A Secular Progressive solution to Religious Holidays.
Friday, 18 December 2009 11:08
Nelson Dozer commentary by Chritian J. Riehle
Greetings, this is Nelson Dozer of the Secular Civil Liberties United, or the SCLU.
We at SCLU are conscious of certain individuals, appreciating special days. I am here to reassure everyone that the SCLU is not opposed to special days. So, today I am here to introduce an SCLU special day. We will call it “Greeting Day.” This will be a whole day when all are welcome to exchange greetings in an unimposing and inoffensive way. On this day, when wishing to greet another individual, one needn’t speak or gesture, one simply will lick their index finger and place that finger directly into the air. The idea came to us when our founder, Morgan Stern, said insight-fully “one must always be aware of where the wind blows.” Of course in our case at SCLU if the wind blows the wrong way, we sue the wind.
At any rate “Greeting Day” will be a day that all can embrace, not literally obviously, but it will a day where we can all enjoy inoffensive greeting. Now, I know what many are thinking, seeing someone lick their finger is potentially offensive, not to mention the sanitary issues. We are one pragmatic step ahead of you, rather than licking one’s finger in plain sight, one will lick one’s finger under a jacket or behind a tree. Perhaps even that could be seen as offensive, and it doesn’t address the sanitary issues. So, we will suggest a further solution, one will simply place ones finger an inch or so in front of their lips, not licking and then place that finger directly in the air.
We are still in the creation process; excuse me, the discovery process of “Greeting Day.” If anyone has any suggestions, please contact us on our website, as soon as we get the stimulus money to put it back up. We are interested to see public input on our plans, but remember if we perceive anything potentially offensive, we’ll sue you.
If any of this was confusing to you, please go to realityslate.com and listen to episode 31.
Merry Christmas and have a safe and enjoyable New Year.
Last Updated on Saturday, 19 December 2009 03:30
A Case For Responsible Corporations.
Tuesday, 01 December 2009 22:29
Christian J. Riehle
Big Business is often blamed as a bully of citizens and legislatures. Meanwhile, as we struggle in a recession, the real bullies are the environmental groups and others that are intent on molding policy that costs jobs and creates less energy. While businesses are pushing to see what can be done, these real bullies are intent on dictating what can’t be done.
Walking through the streets the other day. I ran into a small group asking for signatures for a petition. The petition was for sweeping ethics reform. Those at the table were yelling, “help us take our government back.” In speaking to one of the men at the table, I discovered that this reform was targeted mostly at corporations using gifts to lobby Congress. At no time did this man mention the brutal tactics that environmental groups will sink to, to block development, or legislation that they don‘t like. These environmental groups use misinforming ads, and subvert Congress by holding development up in court. I’m not saying that there is no need for ethics reform, but any reform that disproportionately targets corporations, is missing the point.
The larger point of “special interests” having too great of a pull on those in power, must be balanced by evidence. On a national level we can see that there are corporations that have been “bailed out.” However, these large entities only represent a mere fraction of the number of national corporations at large. Still, greater regulation is nearly always forced on all corporations, not just those that were overleveraged. So who lobbies for these entities that aren’t troubled or troubling, or where is the representation for good corporations? The answer is that while many industries lobby for their interests, the most powerful lobbies are those of environmental and labor groups. One would be hard pressed to argue that these powerful labor unions, trial-lawyers or enviro-lobbies, have the interests of any corporation in mind. There is little effort to defend the “big businesses” that run responsibly especially in the case of energy companies, which are most often the target of environmental groups.
In my state of Utah, where this ethics reform is currently being discussed, energy companies are stymied by restrictive environment regulation. What is the evidence? There is currently no nuclear power generated in Utah, the states’ deposits of uranium, oil shale, natural gas, coal and countless other resources are largely untapped, and in some cases are even dormant. We have a low grade nuclear waste dump that stores waste like rubber gloves and shoes from other sites, but when the site asked to store waste from Europe, they have been told; “NO,” countless times. This rejection is in spite of the fact, importing this waste would bring money and jobs to the state. There is also a miniscule risk of anything going wrong. Still, the environmental groups have bullied legislators to not allow the import. So one asks, are the corporate lobbyists getting their way or are the environmental lobbyists succeeding.
Heal Utah, an environmental group in Salt Lake City has opposed anything that has the word “nuclear” in it’s title. The Sierra Club says that it opposes any utilization of coal, oil or nuclear power. They have called for clean energy in Utah, but not nuclear power. The environmental lobby is winning in most cases. In fact, the probability is that even if bills are passed to allow new nuclear power plants to come to our state, Sierra Club, Green Peace or Heal Utah will sue to hold things up. This has been their record on countless other occasions using the courts to stop development, including; new highways, bridges, housing developments and businesses. So our state will see no nuclear power, as the environment lobbies block our state from developing more oil, coal, natural gas or uranium utilization. Much like in the rest of the country, we will have an energy policy that creates less energy.
Environmental groups join aggressive lawyers and labor groups as powerful lobbies that stand in the way of new growth. Despite the recession these groups are gaining pull in legislatures around the country. They join to help sing the chorus that demonizes “Big Business.” They use “climate change” as an excuse to stop any new development proposals, or any other legislation that doesn‘t fit their agenda. So corporations are back on there heals, attempting to continue to survive in a hostile climate. Ethics reform is nearly always targeted at the “evil” corporations and rarely target these other “benevolent” groups. Ask yourself, how many jobs are created by environmentalists, complicit lawyers and their friends in labor? Why are the legislators fearful of these groups, and why have so many corporations spent so much time and money, running ads defending their practices?
So the next time you hear some activist whining about “taking government back from the corporations,” ask these whiners, “who will hold the labor groups, lawyers and environmentalists accountable?” Ask them “why such credence for those who kill jobs, and create nothing?”
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The Secret of Afghanistan.
Thursday, 10 December 2009 20:27
Christian J. Riehle
Those on the right and left have spent the last few weeks reacting to President Obama’s speech. There is however, an unspoken reason troops are heading to this mountain country.
Obama’s speech has been criticized on every level. One radio talk show host demonstrated clips, from Obama, that showed he borrowed nearly word for word from G.W. Bush’s speech supporting the surge in Iraq. The same host played clips demonstrating similarities to L.B.J’s speech about Vietnam. That was a neat piece of historical perspective; but, the assertion that Afghanistan is anything like either Iraq or Vietnam is naïve.
Afghanistan is Afghanistan. The thirty thousand troops heading there are not going to Afghanistan to create a new Italy or Japan. They are going there because of the two nuclear powers in the region, because of the resources and instability of the former Soviet satellites and to have the U.S. presence be somewhat of a thumb in the eye of Russia. Most importantly, the increase in American troops is to set the table for what will be a long standing presence in Afghanistan. Just as having troops elsewhere, is an advantage to keep an eye on those countries in the vicinity, (such as Italy's vicinity to Libya or Japan’s vicinity to North Korea,) Afghanistan is very close to many places that are, or could be, a danger to others, like Pakistan that is an unstable, nuclear power and is packed with dangerous fundamentalists.
The President mentioned Pakistan's importance in the speech, but he couldn't help criticizing the previous administration and the U.S.'s past "mistakes." Was the speech a good one? No, in fact it may be known as one of the worst war speeches in a generation. It was full of Bush-like rhetoric mixed, with left-wing placation. One might even wonder if this planned surge was already being planned when the administrations changed. The new war council probably sat on the plan until they could take full ownership of it.
So, now the administration owns this surge, and after a year and a half, some troops probably will be cycling out of Afghanistan. There will however be a large number still there. The objective will be to stabilize the capital Kabul; and, also to strengthen regional governors. Realistically, however, the point of the surge is to weaken Al Qaeda and the Taliban, but as was mentioned before, all the fundamentalist weasels may run into surrounding countries; but this time, there will be a U.S. force to keep an eye on them.
What happens when this region is ignored? Remember that after the defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan, the foreigners (mostly Arabs) who had traveled there to defend their fellow Muslims remained in the country. Some of these Mujahadeen became Al Qaeda. The same force responsible for the 9-11 attacks. The same force that is a bane to so many across the globe is all due to Afghanistan being ignored.
In the end this administration knows how important a long standing U.S. presence is to the stability of the region. That military presence will outlast this administration and perhaps many others. Conservatives should avoid making political hay of the deadlines that are being discussed, especially when none of the arbitrary deadlines that have been set so far, by the President, have been met. President Obama wants to be reelected. A retreat in Afghanistan would damage his chance for a second term. Even if he gets a second term, defeat would damage a Democrats most precious position, his Legacy.
Last Updated on Thursday, 10 December 2009 23:13
How the Rubes could save our Republic.
Thursday, 19 November 2009 22:59
Christian J. Riehle
From Joe the Plumber, to Sarah Palin; people at “tea parties” and tax protesters; those seen as rubes may be the answer to what ails our country. The left, the moderate hand-holding middle, and elitist conservatives often hate these rubes. However, for the rubes, that disdain from elites is just the point. A growing segment of the population are exhausted by the elite crowd only listening to other elites.
The “sophisticated” show pure disgust at rubes who are public figures. One overwhelming example of a “rube” who the elites love to hate is Sarah Palin. With her book tour, several interviews and general media presence, she is everywhere. The last time she burst onto the scene, after being named VP candidate for McCain, she was enemy number one to the left, as she is again now. So why such hatred? Nothing threatens the left like someone who can draw a crowd, while lacking the supposed “sophistication” that most “intellectuals” should have. Still she draws crowds and a lot of people love her.
Plus Sarah takes something from the elites that they hold dear. This is the ability to write the script for how victim classes act. Women and minorities are supposed to be liberal and if women speak, they are supposed to have the refinement of those in higher society. Sarah is a feminist but she doesn’t fit the mold of good liberal feminists. She hunts, loves her “unsophisticated” husband, she has a funny accent and she is a Christian. She threatens everything that the left and the feminist establishment built over the last five decades. For the left elite, Sara is one dangerous rube.
Joe Wurzelbacher “Joe the plumber” is a rube that accomplished something that few could do. He was able to fluster Senator Obama’s Presidential campaign. He did it by simply asking why punish people’s work and accomplishments. The answer was one of the most telling in campaign history “…spread the wealth around.” Since that fateful interchange, Joe has been the target of every sort of slander and smear. Like Sarah he threatens all that the left has built. Joe was also once a union plumber. He had plans to own his own company. Nothings threatens the left like a former union brother with entrepreneurship. Joe is also a dangerous rube.
Joe and Sarah are rubes who attract attention. There is a level of jealousy by the elite talking heads in that Joe and Sarah have the ability to draw interest when few elites can do the same. Joe and Sarah have taken the best revenge to the elite jealousy and hatred, in supporting candidates that are much like themselves, perhaps even other rubes.
The rube movement is not only based in media “darlings,” it is in tax protests and Tea Party attendees. The elites hate these people, partially because they use a tool of the left: protests, to accomplish goals of the right, like a return to fiscal awareness. So the elites demonize these people as angry mobs, even claiming that they bare swastikas, want people to die or they hate children. These claims show that the elite are frightened by what the rubes are saying.
What really scares the elites is that people listen to the rube protesters. Gone are the days when those in Congress or in the media could say “listen to me, I know better.” Rubes don’t obey people just because of an impressive education or pedigree. Sarah Palin is from Alaska and a graduated from a college in Idaho. Joe is a meager plumber. Tea party protesters could be construction workers, farmers, truck drivers or other “provincial” occupations. For the elites, these people should be seen and not heard. In the elite mind that lack of prestige should disqualify anyone from being taken seriously. Many rubes are from the part of the country the elites “fly-over.” Some in the rube class have prestigious degrees but they still will actually discuss issues and listen to those who are more common. When people from different educational backgrounds see each other on equal ground, even if they’re rubes, the future of the country looks brighter.
So how can the rubes save the Republic? By questioning those in power despite their party. By fighting against taxation that damages the free market. By speaking plainly, without elitist “nuances.” By speaking truth to power, once battle cry of the left but is now scorned by them. Many rubes are educating themselves on US History, the Constitution, checks and balances and countless other important principles. They learn about these subjects from a variety of sources, like; David McCullough, George Gilder, Peter Scweitzer, Glenn Beck, Michelle Malkin, Jonah Goldberg and many others.
Many of the rubes don’t need a leader in the traditional sense. The elite classes of both parties ask; where is the next Goldwater, Reagan, Roosevelt, Clinton, Johnson, Gingrich or whoever? Many rubes find leadership in themselves, religious clergy, or perhaps a good friend. They may admire some leaders or speakers, but there is no need to be led. They are people who are working together for freedom to succeed and to fail. They are raising concerns about unsustainable debt. They want elected officials who will take these issues seriously.
In the next elections the rubes will play a substantial role, in both the local and national races. Especially as the deficit deepens and spending increases. What makes them rubes is that the elites on the right, left and middle don’t understand them. However, Joe, Sarah and the many other rubes are a part of a growing movement. Minimizing them won’t diminish their influence. Those who ignore them do so at their own peril.
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