Seattle Police Officer Killings

I’m outraged. Unmitigated, un-tempered, multiple expletives deleted, outraged.  While we hand out get-out-of-jail-early cards due to “budget constraints” on our prison systems, we have insane people running amok across the country killing police officers, campus students, family members, and women en masse. 

Enough of this turn-the-other-cheek, where did we go wrong and slight you.  Where is eye-for-an-eye when we need it?  Oh, I know.  The recession made me do it, and that is Bush’s fault.  Enough of that too.

IMO justice must be swifter and surer.  Our fellow men and women police officers and the citizens they protect should not have to fear for their lives in the most mundane of circumstances.

Jail time should be a WHOLE lot less comfortable.  (We might even save money.)  If you don’t want to be caged like an animal then don’t act like one.

Philosophically I think the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment.  We’re already putting hundreds to death for crimes against humanity.  Perhaps if we continue to incarcerate and dispatch those inhumans amongst us in sufficient quantities we will all become so thoroughly disgusted that the penalty will someday become a deterrent.  I surely don’t know, but the bloodbath of innocent people in the streets and homes has got to stop.

I’m outraged.  Internalized, but outraged.

UPDATE 12/02/2009:

I nearly deleted this blog as I find the subject matter highly distasteful, to put it mildly. Justice has been served, in this case, but we must find a way to be proactive, before the loss of innocent lives, rather than reactive, after the fact. It is a delicate dance on the sword blade of democracy, falling into chaos and anarchy off one side or lock step fascist socialism off the other. Even distasteful subjects have to be dealt with however.

Disparate Housewives: Sarah Palin Strikes Again

(Disparate Housewives/Desperate Housewives?  The TV show?  Never mind.)

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disparate :

Main Entry: dis·pa·rate

1 : containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
2 : markedly distinct in quality or character

synonyms see different

________________________

Disparate and incongruous as in Palin/McCain, Palin/President or Vice President, Palin/Politician.

I’ve opined on Sarah Palin before:

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Sarah Palin as Conservative Writer?

Saturday, July 04, 2009

No... more... Palin... puh-LEEZE

 

I haven’t read her new book (Going Rogue), I haven’t seen her on Oprah, I’m not going to watch her Barbara Walters interview.  I still do not see her as presidential or vice-presidential qualified.  I do marvel that she is an instant-packet of modern day political folk hero, someone to be ga-ga about for those Republicans desperately seeking a… marvel.  I sympathize with her for the unevenly rude treatment by the campaign press and the comedic vitriol of the likes of I’m-not-so-holy-now David Letterman.

In my opinion, conservatives AND Republicans would better serve themselves and their fellow men and women by staying focused on the real issues of the day: health care reform, cap and trade crippling of our energy resources, amnesty for illegal immigrants, civilian showcase trials for terrorists, and bowing to the wishes of every country in the world but our own (not to mention bowing to the Emperor of Japan, or the King of Saudi Arabia, but I digress). 

Big Brother has never been bigger, or less of a brother.  Conservatives have better things to do than fawning over Sarah Palin, but she IS a great distraction to Democrats.

Berlin Wall Anniversary

November 9th was the 20th anniversary of the toppling of the Berlin Wall.

The commemoration was attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Dmitry Medyedev, French President Nichlas Sarkozy, England Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former head of the Polish Solidarity movement Lech Walesa, and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, to name a few.

The U.S. was represented by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

President Barack Obama will travel to Europe December 10, 2009 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Health Care Vote, the Majority Rules!

The House of Representatives passed their version of the health care reform bill last night. Thank goodness that a majority of the thugs and looters controlling our government have prevailed in a free and democratic society.

The vote was 220 to 215, with 218 required for a majority. The 220 means50.57471% were for and 215 means 49.42529% were against. You have to draw the line somewhere!

With such a clear and obvious mandate reflecting the will of the people we can now shift focus to the Senate where we can only "hope for change" that the current travesty disguised as reform will be defeated.

I find it noteworthy that 39 House Democrats voted against the bill and ONE Republican voted for it. That was Joseph Cao, R-LA.

In August Cao voted against health care reform and expressed the thought that it would be the end of his career to do so. In an article, http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25770.html, he stated:

"I know that voting against the health care bill will probably be the death of my political career,"... "but I have to live with myself, and I always reflect on the phrase of the New Testament, "How does it profit a man's life to gain the world but lose his soul?" "

It's good he is a man of his word and devoted to his religion. (Not.)

NO to Public Health Care Option

I am opposed to a government-run Public Health Care Option as part of the current Health Care Reform bills circulating in Congress.

Health care is not a right.  You and I have no more right to force a doctor or hospital to treat us than we have a right to force a mechanic to fix our car or force a carpenter to fix our house.

The issue is nothing more, or LESS, basic than that.  We do not have a right to strip another individual of his pursuit of life, liberty, happiness, and freedom to choose, in order to serve us.  To do so is nothing more than forceful subjugation and slavery of another person.

As a recent hospital patient and successful survivor of cancer surgery, I can see plenty of room for health care reform, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.  I am currently engaged in a letter campaign with my health insurance company as they are denying my 2nd day of hospital care (within 24 hours after my noon surgery completion the previous day), saying I was medically stable enough to go home.  Au contraire’, according to my surgeon, and my personal experience on the scene.  I’ll be seeing this one all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.  And this after paying decades of health insurance.  It’s no wonder the insurance companies are vilified.

HOWEVER, I don’t need dear old Uncle Sam interfering on my behalf.

Further, I am opposed to ANY National Health Care Reform as currently proposed.  Following are just a few reasons:

1.  85% of the population is insured.  National reform will MANDATE that the 85% readjust as necessary to accommodate the other 15%.
2.  Only half or so of the 15% uninsured will become insured under national reform anyway.
3.  The plan will take 3 or 4 years to get started due to the massive bureaucracy involved.
4.  The costs, despite “government assurances”, will likely add to an already crippling national debt.
5.  The government says money will be saved by removing “waste and inefficiencies” in existing government programs.  Who believes this?  If it can or could have been done, it should have been done already.
6.  Proposed national health reform doesn’t address many major issues, such as tort reform.  (Exorbitant non-economic lawsuit compensation is forcing equally exorbitant malpractice insurance on good doctors, thus driving up the costs to consumers, you and me.)  Why no tort reform?  Ohhhh, lawyers have a lot of influence in Congress.  So much for reason, logic, and fairness.

I strongly encourage you to write your Senators and Congressmen and express your own opinions.  Following are links to contact either:

Senators

Congressmen

FYI many of these contact websites won’t let you submit a message unless you can post an address within their district, as they only want to hear from direct constituents.  Phooey on that I say.  Bing, Google, or Mapquest is your friend for finding an address.  Yes, districts elect our representatives, but those reps are voting on NATIONAL issues that effectus all, and we all should have the right to express our opinion to any representative.

Heaven help us should we continue down the road to socialism and the suppression of individual thinking and self-responsibilty.  (To who else but Heaven can we appeal for the ethereal Hope and Change?  Umm, nevermind.)  If we don’t stop this now, I’ll be seeing you in the welfare line, just ahead of me. 

H.R. Herald newspaper Lookin' Good!

Speaking of our free local bi-weekly community newspaper, the Highlands Ranch Herald, kudos on the new look. The seperate sections and generous use of color make it much more readable.

AND, it has much more NEWS. What a novel idea! It was my opinion that previously there were too few news stories and too few facts within a story. This week's issue is quite the opposite of both. THANK YOU H.R.H.!

(Now, if you could just get the Denver Post to use your higher quality bags, my Post might stay drier in the mornings. And if your delivery guys could actually hit the driveways at least 50% of the time there might be less Heralds remaining in the streets for days and days. But I digress, and I'm a chronic complainer.)

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE NEWSPAPER UPGRADES.

HR Vet Monument reaches goal

Congratulations to the Metro District and its hard working employees.

As reported in this week's Highlands Ranch Herald, the Highlands Ranch Veterans Monument reached its funding goal. Contributions from remaining tile spaces will go towards maintenance.

As you may or may not know, this is a Monument to any veteran who served (not limited to H.R. residents) and is not limited to those who died in service. There is a special memorial stone to SSGT Christopher Falkel and SGT John Stiles. Presumably other H.R. residents who died in service can be added.

My lady, for example, purchased a tile for her still-living father who served in WWII and egocentric I purchased a tile for my Vietnam service. (It may be the only place my name is set in stone, as I someday intend to be ashes blowin' in the wind, but I digress.)

There is a website devoted to the monument at www.hrvets.org/and the Metro District main website is www.highlandsranch.org/. I attended the July 1 dedication ceremony and posted pictures here: JohnRH/WindowsLive.

The monument is adjacent to the H.R. Library and Town Center Park. Have a look if you haven't already.

My personal thanks to Marsha Sliter at Metro District for her tireless work and supreme efficiency in handling tile purchases and distributions for me. Good job Metro!!