What are you worth to your government?

Well, except for the fact I pay taxes and obey the law, I am sure the government doesn't really care that I am alive and wouldn't pay anything for me. But then I know that the government is only a thing - without a heart and a mind (yes, there is no intelligence in the government only in the people working behind the curtain - and sometimes that needs to be proven), and certainly no soul.

As I approach that magical age of 62, early retirement opportunity under the Social Security program, I downloaded the free calculation software, and started filling out the data and their forms - isn't anything simple in the government regulations? See comment on intelligence above. I ran the data, found an entry error, corrected it and ran the data again. I expect I will get a paper copy of their annual estimate in a couple of days (end of October for me) and the two will be very close to exactly.

In the end as I discovered when talking to my wife about it last night, her greatest benefit from my Social Security is if I die and go to Heaven, she would get more than I would for staying alive. So since the rule is you pay people in the direction you want them to move - the government is trying to get my wife to off me, lawfully, and quietly. I don't have any fear of that happening, she started to worry about what would happen to my guns if I died, seems she thinks my son shouldn't get them since he drinks, or better reason - he isn't really interested in them. He only shoots professionally, which in the military isn't as much as the civilians would know. I will have to figure something out that would work well for those firearms.

I will pretend I have time to work on a plan, but my doctor's office called up and they want me for consultation and examination this afternoon in follow up to the fainting (?) incident on the fourteenth, maybe they found something else?

Okay, for all of those that believe that the government loves us and is only trying to make our lives better - I will admit that as long as I pay taxes, work productively and obey those people behind the curtain, they probably won't try to trick me into breaking a law, put their ski masks on to hide their faces and break into my home nor shoot my wife through the door. I do doubt seriously that they will tell the media that I live in a fortified compound and try to smoke me out, and I am almost positive (not living in Philadelphia) that they aren't going to drop a bomb on my home and burn out the neighborhood. But I do remember that our government, American, has done all those things to the least of us. I mean, they even got Martha Stewart, for falsification of evidence? I need to stay below the radar, don't we all?

Remember what I wrote about government not having a mind, and the level of intelligence of those behind the curtain, and always that there are over three hundred million Americans most of whom don't work for the government except for that tax thing. Back to coffee mug.

Back from jog, just a quick note before church...

My cousin, a minister in New Zealand currently, was born and raised in South America, and she is now visiting Argentina and Uruguay and friends and family that are still living there. That was the background.

The picture is from the efforts of the current government to say that a previous government was so wrong. The reason I bring this up, is for those that still think one needs a King, or a Czar to get things done and have law and order.... re-read 1 Samuel 8, should be part of Civics 101, but the book doesn't cost $75.00 a copy.

Watching in the wrong direction... aren't they?

Maybe we all are looking in the wrong direction, and that is when something to really fear jumps out and gets you... cougars anyone?

Looking at my last morning post and seeing the cheering over the breaking the 10,000 point barrier on Wall Street - one would think all those investors had read what I wrote and went out and spent wildly trying to get those big bonuses that Congress is worried about. I know that the market is only displaying the price offered and accepted by the buyer and the seller. I am glad there is a resurgence of confidence in the Economy, and if you really know what that means and what I meant you are going to make money.

Congress is worried about big bonuses in high finance - they are looking in the wrong direction - they have a taxing power, which I think they abuse, but they can fix the big bonuses quickly - tax them away. But they are looking in the wrong direction, the government is bleeding in money being thrown around, debt climbing and money printed in excess of good sense (that last is way too easy for Congress to overlook). If their books were my family finances I would throw up my hands and go a little more crazy. I am responsible and wonder why Congress isn't, they do look like pigs at the feed, but that says bad things about the pigs and that wouldn't be nice of me. They are looking in the wrong direction.

I was going to write about the war...

but I couldn't even sign into Blogger this morning without hitting an extra i in hotmail.com and getting refused. Well, I found it and corrected it and I am under two ten this morning and I have a mug of coffee so I will ramble on...

The United States is not at war, our Commander in Chief has received the Noble Nobel Peace Prize, I suspect he kept the same Secretary of Defense as the last Commander-in-Chief since he wasn't serious about continuing the war and could use the cover until he could get back to it. It really is still Bush's War, and President Bush will tell you that he is our last Wartime President, not that he was doing it any better than the current One of Wonder.

The reason I even mention it was a post from Frank James, about the M-4 (M-16) failures again ..., he wrote well about the problem and I just had to point out what I saw looking at the same problem. He knows his weapons, hunting and farming and I learn every time I read about his corner of perception. Having had my own personal experience with trying to get the system to improve the current pistol I know that the system just doesn't care, one voice, ten bodies, two thousand dead because of a mess in the Pentagon, or any other headquarters will be swept under the blanket of History. To be read and commented on by people that do care but aren't in control nor on a battlefront.

The reason we aren't going to win a war in the Middle East is that we aren't going to go to fight a war in the Middle East. Israel survives because Jerusalem and Tel Aviv aren't in California nor New York - they may get lots of bond buyers from there, but the leadership of the country, the people of the country and the reason for surviving are all inside Israel. So they pay close attention, and even when offering peace to stupid folks that think the problem could just be gone when the Jews are, they certainly are passionate and serious about trying. They are also serious about fighting wars to win them, not sustain their armament industry, Boeing and GM.

There was passion and concern from the citizens in the American Revolutionary War, the War between the States, World War II and just cheering and flag waving patriotism on all the others. If we would just move the Commander in Chief and Congress in session to the center of our international conflicts, and allow them to drag their lobbyists with them, we would have such better results, really. And if for whatever reason we still couldn't win, like Alexander the Great in Afghanistan of his era, make it look like he had and leave to conquer something easier.

Nice thing about rambling is that I expend all the heat and mind mumbling that raced through my head in the darkness. What was my point? Oh, yeah, that old Vietnam thing that is still unresolved in my heart. I personally remember my life then, and I didn't like what we were about to do with our professional army in Bush's War (do you remember all the reasons we are fighting it, still?). Yes, I like a professional military - keep the MBAs away from our officer corps and it could really be great.

I do want the best military to perform the Defense of America, and I don't want it expended (they are willing to fight to the death for the best of reasons and it isn't money) in stupid political paybacks and favors for friends in odd places. It just won't be there when America really needs its pointy end. Thank you for looking for meaning in all this, I am on the second mug of coffee, sure the current President is totally wrong on Iraq and Afghanistan and so much else, sure that those going back to the Middle East for the third, fourth or fifth time are wondering what is the point and they are the ones that have to tell the first timers what to do to survive, do well and win battles --- and it really isn't exactly like it was before, the new Commander in Chief has other things on his table to work on and look good about. Yes, you will be getting Turkey on Thanksgiving, read a copy of a book about the Marines in North Korea, they knew that only the Marines cared.

In addition: I am so glad my wife is off for her doctor's checkup, if I had to go my blood pressure would make him change my medication or admit me to the hospital, foolish waste of good money, best be about better stuff than worrying at what I couldn't fix no matter.

Okay, it is a strange day, maybe Mega Millions...

maybe Mega Millions will have my numbers for the grand prize! Why not, seems that I worked just fine at the WCCW with the women patrons and inmate clerks. Moved lots of mail, requested lots of ILL materials, and cleared many soon to be released inmates and did get the books back from Segregation and issued a new bunch of books, into a locked box on a heavy cart. I am certain there aren't as many women in solitary as there are men in the corrections centers.

But that isn't the big deal, not by a long shot. I remember telling everyone to write their Congressmen, Senators and the incoming President about how you felt about the 2nd Amendment or gun control or anything that you felt they needed to know about. Well, I did, and from one of my Senators I keep getting long messages about health care and other things that interest her -- from the other I get silence, hope she isn't ill. My Congressman is always there inviting me to the next town hall meeting, he does that all the time, not just because the Democratic Party sent him out for health care.

Anyway, today (the day the President learns he is important in the Peace process) I got my personal (as they can make it) letter from the President - I do have to admit his signature is artful and kind of cool. Mine and my father's signatures in script are flowing and can be read (okay, I have lost the last two characters in my flourish, but I could put them back in for clarity) but the President's is artful and therefore just a pretty thing without much substance, but it is pretty.

Well, the first mistake is he called me "Dear Friend" and I gave him my name, we don't have a relationship. He thanked me for sharing my views about firearms policy. He appreciates me, ah, if only all politicians appreciated me. He told me that he is committed to making his Administration the most open and transparent in history (why capitalize Administration and not History?). He also wanted me to know that my concerns will be on his mind for the days ahead. I would rather he fixed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or at least gave the nation a policy about them worth fighting for (don't hold your breath).

He told me thanks for writing and wants me to visit the virtual WhiteHouse.gov to learn more about his Administration or to contact him in the future. Sincerely,

Okay, I have the winning ticket, it has been that strange a day, best check email and answer and fall asleep in front of the fire place - it is getting cold enough to cause wood piles to shrink in the dark. I did tell y'all to write, the Post Office can always use the business.

Thoughts on Registration...

Among the chores for today, was getting my updated car tags for the Caravan, and the kind benevolent government only asks thirty dollars for the tags, and then adds on bunch of fees and donations (?) until it totals out to $105.75. I went to a commercial place and paid them three more dollars for instant ratification. So I can legally run the roads of Washington and reciprocal governments that recognize the plates and want my lawful conduct doing good things in their neighborhood (Idaho, Canada, Oregon, Mexico and such). Since it has also been seven years that I have owned and operated the car, I get new plates with a new number - glad I don't use many motels that want me to remember that old number cause it is gone now. The Caravan is now 571 ZPP, and that could be for Zippy, but we all know about Caravans and Earl, Zippy might be correct for the Trusty Triumph but only on Earl's wilder days.

Then onward for registering my two rifles on Fort Lewis, and since I have a new tag number updating that on Fort Lewis, too. So I am giving the clerk all the forms, cards, numbers and best guesses, yes it is a twenty inch barrel, overall maybe thirty eight or thirty six inches. They didn't care about magazine capacity, and I didn't either. When they ran the Provost Marshals Office Ft. Lewis, WA Weapons Permit it runs onto a second page, I now seem to have too many firearms - fifteen is all that went on page one, one slid onto page two. I know there are many gun toting folks upset or straight out fearful of the government having too much knowledge about what weapons are where, and since the Commander at Fort Lewis (who has never thought through the implications of having registered weapons coming on and going off base - and not allowing unregistered weapons on base unless they belong to law enforcement folks) doesn't allow me to use the Post Ranges for my recreational shooting without being registered - I am content to register. When you look at my long history (over fifty years worth) with firearms and the number of crimes and injuries I have inflicted with the same --- I have to admit only when issued a weapon by the United States government has any living thing come to an end or grief, all my personal registered firearms haven't hurt anything that I wasn't hunting, with permission. So you see, registration does work - not that Earl would be a responsible sane adult male - some may think that was an oxymoron - but registering my firearms has kept them from terrible acts and accidents - 100% of the time registered. It really does work.

Now last point of today is that as mis-read and understood as the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution seems to be (I have family members that don't read it the same way I do, and my mother has a whole different set of views about law) isn't the government glad that we didn't write something like "The government has no Right to keep or bear arms against the People, every assumption of such a Right by the government must be infringed". Yeah, and when you think about that just a bit, can you truthfully tell me why POLICE have fully automatic weapons? I understand the military use and the tactics and training to make them effective, but POLICE?

Okay, Government Health Care...

My wife is qualified for Medicare - she and I and all of my working relations and most of the remainder of the United States of America pay a tax based on our income for this service, every paycheck, and have ever since Medicare was passed into law in the 1960's under President Johnson. It was to become a single payer health insurance for the aged (65+).

But her doctor's office has trouble getting Medicare to pay for my wife's treatment, they say there are other insurers that aren't paying FIRST! So they (the single payer government agency) doesn't pay. And for some reason the patient is the one that must make everything correct - not the doctor's office (do you have any idea of how large his staff is?), not the Medicare Agency (do you know how much they cost daily?). So the patient, who must be sick, must correct all the stuff because there isn't enough tax money and insurance premium around to push paperwork properly.

So, you call the 1-800-633-4227 number to get help and assistance - and receive a computer answering device of umpteen million dollars of stupidity. It's second sentence tells one to push two if you want to speak in Spanish (Chinese, French, Hindi and some others have greater population of speakers but not under Medicare?) of course it spoke that in Spanish. Why are they female voices, discriminating or thinking I won't swear at a female machine? Go through the selections and then choose to wait for a hovering in the background human being (doesn't the government know there is an employment crisis out there, hire some help!). No, I don't swear and especially against really stupid computers, but my blood pressure rises and that will kill me and cause more problems.

I did get help, human, female, and she is sending more paperwork my way since my wife expects me to be up on the front against the evil overlords, gangsters and rampant mice, moles and rat populations. The government wants me to be an unpaid agent for my wife in her Medicare issues. What is the world going to do when I am gone?

We did agree that my Health Insurance with my Employer (the State of Washington - still solvent here, California) is a primary payer and for some reason (subcontracting?) what it is called on my cards, Uniform Medical Plan, is known to Medicare as Harrington (the things I don't know), and I was to make sure (like I am an agent for making Medicare's billing properly) that the Doctor's office listed all payments made before asking Medicare for their payment.

Now, I am getting old, and ugly as it seems I will have to participate in a couple of years as my own agent and my wife's --- there is no chance that Universal Medical from the federal government will get my support - they will probably have to ENSLAVE me somehow. Or is that what they have already done, we's working for d'Man!

went to see Public Enemies...

which was interesting, loud, violent and very close to history of the time that I have read. I was told to stop whispering to my date, so I did. we went out to dinner after, trying to save the restaurant business one place at a time. I did have trouble identifying the Public Enemy some times, if there had been some water boarding I would have known which were the bad guys, but then maybe almost everyone one was, look at the number of people protecting us now and how safe life is... or do something more interesting like art or literature with the time you save.

You do remember not to trust the Government...

I am getting old and I keep forgetting that the Government is not on my side - that is important, I only have two friends because I trust them, everyone else is suspect and below them is the government which I KNOW is trying to take all my extra for themselves.

I bring this up since I went to shoot at Fort Lewis Range 15 today. Having spent lots of time with my rifles over the past few months I thought it was time to shoot my carry pistol. I grabbed the case and away I went, passing all the bicyclists on their way to Portland from Seattle. When I got to the range I asked for a box of 9mm, and they didn't have any. So your government (of the people, by the people and for the people) doesn't have what it takes to run a good range. They do own sixty percent of General Motors Company, and that could be where all the 9mm is hiding.

Well, it is my fault, not the government's, so I shot what I brought and hit the target with every bullet, fifty percent of them in the black. It has been a bit since I was shooting double action short barreled firearms at twenty yards. I do have rounds in the pistol case: .22 LR, .45 APC, 9mm Luger. I am now placing forty-five and nine millimeter in the ammo box in the Caravan.

Why I ever trusted the government, they have done this to me before but I think they will get better the next time, and it doesn't happen.

Aren't they working on Universal Medical and the Economic Stimulus? Yeah, sure they are.

So how does the Federal government work?

I woke at five to get ready for an Appleseed shoot, looking forward to roll up my sleeves and volunteer to help people become a Rifleman and teach and discuss the American Heritage that I enjoy.

After coffee and gruel I was on the road with my books, notebooks, equipment, one twenty-two target rifle with a GI web sling and wearing sunglasses from Hawai'i against the morning Sun in all its glory. I stopped and picked up lunch and water in Monroe at the Safeway. Then I drove to the range and found the gate closed, and the range disassembled, completely.

Okay, the berm is still there, but no overhead cover, no target stands up, no nice place to shoot. I was greeted by the property owner and he told me that the Feds had shut him down until all the legal hassle is over - which could be never. So the idea that law biding citizens can get together and shoot safely is done at that location -- I expect they will be coming for all of us soon enough. And I am sure they will come at us one at a time, this range, this shooter, this time.

Your tax dollars at work, what a waste of money. Do write the White House, your Senators, your Congressional Representative and your Governor, your local representative and speak up at church. And I was so ready to give up my weekend for safe shooting skills sharpened smoothly. Well, attending church, cutting grass, cleaning the house, riding the motorcycle (is that next?), and shooting on the range at Fort Lewis for my own darn fun.... take that President Obama, one would think you don't love me anymore.

Congress just didn't get the point...

Congress should be smarter, but they really didn't get the point when moving Memorial Day Holiday from the 30th of May to the last Monday of May to make it a three day paid weekend for starting the Summer vacations, sales and barbeques - Congress didn't get the point.

The small town in Washington State that couldn't have a Memorial Day Holiday parade in their town because they were short two thousand dollars - the budget was bust there is an economic crisis - the town leaders didn't get the point.

Everywhere in the World there are lots of Americans that don't get the point - they will miss it completely this weekend and on the 30th.

Okay, you are all better than that - you will remember that eight good men, neighbors were killed by British Soldiers on 19 April 1775, and you will remember that the statue of the Minuteman is fashioned after Captain Isaac Davis of Acton, who died at North Bridge of Concord having led his Minutemen away from Acton, leaving his wife with four sick children. When asked if you could find anyone prepared to fight to the death for our country - I would ask you to name them, and if you were as smart as you could be you would tell me to read the names on the Wall in Washington, DC from Vietnam, or walk those hills in Arlington, or your nearest National Cemetery.

This Memorial Day Holiday - visit the ones that gave all they had, it is their day, it is not Veteran's Day - not a shopping day, not a picnic day, not an end of serious school day - it is the day to remember those that gave, "that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom...." thanks to A. Lincoln, who got the point.

The noise level is reaching election pitch...

Media is sounding alarms over the shootings, but not enough sorrow. Their entertainment isn't changing from murders, shootings, violence, solving crimes, sex, and the romance of going wrong to presenting moral, uplifting and enriching products to fill the screen. Yes, I do know where the Hallmark Channel is, but I don't normally watch that, and I don't watch most of the trash either, I have too many DVDs and videos with what is enriching when I have the time to be entertained.

Time magazine's cover offered the way to victory in Afghanistan, but I remember the victory in Vietnam they supported and I know Vietnamese that suffered for it. The picture was good, and if that military man would only take his cigarette smoking twenty-five feet away from the doorway it will be legal in Washington State (if he were a prisoner he couldn't smoke).

My wife watching a Korean soap opera commented on my girl friends (you know who you are out there) and I looked at her and laughed - then realized that four couples on the show were talking about their cheating spouses and love interests. Asians have a completely different take on civilized behavior, but because she is presented with the various situations she puts her husband (once a fine figure of a man) in their position and gets a bit miffed and jealous - and I am not worthy of being written into a drama - certainly not about the war between the sexes. It made me think of one of my war stories.

I participated in Vietnam, mostly on a firebase in the middle of nowhere. And there were some Vietnamese that wanted me dead and gone and did discourage me and my fellows from staying - only two major rocket attacks during my ten months there - four rockets each time, four months between reloads, only one did significant damage to a personnel bunker - but I only needed the one to become really impressed with 122mm rockets, knowing the Soviets launched them in salvos. A sister firebase not far away, Firebase Mary Ann, was attacked by sappers in the night and it was up close and personal and not for America a good day. When the Monsoon showed up and the roads washed into muddy mess, and the helicopters couldn't fly for resupply we ate through the food to the C-rats, so that was my war, not much but all mine.

A Major from Battalion came out to inspect, visit, see the Battery and the troops - one of those things good officers will do. He met our commander and First Sergeant, asked questions, looked at the CP, the mess hall, the maintenance area, (probably the facilities for body functions - the officers had a special separate one - although the burning waste smelled the same), and then he started looking into the personal personnel bunkers, to see how we slept, pictures on the walls, books we read and stuff we valued. He did finally lose it, his temper and his cool, when he saw the hunting bow with broadhead arrows one of the gun bunnies had mounted on a twelve by twelve support beam above his bunk. The Major couldn't believe we didn't have better and complete weapons control like they did in the super large headquarters support base where he came from. He tore the bow and arrows from the beam and ranted and raved about the lack of discipline and leadership - and took himself and his good leadership to his aircraft and off our firebase.

I went to the rear twice, once for a two week leadership school, and once for a promotion board, and both times I had to put on my shirt (and wear it all day!) and turn in my M-16 rifle and ammunition until I got ready to leave, or we would be under attack and I would get to line up and be re-issued the rifle and weapon and told where to go fight. That go fight wasn't practiced so I could spend all my time drunk or drugged out of my mind (I didn't) when I didn't have to pay attention to school or my future. They did have a pretty big fraggin' problem in that large headquarters and support base - any is a large problem, but that base was much more than it was at the little base I lived at, and the Major was very aware of how little protection all those locked up weapons and ammunition did for him as he walked the night between the O Club and his hooch, or trailer. On my firebase in the middle of NOWHERE someone threatening another soldier with a weapon wasn't tolerated - we tolerated drug abuse, drunks, disrespect of a humorous vein (smile when you say that), but someone grabbing a weapon with ammunition (all of our weapons had ammunition) would be jumped on by eveyone close, weapon taken, soldier secured and a helicopter and MPs called for to remove said threat. Never got to shoot outs, mostly whatever was the trouble got fixed off base by doctors and UCMJ.

So I don't care if everyone gets issued a weapon and ammunition, and they are responsible for their use and conduct, been there and done that and we didn't wear t-shirts until the cold rains returned. About that registering weapons thing, I have always carried my weapons with numbers registered, and when the government in its greatness issues me a fine modern or historic semi-automatic or automatic (although that is not my first choice) rifle or machine gun I will honor their numbers all my days. Time for breakfast and I never did get to my point, what you think is keeping you safe in major cities Chicago, New York, Washington DC, isn't - Seattle with concealed carry and stuff has a much lower murder rate than those cities and it isn't because of the Latte stands where the lasses wear so little...

And don't blame it on that...

Tuesday night a patron asked me something and I told him it happened on Monday - which seemed like several days ago - I was loading my days with lots of work, which is good, and the motorcycle rides were like a vacation, but you might not understand. Still for the last few days the rumor mill and local newspapers have talked about the closing of McNeil Island Corrections Center to save money because we aren't taxed enough when we don't spend the money for purchases. Now the Federal Government sent out the software to give us some of our money back to stimulate the Economy (but they know if the economy is stimulated that they will get more from the rich fat cats that will rake it all in). But in Washington, they would like to add an income tax to get more money to spend, and yes the voters will get to turn it down, and the politicians will pass it anyway - someone has to pay for sports complexes in Seattle, don't they?

Back to my work days, the inmates are saying that forty of them are going to Connell, Washington as part of the closing of McNeil Island (could be they are going to add to the population at the new facility at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, so they can get operating at full speed.) That rumor is as good as the one where everyone is going to get an earlier release date because they can't afford to keep everyone locked up. The drug offenders like that one the best - they are always sure that the drug laws don't protect anyone and drugs never hurt anyone - but then everyone believes in fairy tales when they are young and foolish, or old and foolish. Still, everything inside the library is finishing with "it doesn't matter they are going to close this place soon", no matter what the subject, the problem, the service, the END is near.

So, I am looking at changing work - or just retiring at sixty-two (nah, I would die if I retired too early), but this whole economic downturn might be designed to move me into another field (I am so self centered). If I wasn't so good at paying my taxes properly I could have worked for Obama in Washington, DC. Now I will have to see what is out there I can help with in America's future, which is where I seem to have spent most of my life. All because the elected representatives couldn't manage a budget - is there a message there?

Pay up, lay down your bets, getting in the game...

I do buy Lotto tickets, one per drawing, knowing that it is the best tax on the poor and mathematically challenged ever devised -- but then I never figured the Government was Good, just opportunistic and amoral. Thirty-five cents goes to the State, seven cents goes to the vendor, then there is advertising and maintenance costs - the remainder is paid out to the winners. If there is only so much Luck in each person's life, then I have had all of mine and I am happy, I don't expect to win the big one, but then I do want to play - I just don't gamble, being I never risk what I can't afford to lose.

I was thinking about all that today as I paid the bills, and balanced my books and almost made it out of the hole... I paid a lot down on the bills and loans, and was hoping that with that surge of the Stock Market (based on whimsy) I would be ahead of what I owe... but not yet, as I paid the bills the pool of cash shrunk, so I am around minus eight hundred dollars of even. Not that I couldn't think I was ahead - I never figure the sale of the home, cars, motorcycle, guns and china services, furniture, computers, televisions and such. I also never figure I will die and the insurance will pay off much if my heirs are watchful and aware. With the full court press of President Obama and his folks I am sure that there are surprises in my financial future - when you add up all the taxes on people and the new improved government services they want to fund with the tax on those rich folks they will coming after mine soon enough. If there were to be a great change that would free up the FREE MARKET, it would be one tax payer, one tax collector in the United States.

I am only Earl, but I pay taxes to the Federal Government, the State Government, The County Government. I once had broad shoulders, but weighing me down has rounded them a bit and bends my back. Why do I put up with such foolishness, it wasn't always that way, was it?

Who am I, and what am I doing writing the Pres?

Well, I had written the President, care of his new pad. I was polite and specific and knew there was a lot on the President's desk to get handled. So I wasn't sure I would ever get an answer, but figured that my letter is with trillions of others for the Presidential Library somewhere (Chicago?) some day.

Last night I received my answer from the THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, D. C. 20502. Inside was a card to Dear Friend (I only have two friends, and no one there is one of them - oops, not counting blogging buddies). The point of the postcard response is that my opinion counts but only online, WhiteHouse.gov, to learn more about President Obama's views on a range of topics. My voice is shaping our country's future (and all that work I put in those almost forty-some plus years?).

So, if you care about tomorrow, and are a gunny, a right winger, bitter clinger, Bible thumper, a Rite Wringer, or just a normal nice person with a point of view about tomorrow, do stop by and leave your tracks at the White House blog. They need lots of help, a lot of help.

Not this one: WhiteHouse.com nor this one: White House W. that one is just history. Now all you truely Bible and Gun clingers out there without a PC, get to the local public library and link up. But then you wouldn't be reading this blog, would you? See you on the road, wave and say hello!

Economy... if it were to be better,,,

If every dollar I earned was a whole dollar - not net, if I only paid for the product, not and the tax and the interest on the credit card I get slow about paying -- my economic situation would be so much better. Or, so I thought as I rode my motorcycle to work. Just take away taxing everything and it would mean I get to spend and invest more of my work in caring for me and those I love.

The first comment is without taxes the government can't exist and take care of the stuff it does -- which isn't exactly true but almost. I see a government that could make, print, create more dollars depending on the economy - when it expands and contracts. Just a thought.

And about the banks charging interest on consumer spending, smarter consumers and they will die on the vine - the cards are convenient, but the interest rate is terrible and for consumption just not the way to pay on time - you are paying for that Big Mack and fries long after they gone from your system...

Aren't you glad I am not helping the Treasury Department fix the current Crisis - I have already declared it a raid on the pockets of working Americans, by those that want theirs NOW.

Just two thoughts to share while standing in line...

the line at the Courthouse for my renewal of my Concealed Carry License.

Thought number one - why are all these normal looking people here in this line - so many in front of me and as I move forward, so many behind me. An Obama effect? nah, couldn't be.

Thought number two, having been in the Driver's License line at DMV and now this line at the Courthouse - how is government providing/support/control of medical care going to make my world better? Well, yours anyway, I have been receiving government assistance on my medical care for a long time --- and as it was noted when I was a Drill Sergeant and they took me to the head of the treatment line -- when a Drill Sergeant goes on Sick Call he is really sick.

Yeah, AWOL... all my get up and go ... went!

I woke up tired Thursday, and all the blog crawling in the world wasn't getting my blood pressure, heart rate nor attitude up, I was almost a member of the walking dead but I was so tired I didn't even walk to the dock - I rode like a sack of potatoes the bus. I did open the doors, did turn on the computers but I was not really in attendance at work so I decided to take Friday off of the hamster wheel and rest. President Obama won't notice, my taxes are filed and my assault weapons are only in his mind.

I have my wife's garden to turn the soil, add compost to and rake out a bit. I have to renew my concealed carry at the Courthouse (where I must turn in my pistol for safe keeping while I am there - but the Police Sergeant says his men will protect us all - and I believed him until he asked for my knife). I have to do some monetary fund transfers at the bank, pay some bills, buy fuel for the Caravan. I have to get a red sweatshirt, document protectors for three ring binders for my Appleseed Instruction material and schedules. I need to stop at two gun shops for a check on a scope for the Model 70, and possible National match sights for the Garand. I should exercise lightly after my devotions and hit the road for some time with Nature and sweating. And if I do it all right and correctly I will go back to reading The 47th Samurai by Stephen Hunter. I caught back up on Battlestar Gallactica last night but then I really didn't since I have whole seasons of strange relationships between friends lovers and enemies I will never understand - still when they got down to Earth and found it radioactive and a wreck - I was finally able to see what happened to the cast of LOST and that beautiful island they had lived on so badly. Terminator VII will be so much better... if the Governator will just run out of term limits.

Having wandered to politics, remembering you can't force me to be better, braver nor beautiful, I give you what is wrong with America from Kevin's Corner The Smallest Minority , something to think about - but I like to remember it was my father and mother that are responsible for the fellow I am today - not Darwin, President Truman, Stalin nor Gary Cooper. See how quickly I prove I know what is important in my life... it isn't in the media.

Hope you all (y'all) have a chance for a real day off and time to sit over breakfast with ur signif othr and TALK. Lost arts in America: conversation, caressing the soul, romance, penmanship, spelling and grammar. Blog on!

Civilian Marksmanship Program

Civilian Marksmanship Program :

 Normally, we average receiving 2,000 - 3,000 sales orders per month
 and ship an order in 2-3 weeks. However, these are not normal times.
 Since October, 2008 we have been receiving 5,000 - 10,000 orders per
 month, which is several times normal. As a result, we are very back-
logged and running several weeks behind on processing orders. Our
 staff is working up to 12 hours per day 7 days a week, and only to-
day finished the 4,000 orders we received on 1 December alone (except
 for those 1 Dec orders with credit card or other problems).

Well, we can start over, can't we?

Now, most of the people I know aren't completely overwhelmed by Bush's and Obama's Economic Crisis. Tulips just aren't that critical to most of our fortunes, so contracts for tulip bulb potential values aren't going to sink us when the Federal Government decides not to honor them nor subsidize them. Honest, and when my wife and I decided to buy a home (in every one of the five we have owned over thirty-seven years of marriage) we never bought one that I couldn't manage to pay the mortgage insurance and taxes and still buy food and utilities and clothing from my income. I also never thought of my home as my retirement income (reverse mortgage) nor as potential for borrowing against the ever increasing value of the home (have lived in too many homes that didn't increase in value - one is always enough for me). I don't know what my credit score is, I don't care, if you don't want to lend to me - then we are in agreement, cause I have only enough time left on this side of Paradise to pay off what I owe now, not some new debt (no, I am not supporting the debt of foolish Congresses and Presidents). Because I have been observing that Americans are supposed to live well above their means, to borrow and pay back forever (according to the commercials on television, and the infomercials, the current situation comedy - daily dramas and Oprah). My truth is that I have to be responsible and pay my way, I expect y'all will, too.

Now, that fine looking country over there, los Estados Unidos de América,(that has been blamed for selling all those guns to the Mexican Drug gangs, and buying all their drugs), that country is going to have a real problem living as high as they have been. Borrowing money on income they don't have and squandering what they have so they can do less and live largely lazy watching idiot boxes telling them how to be younger and beautiful and sexy. I see a bunch of debts coming due, needing to raise their credit limit and having to pay higher interest to borrow to pay off current debts and operating costs, and people and businesses going elsewhere for opportunity - instead of the land of higher taxes and more regulations and imprisonment and fines. Oh, you think you can sell this "I know what is best for you and you will do it my way or the highway!" I won't buy it, I have lived elsewhere, and I can again. Anyway, it will be interesting to see America fold to the pressure of their bankers (foreign nations of different values and opinions) to be perceived as a strong independent superpower (trying to stay ahead of the Chins, Li's and Saudis?).

And is it only I that see the terrorizing bubble-headed budgets that the Presidents have been playing with and proposing being an indication that even the government is going to live far beyond its means? I mean, if the President were serious he could rent those other rooms in the White House, charge more for his signature and photo opportunities and have special days at the mansion like they do at the ball fields and football stadiums. He could get his own bullet proof vest and concealed weapon and allow the Secret Service to go back to finding the counterfeiting criminals. But then where I would find a second job or start a business to add income in a personal family economic crisis, or all the adults and almost adults would get work or do more in the home and 'chip in' to make all the ends meet for our lives and our dreams - well, I guess some people just go out and party larger and harder, and hold up signs saying they will work for food while hoping to get a twenty in pity. What were they thinking, or weren't they?

I am too hard on the GOOD INTENTIONS of the people representing me in government, because I don't have faith that they will pay the price for their mistakes, they really expect me to pay the price - cause I am just that good a guy.

Well, because I am who I am, a quick story update about the prison library. The fellow I banished from the library for his behavior, the one that tried to kill me with my own bad blood pressure, tried to start some fights with my workers and was such a pain the Corrections Officers made sure he got his medications and was put in solitary for his security and everyone else's peace of mind. Yeah, the one I picked three special books for him to read while he was there and the information he had been looking for the night before. That guy walked up to my counter in the library and said that he wanted to say he was "Sorry". He had just been released from his two weeks in the Hole and was making things right. So we talked a little about why he was acting that way (drugs and fright flight) and how he was doing now. My big question was did he get the books I had picked especially for him, he had and he proudly told me that he read them all. Works for me!