This nation is at a crossroads.  Will Americans choose conservatism and fiscal responsibility or are we going to follow the poor example of Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain, the so called PIGS of Europe.  The PIGS model is one of ever larger government benefits to state unions coupled with growing government debt and higher taxes to pay for it.  But even though this path leads to financial destruction, it is a broad and easy path for politicians to follow.   read more…>

          There is an old fable that if a frog is placed in a pan of water and the temperature is gradually raised to a boil, the frog won’t sense the change and remain in the water even to the point of death.  The story is a common didactic but, according to snopes is untrue.  They state that as the water temperature rises the frog becomes more active and eventually jumps from the pan.  Apparently, the frog senses the gradually increasing danger and reacts.  Unfortunately, people often do not.   read more…>

          When an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) or some other unknown phenomenon permanently disables all electronics and advanced technology on the planet, ranging from computers to car engines and batteries, civilization collapses and humans are forced to adapt or die.  That is the premise of Revolution, a new television show coming out this fall on NBC.  This is the first time I’ve blogged about a television show, but preparedness, survival and EMP are all topics that have been discussed on this blog so, I thought, this show might be of interest to my readers.   read more…>

          I don’t agree with the logic that illegal aliens should get a tax refund, they are breaking the law after all, but I do understand that they worked and paid in taxes.  However, since they don’t have a Social Security number the IRS has created the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).  An ITIN allows illegal aliens to file their taxes and claim dependents who also don’t have a Social Security number and may not be in the country or even exist.  Nevertheless, by using the additional child tax credit, illegal aliens get an extra $1,000 dollars for every child they claim as a dependent.   read more…>

          The national debt is over 16 trillion dollars and by every estimate is expected to soar in the coming years.  Both Democrats and Republicans have learned that if they hand out taxpayer dollars to enough voters they get reelected to their cushy positions.  From cradle to grave there are government programs to help and protect.  From the Administration for Children and Families, to Homeland Security and the Women's Bureau  these professional politicians have created a web of dependency and fear.  Every program has a constituency that advocates for it.  Politicians don’t have the courage to cut anything because a constituent might be hurt, but all of us are going to get hurt before this mess gets better.   read more…>

          Crucify some and the others won’t give you any trouble.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator, Al Armendariz, said that was his enforcement philosophy.  Armendariz was in charge of Region 6 of the EPA which includes Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.  Put another way Armendariz is saying hit hard and make an example out of some citizens and the rest of the public won’t give you any trouble.  While Armendariz was speaking specifically about oil companies, the government that has that mindset is not a government of the people.   read more…>

Net Tip

We need to keep an eye on those we send to Olympia.  One way Washington State voters can do that is with the aptly named website, Washingtonvotes.org.  Here you can read plan-language descriptions of bills, monitor their progress through the legislature and easily e-mail your representatives about it.   read more…>

Don’t you dare save money
The city of Portland has created regulations to protect the taxi industry.  These rules force the limousine and sedan services “to charge a $50 minimum for rides to and from the airport, and at least 35 percent more than taxis for trips to any other destination.”  When Groupon and LivingSocial partnered with the services to provide discounts the city of Portland assessed fines that, in one case, exceeded $500,000.  Even the mob doesn’t provide that level of protection.
Portland Pounces on Groupon

Illegals Welcome in Oregon
The insanity continues in Oregon.   Under the Bush administration the federal government pushed for tougher standards for driver’s licenses.  As part of that effort, Oregon had begun requiring driver’s license applicants to prove they were in the country legally about four years ago.  This would mean that thousands of illegal aliens would soon have no valid means of identification.  Governor Kitzhaber recently stated that he wants law enforcement officials in the state to start accepting Mexican consular cards (identification issued by the Mexican government) as a legitimate means of establishing identity.  Of course the only people who will benefit from this law are Mexican nationals here illegally.           
Kitzhaber: Oregon police will soon accept Mexican consular cards

Double Standard
It has always amazed me how the left can demand equality while treating conservatives as if they had no rights.  A group calling themselves “Angry Queers” (I’m not kidding) vandalized the Mars Hill Church of Southeast Portland because the church took a stand against gay marriage.  Isn’t attacking a group because of their beliefs the very definition of a hate crime?  Imagine the national outrage if a Christian group attacked a gay community center.  The silence from Portland government and police, as well as the media is deafening.  This story is from the blog of Victoria Taft a Portland radio host and blogger that I follow. 
Portland’s (Gay) Mayor Still Mute

          Make it a crime to express conservative or traditional values.  That appears to be the latest tactic of the fringe left.  Declaring that it is racist to call someone an illegal alien, the group Colorlines wants the media and government to “drop the I-Word.”  In the video by that name, embedded here, they proclaim that, “Calling a person illegal takes away their humanity” and “It is a way of legitimizing violence against a particular group of people because of what they are.  That’s the definition of a hate crime.”   read more…>