Who's Fooling Who

Blog 1305

Who’s Fooling Who?

If I have learned nothing else in my long life, we live a world of denial; just hoping things are not as bad as they really are.

In other articles, this writer has described the many years, 8 years professional education, selling books (mostly bibles) door to door during the summer months and that along with working at night during the school year, paid my way through a long education.

Almost as valuable as money earned, the revealing of human nature from politics to religion, game playing, “Who’s Fooling Who?” Dr. Eric Berne wrote the book, Games People Play. It sickens me to the heart, from the church house to the school house to the courthouse, people playing games thinking they are fooling one another and themselves.

I stopped at one country house, was welcomed in by an overweight “supposed” preacher, involved with his favorite idol: his television set. Of course the preacher wanted to impress the bible salesman with his knowledge of God and the world. The house was miserable, unkempt, dirty, and so was the yard around the house. The preacher talked about his mansion in glory, living on streets of gold. I asked him if he had a Nave’s Topical Bible, a bible familiar to any preacher. He had never heard of such. Fat preachers have always disgusted me, undisciplined life, but how or where does anyone get the message from God’s book that we can live imprudently on Earth, not doing our best…giving the best version of self, and thinking that God will reward us on heavenly shores.

Three times in my life, I have learned just how little regard my country has for my military service-efforts to live a decent life.

In 1967, many eye surgeries. I was in the Duke University Eye Center just across the street from the large Veteran’s Hospital. The VA had placed me at Duke because I needed the care offered by only the best hospital.

The Viet Nam war was a source of great conflict among liberal types. Protests from Duke and Chapel Hill were protesting at the VA facility. This blind, medical officer still in service in the army, confined to a bed, was spat upon by a black nurse who described her hatred for veterans.

In 1997, my driver, Joe Rush, had driven me in my car to the grocery store. My car, always parked in the handicapped space near my rear door, I always went in first in order to unlock the door. To my surprise, the door was open and I almost walked into two police officers about to exit my house. I said, “Who are you, what are you doing in my house.” The reply, “We are checking on you”….never before, never since. Joe Rush said,” This man is a blind veteran.” One officer said, “We know he is a veteran. There is a uniform hanging in his closet.” Now what were these officers doing investigating the closets in my house? I have questioned local and national officials. No one has ever given an answer why the police invaded my house. The only answer: I have been very vocal about local politics- local corruption in law enforcement.. It is so obvious that they were trying to find something with which to embarrass me. The time will come when all of you will experience such…from your medicine cabinet, to your refrigerator as with the TSA sexual invasion; government will control your life-possibly imprisonment and death. Who’s fooling who, you are in the slave market, in denial.

The third instance of why and how I know that this important chapter in world history is over. My great grandparents, both paternal and maternal, having landed as first families on the American shores, Morristown, NJ, moving south and building in 1874 a most remarkable rural church. My grandparents and parents matured in that church. Both sides being leaders in the community. After college, traveling the world, I became active in and member of another large denomination. But, there was a part of me that belonged to that particular church. From the time I entered college, always returning home, even speaking at the 100^th anniversary, I was always recognized to pray and give greetings. My talented pianist/wife like me, graduate degrees, was always asked to play the piano. Over the years, I gave hundred of thousands of dollars to that church, as unto God…memorializing my family. In articles, I have been very outspoken about drums and drama, bells and smells, pizza and pool, and all the other activities that have taken over the church, including that church and its modernist pastor. I will not publish the letter; God has assured me that he will handle the matter. BUT, more of the more bitter letters I have ever received came from this “Pastor”.. He said that he never wanted to hear from me again…none of my negativity. You see, he did not realize that I conducted the bible school at the church as a high school student, did not know my long dead parents and other family members’ devotion to that church…evidently did not care about my monetary contributions.

I so remember the day my hard working, God fearing, taxpaying father showed me how the roots of weeds will strangle good plants. We are in denial of not recognizing Satan’s roots strangling everything physical, political, and spiritual. Satan has only the power that God gives him; he knows his days are numbered. The church, like the economy in Europe, has gone under. There has been no economic growth since 2005, 60 months of economic recession…no jobs and no improvement in sight. Satan is on the job. New legislation will permit delivery of liquor by your mail man. The reality of what has happened to your country will set in when you realize that from the White House to your house, godless communism has taken over without a shot being fired.

Stoopers

In this time of recession, when 2.2 million Americans' homes are in foreclosure. When last month the inflation rate was double that of the previous month. When unemployment, if the truth were known, is approaching 20%, a new term has come on the scene: “stoopers”. These are people who walk around the racetracks searching garbage cans for parimutuel betting slips, attempting to find a winning ticket. One man admits to making $45,000 a year, just by searching for winning tickets that someone carelessly threw away.

In Raleigh, NC this past weekend, we receive a detailed story of a dead husband found under a flowerbed in the yard. The elder couple did not have children, and evidently did not have anything to do with their neighbors and more importantly, their neighbors had nothing to do with them. The mailman complained to the next-door neighbor that the mailbox was so full of mail that he could not fit anything more in it. The police were called, and a policeman entered the house through a window. The female was dead in the house and had been dead for months. After further investigation, since her husband's checks were still being deposited in the bank, his remains were found in the backyard under a flowerbed. This is the extent to which people are going now, just trying to survive.

Books are being written about economics in the home, people trying to survive rough, tough times. One author interviewed said, “I buy the meats for my family after holidays. The stores are stocked for the holiday and want to get rid of the overstock. I fill my freezers with meats after Thanksgiving, Christmas and the other holidays.” She did not say what she did with the meat in the freezer after a storm with the electricity being off for several days or weeks.

Another said that she bought most of her groceries from a salvage store...dented or otherwise abused cans. Another said that she bought much cereal when it was on sale, and put it in the freezer. “You should always get acquainted with the manager of the store, he will tell you about the items on sale, or when things will come up on sale.” One said that she always finds out if a store will honor other store's sales prices; then, all that is necessary is for her to do is take the sales papers for all the stores to her favorite store, where they will give her the best price for any item. She said that she also spends much time on the computer retrieving coupons, saves 40-50% just with coupons, and that it is best to do your grocery shopping on Monday or Tuesday.

One lady said that when she walks in any type store, the first thing she says to the sales clerk approaching her is “where are your bargains?” She said, “many items have been marked down, or they know will soon be marked down.” “Going shopping is like going to battle; if you are timid, don't get into the fray. If you are afraid to ask about bargains, mark downs, doubling or tripling coupons, you are not prepared for the engagement.”

Only those who know the value of a dollar are interested in saving a dollar. Most Americans have never known what it is like to go without one meal. Most have never known what it is like to be really hungry, to have real want for anything.

A very foolish government, about 20 years ago, started selling homes to people who could not afford a full tank of gas. Expensive homes were sold to people who did not have any money to pay down on the home, did not own anything, and in many cases, did not even have a job. Surprise, surprise, they did not make their mortgage payments. Many times, after having destroyed the home, they just put the keys in an envelope and sent them to a bank (the jingle mail). Now, with millions of houses in foreclosure, blotched urban areas, lawns growing up, houses besieged by addicts and thieves, much real estate being sold is amassed to the pets of the bankers. Real estate fortunes being acquired by those with the knowledge and money to buy these houses at “fire sale” prices. One man's asset is another man's debt, and the taxpayer is the victim of Democrat party largess attempting to make homeowners out of people who could not afford homes.

The people who could not afford these homes are not the savers of this world...those who live frugally, who buy their clothing at thrift shops, who buy their groceries from salvage stores, who clip coupons, who buy online. Those who took advantage of government largess, moving into houses they could not afford, are the same ones who move into government-subsidized housing and destroy it. So much of America's economic decline is simply rot from within, immoral people who are intent to live from the work of others. Almost as bad, the cyber-warfare being taught in communist China, a system whereby hundreds of thousands have been taught the science of hacking, implanting viruses. Americans simply are not prepared to face terrorism...we now know that bedbugs are vectors of the microbiology of MRSA and smallpox.

What is the answer, the solution? One man, when he was young, found a quarter on the sidewalk. He spent the rest of his life looking down. Are those of us who have lived frugally in our shopping, in our lifestyle, fools? Is it better to spend and spree, like the 50% of our fellow citizens who do pay any taxes, the 50% who depend on government subsidies, the 59% who expect to live on government entitlements.

I have admitted in past commentaries that I am probably the most frugal man who has ever lived, conservative in every way (living, giving, believing). Young people who have worked for me have told me that they never price shop, they just buy what they want and pay for it. At least 50% of the population are not stoopers, they never walk around looking for good buys, good finds, they'd probably live much longer, happier lives.

The Recession Is Over

In several commentaries, I have written about my memories of the Great Depression. I was born in 1930, at the beginning of the Great Depression, and that horror story controlled most of my life, through years of school and right until the end of WWII. There were two things my parents, grandparents, never stopped talking about as long as they were alive, the Great Depression and Hurricane Hazel.

I was away at the war, 1954, when Hurricane Hazel almost destroyed eastern NC, right on, twenty years after its onslaught, the woodlands of eastern NC lay devastated from the wind, so did many buildings. However, I believe it is easier to rebuild after a hurricane, than a depression. Hungry people, starving farm animals, church members weeping and praying in church will leave an indelible impression on your psyche. If you have normal intelligence, you will live the rest of your life a conservative, living poor whether you are poor or not, saving, so you can weather another storm, be it an act of God, or act of government.

I have weather several recessions during my lifetime, I lived so conservatively, all the time, that I hardly noticed these national government inflicted recession, this government tells us this week, that the 2007-2010 recession is over. Tell that to the probably 20% of Americans who are still unemployed, or underemployed, tell that to the millions of Americans, who lost their homes, cars, and most of their savings. The only Americans not affected by this last recession are those with government jobs, those with government pensions and retirements, those who receive government welfare checks, those who live in government subsidized housing, and whose healthcare, college supposed entitlements are paid for by government. News flash, CBO (Congressional Budget Office) tells us that the national debt is $202 trillion, most of this government largess is on the way out. Many of those at the trough will suffer along with we private citizens.

I know of no subject in the world, no power in the world deserving more attention from the human mind, than the study of the holy spirit of God. The spirit of God is mentioned in the second verse of the Bible: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2) From the very beginning, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit of God moves across every page of sacred scripture, and every second in the history of this universe.

One of the most interesting studies in the history of the world, the history of Judaism. One of the most fascinating characters in the Bible, a type of Christ, Joesph, son of Jacob, was sold into slavery by his brothers. It is a long story of the work of the Holy Spirit. Joesph became ruler of Egypt. The Holy spirit working through both Joesph and Pharaoh by way of dreams and plagues, miracles of God understood only through the power of the Holy Spirit. When Joesph took over, storing grain for the impending famine/depression, the people first came to Joesph, giving him their money, the next year, their herds, the next year, their lands, the next year, themselves and their children (enslavement). Here we see the nature of humanity, what human beings will do in order to have the security of food. This history, as an example, has been know for thousands of years, we have seen its reenactment over and over again. Now, again, with a Sunni Muslim, Marxist in the White House, rulers in government, national state, local, who have never wanted for anything. The masses are willing to yield everything they have, including themselves.

Why not send some parrots to Harvard University and teach them to talk economics, then have these birds who will work cheap, return to Washington and direct things. It makes about as much sense as the puppets and perverts, who are running things now. We have the greatest power in the world, the Holy Spirit of an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign God available not only for our comfort, but for our guidance. The problem is, in an almost protracted, obvious, intended, dumbing-down of all intelligent life, dancing to the tune of political correctness, political power brokers, as well as the pretending pastors of churches, temporal as well as secular leaders have thrown their allegiance into the camp of the enemy, Satan...who is running things, leading the chorus of demons as they laugh themselves silly. Just think, an earth created by God, supplied by God with every needed nurture, deciding, from the wisdom of men, to yield to the temptation of satanic forces. From the garden, from the first human beings, in every moral gap in human history, to the present, choosing poverty over plenty.

In the depths of a new “Great Depression”, probably going into a “second dip”, many are unaffected, politicians, federal employees, government employees, those who are the leechers/recipients of welfare programs (college students receiving grants, civilian government contractors). This past weekend, two of my friend's wives had birthdays, they decided to go out for dinner on Saturday night. Most of the “smart” restaurants were full with people waiting (in a real recession or Great Depression, most restaurants are out of business), full of government workers, those living off the fat of the land, those dipping into the tax coffers and authorities (government authorities, airport, water, etc. entities ruled over by politician appointed boards), “cash cows”. Taxes, fees, permits, extracted from hard-working, God-fearing, tax-paying, beaten down citizens.

The one-time coolies of China, the serfs in Russia, untouchables in India, poor whites in the southern US...all victims of man's inhumanity to man, a stench in the nostrils of the holy spirit of almighty God. Another fact of history, from the beginning until now, (God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform) people and countries who thought they were so great, who worship the creature, not the creator, get a new perspective on life when they get knocked down, losing a war, losing an excessive lifestyle. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Metamorphosis

It was not as long ago as David Livingstone, the great English missionary who opened up dark Africa, whose heart was buried in Africa, and whose body was buried in Westminster Abbey. But I thought of him when I heard the noise of Victoria Falls on my trip to Zimbabwe, the great falls between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the great walls of mist, and even the rope bridges over the outlets, a memory beyond compare. Zimbabwe, once Rhodesia, once the bread basket of Africa, now because of the ruthless, reckless rule of Robert Mugabe, a nation in absolute chaos.

There are signs in bathrooms in Zimbabwe which ask you not to use Zimbabwe paper bills because they clog up the sewers. You see, in Zimbabwe, so much inflation, fiat dollar paper is worth less than toilet tissue. The inflation rate in Zimbabwe now, is 516 quintillion per cent, it takes billions of Zimbabwe dollars just to buy a loaf of bread.

America is heading in the same direction. In the Obama healthcare legislation fiasco one section legislates that you must report the expenditure of anything over $600. This means you must send in a 1099 if you have purchased an appliance, put a roof on your house, and certainly if you have purchased gold or silver. There will be millions of 1099 forms filed each year. The civil service employees hired to do the work, along with the purchase of the computers involved.

Some think we may be coming out of the recession, but others know that it was contrived, manipulated, so that the controlled, collectivist, totalitarian processes of government will have you right under their thumb. You hear all these advertisements about buying gold or silver, when the Great Depression hit in 1929, fiat paper money was backed up by gold. In 1933, FDR confiscated all the gold. The people, poverty stricken, depending on parity and staples passed out by the government. In other commentaries I have described the government of controls on everything legislated by FDR, his communist vice president Henry Wallace, and his chief adviser Harry Hopkins. It took WWII in 1941, to give any relief to the public. It is known that the present recession will last through a decade.

Fiat paper dollars was backed up by silver until Lyndon Johnson in 1968, Richard Nixon closed the gold window in 1971 (Until 1971, dollars could redeem gold at $45 an ounce. Yesterday, gold was selling for $1,500 an ounce, the gold reserves at Fort Knox have not been inventoried for fifty years. We do not know what is there.). Now, the American dollar is backed up by nothing, except the taxing power of the Congress. The dollar has lost most of it's buying power, the dollar of my youth is now worth about six cents.

Now, you are on your own! If your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep becomes your downfall. The metamorphosis of the last fifty years is in reverse, a nation of beauty, opportunity, prosperity beyond dreams, a wonderful butterfly of delight has metamorphosed into an ugly, decadent caterpillar just trying to survive. Healthcare facilities, reception rooms filled with white-haired seniors, there because they had a right to free medicare. Parking lots at schools filled with expensive cars, driven by spoiled students. Fashion restaurants and department stores, bending and bowing to the clicking of plastic cards will become a memory of the past.

In the documentary, War on Kids, we compare the treatment of adults in prison with children in school. There is not much difference. Like patients in nursing homes, inmates in prisons, students in public schools are now suppressed by mind-altering drugs. Social children, who did at one time, enjoyed school, playing, freedom; are now just controlled pawns of the state. Schools want their money for their 180 days of education, prisons want to be paid for incarceration, nursing homes want to be paid for supplication, and you, if you are fortunate, will have enough left for survival.

Until now, all advertisements, everything in the world, kept you discontented for not having things. You spent on everything, saved nothing. At a time when Asians were saving 10-40% of their paychecks, American families, like America, were going in to endless debt. Most felt successful if they were above water in the hole which they had dug for them. Americans could not understand that the social security trust fund is just one big IOU, only government considers an IOU as an asset. The government wants everyone on the same communist level, everyone drawing an equivalent social security check. $600 billion has already been taken from the civil service retirement fund, and Mr. Obama is lusting for all retirement funds.

A recent survey tells us that parents who worked part-time while in school are the best providers. They know the true value of money, they know discipline and self-control. The Christian knows about conservatism. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

America and Americans have been captives of the world's philosophy of self aggrandizement. We want the latest styles, designer clothes, eating and drinking, even going into professional offices, places which flatter us. Many of my professional friends have said, “I want my patients or clients to say, 'he is the highest priced doctor or lawyer in town, but he is good.'” No one brags about the cheapest doctor, lawyer, or store. One of my aunts, who worked in an expensive ladies dress shop, said, “the women in town who wore the most expensive outer garments wore the most ragged underwear.” The gossip columnist Earl Wilson said, “there are three financial types: the haves, the have-nots, and the haves who have not paid for what they have.”

Until a recession, such as we have now, does the actual financial worth of individuals come to the surface. It is amazing how many homes in gated communities are on the market, because the snobs who lived there could not pay their mortgage. There was a clamor at the banks by members of the country club, when they received their assessment for the new county club building.

700 banks have closed to date, this year. Financial institutions are caught in a bind also, the chickens have come home to roost, whether the supposed best known family in town or the least known family in town. When the house or car is worth less than you owe on it, it is far easier just to walk away and hand the keys to the lender. My carpenter told he paid $40,000 for his truck, he owes $30,000 on his truck, and he could not sell the truck for as much as $8,000. He said, “if they want it, they can have it.”

Most government actions are not seen in the evening news, problems which affect the public, happen through government agencies. It is these government agencies that have killed small businesses and small farms, once the very center of employment and opportunity. Our family farm supported several families, sent them to schools and colleges, because of government regulations, excessive taxation, after my parents death, these farms disappeared.

When workers leave the farm, when employees cannot find work in small businesses or industry. They must seek living accommodations somewhere, and they must eat. This leads to government housing projects, food stamps, thrift stores, etc. Please God, the metamorphosis has not worked, bring back the day before government bondage, when a father could hold one job and support a family, when a mother could stay at home and care for her children. Morally, economically, spiritually, family facts, we had a better community, a better country.

Conjuring Shackles

#433

Conjuring Shackles

This week, a house in Philadelphia was investigated and 500 dead animals were found in the house. Supposedly, the result of the voodoo, Santeria, religious sacrifices. Perhaps some of these are some of Mrs. Robinson's friends (Michelle Obama's mother). A devotee of this religion who had Santeria witches cleanse the White House before the Obama occupancy. In 1983, just in the beginning of the Hutu/Tutsi warfare in Rwanda, I was visiting one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Edie Amen, named for the African dictator who put so many innocent people to death. After leaving Africa, he was sheltered by the Saudi Arabia royal family until his death. On my visit to this lake, where beautiful storks stand in the water, where native fishermen were preparing their nets for fishing, where a tamed, old elephant roamed around, I noticed one large hut (at that time I had a shadow of vision in left eye) where witches were dancing around with “noisemakers”. There was an awful smell coming from the conclave. I asked my guide, “What's going on over there?” He said, “That is the local witch doctor, you should like him (of course he was joking). He conjures cancer, fevers, snake bites, anything that the people come to him for in an emergency or desperately ill situations.” There were many patients sitting around on the ground, the doctor's reception room, waiting their turn. My guide told me that the witch doctor would conjure a cancer right out of a person. The smell was coming from animal sacrifices near his hut.

As we approach the second decade of the 21st century, get ready for the CONJURING OF SHACKLES and almost total enslavement by your governments (local, state, federal). Iceland, Greece, Dubai, and soon several other nations, are already in a state of bankruptcy.

Out in the ocean, a drowning man will grab at straws, anything to keep him afloat. Those of you who voted the democrat ticket, who have put Obama and his cohorts into power, now realize this president knows absolutely nothing about finance or business. As unemployment totters towards 20% (Great Depression unemployment 18%), as the world financial situation worsens, as we see further warfare in Pakistan and Yemen involving Saudi Arabia (25% of the world's oil supply), when the first bomb hits Iran, you will know that WWIII has started. This, at a time, when 96% of all housing sales involve government mortgages. But, this has not stopped bonuses being paid to the federal housing people, the darlings of gay representatives Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. We wonder just how far this insanity will go before the state controlled news media, and other sleeping Americans, will awaken. We just learned how unsafe we are when nearly 300 people were almost fried in a plane by one young Nigerian terrorist. How many warning flags must fly before the best trained CIA agents can learn to protect themselves?

At the exit of the Suez Canal, in the Indian Ocean near Somalia, super power governments are allowing rag tag, Muslim pirates to take over their ships. Every small victory of the terrorists just encourages others to take aim at the super power, paper tiger, infidel enemy.

The Japanese economy has been in recession for 20 years but they kept producing...Americans drive more Japanese cars than any other. For a decade now we have seen a depression developing and we have done nothing except dig a deeper hole for ourselves. Mr. Obama actually believes that a man can take out a large insurance policy on his wife, kill her and then collect the insurance...in other words, you pay your debts while borrowing more money.

It does not take many Islamic extremists to pulverize us, to send our economy into a second dip depression. Most Americans are in worse shape this year than they were this time one year ago, this time two years ago, or this time ten years ago. Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States said, “Often, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of patriots and martyrs.” In my lifetime, disloyal academics, puny politicians, cloudy Christians, have conjured up policies and people of compromise. Are we ready to defend this democratic republic?

Pivotal Points

Almost 100 years ago (April 1912), the great ship Titanic left the Southampton harbor on her maiden voyage to America. The great steamship liner was filled with wealthy Americans making the ship's fist trans Atlantic voyage, as well as poor people in the lower parts of the ship. The ship builder said before it left Southampton, “This ship is unsinkable, even God could not sink this ship.” We know today that the ship lies at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean; it hit an iceberg and did sink. The last survivor, just a baby at the time of the sinking, died recently. Books have been written and movies have been made about this great ship.

My entire life (80 years), I have been reminded about the fact that America is too great to sink. I lived through the Great Depression, I know the horrors of what people in this country experienced, and then I have lived through other recessions. Always these things just happen like the stock market. Old people have always talked about hard times. Two things my parents and grandparents talked about until their death were the Great Depression in 1930 (the year I was born), and Hurricane Hazel in 1954 (while I was away with the Korean mess).

Every decade has a time of recession, it happened in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. In 1987, President Reagan put billions in the Treasury as a “plunge protector” against the fall of the stock market. At that time, you never heard the word “trillion”. Now we are dealing with trillions in plunge, trillions in deficits. When you consider the deficits in securities, Medicare, Medicaid, entitlements and all other debit to which the government is responsible, and the condition of the world's economy, we know that we are in a financial dilemma from which there is no recovery.

We are at this point because half of the country's population depends on a government check, social security, civil service, military retirements, disability and welfare. Those who receive these checks, largess of liberal socialism in control, will not bite the hand that feeds them. They will always vote for those who have their nose in the trough. Politicians who swear on the Bible to protect and defend the constitution are willing to give away the very goose that laid the golden egg in order to keep and protect their seat of power.

It has not occurred to them that the politician, who is paid very little for this public service, is willing to spend that, multiplied a thousand times in order to be elected, because he knows he will be paid many times over (under the table and over the table) for knowing the good ol' boys who control the purse strings of industry and government and who, in the event of defeat, will make sure they are sitting on plush paying boards of directors. The politician and bureaucrat knows that he and his family will always be cared for through the craft and corruption which has grown like a virus in the American system of free enterprise.

In WWII, 70% of industrial production was from America, today it is only 20%. Through NAFTA, CAFTA, etc., industry has fled the US. OSHA, EPA, excessive taxation, regulation and, as Dr Russell Adcox of the Wharton School of Business has said, “No one wants to be a clog in the machine. Again, everyone wants to be a foreman and boss, where in foreign countries ordinary people are glad to get a paycheck for honest work.“ You will notice in your community with any type business or professional office most employees, and even professionals, are just going through the motions.

Spending by the Congress, state legislators, and even local governments is like an alcoholic on a binge. Those who have read my commentaries know I have traveled the the world (every continent, passport stamped in 157 countries). The difference in owning a home in America, democratic republic, compared to living in a communist country is like worthless fiat paper money. You have a paper deed showing you have ownership to your house but you never really own your house. Try not paying the ever increasing taxes on your house, your utilities, your insurance, even your homeowner association fees, and you will find that the government owns your house.

In America the slave takes all the responsibility of his house. In communist countries, as in housing projects where many Americans now live, the government owns the building and assumes all the responsibility. It is a better deal for you to “think” you own your house so you will assume the responsibility and take better care of it. 95% of all loans are FHA mortgages. As an example, with the new Obama inspired “cap and tax” provisions, you must have specific windows and doors so your house will meet certain government specifications insofar as environmental concerns, if you expect to get a permission label from the inspector in order to sell your house.

The best example I could ever show revealing the greed, graft and corruption involved in local government happened here in the county where I live. Every elected politician and bureaucrat puts his hand on the Bible and swears to uphold the Constitution and act in an honest manner. It was found that the head administrator of the local ABC board controlling retail liquor stores, is paid $342,000 a year. His son (his assistant) is paid $115,000 a year. On top of these salaries the board gave him a $30,000 bonus, his assistant son received a $20,000 bonus. One family (two people in the democrat trough) paid nearly half a million a year for managing a few liquor stores (39 employees). This shows the extent of graft and corruption in local government. $600,000 disappeared one year in North Carolina (mental health). It is reported billions have disappeared in the federal government. Yet this year Senator Boxer of California demands funds in health care legislation that women get abortion funds if men get funds for Viagra.

I speak as a totally blind, 100% disabled, service-connected veteran. The 100% disabled veteran, blind, cripple, gets less each month than a college ROTC student. Poison is in the well. Stark discrepancy can no longer be ignored, the “hope and change” Obama promising to bring the boys home. A man who has never fired a BB gun, but knows how to collect a peace prize, is sending thousands more of your brightest, best, to the most God forsaken area of the world that I have ever visited (including the depths of the Sahara): Afghanistan, and soon Pakistan. For those who return alive you not only pay for your country's posturing while in unpredictable environments during the war, but on coming back and trying to resume a normal life, you pay over again in taxes to support medieval activities in parts of the world with which you are totally unfamiliar. There are 126 military bases outside the US. The veteran is expected to pay the taxes of warfare for the rest of his life. Like the blind (your writer) even though I can't use a public park, public library, most public auditoriums, your prisons (total number of disabled in prison insignificant), you keep paying taxes for those who have never served their country, who care nothing about their country.

Not in my lifetime have I seen the church or the Christian so attacked by the liberal aggressive media. Do not be surprised, Christ warned us of this. He was not loved by the world while He was walking here. His Holy Spirit in us, his church, will be attacked to the very end. The cross separates all history. From the flood to the cross, about 2,000 years, we had persecution of believers of faith under the law. From the cross to present, 2,000 years, we have the persecution of believers in Christ. Remember, only 5% of Christian church members have a real relationship with Christ. Most have never talked with another person about salvation. If the civic club or the country club or a business were as slack about their mission as the church, all would fail It is our blessed thought to know Him, the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his suffering (Philippians 3:10). We are at the pivotal point in our history as a country, as people of faith and as citizens of the world.