9/11/11

Ten years ago, today, I was out riding my bike and taking pictures of the beautiful Idaho landscape, unaware of the fact that extremists were carrying out their destructive designs 2500 miles away. I did not find out what had happened until I reported for my first day of my new job. I remember seeing, on a television, two smoking craters on the sides of the towers and thinking to myself, "Wow, that looks like a good movie." Then, I continued on my way.
When I entered the store, my boss, who had been watching the news all morning, looked at me with shock on his face, shook his head and said, "Crazy, huh?!" I had no idea what he was talking about, and told him as much. He stared at me for about a minute, in unbelief at my ignorance, and then proceeded to tell me all that had happened. As the tale unfolded, I remember thinking that it was all some sort of a hoax. Thinking, "this can't happen here!" Finally, assured that it was not a hoax, I felt sick and troubled and confused. As hours turned to days, and days turned to weeks, the grisly details came rolling in. The sick, troubled and confused feelings that I experienced intensified.
I have a few friends that used this experience to form a wedge between themselves and God. I turned to God to sort out my feelings. I know that many others did the same. If I may, (it is my blog, so I can) I would like to tell you that I know that God, the Father lives. And our Savior, Jesus Christ. Whatever anger, pain or sorrow that we may be feeling or whatever anguish or lamentations that we may have, can be swallowed up in His love. He descended beneath all things, so that He may know how to succor his people. If we turn to him, and do as he asks, he will heal our wounded hearts, and make the empty soul overflow. At this time of remembrance, let us find healing in His wings and look forward towards a brighter future.
Whatever you may think of me, I know that these things are true. They are what have sustained me throughout my life. I feel that if we forget these truths, or turn our backs on them, we are forsaking our freedoms and allowing the enemies of freedom and justice to cross our borders and reign with terror. From my reading this week, I would like to quote a passage from The March of Freedom. Edwin J. Feulner, speaking of Russell Kirk, says this: "As supporters of free enterprise, believers in democracy, and guardians of the Judaeo-Christian principles on which America was founded, we are committed to the idea that one person-even fighting against seemingly impossible odds-can change the world. We would do well to remember T.S. Eliot's words that Kirk often quoted with approval: '...there is no such thing as a Lost Cause because there is no such thing as a Gained Cause. We fight because we know that our defeat and dismay may be the preface to our successors' victory.' The Sage of Mecosta knew that 'in every period, some will endeavor to pull down the permanent things, and others will defend them manfully.' Russell Kirk cast his lot with those manning the barricades, and he invites us to be his comrades in arms." I feel that I can add little to those words.
So, this is where I will end my post today. I hope that you have enjoyed my postings. I welcome comments and/or suggestions on how I can improve my blog. Please keep them civil, as vulgar comments will be promptly removed. Enjoy!

"Everything in this bill will be paid for. Everything." -President Barack Obama

Listening to the Presidents comments last night solidified my feelings. There has been much talk of jobs and unemployment. There has been much talk, however, not much productive action.
Our President has laid forth a plan that is "iffy" at best. Here are some highlights:

• Nearly $250 billion in tax relief for individuals and businesses through tax credits and a variety of tax cuts
• $140 billion to upgrade roads, bridges and schools
• $35 billion to help keep teachers, police and firefighters on the job
• Extending and expanding a payroll tax cut that would save the typical American family $1500 in taxes in 2012.
• A payroll tax "holiday" for employers on any new hires or wages. All companies would be eligible for the break, which would apply up to $50 million in new payroll spending.
• Cut the payroll in half for businesses with payrolls of less than $5 million. (Tribune Washington Bureau)

Calvin Woodward and Tom Raum, with The Associated Press, summed it up in their opening paragraph this morning: "Everything in President Barack Obama's jobs plan will only be paid for if a committee he can't control does his bidding, if Congress puts that into law and if leaders in the future-the ones who will feel the fiscal pinch of his proposals-don't roll it back" (Woodward & Raum, 2011).
I know that there will never be a "win-win" in politics. I know that I, and We as a Nation, will never be 100% satisfied with any plan that is implemented. I know it.
I also know that we need leadership. We need someone that has experience and believes in America. Someone who shows his/her belief through their actions, along with their words. Words alone are not enough.

Reference
Woodward, C., & Raum, T. (2011, September 9). Is the President's plan paid for? Seems not.. Idaho Statesman, p. A1.

My thoughts over Labor Day weekend....

This weekend, I spent a lot of time contemplating my relationship with my father. I love him. He is a gentle man with a kind heart. He may not be perfect, he is not infallible, and I have seen him run. However, he has always welcomed me with open arms and sincere affection. I know that I can always count on him to hear me out when I have questions, concerns and grumbles that I need to verbalize. In most instances, he has been able to look past the problem and help me come to the root of the matter to find a solution.
I always know where I stand with him. He will tell me when I am acting childish; He will tell me when I am overreacting to something; He always tells me that he loves me. My fathers' love is unconditional. I am so grateful for my father.
I hope that I was not too personal with today's post. I just felt that you should know how I feel about my father. Until tomorrow,
Matty

Something I read today

Today, I started reading a fascinating book by Edwin J. Feulner titled, The March Of Freedom: Modern Classics in Conservative Thought. I would like to share a quote from my reading. Feulner (1998) stated,

"American conservatism is highly suspicious for promised utopia and earthly salvation. The purpose of politics is not redemptive, it is to carve out a system of justice, moral order and freedom, recognizing that human beings are neither perfect nor perfectible. When governments seek after utopia they end in oppression and disaster, because man and society are infinitely complex, and cannot be reshaped by an aristocracy of experts. Humility is the only proper attitude for governing authorities.

Conservatives-all conservatives from libertarian to traditionalist-believe that social power is a zero-sum game. When it is taken by government it is lost by individuals. This calls for prudent restraints on the role and reach of government. 'There must be a stopping point,' argues Charles Murray, 'some rule by which governments limit what they do for people-not just because of budget constraints, not just because of infringements on freedom (though either of these might be a sufficient reason in itself), but because happiness is impossible unless people are left alone to take trouble over important things.'" (p. xvii).

This book was written over twelve years ago. It was true then, and it is true now.

Reference:
Feulner, E. J. (1998). The march of freedom: modern classics in conservative thought. Dallas, TX: Spence Publishing Company.

Clean Energy

Clean, renewable energy is a topic that intrigues me. The idea of harnessing natural resources, like solar, water and wind powering our homes, cars, and all the other necessities of life, just seems natural. A hundred years ago, mills were powered by wind and water. We would do well to focus much of our energies on becoming more competent in this pursuit, especially in the current climate that our nation is in.
 I say competent, because in an article in the Idaho Statesman, the author, Renee Schoof of McClatchy Newspapers, poses a question: "Is U.S. losing the race to clean energy?" (Schoof, 2011, p. A1, A8). Schoof mentions that another of our country's solar-panel makers is headed for bankruptcy. Solyndra, a California solar panel maker, claims that changes to the U.S regulatory policy is to blame. Schoof writes, "Solyndra President and CEO Brian Harrison blamed the company's failure on policy changes and created oversupply and falling prices, and said it had become impossible to raise capital." (Schoof, 2011, p. A8). Schoof goes on to say that foreign competitors have claimed a large share of a growing solar-manufacturing market. According to a Department of Energy blog, the U.S. share of the solar market dropped from 43% in 1995 to 7% in 2010. "The United States was a big fish in a small pond in the 1990's, when global solar production was tiny compared with today." (Schoof, 2011, p. A8).
The article goes on to point out that Solyndra was under investigation for its use of stimulus money in 2009. This is when the company ran into financial problems and did not hire as many people as expected. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. said in a statement on Wednesday, "We smelled a rat from the onset, as the highly celebrated first stimulus loan guarantee awarded by the DOE, the $535 million loan for Solyndra was suspect from Day one." The company shut down on Wednesday and left 1100 people without jobs, and the American taxpayers with a $535 million bill.
Schoof claims that, "Solar purchases have been going up in recent years, boosted by favorable policies in Europe, Canada, China and some U.S. states. China is the biggest exporter of solar panels to the United States, followed by Mexico." Now, we are losing our shirts to foreign producers of clean energy. The DOE cited these trends in its blog post: China, which exports more solar panels to the United States than any other country, has been providing INTEREST-FREE financing to its companies. Also, European countries have been REDUCING their SUBSIDIES for solar power. Europe is the world's biggest solar market.
What can we do to become a leader again? I would like some more energy to be placed in this area, so that we are not so dependent on foreign countries. Isn't it about time that we did something that made other countries LOOK to us, and not LAUGH at us, while they pocket our money?

Reference:
Schoof, R. (2011, September 1). Is U.S. losing the race to clean energy?. Idaho Statesman, p. A1, A8.