13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin.

Verify at: http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm

• 14. ‘The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States.’

Verify at: http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml

Thanks must go to Beatrice Vajgart for posting and verifying this information.

Should Hillary Drop Out?

After this past Tuesday, Barack Obama’s campaign believes they have it in the bag, and many Democrats are looking at Hillary to see: drop out, keep going, or what?

I was a Mike Huckabee (and still am) supporter. I knew Huckabee didn’t have a huge chance of winning, but I stuck behind him all the way. He pushed until McCain received the required amount of delegates. If you look at the delegate totals, Huckabee was a lot further behind than Clinton. By that logic, Clinton should stick in it until there is a definite winner.

As a conservative traditionalist who would rather not see either candidate elected, I think it is great for Clinton to stay in, and continue to punch tiny holes in Obama’s campaign. This degrades Obama’s position, although it may only be slightly, and gives McCain ammunition when it comes to the general election. Please, Hillary, continue to divide your party and make it easier to elect McCain.

I personally think Clinton is a better candidate to take on McCain. She has comparable experience and I think she would be able to steal a few more votes from McCain than Obama. I just don’t see Obama winning against McCain.

Everywhere you look, people are talking about the rising number of Democrats going to the polls in relation to the Republicans, but that is hard to base any argument about the general election numbers. With such a wide margin in the delegates, McCain looked to be the winner very early on, so many people saw no need to go to the polls. When it comes time to really vote, Republicans and the many traditionalists of this country will show up to vote. I don’t think there will be as comparable of force on the other side, especially since the party has become so divided.

If Hillary was smart, she would concede and hope to be the VP. It would be better for her party and any chances of a Democrat getting elected this year, but she is just too damn stubborn to pull out now.

Current Events: American Idol and Miley Cyrus

Occasionally, this blog will have to stray from strictly politics, especially since our society is extremely concerned with Hollywood and its people. Two topics in current events, American Idol and Miley Cyrus, have really got to me.

First, American Idol. I am trying to be supportive of my wife and her desire to watch American Idol. I have watched most of this season, partly in hopes I could use it to encourage interest in the Dallas Cowboys’ games, but I know she would like for me to join her in watching this atrocious show.

I have been in the music business and worked with Sony’s independent leg of distribution, so I have been able to experience the promotion, advertising, and marketing that goes into today’s music world. When I watch American Idol, I am amazed by the blatant push of J Records’ other artists. I can’t give them too much grief, because I have used TV shows to promote my other products, but can it be any more blatant? This is really not my biggest issue with American Fido, I mean, Idol. Have you seen the cutesy videos they show on the elimination night? How about the ugly placement of Ford vehicles? What about the shameless mention of Coca-Cola products and the cups the judges must display, with the Coca-Cola label visible at all times? How about the 5 minute preview of Dancing With the Stars? What about the other Fox shows and movie plugs? They really don’t try to be subtle with their cross-promotion, and being a member of the marketing world, I find it gross, distasteful, and pretty freaking irritating! I can’t wait for this season to be over, so I will get a month or two reprieve of American Fido (darn it, I did it again)!

Second: Miley Cyrus. I am a new father to a beautiful daughter. She will soon start idolizing and becoming attached to TV characters and stars. First, it will be Dora and Diego, but then it will move to the Disney characters like Miley Cyrus and her alter-ego Hanna Montana. I have been saying for a little while that I didn’t like Miley and thought she was a little sketchy, especially after there were reports of a not-so-appropriate Halloween costume worn by Miss Wholesome, Miley Cyrus. Now, this Vanity Fair photo session has emerged.

I am amazed that this photo shoot even happened, especially after the clothes came off. I know that daddy had a short-lived, almost comical career as a star, and he wants nothing more than his sweet daughter to make the family a billion dollars by the time she is 15, but I find it hard to believe any self-respecting father would be okay with this type of photo. She is only 15, so I know mommy or daddy was probably at the photo shoot. I have seen a few comments across the net saying there is nothing wrong here, and even Miley can be quoted: “I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be ‘artistic’…”, but come on, the girl is 15 YEARS OLD! Why would you sexualize a 15 year-old? I don’t care if it supposed to be artistic. The artistic side of such a photo is to combine the sexual nature of the photo with some black and white photoshopping. If she was 18, maybe it would be okay, but not a 15 year old. Artistic or not, she has no shirt on!!!! If my daughter took a picture like this, I would be outraged, and to make it even worse, it can’t be blamed on her. Every girl at 15 is reaching that age where they want to feel sexy, desired, etc, but she is still so young, she doesn’t realize the effects of this and other photos of her that are circulating. When it comes down to it, Daddy should be held accountable… Good job, Billy!

I also am so tired of celebrities doing stupid crap like this, and then making some bull—- statement after the fact to try to clear it up. “I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be ‘artistic’ and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed,” Miley said in her statement. “I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about.” If this were really her thoughts, she shouldn’t have done it in the first place, but I know this is just what a publicist told her to say! Why can’t people use the small brains they have been given and not do stupid crap in the first place? Once again, she is only 15! Daddy should have done something about this before it became news.