Elton John puts the gay marriage debate to rest

I knew that Elton John was more than just a brilliant musician. At a New York City charity event Elton weighed in on the gay marriage debate with his perspective, as a gay man with a civil partner.

"We’re not married, let’s get that straight. We have a civil partnership…I don’t want to be married! I’m very happy with a civil partnership. The word ‘marriage,’ I think, puts a lot of people off. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."

Government run monopolies are ineffecient and expensive? No duh.

The Fraser Institute has concluded a study that shows what anyone with common sense knows already; government run business is inefficient and inferior compared to private run business. (Click here for the article.)

"Government-run auto insurance monopolies in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are charging some of the highest average premiums in Canada, concludes a new report released today by the independent research organization the Fraser Institute.

The peer-reviewed report found that drivers in BC pay the highest average premium at $1,304 annually. At $1,229, Ontario has the second highest average premium and is the only province with private, competitive auto insurance that has an average insurance premium exceeding $1,000. Saskatchewan has the third highest average premium at $1,063 followed by Manitoba at $1,029."

"The report concludes that the profit motive does not lead to higher auto insurance costs for consumers. When the private sector insurance industry is open to competition and consumer choice is protected, the portion of auto insurance premiums earned as profits will not result from excessive prices, but instead come from cost efficiencies achieved by successful claims management, pricing strategies, customer service, and good business management. Private sector insurers are also able to use the returns on invested surpluses that accrue during profitable years to subsidize premium rates in years where losses exceed the premiums paid by drivers. Such efficiencies are lost in government auto insurance monopolies where there tends to be a higher frequency of claims and suppression of rates for high-risk drivers below the actuarial cost of insuring them."

Barack is pro-choice but only for the rich

One of the key outstanding questions surrounding Barack Obama has been answered. No, we don't know what breed their new dog will be but we do know which school Malia and Sasha will attend. Shock of all shocks the Obama girls will be attending a private school. It must be nice to be able to choose which school your children go to. It is too bad Barack won't extend the same choice to all families.

""A number of great schools were considered," said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Obama. "In the end, the Obamas selected the school that was the best fit for what their daughters need right now."

Note the word "selected," as in made a choice. The Obamas are fortunate to have the means to send their daughters to private school, and no one begrudges them that choice given that Washington's public schools are among the worst in America.

Most D.C. parents would also love to be able to choose a better school for their child, but they lack the financial means to do so. The Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program each year offers up to $7,500 to some 1,900 kids to attend private schools, but Democrats in Congress want to kill it. Average family income for kids in the voucher program is about $22,000.

Mr. Obama says he opposes such vouchers, because "although it might benefit some kids at the top, what you're going to do is leave a lot of kids at the bottom." The example of his own children refutes that: The current system offers plenty of choice to kids "at the top" while abandoning those at the bottom." (Click here for the article.)

Airlines as free service providers

The Supreme Court of Canada has decided that airlines should now be in the business of providing free care giving services to passengers.

"The Supreme Court of Canada has put its stamp of approval on a regulatory order forcing major airlines to provide an extra seat for free to disabled or obese passengers who need the room." (Click here for article.)

If you have specific circumstances that require special care who should pay for this? Why should the airline be responsible to pay for your special needs? If you can't afford the extra airfare then take the train.

What's next, forcing restaurants to provide unlimited meals to customers because they are obese?

The will of the minority controls the majority

California continues to show that democratic elections are meaningless as the Supreme court of California has agreed to hear challenges to the same sex marriage ban. (Click here for article.)

Twice now the majority of Californians have voted to keep the definition of marriage as one man and one woman. The first time was in 2000 when 61% of Californians voted in favor of proposition 22. The second time was more recently when over 52% of Californians voted in favor of proposition 8.

Despite Californians expressing their views clearly on this issue the state supreme court voted 4-3 to allow same sex marriage on May 15, 2008. To be clear, 4 supreme court judges decided that 61% of Californians were wrong and should be over ruled. What a disgrace to democracy that the voice of the people is overruled by a small handful of ideological individuals.

Not Evil Just Wrong

A potentially interesting movie is in the works. "Not Evil Just Wrong" is a film being put together by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer that aims to take on the myth of global warming and will highlight the harm that is being done by the hysteria of global warming.

"A new Irish film claims that climate change guru Al Gore is an alarmist and that those who think they are saving the planet are only hurting the poor. If the advance publicity is anything to go by, Not Evil Just Wrong will do for Al Gore what Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 did for George W Bush." (Click here for article.)

I wonder if this movie will receive an Academy Award as An inconvenient truth did. I won't hold my breath on that.

How to save the Auto industry? Let them go bankrupt.

Mitt Romney has had some free time the last few months and it appears he has spent that time thinking up a solution to the auto industry situation. I agree completely with Mitt, the best way to fix Detroit is to let it go bankrupt.

"Without that bailout, Detroit will need to drastically restructure itself. With it, the automakers will stay the course — the suicidal course of declining market shares, insurmountable labor and retiree burdens, technology atrophy, product inferiority and never-ending job losses. Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check."

"The American auto industry is vital to our national interest as an employer and as a hub for manufacturing. A managed bankruptcy may be the only path to the fundamental restructuring the industry needs. It would permit the companies to shed excess labor, pension and real estate costs. The federal government should provide guarantees for post-bankruptcy financing and assure car buyers that their warranties are not at risk." (Click here for the article.)

I have heard many say that the government bailed out the banks so they should bail out the auto makers. My response is that two wrongs don't make a right. The bank bailout was a mistake and the auto bailout will be an even bigger mistake. Unfortunately the government has started down a slippery slope that may be too difficult to get off before nationalizing the entire economy.

The honeymoon is over

It appears that the honeymoon between Barack Obama and the rest of the world may be coming to an end. Al-Qaida's #2 (who prides himself on his impersonation of Dr. Evil's #2) had some rather unkind things to say to Barack and to America.

"In al-Qaida's first response to Obama's victory, al-Zawahri also called the president-elect—along with secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice—"house negroes. Speaking in Arabic, al-Zawahri uses the term "abeed al-beit," which literally translates as "house slaves." But al-Qaida supplied English subtitles of his speech that included the translation as "house negroes.""

""America has put on a new face, but its heart full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always," the deputy of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden said." (Click here for the article.)

I can't wait for Barack to stick it to this guy by sitting down and chatting with him over coffee, without preconditions of course. I am sure that once Barack has a chance to talk to #2 he will understand that we just want to be friends and all get along. I will feel much safer then.

The Left thinks the Right is evil, while the Right thinks the Left is wrong.

When will the Left practice what they preach and stop with their bigoted, intolerant behaviour towards those they differ with? The reason the Left is so intolerant is that their positions are based on emotion and feelings and they therefore feel justified in hating those that disagree with them. For instance, the gay marriage issue. If you differ with their views it is OK to slander, threaten and attack you. You rarely, if ever, see the Right react so emotionally when confronted with those of differing views. When was the last time the Right took to protesting in front of cafes, hollywood studios or gay bars because of the support for gay marriage? The Left doesn't get that it is OK to differ in opinions and it doesn't make you bad. The Left thinks the Right is evil, while the Right thinks the Left is wrong. You don't protest something that is wrong but you do protest something that is evil.

"Catherine Vogt, 14, is an Illinois 8th grader, the daughter of a liberal mom and a conservative dad. She wanted to conduct an experiment in political tolerance and diversity of opinion at her school in the liberal suburb of Oak Park."
"So just before the election, Catherine consulted with her history teacher, then bravely wore a unique T-shirt to school and recorded the comments of teachers and students in her journal. The T-shirt bore the simple yet quite subversive words drawn with a red marker:"McCain Girl.""
"One person told me to go die. It was a lot of dying. A lot of comments about how I should be killed," Catherine said, of the tolerance in Oak Park. But students weren't the only ones surprised that she wore a shirt supporting McCain. "In one class, I had one teacher say she will not judge me for my choice, but that she was surprised that I supported McCain," Catherine said." (Click here for the article.)

President Bush on the Financial Markets

President Bush gave a great speech on Thursday Nov. 13, 2008 in New York. President Bush defends free markets and suggests that free markets are the solution to our problems and not the cause of the problems. I wish that he had given more speeches like this over the past 8 years. When he speaks he is usually bang on the mark and highly intelligent on economic and foreign affairs issues. Go here to read the entire speech, I highly recommend you do; it is well worth the time.

"History has shown that the greater threat to economic prosperity is not too little government involvement in the market, it is too much government involvement in the market. (Applause.) We saw this in the case of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Because these firms were chartered by the United States Congress, many believed they were backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Investors put huge amounts of money into Fannie and Freddie, which they used to build up irresponsibly large portfolios of mortgage-backed securities. And when the housing market declined, these securities, of course, plummeted in value. It took a taxpayer-funded rescue to keep Fannie and Freddie from collapsing in a way that would have devastated the global financial system. And there is a clear lesson: Our aim should not be more government -- it should be smarter government.

All this leads to the most important principle that should guide our work: While reforms in the financial sector are essential, the long-term solution to today's problems is sustained economic growth. And the surest path to that growth is free markets and free people."

"Like any other system designed by man, capitalism is not perfect. It can be subject to excesses and abuse. But it is by far the most efficient and just way of structuring an economy. At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do, the opportunity to buy or sell products they want, and the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. The free market system provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save, to invest wisely, and to create jobs for others. And as millions of people pursue these incentives together, whole societies benefit.

Free market capitalism is far more than economic theory. It is the engine of social mobility -- the highway to the American Dream. It's what makes it possible for a husband and wife to start their own business, or a new immigrant to open a restaurant, or a single mom to go back to college and to build a better career. It is what allowed entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley to change the way the world sells products and searches for information. It's what transformed America from a rugged frontier to the greatest economic power in history -- a nation that gave the world the steamboat and the airplane, the computer and the CAT scan, the Internet and the iPod.

Ultimately, the best evidence for free market capitalism is its performance compared to other economic systems. Free markets allowed Japan, an island with few natural resources, to recover from war and grow into the world's second-largest economy. Free markets allowed South Korea to make itself into one of the most technologically advanced societies in the world. Free markets turned small areas like Singapore and Hong Kong and Taiwan into global economic players. Today, the success of the world's largest economies comes from their embrace of free markets.

Meanwhile, nations that have pursued other models have experienced devastating results. Soviet communism starved millions, bankrupted an empire, and collapsed as decisively as the Berlin Wall. Cuba, once known for its vast fields of cane, is now forced to ration sugar. And while Iran sits atop giant oil reserves, its people cannot put enough gasoline in its -- in their cars.

The record is unmistakable: If you seek economic growth, if you seek opportunity, if you seek social justice and human dignity, the free market system is the way to go. (Applause.) And it would be a terrible mistake to allow a few months of crisis to undermine 60 years of success."

Intellectual does not equal intelligent

"How have intellectuals managed to be so wrong, so often? By thinking that because they are knowledgeable-- or even expert-- within some narrow band out of the vast spectrum of human concerns, that makes them wise guides to the masses and to the rulers of the nation.

But the ignorance of Ph.D.s is still ignorance and high-IQ groupthink is still groupthink, which is the antithesis of real thinking." - Thomas Sowell (Click here for the article.)

The Left are the bigoted, prejudiced, discriminating haters. Not the right. - Still.

The bigoted left continue to show their disgusting true colors of hate and prejudice.

"A radical gay rights group is claiming responsibility for a protest Sunday at Mount Hope Church in Delta Township. Protesters who entered the Creyts Road church along with worshippers surprised the congregation when they stood up during the service, threw fliers at churchgoers and shouted slogans such as "It's OK to be gay," and "Jesus was a homo," according to David Williams, communications director at the church." (Click here for article.)

Isn't the Left calling for "unity"? The U.S. is more divided than ever and it is mainly because of disgusting groups like this.

Villains and Heroes

"The reason so many people misunderstand so many issues is not that these issues are so complex, but that people do not want a factual or analytical explanation that leaves them emotionally unsatisfied. They want villains to hate and heroes to cheer-- and they don't want explanations that do not give them that." - Thomas Sowell, Townhall.com

This quote applies to so much that is happening right now. The factual explanation for the current economic crises is emotionally unsatisfying. People want a villain to hate (greedy bankers, free market, President Bush) and a hero to cheer (Barack Obama, government bailouts, regulation).

"Show me the money"

Thomas Friedman wrote an article directed to all of the Obama lovers around the globe. You claim to love Obama right now but how conditional is that love?

"President Bush, because he was so easily demonized, made being a free-rider on American power easy for everyone — and Americans paid the price. Obama will not make it so easy. So to everyone overseas I say: thanks for your applause for our new president. I’m glad you all feel that America “is back.” If you want Obama to succeed, though, don’t just show us the love, show us the money. Show us the troops. Show us the diplomatic effort. Show us the economic partnership. Show us something more than a fresh smile. Because freedom is not free and your excuse for doing less than you could is leaving town in January."

Update - Bullying in the schools

In follow-up to my previous post "Bullying in the schools" the video of the exchange can be found at the following link. GlennBeck.com

Two wrongs don't make a right

Should we bail out big automotive? No way. The government screwed up once by bailing out big banks but they don't need to make matters worse by sending good money after bad in the automotive industry. It is pretty clear why "the big 3" can't compete, see Carpe Diem post here. The government should NOT support the inefficient bad business practices of big automotive.

"Punitive Taxation Of Profitable Oil Industry Won't Break Dependence On Foreign Crude"

In a previous post of mine titled "Barack "the tax man" Obama" I made the case against imposing a windfall profits tax on oil companies as this will increase the U.S. demand on foreign oil. The Investors Business Daily has an editorial making the case against the windfall profits tax on an economic basis. (Click here for the article.)

The real cause of the credit crises

Fingers are being pointed in every direction to blame all sides for the current economic crises. The Washington Times has a good article that outlines the major contributing factors to the crises. I am sure many readers will be disappointed at the lack of focus on Bush. In fact, it is over regulation, not deregulation, that was the key contributing factor to the crises.

"Once again, it is assumed that government bureaucrats can plan the direction of the economy better than millions of consumers and investors can. Bailout proponents also rest on a misread of recent history in viewing the current mess as the result of "unfettered" markets. In truth, numerous government interventions from housing subsidies to directed lending have been big factors in this crisis."

"In the early '90s, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston wrote a manual for mortgage lenders stating that "discrimination may be observed when a lender's underwriting policies contain arbitrary or outdated criteria that effectively disqualify many urban or lower-income minority applicants." As Stan Liebowitz, a professor of economics at the University of Texas at Dallas Business School, noted recently in the New York Post, "some of these 'outdated' criteria included the size of the mortgage payment relative to income, credit history, savings history and income verification." In other words, the Boston Fed and other agencies were discouraging the very criteria that would have protected lower-income families from overextending their indebtedness and could have prevented the subprime meltdown."

"Among the crucial factors that helped make this crisis a global financial "contagion" were new accounting rules going into effect in the U.S. and Europe just as foreclosures were spiking and real estate was losing value. So-called mark-to-market accounting forces financial institutions to take losses in their regulatory capital - which determines how much they can lend - if another bank sells similar loans at a fire-sale price, even if the loans at the bank in question are still performing and are being held to maturity."

You think you are poor? You don't know what poor is.

Robert Rector at the Heritage Foundation has an interesting article that puts into perspective how most in North America have no idea what it means to be poor.

"Overall, the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrig­erator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family is not hungry, and he had suf­ficient funds in the past year to meet his family's essential needs. While this individual's life is not opulent, it is equally far from the popular images of dire poverty conveyed by the press, liberal activists, and politicians."

What does Obama have to hide?

Thanks to Jen for pointing out for me that Obama has quickly changed his website. I previously linked to his "agenda" in a few of my posts but the "agenda" has been removed. In place of the previously detailed outline the "agenda" page now reads:

"The Obama Administration has a comprehensive and detailed agenda to carry out its policies. The principal priorities of the Obama Administration include: a plan to revive the economy, to fix our health care, education, and social security systems, to define a clear path to energy independence, to end the war in Iraq responsibly and finish our mission in Afghanistan, and to work with our allies to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, among many other domestic and foreign policy objectives." (click here for link, at least until they move it again)

I guess Obama is hedging his bets and does not want to offer transparency and honesty.

"Obama fools us"

Michael Coren has a good article in the Sun regarding the Obama victory.

"A victory for those who believe the state is better qualified to raise children than the family, for those who prefer teachers' unions to teaching and for those who are naively convinced that if the West is sufficiently weak towards its enemies, war and terror will dissolve as quickly as the tears on the face of a leftist celebrity."

Bullying in the schools

Fifth grade teacher Diatha Harris decided it was appropriate to bully some of her young students because they supported John McCain.

"And by the way the person that you’re picking for president said that our troops could stay in Iraq for another hundred years if they need to. So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years." (Click here for story.)

I wonder if she felt tough and superior as she belittled her young students. Completely shameful.

The Left are the bigoted, prejudiced, discriminating haters. Not the right.

The Left are so quick to throw out names such as "bigot", "xenophobe", "homophobe", and "close minded" to those on the Right they disagree with. But if you judge people by their actions I would contend that the Left are the true bigots, xenophobes, and closeminded haters. Anyone that was in favor of proposition 8 was labeled as such. As reported by the L.A. times the Left showed their complete lack of class. (Click here for article.)

Do the Left not understand that the majority of Californians want to keep the definition of marriage as heterosexual as it has been since the beginning of time? The protesters should realize that they are in the minority on this issue and get over themselves.

Government in Everything

As the U.S. government has decided to stick its nose in the financial sector it will be difficult to stop there. What's next? GM, Ford, and Chrysler.

“Additional support from the U.S. government to aid the auto industry during this industry downturn is essential” GM said (Click here for the article.)

I will not be surprised (especially since Obama has said he is in favor of giving failing businesses money) to see the U.S. government doling money out to the American auto manufacturers. Where does this cycle end? What about all of the other sectors that are hard hit? Soon the U.S. government will be involved in all sectors of the economy. Now there's a scary thought.

Barack "I love seniors" Obama

"Obama will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year." (click here) Are seniors really the group that needs tax relief the most? Typically, seniors have no mortgage, no dependents to pay for, and have had a life time to accumulate wealth. If we are going to eliminate income tax for any group I would expect it to be for single income earners with dependents or young families that are just starting out and trying to cope with financial turmoil.

Sounds like Obama is trying to pander to the ever increasing "senior" population.

Barack "the job killer" Obama

In an effort to reduce jobs for Americans Obama proposes to have the IRS complete your tax filing for you and have you simply verify and sign the forms. I guess if you are a blue collar assembly worker your job is important to get back from China but if you are a white collar tax accountant your job should be outsourced to the IRS.

Barack "the tax man" Obama

According to Obama's website he will "Enact a windfall profits tax on excessive oil company profits".

Economics 101 says if you tax something you get less of it. By implementing a windfall tax oil producers will have less incentive to produce oil in the United States. Which will lower the domestic supply of oil leading to an INCREASED dependence on foreign oil. The opposite of what needs to happen. If he is serious about reducing the U.S. dependence on foreign oil he would provide tax cuts to big oil but that isn't politically correct is it?

Barack "the low life thug" Obama

Obama is a low life thug. As you would expect from a low life thug he picks on people he feels are not able to fight back. In a show of complete lack of class Obama picks on Nancy Reagan saying "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances." Nancy Reagan has never engaged in seances you idiot! Show some class and respect.

The ironic thing is Hillary Clinton was the one who has channeled the dead for advice. "In his book "The Choice," Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward described how Clinton consulted with a spiritual adviser who led her through imaginary conversations with her personal hero, Eleanor Roosevelt. Newsweek magazine, which was promoting the book, characterized the visits as "seances," a term that White House officials quickly tried to squelch." (Click here for article.)

Barack "the protectionist" Obama

Barack Obama has a fancy new website where he has outlined the agenda for his presidency. If you care to see his plan you can check it our here.

One of the major themes that comes through in his agenda is protectionism. Here are a few of his ideas:

• Amend the North American Free Trade Agreement
• End Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas
• Reward Companies that Support American Workers

Other common themes are: increased government spending, higher taxes, and anti-business measures. Just what the economy needs at this time. Obama is a recipe for prolonged pain.

Discrimination vs. Distinction

"The argument that current marriage laws "discriminate" against homosexuals confuses discrimination against people with making distinctions among different kinds of behavior.

All laws distinguish among different kinds of behavior. What other purpose does law have?

While people may be treated the same, all their behaviors are not. Laws that forbid bicycles from being ridden on freeways obviously have a different effect on people who have bicycles but no cars." - Thomas Sowell

President Ronald Reagan

Another of the greatest presidents of all time is Ronald Reagan. He was bold, decisive, and not afraid to stand for truth and right against evil.

Global warming is now global cooling

I have noticed the rhetoric regarding climate change has almost died off, thank goodness. It is unfortunate that it has taken such an extreme crises, such as the economy, for people to move past the silliness of climate change.

"It's been a bad year for global warming alarmists. Record cold periods and snowfalls are occurring around the globe. The hell that the radicals have promised is freezing over." Click here for more.

Prop 8 does not mean hate

"You don’t have the right to get married . . . not even under California law. You cannot, for example, marry a plant, a comic book character, or your mother. We (rightly) discriminate regarding the privilege of marriage."

See here for a good explanation of why proposition 8 does not discriminate.

The existing laws regarding marriage (one man, one woman) do not discriminate against gays. As the law stands gays are free to marry, they must marry someone of the opposite sex. But they are nevertheless free to marry.

Show President Obama the respect and loyalty he deserves

"For now, we have a new president-elect. In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president." - Ann Coulter

"The Treatment of Bush Has Been a Disgrace"

President Bush has been given no respect despite being one of the greatest presidents of all time. Jeffery Shapiro has a good article in the WSJ regarding the treatment of Bush. Click here for link.