Federal Budget Primer

I found this budget primer as a comment to an article I read on the Internet. It seemed like a nice follow up to yesterday's blog on our spending problem.


Current State
Defense, Social Security, and Medicare/Medicaid are about 20% of our spending each. So that is 60% of total federal spending. Interest is another 10%. So about 70% of our budget is tough ground politically to address. The remaining 30% is the big departments (Education, Transportation, etc.) which have some turf guardians as well. In fiscal year 2008, before the economic crisis the government spent $3.5 trillion with tax revenues of $2.5 trillion, leading to a national debt increase of $1 trillion. In fiscal year 2009, the government spent $3.9 trillion with tax revenues of $2.0 trillion, leading to a national debt increase of $1.9 trillion. For various technical accounting reasons, the deficit far understates the actual increase in the national debt, so watch the debt number instead.

Pre-crisis and pre-Obama, we spent between $1.30 and $1.40 for every dollar in tax revenue. In fiscal year 2009, we spent $1.90, due primarily to tax declines caused by the crisis and the TARP bailout program. So if our economy returns to a pre-crisis level of vigor, it would take an across-the-board 40% reduction in every federal spending category to balance the budget without tax increases.

Social Security and Medicare are mandatory programs, meaning the spending is on autopilot in accordance with certain laws and those laws must be changed to reform them. Defense is discretionary; Congress decides each year how much to spend on it technically. The Constitution has a two year limit on Army appropriations, deferring to state militias, so our large standing military is not what the Founders intended. Not paying interest would be defaulting on our debt; about half the debt is owed to foreign countries and about 75% of new debt is issued to foreign countries.

So far, Social Security and Medicare have more than paid for themselves with dedicated payroll taxes. The Social Security Trust Fund, the sum of annual surpluses since the early 1980's, is over $2.5 trillion. However, Congress chose to spend this surplus on other things, the largest two categories of which are defense and interest on the debt, giving I.O.U.'s to the program.

So the $12 trillion debt we have today is driven by defense and related interest, the largest remaining budget categories, followed by the discretionary department categories.

The Short-Term Problem
We have a short-term problem, which is a $1.5 trillion "hole" in our (pre-crisis) $14 trillion GDP economy. There are short-term and long-term aspects to the solutions. President Obama has enacted a $787 billion stimulus program to address this, spread over three years, while the Fed has lent $1.3 trillion, printing dollars in the process. Getting the economy back to $14 trillion in a sustainable way (i.e., without borrowing like we did over the past 10 years) requires us to learn how to compete with developing countries that can produce goods at a global wage that is much lower than our own.

The Long-Term Problem
The long-term problem is primarily health care (Medicare and Medicaid), which represent five-times as big a funding challenge as Social Security. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), sometime between 2030-2040 Medicare, Social Security and interest will absorb the entire federal tax revenue amount, which has historically been around 18% of GDP. We face a demographic/volume problem with the ratio of workers to retirees dropping from: 5.1:1 in 1960 to 3.3:1 today to 2.1:1 in 2040. We also face a rate or spending per capita problem, with health care costs rising 8% per year and Social Security annual cost of living adjustments that average about 2% above inflation. In other words, the purchasing power of Social Security increases each year, although it may not feel that way to seniors.

Fallacies
No experts argue that we can outgrow this problem, as we would be fortunate to have sustainable real growth of 2-3% going forward. However, many politicians on the right argue that is not the case. GAO estimates the U.S. would have to grow at 10%+ for the next 75 years to outgrow our entitlement problem.

Further, economists from the far left to center right argue tax cuts increase deficits. Any boost to the economy from tax cuts is not sufficient to offset the loss of revenue to the Treasury.


Why Congress Hasn't Acted
Congress is paralyzed on this issue because Americans are not informed enough yet to understand the shared sacrifice that is required to address these issues. So far, they have chosen to place the burden on future generations, consuming now irrespective of future consequences, driving the debt to levels not seen since WW2. Until Americans are willing to demand tax increases and spending cuts across the board (remember--we spent $1.40 for every dollar we paid in taxes, borrowing from future generations--Before the crisis), we will have a major deficit problem.

How You Can Make a Difference
Get informed. Sources are below. Start writing your Congressman demanding tax increases and spending cuts over the next 10 years. Further, demand an economic strategy and partnership between government and industry so we can compete more effectively with developing countries and make more of what we consume here. If our economy doesn't grow, the budget problem is magnified dramatically.

Here are great sources for more information:
http://www.pgpf.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget
http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08446cg.pdf

We have a Spending Problem

"I am confident we can get government off our backs and out of our pockets..."- Ronald Reagan, Nov. 3, 1980

"Read my lips, no new taxes."- George H. W. Bush, Aug. 18, 1988

"The era of big government is over."- Bill Clinton, Jan. 27, 1996

"We must balance the federal budget."- George W. Bush, Jan. 23, 2007

"That's why today I'm pledging to cut the deficit we inherited by half by the end of my first term in office."- Barack Obama, Feb. 23, 2009

Based on quotes from our last 5 presidents, we should not be in the middle of a budget crisis. All 5 at one point in their term in office pledged to control spending without raising taxes. Yet, here we are today with the largest debt and deficit in history. If the president controlled the spending, their words might be followed by action. But presidents don't control spending, nor do they develop budgets or write checks. That is the work of our Congress. Here is what they have done for us lately.

Figures on government spending and debt. The federal government's fiscal year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. As of January 22nd,

Statutory debt limit: $12,394,000,000,000
Total debt outstanding: $12,302,465,000,000
Money in our checking account: $142,454,000,000

Interest we pay on debt: $383,365,000,000
New 2009 debt: $1,417,121,000,000
Debt taken on in 2008: $454,798,000,000

2009 Revenue (Taxes) $2,104,613,000,000
2008 Revenue (Taxes) $2,523,642,000,000

Our 2009 spending: 3,521,734,000,000
Our 2008 spending: 2,978,440,000,000

Summary: We and our children currently owe over 12 trillion dollars. Congress recently approved increasing the debt ceiling, but we are already within $90.5 billion of the new maximum debt limit (on 1/28 the Senate approved raising the debt limit to $14.3 trillion). In 2009 we paid over a third of a trillion dollars in interest on our debt while taking on an additional $1.4 trillion in new debt (over 3x increase over 2008). Revenue (taxes paid) fell by over $400 billion in 2009, but our spending increased by over $500 billion.

It is obvious that America has a short term revenue problem due to the recession, however our Congress is making a bad situation worse. Congress has a spending problem. If they were managers of any business and behaved this way, they would be fired.

Consider this scenario. A young manager if a Fortune 500 company is asked to review the company financials and come back with a plan to improve the company's fiscal health. The current condition of the company is similar to the financial health of America. After a few weeks he returns to recommend an approach to the company's executives. His plan is to freeze spending on budget line items that total 17% of the total budget. These same line items were increased over 20% a year ago. What would the executives do?

The young manager of a large business would be fired because his plan won't work. The executives might wonder if the manager was only trying to develop a plan that sounds good. We won't get the chance to fire Barrack for another 3 years, but that is what his current budget initiative deserves.

Karl Rove, after the State of the Union address, writes "Mr. Obama is now calling for a spending freeze to save $15 billion for fiscal year 2011. That's nice, but it freezes in place a 24% increase in discretionary, nonsecurity domestic spending. The president would also exempt from a freeze the $512 billion that has yet to be spent from last year's stimulus package. To present such a proposal as a serious attempt at restraining spending is to reveal a low opinion of the intelligence of ordinary Americans. "

Lazy Liberalism

In 1985 a missionary couple moved to the Philippines to conduct a Christian missionary outreach. The wife became pregnant with her 5th child. While pregnant, she contracted amoebic dysentery through contaminated drinking water. Her doctor told her that the medications she needed to recover would result in irreversible damage to the child she was carrying. She was advised to have an abortion.

She refused. She ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and, eventually, gave birth to a health baby boy in August 1987. His mother described him as "skinny, but rather long." Today he stands six-foot-three, weighs 235 pounds, and has been described as a physical and athletic phenomenon. Many of you know this is the Tim Tebow story. Tim won the Heisman Trophy as an underclassman, and is described as the best college quarterback ever to play the game.

Focus on the Family has purchased a 30 second spot during this year's Super Bowl to tell the Tim Tebow story. The message will obviously be pro-life. No one is denying that. But many pro-choice groups are challenging the ad.

A national coalition of women's groups is calling on CBS not to air the ad. "This campaign is about holding CBS and the NFL and the other Super Bowl advertisers accountable," said the president of the Women's Media Center, "for inserting an exceedingly controversial issue into a place where we all hope Americans will be united, not divided, in terms of watching America's most-watched sporting event."

"This ad is frankly offensive, " said the Action Vice President of the National Organization for Women, speaking of the Tebow commercial. "It is hate masquerading as love. It sends a message that abortion is always a mistake." I think Michael Savage has it right - Liberalism is a mental disorder. Only the certifiably insane can claim that a mother willing to sacrifice her life for that of her unborn child is hate masquerading as love.

A few days ago, my blogger niece provided the following as a comment to a blog post. If it had a title, it would be called Lazy Liberalism. It is so true, and relevant in light of the furor over the Tebow Super Bowl ad.

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. (Unless it's a foreign religion, of course!)

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.
A liberal will delete it because he's "offended".

Any pro-choice group has the right to buy a Super Bowl ad and show how aborting a baby is the right thing to do. But in their liberalism, they don't. Instead they want the pro-Life voice silenced.

American Idol - Orlando and Chicago

I have updated my ratings with Orlando and Chicago American Idol contestants. Neither city produced a can't miss top 12, but a few have a chance depending on the strength of the rest of the field.

Justin: Talent(4) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(5) = 19 (he is the cancer guy)
Maddy: Talent(3) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(5) = 18 (she has retarded brothers)

Paige: Talent(4) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(4) = 18

Bernadette: Talent(4) + Looks(5) + Likeability(4) + Story(5) = 18 (1 of 2 sisters auditioning)
Leah: Talent(5) + Looks(4) + Likeability(5) + Story(3) = 17 (sheltered Christian girl)
Seth: Talent(3) + Looks(4) + Likeability(5) + Story(5) = 17 (has a autistic child)

Angela: Talent(5) + Looks(3) + Likeability(4) + Story(5) = 17

Katelyn: Talent(5) + Looks(4) + Likeability(4) + Story(4) = 17
Vanessa: Talent(3) + Looks(4) + Likeability(5) + Story(4) = 16 (hillbilly bridge jumper)
Tyler: Talent(3) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(3) = 16 (2 broken wrists)
Katie: Talent(3) + Looks(3) + Likeability(4) + Story(5) = 15 (dying grandmother)

Matt: Talent(5) + Looks(3) + Likeability(4) + Story(3) = 15 (served time)
Germaine: Talent(5) + Looks(4) + Likeability(3) + Story(2) = 14 (2nd audition)
Ashley: Talent(4) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(0) = 14 (no story)
Mallory: Talent(4) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(?) = 14 (no story)

John Park: Talent(4) + Looks(4) + Likeability(3) + Story(0) = 11


Generally, Orlando was a waste of time with only a couple of contestants capable of reaching the top 12. Chicago was better. I apologize for not noting the "story" of the Chicago group. It helps me remember the contestants in a none too dazzling field.

A bit of personally devastating news hit on Tuesday. It seems that new judge Ellen is not getting along with Simon, and has suggested that American Idol look to replace Simon sooner rather than later. Rumor is that Tommy Mottola of Sony Music would be Idol's first choice. It seems they want a high-profile music industry professional, not an inexpensive, raw up and coming talent like myself. Regardless, I will curb my disappointment and continue the effort to be the first to pick the 2010 American Idol winner.

She is a Horrible Woman

I do not believe I have ever agreed more with CNN's Jack Cafferty. The following story reported by Jack was not given air time anywhere else that I am aware of. It is a story of incredible arrogance and disregard for the country that provides her paycheck. If Nancy Pelosi is reelected in November, a horrible disservice has been done.



What a botoxed bimbo. Look up the word hubris and to see what she looks like.

Before I Blogged

Before I started blogging, I would write letters for publication on the Kansas City Star opinion page. I was always intrigued by what letters the editors would print, print with edits or simply ignore. The Star's staff never tell you that a letter was rejected. Instead, they call and verify that you sent in a letter for publication before printing it. IF the plan to edit the content, that iremains unknown until seen in print.I have a few examples of letters I submitted. Some were printed, others were ignored, and one was changed and printed.

This one was published during the last year of the Bush administration. It drew fire from several Bush haters in subsequent letters over the next few days.

Over the past few weeks, I have followed with interest several opinion page exchanges between Bush-lovers and haters. Let me submit that the final assessment of the Bush presidency is 20 years away. George Bush has led this country with his national security, economic, and moral principals. Much like the Reagan national security and economic legacy, whether Bush’s principals are the right governing principals for today will only be known in the future. Principled leadership is risky. The intended outcome may not be immediate, so it draws fire from the shortsighted. President Bush’s leadership over the last 7 years has been tough for some. His principals do not meet their short term expectations, however the decisions were made with a long view. Short view people are understandably disappointed. Someday Bush will be given due credit for his leadership. Call me an idiot if I’m wrong, but please wait 20 years.

The following submission was not published due to length. I resubmitted a more consise version but it was not published.

I tire of Lee Judge [KC star staff editorial cartoonist] and other self-anointed liberal intellectuals berating conservatives simply because we support our current President. Their elitist attitude would require one to believe that our current situation can’t be any worse. That is a naively false belief. If democrats had won the white house the last 2 elections, we would be in much worse condition. Gas taxes increases along with tight supply would have raise pump prices much higher than we have seen to date. A madman would likely still rule Iraq, and Afghanistan would remain a safe harbor for Al Qaida. The economy could truly be in the midst of a long recession, the one that liberals want you to believe we are now in. The Supreme Court would have 2 additional liberal judges that would be legislating instead of interpreting. Yes, things could be much worse. To Bush’s credit, he has saved us from those perils however he may have only delayed the inevitable. Obama is more frightening than Gore or Kerry. Not much is known about him, but we do know that he wants to nationalize health care, consistently supports a far left agenda, and consorts with questionable characters. The press has given Obama a free pass on all positions and excused his campaign mistakes. Change can be good or bad. Obama’s change would be catastrophic for America.

With the 2 recent rejections, I became curious to see what would be published. The Star is a liberal publication, and there was some thought that only a very few conservative letter would be ran. So a couple weeks later this letter was submitted and again rejected.

Dear Elitist Democrats,

I know you think we conservatives are slow, but we do get it. Keeping your car tuned up and tires inflated does save gas. We also understand that drilling in ANWR now will not reduce prices at the pump tomorrow. Please stop beating us over the head with these Blinding Flashes of the Obvious. Here are a couple of flashes for you.

Obama’s "plan" to save as much oil as we would get from drilling in ANWR still doesn’t work. To be feasible, it requires that all cars currently on the road are in need of a tune up and tire inflation. It’s just not true, but a great example of just how shallow the man’s ideas are.

Drilling in ANWR 10 years ago when the proposal was first considered by congress would have increased current supply by 2-3%. That 2-3% would have made an incredible difference in world oil prices today. How long would you like to wait before we tap our own resources?

Conservatives say additional drilling is one component of an inclusive energy strategy. Those that oppose drilling, including your messiah, only illustrate a frightening short-sightedness.

Just prior to the election, this letter was published. It was my reply to a printed letter suggesting that Sarah Palin was an empty suit.

Karen Miller’s letter on 9/14 was humorous. She recommends we "Inform ourselves on the issues and candidates’ responses. Listen carefully and think before you fall head over heels for a relative unknown who can be dynamic when reading a speech at a pep rally." The humorous part is that she was talking about Sarah Palin. Karen, follow your own advice. You precisely described Obama’s experience and skill set. Thanks for the laugh.

Another rejection of a letter I submitted a week before the election.

Created by the liberal left, marketed by the Hollywood elite and the given a free pass by the major media, Obama has not received the same level of scrutiny as that given to the Sarah Palin. And now we learn that the LA Times is protecting Obama by withholding potentially damaging video of his anti-Semitic dinner conversation with a person who has links to the PLO. Considering the stakes, that is a treasonous act. One or two associations with shady characters could be coincidental, but Obama seems to be drawn to them, or they to him. Yet, like lemmings racing toward the cliff, we are on the verge of promoting this guy to the most powerful job in the world, all in the name of an unknown change. I am not prepared to accept a president protected and anointed by the major media. Obama is not what he seems to be. Think hard America, Obama is a dangerous man.

This was published after the election with the last sentence removed. That disturbed me. I thought the final sentance was an elegant an printable way of making a crude comment. Its removal changed the tone of the entire letter.

The people have spoken and Barrack has won the right to serve as president of the United States. While we are not comfortable with how his anointing was orchestrated by the major media, I truly believe that our great country and its conservative principals will survive. Ultimately, Obama’s legacy may be very similar to George W. Bush’s. Obama will accomplish a few of his priorities, but the most troubling change may be due to the Supreme Court appointments he will make. History will count Bush’s appointments as great choices; we can only hope that Obama will select solid Constitutionalists. Nothing in his record indicates he will. To those who voted for Obama only because of the warm, tingly feeling you felt when he spoke, shame on you. Your incontinence has consequences.

Especially full of Christmas spirit, this letter was rejected 2 days before Christmas

I regularly read the Letters section in the KC Star opinion page. Usually, the entertainment value is worth the subscription price. Recently my amusement has turned to concern. Many writers now believe that: Bush and Rumsfeld should be prosecuted for war crimes; if you don’t agree with the gay agenda, you must be a bigot; censorship is okay as long as only conservative voices are muted; tens of thousands of dollars should be given to families so they can pay off their personal debt; universal health care will solve problems that plague both businesses and individuals, as if the cost of health care evaporates once it is nationalized; and most humorous, you can increase taxes an businesses and they will just absorb the cost rather than pass it on. What alternate universe do these folks live in?

This was a sarcastic reply to a Bush bashing letter. Ron Platt had asked the question "Who would defend the record of George Bush?" The letter was published.

Ron Platt asks where are the people who approve of Bush? (Letters, 1/6/09). While I do not approve of everything the man has done there are things he has done well. As these actions mature, they will form the Bush legacy. So hold your public gathering and put me first on the agenda. Here is what I will say.

First, Bush’s policies have helped keep us safe since 9/11. Anyone that believes the terrorist’s plan was to hit us once and quit is simply being foolish. Dozens of credible attacks have been thwarted, thanks to the CIA, FBI and Bush policies.

Second, I will point to a fledgling democracy in Iraq. Bush understood that going to war against Islamic terrorists could only be a near term reaction. The only way to defeat the terrorists would be to offer something better. Imagine democracy spreading in the Middle East over the next 20 years. You need to think long term to see the potential far outweighs the cost.

So Ron, count me in. And while you are at it, open the microphone for others to explain exactly why President-elect Obama is qualified to be president. I look forward to their well thought out reasons for voting for him. By the way, what free lunch are you serving?

In my final submission to the Star, this letter was rejected.

I found it interesting that the Star devoted so many column inches to children’s comments on the inauguration. After all, President Obama was elected by those with a child’s understanding of how the world and government operate. The gullible, led by a manipulative media, have made Obama president despite his inexperience. Here’s to hoping that President Obama is the most successful one-term president in American history.

Now I blog. I am the only editor. Thank you for reading, and especially those who take the time to comment.

Imperfect Logic

Okay, follow me on this:

• The United States is experiencing one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record
• Power companies ask us to conserve because they cannot meet the energy demand required to warm our homes
• Power companies could meet the demand if allowed to build new coal-fired power plants
• Coal-fired power plants cannot be built to save us from global warming

Does this make sense?

Want a Hot Stock Tip?

How many times has an email, a text message, or an acquaintance ask you this? I too once thought the stock market was a tool that could bring in great rewards to anyone willing to risk a few bucks. This was partially due to a former Vice President and Director I worked for during the incredible Internet bubble days of the stock market. These two were constantly telling me to go look at stocks that had risen by 2-10 multiples within a few short months.

Of course, neither of them had invested prior to the stock's rise. I believe they did invest somewhere near the high water mark. This is from whom I learned my stock trading scheme - buy high, sell low. While I never invested retirement money, I was tempted. However, I would occassionally pull a few hundred to a thousand dollars from yearly bonus checks to invest in what were "sure things".

The best example of a sure thing was the stock for Focal Communications. My vice president pointed me to the stock and encouraged me to cash in on what he believed was a sure thing. He once managed the owners of Focal Communications and was very familiar with their business plan. The stock was originally offered at $2 a share and had grown to $10 a share during the first 6 months of operations. I was assured this performance would continue for a while.

I bit. Afer all, my VP was a seasoned telecom executive who knew the owners of Focal and was investing his own money. If that is not a sure thing, I do not know what is. I bought 50 shares at $10 and waited to cash in big. Sure enough, the stock continued to rise. I was encouraged when it hit $12, and then $14 a share. It seemed the only decision I needed to make was when I should cash in. But my thought was that a stock that had increased 5 fold in 6 months, and was still increasing could be a gold mine. I waited. The bottom fell out.

Over the next 6 months, the stock tanked. At one point Focal performed a 50:1 reverse split in order to keep the stock price > 2 cents. I had one share worth $1. Later, even that value was lost (technically I still own the share). The lesson was learned. I was completely oblivious to the real risk that single stocks could decline 100%. All I was seeing was stocks out performing all other investments.

Want a hot stock tip? Don't buy single stocks.

This is not Victory

The stunning upset by Scott Brown over Martha Coakley can only be considered a turning point. It was not victory. If conservatives develop a plan for our country they may be able to transform this turning point into victory. If they don't, Tuesday night was the pinnacle of the current conservative movement. Massachusetts voters delivered a mandate to each party - deliver or else. Tuesday night was about Obama and health care, but more importantly it was about dissatisfaction with the economy, jobs and how business is done in Washington. That impacts both Democrats and Republicans.

Independents appear ready and willing to hand the keys to Congress back to the Republicans. We must remember that Independents are typically centrists, and centrists are not particularly loyal to either party. If the Republicans are able to leverage this upset to regain some control in Washington, they will need to follow up over the next few weeks with a message.

Only a compelling message will return Republicans to power in 2010 or 2012. When developing this message, they need to look to the Brown win for basic components.

• Brown ran as an unashamed conservative. This nation is still largely conservative and can be won over with well articulated conservative principles.
• Brown was a charismatic and forceful speaker. A national Republican with these qualities has not yet stood up.
• People want government to solve their most oppressive problem. Especially in Massachusetts where everyone is insured, health care was not seen as the most important problem. Like Clinton said, "It's the economy, stupid".
• People want government to end the recession and grow jobs. Obama still wants to use the "inherited it" excuse. He now owns it, like it or not.

If a national conservative would stand up and articulate a compelling plan that would improve the economy, produce jobs, address health care cost and insurability, reduce our reliance on foreign oil, provide compassionate solutions to illegal emigration, and attempt real bipartisanship, the Republicans could retake the Congress. We need a leader, much like Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan were in the 80's.

The hate and vitriol in Washington and in the mainstream media make it difficult to find that leader. Sarah Palin was able to excite conservatives during the McCain campaign in a way that is needed today. But Sarah was savaged by the left who saw her as a threat to their power. The sad fact is that Sarah may undeservedly no longer have the populous support needed to carry a national election.

John McCain, Michael Steele and Mitch McConnell are not the answers, but instead they are part of the problem. It is far more likely that a current unknown individual will rise within the next few months to lead conservatives. If that conservative leader does not appear, Tuesday's win was squandered.

Health Care Legislation After the Scott Heard Around the World

I am taking a little bit of a risk blogging on Monday about what will happen after Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts, but it is a calculated risk. I am convinced that Scott Brown will be the next Senator from Massachusetts. He has all the momentum and should win handily. If I am wrong, then my blog will be much stupider than normal.

Obama and the Democrats will not surrender the health care bill just because they lose their super majority in the Senate. Instead, they will move the legislation forward using one or more political tricks.

• They may choose having the House of Representatives adopt the Senate bill so that additional votes are not required by the Senate. The risk is that they lose many of the House moderates that supported the House bill. Additional bribery would be used to buy needed votes.
• They may choose to rush a compromise bill out of conference committee and vote before Scott Brown is seated. The risk is that would essentially ignore the will of a majority of Massachusetts voters who spoke loud and clear on Tuesday. That is a small risk since they have been ignoring the will of the entire country so far.
• They may delay the seating of Scott Brown. The risk is the same as above, but much more underhanded and egregious.
• They may use the parliamentary trick of reconciliation which would not require a super majority to pass in the Senate. The risk is that many parts of the bill considered essential by supporters would have to be removed. Reconciliation can only be used on bills related to raising or spending money, so they would need to omit much of the bill or face a constitutional challenge.
• They could recruit or bribe a RINO (Republican In Name Only) such as Olympia Snowe, to support the bill. The only risk would be adding fuel to the bribery fire. It appears that bribery is the tool of choice used to pass this legislation.

What is guaranteed to occur is the spin that Brown's win in Massachusetts was not about health care or Obama's radical liberal agenda. They will claim that Coakley was a poor candidate and that recession and unemployment clouded many voters minds. All of this is false. This special election is ALL about health care and Obama. Massachusetts has Romney-care, a state program that has led to increased cost. Residents are all too familiar with government run health care and are using this special election to send the message to Washington. The election is also about Obama. Even many liberals are becoming uncomfortable with the far left agenda. Obama risked personal political capital by travelling to Massachusetts to campaign for Coakley. Her loss is now his loss also.

The enormity of this upset can only be comprehended after understanding the voter registration in Massachusetts. Registered Republicans account for only 11% of of the population. Independents make up 51%. For Brown to win, he had to take an overwhelming majority of Independents in a state notorious for voting Democratic. This upset provides a glimpse of what may happen nationwide in November. Whatever Obama, Reid, Pelosi and Axelrod say, they cannot escape this obvious conclusion - Democrats are in a lot of trouble.

A Brown win means that Democrats across the country will moderate their positions in hopes of retaining their job come November. Their support for Obama will no doubt wane, effectively ending the rush to enact his agenda. Today marks the end of our nation's sudden lurch to the left, our dalliance in liberalism, and our journey toward socialism. For conservatives, this is a great day.

What should Obama and the Democrats do? Start over. A majority of reasonable people would support a bipartisan health care bill that actually tries to solve the problems in our health care system. Ideas that encouraging competition to bring cost down, and guarantee insurability would be supported by both sides of the aisle and could actually result in a better system. Will they do it? No, this administration only has shown the ability to use Chicago political tricks to get what they want.

We Agree!

Today could be a huge day for conservatives. Today the special election is held in Massachusetts to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Ted Kennedy's death. You can find my initial thoughts on what a conservative Republican win could mean in this blog. Over the weekend, I found it interesting how much common ground there was between conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats.

Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama both made trips to Massachusetts to campaign for the Democratic candidate, Martha Coakley. Other high profile Democrats have also provided support for her. All of their messages were that the Obama health care bill is at stake. If Coakley is not elected, Republicans will gain a seat and break the Democratic super majority in the Senate. With the super majority broken, the health care bill may not pass.

The interesting part of this argument is how that message is the exact same message state Senator Scott Brown has ran on. It is the same message that has surged him into a small lead after being down by 30 percentage points a few weeks ago. Both candidates agree about what this special election means.

For some unexplained reason, Democrats believe this message will win votes for Coakley. The seem completely oblivious to poll after poll that show the American people do not want this health care bill. They seem completely oblivious of why Brown has taken the lead campaigning as the 41st vote against the bill.

This is nothing but goodness for Brown. When both sides campaign on the message that has given the Republican a real shot to take the seat filled by a Kennedy for almost 50 years, you have to like your chances. Come November, we may look back on Tuesday, January 19th as the turning point that lead to the end of the President's liberal, socialist policies rubber stamped by a Congress who have refused to listen to their constituents. Today may be a great day.

Old

I hate feeling old, but it is better than the alternative. As you know, I have taken on a large remodel project at the house. I am pretty good working with tools, can frame in a room, hang sheet rock, do trim carpentry, and paint. My problem is becoming the grunt work required to prepare for this work.

First the framing lumber was deposited on our driveway. Because of the excessively snowy winter, Lowes cannot put it around back in a much more convenient spot. So that meant I had to carry 200 pieces of lumber from the driveway around back and into our basement. That was not too bad since I could limit the number of pieces I carried at one time. It was just a lot of trips.

Yesterday, the sheet rock was delivered. All 65 sheets. Two sheets are attached to each other, so that is the minimum load. Two sheets weigh around 150 -200 pounds. I asked my nephew Michael to swing by and help since this is a 2 man job at minimum. Michael is in his early 20's, works construction and is far more fit than this 53 year old wreck. We started hauling the sheet rock around back two sheets at a time, and I am holding up okay.

It was not difficult lifting or carrying the sheet rock laying flat, but my arms would begin to burn when we positioned the sheet vertically to get in a door. That would essentially put all the weight on a single arm and hand. Each trip began to hurt just a bit more than the last. After 10 trips I began to notice that my arms would not recover quick enough to be ready when we returned to get the next load. I called a short break.

After 18 loads moved with 15 yet to go, I was spent. Michael could probably have finished, but I could not. This was the first time I can ever remember being so tired and sore that I had to stop before a job was finished. I will get to the remaining 30 sheets in the next few days. The thought of cutting, lifting and securing each piece seems draughting at present, but will get done soon.

My next project is to procure enough Extra Strength Advil to finish the job.

Hope and Change for Conservatives

You may or may not have heard about a truly remarkable event going on in Massachusetts. Remember that Massachusetts is the state that Ted Kennedy represented in the Senate for far too many years. When Ted died last year, the state's attorney general, Martha Coakley was named as an interim replacement until a special election could be held. That special election will be held next Tuesday, January 19th. Coakley is running against a state Senator named Scott Brown.

Massachusetts is an extremely liberal and Democratic state. John Kerry is their other Senator. Nobody in the world would ever consider it remotely possible that a Republican could even have a chance of getting elected to any federal government position, much less the seat formerly held by Kennedy.

Kennedy was the primary Senate champion for government health care legislation. Brown is openly running as the person who will give the Republicans the 41st vote needed to stop the current health care obamanation now in Congress.

And not only is it a close race, Brown has been shown ahead in at least one recent poll of likely voters. A month ago, he was 30 points behind his Democratic opponent. This is truly amazing. If Brown wins, it would be analogous to David Duke being invited to serve as president of the NAACP, Rush Limbaugh appointed head of the ACLU, or Rick Pitino elected as Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky. Hell would indeed freeze over. What would it mean? Several things:

• Martha Coakley is not a good candidate. In fact she is excruciatingly boring. She says extremely dumb things, like Catholics should not work in emergency rooms (so they would not be called on to perform services that violate their religious views)
• Scott Brown is a very charismatic and articulate candidate. He hit a home run in their last debate. It doesn't get much better than this.

But most importantly:

• Without a doubt the Obama tide is turning, even in the most liberal areas of the country

At this point it really doesn't matter whether Brown wins next Tuesday. His strong showing is a bell weather which will be seen by the Obama administration and national Democrats as a repudiation of Obama's brand of liberalism. We conservatives can only hope that Brown wins so that Obama's government takeover can be stopped now instead of waiting for the November elections.

American Idol - Boston & Atlanta

There are only two types of people in the United States - those that watch American Idol and those who say they don't. Everybody watches from time to time, and most pay attention. It is the most watched, most successful show of the century. Terri and I can become addicted to the show. We have faithfully watched it since the second season. Over that time, I have honed my ability to discern the potential stars for the chaff. With the recent announcement that Simon is leaving the show, I will use this blog as my audition for Simon's replacement.

I can do Simon. I have an ability to become irritated on demand, I can come up with great lines such as "you look like some sort of bug-eyed jungle monkey", and most of all, I can judge talent. Remember that I practically discovered Miranda Lambert.

I understand what makes an American Idol. The show is a talent contest, but talent is only 25% of the winning package. Simon calls the rest the "it" factor. I can detail what "it" is. The American Idol consists in equal parts of Talent + Looks + Likeability + Story. I appraise each contestant using this formula to accurately judge talent and pick winners.

My formidable credentials:

• I knew very early in season 2 that Ruben Studdard would beat Clay Aiken in the final. Ruben's "Teddy Bear" looks and personality made him more likeable than Clay. It was an easy call.
• In season 3, Fantasia won based on talent and story. Of all the winners, she had the least going for her, but it was a weak field. Jennifer Hudson was eliminated in the final weeks, primarily because she did not have the looks. That elimination essentially anointed Fantasia with the win.
• With my daughter as my witness, Lyndy and I picked Carrie Underwood as the winner of season 4 during her first audition. She was the first winner that scored high in all 4 elements; talent, looks likability and story. It was also a milestone in my personal growth to becoming an American Idol judge.
• Season 5 was an anomaly. Taylor Hicks won based solely on his likeability. The total package was Daughtry as he has since proven by becoming a commercial success. Even Kelly Pickler had more to offer than Taylor.
• Season 6 offered another weak field. Jordin Sparks won with talent and likeability only, but it was more than her competition could offer.
• Season 7 brought the strongest field ever to the final 12. My early pick was Kristy Lee Cook, who appeared to be the total package (remember she sold her horse to travel to the audition). Turned out she could only sing one song. Brooke White, Jason Castro, and David Archuletta eventually lost to David Cook. Any of the 4 could have won in other years.
• Much like in season 2, I was convinced that Kris Allen would trounce Adam Lambert in the final. Lambert had a high "creep out" index that deducted from his likeability score.

So season 9 began last Tuesday. I will continue to refine my formula and let all know who the eventual winner of season 9 will be. I may modify my formula based on history. In a weak field, likeability is far more important than any other factor. In a strong field, talent and looks rule. So this year's pick must be considered within the context of the total field. I may know the season 9 winner on completion of first auditions.

During the first auditions in Boston and Atlanta, no single contestant made me feel they were the total package, but several may be top ten contenders. After night one, using a 1 to 5 scale on the 4 factors, here are my picks to watch from Boston:

• Justin: Talent(4) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(5) = 19 (he is the cancer guy)
• Maddy: Talent(3) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(5) = 18 (she has retarded brothers)
• Leah: Talent(5) + Looks(4) + Likeability(5) + Story(3) = 17 (sheltered Christian girl)
• Tyler: Talent(3) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(3) = 16 (2 broken wrists)
• Katie: Talent(3) + Looks(3) + Likeability(4) + Story(5) = 15 (dying grandmother)
• Ashley: Talent(4) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(0) = 14 (no story)

And from Atlanta:

• Vanessa: Talent(3) + Looks(4) + Likeability(5) + Story(4) = 16 (hillbilly bridge jumper)
• Mallory: Talent(4) + Looks(5) + Likeability(5) + Story(?) = 14 (no story)

By the way, I did not miss Paula for an instant. Terri and I usually would fast forward through her anyway. Victoria Beckham, the Spice girl, was okay, however it was not that pleasant watching an anorexic for 2 hours. I look forward to new guest judges. Ellen, not so much but I will keep an open mind. More next week.

Kansas - More Liberal than you Might Think

Many believe Kansas is the heart of the Bible belt. They believe the population is ultra conservative, pro-life, and that most of us are farmers. The truth is rather different. The land of Bob Dole has dabbled recently in liberalism. Over the last decade, Kansas elected a Democrat governor (Kathleen Sebelius), and a couple of Democrat Congress people. Dennis Moore was my representative when I lived in Overland Park, and Nancy Boyda became my representative when I first moved to Basehor. Fortunately, Boyda was one of the few Democrats voted out in 2008 based on her bone-headed behavior toward a general during a readout on Iraq. Even more better, Dennis Moore has announced that he will not run for reelection - he knew he could not win in this environment. Governor Sebelius has moved on to become the HHR Secretary Sebelius serving the Obama administration.

So it would appear that we in Kansas are very close to a Democrat-free zone. While their time in office is waning, their legacy continues. And we Kansans are on the verge of paying for our mistake. Before Sebelius left office and when confronted by a difficult Kansas budget pinch she chose to ignore it. Did she know she was destined for Washington? Her Lieutenant Governor, Mark Parkinson, is now the acting Governor. Mark has inherited the difficult budget ignored by Sebelius.

Earlier this week, Parkinson put forth his plan for balancing the budget - something states are required to do since they do not own a printing press. Parkinson is a Democrat, so can you guess what his plan is? A gold star to everyone who answered that his plan is to raise taxes. He called out two specific taxes, the sales and tobacco tax. He wants to raise tobacco taxes by 55 cents per pack, and sales tax by 1%. Comically, he proposes the sales tax increase would only be effective for 36 months. Anyone who would believe that 1% increase will ever expire is simply naive.

Parkinson's excuse for the tax increases are absurd. First he states that he cannot find enough cuts in the state budget to make up the short fall. I will address that folly a little later. He then claims that raising taxes is okay because Kansan's currently enjoy tax rates that are below the national average. If that were a reasonable reason, then I guess all states with below average tax rates should raise their tax rates to at least the national average. That would move other states below the new national average, so they could then increase taxes. This vicious circle would continue every year until government gets all the money. We could extend that same logic at the county and federal levels too. If any levied tax rate is below average, that in itself justifies raising it. This is Democrat's logic at it finest.

Parkinson also claims he cannot meet the budget shortfall through cuts. From a purely business perspective, I am skeptical. Over the past 9 years, I have worked in an environment where budgets are repeatedly cut. The cuts were easy to find during the first few years, but finding subsequent cuts becomes more and more difficult. Yet, we found them and the business moves on.

We found those cuts because there was no alternative. Some of the cuts were to previously sacred expenditures that had never been considered before. Many people wondered if the business could survive such cuts. The cuts were made since we had to, and the business survives. In a competitive environment you do not have the luxury of increasing prices as governments do with taxes to increase revenue. Higher prices force customers to move to a lower price provider, and result in reduced revenue to the business. Governments, especially Democrat-led ones, believe that taxes can be raised and will result in revenue increases. Because of this belief, they take the path of least resistance and increase taxes before making the hard decisions required to scrutinize budgets like there is no alternative.

But the hard decisions will come, eventually. Tax raising never brings in the expected revenue, especially in a depressed economy. Raising the tobacco tax will force many people to stop smoking. While this is a good thing, fewer smokers means fewer packs of cigarettes to tax, resulting in the government take to be less than expected. A sales tax increase will also bring in less than expected revenue. The government projection assumes that sales will remain flat, but businesses and individuals will change their behavior. Businesses routinely use local sales tax as a deciding factor on where to open or expand their businesses. Individuals will consider tax rates before making major purchases such as appliances or cars. Parkinson's tax plan may raise revenue by $400 billion on paper, but reality will be less. He will again have a budget emergency, and need to rebalance the budget next year. At what point will he take a hard, no alternative look at cutting the budget? It is the only sure fire method of achieving balance.

I reject the notion that Parkinson can't find $400 million in savings from a $5.8 billion state budget. That represents less than a 10% cut. Businesses were cutting expenses by 10% eight years ago. Since then they have gone back for more cuts time and time again - all because there was no other alternative. State governments should look at their budgets with the same rigor. Raising taxes should never be the first or only option.

But a tax increase is on the horizon. Kansans will pay for the mistake of electing Sebelius. After all her man, Parkinson, is simply acting like a Democrat.

Morale of the story: Always lean to the right. Even a bad conservative will do far less damage than a good liberal.

No Perfect Season

On Sunday, my Jayhawks lost to a seriously understaffed Tennessee Volunteer's team. While the loss eliminated any chance of a perfect season or retaining the #1 ranking for the entire year, it was not a surprise. A week before, the Jayhawks had provided a glimpse of what they were capable of by manhandling a pretty decent Temple team on Temple's home court. The win was a quality win in any one's book. The Jayhawks struggled to dispatch Cornell, using 39 of the 40 minute game to do the job. Cornell is good, but should not have been able to take KU to the limit.

Most of the rest of the pre-conference season was spent beating up on much lesser opponents on their home court. The conference season begins on Wednesday (tonight) against Nebraska. The Big 12 conference season has few "easy" games and the Jayhawks will be tested in just about every game. Getting through the conference with 2 or fewer losses would be an accomplishment and should be enough to win the conference championship. I thought today would be a good day to assess the coach and each starter based on their performance so far this season.

• Bill Self - Bill is a great coach who, no doubt, will have his team in shape come March. I think his only blunder this season was scheduling so many games in Lawrence. With the exception of the Temple game, his team has struggled in every road game, even when playing Memphis at a neutral site (St. Louis). The team just doesn't seem comfortable outside of Allen Field house.
• Sherron Collins - Sherron has established himself as the leader of the team. He his the only player who seems capable of making plays in the clutch. It has become obvious that only he wants the ball when KU needs a basket. Sherron is playing as an All-American is expected to play.
• Cole Aldridge - Even though he averages a double double, Cole's play has been somewhat disappointing. Cole has not been dominate in many games as an All-American should. Only his rebounding and shot blocking has been consistent all season. The number of missed put-backs or lay ups has been shocking and inexcusable.
• Xavier Henry - A talented freshman has been playing like a freshman. Against the lesser teams he can and has dominated. Against good opponents he seemed tentative. When the game is on the line, Xavier would rather pass the ball to Sherron.
• Tyshawn Taylor - Tyshawn has shown flashes of offensive brilliance this season, but the repeating theme of his game is turn overs. He is careless with the ball. In certain games after a turn over, Self will put him on the bench for a few minutes. When Tyshawn returns his passes are weak and tentative as if he is trying too hard to not commit a turnover. Tyshawn must learn how to play aggressive and reduce turnovers, or he will continue to disappoint the KU faithful.
• Morris Twins - I comment on the twins together because I really cannot tell them apart (other than one wears #21 and the other #22). Their games are nearly identical. Both have really bulked up and improved since last year. While neither will become superstars, both are physical players that can dominate their certain opponents. They are bangers that can wear down the opponents big men. KU cannot look to either Morris to carry them to a title, but both are important to KU's success.

I am hoping that Sunday's loss to Tennessee will serve as a wake up call to the players. They have been highly acclaimed as the best team in the country but have done little to prove it. They can reclaim the #1 spot later this year if they can begin to play like the best team in the country. KU has the deepest bench in college basketball, and at times shows the best balance. These are their strengths. Until they begin to consistently use both, they will struggle against lesser opponents.

No team will get through the current season unbeaten. Even Kentucky and Texas had near losses this season. As the sole unbeaten teams, they will see their opponents best game every game, every night. The longer they go unbeaten, the stronger the desire to knock them off becomes.

All that matters is who is ranked #1 after the NCAA tournament. Kansas, Kentucky and Texas remain the favorites.

Congressional Approval

Using the same "average of averages" poll I track for Obama'a approval rating, you will see the approval rating for our esteemed congress is at 27% with a disapproval rating of 66%. Thinking back on the past year when our representatives have bickered, lied, hidden their actions, passed bad bills, broke promises, and disregarded our will, you have to wonder - why is their approval rating so high?

I suspect the reason that 27% of American's approve of Congress' performance is the same reasons that 46% approve of President Obama's performance. They are not paying attention. All they are aware of is the pork their representative brings home, without any concern for what their actions are doing to the country as a whole. And it is all done just to get re-elected.

I am sure there are a few good senators or house members. But I have to wonder whether there are enough to warrant keeping them in office. I think about the Bible story of Sodom and Gomorrah. God could not find enough good in the cities to warrant saving them, so he burnt them to the ground. Applying this metaphorically to our Congress is easy. Are there enough good representative there to warrant ferreting them out and re-electing only them?

I say there is not. They have not agreed to term limits, so the voters must take action. A "Throw the Bums Out" movement will soon begin to grow as it has in the past. After a cursory Google search, I was somewhat disheartened there is not a recent organized movement as there has been in the past. But it is coming. You can feel the dissatisfaction in the air. Even some of the Obama supporters are opposing the very hope and change they voted for in 2008.

Be ready to jump on the bandwagon. It will pick up speed as the 2010 election gets closer. We need to rain fire and brimstone down upon the Congress. The future of our great nation may require it.

Project Pictures

So our remodel project is in full swing with framing, rough-in wiring and plumbing complete. After a couple more details are finished we will be moving on to sheet rock.

This first picture was taken from in the man-cave pointing toward the new doorway to the remodel area.

Picture #2 is from just inside the remodel area. To the left will be the new bedroom door. To the right is the new bathroom door.

Picture #3 looks directly into the new bathroom area. There will be a vanity and stool to the right, and a large walk in shower to the left.

Picture #4 is from inside the new bedroom looking back to the door(left) and the new walk-in closet straight ahead.

Picture #5 views our greatly diminished storage area that will be walled off from the remodeled area.

The final picture points back into the man cave from the remodel area. Chumley makes a cameo appearance.

Obama's Lies

On at least 8 occasions, candidate Obama promised that health care legislation would be negotiated in the light of day on C-SPAN. In case there is any thought that his words were taken out of context, watch the video.




After watching the video, did you think he was saying the bill would be created by democrats working in private? Did you think that Republican ideas might be considered in the final bill, or at least debated? Do you think he meant for the bill to be carefully hidden from public scrutiny until after the vote? Do you think that he could explain away the current refusal to carry conference negotiations on C-SPAN?

Now compare and contrast this situation with how George Bush was treated after claiming Iraq owned weapons of mass destruction. Remember that every western intelligence organization and several democratic politicians by the name of Clinton, Gore, Kennedy, and Kerry also agreed that Iraq posed a substantial danger to the world community because of their WMD and the willingness to use it.

After Desert Storm did not uncover arsenals of WMD, what was the mantra? Bush lied! A willing press repeated it so often the American public bought it.

If Bush lied, what is Barrack doing now? Have you heard about this on the 6:00 evening news? How could a press that owned a shred of credibility miss this obvious bald-faced lie?

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 will be remembered by the blizzard that hit Kansas City on Christmas Eve and stuck around though Christmas day. Because so many in the family have 4-wheel drive vehicles, the blizzard did not change our plans. We gather Christmas Eve at Terri's parents as we always do. The only difference was that this year, Lisa and Terri did most of the cooking.

Mary, Terri's mother, is suffering from the effects of thyroid cancer, and is not able to cook as she used to. After our traditional meal of shrimp, chili and various sides and desserts, we held the "dirty Santa" gift exchange. Just as last year, I scored my pick by stealing from my son-in-law Jimmy. Last year I stole a knife and flashlight set. This year I pilfered a set of ratchet wrenches. I suspect somebody will be looking to even the score next year. Once gifts were exchanged, the family headed home through the ongoing blizzard. Driving was a challenge, but not especially dangerous if enough time was taken.

Christmas morning brought a thick layer of snow to Kansas City. Officially we received 9 inches, however the winds blew the snow into drifts of up to 2 feet, while other areas were blown clean. Terri and I travelled the short distance to Dan and Lyndy's home so that we could enjoy the Christmas morning with our grandchildren.

Christmas afternoon dinner was held at our home. The entire family was not able to attend due to difficult road conditions. Dan was absent as he worked a shift for Ideal plowing and sanding parking lots. I was able to capture a couple of grand kid pictures I wanted to share.

This one could make next year's Christmas card.

It is not hard to get a good picture of my grandson Coleton. What a happy kid (most of the time).

I hope that you have similar happy memories of the past Christmas.

Obama Approval

In previous blogs, I predicted that Obama's negatives would become greater than his positive by the end of 2009. While stubbornly close, it has not happened. The RealClearPolitics.com "average of averages" poll indicates Obama's approvals at 49% and dis-approvals at 46%, roughly the same level as my last inaccurate prediction on December 9th. I obviously over-estimated the public relations impacts of his health care plan, support for Cap and Trade, and record deficits. So I wonder if I can conclude that at least one of the following statements are true:

1. 49% of the populace do not pay attention, or
2. 49% of the populace don't understand the issues, or
3. 49% of the populace believe that Obama will provide them with free health care, or
4. 49% of the populace are willing to pay a sky rocketing cost of living just in case man is really causing the planet to warm, or
5. Printing money won't have any negative effects on our future economy, or
6. It is fine to let the benevolent Chinese hold the majority of America's debt

In reality, I suspect the real answer is some combination of the above. I suspect the combination would include items 1,2 and 3.

Several years ago, I felt that we were an apathetic nation. Now I think we are an ill-informed nation. Government power will be anointed on candidates and parties that can tell the best story, and manufacture the best sound bites. Facts are no longer meaningful, only feelings.

If I feel heath care should be a right, then passing laws to enact health care is okay. If I feel that polar bears are cute, then we should reduce our energy use by dramatically increasing the cost. If I feel that war is unnecessary, then we can cut and run with no consequence. If I feel that I deserve more from the government, then it is okay to take loans out that our kids will repay.

I think I liked apathy better.

Management Woes

Don't get me wrong, I lead a great team. The types of problems that are deposited on my desk range from simple to extraordinarily complex. Regardless of how difficult the issue, I find that I always have a competent and qualified expert that can tackle it. My biggest challenge is understanding what success looks like, fitting the task appropriately into the priority stack, setting the correct expectation with the requester, and elegantly delegating the task to the correct subordinate. That is what I see my role as.


But this time of year, I do very little of that. Instead, I commit myself to performance management. It is the most difficult aspect of my job. Several months ago I blogged about the interim performance reviews and how time consuming they are. This time of year is twice as difficult. I have 27 direct reports. I will spend 30 minutes preparing for each review, which will take one hour. So reviewing 2009 performance for 27 direct reports requires an entire week. Then we start planning and communicating 2010 objectives. That will take at least another week.

So that is 2 weeks of work devoted solely to performance management. My voice will not survive the abuse of doing all 27 reviews one after another. I will commit 4 hours a day to the process until complete. That stretches the 2 weeks process across 4. My January is planned out.

It wouldn't be so bad if we could just focus on performance management for the entire month of January. But we cannot. Normal business activity does not stop, so either I cram the normal 8 hours of work into 4 or something gets delayed. But I will get through it ... sometime in February. Then interim reviews in July, followed by final reviews next January. Oh well, that is the life of a manager.

Winter Drearies

The holidays are over. No more long weekends until Memorial Day. Memorial Day seems like an eternity away. We are currently stuck in the dog days of winter with the worst of winter's wrath still ahead of us. The skies are gray, the air is frigid. The cold seeps into the house through invisible cracks. The forecast calls for a few more inches of snow over the foot and a half already on the ground. Temperatures are expected to hit -10 before the end of this week.

For me, this is the worst stretch of the year. Days with bearable weather are few rare, and cabin fever is knocking on my front door. The cars are covered with salt and road grime, and it is too cold to wash them. The grimes seems to find its way into the house by hitching a ride on the bottom of our shoes.

The start of the new year brings tax season. Where did I put all those receipts for deductible expenses? How much did I pay in taxes? How much more do I need to send them?

At work most of my time will be spent doing performance reviews for my 27 direct reports, and then setting 2010 objectives for each. I feel like a human resources administrator until this completes around the end of February.

You might have noticed a negative tone. I hate January, but don't let me keep you from having a nice day.

Outrage!

Okay, I have been good through the holidays. You know, peace and goodwill towards all mankind. But seeing what was going on in Congress, I had to stifle myself several times. I want to scream when I see our elected representatives acting criminal. It was more than just the health care obamanation coming out of the Senate.

• The Senate Democrats moved unilaterally, and without the support of a majority of citizens to get a health care bill passed before Christmas even though it is not planned to go into effect until 2014 at the earliest. What was the rush?


• Democrats have the gall to claim passage of the health care obamanation was a gift to America.


• Nobody in Congress has even read the 2 separate bills that have now passed each legislative bodies.


• Harry Reid spends $100 million of other people's money to bribe Senator Ben Nelson for his vote on health care.


• Senator Ben Nelson puts a sweet heart deal for Nebraska ahead of America.


• A quality bill was never considered. It was given that the bills were deeply flawed, but would be fixed in conference. So nobody really knows what the final bill will even be.


• Congress votes to extend the debt ceiling on Christmas eve so that it would go "under the radar".


• Congress exempts itself from coverage of the health care bill it passed.


• Republicans timidly suggest fixes that would solve most problems with health care, but Democrats rejected each, then claimed Republicans had no ideas.

Holidays are over. I am done being without rant. It is time to spew.

I am mad at Democrats. The Democrats have abused their power like never before done by a majority party. They are giving the finger to half the country and simply imposing their will.

I am mad at Republicans. The Republicans have been completely ineffective at articulating an alternative to the Democrat's socialist agenda. Not only have they not provided alternatives, they have not called out the Democrat's heavy-handedness in any meaningful way.

I say enough of them all. It is time for America to declare open season on all Congressional incumbents. My thought is that a green rookie Senator or Representative is far better than what we have now. We need new blood in Congress, people that have a clue about how real Americans feel. Unfortunately, most of America agrees with me, but only in relation to every other Senator or Representative. Because of the pork brought home to their constituency, most Americans are satisfied with their own Senator or House Representative.

There is only one option that is good for America. Vote them all out. If party affiliation is a big deal to you, vote against the incumbent in the primaries. Only a clean house will fix what is broken in Washington.

My voting scheme for 2010 is simple. Even though I like my Senator (Pat Roberts) for his conservative record, he too is part of the current Washington problem. If a cocker spaniel runs against Roberts in the primary, I will vote for the cocker spaniel. If Senator Roberts beats the cocker spaniel and he runs against a liberal Democrat that has never served in Congress, I will hold my nose and vote for the liberal Democrat. Only if he runs against another congress person will I consider voting for Roberts again.

All of America must take this approach or what has happened in 2009 will only get worse in 2010 and beyond.

New Project

Terri and I have committed to a new home improvement project. We decided that a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with a fully furnished man cave is not big enough for 2 people. So the remaining unfinished portion of our basement is being converted to a fourth bedroom and third bedroom.

I took the week off between Christmas and New Years to begin the projects. First, I had about 200 sticks of lumber delivered. Since we have nearly a foot of snow on the ground, the lumber was dropped in our driveway. So my first task was to move all 200 sticks from the driveway to the basement. That required a couple hours of labor.

Then I started the frame carpentry. I was able to complete most of the work in 2 days. I still have a day of details to finish before the walls and ceilings are ready for sheet rock. I am sore. Surprisingly, the sorest part of my body are my forearms and hands. I guess all that keyboarding I do doesn't keep the muscles strong.

Over the next couple weeks, brother in law Steve will to do the rough in electrical. A rough in plumber will be called in to get the bathroom water and drains in. I will cut the new doorway from the man cave into the addition, as well as get everything sheet rock ready. I may try to do the duct work myself although at first glance it seems to be a skinny guy job that I am not qualified to do.

Once all that is done, the torture of sheet rock begins. It starts with the delivery of 65 4x8 sheets delivered to my driveway. Moving that to the basement will be much more work than the lumber was. Then each will be cut and installed. Taping, mudding and smoothing will take several weeks. I hate sheet rock.

Once done, the end is near. Trim carpentry, paint, tile and finish should complete before Spring.

I will post pictures once there is more that studs to show. Who will be the first to use the new second master suite? Any volunteers?

Resolutions for 2010

Most of us find at least one thing about ourselves to improve in the coming year. I think the intent of a New Year's Resolution is to clean up the big problems in your life. Theoretically, the older you get, the fewer big problems there are to clean up. I know this is true with me. I am having a difficult time coming up with a single improvement opportunity this year, so I focus on little things that I can do better.

I could resolve to lose weight, help the poor Pigmy's in Africa, be more giving, serve people, blah, blah, blah. Instead, here is my list of resolutions for 2010.

• Accept more back rubs from my wonderful wife
• Notice how clean the house is more often, and complement Terri on her excellent work
• Renew my effort to visit every BBQ joint within 20 miles
• Read more books, listen to more music and watch more TV

Whoa! What would be left to do in 2011?