Got a news story to share?
Open Thread, with a few from me.
The list of companies slashing hours to avoid ObamaCare continues. Who suffers the most here? The low paid workers, who still won’t have healthcare, and less money now too.
From WashingtonCBSLocal
“Hundreds of Wendy’s workers are seeing their hours cut back because of President Barack Obama’s health care law.
WOWT-TV reports that nearly 300 employees at 11 Wendy’s locations in the Omaha area will have their hours reduced to 28 hours a week because the franchise owner says he can’t afford to pay his employees health care.
“It has a huge effect on me and pretty much everybody that I work with,” employee T.J. Growbeck told the station. “I’m hoping that I can get some sort of promotion because then I would get my hours, but everybody is shooting for that because of the hours being cut.”
________________________________________________
And here’s a piece touching on some of the things we talked about yesterday. The tired old tactic of some groups, and the media, looking for people to get outraged and offended for.
Good thing they got all offended for her, because she certainly didn’t.
From HotAir
“A.J. McCarron’s girlfriend: Leave Musburger alone”
“Alternate headline: “Beauty queen accepts compliment.” I feel obliged to follow up on yesterday’s post, partly due to public demand (she’s now over two million Google searches since Monday) and partly because there’s nothing more fun than when a would-be victim kindly declines to serve as the Media-Offense Complex‘s latest hobbyhorse. Her graciousness at old man Musby’s wowee zowee routine makes this a story with a happy ending all around: Brent is exonerated, Webb’s now famous, and McCarron spends the next few months enjoying his new status as the most envied man in America. All’s right with the world.”
________________________________________________
This one? I think this is a trend that will continue. But what do I know, I’m just a scary religious kinda guy.
😉
From USAToday
“What about home schooling? You know, it’s not just for scary religious people any more.” That’s a line from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and it should strike fear into the hearts, not of vampires, but of public-school administrators everywhere.
The fact is, Americans across the country — but especially in large, urban school systems — are voting with their feet and abandoning traditional public schools, to the point that teachers are facing layoffs. Some are going to charter schools, which are still public but are run more flexibly. Some are leaving for private schools. But many others are going another step beyond traditional education, and switching to online school or even pure home schooling.
And, as Buffy so accurately noted, it’s not just “scary religious people.” In fact, rather than scary, those religious people are looking more like trendsetters.”
Wait, let me fix that. I’m a scary religious trendsetting kinda guy.
😉
You’re welcome.
________________________________________________
Wandering Views 
My favorite industry has always been oil and gas. While Democrats funnel billions to their buddies for worthless wind and solar projects and Hollywood airheads defame oilmen in propaganda movies, this industry continues to keep us warm and mobile.
LikeLike
A friend sent me this commentary on the attempt by the Democrats to subvert the 2nd Amendment. If you own a firearm, it is worth the read:
http://www.bob-owens.com/2013/01/what-youll-see-in-the-rebellion-a-nation-of-sarajevos/
LikeLike
Drives, At the same time I am happy Governor Cuomo wants to disarm New Yorkers. If the Yankees want to disarm themselves, it is their right to do so. We won’t even have to imprison our burglars. We can simply fly them to JFK or LaGuardia.
LikeLike
Trouble is Ricky, they want to disarm you and me too. Bimbo Biden has already said that Obozo will use Executive Orders to subvert the 2nd Amendment. So the balloon is already up and now it is do or die.
LikeLike
Do you really think they would try to disarm Texans and Oklahomans? How do you think that would go over with our neighbors? Drives, You and I are probably moderates on this issue compared to most of our neighbors.
LikeLike
As I understand it (which is probably the problem!), executive orders are to be used to enforce laws that are not being enforced by the legislative or judicial branches. Repealing an amendment is not the same thing. Additionally, the second amendment does not grant a right, it prevents the infringement of a right. That should be harder to do, no?
LikeLike
I am probably a bit less moderate than most Ricky.
What the Framers said about our Second Amendment
Rights to Keep and Bear Arms
“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.”
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788
Whereas civil-rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as military forces, which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms.”
— Tench Coxe, in Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution
“The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.”
— Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188
If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government, and which against the usurpations of the national rulers may be exerted with infinitely better prospect of success than against those of the rulers of an individual State. In a single State, if the persons entrusted with supreme power become usurpers, the different parcels, subdivisions, or districts of which it consists, having no distinct government in each, can take no regular measures for defense. The citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair.
— Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 28
“That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms … ”
— Samuel Adams, Debates and Proceedings in the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at 86-87 (Pierce & Hale, eds., Boston, 1850)
“[The Constitution preserves] the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation…(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.”
–James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 46
“To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, countries or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.”
–John Adams, A Defense of the Constitutions of the United States 475 (1787-1788)
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive.”
–Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution (Philadelphia 1787).
“Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American…[T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.”
–Tenche Coxe, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788.
“Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it.”
–Richard Henry Lee, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788.
“What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.”
— Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787. ME 6:373, Papers 12:356
I could go on and on. The founders clearly intended that the citizenry be armed to prevent Tyrants like Barak Obama and Biden from having absolute power over the people.
LikeLike
A nation that is ruled by executive order is a dictatorship.
I haven’t been there yet today, but yesterday’s Drudge report had pictures of Hitler and Stalin above the post that Obama was going to issue executive orders on gun control.
Maybe I’ll go see.
LikeLike
I apologize for calling Drives a moderate. Poor choice of words. However, his comments above place him squarely in the mainstream of Texans and Oklahomans.
LikeLike
Meanwhile, we have a Father of the Year winner:
“In another sign that the end of times is approaching, Bill Clinton has been named by the National Father’s Day Council to receive one of its coveted Father of the Year awards ….
“Accepting the award on behalf of Mr. Clinton is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Just kidding. But John Edwards was in fact a 2007 Father of the Year award winner …”
🙄
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2013/01/father-of-the-year.php
LikeLike
In line with that stupidity, Donna, I see where someone in the administration is pondering a trillion dollar coin.
If someone hands me a trillion dollar coin, I’m going to ask for change in tens and twenties.
LikeLike
Who started the National Father’s Day Council? Hugh Hefner?
LikeLike
Drives…excellent post.
LikeLike
Ricky,
Bill Clinton joins other esteemed recipients of this “award”. Who you ask? How about former winner of the “award” John Edwards. Yeah, THAT John Edwards. This “award” carries about as much prestige as recent Nobel Winners like the terrorist Arafat. Welcome to Bizzaro World.
LikeLike
Ooops, I see Donna’s link mentioned that already. But these 2 choices should tell you all you need to know about this group and their honoree’s.
LikeLike
Oh awesome. I have got to invest in gun sales, by the time the fear mongers have finished whipping it up there are sure to be millions od sales, good for the economy too.
LikeLike
Your tax dollars at work.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/feds-fund-100000-video-game-featuring-female-climate-change-superhero/article/2518134?custom_click=rss#.UO7wj5WuUlF
“A new video game featuring a black alien female superhero delivered to Earth to fight global warming is about to hit the market thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Obama administration.
The National Endowment for the Arts is funding the Spelman College of Atlanta, Ga.’s multi-episode game called “HERadventure.” In the grant announcement made last year, the NEA said the story “focuses on a young female superhero sent to Earth to save her own planet from devastation because of climate changes caused by social issues impacting women and girls.”
“The college’s digital newspaper described the project this way: “What would happen if the societal issues affecting women put other planets at risk? Well, of course, HER, a black female superhero, would swoop in with a plan to save the universe. HER is central to HERadventure, a science fiction-based, multimedia platform project that interweaves virtual worlds, digital and social media to create a gaming and storytelling experience. HERadventure not only entertains but tackles social issues that permeate the daily reality of many women.”
🙄
Idiots.
LikeLike
CB,
Wouldn’t your sarcasm be better used on the idiots attempting to deny people their constitutional rights? And really, the fear mongers here are once again Dems, the Idiot in Chief, and assorted leftist clowns. Are you really so brainwashed by your liberal sensibilities that you don’t see that? They’ve made it clear what they want to do here. People are reacting to the threats they made. Do your constitutional rights mean so little to you, that you would blindly fall for the garbage they’re pushing in the name of make-believe safety?
LikeLike
We were told they just wanted to service openly, but we see that is not the truth. Here is the problem the Military does not recognizes gay marriage. How then can they join a Spouse Club?
How will this effect the Christian’s who meet on post?
Marines: Spouse Clubs Must Admit Same-Sex Spouses
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes…x-spouses.html
LikeLike
Inaugural pastor withdraws over anti-gay remarks
http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/…r.Benediction/
LikeLike
CB, You will be happy to hear I have never bought a gun. I inherited a couple and won another when I won a bet with my Dad. As you know I am a smalltime gambler. The bet involved the height and weight of my niece when she turned 20. We made the bet when she was 11 and it had cancellation provisions if she had been pregnant or running college track at age 20… and Brent Musburger got in trouble for calling someone beautiful.
LikeLike
Pursuant to Title IX, there was also a bet on the future size of my nephew.
LikeLike
“In the sermon, he purportedly said: “If you look at the counsel of the word of God, Old Testament, New Testament, you come quickly to the conclusion that homosexuality is not an alternate lifestyle… homosexuality is not just a sexual preference, homosexuality is not gay, but homosexuality is sin. It is sin in the eyes of God, and it is sin according to the word of God. You come to only one conclusion: homosexuality is less than God’s best for his creation.”
“We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural,” committee spokeswoman Addie Whisenant said in a statement. “As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.”
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013…#ixzz2HbIVMBDi
Which means Christian are not welcome to speak at Mr, Obama inauguration inauguration.
LikeLike
If we are to celebrate diversity, why not a voice for the millions that agree with his statements?
LikeLike
inbutnotof it is not about celebrate diversity, it is about promoting the Dem Party and Mr. Obama Special Interest Groups.
LikeLike
Regarding the inaugural dust up, here’s Mohler’s (excellent) take:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/01/10/the-giglio-imbroglio-the-public-inauguration-of-a-new-moral-mccarthyism/
LikeLike
From the piece above:
“… The gauntlet was thrown down yesterday, and the axe fell today. Wayne Besen, founder of the activist group Truth Wins Out, told The New York Times yesterday: ‘It is imperative that Giglio clarify his remarks and explain whether he has evolved on gay rights, like so many other faith and political leaders. It would be a shame to select a preacher with backward views on LBGT people at a moment when the nation is rapidly moving forward on our issues.’
“And there you have it — anyone who has ever believed that homosexuality is morally problematic in any way must now offer public repentance and evidence of having ‘evolved’ on the question. This is the language that President Obama used of his own ‘evolving’ position on same-sex marriage. This is what is now openly demanded of Christians today. If you want to avoid being thrown off the program, you had better learn to evolve fast, and repent in public.
“This is precisely what biblical Christians cannot do. While seeking to be gentle in spirit and ruthlessly Gospel-centered in speaking of any sin, we cannot cease to speak of sin as sin. To do so is not only to deny the authority of Scripture, not only to reject the moral consensus of the saints, but ti undermine the Gospel itself. The Gospel makes no sense, and is robbed of its saving power, if sin is denied as sin. …”
.
LikeLike
I’ve said before I’m somewhat (well, more than somewhat) weary of the whole same-sex topic, but it appears this now has become part of what is really the much larger collision course with religious liberty that is rapidly unfolding.
LikeLike
AJ. The constitution and the Federalist Papers mean nothing to the Liberals unless of course they proof text its content to suit their agenda. Liberals often use the cliche that such rights secured in the Bill of Rights are not relevant today and Laws need to enacted to “bring the Constitution” more in line with modern thinking. Yet the framers of the Constitution new there would times with the Constitution would need to be updated. Newsflash to the Liberals: It is called Amendments. If they want to repeal the 2nd Amendment, then they should repeal it through the Amendment process. Since they can’t do that, they would chip away at it through regulation duping Congress into forcing gun owners to register their weapons.
LikeLike
drivesguy at 8:41, thanks for pulling those thoughts together. I have printed them off as assigned reading for discussion later.
LikeLike
Donna j – the gay rights issue is just a tool being used to silence the Christian.
LikeLike
Another good commentary on the real/overarching issue of religious liberty in the U.S.:
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/louie-giglio-and-the-new-state-church
(Russell Moore):
“As citizens, we ought to insist that the President stand up to his “base” and articulate a vision of a healthy pluralism in the public square. Notice that the problem is not that this evangelical wants to “impose his religion” on the rest of society. The problem is not that he wants to exclude homosexuals or others from the public square or of their civil rights. The problem is that he won’t say that they can go to heaven without repentance. That’s not a civil issue, but a religious test of orthodoxy.
“As Christians, we ought to recognize that the old majoritarian understanding of church/state relations is outmoded. Our situation today is not to hold on to some form of American civil religion. Our situation today is more akin to the minority religions of America’s past: colonial Baptists, nineteenth-century Baptists, early twentieth-century Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are appealing simply for the right to exist at all, in the face of an established religion armed with popular support and, in the fullness of time, state power.
“It turns out we’re circling around to where we should have been all along: with the understanding that religious liberty isn’t “toleration” and separation of church and state isn’t secularism.
LikeLike
That is the issue those churches that support gay rights have been very successful at presenting themselves as the main line view of the Christian Faith (even if their views are in conflict with God’s Word) and have been successful presenting the Christian Church as being out of touch with God’s and Society.
LikeLike
Ricky
I have nothing againsr gun ownership and have owned a gun and plan to again. I’ve pretty much ignored the mussberger stuff as total silliness.
Drives
Nah, the sarcasm expense was slight. Next year or better yet in 4 years when you still have your guns will you at least stop calling me liberal?
To all; I’ve been avoiding comment on the gay threads. Think I will continue to do so for the most part. Think what each of you will regards ssm as some big gay plot. All I know about that living in Md is that it will afford my partner and me legal benefit and protection.
LikeLike
What the Federalist Papers say about Religious Liberty:
John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776
It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship.
LikeLike
Rickyweaver,
When averaged out and put in today’s dollars, the US oil industry received 4.8 billion dollars a year from 1918 to 2009. The nuclear industry receives about 3.5 billion a year. Then there’s ethanol. The solar industry receives less than a billion a year. Granted wind power receives 4.9 billion or roughly equal to oil but it hasn’t been receiving subsidies for a century. Give wind and solar subsidies the same hundred year opportunity and I’m quite sure they will be successful. The Germans have subsidized building solar panels on new homes, home owners are become net exporters of electricity.
Rickyweaver, Drive;
Obama has been reluctant to use executive power in comparison to Bush. Bush wrote at least 130 signing statements issuing over 1,000 legal challenges whereas Obama has used signing statements 18 times. Despite the wringing of hands from the right, Obama is not an authoritarian.
There’s a few quotes posted on what is a militia but I’m more interested in what is meant by “well-regulated” — that sounds fairly broad allowing for federal and state regulation.
LikeLike
Home schooling is an interesting idea and can be hugely successful and a disaster — its not for everyone. I’ve been in public education for over 15 years now and I still retain some skepticism, but generally endorse the system.
Modern public education has its origins in Bismarck, the needs of the military and the factory system. A trio I’m not a big fan of. For most part, good educators have to overcome the residue left by these origins.
An excellent book on the education system today is The Curiosity of School by Zander Sherman
Here’s a link to my review
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13610823-the-curiosity-of-school
LikeLike
Many countries have mandated cash payment in lieu of benefits for part time workers to avoid exactly the nonsense some companies are engaged in the US. Its also self defeating — companies do better in the long run with full time well paid workers than maintaining a constant turnover of part time employees.
Meanwhile the health of Americans continues to be near the bottom of developed countries.
LikeLike
HW, and your review says one of the main reasons we homeschool. We don’t want to have our children in the care of babysitters or prison guards! Teachers, now that is a good thing. Book looks interesting.
LikeLike
HRW, 1.Oil became the fuel that powered the world’s cars, trucks and ships because it was the most efficient, not because of any government subsidy or . mandate. After 100 years it is still incredibly efficient.
2. What you imply are subsidies to oil and gas are actually things like percentage depletion (available to all mining industries) and accelerated depreciation (available to all business).
3. Oil and gas was subject to a Windfall profits tax in the 1970s. This tax was only on oil and gas. It was an excise tax, not a tax on profits. My grandparents joked that Jimmy Carter thought their $50 a month royalty check was a windfall when he put a special tax on it.
4. The waste on wind subsidies is mind-blowing and is largely hidden. I am familiar with a case where a landowner would have taken $150,000 for an easement on his land for transmission lines to a windmill farm. Because of Govt subsidies and regulations, a major utility company paid him $3,500,000. His neighbors got the same deal. This kind of deal is insane.
5. One of my friends is currently considering quitting his job in a legitimate private sector company to make twice the money for less work at a wind power company. He is wondering: How long can our country keep being this stupid.
You are a smart guy, but when you work for a while in the private sector you discover that good ideas and good products don’t have to be subsidized.
LikeLike
I think homeschooling gives you the best education. I was helping my son to study for his science test. It was about sound. As we went through, learning facts and answering questions that would be on the test, we had to skip all these interesting looking experiments that were in the book. I’m betting the teacher didn’t have time for them either especially with 23 children. Problem is my son would not be a good candidate for homeschooling and as an only child he needs to be around other kids. .
LikeLike
We often hear how foreign leaders are hostile to orthodox Christianity. As this article indicates, US leaders are hostile to orthodox Christianity.
http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/01/10/the-giglio-imbroglio-the-public-inauguration-of-a-new-moral-mccarthyism/
LikeLike
John Derbyshire is not to be missed, although he is a great pessimist:
http://takimag.com/article/sectionalism_then_and_now_john_derbyshire#axzz2HdCFHF7O
LikeLike
KBells,
Why wouldn’t your son be a good candidate for homeschooling?
As far as “he needs to be around other kids” goes, may I gently suggest that he simply needs to be around other people, walking with the wise, and living life learning from a variety of people of all ages.
The classroom is a poor substitute for real life. When he becomes an adult, there is going to be a big world out there where he will probably meet and have frequent contact with people of a wide variety of ages. Look at the typical workplace — is everybody there, except for the “boss”, within the same age range, within a year or so? Look at this blog and many others; people from their 20s to their 80s congregate here and associate with each other.
Why not give him rich opportunities, now, at this stage of his life, to get out in the community and frequently interact with people of diverse ages and life experiences? It’s very hard to find the time to do that on a consistent and meaningful basis when a child spends a large number of hours per day, days per week, weeks per year, and years of his childhood sitting in a classroom, or doing homework for the next school day, or participating in extra-curricular activities with probably a similarly narrowed age range of children accompanying him. He’ll be much better prepared for adult life if his experiences aren’t so limited now.
(And if you’re afraid you won’t be able to find group activities in which homeschooled children can interact with each other — oh, boy! — let me just tell you that there are so many opportunities for these kids, that the “home” can go right out of “homeschool” if a parent succumbs to the temptation to sign them up for every good thing. Trust me, there’s no lack of peer-group activities in the homeschooling community, if that’s what you want!)
Sorry if I sound dogmatic 😉 I’m passionate about homeschooling, and think it is feasible in many more circumstances than people realize. 🙂
LikeLike
mumsee, that’s the reality of public education. I’m going on strike tomorrow and the biggest complaint I hear is the need for daycare not the their kid’s education.
kbells, I teach science and control/time is a part of the decision making process to complete experiments in class. Its catch-22; The more experiments you do, the more they learn and buy into the class and hence you have less discipline problems but to have experiments take place in the classroom you need to have few discipline problems. When I first started I erred on the side of caution but now with more confidence I try to do as many experiments or demonstrations as possible.
LikeLike
Ricky — If depreciation counts as a subsidy for the oil production, then depreciation is part of the wind subsidy also. Wind and oil both receive the same subsidy dollars.
Oil has a hidden subsidy in terms of cost to the “commons”. For example, the pollution costs of oil consumption are paid for by gov’ts (federal, state, municipal). The royalties paid by oil companies isn’t nearly enough to pay for the damage created by the development of the Alberta tar sands.
I agree subsidies generally support inefficiencies and political pork (see military spending) however the state does provide the investment needed to start new industries and technology. The internet is the result of a subsidy.
LikeLike
The worst pollution I have ever seen is the mile upon mile of ugly windmills (most of which are not turning) ruining all of my West Texas vistas. In 20 years they will all be junk. I hope we dump the wreckage in Al Gore’s backyard.
Wind and oil do not get anywhere near the same subsidies. The government is not paying landowners 20 times fair market value for oil pipeline easements as they are for wind power transmission lines. Is Obama handing out $500 million grants to scores of Oilyndras? No. Instead the government has blocked the construction of pipelines.
I have lived within 200 yards of gas wells at two different houses. They never bothered me. The noisy, loud inefficient windmills are an abomination. Some people have gotten rich off wind and solar. A few always profit when government interferes in the marketplace. The majority suffer with higher taxes and higher utility rates, not to mention the eyesores. Fortunately, the US will soon be too broke to afford such stupid waste.
LikeLike