Sam Heath
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samheath - > Sam Heath -> Common Sense and Politics?
Common Sense and Politics?

Common sense and politics should not be an oxymoron; but can politicians really be as stupid as they appear or is it a matter of some kind of disease that infects the breed? For example, is Caesar Bush really an idiot or does he just talk and behave like one? But looking at the “leadership” of America throughout the question is a legitimate one of all of these. And no sane person can fail to see our prospects of better leadership is no better whether Republican or Democrat. Which, for example, is really going to secure our borders, without which all talk of “national security” is utter nonsense, and refuse amnesty to millions of illegal aliens?

When it comes to the best laid plans “oft gang agley” I’m an expert on the subject. One particular instance of gaining such expertise in plans gone awry at an early age comes readily to mind.

    Notwithstanding Henry Thoreau’s expressed satisfaction with hoeing the weeds in his bean field “filling trenches with weedy dead,” kids being kids weeding was not high on my list of recreational activities; especially when there were more important things to do like fishing or hunting. And, being a kid, work was a matter of interpretation; if I had to do it, it was work; if I wanted to do it, it wasn’t (funny how that never changes). And, being a kid, just like Tom Sawyer I looked for the easiest way to get the job done.

    However, unlike Tom who had unwitting victims of his con readily at hand to escape personal drudgery I was left alone to my own devices. So it was that I nearly burned down one of the cabins on our mining claim.

    It was summer and the weeds, almost all foxtails, were really dry; a real fire threat. But, I figured, I was smart enough to keep the fire from getting too close to the cabin. And think of all the time and energy I would save in the process. So, laying the hoe aside and striking a match, I lit the stuff off.

    It’s truly amazing how fast fire travels in dry weeds. In no time at all it had reached the side of the cabin. It’s equally amazing how fast a kid can move when inspired by the image of a grandfather with belt in hand, ready to administer the appropriate punishment for catastrophic lazy foolishness.

    Inspired by the threat of certain punishment at the hands of grandad I immediately, with my bare hands, began to throw copious amounts of sand and dirt upon the threatening flames. My effort would have shamed the most industrious badger going after a ground squirrel.

    Helped along by a legion of guardian angels, I managed to extinguish the impending holocaust. Only then did I wonder why, in my “planning,” I didn't have the presence of mind to have a bucket of water handy? Simple; the stupid cabin wasn’t supposed to catch fire! Also, lacking the niceties of electricity and indoor plumbing I would have had to pump the water from the well by hand, and you just didn’t pump a bucket of water unless you really needed it. I was the innocent victim of a plan gone awry. I chopped the rest of the weeds with sore and bloody hands.

Stupid! Certainly; and looking back I can only wonder at such stupidity on my part even as a kid. But nevertheless, there it is; a constant reminder from my past that I have done some really stupid things.

Common sense should have dictated at the very least a bucket of water and a shovel, not just a hoe should have been on hand. That I had not attended to these common sense matters was proof of definite malfunction in brain processes.

Folks, if we are hoping, many praying, for common sense to come to the rescue and prevail among our elected leaders the prospect for such a thing is dismal. In fact, many of the actions on the part of politicians easily equate with the lack of common sense on my part burning those weeds without the essential water and tools at the ready. Stupid!

But politicians are not stupid. They gain elected office through making deals for money; then they stay in office by keeping those supplying them the money happy by legislation increasing the wealth of their supporters. And while not being stupid here is where their acts of stupidity, their lack of common sense derive through greed and avarice, the lust for power and authority over others making them eunuchs of common sense.

That this is an evil system of government that can only aid increasing such evil and the suffering of the great majority of people who are struggling day by day to just make a living is inconsequential to those who rise to power and authority by those who amass wealth through the mechanism of wage slavery. And the mass invasion by millions of illegal aliens from Mexico, that barbarian nation using America to dump its refuse population plays directly into the hands of the powerful whose only interest is in slave labor in order to increase the wealth of the powerful few.

In Key Largo, Bogart tells Rocco he knows what the gangster wants: “More.” To which Rocco replies, “Yeah, that’s it! More!” The line may well have been taken from Jesus who pointed out the love of money is the root of every kind of evil. What does it take to satisfy people like Rocco? More! And those who would increase riches are seldom people of virtue, but on the contrary the distinction between gangster and those “within the law” becomes quite blurred, and as a class none so epitomize Rocco than politicians.

Those among our elected leadership dancing to the tune of the ACLU intent on either making America over into its image or destroying America will do nothing to prevent the mass invasion of millions from Mexico since all from Caesar Bush on down see only the money generated from slave labor benefiting only the wealthy who pay to elect and keep their politicians in office, not the suffering of American citizens being extorted by taxation without representation to pay the bills.

Long ago it was obvious government jobs were outpacing those in the private sector when it came to wages and benefits. In this manner the number of drones feeding at the public tax trough was being rewarded far in excess of the ordinary working class. In this way a Federal Caesar and lesser state vassals has gained such power and authority as to disdain the masses of people who are becoming nothing more than slaves to this despotic tyrant promising “Forty acres and a mule” to the millions of Mexicans invading and colonizing America.

This worked for corrupt Carpetbaggers and Scalawags intent on punishing and plundering a defenseless South following Lincoln’s War. But the result was a nation divided despite Lincoln’s plagiarizing rhetoric. And the pandering of politicians for votes distinctive of the class has only continued to divide America.

It may take a 9/11 here in my native state to get the attention of politicians who are selling out and betraying us for power and authority, for the sake of slave labor and the “Latino vote.” But whether or not there is no discounting the fact California is fast becoming a nightmare of wage slavery as a consequence of this lack of common sense on the part of our “leadership” to deal with the growing nightmare of millions of illegal aliens from Mexico.

Of this I am certain. While I may have been saved from my own act of stupidity by divine intervention from burning the cabin down, I wouldn’t look for such intervention on the part of either California or America when the leadership acts so stupidly it appears to believe it can burn the weeds while not having the proper tools on hand to prevent the flames from threatening the cabin. That such tools are not available is not the fault of those possessed of common sense, but the fault of those like the ACLU and others that believe you can burn the weeds without the necessary tools on hand to prevent catastrophe.

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posted by samheath on Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 08:55 AM
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posted by randomfactor on Aug 20, 2006 at 11:01 AM
Sam, I challenge you to write a single politically-themed column without demonizing the ACLU--which recently helped us win a major battle against "Caesar Bush."  Is it possible you've been misled by those supporting Bush into demonizing the wrong group?  Their involvement, by design, is to prevent the accumulation and use of too much power by the government. 
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 20, 2006 at 11:56 AM
He is one sick dude, no doubt about it.  He must be really obsessed (or possessed) by something ill upstairs if he is so compelled into twisting even the most unrelated topics into reasons to hate the ACLU.

I'll say it again:

Sick, hateful man, he is.
posted by anonymous on Aug 20, 2006 at 12:15 PM
There you go again, equating the hate for immigrants with the desire for cheap labor, which is only a secondary issue.
The real issue is you and your fellow travelers for anyone other than "good" white people like you, but I guess the ACLU did it. One day you will wake up, but than honefully not wake  but nevertheless realize that you are NOT too smart for others to see your.
 transparancy.

But what the hell, you are what Kern can afford, a less educated Lou Dobbs clone, who by the way is just an educated rush Limbaugh, other than that you are a great white guy.

Well, have a good Sunday, you are a blessed white man, but than aren't they all?
posted by tonyh on Aug 20, 2006 at 12:57 PM
Well put Sam,

I think you're right about the Great Political Sell-out. Too many people can't or won't see it. The ones who actually benefit are oh, so happy to let the liberal will be done, to a point. That's what puts more money in their pockets.


.......and they say that the "Robber Baron" era is past...............hmmm.
posted by samheath on Aug 20, 2006 at 01:15 PM

Quite correct Tony, and not all the philosophers or economists, not all the prophets or social engineers to date have been able to drive the final stake into this Dracula. He just keeps arising from his coffin to suck the blood of his victims.

posted by motopoet on Aug 20, 2006 at 04:34 PM
I find it amusing that the left has no tolerance of the views of others. You call Sam sick because he disagrees with the role of the ACLU in politics, but you want to demonize anything YOU disagree with and tell the right they need to be tolerant. As usual, your double standards define your opinions and direction.
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 20, 2006 at 08:22 PM
You would do well to begin by not trying to sort everything into "right" and "left."

I didn't call him right or left, just sick.  In fact, I noted in other posts that he expresses at least as many "liberal" views as "conservative" views.

Disagreeing with the ACLU's policies is OK.

Slandering them by demonizing them for every little thing -- things in which they are not even involved -- is not OK.

But then I think you already knew that.  Quit playing the victim.
posted by dusty1215 on Aug 21, 2006 at 02:06 PM
The ACLU represents every side..politics have no bearing. They have taken cases that made my head spin..but the underlying issue was always the same...someone was getting the shaft,regardless of their politics or personal views. Its about Civil friggin Liberties..and thats it..nothing sinister, nothing ulterior..just civil liberties. Hitler buddies, KKK boys and a host of other scum bags have been represented by the ACLU and how anyone can twist that into a leftwing organization is beyond me.
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 21, 2006 at 02:14 PM
In today's rewritten (and largely inverted) political language, it is "left wing" to believe in protecting freedom.

Strange people -- they can applaud our troops for (supposedly) protecting our freedoms, yet they hate organizations that actually do protect our freedoms -- and thus make America worth fighting for.

I'd enlist and fight for a free America; I wouldn't fight for Tom DeLay's or James Dobson's America.
posted by tonyh on Aug 22, 2006 at 06:27 AM
H4F,

Your last comment shows just what kind of person you really are. "I'd enlist and fight for a free America; I wouldn't fight for Tom DeLay's or James Dobson's America". THIS IS OUR AMERICA..................All of ours.


You have NO idea what a NON Free country even looks like, do you? Have you ever BEEN to a country that wasn't free, like the USA? Based on your comment, I really doubt it.


If "You'd enlist and fight", GO AND DO IT! Don't hide behind made-up excuses. Otherwise, don't even go there with that comment. I'm a Vet and proud of my service. There are many things that I don't like about MY country, but I still invested 4 years of my life to preserve this place. I didn't hide behind any excuses.
posted by NancyII on Aug 22, 2006 at 06:39 AM
The comment above about "you'd do well not to sort everything into right and left" made me raise my eyebrows.  That's done every day here by any number of regular posters who openly self proclaim their left views and how constantly talk about how stupid or naive people are who are on the right.  I can't believe anyone on here would make a statement criticizing someone for "sorting".
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 06:51 AM
Sorry, TonyH, I am going to go there, whether you like it or not.

Phrases like "live free or die" and "give me liberty or give me death" reflect the heart of the human spirit.  Most everyone will fight for their freedoms; it's part of us.  (The war we are currently in isn't about protecting our freedom, and most people know it.  If it were a war for our freedoms, we wouldn't be having recruiting problems.)

But I know exactly what Tom DeLay's and James Dobson's dreams are, and they are not a free America.  People like me would likely not be treated as full citizens.

Would you fight for a country (more accurately, a country's government) that is doing what it can to harm you and take away from your pursuit of happiness?  If you were an Iraqi, would you fight for Saddam Hussein?  If you were a Cuban, would you fight for Fidel Castro?

If you would, then you're a masochist.

If you can't grasp that simple concept, I'll know what kind of person you really are.
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 06:52 AM
And Nancy, calling me "left" simply because I defend a pro-freedom organization didn't raise your eyebrows a bit?
posted by NancyII on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:04 AM
Hardliner..I didn't call you left.  I just commented on your comment about how we shouldn't sort people in boxes of right and left but it's done all the time by everyone on here.
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:05 AM
No, but your son did.  That's what inspired my comment about "sorting everything into right and left."

agree wholeheartedly with not trying to sort everyone and everything and right and left.  But somehow, I'm not supposed to say anything when it's done to me.

posted by NancyII on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:19 AM
Hardliner..that's exactly how I feel here.  And the way any conservative feels when they post political views here.  We're not supposed to say anything against the mainstream blog opinions because to do so invites insults.   

Some, as in Marks case, do anyway and almost without fail it brings a snotty comment from someone.   Not you in this case...just a chastisement about not sorting when it's done constantly here by everyone else.

In any case...we all "sort" people based on the differences in their beliefs whether it's political, religious, or social.

I hesitated to even comment on this blog because I knew the "your son" thing would come up and it would look like I was defending him.  He's the last person I know who needs defending since he's perfectly capable of defending himself and doesn't need me to do it for him.  I put comments in siding with people all the time and it's rarely commented on but If I say anything after one of Marks posts I hear about it.

Sorry if I sound a little touchy but the reference to who Mark is wasn't necessary, or pertinent to this discussion.
posted by tonyh on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:31 AM
I said it once and I'll say it again. It isn't Tom DeeLay's or James Dobson't America. It's OUR AMERICA. Mine, Yours, .....OURS. 


What part of that don't you understand? If you want to change it, fine. VOTE. Decide where to (and not to) spend your dollars.


I didn't serve in the Iraqui, or Cuban Military. I didn't serve in the Tom DeLay and James Dobson Military. I served in the United States Military. The Military or OUR COUNTRY. I did it without hiding behind excuses too. You have to defend and preserve what you HAVE, so it's around for YOU to change the parts that you don't like. Believe it or not, THIS IS A FREE AMERICA. I know that you have nothing to compare it to, but take it from those who've actually seen countries that weren't free. This place is free, or YOU'd be in jail by now, for some of your blog comments. Quite frankly, I'm damn glad you aren't locked up. It tells me that the four years of my life weren't wasted. They were time well spent.
posted by anonymous on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:34 AM
Qoute from Hardliner;
Phrases like "live free or die" and "give me liberty or give me death" reflect the heart of the human spirit.  Most everyone will fight for their freedoms; it's part of us.  (The war we are currently in isn't about protecting our freedom, and most people know it.  If it were a war for our freedoms, we wouldn't be having recruiting problems.)

Latest recruting data for the year as of Aug.


Aug 11 2006

The Department of Defense has announced its recruiting and retention statistics by the active and reserve components for the month of July. This marks the 14th consecutive month the active duty services have met or exceeded their goals.

Active duty recruiting. All services exceeded their recruiting goals in July. The Army recruited 10,890 out of a goal of 10,450 (104 percent). The Navy recruited 4,043 out of a goal of 4,043 (100 percent). The Marine Corps recruited 3,197 out of a goal of 2,865 (112 percent). The Air Force recruited 2,130
out of a goal of 2,121 (100 percent).

posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:36 AM
Nancy, I take your second paragraph to heart.

There are many times that I want to point out to a liberal blogger that s/he isn't being fair to Republicans or conservatives.  I used to do just that from time to time.

Rightly or wrongly, I decided to stop doing so.  It just seemed as if there was no point in being fair when nobody would remember anyway.  I can't count the number of times I tried being nice to John Derouche (remember him) and pointing out our common ground.  Yet without fail, he'd hit me with another broadbrush slam about being "liberal" as if nothing I wrote had ever been written.

Maybe I've been here too long, but I just got tired of trying to be nice to people whom its useless to be nice to.

I still jump in when I feel someone is unfairly criticizing Christianity or Christians.  (But then again, I don't see being Christian as a right/left issue, and I wish more people agreed with me there.)  But does anyone remember?   Naaa....
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:37 AM
Fair enough, Anny.
posted by tonyh on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:42 AM
It looks like THOSE people didn't need excuses to hide behind either. Maybe they believe the same way I do. "Protect and defend what you have, so it's around to changes the parts that you don't like, later". 


Gee Whizzzz! That'd be a strange thing for my "Average Joe" attitude to actually BE "Average Joe".


HMMMMMMMMM, ...........Maybe the tone of these blogs ISN'T so Mainstream America after all ;-)
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:47 AM
I am protecting what I have -- by political activity.  If your logical abilities were a little more advanced, you'd glean from this thread one of the ways that I am protecting the freedoms of America.

So get off your ass -- I mean your high horse.
posted by NancyII on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:56 AM
Hardliner..For the most part you and I are on the same page.    My views tend to be what I think...and are not bound by hard line right.  I just tend to lean that way.   Thanks for understanding.

As for religion being right or left?  I doubt God cares is there's an R or a D after your name.  He mostly cares if there's a prayer in your heart.  We definitely agree about that.  I don't care if somene is atheist or agnostic or Christian or Jewish...you will NEVER see me criticize them for their beliefs..or lack of.  I would appreciate the same courtesy.  Just as I would appreciate the same courtesy in my political beliefs.

And Tony...the only mainstream thing about these blogs is that they are primarily left.  Which is fine..it gives me something to chew on.  ;-)
posted by tonyh on Aug 22, 2006 at 07:59 AM
Your I'd enlist, BUT...........statement was crap. If you would, then do it. If you won't, that's fine too. Stay home and keep the home front going while others enlist and go fight. We need people at home also. Just, don't start that "I would enlist, but..........." crap. If you Will, go and do it. If you won't, then don't. No excuses. It belittles and trivializes the efforts of those in uniform, standing watch RIGHT NOW.


Walk into a group of Active Duty Military people and start that "I'd enlist, but............" stuff. I guarantee you'll wake up wondering what happened. It's the ultimate insult.
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 08:15 AM

Okay, I see it from your perspective.  I'll word the point a little differently next time.

I think most people, when they use that statement, are speaking a little more conceptually.  They're probably unaware of how vets see it.  I know I was.

posted by randomfactor on Aug 22, 2006 at 08:25 AM

Sadly, I wouldn't advise any young person to enlist in the military right now.  The US military has been so sadly misused over the past five years, for political and economic aims rather than its true purpose.  That will be the worse legacy of the past few years, that they have purposely degraded the safety and defense of this country for the most venal of reasons.

.

The "enlistment targets met" story is obtained by manipulating those targets, not by increasing enlistments. 

 

posted by ProgressivePete2 on Aug 22, 2006 at 08:28 AM
I like and believe this statement.

I said it once and I'll say it again. It isn't Tom DeeLay's or James Dobson't America. It's OUR AMERICA. Mine, Yours, .....OURS.

The problem is that DeLay and Dobson don't believe it's ours, they believe it's theirs and they don't want people like me in their America.


Nancy, I sort all the time (suprise!). Yeah, I'll admit it any day of the week. I don't call people stupid for their views though. It's not a very good way to communicate, and it closes the dialogue.
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 08:36 AM
That's the point I was trying to make, Pete.  Tom DeLay and James Dobson don't think this is everyone's America.

"James Dobson's America" is just an abbreviated way of saying "the kind of America that James Dobson is trying to bring into existence."
posted by ProgressivePete2 on Aug 22, 2006 at 08:43 AM
That's also why the "liberals" on these blogs are so defensive. We had to sit by and watch those types criticize us and make us think that our views are wrong just because we're "liberal" so we had to stand up for all Americans. I've never felt that any of us are trying to say that our view is the only acceptable one, but rather to defend our views. Tom DeLay for example only wants a permanant  republican majority in our government. I want a balance, because it's important that in a free diverse country such as ours, all views are represented.
posted by Hardliner4freedom on Aug 22, 2006 at 02:28 PM
Spoke too soon...

Marines to issue involuntary call-ups
Corps faces shortage of volunteers for deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id...
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