Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Stimulus Schimulus

I haven't seen anything really *wrong* with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, yet...

... but am I the only one who's noticed that when they want us to swallow a horse pill, they call it a "stimulus" bill?

Friday, February 13, 2009

Glen Beck's Nine Principles.

So, personality Glen Beck has proposed "Nine principles" of which you must believe in seven to be a good American.

Unfortunately for Glen, over half of them are irrelevant or invalid...

1. America is good. Invalid: a just-so argument. America is not good because America is good. America is only as good as we make it; thus, it is only as good as we are.

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life. Invalid: The invocation of religious purpose into everyday life adds impassioned arguments and dogmatic blindness where otherwise cool heads would prevail. Additionaly this runs counter to constitutional principles.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday. Valid.

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government. Invalid. People do not magically become better people. Married people should not more equal under the law (even though, as the system stands now, they are).

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it. Valid (in constitution).

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results. Invalid. We have a government to protect and (inasmuch as is possible) facilitate our ability to carry on normal, free, happy lives.

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable. Invalid. You can't run a first world nation on a third world budget.

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion. Valid (in constitution).

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me. Valid. In fact, you could state it more strongly: The government has a duty to me; I have no duty to the government.

So of his nine points, only four are relevant (honesty, equality under the law, freedom of opinion and expression, and service government).

Sorry, Glen. I'll stick to the Scout Oath and Doc Savage Oath.