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Name: Blondie
Location: Redmond, WA
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Our Moral Obligation - Drill Here, Drill Now

Posted by Blondie on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:23:05 PM

It is 2048.  The U.S. has returned the majority of its farmland to pristine wilderness at the behest of environmentalists.  America now imports over 75% of its food.  The global price of food products has quadrupled over the past year.  The poor in America are suffering and the country is facing an economic crisis.  Worse, millions of people in undeveloped countries are starving to death.  Countries that were beginning to experience development and growth are told to stop developing because there isn't enough food to go around.  Yet Congress refuses to allow more farming on U.S. soil.

Given this situation, wouldn't we be morally obligated to grow more food here at home?  Of course we would.

How is this imaginary scenario different from our current reality regarding drilling for oil?  My contention is there is no difference.  We, as a member of the global community, have a moral obligation to harvest our own energy resources, including the vast oil reserves, in order to bring down the price of energy worldwide.  It is irresponsible to expect developing countries to curtail their growth so that we rich Americans can feel good about ourselves.  And it is immoral to continue to allow the price of oil to increase, hurting the poor at home and abroad.

Add in the ethanol mandates, and we may get to experience shortages of both oil and food.  And why?  Because we are selfishly hording and mismanaging our resources.

In the meantime, all other countries with oil reserves are drilling or planning to drill, including China, who is going to drill right off the coast of Key West.  Do you really believe that they can drill and ship the oil as cleanly and safely as we can?  If so, start reading about how they operate their coal mines.

The global community should be up in arms.  In 2048, looking back on the environmental greed of the U.S. in 2008, they just might be.

Drill here.  Drill now.  Before more people are thrust into poverty.  Before more people are denied a chance to live the good life we Americans take for granted.

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Talking Down The Economy

Posted by Blondie on Tuesday, July 08, 2008 5:00:00 AM
2000 wasn't that long ago.  But it seems like everyone has conveniently forgotten the Democrats' claim that George W. Bush was talking down the economy during his campaign against President Clinton.  Where are those cries now that we are approaching a recession?  It's funny how perception seems to be dictated by political bent.
 
The end of the Clinton presidency included the loud pop of the tech bubble, anger about high gas prices, and an overall correction of the U.S. markets with concerns about inflation.  Sound familiar?
 
There are many causes for a faltering economy.  But one seems to rarely be discussed - especially at the end of a Republican presidency.  Markets do not like uncertainty, and the pending changing of the guard always causes uncertainty.  Will we elect a Democrat president and Congress to increase taxes and regulate even more of the private sector?  Will we elect a Republican president and Democrat Congress to balance power?  (I'm guessing in this election there's little chance of a Republican president and Congress to lower taxes and roll back regulation - not that I trust our elected officials to do so once they are corrupted by public office and their need for more power.)  Will we continue to embrace free trade with other nations, or go down the path of isolationism that Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton promised during the primaries?
 
It's also very possible that the markets are expecting an Obama presidency, and have factored in the impact of higher taxes, more regulation, the government take-over of the healthcare system, no U.S. drilling for oil, and carbon credits, i.e. government control of all aspects of our lives.
 
Will we get through this economic downturn?  We are America - of course we will overcome.  But it will be much easier to overcome with a president who embraces the free market, or at least doesn't put more shackles on innovation.  But now I'm just talking down the economy.
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Obama To Nix The Right To Choose

Posted by Blondie on Sunday, July 06, 2008 6:50:38 PM
On the campaign trail last week, Barrack Obama promised to institute a service program, to include mandatory service in order to graduate from high school or college.  What's next?  Mandatory service to receive social security?  Or unemployment?  Or to check out a book at the library?  
So, if Obama gets elected, I will no longer have the right to choose what I do with my body.  The government will be able to dictate to me that I must "volunteer" the use of my body for government sanctioned service.  Forget the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  In Obama's opinion, the government owns me and can force me to do what it wants.  It's bad enough that I work until mid-April to pay taxes.  With Obama in charge, the government will want more - hours of my limited free time.
 
Volunteerism is commendable, as is any charitable giving.  But is it commendable to be forced to volunteer?  Why can't we continue to have the freedom to give to the charitable causes that we choose, in the way we choose?
 
 
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