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A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry (www.pearyperry.com)

“Politicians need summer school….”

I have a friend who ran for a position as a district judge. He won.

He told me that after he was elected, one of the first defendants that had to be sentenced had a range of prison time from five years to life. My friend tells me there were not any guidelines or books to help him figure out what was proper in this case. As a result he went back and studied books, case law and prison conditions to find out for himself what was the right thing to do. He wanted to know how to be fair in his elected position. He is a good man.

In the past several months we have seen a number of elected officials who apparently missed their opportunity to learn what was appropriate as well as what was expected of them for their positions.

A Texas legislator was in the news a couple of weeks ago, after it was discovered that he was billing both the State as well as his campaign funds for the same travel expenses. His defense was that ‘he didn’t know it wasn’t the right thing to do’. He’ll probably blame on some poor second grade teacher who failed to stress honesty and integrity to him when he was seven years old. Poor baby.

Another Texas congressional representative has been accused of using funds given to her for scholarships and then awarding them to family members and close friends. Under the anti-nepotism rules of the scholarship program, Representative Bernice Johnson of Dallas was prohibited from giving out scholarship monies to her relatives or children of her staff. Ms. Johnson stated that she had indeed violated the rules, but had done so … ‘unknowingly’. She also stated that she just wasn’t ‘fully aware’ of the program rules. Of course….knowing the ‘rules’ doesn’t seem to be of much interest to many law makers such as Ms. Johnson. According to the news report, these scholarships were to be given to needy students in her district. None of the recipients lived or attended school in her district. Ms. Johnson just wasn’t aware of this small requirement.

The left leaning media is quick to point out that representative Charlie Rangel of New York merely missed several items when it came to ethics. One pundit says that Rangel’s ‘overlooking’ of the taxable income from property in the Dominican Republic couldn’t have been much since the property only cost $82,750. In the writers mind, this meant that the house was not a ‘villa’ and couldn’t have been very ‘palatial.’ I don’t know for sure, but it seems to me that the IRS doesn’t cut anyone any slack just because the property isn’t worth millions of dollars. Rangel also seems to have allegedly abused his office by using his elected position to raise funds for some ‘learning center’. Oh, wait there’s more. Add his lack of candor in filling out some financial disclosure forms as well as perhaps using a rent controlled apartment in New York for a campaign office. Several of Rangel’s defenders took the position that Rangel was hardly the first person in New York to do this, so what’s the big deal? If we all took that line of thinking, then I suppose since Cain killed Able that gives me the right to gun down my neighbor with the barking dog since ‘everyone’ has been doing it for a long period of time.

Last but not least is Representative Maxine Waters. Mrs. Waters is being investigated by the House ethics committee who alleges that Waters’s office improperly worked in September 2008 to press for aid to prevent the failure of Boston-based OneUnited Bank. This bank eventually stayed afloat with the help of money from the Troubled Assets Relief Program. Waters’s husband, Sidney Williams, had served on the bank’s board. He owned stock in OneUnited that had declined in value from $350,000 in June 2008 to $175,000 two months later and would have been “worthless” without the bailout funds, according to the ethics committee. Mrs. Waters has defended her position by stating that she was pressing for aid for all minority banks. Apparently the only bank discussed in her meeting was OneUnited, but this seems to not be of any concern to Rep. Waters.

Well, this is all I have time for this week. I’m certain there are others which I could discuss, but four is quite enough for the time being. I guess my point here is that adult people who manage to get themselves elected to a public office should have some level of intelligence, honesty and integrity. They should not use or abuse their elected positions and then blame it off on stupidity or a lack of information about the rules.

If you and I are expected to live and abide by the rules, shouldn’t those who are in our government required to do the same? Perhaps we need some sort of school to train these poorly educated folks who have chosen to represent us in the nation’s governments, after all it doesn’t seem to be their fault if they can’t figure out the difference between right and wrong.

Comments go to pperry@austin.rr.com

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A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry (www.pearyperry.com)

“Politicians need summer school….”

I have a friend who ran for a position as a district judge. He won.

He told me that after he was elected, one of the first defendants that had to be sentenced had a range of prison time from five years to life. My friend tells me there were not any guidelines or books to help him figure out what was proper in this case. As a result he went back and studied books, case law and prison conditions to find out for himself what was the right thing to do. He wanted to know how to be fair in his elected position. He is a good man.

In the past several months we have seen a number of elected officials who apparently missed their opportunity to learn what was appropriate as well as what was expected of them for their positions.

A Texas legislator was in the news a couple of weeks ago, after it was discovered that he was billing both the State as well as his campaign funds for the same travel expenses. His defense was that ‘he didn’t know it wasn’t the right thing to do’. He’ll probably blame on some poor second grade teacher who failed to stress honesty and integrity to him when he was seven years old. Poor baby.

Another Texas congressional representative has been accused of using funds given to her for scholarships and then awarding them to family members and close friends. Under the anti-nepotism rules of the scholarship program, Representative Bernice Johnson of Dallas was prohibited from giving out scholarship monies to her relatives or children of her staff. Ms. Johnson stated that she had indeed violated the rules, but had done so … ‘unknowingly’. She also stated that she just wasn’t ‘fully aware’ of the program rules. Of course….knowing the ‘rules’ doesn’t seem to be of much interest to many law makers such as Ms. Johnson. According to the news report, these scholarships were to be given to needy students in her district. None of the recipients lived or attended school in her district. Ms. Johnson just wasn’t aware of this small requirement.

The left leaning media is quick to point out that representative Charlie Rangel of New York merely missed several items when it came to ethics. One pundit says that Rangel’s ‘overlooking’ of the taxable income from property in the Dominican Republic couldn’t have been much since the property only cost $82,750. In the writers mind, this meant that the house was not a ‘villa’ and couldn’t have been very ‘palatial.’ I don’t know for sure, but it seems to me that the IRS doesn’t cut anyone any slack just because the property isn’t worth millions of dollars. Rangel also seems to have allegedly abused his office by using his elected position to raise funds for some ‘learning center’. Oh, wait there’s more. Add his lack of candor in filling out some financial disclosure forms as well as perhaps using a rent controlled apartment in New York for a campaign office. Several of Rangel’s defenders took the position that Rangel was hardly the first person in New York to do this, so what’s the big deal? If we all took that line of thinking, then I suppose since Cain killed Able that gives me the right to gun down my neighbor with the barking dog since ‘everyone’ has been doing it for a long period of time.

Last but not least is Representative Maxine Waters. Mrs. Waters is being investigated by the House ethics committee who alleges that Waters’s office improperly worked in September 2008 to press for aid to prevent the failure of Boston-based OneUnited Bank. This bank eventually stayed afloat with the help of money from the Troubled Assets Relief Program. Waters’s husband, Sidney Williams, had served on the bank’s board. He owned stock in OneUnited that had declined in value from $350,000 in June 2008 to $175,000 two months later and would have been “worthless” without the bailout funds, according to the ethics committee. Mrs. Waters has defended her position by stating that she was pressing for aid for all minority banks. Apparently the only bank discussed in her meeting was OneUnited, but this seems to not be of any concern to Rep. Waters.
Well, this is all I have time for this week. I’m certain there are others which I could discuss, but four is quite enough for the time being. I guess my point here is that adult people who manage to get themselves elected to a public office should have some level of intelligence, honesty and integrity. They should not use or abuse their elected positions and then blame it off on stupidity or a lack of information about the rules.
If you and I are expected to live and abide by the rules, shouldn’t those who are in our government required to do the same? Perhaps we need some sort of school to train these poorly educated folks who have chosen to represent us in the nation’s governments, after all it doesn’t seem to be their fault if they can’t figure out the difference between right and wrong.
Comments go to pperry@austin.rr.com
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A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry (www.pearyperry.com)

(sign up for new columns at www.pearyperry.com)

“Riddle me this….Obama”

Ok, let’s see if I understand the conditions for the new healthcare package.

Let’s try to use an example to make it simple….

Driver “A”- On one hand we have the driver of a car who has multiple DUI’s and has had several wrecks and accidents. He regularly receives traffic citations for speeding, running red lights and not watching for children at school crossings. He doesn’t believe in seat belts and has had a number of crashes resulting in severe head injuries which have caused him to undergo months of therapy and rehabilitation. In normal times it would be difficult if not impossible for him to obtain any automobile insurance through regular channels. He would be what is called a ‘high risk’ driver.

Driver “B”- On the other hand we have a driver, who has never had an accident, wears his seat belt, always maintains a safe speed and has never had a traffic ticket for any reason. This driver has been driving the same length of time as Driver “A”.

Now, you and I own an auto insurance company. We market and sell insurance for a living. We are a for profit business. We want to make money for those who have invested in our company. We know that insuring driver “A” is more of a risk due to his lack of responsibility and unsafe driving habits. We know that driver “B” is more apt to be a good client and a better risk due to his good driving habits. Statistically we know that our company will be more profitable if we secure more clients with good driving records than if we secure clients who drive poorly. This is just common sense.

So now, the government passes a law that says that all drivers should be treated the same, regardless of their previous driving habits and that you and I cannot charge any more for persons such as driver “A”. Driver “A” is to receive the same type of coverage as Driver “B” and will pay no more for it despite his dangerous and costly behavior. Driver “B” does not get any benefit from being a good driver while driver “A” gets no penalties for being a bad driver.

As a result the cost of providing insurance coverage to drivers such as driver “A”, the number of losses increase and our company eventually goes broke and is forced to close.

Take this example and replace it with healthcare. Can anyone explain to me how adding a large number of members to this program who are unable to pay for any coverage at this time while also allowing anyone with any pre-existing conditions to be admitted without any cost increases will make any sense at all? While I agree that we need to overhaul our current (or previous) healthcare program in this country, I do not agree that rewarding bad behavior is fair and just for those who are trying to not be a burden upon the system.

Out of wedlock and pregnant? No problem, free abortions. Hooked on heroin? No problem …free rehabilitation programs for you. Can’t pay your premiums? No problem, special financial assistance will be provided for you. You have a sexually transmitted disease? We can help with that, have all the unprotected sex you want, we’ll treat you when you need it.

And the list goes on and on.

Of course as a result of this, no insurance company can survive this type of madness and when that time comes the government can be expected to step in and take over these companies since they are…. “too big to fail”. The government doesn’t worry about anything as trivial as ‘profit’ since they have money machines (printing presses) that can crank out all of the paper that will be needed. It’s worked before for so long, why won’t it work in the future?

Because Bunkie, the bills (debt) keeps mounting and mounting and the guys paying the bills (working class citizens) can only crank out so much without falling over and giving up. Production goes does, revenues go down and taxes decline. Look at the budgets of our states at this time. A large number of them are about to go bankrupt. Who will come to their rescue?

You and I both know the answer to this question.

It’s a shame those in Washington don’t.

Comments go to pperry@austin.rr.com

Complaints go nowhere.

A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry

“Go out into the world…”

Let’s talk about being missionaries for a moment. If you are a Christian, then you will know what I mean. Christian groups send out missionaries to all parts of the world. Now hold that thought. Often I’ve asked people as they are starting on some journey to some faraway place if they have ever talked to their neighbors about their faith. Many times I get a blank look and it becomes obvious that they have not.

Now, let’s bring that into our current political situation. Since I’ve been writing these columns and blogs I’ve gotten a lot of advice from all parts of this country. Most of it has been very supportive and those folks agreed with what I have to say. But some folks are more prone to an ‘action now’ mentality. I’m not certain if I know what that is or if I care to know but for the most part it sounds illegal. Protests are fine, tea parties are fine, but armed insurrection, well…we aren’t there at this time. Case in point was the tea party demonstration last weekend when the healthcare bill came up for a vote. Princess Nancy Pelosi could have chosen to walk in the tunnel between her office and the Capital, but did she? No, she walked through the demonstrators carrying an oversized gavel as if to say… ‘In your face…we’re going to pass this thing whether you like it or not. ’

When they run that footage again, notice that Princess Pelosi has a guy behind her holding up two cell phones. You can bet they are on video record. IF there had been any slurs, spitting or such you can bet it would have taken about two minutes for that footage to hit the airways. But as of today, over a week later nothing has appeared. So where is it? It isn’t there. We don’t need it there either.

Even today, over one week later we have liberals still clinging to the idea that this healthcare bill is the greatest thing to ever come down the pike. This morning I got into a discussion with a yellow dog democrat who defended the bill but who had no idea of any facts or figures to support his position. When I confronted him about what is going to happen to the healthcare industry, he turned and walked away stating that he was confused about the whole issue.

My point is that for the next seven months we must all be missionaries and go into all the parts of our country and explain our positions to these poor disillusioned folks. We must work to inform ourselves of facts, not rumors or innuendo but hard core facts about the overall effects this piece of legislation will have upon our entire country for the years to come. We must have passion about what we believe. The bottom line is that Democrats are more swayed by emotions than by reality.

Emotion does not create jobs or increase the GDP. People who invest, and run businesses do those things. Sure we’d like to have our entire population to get healthcare. Who wouldn’t? We want all of our kids to have good educations, who wouldn’t? But giving it away without the revenue (not higher taxes, but higher revenue) to pay for it will not and has not worked in any country where it has been tried.

Look at Greece. Look at Ireland, Portugal and Spain. These are basically socialist countries who have allowed their entitlement programs to outstrip their growth. If they can’t do it how do the liberals think we can? Those four countries should be our gospel for what will happen to this country if we do not enact change by removing those in Washington who think giving things away forever comes without any price tags.

Ask your democratic neighbor to give you an example of a prospering socialistic country. Ask them to tell you how this country has improved the lives of our minorities since the beginning of the “Great Society”. Ask your neighbor why they voted for Obama and then point out all of the promises he has broken since he came into office over a year ago.

Do not allow your neighbor to fall back upon the Bush blame game and lay everything at the feet of our previous president. Just as you do when talking to people about your faith, arm yourselves with the truth and facts. Then go forth and spread the word. November will be here before you know it.

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A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry

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George (Washington) must be turning over in his grave…

What a week. What a travesty to this country. Rarely has anyone currently alive observed such an abuse of the political process as that which we have seen these past few days. It is almost too unbelievable to describe. When Princess Pelosi said we were watching history in the making. She was right. We have never seen abuse such as this before and I pray we never will again in the future.

Where to begin? There is so much to choose from. Let’s start with Vice President Biden who is always good for a laugh. He introduces the President and forgets that his microphone is own when he whispers to the anointed one that … “This is a big f****** deal.” Nice talk from the second in command of the United States. Here’s a role model for our kids. But I suppose our children shouldn’t be too upset, they hear this language on the television thanks to the liberals in Hollywood. Just another day at the office.

Princess Nancy has been grinning so hard since Sunday; it appears her face is frozen. I love her remarks about us having to pass the bill just so we can see what is in it. I didn’t know it has been working this way. I guess I always assumed that our elected representatives were supposed to read and discuss, even debate, pieces of legislation first, before they made it into a law. It just goes to show you how much I know.

Of course the special deals and perks which were given out in order to secure the 216 votes necessary to approve the legislation were just deemed as ‘ business as usual’. Nothing new, it’s done all of the time. Everyone does it. What’s the big deal?

I’m sure they are correct, it probably is ‘done’ all the time, but that doesn’t make it right, does it? I want laws passed because the people writing and voting on them agree with them not because they give up their votes for bribes. I want lawmakers to make decisions and pass or vote down pieces of legislation because this is what the people in their districts tell them to do, not for what is given for their votes. I want people running this country who have ethics and morals, not thugs and gangsters who slip in and out of back rooms with sex, lies and videotapes. That may be too harsh, perhaps I should have just said judgeships, hospital dollars and special exemptions to the rules.

Speaking of rules, how about that paragon of legislation named Alcee Hastings? While he is sitting on a rules committee the other day attempting to determine whether the healthcare bill would be legal to vote upon or not, he professes that “There are no rules, we have no rules, we make them up as we go along.” That really warms the cockles of my heart and I know it does yours as well.

What is sad to me is the fact that a large portion of our country labors under the misapprehension that the government can take care of us all from the cradle to the grave for free. It ain’t going to happen. It didn’t happen in Russia, China, North Korea or other communistic/socialistic countries and it won’t happen here. As a friend of mine said this morning… “when everyone is riding on the wagon, who will be pulling?” Think about it. Adding 32 million more people to a healthcare system that is already broke isn’t the answer. Fixing the problem for the existing one and then making some changes is the answer. The democrats believe that selling watermelons for 50 cents each when they cost you a dollar each means you need to buy a bigger truck in order to make some money.

The good news? The people are fired up and mad at what has just happened. Our challenge is to keep up the momentum and vote the rascals out. Keep those cards and letters coming, support anyone who is running that is not an incumbent at this time. Make those rallies….as they say in Texas….come early, stay late and be loud.

Remember the (ALAMO)—–All Lawmakers Are Moving Out

Comments go to www.pearyperry.com

Complaints go nowhere….

A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry

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“Health Care Hookers Gone Wild!!!)

Donna Summer had a line in one of her songs that went like this… ‘I got what you want, you got what I need…beep, beep….’ This should be the theme song for the democrats who are changing their votes in favor of the healthcare bill this weekend.

I’m not sure I’ll have enough time and space to list all of them, but here are the ones we know about so far:

Nelson from Nebraska gets a deal to remove the citizens of his state from any healthcare payments. What about the other 49 states?

Landrieu of Louisiana gets 300 million taxpayer dollars for her vote.

The unions toss in their support in return for enhanced benefits and lower costs for union members.

2 California representatives get an EPA ruling changed for their districts for their vote.

Dennis Kucinich got a ride on Air Force One (wow!!!!)

Scott Matheson managed to secure a judgeship for his brother for his vote.

The State of North Dakota gets the only bank in the United States to provide student loans outside of the government.

The speaker has announced that democrats voting against the bill will not, WILL NOT receive any party funds to help them in the November elections.

The president has stated he will not, WILL NOT campaign for any democrat who votes against the bill.

Does the concept of Judas receiving 30 pieces of silver come to your mind? It does mine.

I’m certain there are many more that we don’t or won’t know about, but these are enough to make you sick to your stomach. Why not just buy off everyone, including the Republicans? Why not carve out a special deal for each and every vote you need for any piece of legislation in the future? Heck, it’s only money. We can always print more. We have tons of paper and ink and can keep the presses going 24/7 for 365 days a year just to keep you happy. The public be damned. Who cares what they think? Let’s get you rich and provide you with enough perks for the remainder of your life and not worry about the concept of fairness.

No, the concept of “by the people, for the people, and of the people” is on its way out the door. It’s to be replaced with “All for one, and all for me…” which will be shouted through the halls of both houses of the congress if this passes tomorrow.

The latest abomination is for the democrats to line up 217 votes, one more than needed. This is so their congressman can go home to their districts and proclaim that even if they had voted ‘no’ it wouldn’t have done any good since they only needed 216 to pass the matter.

What a shame these people think we are so stupid and dull that we cannot see past something this corrupt. At this time over 50% of the voting population in this country thinks all members should be thrown out and for congress to start over again with new faces.

Seems to me that was the basic idea back in 1776.

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Complaints go nowhere…..

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A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry

“Cowards!!!!”

So when is a door not a door? When it’s ajar….hahahaha.

So when is a congressman (woman) not a congressman (woman)?

When they hide and look for any method available to get out of standing up in the daylight for a vote on the healthcare disaster.

The fact that they (our elected representation) believe that we (the voters) are too stupid and dumb to see what they are doing just highlights their arrogance. Trying to weasel around standing up in the daylight and announcing a yes or no position on an issue of this magnitude is cowardly at best. If the democrats are so proud of the healthcare package, why do they hide?

If the democrats are so sure of the passage of this bill (which is opposed by a majority of Americans) why do they run from making a commitment or avoid a straight up and down vote?

The answer is simple…they are scared and don’t’ want to be associated with what will happen in the future. A future that looms just over 200 days away. Oh, they want the benefits and the bribes that have been offered in lieu of changing their positions from a no vote to a yes vote.

The senators from Louisiana and Nebraska can proudly point to the buyoffs they received for their votes. The unions can puff up their chests and brag about all of the benefits they have or will receive. And the house members who are selling their souls to the administration for as little as a ride on Air Force One can be pleased with their achievements. The two congressmen who are selling out today for water in California are pure prostitutes. There is no other word for their actions. Water is essential, but can they be so naïve to believe there aren’t strings attached to this early announcement made by the EPA? Why don’t they applaud the EPA early decision and still vote no? Because they have no spine, no backbone, no grit, no cojones. Perhaps they can get a job working for the farmers once the November elections are over.

But let’s look at what they accomplished. Nothing, nada, zip, zero. If they change their votes or allow themselves to be bought off, they know and we know what they did. They can run, but they cannot hide. They will be remembered for what they did to subvert the process. The voting public, those who vote each and every election, not just the one promising…Hope and Change, will not allow this to continue. They will have their day in court or at the polls in the future. The internet is a powerful tool. How else could the words I’m writing have been disseminated to so many in such as short period of time ten or fifteen years ago? They couldn’t.

No, the people who live in the lala land of the political world do not (for the most part) live where you and I do. They don’t have to abide by the same rules as we do. They won’t have to live under this healthcare bill if it passes.

No, they are special. Or at least they think they are.

Well, I’ve got news for them. They aren’t. And we know it. And we don’t like it. And we will do something about it if they vote on whatever rule, bill or whatever they dream up to get this monster passed. We know what the Constitution (article 1, section 7) says and it does not say what they are doing is legal. You cannot pass a piece of legislation that has not been even been completely written and magically ‘deem’ it to be voted upon. If that rule holds water then I believe I can put in a loan application at my bank and ‘deem’ that the loan committee voted in favor of accepting it. This concept is a total travesty of our political process.

The democrats made a lot of fun last year over Sarah Palin with the ‘lipstick on a pig’ remarks. Well, this is a pig of gigantic proportions that is wearing more lipstick then I think can ever be wiped off.

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A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry

“And they’re off and running….”

Here we are here in the last week before the BIG vote on healthcare….or Obamacare or diastercare or runinationofamericacare. You call it whatever you want, but that’s what I choose and so far it’s still legal for me to express my opinion. This may change soon, so I need to be quick.

The president of this country came out today and announced that he will not campaign for any democrat who votes against this bill. In a way that may be a good thing after what happened in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts. The problem I have with this entire business is the sordid method in which this process has taken place. The voting on this bill is being influenced by bribes as well as payoffs to whoever and whatever with our money in order to secure the votes necessary for passage. I don’t care what you believe this is not right. Selling your vote for political largesse is the same as prostitution. You might call it politics; I call it being a whore.

I suspect that if you’re reading this column, you probably agree with me and don’t need any more lectures on what we must do to stop this horrible piece of legislation. Since no one has actually read all 2300 pages of this bill which has parts still unwritten, then the phrase taxation without representation comes to my mind. I happen to live in a Republican controlled district, so taking my congressman to task is not an option. He already has said he will vote no when it comes up.

What I will do is suggest that those friends and associates of mine who do live in a democratically controlled district keep calling, faxing, writing and e-mailing for as long as they have the strength to do so. Bear in mind that a lot of congressmen turn their fax machines off or don’t answer their phones to avoid talking to you. Do not give up, you must continue to push.

You and I know that this present administration is pulling out all of the stops to cajole and bribe anyone who is sitting on the fence and who remains uncommitted. Is this the American way? Is this ethical? No, of course not, but we’re dealing with people without ethics. People who justify the ends by whatever means possible. Treachery has no limits when it comes to the present day occupants of this White House. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln must be turning in their graves.

I don’t need to tell you this; you already know it as well as anyone. What I would like to suggest to you is to bone up on the facts of this issue. For one thing, we all agree that the healthcare industry is broken and needs to be fixed. But there are ways to do so without bankrupting this country or promising favors to ever Tom, Dick and Harry congressperson that comes down the pike with their hand out. If you ever have owned a business, if you have ever worked for a for-profit business then I ask you… do you honestly think you can insure all of the people in this country with the same level of care we now have without the costs increasing? There are people out here who are naïve enough to believe this. These are the people who are more interested in what the folks attending the Academy Awards are wearing or talking about than they are interested in how their elected representatives are going to vote.

When the late night comedians do their ‘man on the street’ routines and ask questions such as … ‘Who is buried in Grant’s tomb?’ Or ‘can you give me the name of the vice-president of the United States?’ and they cannot make an intelligent answer, I cringe to think these are Americans who can actually vote. I am ashamed of them.

I have been remiss in these postings for the past week or so because of my dog being sick and in the hospital (see: http://www.pearyperry.com/letters.htm) but in spite of this, I think we cannot afford to give up the fight. We must press on with our opinions and our commitment to voting those out in November who take the bribes and vote in favor of this abomination.

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A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry (www.pearyperry.com)

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“Fire them all…”

Over the past thirty or forty years, I’ve hired and fired a good number of people. Hiring is easy, firing is hard. When you’re hiring, you’re giving someone a chance and a hope that their actions (as well as yours) will lead everyone to a more productive lifestyle. Firing someone is somewhat more difficult since you know your actions are going to cause stress on someone’s life and most likely their family. If you hired someone by mistake (mine) and they really were not cut out for the job position, you could not help but feel sorry for them because you had to let them go. They should not have been hired in the first place, but often times you just were hoping they could pull it together and make the cut.

The only time you didn’t mind firing someone is when you had put your faith and trust in them and they have let you down. They either failed to do what they were hired to do or they were totally unresponsive to your instructions concerning their job descriptions. The folks who fit into this category were never an issue with me. Shame on them for taking my money and my time. Good riddance.

The people in Washington fit the second category. An argument can be made in light of Senator Bunning’s’ actions these past several days. Senator Bunning is not running for re-election and effectively stopped the extension of the unemployment payments by asking how the congress expected to pay for the benefits. For this he has been called every name in the book. The liberals have pounced on Senator Bunning as if he were the anti-Christ and the foulest monster known to mankind. The senator was merely asking the congress to live up to their own rules imposed a few weeks ago to pay for any new benefits ‘as you go’. It’s obvious the liberals (and some Republicans) are uncomfortable with actually putting this concept into action. Let’s talk a good game, but carry on business as usual. Meanwhile the national debt is approaching 13 trillion dollars and once the unfunded liabilities are factored in, we have a debt in this country equal to over 4 times our total gross domestic product. The various unfunded liabilities are as follows:

OASDI (Social Security) (7,677)
Medicare Part A (13,770)
Medicare Part B (17,165)
Medicare Part D (7,172)
Unfunded Liabilities (45,784)
Net Explicit Debt (11,456)
Total Debt and Unfunded Liabilities (57,240)
GDP 9/2009 14,242
Ratio 402%
Hiding some forms of debt is as old as the hills; anyone who has ever borrowed money for a corporation knows how this game is played. You lease rather than buy, and the balance of the lease is not shown anywhere, but believe me it’s there if you want to drop out and go home. A good CPA will tell you that accounting is an art not a science. The government employs the same people; they know how the shell game is played.

It appears so do the members of the United States Congress, they want to continue to play this old game until they get their money and head for the hills. They don’t think we’re smart enough to figure out what is happening. We’re too stupid to know anything or be able to do anything about their actions.

They are not listening to us. They are not paying attention to what we are saying. They are not following our directions.

They need to be fired.

They need to be replaced with individuals who will listen to what we’re saying to them. They need to respect the wishes and thoughts of the voters in their districts. Members of Congress ( Baron Hill) who make statements such as … “This is MY town hall meeting and you Will abide by MY rules…” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtmgQ2W3lhM) should be sent home and kicked out of their political revelry. This is not representation in any way shape or form. This is pure distain for the voting public.

Do not let this moment in time pass, keep up the pressure, talk to people, e-mail your friends, stop watching sit-coms and watch the news on every channel, make noise….if enough of us bang the drums….someone will hear.

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A Nation of Fools by Peary Perry

“Come children….let me read you a story…”

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Since my kids are all adults, I seldom get involved in getting overly concerned about who is running for the school boards in our area. I realize this is probably not the most American thing to do, but when you get older some things just slip away. Sue me.

But, in spite of all that is happening at this time in the land of Nod (Washington, D.C.) I think it is important to focus in on how governmental intervention is trying to creep into our personal lives. Take for example a web site called…Organizing for America…here’s the link. http://www.barackobama.com/

Now if you were to delve deeply into this site you’d find that this program advocates (among other things) some very serious learning guides for our children. A high school teacher in Massillon, Ohio handed out job applications to his students. The program has an ‘internship’ for young students to assist the president in various ways and means. To read the entire report go to:

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2010/01/atlas-exclusive-obama-organizing-for-communism-and-youth-corps-in-the-public-school-1.html

So what’s the big deal you might say? Well, if you read the report you’ll find a list of what I would call extreme left wing publications written by such notables as Saul Alinsky and others instructing hig school students how to become radicals and community organizers. All of this material paid for and approved by none other than Barack Obama. I’m sure he would deny any knowledge of it if he were pressed. He seems to forget most everything else. This is from the man who denied having any contact with Alinsky in last years presidential campaign. These writings are required reading for anyone signing onto the intern program. The packages start with information printed this way… “included on the forms was a suggested reading list that included Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” and Organizing for America’s mission to build on the “movement that elected President Obama by empowering students across the country to help us bring about our agenda of change.”

Now, in defense of the local school board, they did not approve of the teacher handing out these application packages, but at the same time they did not take any sort of action against the teacher. Heaven knows what would have happened if this type of handout or program had been discussed during the Bush administration. All of the major news services would have been on top of the matter in hours and would have stayed for weeks while Democrats were voting for some sort of congressional investigation. You can bet on this.

The teacher in this matter defended himself by saying that he had not looked over the material and it was given to him by some other person. In my mind this is the very reason why he should have been fired. If he didn’t read it before handing it out, how are his charges being protected? Does this mean that this teacher is prone to giving out anything at any time without the least bit of an idea what he is passing out? Drugs, porn, and who knows what else? Not the kind of teacher I’d want for my kids.

Of course another bleeding heart stood up and makes the insane statement that … ‘none of these kids were forced into doing anything they don’t want to do…this is all voluntary.” Well, taking drugs in school is all voluntary as well, but if they are passed out because no one cares or is watching…isn’t this the wrong thing to do? I think the school has some element of responsibility, don’t you?

My point is that schools should not be the place to start political affiliations for any political agenda. The school boards and administrators should be help accountable for information that is being passed along and being fed into the minds of our youngsters. Schools are not the place for radical agendas (left wing or right wing) or instructions. We need to look closely at those being submitted for elections and make certain they can follow the rules. Rules that apply to all, not just liberals.

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