Who Moved My Liberty?

Political Yard Sign

2012-02-13T19:52:00.000-06:00

Like it or not, the presidential election season has arrived. That means the airways will be filled with annoying ads and roadsides littered with "elect me" signs. In honor of the 2012 election season, I've decided to come up with my own sign.

What do you think?

David and Goliath

2012-02-10T13:23:00.000-06:00

Hi. I’m David, and I run an on-line fruit business. I’ve been in business for nearly 25 years, carrying on the business from my father and his father. And pleasing our customers has allowed us to stay in business all these years.

One reason, I believe, that I’ve been able to stay in business is the fact that I can sell any number of combinations of fruit depending on the particular taste of my customers. For example, I have some customers who love my kiwi, and that’s all they order. I have other customers who love my kiwi and mangos, and they load up on both. Still there are others that order nearly every line of fruit we offer. That gets fairly pricey, but they keep returning, so we must be doing something right. We’ve always believed that satisfying the needs and wants of customers comes first.

However, things are changing.

The government called the other day and said I had to change the way I sell my fruit. They explained that I could no longer customize my fruit orders for my customers. The government said I had to make all fruit orders the same. The penalty for not complying would be fines, seizure of my business, and even jail. Full compliance was non-negotiable.

All fruit orders, according to new government regulations, must contain 13 specific types of fruit. The government also said this was subject to change, and for me to be on the lookout for new fruit basket rules. This will not please my customers who just want kiwi or kiwis and mangos. In fact, this won’t please most of my customers. All this will do is increase prices and waste fruit.

This may be my last year of selling fruit. I don’t particularly care for the government telling me how to run my business. I’ve heard of other industries being taken over like mine was, and the outcome wasn’t good. You see, the government wrongly believes it knows the exact needs and wants of all my customers, but this is false. Over time, some of my customers’ tastes change. Some who only wanted oranges now want just papayas. The government isn’t privy to the taste preferences of all my customers. Since they don’t know – can’t know!, they simply impose their own tastes on everyone. Like it or not, all fruit orders will contain the government-mandated fruit.

Those arrogant bastards. They’ve reduced all 300 million of us into one single, plain vanilla, garden variety nitwit and forced upon us one standard – their standard. If we don’t like it – too bad. You’re no longer an individual, but a collective member of society assumed to possess no preferences of your own, lest you be chided for selfishness. Conform or be jailed.

I hear government wants to try this experiment with other industries as well. Things aren't looking up.

Fairness put into practice

2012-02-10T12:36:00.000-06:00

Greedy politicians, seizing upon a golden opportunity to extract billions from the private economy (aka YOU!), announced a $25 billion settlement with four large banks. These banks were alleged to employ practices in their foreclosure departments that supposedly threw Mary and Pete out of their home despite being current on their mortgage payments. This was dubbed “robo-signing” and the government played this like a fiddle.

The Wall St Journal sums it up quite nicely:

“In other words, Washington is taking money from bank shareholders and investors in mortgage-backed securities, who will see the value of their holdings fall, and giving it to people who aren't paying their bills. Welcome to the "fairness" era.”

A Dead Weight Loss-Free Wedding

2012-02-07T09:39:00.000-06:00

My niece is tying the knot this summer. She and her future hubby plan to marry on the beach in Brunswick, GA. That’s a long ways from south Texas, and getting there will require either two days of hard driving or flying and renting a car. Naturally, we plan to attend, but before we cement our travel plans, we have presented the bride and groom with a most unusual request: Do you want to see us or get $500 cash?

I must admit I had reservations about this proposition. It runs the risk of hurt feelings because some might interpret the question as ~ “Brad and Amanda would rather not come.” To head off those concerns, I informed my brother prior to extending our offer to Lauren. As expected, he took it well, but insisted he knew how Lauren would choose, implying that she would not take the cash. However, we got a response from Lauren this morning stating that she wants to chat with future hubby before making a final decision. Our offer has her thinking!

Let’s be completely honest here; actual face time with the bride and groom would span no more than five minutes the whole weekend. And while she would receive some enjoyment from our attendance, it would be limited. On a positive note, I would get to spend time with my brother, but this trip is all about Lauren. In short, I’m asking Lauren if our attendance is worth $500.

While I may be berated for my seemingly callous proposition, I think it’s pretty thoughtful. Unlike other guests who will spend most of their resources on ancillary wedding travel (dead weight loss), I’m simply giving Lauren an opportunity to share in the saved resources of not traveling. I hear of parents offering their daughters cash in lieu of a wedding. This follows the same principle.

I’ll share how it all shakes out.

Seinfeld Economics

2012-02-03T20:03:00.000-06:00

I love watching Seinfeld. In fact, I watch an episode almost every evening, and I own every season on DVD but one. And that one’s on my birthday list. I also love the subtle economic lessons it (most often) inadvertently teaches us. The concept of scarcity is one such example.

On the episode Reverse Peephole, David Putty enters Elaine’s living room donning a lovely fur coat. Upon seeing her boyfriend wearing fur, Elaine frowns in disapproval. Rolling her eyes,

She asks, “What is that?!”

“My winter coat?” he replies. He shoots back, “Is there a problem?”

Elaine sarcastically remarks, “No. A seemingly infinite supply.”

Elaine’s comment suggests that she disapproves of fur due to its limited supply, not that it requires the untimely death of a cute, fuzzy mink. While her statement is true – fur is in limited supply, her logic is inaccurate. I would explain to Elaine that all [normal] goods are limited in supply.

We live in a world of scarcity, and the supply of leather jackets, rain coats, and everything else all suffer from limited supply, just as fur coats do. Obviously, supplies of fur coats pale in comparison to leather coats, but fortunately we have the price system to allocate the supply of scarce goods. Without our price system, we’d have to rely on rationing, a queue, or some other undesirable system of allocation.

So, Elaine can relax and not fret knowing that scarcity applies to everything, not just fur. And I can feel good about watching Seinfeld, knowing that I’m learning economics while laughing at Jerry’s fairly obvious yet meaningless observations.

Here Ye, O Workers!

2012-02-01T19:32:00.000-06:00

My work has me visiting the Department of Labor website lately. To get there, I normally just type the URL in the address bar. Today I was feeling lazy, so I typed in “DOL” into Google. I was shocked at what came up. See below:

Whatever the mission of DOL, it most assuredly isn’t to prepare the American workforce for new and better jobs. The American workforce isn’t some malleable glob of analogous workers sitting idly by eagerly awaiting orders from the government. This assertion is laughable, but further evidence of an overbearing government.

The DOL no more prepares the workforce for new and better jobs, whatever those may be, than does the Securities and Exchange Commission ensures Americans only buy stocks that go up in value. Nonsense.

White House Response - Keystone XL

2012-01-30T14:22:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month, I dropped Obama a nice note concerning my thought on the Keystone XL project. You can read my letter here. I said I would post the White House’s response when I received it. I got it today. Below is the email containing the response:

Since this message failed to address the matter substantively, I checked out the “recent statement” by Prez Obama. It’s below:

What the White House fails to mention is that the State Department has been thoroughly vetting this project for 1,217 days and hasn’t yet found anything objectionable. The president’s response is filled with straw man arguments and half-truths. It’s simply unconscionable that our own government would stand in the way of creating thousands of jobs for unemployed Americans with ZERO taxpayer money involved.

Let’s be crystal clear here. Politicians will do whatever is necessary to ensure they are elected. If, on net, denying jobs to out-of-work American’s means a slightly better chance at a second term for Obama, then to hell with the unemployed. His denial of the project can have no other interpretation.

Obama, manufacturing and college

2012-01-30T13:36:00.000-06:00

Lately, our dear president has been roaming the country touting manufacturing. Assembling things, he believes, is the only way to restore America’s greatness (and beef-up unions). Out of the same mouth, he also proclaims that every American should go to college. A college education, he sayeth, is the path every American should take. (Never mind that nationally, only 55% graduate after six years.)

Here’s my question for Obama: If manufacturing is our only hope, why does everyone need to go to college? I mean, does an assembly line worker need a bachelor’s degree?

Saddling a worker with $100K in student loans only to (maybe) graduate and assemble widgets just doesn’t make sense to me. But then again, I’m no follower of Obamonomics.

Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be...

2012-01-26T06:38:00.002-06:00

Plunderers, like the kids in this fellow's class.

Fairness as a Political Doctrine

2012-01-25T19:24:00.000-06:00

It’s hard to go a day without hearing the word fair. I hear it from my kids, co-workers, and increasingly from our President. As a parent, I try to teach my kids that fairness shouldn’t be the lens with which we view the world. It’s a tough concept for kids to learn, but it’s my duty to teach them this very important life lesson. If I don’t, they could grow up to be like our President.

Fairness seems to be a political doctrine for Obama. He looks across America from the window of his ultra-customized, double-decker Boeing 747; GMC Topkick-based, Cadillac-badged limousine; or posh 1600 Pennsylvania Ave digs, and like a judge, proclaims that America is unfair. He sees inequality (of income) and deeply resents those who are high earners. He sees manufacturers moving jobs overseas, and curses the CEO’s for betraying their fellow countrymen. He sees his “green agenda” evaporating along with the billions of taxpayer dollars and grits his teeth at Keystone and other traditional energy companies. He tells himself, this just isn’t fair. America needs him.

Fairness beckons him. It calls. The people are waiting for fairness, like manna from Heaven. He must deliver.

He labors and toils until he produces a “blueprint” for our economy. This plan – HIS plan, will usher in fairness. It must. His plan will ensure everyone gets a “fair shake,” and that everyone “plays by the same rules.” There will be no losers in his plan, only winners. Through the immense power of his own will, as if a god, he can supernaturally reorder this “Life” to finally be fair. There will be none without. There will only be the haves, no have nots. There will be a plentiful bounty, and we shall not want.

Finally.

Fairness.

And then, reality raps its coarse knuckles on fairness’s door.

Protesting the State of the Union Address

2012-01-24T20:09:00.000-06:00

Tonight, I will not be watching the State of the Union address. This isn't my first night to pass on this night of grand political theater, nor will it be the last.

What I dislike most about this night, and there are many things to dislike, is that one man is granted a 90 minute monopoly on espousing his flavor of economic/political half-truths and out-right lies without challenge. He can say literally anything, and it's taken as gospel. He stands up in front of the whole world and promises the moon. It's the most heinous spectacle of vote buying aired on television today.

And it sickens me.

Tonight, I'll be watching Seinfeld re-runs. I find Jerry and Kramer much more entertaining.

(un)Free Enterprise

2012-01-23T18:56:00.000-06:00

Today, I had the distinct pleasure of teaching my daughter about business. Amanda, who usually teaches our two girls, asked if I would teach this particular segment. For some odd reason, she thinks I’m passionate about free enterprise, liberty and capitalism. Not sure where she got that crazy notion. So, today our lesson was about free enterprise.

Her textbook, which I like for the most part, went on to explain that in America the government doesn’t tell businesses what they must make and sell; rather, business owners make those decisions. I thought about the magnitude of this statement and the profound implications it has for our lives. And then I thought about how some are trying to change this, and perhaps, have changed this already. The culprit: Obamacare.

Obamacare mandates that every single American buy health insurance or pay a fine. That particular provision begins next year, by the way. So, in effect, the State has mandated that some businesses sell medical services. If the State forces me to buy a product, it follows that a business must offer that product for sale, no? Therefore, the State has a de facto mandate that some segment of the economy be in the healthcare industry. If you disagree, I would then ask that if no such business existed to offer the mandatory product, could the government still mandate the purchase of a non-existent product? (Actually, they could. Read here.)

So, Obamacare has ushered in an era of UnFree Enterprise, where the State begins to decide what some sell and what everyone must buy. And who knows where we’ll go from here. After all, if the State can mandate the purchase of insurance, what can’t they do?

Demand-Supply Theory Tossed on its Head

2012-01-20T17:33:00.002-06:00

Prof J – you were wrong!

At least that’s what Rep. Kuchinich and several other economic ~~professors~~ idiots in Congress obviously think. Mr. Kuchinich, fitfully worried about high gas prices, proposes to tax the windfall profits of oil companies. Now, I was taught, by none other than Prof J, that the response to higher prices could be addressed through increased supply. As the price of any given product rises, suppliers are incented to bring even more product to market. If the supplier is making economic profits, the chances that others will want in on the action dramatically increases. As more suppliers bring even more product to market, prices usually retreat. This can be seen in today’s natural gas market.

However, Rep. Kuchinich proposes a new economic model to solve these pesky micro economic problems. His solution – the Reasonable Profit Board. Think I’m joking? HR 3784, which was introduced this week and proudly named – The Gas Spike Act of 2012, would create this new federal Board.

This new Reasonable Profits Board (I just love how that name rolls off the lips!) would be empowered to monitor the profits of oil companies and tax their excess profits, defined as profits between 100 and 102 percent of a reasonable profit. Confusingly, Rep. Kuchinich chose not to define reasonable in the bill.

So, according to Rep. Kuchinich, the best way to lower gas prices is to increase taxes on the very suppliers that bring gas to market. His theory suggests that taxing the profits (or reducing the price suppliers receive for their products) will magically reduce gas prices?! I would argue, and I hope most folks would agree with me, that this would incent companies to bring less product to market, not more, resulting in even higher prices.

So, maybe Prof J was right all along.

Letter to the President

2012-01-18T19:02:00.000-06:00

Here's a letter I just sent to the President.

Dear Mr. President:

Your decision today to reject the Keystone XL pipeline will deny thousands of jobs to out-of-work Americans. This Keystone project would have cost the taxpayer ZERO, unlike past stimulus bills favored by you and those in Congress. In fact, the Keystone project would have added millions of dollars to state coffers at a time when states are desperate for additional revenue.

It belies logic why, at a time of near record unemployment, you would stand in the way of job creation. You traversed the country a few months ago, touting your “jobs” plan – a plan to spend hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars only to deny a real jobs plan that would cost taxpayers nothing.

It is clear that the only job you are concerned about is your own.

I checked the box requesting a reply. When, and if, I get a response, I’ll post it here.

A Sobering Self Realization

2012-01-16T18:20:00.001-06:00

America is home of the brave....land of the free....right? Not so much.

Here's an article by the Washington Post about how America's liberty light is dimming, darkened by the vastly growing police and security state.

Heritage just published its annual freedom index. America has to rank high on that list, right? No. We're not even in the top ten anymore. What the hell is going on?

We are losing our freedoms and no one even notices or seems to care. Each year like clockwork Congress enacts more laws and statutes, all aimed at protecting us, but at what cost? Every aspect of our life is now under the watchful eye of big brother. It's no wonder that 25% of the world's prisoners remain incarcerated in American prisons.

How to Get Freedom in Your Daily Life

2012-01-14T09:07:00.000-06:00

I invented a time machine. But rather than moving you back and forth in time, my machine creates more time during the day. It's really quite remarkable.

I call my time machine the "Routinizer." I use the Routinizer every day and it increases the time available during the day by at least one hour, sometimes more. And that's my time to do whatever I want with. So a product description of the Routinizer would be: free time creator. Now, I'm going to tell you the secret of creating your own "Routinizer." This is a huge value, and I'm giving it away for free here, folks.

The first step is to think of how you spend your time. Stretch your mind back over the past week and think about what time you woke up (and got up, if they are different) what you spent your time doing after getting up, and when you got to work (or class, if you're a student) and what you did when you got home at night. Did you do the same things every morning, including getting up at the same time? How about in the evening? Were you rushed to get to work, tired in the evening? Was your work day chaotic? Were you struggling to keep up with demands on your time? Maybe you missed lunch?

If you already have a solid morning and evening routine, you likely have a lot of order in your life. But if you are living chaotically, establishing a morning and evening routine (and following it!) may just be the best thing you can do to help yourself. Enter the Routinizer.

Once you decide a more orderly life would be of benefit, you can go ahead and begin to establish your routines. The morning routine should include all the things you do to get ready for the day. For everyone this should include breakfast (most important meal of the day!) and hygiene (shower please - your office mates and class mates will thank you!). You may also want to exercise in the morning. In fact, I suggest this highly if you are the type of person that hates to exercise. Getting it done first thing clears away the obligation, and you are more likely to do it before the distractions of the day take it away from you. But, maybe you like exercising to unwind at the end of the day. That's cool - just make it part of your evening routine.

There are two other elements of the morning routine that really improve your effectiveness during the day. First, review your day and figure out what you will be doing. Generate expectations of the day and make contingency plans if things go awry. Second, do whatever work you absolutely need to do before engaging with anyone else during the day. You might have to do this immediately after getting up if, for example, you have a wife and children.

The work you need to do might be tasks for your day job, or it might be different. You may have the goal of learning a foreign language. Well, make 20 - 30 minutes of study part of the morning routine so that it gets done. People may use this time for bible study, learning economics (yay!), or developing a skill. Whatever it is, make sure you do the work as part of your morning routine, otherwise it may not get done.

All of the above prepares you for the day. Now we need to think about the evening, where you wind down, relax, prepare for sleep, and review the day. Also, the evening routine helps to set up the morning routine of the next day so it is preparing for the day as well. The key with the evening routine is to not engage your mind over much. A stimulated mind will be a detriment to a solid night's sleep. Also, if you exercise in the evening, do it earlier rather than later. Working out wakes you up.

The evening routine should include a review of the day, including evaluating what worked and what didn't, and what needs to be changed. Think about the tasks of the next day and line up your 'to do' list. Also, review your long-term goals and determine what progress was made. Maybe you need to change or update some goals? Now's the time to think about that stuff. Finally, relax your mind before bed. Avoid television, because the screen lights will activate your mind in ways that make it difficult to sleep. Same story with computers. Some light reading is always good - but nothing that will get your blood boiling (no newspapers!). Go to bed with plenty of time to sleep.

For more on routines and their benefits, see here. What I've personally found when I follow routines is that my days are much smoother, and I am much more productive. And, most importantly, I have peace of mind.

Natural Gas Prices

2012-01-14T08:51:00.000-06:00

CPS Energy, which is wholly owned by the city of San Antonio, is the sole supplier of electricity and natural gas for the Alamo City. Interestingly, the City gets about 25% of its revenue from CPS. This arrangement is somewhat worrisome because without the threat of competition to keep prices at bay, CPS vis-à-vis the City has little incentive to keep rates in check. We do have a public utility commission whose job is to act like a watchdog over CPS, but natural competition is much better at protecting consumers than some bureaucratic, quasi government agency. But, that’s a post for another day…

Here’s what I paid for natural gas over the past 14 months, beginning in Nov-2010. I totaled all expenses for natural gas (fixed charge, fuel adjustment, etc.) and divided by consumption. I multiplied the result by 100 to get at $/ccf.

With the recent fall in natural gas prices, I was expecting to see a decline in residential gas prices. It’s difficult to see a convincing pattern, but prices have ebbed over the past several months. However, the average price for gas was higher in Dec-2011 than Dec-2010. Go figure.

So, what do you pay for natural gas?

Natural Gas Production

2012-01-14T08:10:00.000-06:00

I took this chart from the Dept of Energy website. Nothing but amazing!

I can't help but thing wonder if we'll be using natural gas to power our cars soon. I have natural gas service at my home, which would make for a very convenient filling station. If government gets out of the way, look for new ways we can utilize this abundant, clean-burning, and cheap resource!

Environmental Pestering Agency

2012-01-03T18:54:00.000-06:00

Imagine buying a plot of land with the hopes of building your dream home. After obtaining all the local permits, you begin construction. Now imagine getting a compliance order in the mail from the EPA telling you that your land was just deemed a “wetland” and you must return it to its original state or face fines of $37,500 per day. This, of course, comes as a big surprise, because your land is not wet. Think that’s bad (and it is)? Now imagine not being able to sue the EPA over its decision until it issues an enforcement order, at which point it can collect on the accruing fines. Sound completely insane? Welcome to the Sackett’s world.

Read about here and here.

The case is headed for the US Supreme Court. At issue is whether or not ordinary property owners can have their day in court before the EPA issues its enforcement order. All the lower courts have ruled in favor of the EPA, but apparently enough Justices thought this needed a second look. Let’s hope they rule in favor of property owners.

The Kindle and Blogs

2012-01-01T17:44:00.000-06:00

I must admit that I haven’t been using my Kindle much lately. I bought it about a year ago, mainly because it was cheaper than an iPad, and I thought it would help me catch up on some reading. I found myself traveling a lot over the past 12 months and packing the Kindle along was great. I especially liked using it on the plane. One of my favorite features is the ability to capture PDF documents, send them to the Kindle via Whispernet, and read them in the Kindle’s native format. However, I recently found another neat feature.

I was perusing the Amazon site and noticed there were “blogs” listed in the Kindle store. I clicked the link and was brought to a list of several blogs I could follow on my Kindle. And not just several blogs – more like thousands! It works like this: You find the blog you want to follow and then sign up (you get a 14-day free trial and can cancel anytime). Most blogs are $0.99 per month; some like HBR cost $5.99. Simply turn on the wireless feature of you Kindle, be within range of your home Wi-Fi network, and it updates each time a new entry is made on the blog website.

I find it easier to keep up with all my blogs using the Kindle versus the computer. I know exactly when a new blog entry is ready, and I can read them all from one convenient location. It does cost $1 per month per blog, but hey - I got that kind of money!

Happy New Year!

A letter to Consumer Reports

2011-12-31T13:51:00.000-06:00

Here's a letter to Consumer Reports Magazine:

I’ve long been a fan of your magazine, enjoying the unbiased advice you give on thousands of products each year. However, I’ve come to loathe your increasing affinity of government regulation over consumer products. While it may be true that a small number of consumers are harmed by less-than-honest companies, consumers also suffer harm when government intervenes in the market place. And while you vigorously invite more regulation, you fail to report on the harm that that same regulation inflicts on consumers in the form of higher prices and less choice.

Consumers should be free to express their preference in the market place by entering into mutually beneficial exchange with others. Only consumers, who have intimate knowledge of their needs and wants, should determine if a product or service survives, not unelected government bureaucrats. While some regulation is necessary to ensure a level playing field, your magazine advocates too loudly for big government. What’s needed is less regulation and more information.

In a perfect world, government would not prevent producers from bringing their products and services to market, nor would it prevent consumers from purchasing those same products and services. In this perfect world, consumers would become savvy buyers and organizations like yours would provide a vital service supplying the market with much needed information. Today’s technology makes it relatively easy to quickly and efficiently acquire information regarding a products pros and cons. In this perfect world, consumers would benefit hugely from the overwhelming variety of products and services, and producers would be kept in check not only through information provided by your organization, but also by the market discipline - make a bad product, and face bankruptcy.

Government regulation exacts a hefty toll on consumers and the overall economy, and quite often fails to accomplish its “good” intentions. And while I don’t expect you to begin embracing free market principles, you could at least inform consumers of the oft unintended consequences of government regulation.

Sincerely,

Brad D.

New Year - no resolutions

2011-12-31T10:13:00.000-06:00

The new year is symbolic of new beginnings. Out with the old year - all the mistakes, disappointments, and frustrations. But, also out with the triumphs and glories. The past is the past, and there it will stay. The new year, the future, is here, and people are excited. All kinds of people make New Year's resolutions, like getting into shape, changing jobs, reuniting with lost friends or family, and so forth. Some resolutions stick, others don't. A key to finding a resolution that sticks is to carefully think through the resolution ahead of time - don't make rash, emotional decisions that are life changing. You won't be able to stick with it.

That's why I avoid resolutions around New Year's. Too fraught with peril, and in fact it's become a cliche so people don't take the resolutions seriously. Thus, if you need external help with your resolution, it's harder to obtain it around New Year's because people don't think it's a serious commitment.

What I think New Year's is good for is taking stock of the past year. Think through all the stuff that happened, and what your actions and responses were. Think about what works and what doesn't, and what you want out of life. If you are living the life you want, congratulations! Keep it up! Maybe think of tweaks to improve your life.

If you aren't living the life you want, now's the time to start thinking and making plans about how to change. Don't be drastic, or rash. Don't think you'll fix everything in a few quick moves. You have to start with a plan, and think carefully about what it is you want, and how it will affect the people around you. I recommend you begin here and follow the instructions laid out there.

Best of the season to all, and may you have a blessed 2012.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:49:00.002-06:00

Today, Christians the world over celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Christ child was prophesied by Isaiah (7:14, 9:6-7) and Daniel (9:24-26), and was born to a virgin nearly 2,000 years ago. Jesus’ birth split time, dividing the period before his birth (BC) and after (AD) forever. Here’s the recount of the Savior’s birth announcement, taken from Luke Chapter 2:10-11: (NIV)

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is ^[e]Christ the Lord. ~ Luke 2:10-11

This Christmas season let’s take time to reflect on the real reason we celebrate. Amidst all the presents and hustle and bustle, let’s remember that God made good on His promise to send us a deliverer – one who could save man from his sins. John 3:16 says that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

So, today we say happy birthday Jesus!

T'was the Night Before Christmas

2011-12-24T10:03:00.002-06:00

T’was the night before Christmas

And all through the land,

Government officials and regulators

Were devising a plan.

The Congress and Senate

Passed a bill late last night,

Which will bankrupt our country,

And worsen our plight.

The Fed was going easy

With money galore,

Bernanke and company-

Quantitative-Easing forever more.

Our debts grow larger

With each passing day.

A trillion here, a trillion there,

“Spend more!” the Keynesians say.

The rates of unemployment

Are frightening high.

More government intervention,

Is their only desire.

Scared to hire

And afraid to spend,

Small companies hunker down,

Obamacare lurks around the bend.

Hopefully we’ve learned

A hard lesson for most,

That massive spending and debt,

Won’t lead to prosperity and growth.

The Prez and Congress

On vacation they’ve finally left.

Good bye and good riddance!

Now, let’s clean up their mess.

FAA Rules Against Passengers

2011-12-21T18:51:00.000-06:00

The FAA announced new rules today further limiting the hours pilots can work. The FAA's move will cost airlines, and ultimately consumers, millions, and reduce choice, especially in small to medium sized airport. However, contrary to the FAA's intentions, this move will do little to prevent fatigued pilots from flying.

The one thing the FAA cannot do is mandate rest for pilots. Sure, they can force pilots out of the cockpit, but it cannot force them into naps or sleep, which is what's required to prevent fatigue. Pilots, like nearly everyone else, can do whatever they please during their off hours. Until the FAA passes new rules mandating bedtimes for pilots, the new rules will have little to no effect on pilot fatigue. However, you can be sure that you'll pay more for that next flight.

America’s Great Police State

2011-12-17T17:54:00.000-06:00

Here’s a disturbing article in the WSJ about the growing police state in America. It seems that every little government agency now has its own law enforcement office. As Congress and the federal bureaucracy churn out more laws and more regulations, an army of law enforcement is needed to police the scofflaw American public.

Imagine a team of SWAT agents numbering in the teens bursting into your home, rifling through your personal belongings because they suspect you are in possession of…..coral. You obtained it legally, of course, but forgot to fill out the “proper” paperwork. Your penalty: $500 fine and one year of probation.

Welcome to the Great American Police State.

A very important message for non-libertarians...

2011-12-17T15:13:00.002-06:00

... that might help convince you to live free.

This video is extremely important for those of us who want to live long & healthy lives. The upshot? Ignore the government's advice. Eat the steak & fat, leave the sugar puffs & oatmeal on the shelf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVEiYwFvKvU&feature=youtu.be&t=54m20s