Elections

It seems that election time is approaching, November 2008 to be exact, and already we are hearing speeches, debate and more. I am speaking of presidential candidates but this applies to any one seeking political office. The office seekers will say what the voters want to hear, make promises that they can't and won't keep all the while shaking your hand, smiling and taking your money.

I am a registered Democrat but I vote for the candidate most suited for the office. Quite often it is voting for the best of the worst.

I hate to hear a candidate say: there will be no new taxes(read my lips), reduce unemployment, take crime off the streets, give health care to everyone, bring our troops home from Iraq, make our country safe from terrorist attacks. the list could go on and on.

Most of these promises can not be kept. It all has to be passed by Congress and they never vote nonpartisan. Besides, they are thinking of their own constituents--will they reelect me if I vote for this legislation?

It would be refreshing to hear a candidate say: "Here is what I believe to be the best for the people and country and during the course of my campaign I will try my utmost to carry out these beliefs. However at some point situations may change causing me to change my course of action. This does not mean I am waffling form one side to the other. It merely means that now I feel another course of action is better for the country."

It would be nice if the President, Congress, and all other officials elected to a public office were not swayed by lobbyists and campaign contributions from corporations and individuals. Unfortunately money talks.

We have the right to complain and that is what makes the USA such a great country. I would not want to live any where else. WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE VOTE.

July 4th, 2007

In eighty-plus years, I have observed many 4th of Julys. In my early years it was picnics and shooting off fire crackers. Later after joining the army and being wounded, I knew I was fighting for "something" but I wasn't real sure what it was. An enemy had to be destroyed I guess. I remember marching in a parade in Houston, Texas and I felt proud to be wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army and a tingle went up my spine as I passed the American flag.

It has not been until recent years I have come to appreciate what "Old Glory" and the Statue of Liberty really mean. Freedom! Freedom costs. From the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WW I, WW II, Viet Nam, and Korea men have died. Freedom costs! And now Iraq! Men and women are still dying for that cause. Freedom costs!

Now we are fighting a different war, an enemy we cannot see and don't know when or where they will attack. But "Old Glory" will still continue to wave. The freedom to worship, freedom to go where we want, freedom to express our ideas even though others disagree, these freedoms will still remain as a top priority. I complain about a lot of things but when people funnel those thoughts into violent action!!! Freedom is not free. One of the freedoms these complainers have is the right to leave but seldom exercise this freedom.

Thank God for our founding fathers. May we always wave the flag.

Car Pool Lane

If you live in a large city, traffic can be a problem. One of the most thoughtless things to come out of Sacramento, Cal. Trans. or wherever, was the BRILLANT idea of the carpool lane on our freeways. The carpool lane doesn't make people use it. The few who do use it do so only because it's there. Often two lanes are logged down with trucks, two other lanes are bumper to bumper with cares and the carpool lane is relatively open. In So. California very few people live in the same community that work somewhere else in the same area. The traffic could be somewhat alleviated if the carpool lane was eliminated or opened to everyone during non-rush hours and weekends. I cringe when I see millions of dollars being spent to add carpool lanes. A whole new freeway could be built in some needed location with those dollars. If a study was done to warrant the need for carpool lanes as opposed to "just adding another lane", then the qualifications of members of that committee should be studied closely.

Gods Creation

Recently Pat, wife, and I took a thirteen day up through California and Oregon. I am probably a little partial, but there is no more beautiful place than California. Of Course Oregon is a close second. For those who sometime wonder where God is, all one has to do is look around.

Up the Pacific Coast Highway, No.1, to Carmel and Monterey, then thru San Francisco and across the beautiful Bay Bridge. Back on highway No.1 again to Fort Bragg, Mendocino, and then the giant redwoods (awesome).

The wind blown sand dunes of Oregon, the craggy coast line and constant whitecaps that continually wash ashore--how could this just happen? It didn't!!! There is Someone that created it all, the hundreds of different kinds of flowers, the forests, the sea, the clouds, and the rain that falls. If one does not believe that, then look at the human body.

It didn't just happen!

Gas Prices

When is someone going to do something about the high gas prices. Prices keep going up and all the oil companies keep reporting the highest profits in their history. If we did not have a lame duck president and one that was unpopular with the public and also unpopular with congress, he might issue an edict such a President Kennedy did in regard to the space program. That is "Within the next five years the oil industry develop an alternative fuel to replace the oil we buy from Iraq and Iran and other places". Besides getting our country out of a quagmire, it would also help the public purse strings.

New Blog

This is my first post on my new BLOG. Won't contain much this time but I hope to express some opinions in the future. Yesterday being Easter my wife and I spent the morning in church services celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.