George Carlin, a liberal Icon and his views on global warming is more conservative then anyone running for President today!

Amending the 14th Amendment

The 14^th amendment to the constitution can also be amended.  That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, but people seem think it is set in stone unlike gay marriage and universal healthcare which one thought to be unchangeable.

All we need to do is add an amendment that states 10 months after a certain date, new rules for being a natural U.S. citizen and those rules will be, A) Born anywhere if both biological parents are U.S. citizens, or B) at least one biological parent is a U.S. citizen and they are born on U.S. territory.

There can be exceptions for government employees or military personal stationed outside the U.S.  Also the 10 month window will allow time for anyone gestating in their mother to still be covered by the current rules.

So literally no one alive would be affected by this change in the law.

Parent's just don't understand.

I prepare taxes for a living.  I prepare a lot of tax returns (over 850 per year) and I’m not sure if it is because I have 2 teenagers or if the overwhelming anecdotal evidence is smacking me in the face but there is a serious epidemic of laziness going on out there among teenagers and young adults.

I have to blame myself for some of this in my case, I had kids at an older age and not when I was 20.  So the kids didn't see when I had to eat soup so that I could make rent, or when me and my wife had to be on a real budget to make sure we didn't have too much month at the end of the money.

We live a mild manor middle class life style were we want for little and spend little trying to save for the future when we can retire and travel.  So if something came up unexpected we didn't have to stress about covering the costs like I remember my parents having to do on a few occasions.  I believe that because my kids have not witness this, they don’t have the same respect for working hard and saving your money.

Don’t get me wrong, my dad and mom had to get on me to mow the lawn and clean my room too. Household chores were not something I did without being told.  However, I always did a little extra work for extra cash.  I am old enough to have been a paperboy (part-time back up to a friend’s route) but at 12 years old, he and I got up during a blizzard and did his route which was an adventure and a pain.  At 14 I did some part time work for my aunt’s business on Saturdays and at 16 I got a job at McDonald’s and within 18 months was a shift manager.

I can’t get my 18 soon to be 19 year old to do much more then fill out a few applications. She has had jobs at a couple of daycare business but she just doesn't have a desire to make any more money then what I give her for doing chores, which might be were I've gone wrong but I am not alone.

Many parents I talk to in my practice have the same issues.  Oh there are kids that are working but I almost see them as outliers and I am almost amazed when someone’s 18 year old made $14,000 because they worked when they got out of high school.

 

The flip side to this as an employer is that I do not want to hire teenagers either.  They text too much, don’t want to follow instructions and act like they are doing you a favor.  If I have to pay at least $7.25 per hour (Min wage) and for my jobs about $5.00 per hour more then I want someone trained / trainable and will show up.  An adult.

There is going to be a day when they will need to leave the house and I’m afraid they are not prepared for it, but I and my wife must have the courage to kick our babies out of the nest and they will either fly or crash to the ground.

UPDATE: 8/20/2015
This summer both my kids had jobs! My oldest daughter got her 2 year degree and transferred to a 4 year university.  So even though they still are behind some of those kids I do taxes for, they are moving in the right direction. So nevermind! : )

Confessions of a Caucus voter.

I have been struggling with my decision for several months. I do not take this lightly. However, I have come to a decision.

First a little background on my voting history. I have been attending Iowa caucuses since 1984. I am a conservative Republican and because Pres. Reagan was running for re-election in 1984, I went to the Democrat Caucus, not to disrupt, but to simply observe the process. I believe I caucused for Alan Cranston, but I cannot be sure. It was educating to witness the negotiations that went on to get the undecided to move to another camp, because you had to have a certain percentage (15%) to receive a representative at the county caucus.

The Republican caucus is much different. It is a secret ballot that is blank and any name can be written on it. A certain number of delegates go to the county convention, but it is the state convention that actually determines the delegates for each candidate and that does not take place until June!

I have caucused for the following, 1988 (Jack Kemp), 1996 (Steve Forbes), 2000 (George Bush) and 2008 (Fred Thompson). As you can see I almost never pick the winner, but I try to be consistent.

This year has been very difficult. Out of the gate, Romney has had the money and ground crew to fight a long battle and has scored in the mid-twenties since last year. He is presidential looking and I believe he has the countries best interest at heart. However, he has shown the ability to just say whatever it takes to win. Running for Senator and Governor in Massachusetts would be very difficult for any Republican, but don’t turn around and tell me 4 years later that you are a conservative after supporting abortion and forcing mandatory health insurance.

Mr. Gingrich can spin a phrase or throw out 10 new ideas without blinking an eye. However, he too has been very inconsistent when it comes to health insurance, assigning blame for the housing bubble or sitting on a couch for a commercial with Nancy Pelosi spouting an Al Gore environmental agenda.

Ron Paul. What can I say? He is consistent, he has the right ideas for the nation’s budget issues. However, the rest of everything he says is a train wreck. You can understand Iran’s desire for a nuclear weapon? Well sure, I guess you get a cool jacket. But Mr. Paul, that doesn’t mean we have to accept them, getting one. I might understand a teenagers desire to drink and drive, but I don’t have to allow it. Don’t get me started on the Federal Reserve. If he eliminates it that would leave the government (yes those idiots in Washington) in charge of the money supply and they would print cash at even a faster rate. They have problems but that is not the solution.

So, those guys are going to get their ticket punched and move on to New Hampshire and South Carolina. So what I want to do is give another person a ticket on that same trip. To me the only candidate that has been consistent, and hasn’t put their own foot in their mouth (Perry & Bachmann) is Rick Santorum. He took up residency (almost) here in Iowa, unlike Huntsman. He has been pro-life, fiscally conservative and seems to understand what is needed for our foreign policy. I will be caucusing for Rick Santorum, not as some anti (fill in the blank) but as a supporter of a fellow conservative.

Chris Mendelsohn - Urbandale, IA

Tax Season over, any news?

Osama Bin Laden is dead. Well Done Mr. President, I’m serious, it is an abstract concept to attack a compound and know people will be killed, it is another thing to set orders to kill one person in particular.

What next?

Time to get out of Afghanistan. I’m serious. Mission accomplished. We wanted to get Al Qaeda out of there and now they mostly are and the head guy and a lot of his command are dead or in Gitmo. Let’s get out with the promise and warning that if it becomes a haven for terrorist (drug dealers too, in my opinion) we will be back with bombs and Special Forces.

WikiLeaks: A Defense of Secretary Clinton

So let me put this whole “WikiLeaks” storyline in cliff notes.

Established in 2006 they have become a clearing house for “top secret” information gathered by world governments. They believe in transparency no matter what the outcome.

PFC Bradley Manning, a 22 year old Army intelligence analyst, was arrested for leaking video and documents classified but for which he had access. The first released included an airstrike in Baghdad (2007) and other various Pentagon documents dated between 2004 & 2009.

Mr. Manning apparently was upset with the military over its (DADT) “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” policy as he is gay and had been demoted from Specialist and was scheduled to be discharged when the theft occurred.

The latest set of documents indicate that Sec. of State Clinton “directs her envoys at the United Nations and embassies around the world to collect information ranging from basic biographical data on foreign diplomats to their frequent flyer and credit card numbers and even "biometric information on ranking North Korean diplomats." Typical biometric information can include fingerprints, signatures and iris recognition data.”

This directive, which came out in July of 2009 seems more like an “update” of current files then establishing new covert actions. Having just become Sec. of State, I am sure Mrs. Clinton wanted to establish that the information she and her department are working with was up to date and not old information left over from the Bush administration.

The fact that most of the information described could be found after a “Google” search doesn’t make it anymore of becoming an intelligence asset then what this document does on this subject.

It is possible that more information will come out that will that Mrs. Clinton ordered more than just this updating of files but until then we need to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Sources (cnn.com),(wikipedia.org)

The government is making marriage obsolete.

Yes, I'm blaming the government. For 45 years the government has been either intentionally or just as "unintended consequences" dismantling the family unit as part of the welfare state.

1960 - Birth control pill introduced helping women manage their reproductive years.
1965 - "Great Society" legislation makes the father less and less important to women and the need for financial security for poorer women comes more from the government.
1973 - Roe V Wade for those that can't or won't use birth control they simply end the child, I'm sorry the non-viable tissue matter.

As unwed mothers rise and the welfare state rewards those who are irresponsible there is no need for marriage. It is among the youth and the poor that this survey shows that pattern. Ironically, the only group who seems interesting in it are gay couples and for them it is just living a fantasy from their youth of being the bride.

Source (abc.com)

The Ponzi Scheme

TSA: Idiocracy in the here and now

Last week I flew from Des Moines to Reagan Int'l and a few days later flew out to a connecting flight in Detroit before landing back in Des Moines. This is my observation of the TSA and air traffic in general.

Last Week we had two things:
"Unions representing pilots at American Airlines and US Airways last week advised their 14,000 members to avoid the scanners, calling them intrusive and saying they could emit dangerous radiation." (UPI News) (AIT)

Second was an individual incident:
(AP video) " “if you touch my junk I'm going to have you arrested.” and now he faces a civil suite.

So, DSM is usually friendly, and quick and this time was no different. I believe that my drop off to the gate was under 15 min. (Quick tip to check in the day before via the internet) One thing different and I don't know if it was new or just because I was going to DC was a "vapor" sniff of my open water bottle before getting on the plane. As part of the rules you get pretty much locked down in your seat for the last hour of the flight and can only use the toilette in the back of the plane.

On my return trip I thought there was a chance I would have to use the newer AIT but not even much of a chance as I only saw one person put in it. I am going to assume I'm too big to use the machine and if ever chosen I will have to be patted down.

I had some time to sit and watch and what I saw two TSA agents that couldn't have been any help except to "observe and report" much like the movie. One gentleman was as big as I am, I know how fast I can run, yes he was at least 10 years younger but still at our size people can run away. The other agent was a pregnant woman who had to un-tuck her shirt to walk around, again not sure who she was gong to stop in an emergency.

The TSA has not changed any since 9/11 except in the way that the government has changed. Blotted with cash and inefficient. Their little high tech toys are still being used by people that would have a tough time getting a serious security job or any job that calls for independent rational thought. Sorry guys.

A good place to start cutting

"Calculations by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and other independent fiscal experts show that the $1.1 trillion cost over the next 10 years of the Medicare prescription drug program, which the Republican-controlled Congress adopted in 2003, by itself would add more to the deficit than the combined costs of the bailout, the stimulus and the health care law." (nytimes)

I have spoke to a few people and they are always surprised how cheap this program is. That might be great but if it is just our money paying for their low prices it can't last. Medicare is hundreds of times more expensive then originally projected and so will this program.

Thomas Jefferson thought the constitution might be rewritten every 19 years, but instead of that I think major laws (ranked by expenditures) should be voted on every 10 years. This will force our representatives in the House and Senate to make a political statement in their vote instead of taking a position that never gets tested.

November 3rd and beyond

In 2008, John McCain was leading Barack Obama until September when the financial crisis hit home. McCain was flip floppy when he canceled his campaigning only to do nothing and then vote for the first bail out. Obama did nothing but looked less uncertain and more ‘Presidential’. Voters did not have time to process what was the right thing to do and voted for the new guy hoping for new ideas.

2 years later people have had a chance to see the results of the “crisis” and the 3+ trillion dollars in added deficits and have rejected Washington solutions.

The Republican majority in the house is slim and the Senate is even with the White House to keep them in check. I believe the White House will now actually get involved with law making, instead of allowing Pelosi and Reid to do what they want and just sign rubber stamp it.

Deficit spending will decline, and passed bills (healthcare, cap & trade) will be cut back before they take effect. Most importantly the tax code will be shored up with a continuation of the Bush tax cuts for a majority of people (not exactly like it is now) and you will see businesses decide it is okay to hire and invest to expand.

I believe it will be a while before banks loosen up credit as we are going to be going through another housing bubble for more expensive homes. This is a subject not yet discussed in the mainstream media.

Thus begins the 2012 election cycle. Have fun, but for now no more crappy campaign ads.

Why the Democrats loose.

Last Thursday I heard the nastiest radio ad ever. A group supporting Boswell ran an ad with back ground noise like a 911 call for the woman that called the police on Brad Zaun some 10 years ago. No such recording exists. The tone would lead you to believe that Zaun was a rapist and almost killed the woman. It was disgusting.

All over the country Democrats, especially those that are incumbents, have taken the gloves off, suggesting their opponents are mentally ill, or a Nazi. It is one thing to question one’s views on issues, it is out of bounds to say if they disagree they are mental.

Voters will turn against those that run these ads and add to the route for the night.

Quick hit: Sen. John Kerry (who served in Vietnam)

"We're in a period of know-nothingism in the country, where truth and science and facts don't weigh in. It's all short-order, lowest common denominator, cheap-seat politics." – Sen. Kerry (D-MA) (boston.com)

This from a man who sits in his tub soaking with his Ketchup queen wife and wonder how he lost to that idiot G.W. Bush. This from a man who wants us to just sit down, shut up and let him and the other lizard overlords rule over us.

My ballot for November 2, 2010

I am for term limits, baring legislation I will try to impose them at the ballot box. 10 years maximum at any level of government.

US Senator – John Heiderscheit (Libertarian Party) I like Sen. Grassley but I just can no longer vote for him, too long in office.

US Representative – Brad Zaun (Republican Party)

Governor & Lt. Gov. – Johnathan Narcisse & Richard Mariar (Iowa Party) Branstad has more than 10 years as Governor and I don’t see a lot of difference between him and Culver. Narcisse is a fighter and believes in the best things for our children and Iowa.

Sec. of State – Matt Schultz (Republican Party)

Auditor of State – David Vaudt (Republican Party) His last term.

Treasurer of State – David Jamison (Republican Party)

Sec. of Ag – Bill Northey (Republican Party)

Attorney General – Brenna Findley (Republican Party) Tom Millers second time around has had some good points but still just too long in office.

State Representative – No vote – Scott Raecker (Rep.) has been in for 11 years, just too long.

Co. Treasurer – Mike Adams (Republican Party)

Co. Recorder – Eric Zingler (Republican Party)

Co. Attorney – No Vote – Sarcone has been in too long but has no one running against them.

Judges – I’m voting no on all of them to allow Branstad (if he wins) to have the ability to put in new people if he chooses.

Constitutional Questions
1 – Water and land legacy – No Vote- It wants to set up a 20 million dollar fund, we don’t have the money.
2 – Constitutional convention – No Vote – Even with problems our state constitution is the best we can do and has remedies for any problems we have.

Public Measure for Prairie Meadows
Yes – I would like for the casino to be private but the county has been too involved to get out now.

"They knew who I was." – Rep. Boswell

Hopefully that will be how we remember Rep. Boswell, as a name, as a footnote. As for how he represented the 3^rd District it was very unremarkable. He has had no reason to be remarkable, the independent vote has asked nothing of him and just falls in line and re-elects him every 2 years. When asked what his 16 years as a congressman has produced his claim was a veteran’s bill to help with suicide issues after serving, don’t get me wrong they need all the help we can give veterans. He also mentioned live stock legislation attached to a farm bill, but after 16 years that is an awful long time to only be able to mention 2 pieces of law when he personally has collected 1.6 to 2 million in salary as a congressman. If he is defeated next week what type of pension will he receive? The only one who has benefited from our relationship with Leonard Boswell is Leonard Boswell.

It is time for a change. Brad Zaun has his own issues like all of us do, and as a people we have struggled with financial and personal issues, he too has been there. As a Councilman, Mayor and State Senator Brad Zaun has always been an honest broker and a man who has been available and in touch with his community.

Boswell vs. Zaun Iowa Dist. 3

10/25/2010

Neither candidate did anything to hurt themselves, however, no one did anything to help themselves either and that is bad news for Brad Zaun. He is 28 years younger than the Congressman and should have shown a lot more energy and be able to respond more quickly to things like, when Boswell said he was not worried about challengers, I would have said "because you have taken the Independent and Democrat support for granted and don't even try any more."

Most of Boswell's responses were typical main line Democrat. There was absolutely nothing that he said that Barney Frank or Pelosi would disagree with. Brad was very vanilla too, maybe an attempt to win some moderate votes. His one point he did bring home was Boswell's promise to 3 terms and a need for change in D.C. Boswell's response was to tell us he and his seniority is the thin red line between Iowans and congressman from other states that would control everything. Of course those are Democrats so there wouldn't be any difference.

They did agree that we need more boarder security, with no details, and employers need to be held more responsible for hiring illegal immigrants.

I will update as I review my notes.