Insanity

Ok, so it has been awhile since I have written anything, but it is so hard to keep all the insanity straight. First of all, congratulations to America for having a voice in November. It is about time the American people spoke up about how tired we are of the "change" that is going on. Government healthcare, increasing debt, corruption in the administration, higher unemployment, etc. It is high time that our government get out of the habit of not listening to what the American people want. If I am right, this is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Why are we allowing this country to go down the path toward the European model. Greece has had financial crisis, Ireland is bankrupt, and Spain is on the horizon. So why are we so damned determined to go down the same road. I don't get it. Thomas Paine recognized the importance of the American experiment in 1776. He stated in Common Sense, "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind". Our founding fathers (and mothers) knew that this nation was an experiment in building a Republic that had not been seen before. They knew that it's fate would greatly impact the world. And here we stand on the brink of changing our Republic into something that has, as history has already demonstrated, failed. And not just once but over and over and over again. Why? What is the reasoning to mess with something that is not broke. I know what is the end game, but our leaders will not tell you the truth. They, along with many around the world, want a one world government where economically and politically we are all equal. But why in the world would be want to join in on a team that is and has failed, or at the very least, struggled. Look, I am not saying that American's are a superior race or even better human beings. All I am saying is that I am a man that is proud of my nation and the impact it has had on the freedoms of our own people and those who have struggled to achieve what Americans have. The freedom of religion, speech, assembly, to own property, to start a business, to have a family, etc. In essence, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Does anyone remember that?

I am so distracted

So the other day I was listening to some snippets of a speech by our current President and was floored by what he said. He told the students to whom he was speaking that "information is a distraction". I'm sorry, "information is a distraction". It is critical to our freedom. Without information we would be mindless drones doing what big brother told us. Shouldn't we have the best information available. Isn't that what freedom of speech and freedom of the press is all about. Ok, let's take an example or two. Case study number one - the government declares all white men enemies of the state. They tell you that flat topped men driving vans are looking to blow up buildings and kill as many people as possible. Now all white men are in danger and no one really knows why. Further "information" reveals that a lone "nut" blew up a van in front of a building in Oklahoma. But wait, further information reveals he did not act alone. And still more distracting information brings to light that he has a reason for his actions, not a good reason, but he has one. So after hearing more information we learn that not all white men are enemies of the state. Wow, isn't it interesting how information became a distraction. Case study number two - movie stars, Presidents, heads of state, musicians, and the list goes on; are smoking cigarettes. It is considered "sexy" or "sophisticated". Images of famous people with a cigarette hanging out of their mouths are plastered in magazines, on billboards, on TV, and in the movie theaters. Light one up after sex. Be a rebel like James Dean. But wait, can it be that pesky information again. Cigarettes and smoking cause cancer. What a distraction information has become. It is now cautioning you from smoking yourself to death when you were "uninformed" about the health risks of smoking before. Or the fact that cocaine does not reduce stomach problems. Or that asbestos is bad and not the best option for insulation. Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages; information is critical. It is not a distraction. Mis information is a distraction. Lack of information is a distraction. Not knowing the facts can be harmful to your health. So I have this one thing to say to our dear President: If information is a distraction than please stop talking. Your empty promises are distracting me from the business at hand, building a future for my children.

Can't believe I heard this today

So today was one of the most frustrating days for me. Not as an individual, but as an American. I am in a position of management and I needed to hire someone to fill an open position. Over the last two weeks I have interviewed no less than seven applicants and received the following "excuses": 1) Not happy with the amount of hours offered. For someone who isn't working aren't some hours better than none? 2) Want to make more money. If you are not making any money, wouldn't something be an improvement? 3) Don't want to work the shifts offered. Are we really that picky? I mean it is a job? 4) Not enough benefits. OK, this one I can somewhat understand, but isn't something better than nothing? 5) I would rather collect unemployment until it runs out. WHAT!!! Did I hear that right. Someone would rather pass up a job now and wait until their "free" money runs out and then take a job. This excuse was used by two of the applicants. Yes, two. I am absolutely flabbergasted that these words came out of the mouth of an American, or am I? It seems that we have become a country of people looking for a handout. People who would rather milk the government, a government that is MASSIVELY in debt, than earn an honest living. And the idea of free money. Let's just examine the concept of "free" money. Employers pay unemployment insurance through a payroll tax. It usually amounts to approx. .05% of payroll. Now let's delve a little further. If this is never applied for, the employer pays the same .05% and it goes into a state pool. The problem is this, if an employee files for unemployment and is granted the benefit, the employers taxes go up. That means the cost of doing business goes up. Now before we get to excited about sticking it to big business, it is important to note a few facts. Small business accounts for 50% of the jobs in America and 60% to 80% of all new jobs. So the small business, the mom and pop shops, are the ones being taxed to death for the benefit of those who do not want to work. That means less jobs, less money available for raises, and the potential that some small businesses can't afford to stay in business. Now let me be clear, I am not chastising those who are truly looking for work and can't find it. I am talking about those who are applying for jobs in their chosen field but are declining work for the time being until their "free" money runs out. I sincerely hope that there is enough "free" money for all the small business owners that are squeezed out of business by taxes that are drowning them in a pool of bureaucracy.

R.I.P. NASA

During the 1950's and 1960's there was a great race. It was between the two greatest superpowers on the planet. A race to see who which nation would make it to the Moon first. The U.S.S.R. took an early lead by putting the first man in orbit and things were looking bleak for the U.S.A., but somehow we came from behind and became the first nation to land a man on the Moon. Along the way several things happened. We established that the United States of America was the greatest nation and was a leader in industry. We also, sometimes by accident, came up with some of the most incredible inventions. Some of which have changed the world. Scratch resistant lenses, memory foam, long distance telecommunication (cell phones), cordless tools, water filters, velcro, and countless other everyday items that have helped to shape our lives. So why are we scrapping this innovative agency? Why are we turning our backs on our space program? Have we seen all there is to see in outer space? Have we been to every planet in the solar system or even our own little galaxy, which by the way has more than 10,000 stars and several thousands more planets? What is the motive behind this all? Let's face it, the inventions bring in enough to support the space programs. It seems to be more of a trend than a need. We have outsourced our call centers to other nations. We have imported more autos than we produce (driving our own companies bankrupt). We have increased our dependance on foreign oil to a point where we would be crippled without it. And now we are giving up one of the most imaginative agencies in the world that has lead to the exploration of space. Where do we stop? When we elect someone from another nation to guide ours. Or is it when we contract with other countries to provide defense for our borders. We are already the leading consumer in the world, let's not consume ourselves into oblivion.

Rockets Red Glare

I am happy to live in the greatest country on the face of the earth. I am proud to be an American. Each day I witness more and more reasons that remind me of why. Today, for instance, I attended a picnic and was able to see parents who have raised their children to honor God and to treat everyone with respect. Kids who say yes sir and yes maam. Young men and women who are capable of carrying on a conversation with others without swearing or using the latest slang. On the way home, my wife and I saw fireworks in every direction as we drove. Small displays and big productions. All impressive. I couldn't help but think of Francis Scott Key as he watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry and wrote the Star Spangled Banner. "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there". We were resilient then and we will be resilient now. We may be bombarded now with negativity in the media, crooked and lying polititians, and congress trying harder than ever to take away or freedoms; but we will endure. Why you may ask? Because we are Americans and there are still parents raising children to honor their elders. There are still men and women willing to die for freedom. There are still people who want to remember our history and the image the founding fathers had for this country. But most importantly, because there are still Americans who know that God is the foundation of this great nation. They pray each and every day for the future of America. Now more than ever, God bless America.

Media Matters

Why is it that the media is not talking about what is going on in the current administration. Bush says something wrong or misquotes someone and he is demonized immediately. Obama calls a Marine Corpsman a Corpse Man and it is treated like a funny side note. He delays a visit Mississippi after the flooding and the coast of Louisianna after the oil spill and nothing is said. And so much for transparency in his administration. There is so much back door stuff going on it is like a brothel in Vegas. And now someone from the administration offered a job to a political candidate if they would bow out of a race. Where is the press? This is Chicago politics at its best. Lets bribe, con, or bully to get our way. Political parties aside, the press has an obligation to the American people to report the news and not what they feel is best for ratings. Someone being asked to bow out of a political race so that the administrations preferred candidate has a better chance is not just news, it is scandal on the level of Watergate. I want to be clear, I am an American and pray for my country every day. In no way is this meant to be an attack on Obama or Bush or Republicans or Democrats. This is simply a plea to the media to report the news without bias and stop treating the President of the United States of America like the second coming and giving him a free pass on things that they would have buried Bush on.

Climate Change?

So the new news is that they have decided to rename global warming. The new terminology is "climate change". Isn't this what most of the conservatives have been saying for years? A great book to read is "The Winds of Change" by Eugene Linden. He explains how the Earth has gone through heating and cooling cycles as part of it's process. This constant change in weather patterns has been a part of the rise and fall of several civilizations as well as integral in the migration of humanity on the planet. The simple fact, we have let climate change and global warming become so ingrained into our psyche that they have become pseudo religions. The Bible cautions us on this: "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." - Romans 1:25. The creature in this case is nature or the Earth. The prophets of climate change have been proved wrong already when the statistics they were using were proven to be wrong. They said the Earth is warming up, and in fact it is cooling. They said the polar ice caps are melting and will cause a rise in sea level. Let me point out one very simple, not so scientific example. When you put ice in a glass of water and it melts, does the water level rise? No it is the same because the ice has simply become a liquid instead of a solid. The solid displaceed the liquid before it melted taking up the same amount of space. So the icecaps melting will not cause the sea levels to rise, it is scientifically and naturally not possible. As for the glaciers, that may cause a slight increase, however, there are not enough on the Earth to cause a significant increase in sea level. Of course this is if the Earth was warming, which again I point out, have been disproved. In culmination, be aware of false information, do your own research, and know the facts before jumping in head first. A shallow pool of information can cause a lot of hurt.

Praising Arizona

Arizona has done something that has been a long time coming. They have made it illegal to be an illegal alien. Wait a minute, what did I just say? Illegal to be an illegal. Sounds pretty obvious to me. If you are classified as an illegal alien, doesn't that make you, by definition, illegal? I think so. I am no legal expert, but simple common sense says that if the adjective is included in the terminology, it must apply. Let's see, a red truck. If I am not mistaken, it must be a truck and it must be red. Ok, one more, how about shiny new car. Yes, I threw in two adjectives, but they both still apply. The car is shiny and it is new. So if the terminology is illegal alien, then they must be illegal. I know that some are going to argue that this is a violation of civil rights. That some people are going to be targeted for questioning. If it was not a problem, then we would not be in this boat. Pardon the pun. I think that Arizona deserves credit for doing what is right. Actually holding those that are in this country illegally accountable. Remember that many people who wish to do us harm come in over our borders and stay in this country illegally. Illegal aliens take away jobs from tax paying Americans. For the record, and I want to be clear, I am for immigration. This country was founded by immigrants and built by a mixture of people from other countries and cultures. The difference is that they came here the right way and built it with blood, sweat, and tears. Keep America safe and keep our immigration legal. Thank you Arizona for taking the lead on something that should have been the case a long time ago. We are supposed to be a melting pot of ingredients that work together, not a colander leaking in whatever wants to be part of the stew.

A true patriot

I wish that our current leaders would all watch this video and see what it means to be a true American. Not afraid to talk about God in public. Not afraid of what others may think. And not afraid of being an American. God bless the U.S.A.

Our Troops

Bring our troops home! I couldn't agree more, but I have a feeling it is for a different reason that those who stand on the corners and protest the war against terrorism. These soldiers are away from their families and some are giving their lives in defense of something they believe in, and people stand on the corner holding up a sign thinking it honors them. Bring them home! Is it really because they want to see the troops home or is it more because they are against the war. "When Clinton Lied, No One Died", "Bush, Baby Killer", "Bush Jr. fighting Daddy's War". These are just a few of the signs I have seen when driving down the streets and now it has almost become non existent since Obama has taken office. The war is still being fought, soldiers are still dying, troops are still overseas, but the protesters have eerily vanished. Did someone just decide that it was no longer fashionable to protest the war? Are they suddenly and miraculously in favor of the our troops being overseas? Or is it because they have accomplished their original goal of demonizing the former President so they can say that they stood for something? I think it is the latter. It was never about the war or the troops, it was always about politics. So why do I want our troops home? Two reasons. One is so that we can do what our founding fathers intended. "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state". Defend the security of a free state. In other words, protect our borders. Keep illegals out. Keep terrorists out. Defend the homeland against invasion. Protect their own families. It is frustrating that soldiers were shot and killed in their own country on a military base by an extremist when they are allowed to defend themselves in another country. Let me be clear, I am not suggesting that America become a land of pacifists and stay locked up like some over protected kid that momma put in knee pads and a helmet to walk to the mailbox. If someone attacks our country or threatens our interests, SQUASH them. We are the most powerful nation on the face of the Earth and we are acting like we are scared to hurt someones feelings over a few words like "extremist", or "terrorist". Bring the troops home. To be with their families. To watch their children grow up. To start a business, build a home, run for political office, and to experience life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness on American soil. Yes I agree, Bring our Troops Home!

Nukes

America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. We have been defenders of freedom for over 200 years and more than a few nations owe their continued existence to the fact that we don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk. Now we are telling our enemies that we will take our greatest weapon and put it on the shelf in the interest of reaching some sort of accord. If I am not mistaken, aren't there several groups and nations out there who have it in for the United States? Aren't we hated by some extreme factions that would love nothing better than to see a world without America? "A world without America ...is attainable," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, October, 2005. Hugo Chavez of Venezuela was quoted as saying, "I hereby accuse the North American empire of being the biggest menace to our planet". So I ask why are we handcuffing ourselves in the face of serious threats to the sovreignty of our country? The fate of the free world rests on the shoulders of this great nation and it is high time we stand up for ourselves instead of putting our own necks on the chopping block. I am not saying that nuclear weapons are our only resort, however, it is our big stick and we should not put it in the cupboard, lock the door, and forget about where we put the key.

Psalm 43

I was a little disheartened in the path our country is heading down the other day so I picked up the Bible and began reading. This is what I read:

1Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

2For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

3O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

4Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Wow, what a revelation. What words to read at this time in history. Our nation is headed down a path away from God but it is the individual who needs to seek God. I am hopeful that as God fearing Americans fall on their knees and pray that God will hear our prayers and save our nation.

“ It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.” - George Washington

Easter Sunday

So yesterday was Easter Sunday. I will not get into the logistics of the terminology "Easter" or any of the history, but I do want to take a minute to address the phenomena of church attendance on Easter and other "religious" holidays. It is amazing how many people come to church on Easter Sunday, Christmas time, etc. but never step foot in a church any other time throughout the year. I am not necessarily criticizing them as much as imploring them to come more often. We love to see the ladies in their frilly hats and the men in the best suit that barely fits because the last time they had it on was a year ago on Easter Sunday, however, we would love to see you more often even if it means you are just wearing a t-shirt and jeans. The important thing is being in church and hearing God's word. I know many are "Christians" and pray, but spend some time with the rest of us. We want to get to know you better.

The Beginning

Several people have asked me who the Old Liners are and why I chose that name. Let me begin with my original reasoning. I grew up in Maryland and knew it by the nickname, the "Old Line" state. Like many people I assumed it was referring to the Mason-Dixon line which separates Pennsylvania and Maryland and in essence the North and the South. Upon further investigation, I was intrigued to find out that the term does not refer to the Mason-Dixon line but was bestowed on the state and its militia during the American Revolution.

In late 1775 and early 1776 The Maryland Line, regiments of Maryland regulars, mobilized to fight in the War for Independence and quickly became a bullwark of the early battles. Many of these soldiers were the only battle tested militia at the outbreak of the American Revolution. In fact, George Washington recognized the Maryland Line as a disciplined unit fighting against a trained British army. By 1777 few of the original soldiers remained but the Maryland Line was honored with the nickname, "The Old Line". The Maryland Lines actions during the Battle of Long Island prompted Gen. Washington to call it an "hour more precious to American liberty than any other". The origins of the nickname and its references to Maryland can be read at the following website: http://www.aomol.net/html/oldline.html. The Old Liners want to be recognized as patriots for freedom who stand up for American liberty.

While researching the term Old Line, I recalled the use of it in reference to several politicians throughout history. I looked up the phrase and found that it had two definitions, both of which provide further support for the selection of our name. The first is: having a reputation or authority based on length or proven quality of service. Undoubtedly, we want to be remembered as an enduring group that maintains a high quality of service to our country and to the freedoms of all Americans. The second definition states: adhering to traditional policies or practices. In essence, a Conservative. No other way to say it. The Old Liners are about traditional family values, freedom, liberty, the U.S. Constitution, and the core moral foundation on which the United States of America was built.

So what can you look forward to? We will look at what is going on in our world today and how our moral foundation is more important than ever. Our American liberty is being threatened from without and within. The traditional family values that made us who we are are being eroded by a biased media and politicians serving special interest groups rather than the American people. Unless we stand up and make our voices heard, the America of our forefathers will be lost and we will awaken to the dawn of a new America. One of moral depravity and shattered liberties.