You can find this poem and more at A Soldiers Christmas.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
 

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see just who in this little house lived.
 

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
 

No Stockings by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.
 

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
A sobering thought came through my mind.
 

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,
 The home of a soldier, I could now see clearly.
 

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
 

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
Not how I picture a United States Soldier.
 

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?
 

I realized the families that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.
 

Soon round the world, the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
 

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.
 

I couldn’t help wondering how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.
 

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to one knee and started to cry.
 

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry, for this life is my choice”.
 

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,
My life is my God, my country, my corps.”
 

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
 

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
as we both shivered from the cold night’s chill.
 

I didn’t want to leave, on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor, so willing to fight.
 

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, “Carry on Santa…., It’s Christmas Day…., All is secure.
       

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend…. and to all a Good Night.

                        ~ Author Unknown *~

Please remember those who fight for our freedom this Christmas. They are my brothers and sisters. They fight on far away battlefields, not knowing if they will survive the day, willingly laying down their lives for our freedom, and you’d better damn well remember that. If you don’t like it, then get the hell out of my country. Just the thought of what they are going through for us has me on the verge of openly weeping.

Those who refuse to support and defend a state have no claim to protection by that state.

A collaborator is someone who feeds his friends to the alligator, hoping he will be eaten last.

Back in this post I worte about the smart grid system, and how it will lead to a control of our home thermostats in the name of “energy conservation.”

This is what I wrote:

Also, with monitoring now, control inevitably follows. California is already trying to control the thermostats of homes and businesses because they don’t have enough power. So your house temperature would be set by the government, not by you. Doesn’t that sound a little, intrusive? But it will be the future, maybe not tomorrow, or next week, but within 5 years, it won’t sound so far fetched.

Well, this article has the following paragraph:

Someday utilities hope to use the meter to control consumption by major appliances like air conditioners. But experts are still debating what technical standards the meters and appliances should use to communicate.

If I want to keep my house at 87 degrees in the winter and 24 degrees in the summer, as long as I can afford the utility bills, that should be my right! This BS of telling us what is best for us by the regulation of my major appliances is just another nanny state step, brought on my those frackin’ Liberals who don’t think that I can make decisions on my own, or that I should not be allowed to make decisions like that, because I’m not “aware of the environment” and how I’m “damaging it.”

We don’t own the software we use on our computers, (what, you don’t read the EULA? Shame on you), now the power we purchase will not be ours, what’s next? What else will be taken away from us in the name of “You’re not smart enough, you don’t understand”? We are already on the bridge to losing most of our freedoms over our own bodies by nationalizing health care. How about rationing of gasoline, to end the “wasteful abuse” by all those “evil” SUVs?

But Liberals need SUV’s, and control over their own thermostats. They’re smart enough to do it the right way, just not the rest of us.

Lord, save us from those who think they are saving us from ourselves.

Okay, another case of a Liberal knee-jerk reaction. The new Memphis Mayor AC Wharton’s administration is going to take steps to clean up the streets of the homeless using the police by ostensibly directing them towards resources, but will have the effect of chasing them out of town or putting them in jail. Put me down on the record for this not being right. A mailed fist cannot gently solve the problem.

Anyhoo, this story talks about the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, who has decided to get outraged over this issue. They want to protest until jobs and housing is made available for these people.

Umm, the reason why they are homeless in the first place is the fact that most of the homeless have a mental illness or a co-occurring disorder (substance abuse and a mental illness) which cost them their ability to hold jobs in the first place. Same thing with the housing, their illness precludes them from living in a stable environment. Their families won’t have them, and they bounce between the streets, mental health hospitals, or jail.

I know of four wonderful ladies that are doing exactly what needs to be done, and that is helping these people in a real way. I can’t mention who they are, or what they do. They are extremely Liberal, and I think I would expose them to embarrassment if I were to give their names on my blog. Just let it be known that they are doing the right thing, for the right reasons. They are counting the people who no longer need their help, not just those in their programs. They do it quietly, with only the praise of those whom they have helped as their reward.

Now, it seems like the MSPJC is going to do the same thing as detailed in prior actions of our illustrious President. They do press releases, make signs and stand on corners, and raise a lot of noise without really understanding the issue and doing anything sustentative about it. They will “raise awareness” and make a lot of noise and put public pressure on some people to “do something.” But, one or two news cycles after they are out of the limelight on this subject, they will pat themselves on the back, say they “did something” and go on their merry Liberal way, without doing anything other than giving the beehive a good whack. Meanwhile, the ladies who are doing the work get no recognition. That’s okay, they aren’t looking for any.

I may be wrong. I have been known to be wrong once or twice in the past. But this is my opinion of what will happen. MSPJC may just do something about the problem, even if only to get the mayor to stop this policy. But that still won’t affect the root problem and that is addressing why these people are homeless. Meanwhile my four ladies will continue on with their respective Good Fights, and help those who need and want help, one person at a time.

Okay. I found this post a few days ago and I wanted to let it simmer on the back burner of my mind. I think it’s ready to go.

The post talks about critical thinking and stuff like that. Read it if you’re interested. What got my goat was this:

I think the day will come when most people agree about most things, because they can’t be debunked. It will take generations, unfortunately, but it’s coming.

It is the nature of our species to want to understand. Just like few now contest the spherical nature of the Earth, the reality of human behavior in different social scenarios will eventually be beyond controversy. The reality, whatever it is (and as a progressive, I have my deep suspicions about what’s up) will just shine as fact.

I believe with every fiber of my being that the era of the Demon Haunted World is coming to a close. What we’re seeing now with healthcare reform, etc, is a death pang. A temper tantrum from the mythology-true-believers.

In the end, the truth always shines. It’s why Russia collapsed. 

At the end of the day, truth always wins. Humans are driven by nature to think critically and laterally. All they need is an (at least) mostly corruption-free fact base to derive facts from. So I don’t think it a coincidence that in 2008, Americans joined the rest of the developed world in proclaiming healthcare a basic human right. The masses are able, for the first time ever, to actually talk to and compare notes with citizens of other nations. And the truth, as it tends to do, shines.

This is wishful thinking. There is no truth. Even more important, there is no Truth. There are facts, but there is no “truth.” Don’t confuse the two. Truth is a universal idea, and I’m here to tell you that the universe is a pretty big place. What is the truth for me may not be the same truth for you, even when they share the same facts.

As long as there are at least two people, there will be disagreements. Even identical twins don’t agree on everything all the time.

Now, I’d like to poke a couple of holes in this quote above. When the Soviet Union started Glasnost, the newly freed press took the Communist government to task. The press pointed out all of the failures of the government, which pushed it to its downfall. With the Obama administration, the press is a willing partner in the coverup of what the administration is doing. Oh, they might report a little story, then drop the issue completely. That way they have plausible deniability. Oh, you didn’t read the 3 inch story on page E15? Sorry, you missed it.

When the press is in on the conspiracy, when appointed and unvetted ”Czars” make repressive policies based on new “interperations” of the existing laws of our country, When the administration out-and-out lies to the People and the press won’t call him on it, then we are in trouble.

When Republicans are in power, the highest form of patriotism is dissent. When the Democrats are in power, then the highest form of patriotism is obedience to the government. Does anybody see anything wrong here?

Other countries may have universal health care, but then again we aren’t other countries. Just remember, how many people leave their country for American health care, versus how many Americans go to places like Great Britain, Canada or Japan for their health care. I can give you the answer right now. Many and none.

Don’t think for a second that if we were to start universal health care, that we are going to maintain the same quality of health care that we enjoy now. It is physically and financially impossible. I’ve already gone into it, I don’t think I need to do it any more.

Besides, whatever happened to the “rugged individualism” that we Americans were known for? You know, personal responsibility and all that. Or have we become too dependent on the teat of government? Like Dr. Rogers said a couple of posts ago, if you get something without working for it, then someone else must work for it and not receive what they earned. Does that sound right to you? Because that is exactly what the Obama administration is doing.

They are taking from the “haves” and giving it to the “have nots.” But what happenes when the “haves” all get up and leave, and nobody is left but the “have nots?” When you’ve taken everything from the producers, and they have nothing left to give, how are you going to keep giving to the “have nots?” Because you can give the world to the “have nots” and they will waste it and still be the “have nots.” That’s why they are who they are. If they worked for what they had, if they earned it, if they took care of what they had, then they would be the “haves.”

If I were to take money from one person at gunpoint, then give that money to another (after keeping a modest 83% for overhead costs) then I would be arrested and charged with armed robbery. When the government does the exact same thing, it’s called taxation and “redistribution of wealth.” Tell me again how this is good.

Before I close, P L E A S E call, write, fax and visit your Senator. Tell them that you don’t want universal health care. This is going to be bad for the country and the People. If we don’t stop it here, there may be no stopping it. And that will be the disaster that will break this country.

The wisdom in the following quote just makes me shiver:

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the industrious out of it. You don’t multiply wealth by dividing it. Government cannot give anything to anybody that it doesn’t first take from somebody else. Whenever somebody receives something without working for it, somebody else has to work for it without receiving. The worst thing that can happen to a nation is for half of the people to get the idea they don’t have to work because somebody else will work for them, and the other half to get the idea that it does no good to work because they don’t get to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

~Dr. Adrian Rodgers, three-term president of the Southern Baptist Convention (1979-1980 and 1986-1988).

That right there is a out-of-the-park kind of home run. I mean, just think about it. Look at each sentence individually and realize the depth of wisdom in each one. Each one is a wisdom into itself, and the synergy of all of them together is extremely powerful.

Hat tip to (believe or not) The Memphis Liberal, although I think he meant the opposite as to what I read into it.

And so, the privledged elite gather in “Hopenhagen” to tell the rest of us how to live our lives. Copenhagen climate summit: 1,200 limos, 140 private planes and caviar wedges. I think the sub headline really spells it out: Copenhagen is preparing for the climate change summit that will produce as much carbon dioxide as a town the size of Middlesbrough.

Now, this is a UK paper, so let me tell you how big Middlesbrough is. Middlesbrough is a town in the Tees Valley conurbation of North East England and sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It is the largest and most populous settlement within the Borough of Middlesbrough, which encompasses the town and several outlying villages which have become suburbs. Population, according to a 2001 census was 142,691. So, the 20,000 attendees will emit about seven times per capita the carbon footprint as a regular person during the same time.

Of course, all of the delegates and other attendees have bought “carbon offsets” to combat the immense load of carbon they are producing. Which is utter bull, because all the carbon offset companies do is charge outragious sums of money to plant….trees.

Here are some more quotes from the article:

And this being Scandinavia, even the prostitutes are doing their bit for the planet. Outraged by a council postcard urging delegates to “be sustainable, don’t buy sex,” the local sex workers’ union – they have unions here – has announced that all its 1,400 members will give free intercourse to anyone with a climate conference delegate’s pass. The term “carbon dating” just took on an entirely new meaning.

A British paper with a sense of humor. Who would’ve thunk?

Instead of swift and modest reductions in carbon – say, two per cent a year, starting next year – for which they could possibly be held accountable, the politicians will bandy around grandiose targets of 80-per-cent-plus by 2050, by which time few of the leaders at Copenhagen will even be alive, let alone still in office.

Even if they had agreed anything binding, past experience suggests that the participants would not, in fact, feel bound by it. Most countries – Britain excepted – are on course to break the modest pledges they made at the last major climate summit, in Kyoto.

So, another part of the Liberal playbook that spells disaster for the rest of us. They set unattainable goals, which will wreck everybodies life, in order to “save the planet.” They will set standards that they don’t have to live by, but everybody else will, to assuage their guilt that “something is wrong.”

What no Liberal has yet to answer me on, is what is the “correct” tempature of the planet supposed to be? Is it one number, a range in numbers, or what? The Earth is going to heat and cool by itself, generally because of the Sun. Trying to artificially hold the tempature to one abitrary number is only going to make it worse. You will do cooling things when it gets too hot, which would take a while to get rolling, and just as long to stop. If you don’t stop soon enough, then you end up too cool, so you have to do warming things. It never ends. So, unless you know how to truly adjust the weather, despite all of the forces acting against you, you will aleays overeact and make bigger cycle swings than if you had just left it alone.

 Here’s something else to think about:

In Copenhagen there was a humbler note among some delegates. “If we fail, one reason could be our overconfidence,” said Simron Jit Singh, of the Institute of Social Ecology. “Because we are here, talking in a group of people who probably agree with each other, we can be blinded to the challenges of the other side. We feel that we are the good guys, the selfless saviours, and they are the bad guys.”

Let me repeat that last line just one more time. “We are the good guys, the selfless saviours, and they are the bad guys.” So, just because I disagree, I am not just wrong, but EEEVIL. I want to wreck the planet. Oh please.

I live on the same planet that they do, and I don’t have an exit strategy when (not if) these wingnuts screw things up beyond repair. The Sun is going to have way more impact on the weather more than my cars exhaust or my electricity useage.

Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver us from the good intentions of fools.