I expect to read more now

Second cataract surgery yesterday.

The 1942 Stuart Chase playbook for a strong, centralized government

Stuart Chase worked for President Roosevelt. According to Wikipedia, Chase, born in 1888, was an American economist and engineer trained at MIT. His writings covered topics as diverse as general semantics and physical economy. Chase's thought was shaped by Henry George, Thorstein Veblen and Fabian socialism.  In 1942 he wrote a little book called "The Road we are Traveling."  He summarized the causes and outcomes of WWI and the Great Depression.  He wanted a new system of government that was socialism, but not called that (we were at war with 2 socialist countries), and which wasn’t capitalism because he believed that created the Depression.  So he named it System X.  If you look through the list (download from internet), you see we have it.

1. Strong, centralized government.
2. Powerful Executive at the expense of Congress and the Judicial.
3. Government controlled banking, credit and securities exchange.
4. Government control over employment.
5. Unemployment insurance, old age pensions.
6. Universal medical care, food and housing programs.
7. Access to unlimited government borrowing.
8. A government managed monetary system.
9. Government control over all foreign trade.
10. Government control over natural energy sources, transportation and agricultural production.
11. Government regulation of labor.
12. Youth camps devoted to health discipline, community service and ideological teaching consistent with those of the authorities.
13. Heavy progressive taxation and hidden taxes on nations wealth.

page 95

                        

Will rich gay men marry and share their assets in a divorce?

I don't believe a lot of gay men are going to rush out to marry their lovers--they are the wealthiest demographic in the US and also big in the art, music, interior design, literature, film and political fields. How many have added the boyfriend to the will or mansion deed?  Some have, and nothing has prohibited that.  But just look around at the trophy wives or the girl friends (a certain golfer comes to mind) of men.  Do you really think gay men want the expense of lawyers and alimony?  Why hand over their assets to someone who is the equivalent of a rich man's mistress?

What gay marriage has done in states that have recognized it (like Massachusetts) is create over night a new lower class--kind, loving, respectable people can now be bullied and ridiculed as bigots and homophobes with a simple redefinition of a word. In those states, churches are losing freedom of speech and religion; parents are losing control of their right to transmit their values to their children. Adoption will not be about what is best for children, but about pleasing adults.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/03/real_bullies_the_homosexuality_is_normal_movement.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/julyweb-only/gay-marriage-religious-freedom.html

It’s not like the courts have never been wrong

7 million Californians voted to support traditional, historical and life giving marriage.  The California court then denied them their vote. Over 30 other states have also voted to uphold the purpose and meaning of marriage.   If the Supreme Court upholds the California decision, it doesn't change the truth of history or of all major religions and all governments of all civilizations. Abortion may be legal, but it is still wrong for children and families and someone always dies.  Slavery at one time was legal in the U.S., but it was morally wrong even when upheld by the courts. Marriage is not just about love, it is not about government benefits and it is not just about a specific couple you know or who are related to you. If it were, you could marry anyone, of any age, and in any number, and expect recognition by the government.

What comes next?

After gay marriage legalization, the fight will be to legalize what used to be called pedophilia, but will be redefined, and then polygamy and polyandry. The law already allows (in some states) someone younger than 16 to marry with parental permission. Once same sex marriages are OK, so will young teen boys and older men; if it's OK for young girls and older men, why not? The man-boy love advocacy group is pushing for this. And our society has been softened up for several years with a reality TV show called Big Love to accept polyamory, or multiple partner families in a formal relationship (with benefits).  Our president’s father was a polygamist and his mother was only 17; is it such a huge step to see groups demanding that it is just about love for a 30 year old man with 3 “husbands” to want to take on a teen boy?

If this is about love and government benefits, what difference is the number? And although it may be awhile, there will be no compelling reason to forbid incestuous marriages--in fact, you'll be called a bigot and a sibophobe if you call it that.

The three branches of government

It's not true that homosexuals can't marry.

             

They can marry someone of the opposite sex, and many do.  On the other hand, there is a long list of restrictions for anyone who wants to marry--your state will be different than Ohio, but Ohioans can't marry a sibling, a step-parent, or a cousin, or a first cousin once removed (the daughter or son of your cousin), or someone under age. Ohio has an odd law--Ohio law does not recognize same-sex marriage, but its adoption law permits a “step-parent” in a same-sex union to adopt a “stepchild.”

Many states allow first cousins to marry if they are of an elderly age and no longer able to conceive. In some states, you can't marry an in-law. You can't get married if you are already married, no matter how long you've been separated.  And if you want to marry a sex offender and you have young children, there's going to be a residency problem if you plan to live together (plus you should have counseling, imo).

Some state laws won't allow a marriage if either party has a venereal disease--or rubella, sickle-cell anemia, and tuberculosis.  If you are a felon, you probably can't marry another felon because of that messy "association" rule.  You can't marry a person who legally can't give consent due to mental retardation, illness, drunkenness, etc.  If you are an alien, getting married doesn't give you residency or citizenship. You'll also need paper work--sometimes a birth certificate, sometimes your divorce papers, and yes, you'll need ID to show your residency and citizenship. Most states have waiting periods after you obtain the license and before you can marry--5 days in Ohio. Second thoughts, I guess.   And you'll need to find a proper, licensed person to marry you who knows how to file the paper work or you won’t be legally married.

Marriage through out history has not been about love, or even society’s approval.  For thousands of years marriages were arranged for the good of the family and community.  Most restrictions on marriage in modern society are for the safety and well-being of children. A homosexual union does not produce children, which after all, is the purpose of marriage and why all civilizations from earliest history have recognized marriage as important for the well-being and continuation of society.  It's for the next generation.

What Can I Do to Help Stop Common Core in Ohio?

From the Ohio Common Core Facebook Page

“As we can tell so far, Ohio is way behind the 8 ball on this one. We need to get moving fast.
1. Find friends in your district that feel the same way you do. Start researching; pick different areas of CC so you are not trying to do it all.
2. Stay tuned to this page [Facebook], we try to post the best articles and documents we can find. As more starts happening in the state, we will update here. (Website soon to come!)
3. Gather talking points and talk to your principal and teachers. Speak respectfully and ask them to question. Don’t be upset with them, they have been snookered just as we have.  Leave them with the feeling we are all in this together, for the sake of our children. Yes, some merits to CC, but not at the great costs, loss of privacy, loss of teacher/district/state control.
4. Attend school board meetings and ask questions. Encourage your school board to invest as little as possible on CC .  Five states rejected it and 13 have pending legislation to stop it. Educate them on problems with CC and NO, we don’t have to accept it. As a state we can stop it!
5. Write letter to editor of local papers.
6. Write letters to your state reps and senators - requesting this be stopped. We can stop it and cut our losses now, because the financial costs in the long run will be much greater.
7. Write an Opt-Out letter for your child. 

“http://truthinamericaneducation.com/uncategorized/ccss-parent-opt-out-form/

China’s one child policy has aborted 336 million babies

To put the numbers in perspective, the 336 million deaths in China are:

• More than the entire population of the world at the time of the Crusades (c. 1100 AD).

• Equal to the entire combined populations of the United States and Australia.

• More deaths than were caused by (in millions): the Bubonic Plague in Europe (100), the Great Chinese Famine (45), the 1918 Influenza Pandemic (40), the HIV/AIDS pandemic (25), the Holocaust (13), the Soviet famine of 1932-1933 (8), the Russian famine of 1921 (3), and the American Civil War (.8).

• More than all the people killed in the 10 ten deadliest wars in human history (Based on highest estimates (in millions): World War II (72), World War I (65), Mongol Conquest (60), An Lushan Rebellion (36), Taiping Rebellion (30), Qing Dynasty conquest of the Ming Dynasty (25), Conquests of Timur (20), Dungan Revolt (12), Russian Civil War (9), Second Congo War (5.4))

• More than all the children that will be born in the world over the next ten years.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/03/22/china-admits-to-the-greatest-slaughter-in-human-history/

Ohio State will host journalists who served in Afghanistan

I see there will be female journalists speaking at Ohio State on Afghan women in April. They spent the last three years in Afghanistan. Their presentation is co-sponsored by the Mershon Center for International Security Studies; the School of Communication; the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies; the Women's Place and the Middle East Studies Center. I wonder if they'll mention that G.W. Bush freed more women in a few months in Afghanistan than Lincoln did slaves in our bloody civil war? Probably not. Or that more American military were lost in Afghanistan under Obama in 4 years, than under Bush in 8 years. Probably not. It is, after all, the liberal media speaking at liberal academe. If you tell people the truth, it could shut down your speaking tour.

CBS apology to our military and Vietnam Vets

CBS' apology was pretty poor in my opinion--"to those who were offended" for denigrating Vietnam veterans in Amazing Race. They never apologized for what they did or the thought, planning and evil behind it. The competitors had to sit through a musical number celebrating Communism in order to get a clue they needed to continue, and CBS planners put a checkpoint at a Communist memorial park built around the wreckage of a downed B-52. I think the MSM is beyond repair.

Here's how an apology works. I'm sorry I did xyz, I was wrong. Forgive me. NOT: I'm sorry your feelings are hurt.  And forgiveness does not mean reconciliation.  The one to whom you apologized is under no obligation to be your friend, especially not if it’s as limp as “I’m sorry you were offended.”

Starbucks doesn’t want our business

“At the Starbucks annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday, CEO Howard Schultz sent a clear message to anyone who supports traditional marriage over gay marriage: we don’t want your business. After saying Starbucks wants to “embrace diversity of all kinds,” he told a shareholder who supports traditional marriage that he should sell his shares and invest in some other company.”
http://joemiller.us/2013/03/starbucks-ceo-no-tolerance-for-traditional-marriage-supporters/#ixzz2OV038xIq

I think that’s good advice from Starbucks.  You should always know how and where your money is invested.  It should reflect your values.  I don’t invest in tobacco, alcohol or viaticals (investing in life insurance policies of dying people). I don’t support any investing which is anti-life, or anti-creation. And since Starbucks doesn’t want me, I’ll respect their wishes.

Have a blessed Palm Sunday

Appendicitis during a pregnancy

Although I don’t think an abortion was suggested, my husband’s mother had an appendectomy during her pregnancy with him.  He was very tiny when born.  I think I weighed more than twice his birth weight, and with his head in the palm of her hand, his toes touched the crook of her elbow.

Shades of the 60s!

I remember seeing these tight, patterned pants on campus when I was in college.  Although I think they wore socks.

I guess it’s in again.  Ah, the bold, strong American male.

http://www.zegna.com/us/home.html

Ermengildo Zegna.

You got those tax hikes, now what?

Democrats got their massive tax hikes, and are indiscriminately cutting rather than carving with the sequestration they wanted. Creating new job losses so they can blame Republicans (ran out of the Bush excuses after 4.5 years) No reduction in the deficit, however.

The problem is Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. And no one has a solution; putting younger workers on a self-directed plan while raising the retirement age will be stomped to death by Democrats (not because it is bad, but because it will work), and Republicans will scream at reduction in benefits for current recipients.  No one said Republicans were conservative about spending on themselves.

Get ready for a third world experience—or medical care

Obamacare is three years old, but what terrible tantrums this oversize, clumsy youngster is having. Premiums going up, employers shrinking their work force, doctors retiring early, and young people who might have become doctors are selecting a different career route. The insurance exchange official (Chao) in charge is hoping it won't be a third world bureaucratic experience. And we're hoping we haven't been downgraded to 3rd world medical care, but wouldn't that be "fair" in the president's eyes?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2013/03/22/cms-on-obamacares-health-insurance-exchanges-lets-just-make-sure-its-not-a-third-world-experience/

Domestic violence and Sharia Law

In April 2009, the Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA)  made a ruling entitled ‘Domestic Violence’. It’s available on-line.  It has been around for three years, and I can’t recall any American politician or feminist speaking out for the rights of women trapped in Sharia Law. It is a consensus of leading Muslim scholars in the world today on the rights of women.

This fatwa represents the absolute authority of the sharia over all understandings of human rights as they apply to women and the family, specifically including international human rights conventions and covenants.

The fatwa upholds the right of a husband to beat his wife.

This fatwa also upholds the right of a husband to rape his wife, for it is not 'domestic violence' for a man to insist upon his conjugal rights.

The fatwa also upholds the right of a male guardian to contract the marriage of a virgin female .

The right of women to move around freely in public without a supervising male is rejected as contrary to sharia law.

The fatwa upholds sharia law's non-reciprocal approach to divorce, which make it easy for man to divorce his wife, but hard for a women to obtain a divorce, except through a difficult legal process.

http://markdurie.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Domestic%20Violence

Change in Hourly Wages for men and women

“The economic struggles of male workers are both a cause and an effect of the breakdown of traditional households. Men who are less successful are less attractive as partners, so some women are choosing to raise children by themselves, in turn often producing sons who are less successful and attractive as partners.”

Source: "Wayward Sons: The Emerging Gender Gap in Labor Markets and Education," David Autor and Melanie Wasserman

Friday Family Photo—sort of

Today I turned on 610 a.m. and got dead air.  It was Glenn Beck so overcome with grief about his dog Victor that he couldn’t speak.  Glenn gets a lot of hassle from the lefties for his tears (progressives don’t cry), but you’d  have to be awfully hard hearted not to tear up a little on this one. He prepared his children by watching Roma Downey’s “The Bible.”  They talked about faith and love.  He wanted to bury Victor but was afraid what would happen to him if the family moved, so he will be cremated.

At first I thought I would never be able to remember all the dogs I wept over—because dogs that live outside just don’t live long. And their awful deaths! 

Lassie, 1944 (killed on my grandmother’s farm near Franklin Grove while we were in California during WWII)

Large stray we had for a few weeks in Alameda—he was sick; if we  named him, I don’t remember it. I’m guessing he’d been abandoned by another military family and my mom took pity on him. 1945

Laddie, 1946 (hit by a Greyhound bus when he followed us children to town, Forreston)

Jerry, 1948 (hit by a car in front of our brick house on the high-way in Forreston)

Pretty, 1948  (black and white small collie mix who had puppies under our neighbor’s porch; I think she was given to a farmer just in case she had more pups)

Curly, 1949  (one of Pretty’s pups we got to keep who disappeared when my brother and I were on a trip with Mom and grandparents)

Zero, 1949 winter (large ugly hound who “followed” me home from school one day which was against the rules; disappeared)

Lady, 1950-52 (a beautiful Dalmatian that didn’t like my mom until she learned that is who fed her regularly—died of skin cancer, buried behind the garage at 4 South Hannah)

Polka-dot, 1952-1963 (Dalmatian mix, our only indoor pet—after 1958; died of old age, I think)