Jim's Place

"If that's liberalism, no thanks..."

Happy Tuesday guys! Still not feeling up to a workout but at least I did get out and vote! For me, this election boiled down to freedom or tyranny. It seems obvious to me that Obama is the most corrupt and tyrannical President in American history. Although he's not on the ballot, anything that can be done to stop him is a step towards liberty - and not just for conservatives, but even his supporters.

From what I've seen, most liberals support or at least turn a blind eye to the constant attack on religious freedom, the second amendment and personal liberty in general. They're perfectly fine with the principle of violating others' rights if it promotes their agenda. Well, even if your agenda is noble, supporting the tyrannical approach being used by Obama and the Democratic party is 50 shades of wrong. And in the big picture, you're actually supporting giving up your own liberty by establishing the precedent that liberty should be sacrificed if those in power decide it's okay to take it from you.

I'm a compassionate person who tries to understand a person's perspective on controversial issues such as same-sex marriage, tax policy, abortion, healthcare, marijuana legalization, environmental issues, etc. I know a lot of liberals genuinely want to do the right thing and just disagree with conservatives on what the right thing is. I think it's great to stand up for what you believe - but with integrity and respect for opposing views, which seems to be rare on the left.

That tolerance of different viewpoints is glaringly absent from the Democratic party and apparently from most of the liberal universe. Not only is there a lack of tolerance, but an epidemic of downright bigotry and vitriol towards those fellow Americans whose only offense is to believe differently. Yes, there are those on the right who are crude and disrespectful in their treatment of liberals, but they are the exceptions. By and large conservatives just want to live their lives in a moral and responsible manner and are respectful of those who don't have the same beliefs. Mostly, they take a live-and-let-live perspective towards others and just go on about their lives...until those others become hell-bent on attacking their freedom...

In today's warped media, a conservative standing up for his rights is a bigot, but the liberal trying to take them away is a hero. Under the guise of social and economic justice, those who have earned a great deal of wealth are demonized and stereotyped as greedy and evil. Of course, if that rich person is a liberal, then they are worshipped by the left.

Christians are portrayed by the left as pretty much the worst evil on the planet. Nothing could be further from the truth. Frankly, the answer for America's problems is not atheism or turning away from God. Even unbelievers would fare much better if this nation had more Christianity.

It appalls me to read the vile, crude and demeaning terms the left commonly uses to characterize Republicans, Christians and conservatives - and especially the Tea Party and Sarah Palin. And no, it's not the same on the right - not even close. And even worse is that those demonizing characterizations are based on nothing more than lies and convenient distortions of the truth. Frankly, liberalism as it's mostly practiced today is a low-class, angry, vindictive pursuit to get even with people who actually haven't done you any harm. Underlying the agenda, is a vested interest in being a victim, anything necessary to blame others rather than accept responsibility for your own life and your own happiness - and your own poor choices.

If conservatism was actually what the media and liberals portrayed it as, I wouldn't have anything to do with it. But thank God, I'm able to see through the epidemic of lies and deception that have swept the nation in recent times. My prayer is that the people who were deceived by Obama realize they were had by a con-artist and a liar, who will say or do anything in the pursuit of power - the country and it's citizens be damned...

I'm all for compassion, generosity, caring for the poor and downtrodden, safety nets for people who really need it, conservation and respect for our natural resources and parks, etc. but if you're going to pursue your agenda by trying to destroy fellow citizens who have done no wrong, then count me out... If that is what liberalism is going to continue to be, then I hope this election is the beginning of its demise. One of the profound messages that I hope this election sends to the Democratic party and its constituents is to find a more constructive and honorable way to promote those issues that you feel passionate about...and never again demonstrate such blatant disrespect for the freedoms and liberty that so many Americans have fought and died for...

Integrity...it starts at the top

Happy Tuesday guys! Hope you're enjoying the first day of October! This is one of my favorite months! I'm ready for a little cooler weather, not that the summers in San Diego are anywhere near as hot as the summers were growing up in Fort Worth!

I tend to leave politics out of my posts, but this so-called government shutdown has really dominated the news. The way this is being portrayed is yet another example of the lack of integrity in the current administration. My overall view is that in the last 30 years or so integrity has gone out of fashion for a large percentage of the population. When I was growing up it was generally believed that it was always best to do the right thing. Anyone who was dishonest or manipulative or took advantage of others was looked down upon by most of society. But oh how the times have changed...

Somewhere along the way, young people were led to believe that doing the right thing was an old fashioned and out-of-date idea. Over time, principles that had stood the test of time were eschewed for a much more "flexible" approach. Instead of defining what is right or wrong popular psychology promotes the idea that truth is whatever you want it to be - you can have your "personal truth" and I can have mine. No more judgment. No more shame. No more absolutes. Total freedom! What's not to love?!

I'm not debating lifestyle choices or cultural issues other than that so many people have bought into the notion that your best bet is to make your decisions based on what is perceived as most advantageous to you and those you care about - while excluding the consideration of what is right and what is wrong. They are driven by personal advantage rather than by principle.

That is what I see as the cornerstone of the current administration. The president talks a good game, but it's clear to me that he's simply not a man of integrity. My instincts tell me I'm looking at someone with evil intent, but I'd like to think it's only that he's just not up to the job. And his administration is dominated by people who aren't constrained by any moral structure, but rather driven only by what they want, regardless of how destructive it might be to the American people.

It used to be that such a person would have been run out of office for such a lack of integrity, but much of our society has decided that character doesn't matter - that as long as you get what you want, such as support for gay marriage, or benefits from the government, etc - that it's okay to have a person of questionable character as President.

I suppose this downhill direction was inevitable when so much of our society started to view the Bible as irrelevant and that the answer to happiness was more freedom rather than the old fashioned moral constraints of the past. If I saw that such "enlightenment" was bearing fruit, I might be tempted to jump on board with the nicely-packaged New Age approach to spirituality and life.

I personally think it's quite simple. You can tap dance around it all you want. You can take the Mr. Potato Head approach to spiritually - where you build your own God anyway you like. You can treat integrity as an out-of-date and unnecessary character trait. But I think history will eventually record these times as the age of deceit. A time when lies were presented so eloquently and packaged so attractively that much of the population fell out of love with truth.

As for me, if I don't have integrity, nothing else matters... God bless you and enjoy the rest of your day.. :)

Why I voted for Romney instead of Obama

I think most of the people who voted for Obama don't understand why those who didn't are so upset. I'm sure a lot of Obama voters thinks he's a likeable, compassionate guy who's looking out for them... doing the best he can in a tough situation... But I don't think they realize how destructive their vote was...

- Your vote for Obama was a vote against your neighborhood small businesses. Struggling already because of a poor economy, now they have to figure out how they are going to afford the higher taxes and added burden of Obama's health care law. Many will be forced out of business.

-Your vote for Obama was a vote against the unemployed and under-employed in your neighborhood. Local businesses faced with increasing costs from Obama's regulations, health care mandate and tax-the-rich approach will be forced to lay off workers and/or shift full-time employees to part-time.

- Your vote for Obama was a vote against liberty and freedom. Never before in American history has the government been able to force you to buy something just simply because you're alive. But now you must buy health insurance or be fined. This opens the door to allow the government to force you to do anything it sees fit.

- Your vote for Obama was a vote against your doctor. A huge number of doctors will be forced to close their practice because the insufficient allowed reimbursement under Obamacare along with the high cost of new regulations will not allow them to stay in business.

- Your vote for Obama was tacit approval of corruption in government. The green energy loans/grants to Obama donors... The Fast and Furious gun running scheme and cover up... The Benghazi scandal in which Obama and his administration perpetrated lies upon the American people... just to name a few...

- Your vote for Obama was a vote for a bleaker future for your children and future generations. The out-of-control and quickly increasing debt due to Obama's policies will eventually lead to collapse of the US economy (see Greece!) and suddenly your 401k will be worth virtually nothing. No country in history has ever prospered using the financial approach that Obama is using.

- Your vote for Obama basically says you'd rather have a Socialist country than one based on capitalism. No socialist country has ever even come close to prospering as well as America has.

- Your vote for Obama was a vote against religious liberty. Obamacare forces many religious organizations to financially support actions that violate their sacred beliefs - such as abortion.

- Your vote for Obama was a vote against the military and the security of our nation. Obama is calling for a trillion dollar cut on the military and reduced benefits. And it doesn't help morale when your Commander-in-Chief doesn't have your back and is destroying the freedoms that you are fighting and dying for...

- And perhaps most important to me is that your vote for Obama sends a self-defeating message to the young people of America. A message that says don't rely on yourself but rather on government. Sure, give it a shot, but if things get rough, don't learn how to overcome the adversity, just apply for benefits....

I hope this illuminates why people like me voted for Romney. It was never about race, hate, anger,greed or not being open to change... For me it is simply about freedom, respect for my fellow Americans, doing what's best for the country rather than voting for personal gain, and more than anything else, taking a stand for what I know is right...