What do you believe about the Issues?

I have been following the debates of the Republican Party. I see some things that I agree with and some things that I don't agree with. To be quite honest, I'm sick to death of the Party system. Whether you be Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, or even Communist you have to have a stance somewhere in issues that you believe in. I could care less what your label is. I want to know what you are going to DO for this country! I am sick to death of the name calling, mudslinging and finger pointing! We are all in this American boat together! If we can't get along or agree to disagree our ship is going to sink.

I started to think about me and my beliefs. What kind of President would I like to see in the White House? If you think about it. Your Race, Your Religion, Your Sexual Preference doesn't matter in this Race. I was thinking just the other day, If you have a bird this is left winged it can't fly very far. If you have a bird that can only use it's right wing, It can't fly very far either but if you have a bird that can use both wings it can fly forever!

We need to come to some sort of compromise if we are going to adapt and succeed. The only problem though is we also must be moral, honorable, and have some good old common sense!

So, what would you do if you were elected to be President of these United States?

 So I came up with a list of issues that I would address and to see what you thought about it. Hopefully we can get some dialogue and hopefully someone will see this that can make a difference.

The Issues: 

Abortion vrs Prolife

I believe that according to the law of morality that abortion is murder. I believe that the Doctors have an obligation under the hippocratic oath to save those lives as opposed to slaughtering the innocents. Since Roe verses Wade was passed in 1973 we have allowed the slaughter of over 54 million babies. This must be stopped, NOW! We have slaughtered a generation that will never have the opportunity to be a scientist, a doctor, a carpenter, a sculptor, an attorney or even the president of these United States.

There are alternatives to this crime against humanity. Even dogs and cats have NO kill shelters. Let’s save the Baby Humans and set up orphanages so that couples that would love to have a baby could go thru the proper channels and the proper safety checks so as to have a baby of their own. Their are good hardworking American couples that are going to China, Russia, Korea and other parts of the world, spending countless thousands of dollars to have a baby to have for their own child.

Let’s help them save the lives of those poor, helpless, innocent babies.

I do believe that you have the right to use contraceptives and yes condoms to not have a baby but once that baby has become a living soul it is our God given duty as Americans to keep that baby safe.

Health Care

I believe that this has been an Albatross around our neck for a long time. I believe that we as Americans have the right to Health Care. I believe that we should have the same Health Care that the Congress enjoy. I believe that we should help them who cannot help themselves. Do keep in mind thou, If you cannot afford Health Care and you are able bodied then yes you should be prepared to be drug tested and to go thru training to get a job or a better job. If you are on Welfare you will be drug tested. I believe that Health care should never pay for the abortion of a baby. 

I believe that if given the chance the Health Care laws that are in place with the current administration with the exception of Planned Parenthood, need to be given a chance such as they did with Medicare. We need to allow it to run it’s course. 

I believe that in any mystery one should only follow the money to find out who has the most to gain and to lose. I do know that the loudest voices in the battle of Health care reform are the Insurance Companies and the Pharmaceuticals. The Politicians seem to be the mouth pieces of these two entities.  I know that the Insurance companies make trillions of dollars per year in policy premiums and with the Obama Health Care Reform this takes millions of dollars out of their coffers. Pharmaceuticals are getting hit in the pocket book as well because of the huge profits that they will be losing because of this health care systems. 

I believe that we need to look carefully at these programs so as to NOT hurt small business.

Economy 

We must get this country back to work. I believe that one of the things that we can do is to allow our unemployed to audit classes at the colleges, the vocation schools and the universities around this great nation. We can help with Grants for those wanting to get a better education. We can give incentives to schools that help these unemployed get an education to get back to work. We will stop the outsourcing of this employment to overseas. If you hire an American then you get a tax break. If you outsource then you will get a tax. If that company wants to bank off shore while making their money hear we will tax that money. 

In regards to inside trading. We will give the SEC some teeth that we will enforce the laws that are already on the books. If you are found to be fraudulent then we will seize your assets, sell them and give the investors their money back even if it means selling your personal property as well. Jail time will be for the Maximum time not in a white collar prison but in with the general population. Jail is jail not a country club.

In terms of getting our people back to work is to start hiring people to help with the rebuilding and maintaining of our infrastructure. We have people that are on the unemployment lines that are educated but are not working in the field that they trained for. I believe that these people would be great assets in training others or in researching for better energy alternatives.

 National Defense

I believe that our country should have the best in terms of National Defense. I believe that all of the Sects of Defense should have open communications so that they move and think as a team knowing what the right and the left hand is doing.

I believe that in technology they should have the best. I believe that in terms of security, stealth and surveillance they should be topnotch. I believe also that our number objective is to secure our ports and our borders. I believe that we should also keep a watchful eye for any terrorist group that threatens our borders, our homeland or our assets in the field. We should search them out, find them, extract the information, and kill with out prejudice. If you are the enemy to this country we give you know quarter. We as citizens are sworn to protect the constitution of the United States and to keep it safe from threats both foreign and domestic. We have pledged our allegiance to the United States and that is where we stand.

In terms of the contractors that keep us in arms, defense and technical hardware as well as soft ware. I believe that we have a duty as good stewards to make sure that we are getting the best bang for the buck. Meaning if you are selling us a rivet that is five dollars a piece and we can find that same rivet for 25 cents a piece the contract will go to the lowest bid. We should have an inventory of all our assets to see where we stand. A time of accountability is now.

 End the Federal Reserve?

 Why would we want to end the Reserve? Isn’t the Reserve like a savings account for the United States?

The primary responsibility of the Board members is the formulation of monetary policy. The seven Board members constitute a majority of the 12-member Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the group that makes the key decisions affecting the cost and availability of money and credit in the economy. The other five members of the FOMC are Reserve Bank presidents, one of whom is the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The other Bank presidents serve one-year terms on a rotating basis. By statute the FOMC determines its own organization, and by tradition it elects the Chairman of the Board of Governors as its Chairman and the President of the New York Bank as its Vice Chairman.

The Board sets reserve requirements and shares the responsibility with the Reserve Banks for discount rate policy. These two functions plus open market operations constitute the monetary policy tools of the Federal Reserve System.

In addition to monetary policy responsibilities, the Federal Reserve Board has regulatory and supervisory responsibilities over banks that are members of the System, bank holding companies, international banking facilities in the United States, Edge Act and agreement corporations, foreign activities of member banks, and the U.S. activities of foreign-owned banks. The Board also sets margin requirements, which limit the use of credit for purchasing or carrying securities.

In addition, the Board plays a key role in assuring the smooth functioning and continued development of the nation's vast payments system [see Fedwire and Payment System Risk Policy].

Another area of Board responsibility is the development and administration of regulations that implement major federal laws governing consumer credit such as the Truth in Lending Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and the Truth in Savings Act [see Consumer Information and Community Development].

I believe that if we were to do away with the Fed that it would be catastrophic in terms of the agencies impact upon business and the future of this nation not to mention the global impact of doing away with this agency or entity.

 Taxes (Lower Taxes? Raise Taxes?)

I believe that we need a certain tax to be able to handle the intrinsic workings of our country. I we didn’t have taxes then nothing would work. Our government workers wouldn’t get paid which means that a lot of things that we take for granted would stop. Interstates and train tracks, bridges would crumble. The borders would be open to the horde of people wanting to pour into our country. Let’s face it, We need taxes to grease the wheels of the machine.

Lower taxes? Raise Taxes? I think that we all need to put in our fair share. What is our fair share? Even the Bible talks about taxes where in Jesus said to give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and to give unto God what is God’s. God talks about a tithe which is 10% which would be great for us to pay only 10% in taxes. The only problem is that we have a great debt looming over our heads. We have borrowed money from China and other folks. We owe Trillions of dollars and we need to stop pointing fingers and just step up to the plate and pay our bills. I did say OUR bills didn’t I? So, what we need to do is to get the total. Let’s take the total and see what would happen if we all put in a share evenly. Is that possible? So could we pay off the debt at 10% across the board? What about 15% or 20%? Let’s get what ever that percentage is and put it across the board. Yes, that would be a flat tax. So if we did that and put it into terms of over 4 years or maybe 6 years could we pay off the tax? So if we paid off the debt and kept the tax going for another four years then we would have a surplus. We could either use that to do maintenance on our bridges, roads, infrastructure or what if we could pay out a percentage back to the people of the United States for using their money as a bonus tax return?

The Second Amendment

I believe that every law abiding American has the right to have a fire arm. Pistols, Rifles, Shotguns yes. These fire arms are for hunting and protecting ones home and family. Automatic weapons should NOT be under this amendment. If you need an AK-47 to shoot a deer then you should just go home and go to the store for your meat! Automatic weapons, light antitank weapons, M203’s are for the Police, Militia, National Guard and the Armed Forces. Period. 

You will notice that I said, “Every Law Abiding American.” If you are convicted of a felony along with your right to vote then you also don’t get a right to own a fire arm. 

Yes, I do believe that we should have a waiting period so that back ground checks can be done. If we make owning a firearm illegal we strip our honest citizens of the right to protect themselves or to hunt to feed their families. We will be opening them up to be defenseless from a criminal that CAN buy a weapon on the open black market.

The Police cannot be everywhere at all times and in the case of a home invasion one only has seconds to save the lives of their families. If a criminal is shot in the action of a crime the person that did the shooting is doing it in self defense and should be blameless in terms of any legal ramifications.

 Workers Rights

I believe that all workers should have rights. I believe that a woman should have the equal pay as a man if the woman is doing the same job. I believe that there should not be any discrimination against sexual preference, religion, race, creed, or sex. I do believe that sexual harassment is against the law but if you accuse someone that there should be an investigation where the accuser has the burden of proof and that the one being accused is innocent until proven guilty. I believe that a joke is just a joke. If someone is offended by the joke they must state it. The one telling the joke must stop there and then. If there is another offense where either the joker continues or tells another joke that is offensive then yes the one offended can go to the management with evidence or a witness to state that this person was being offensive. Then there can be guidance, coaching, rehabilitation up to termination. I believe that there should be a three strikes and you are out clause. 

If a person is being sexually offensive in terms of touching, showing to much, flashing then the same should be done as afore mentioned. Remember a compliment is sometimes just a compliment. 

I don’t believe that someone having a silent prayer over their food or reading their Bible or even doing their daily prayers like a person of Muslim faith would do is offensive. If you want to witness and the person says that it offends them the one witnessing should stop immediately. If two people are having a conversation that is inappropriate then the third party can either leave or tell them that they believe that it is inappropriate and the conversation needs to stop.

In terms of a worker that is called to serve their country. They should have a leave of absence in which their job is kept safe. The employer can fill that job with a temporary employee but when the person comes back from service then  they should relieve the temporary employee and allow the returning employee their job back. The temporary can either move to another position or be laid off.

 Homeschooling

I was Home Schooled as a child and I do see some good to it in terms of shielding a child from bullying, drugs, and fads that are costly. The con that hits home is that because the child is in a bubble they come lacking is social skills. When they do hit the mainstream of real life as an adult they may have problems in terms of communicating or fitting in. 

I do understand that it is important to some to homeschool because of geographical location but if not I would suggest either private school or public. I do NOT believe that their should be any incentives or tax cuts if a parent lives a reasonable distance and can send their child to a local school.

If there is a geographical location issue then yes, I believe that some sort of Monetary help is warranted.

Because this is speaking to Education then I also believe that we should include this in the Issue’s spoken.

I remember that at one time America led the world in education. When it came to science we were the best! It is not so now. The Indians, the Chinese, the Germans are outpacing us and it begins here in our schools. Our Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle and High Schools are lacking in so many areas. We have schools that are crumbling to the ground. We have schools that are teaching curriculum that are from the sixties! We have Schools that are paying our teachers wages that are close to poverty! We say that no child is left behind but if you were to give an oral exam to random children on the street it is appalling how lacking they are in History, Math, Geography, Social Studies! We need to help our Children to ready for the future! This is the reason for our unemployment today because adults are not ready for the advancement of technology in todays landscape of employment.

We are teaching history that is false. We are teaching Chemistry that has been outdated for years. We don’t teach children how to read a contract or how to balance a check book. We don’t teach them how to dress for an interview or even how to speak in public let alone give an oration or to debate. They know nothing about philosophy or even advanced thought.

We need to put together a plan to retool our education system. No Child should be left to drop thru the cracks. We need a school system to be able to filter thru those that have the ability to move speedily thru information to advancement and then we need to have a unit of specialized teachers to assist those who struggle as opposed to letting them fail or in discouragement drop out to become criminals.

We need to have the historians to go thru and correct our text books to reflect the latest history. History should be in volumes of Ancient, Early, common, uncommon, as well as geographical and Current events! 

Science should be increased having the latest developments. Whether it be Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering it should be up to date. 

Our Vocations should be up to date and even recurrent so as to keep up with the latest.

I believe that we should have a class about World Religions. Think about it. Children need to be exposed to other religions so that they know what is out there and that their religion is not the only one in town. I'm not saying that we should teach that one is right or wrong but to teach so as to educate and to respect others.

Our teachers and principals should be payed what they are worth. If their students are succeeding then they should be payed in kind. There should be a system in place that rewards excellence and retrains or even terminates those who do not show results because of just bad teaching and lack of interest.

9. Immigration. We as American’s who have had ancestors that came to this country knows the legacy of immigration. Unless we are American Indian or Mexican, we have all come to America by way of Immigrating here. I believe that the way of immigration has served us well in the past and should continue in the future. There are laws that have been passed and should be enforced. If you are a company or an employer that employs Illegal aliens then you should be penalized with punitive and monetary penalties. If you are repeat offender then you should be put out of business. Again, three strikes and you are out!

If you are a person that wants to reside in America then by all means go thru the proper channels and do it legally. If you do it illegally we will send you back. I believe that we as  Americans have a duty to secure our borders. I believe that we have a duty to secure our ports. We have a duty to protect our selves from slavers, smugglers and persons that slip in to do harm to Americans, terrorist. To terrorist there must be extreme measures that are made public to dissuade any other terrorist from this activity.

 Energy

We need to look at all forms of Energy! Oil, Coal, Nuclear, Wind, Wave, Water, Hydrogen, Solar and any other form of energy that can be possibly used to rid ourselves from foreign powers. We need to learn these technologies and use them as soon as possible but we also need to bear in mine that these technologies CANNOT be used until we deem it safe to use. If you are using Nuclear, coal, or Oil or any other for of energy we must not exploit it at the expense of the safety of our people. We must learn how to keep this from filtering into our air, soil, or water. We cannot risk the health and lives of the employees or the citizens around the facility. I believe that their is technology available to keep us safe and maybe even to reuse the residual from these products. 

There must be checks and balances in terms of profitability and the safety of Americans. 

 Foreign Policy 

I believe that communication is first and foremost in any Policy. There is an old Italian saying, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” We need our allies and they need us. We are NOT the world police. We need to stop policing everyone around us and start policing ourselves. I believe in safe, secure and FAIR exports and imports. That’s what our ambassadors are for! Their job is to negotiate to insure that our interest and the interest of that country is for the benefit of mankind. We need to discern what is good for us and them. There can be a win, win negotiation for the betterment and safety of all.

We have a Military Presence in Germany since the 1940’s. We have a Military presence in South Korea since the 1950’s. We have a Military presence in Iraq and now in Afghanistan. We have been protecting American assets and protecting these countries from further invasion. I believe that there should be protection funds coming to the United States for our Technology, Protection, Time in Country. We should be refunded for our service there. If it cannot be paid in funds then maybe we can be paid in goods and services.

Homeland Security

I believe that Homeland Security is a must in todays world. The world has changed because of terrorism. Surveillance and Security and Intelligence and Communication must come hand in hand but not at the risk of losing certain rights and privacy. I believe that we must adhere to the fact that there must be some inkling of reasonable suspicion before we can start eaves dropping or video taping a subject. I still believe in the Miranda rights. 

If there is reasonable suspicion and there is evidence that the person or person have a plan for the harm of American Citizen’s then this is an Act of war. I believe that we as Americans have the right to protect our country from enemies both foreign and domestic. When there is a threat all bets are off. I believe that there is a way to extract information without physically harming a person physically. There are psychological ways as well as manipulative ways to do this. 

I do believe that our communication lines should always be open between armed forces, agencies and police forces to be able to work in unity. 

 Social Security

Social Security has NOT outlived it’s usefulness. The elderly have payed into this and depend on this to last them until death. It would be wrong and immoral to take this away. If anything we should enhance it to give it more strength. We should put together a team of economist, bankers and financial advisors to research, enhance and implement a better Social Security then was envisioned by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

                                                                      Veterans

Our Veterans have given the sacrifice of their bodies in blood, guts, and life. The worst thing that we could do for them is to take away their benefits and pensions. In my opinion they should have the best.  They should have the best in homes, perks, education, travel, retirement. They have given their best and we should repay them with the best.

I have visited hospitals and was sickened at the staffing, the horrible conditions in terms of cleanliness and the way that our Veterans were disrespected. 

                                     This should not be the way that we treat our heroes.

I would intreat upon the Military Joint chiefs of staff to implement surprise spot checks in which a team of inspectors would randomly do full spot checks of every hospital from top to bottom to insure the care and respect of the Veterans were top notch and seamless.

        

                                                                      Prison Systems.

I believe that every prisoner does have a right to be treated humane. I also believe that if you are a prisoner that you should be getting an education and mental rehabilitation so that when you do back into society that there is a change so that there are no reocurrence. 

Many of these men and women have come from a bad environment. Some of them know nothing more then just slinging drugs or robbing banks to make a living. They had no role models. There only expression of affection was to be punched or raped. They have never had a hug. They have never known true trust. They have never had the privilege to set at a table and to enjoy a meal with a family. 

We need to teach them that there is an acceptable way to live in society. Those things should be awarded and the unacceptable ways should be punished. In prison there are no rights no privacy this is a place of retraining. It is our job to get them ready to go back into society.

There are some that will never be rehabilitated because of Psychotic behaviors. They are a danger to others as well as to themselves. They need to be kept into solitude for the rest of their lives or if need be terminated from life if the law requires it. 

For those that can be rehabilitated unfortunately they have been ostracized from society because they have a record. I believe that once that you have payed your debt to society the record should be expunged. 

An employer will not hire a man or a woman who has been imprisoned because of fear that they will do the crime again. On the application it states the question have you been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor? If you have just got out of prison this question can kill the chances for this person to step back into society because society is blocking him or her from being able to legally provide for himself or his family thus pushing them back into crime.

This must be stopped. Once the person has payed their time to society for what they have done they should get a clean slate. Their record should be expunged. That question should be removed from the application and be treated as a question of discrimination because that is what it is.

Another option is they must continue with that self incriminating question then there must be an incentive or a cut in tax to the employer that employs such person or persons.

In closing, I believe that America is the greatest country in the world but we should never lay back on our laurels of past glories and set on our do nothings and do nothing! We have more to do out there!

We have diseases to cure, we have an ocean to explore, we have space to explore, to Infinity and beyond!

       So I ask you dear blog reader,

                  What do you believe?

Are you looking for a Good Church?

So AM I!

Last year I had the blessing to go to a few places around the globe and view some pretty impressive places. I went to the Cathedral Basilica in Covington, Kentucky to photograph this beautiful Church. It has such great sculptures and architecture.

Then in May we had the pleasure to travel to Barcelona, Spain to see the beautiful La Segrada Familia. This means, The Sacred Family. As you can see it is STILL under construction due to the artisans are just now getting the technology and the idea of the vision of the architect, Gaudi. This whole Church is a sacred sculpture within itself.

Then we went to Tuscany, Italy to see some wonderful Churches.

Sometimes during our search one feels that they are on the right path but then some times you don't know if you are going up or down. Hunting for a great Church to shepherd you and your family can sometimes be confusing.

Some might wonder why that I would put the Colosseum among these pictures but it was here that Christians payed with their blood so that we may know the freedom of truly living for God. Christians were massacred and slaughtered by the thousands under the guise of entertainment.

Then of course, while we were in Rome we dropped by to see the Massive City of the Vatican.

It was huge, magnificent, ancient and somewhat daunting and overwhelming.

Here back in Barcelona, Columbus is ever pointing the way back to which we came.

Although these are beautiful and wonderful pieces of Architecture and history, this is NOT the Church. The other night I was watching the movie of Angels and Demons in which the actor Tom Hanks was attempting to defend the Church which was Saint Peters Basilica in Rome from the Illuminati.

There was the threat in which a threat was made that said, that they would blow up the Vatican thus eradicating the Church and have the Church crumble to the ground.

We must be reminded that the brick and mortar all though wonderful in it's architecture, is NOT the Church.

The Church is a living breathing entity that Cannot be killed! The Church is the body of born again, baptized believers who are the true Bride of Christ.

So, to my leading question, Are you looking for a good Church?

The Church has been hated and hunted for centuries. They were first called Christians at Antioch. Before Antioch there was the small group that formed in the upper room in Jerusalem awaiting the coming of the Holy Ghost. There were one hundred and twenty of them that waited in one accord. The Holy Spirit swept thru and filled them and Baptized them in his Spirit as well as sealing them until the day of Redemption. Those same one hundred and twenty souls went forth from that room as a dynamo and began to tell the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone that they came into contact with. Daily they break bread and prayed in their homes and soon there were places of worship. These people became strong in their faith and soon the "Religious World" that hated Jesus Christ and thought of him just as some rebel that came to overthrow the government of Rome started to persecute those people, in which drove them underground. They hunted them like dogs and like criminals. They would find them and torture them, kill them or even better bring them to Rome to become entertainment to the wealthy by being thrown to the lions at the Colosseum. 

They actually had a man who was part Jewish and part Roman. He was a soldier and a member of the Sanhedrin Court. He also was at the stoning of Steven to watch the man of God be brutally stoned as he held their coats. He was charged to find the Christians and to arrest them. He was feared thru out Christendom until Jesus came to him and blinded him with a bright light, to ask him if it was hard to kick against the pricks. The man's name was Saul of Tarsus. After surrendering to Jesus, he went to see a man and stayed with him until his sight returned. He soon changed his ways and became known as the Apostle Paul. Paul went thru out the Roman Civilization preaching the Gospel and starting Churches in Rome, Galatia, Ephesus, Phillipi, and other cities. 

The Church spread thru out  Europe, Africa, And the world. We have survived the many attacks such as the Dark Years, the Inquisition, Communism and the attacks of those today who find it convenient to kill Christians under the guise of Jihad.

So if you are looking for a Church how should one look?

When I look for a Church I always look for certain things like:

1. Do they preach and believe the Bible from Cover to Cover, in context?
2. Do they worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth?
3. Does the music that they sing glorify God?
4. Do they believe in preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
5. Do they believe that Salvation is by Grace thru Faith?
6. Do they believe in an All knowing, seeing, omnipresent God that saves to the uttermost?
7. Do they believe in a literal hell and devil?

If they believe those things, I can fellowship with them.

Many times we forget what a true Christian is and what a true Church is. I have gone to several Churches in the past that have forgotten the working of the Church.

I have gone to so called Churches that believe they are a country club and only the best can go there and serve.

Jesus said, "Whosoever will let them come." I love that old hymn, "Just as I am without one plea, oh Lamb of God, I come to thee."

That's the reason that Jesus didn't hang with the Pharisee's and the Saducee's. He hung out with people like Zacheaus who was a tax collector and the people hated him so much that if they accidently bumped into him they would first spit, go home, burn their clothes and take a bath.

Jesus would hang out with a whore like Mary Magdalene. Some Historians and Authors have said that they had an affair but they forgot that he was the God man who was tempted yet Without Sin! Had he partaken of her there would have been no way that he could be the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the whole world. 

He hung out with Fishermen that were rough loud mouths. He hung out with those that had been demon possessed but by his power he cast them out. He didn't take a dime from anyone yet he fed the five thousand with but a few loaves and fishes. He was raised humbly as a carpenter with Joseph raising him and then finding that Jesus was actually his Master.

I currently am looking for a Church. I would love to serve and to be served. I need to be fed as well to feed others. I want to be able to worship and fine true happiness in the fellowship of the Saints. I also would love to find a Church that preaches out of the Old King James Bible. I know some of you think that I'm a little old fashion, well friend that's alright with me for I'm so glad that I have salvation and now that I'm glad to be free!

To me going to Church is like going to a restaurant. If you don't like what they're serving find a different one.