What Do We Want? $15!

When do we want it? …….Now!

Photo via socialist alternative

Today listening to Dave Ramsey I made a note of a brilliant observation, which is, to paraphrase, that every person has an intrinsic, God given value as a human being. This should NOT be confused with their ECONOMIC value, which is the value of their work to an employer.

Over the past couple months our news here in the Seattle area has been replete with demonstrations, town halls, and picketing to have the minimum wage raised to $15 an hour in the City of Sea-Tac and the City of Seattle. The typical argument shows no concept of economics, and no concept of ‘starting wages’ for someone on their first job.

And now that the Seattle City Council has it’s first freely elected socialist council member they dialog has been elevated to an even higher level of B.S.

In Socialist Sawant’s words, It is “the nature of capitalism to crush small business . . . capitalism overwhelmingly sets up small business for failure,” (Seattle Times)

Neglecting of course that capitalism is what makes small business possible.

I am sickened to see the country’s shift. I don’t know if I am posting this message to whine, or vent, or just commiserate with others while we watch our freedom go down the tubes, but anyway, there it is.  I’m having one of those days where I feel pretty hopeless about our future. But let me add one thing.

Capitalism is a by-product of freedom. At it’s core it is human beings who have found a common value, in our case the dollar, with which to interact in trade with other human beings. The market gives consumers what they want and rewards producers who give consumers what they want. A business person cannot get rich without benefitting scores of people around him, from employees to car sales to gardeners and day care workers. That’s just how it is.

One more observation. My son-in-law was recently in an economics class at Washington State University. At the end of the semester the professor commented that the students this year were less prepared and had less of a grasp of economics that those of previous years.

My prediction is that he will see it get even worse. Socialist thinking is widespread, especially in Washington state, and has been conditioning youth to think counter to logic, and to believe rhetoric rather than take the time to observe what is real.

Meanwhile, the $15 per hour wage already approved in Sea-Tac might just be the tipping point for some businesses to either close, or rely more heavily on automation, but the chances are that the city of Seattle will rush into their own higher minimum wage before they can see the fruits of similar efforts in Sea-Tac.

You may be worth millions to dear old mom, but not to Ronald McDonald.

-Lynnae

GOP Convention

Despite last night’s highlights for me, Mia Love and the wonderful Ann Romney, I was a little irritated with the coverage on FOX News. I think they covered more of the convention than other cable news channels, but too many times they would tune in to a speech, only to cut away 5 minutes later for interviews or a panel discussion. As funny as it was to see Juan Williams make his ‘Ann Romney is a corporate wife’ comment and then see him missing from the panel a few minutes later, I would like to hear speeches in there entirety.

So tonight I’m parking it on C-Span, except maybe for the musical acts. I may turn it back to FOX but as soon as some one hits the podium I’m going back to C-Span.

The theme last night- We Built It. I love it. It’s genius! That simple phrase illustrates the difference in our values and those of President Obama. And now democrats are whining “That’s not what he meant” like a bunch of babies. No wonder what context you take that phrase “You didn’t build that” in, it still means the same. Maybe even worse on closer inspection. You are what you are because of government, not your ideas, labor, or sacrifice.

Despite Obama having a large section of the media in his pocket, occasionally something comes along so clear and concise that people just get it and pop culture runs with it.

And I think my favorite line so far tonight would have to be from Tim Pawlenty,  “Barach Obama has failed us. But look, it’s understandable. A lot of people fail at their first job”.

-Lynnae

Home Sweet Underwater-Eminent Domoain-Bank Cheating Home.

According to the Los Angeles Times, cities in San Bernardino and two other counties have a great idea to relieve the suffering of homeowners whose homes are underwater- worth much less than the mortgage they hold on them. The clever plan is for the city to confiscate the property using ‘eminent domain’ laws, and then return it to the bank with the understanding that a new loan to the current homeowner would be made at the current value of the house. Sounds just peachy, right?

In reality the bank is also an owner of the home. True, they are an ‘evil corporation’, but they own the home nonetheless.

This makes me wonder why the government is so intent on destroying the banking industry as we know it. Surely there are some entities dreaming of a world where all loans are held by the government. And when the government holds all loans, they will ultimately have the power to control all loans given, and be the judge in whether or not a certain loan (or type of house, boat or car) is appropriate for you.

But the point I’d really like to make is regarding the importance of contracts in our free society. The ability to enter into a contract, and to have it be honored by the law and upheld by the courts is what separates us from third world banana republic countries. When contracts are no longer upheld, or they are able to be dissolved for some motive popular to the people in charge, we are one step closer to a ‘might makes right’ system of government.

Cornell Law Professor Robert C. Hockett, advisor to Mortgage Resolution Partners, the designer of the proposal, does not see it that way, declaring “This is actually a pro-market solution”.

Hmmmm.

Lynnae

Summer Travel, Conservative Reading

My husband was gone for another month recently for more army training. They spent some days in the field where he got to put his new uniforms to the test, not with life or death supplies like our soldiers overseas, but things important to him nonetheless. Because I have a public blog I don’t like to broadcast the fact that he’s gone, when he’s gone, but I sure am glad when he’s home again.

Things have been pretty busy around here preparing for my daughter’s wedding. One thing we did was go down to New Orleans to meet my future Son-in-law’s family. It went well. I got along great with his mom, it felt to me like we were old friends. And to my surprise and satisfaction, his dad is another one of us crazy conservative types like me. Our conversation went from the presidency to voting, to scripture to great books we’ve read. Once you’ve realized that you have many of the same favorite books, then you really know a lot about someone (i.e. they are as awesome as you are, haha). So that went well.

Speaking of favorite books, the long out of print “An Enemy Hath Done This” by Ezra Taft Benson is back in print by a company named Freedom-Books. As a former Secretary of Agriculture under Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ezra Taft Benson fought against farm subsidies from the government in order to preserve a free market farming system back in the 50’s. He later became the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Ezra Taft Benson warned against forces in society that were seeking to overthrow the freedom of this country. This book contains many speeches to the Boy Scouts Of America and other organizations, on constitutional topics and is very relevant today, though the facts and figures have changed dramatically over the years. (I think most of the speeches were given in the ‘60’s). I ordered a new copy recently because I had given mine away. I need a few more! So if you haven’t heard of it or read this book, check it out. It is one of my ‘MUST READ’s’.

-Lynnae

Historic Win for GOP

Yesterday was a historic win in the House of Representatives for Republicans and conservatives.

This morning I hear the Democrats say “now is the time for us to work together and compromise”.

Firstly, why do the LOSERS get to define what we do now?

My second issue of the day is the constant whine I’ve heard from some sore loser Democrats, that goes something like this:

“All Republicans can do is complain about Obama’s Health Care and stimulus. They have presented no plan of their own. (Waaaah!) All they can do is tear down but where’s their plan to help the economy? Where’s their plan?”

I don’t know if said Democrats really are thinking this or is they are just trying to feed a talking point to young, whiny, first-vote-ever 18 year old girls who don’t know Boehner and Reid from Edward and Jacob.

But the best plan to put the economy back on track is for the government to GET OUT OF THE WAY!

The government is putting a stranglehold on the neck of productive workers and businesses. Adjusting the grip of the stranglehold slightly will not help. Let go! Let Americans do the work they want to do. Let businesses plan and risk and build with an assurance that the ground will have some stability, instead of the ever shifting quagmire of regulations, laws and taxes that Obama is threatening them with.

By what right does Obama say that $250,000.00 a year is a magic cutoff? By what right does he protect someone making $240,000.00 and PUNISH someone making $260,000.000?

And I know health care seems compassionate, but in the end we will all be worse off. Socialized medicine is an assault on democracy, and an assault on the freedom of the American people.

-Lynnae

Thomas Sowell

Please read Thomas Sowell's wonderful column from yesterday, "the Degeneration of Democracy". I am a huge Thomas Sowell fan and this article was fantastic.

Thomas Sowell

-Lynnae

A Cry for Freedom from Venezuela

Today I am linking to the blog of a young woman living under the Chavez regime.

Please visit ‘The End of Venezuela As I Know It’ . I know my readers aren’t the ones that need to hear it, but I wish more Americans would take the time to glimpse a little further down the road that we are headed in if we don’t change direction. It is easier to preserve the freedoms while we have them than to let them slip away and fight to regain them.

-Lynnae

Vlademir Lenin and I

When a little girl plays house it’s all fun. You get to clink your tea set and lay your dolly in the cradle, yet you can drop it all and run out to play whenever you want.

You can do this because there is a mommy around to put the toys away and dredge up the gooey cracker crumbs from dolly’s mouth.  Someone makes it all possible and someone cleans up the mess.

This musing comes as a result of visiting a famous statue of Vlademir Lenin on a street corner in Freemont in Seattle, Washington.

The statue was originally erected in Czeckoslovakia, in collaboration with the Russians, but was quietly taken down after the revolution. An English teacher from Issaquah, Washington, found it is a refuse pile (dustheap of history???) and purchased it to bring to the states. More of the story can be read here.

Now the perpetual children in Freemont can hang out in groovy coffee shops paying extra for their organic brew, professing the sensitivity and good intentions of socialism, and even communism, and turn a blind eye to the atrocious results of those systems, because they were lucky enough to be born in a land of freedom and entrepreneurs, a justice structure and a Bill of Rights.

I have heard people spit out the word ‘Capitalism’ as if it were a slur, while they enjoy the rewards of it every day.

Capitalists don’t get rich on their own. Yes, they dream big and they take risks, but in order to expand their dreams and be productive they need people. They train workers, they purchase land, they build. They scoop up in their wake others who need a steady income, who try to be dependable though they might not have the genius, strength, or desire to start a company of their own.

Redistribution of wealth does not create wealth. It never has and never will.

Not that wealth is the most important thing. It is merely a side effect of FREEDOM.

Republican Response to State Of The Union

 

I admit I did not watch all of President Obama’s State of the Union address. I tried, a few times. Caught a little before dinner, and was able to see some more after. It doesn’t really matter though to me because most of what he says I strongly disagree with, and anything sensible he may say is probably just a lie to pander to moderates.

I did watch all of Gov. McDonnell’s response and I loved it. I kept thinking “That is a great line”, and “That is a great quote”

Before I get to that I will add that it was brilliant to do the response from the Virginia State Capitol with an audience. I’m sure this will set a precedent for Republicans and Democrats alike.

You know I love quotes, so lets get on with it-

My favorite quotes from the speech:

“Good government policy should spur economic growth, and strengthen the private sector's ability to create new jobs.

We must enact policies that promote entrepreneurship and innovation, so America can better compete with the world.

What government should not do is pile on more taxation, regulation, and litigation that kill jobs and hurt the middle class.

It was Thomas Jefferson who called for "A wise and frugal Government which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry ....and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned..." He was right.”

On the topic of health care:

“All Americans agree, we need a health care system that is affordable, accessible, and high quality.

But most Americans do not want to turn over the best medical care system in the world to the federal government.

Republicans in Congress have offered legislation to reform healthcare, without shifting Medicaid costs to the states, without cutting Medicare, and without raising your taxes.

We will do that by implementing common sense reforms, like letting families and businesses buy health insurance policies across state lines, and ending frivolous lawsuits against doctors and hospitals that drive up the cost of your healthcare.

And our solutions aren't thousand-page bills that no one has fully read, after being crafted behind closed doors with special interests.”

(italics are mine)

On government over-reach:

“Here at home government must help foster a society in which all our people can use their God-given talents in liberty to pursue the American Dream. Republicans know that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but we strongly believe that it must guarantee equality of opportunity for all.

That opportunity exists best in a democracy which promotes free enterprise, economic growth, strong families, and individual achievement.

Many Americans are concerned about this Administration's efforts to exert greater control over car companies, banks, energy and health care.

Over-regulating employers won't create more employment; overtaxing investors won't foster more investment.

Top-down one-size fits all decision making should not replace the personal choices of free people in a free market, nor undermine the proper role of state and local governments in our system of federalism. As our Founders clearly stated, and we Governors understand, government closest to the people governs best.”

Amen!

-Lynnae

A Few Thoughts on Health Care

Health care is a service industry.

A patient receives a service in exchange for monetary compensation.

It’s a lot like the service a dry cleaner, a grocery store, or auto mechanic may provide.

From the time we were kids, most of us heard that a consumer must know the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’. It seems now that our modern society is so accustomed to the instant gratification of their ‘wants’, that they think it is up to someone else to provide for their ‘needs’.

Somewhere along the line companies began offering health insurance as a benefit to attract a competitive workforce, just as some companies offer benefits like a gym membership or a town car.

I might wish that had never happened, because it leads us to where we are now, and yet I would not wish to interfere with the compensation that a business chooses to pay it’s employees.

But here we are in 2009, and because people have sought employers that provide this valuable perk, now many think it is the government’s place to provide health care for those who do not have it. Employment also provides you the cash to by food. Is that now the responsibility of the government? You might say it is, in the form of food stamps. I would reply that both health care and food may be provided in an emergency, as a safety net, but the amount given and the time frame served should be limited in order to encourage a return to the individual or family providing for themselves.

Let’s look at it from the point of view of the health care professional.

Here you may have a youth who studied while the other teens were out having fun. A young adult who continued in medical school while their peers were finishing their schooling and embarking on careers. A man or woman who’s young family sacrificed financially during residency…..All with the plan that his investment of time and effort will pay off someday when his expertise earns him a good living.

Government control of the health care industry meddles with this plan, changing the rules on the healthcare worker once he has already invested his time and energy. The more the government is involved, the more restrictions there will be on the medical professionals, causing good doctors with other prospects to leave the field, and discouraging others from seeking that path.

Government involvement in any market introduces escalating inefficiency. And as much as we like to think of health care in an altruistic way, it is still a service that must be done by someone, and like any market, will always be subject to inefficiency in direct proportion to the government involvement forced upon it.

-Lynnae