January 6th – A Day That Will Live in Infamy

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It’s time. I can’t wait any longer to say this.

The following is going to sound a lot like President Trump when he repeats ad nauseum that the latest crime of our adversaries is “like nobody has ever seen before . . . “

There was a popular saying back in the 80s (when I still had hair) that somehow made sense at the time. “Shit happens.” Remember? If not, you are dismissed.

A lot of shit has happened over the last couple of decades. We elected the first minority president because he said, “There is not a liberal America and a conservative America, there is the United States of America.” He assured us that he would put an end to the type of politics that “breeds division and conflict and cynicism.” Then he proceeded to pit half of his nation’s citizens against the other half while we prayed that his ascendancy would destroy every remaining hint of racism in the most anti-racist nation in the world.

Obama fabricated a seemingly indestructible federal bureaucracy, weaponizing it to push us to the very extinction of the freedoms we were taught to cherish because brave patriots spilled their guts for future generations.

After eviscerating Trump 1.0, Biden and the remaining Obama insiders continued the carnage, highlighted by the recruitment and admission of 30 – 50 million illegal immigrants to our diseased nation, many of them among the most immoral people on Earth.

Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight, right? Our nation was gut-shot so many times during the Biden era that survival would seem a miracle, while our conservative leadership refused to defend their electors who clung to the faith that the contrived battle between Obama’s “liberal America and conservative America” would somehow end peacefully – or at least they would be re-elected.

One could point to a hundred horrific, unconscionable acts by the leftists in our nation in recent years. It was one bitch slap after another: DEI, transgenderism, open borders, stolen votes, coddled criminals, corrupt politicians who never face accountability, assassination attempts, trillions of dollars of waste and fraud in federal programs, the horrendous Afghan withdrawal, shameless dishonesty in media, the destruction of our critical institutions including education, health care, national defense and our security agencies.

But there is one despicable act by the left that tops them all and can not be forgiven. Not ever. Never. It tops the list of depravity, like nothing anybody has ever seen before.

That is the savage damage done by our own government to the innocent American citizens who patriotically attended a rally in our nations capital on January 6, 2021 for the sole purpose of questioning the integrity of our elective process, and paid for that privilege with their lives, fortunes, and families.

The unthinkable actions taken by our federal government against its own people are the kind of perfidy we would only have expected from the evil, tyrannical governments that our nation fought with our blood and souls only a few generations ago. Our courts abandoned any responsibility for justice. Our news media and politicians shredded the truth, and continue to.

President Trump’s pardon for the J6 prisoners was a promise kept; a necessary and welcome start, but it is not enough. Until the victims and their families are made whole financially, and granted our nation’s full apologies for what they endured at the hands of our despicable government we should not, and can not, rest. Until those who lied and schemed in their vicious pursuit of innocent citizens are prosecuted, we should not, and can not, forget. And may any politician or member of the news media who ignores, supports, or refuses to remediate the injustices done by our nation on these people, face the wrath of his maker.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

You are the poster boy for how low one can sink
You slither by your lies and never even blink
You are a danger to the good left in the world
If only all your future words remained unheard

SHAME ON YOU – Richard Marx


Tom and Jeff’s Japanese Adventure

Posted on by Standard 1

My son, Jeff, and I just returned from a ten-day adventure trip to Japan. And I have to tell you, it had a profound impact on me.

As we boarded our plane for the big trip, the country we were leaving behind was mired in discontent as we Americans struggle to pull ourselves out of the ugly messes we have gotten ourselves into: rampant crime, dysfunctional schools, hordes of unassimilated immigrants, government corruption. The country that greeted us at the other end was starkly, palpably different.

We immediately saw that Japan is clean. And safe. And modern. And efficient. Everything just WORKS, from the incredible transportation system to the amazing array of delicious foods in the convenience stores.

Tokyo is the third-largest city in the world with an estimated current population of 33 million. Japan’s land mass is roughly the size of my original home state of Montana, but its population density is 123 times greater.

Tokyo is Sardine City, a point not lost when boarding trains. Shortly after our arrival we caught one of the more popular commuter trains at rush hour. We got through the car doors, and people kept entering behind us. And entering. And entering! When there was no more room, the riders outside turned their backs to us and pushed with their butts until there was enough compression to get the doors closed!

Jeff and I laughed out loud, even though loud talk is never heard on a Japanese train, as that would be impolite. I told him I thought I might have had sex with the young lady in front of me. This kind of “compression” is acceptable at rush hour, even by a people whose nature is to not touch others, or offend in any way. After that, we graded train rides by “low density”, “high density”, and “compression!”

But the trains are on time, work perfectly, and are organized, fast, safe, clean and efficient. In Tokyo, you get where you need to go in mere minutes and distance is not an issue. Passengers don’t bother with tickets – the ultra-computerized system runs on prepaid unlimited passes or “IC” (currency) cards. On arrival or departure at a station, riders quickly scan their cards at the turnstile and the fare is deducted from the prepaid balance.

Did I say efficient? Japan is a place where there is no wasted time, space, or effort. That makes most costs lower than they are here. Hotel rooms are small, but well thought-out and every comfort is attended to, right down to the automated six-button toilets.

Now on to the very best part of Japan: the people and their amazing culture.

Jeff is totally blind, but he is a good white cane traveler. He takes my arm and we motor around at a good clip. Even though he is as able to stand on a train as well as anybody, every time we boarded Jeff was offered a seat by a thoughtful rider. He was welcomed and cared for and loved on with sincerity and dignity everywhere we went.

There is virtually no crime in Japan. One can walk the streets anywhere at any time of day or night and not feel an ounce of concern. Bicycles are parked all over, unlocked, with the knowledge that yours will still be there after work or shopping. I could stop and talk with anybody on the street, from a laborer to a businessman to a grandmother, and each was as gracious and friendly and patient as you could imagine. There is some language barrier, but they patiently try to communicate and especially to be helpful. Younger Japanese are immersed in American pop culture so their English skills are pretty good, but no worries – we all have translators built into our phones.

The Japanese people also have tremendous work ethic and attention to quality. Every person at every job, from menial to high-tech, goes at their work with a passion to do their absolute best.

Japanese culture is built on respect. We were surprised and pleased at the formalities at the end of a pro basketball game we attended. The fans all remained in their seats after the game. The visiting team lined up across the court, faced the audience on one side, graciously bowed, waved, and expressed their thanks. Then they turned 90 degrees to thank the crowd on that side. And turned again. And again. The crowd showed their respect for the visiting players. Then the same routine was performed by the home team, with additional speeches. Can you imagine two NBA teams in a heated game where no one ever swears, questions a call, or leaves a player on the floor when he falls, whether it’s his teammate or opponent?

I came back from our adventure amazed at how happy, calm, industrious, and kind our hosts were. My curiosity about that was somewhat resolved when I stumbled into a video about the “eight tiny habits” that are infused into Japanese culture.

Now, I’m not naive enough to think that Japan is Nirvana. Their controlled, low-key approach to life might get kind of boring after a while. I mean, how many Hello Kitty commercials can you take? I have heard about a sleazy side of Japanese culture, but it wasn’t evident. We did get a kick out of the huge Godzilla outside our hotel room.

On returning, I realized I wouldn’t trade my acres of land, my chickens and dogs, my tractor, or my church for anything. But ten days in Japan is just pretty damn nice.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

Oh no, they say he’s got to go
Go go Godzilla! yeah
Oh no, there goes Tokyo
Go go Godzilla! yeah

GODZILLA – Blue Oyster Cult

This Just Doesn’t Make Sense!

Posted on by Standard 1

I live out in the boonies – a rural area in one of the poorest counties in South Carolina. And everywhere I drive out here I see big reels of fiber optic cable waiting for a crew to come along and dig trenches to install it.

Thanks, taxpayers, for ponying up the $50 billion plus to fund this misguided attempt to bring modern life to us hicks in the sticks. But your congressmen should have asked us before they wrote the contracts and checks to their big tech buddies.

When I carved out a spot in the woods for a new house and shop, I pondered how I was going to get internet and television service out here in the middle of nowhere. Satellite TV was and is available, of course, and we had been satellite customers before. But as the satellite carriers lose market share to streaming TV services they raise prices to stay in business, so satellite TV has become crazy expensive.

Unfortunately, the cable companies who pig out on taxpayer broadband funds have not reached our neck of the woods, and would not tell us if, or when, they would get here.

So we put a dish in our yard for TV, and a second dish for HughesNet satellite internet service. At the time HughesNet operated at the speed of dark – barely functional for email and maybe some web surfing, but forget about any kind of streaming. Another option was a cellular network hotspot, but we did not have towers close enough to make that practical either.

Then Elon Musk came to the rescue with his StarLink service – fast, reliable, and affordable. It replaced our cable and internet services with REAL high-speed rural broadband at half the cost of the fiber optic cable service our federal government is subsidizing. (Musk has donated Starlink devices to disaster areas all over the globe, providing free internet service in areas with no functioning infrastructure on the ground.)

SO WHY IS OUR GOVERNMENT STILL SPENDING SO MUCH OF OUR MONEY PUTTING IN OBSOLETE FIBER OPTIC CABLE WHEN STARLINK IS THE PROVEN FAST AND EFFICIENT MODERN WIRELESS INTERNET ALTERNATIVE?

Probably for the same reason they insist on replacing powerful, plentiful, affordable carbon-based energy with solar and wind electricity that can’t possibly meet our needs at any cost. Our government does not run like a business, continually maximizing profit and performance. No, our government officials only seek to pay off their lobbyists and campaign contributors. Once a spending program is approved by Congress, there is no turning back. Those dollars will be spent as allocated, regardless of whether it makes economic sense.

Now, take this senseless $50 billion broadband boondoggle and multiply it. How many more obsolete and nonsensical programs are burning through our limited tax dollars and exploding our debt?

Last year South Carolina’s Republican legislature gave $1.3 billion in taxpayer cash and incentives to VW to build an electric RV plant. The electric vehicle industry is flopping like a dying fish now, as it has become clear that even with taxpayer incentives electric vehicles will never be feasible. As obsolete EV production plants close all over the globe, new tech research shows hydrogen power may be the energy source of the future.

Godspeed to you, President Trump. You are the first president in many generations who looks at government spending from the taxpayer’s viewpoint, seeking real efficiency and transparency. And Elon’s DOGE effort was not wasted. It exposed, but failed to stop, the crazy wastefulness in our government spending.

If only our Republican legislators would see the light.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

Well, the blues jumped a rabbit and run him a mile
The rabbit sat down and he cried like a child
The blues said son you got to learn one rule
Don’t place no trust in a educated fool
Educated fool, educated fool
Educated fool, educated fool

EDUCATED FOOL – Boz Skaggs

Mom, That’s Not Fair!

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I watched several videos today of new secretary of state Marco Rubio at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing. His rebuttals to the pompous senators’ whining complaints were replete with delicious smack-backs. But more importantly, Rubio countered their childish posturing with adult thought process.

I have never understood liberals. Their worldview, positions on issues, and attempts at logic leave me shaking my head. While watching the dim-witted Democrat senators volley with intellectual powerhouse Rubio, I may have figured out what’s wrong with these airheads: they just never grew up.

Their moms raised them to believe that everything must be “fair”. If you get five M&Ms, your sister and your brother must also get five. Want to see a 7-year old have an instant sobbing hissy-fit? Just tell him his sibling gets to stay up another half-hour but he has to go to bed now.

Sadly, our culture has elevated the importance of “fairness” to ridiculous heights, seeking equality of outcomes instead of merit-based reward. Tee-ball teams often don’t keep score at all and some allow batters to run the bases even after they have been put out. We allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports because it wouldn’t be fair to exclude boys who think they are girls. Schools no longer hold back under-performing students. After all, it’s only fair to promote and graduate every kid who is breathing.

In the noble attempt to make life “fair”, we subsidize new apartment complexes in ritzy neighborhoods so the “poor” have a nice place to live. We give illegal immigrants free health care, food, and shelter. We turn repeat criminal offenders back out on the streets. We accept students who can’t read and write into top-tier universities based on their physical characteristics.

All of this is in the name of “fairness”, but without questioning whether it is fair to take money from a person who earned it and give it to someone who chose to not work. Or to give a job, promotion, or access to education to an unqualified person while denying it to one who deserves it. Allie Beth Stuckey digs deeper, diagnosing this irrational view of fairness as “toxic empathy”.

But back to Rubio.

Senator Tim Kaine smirked as he blasted the secretary of state for the new special refugee program that allows white South Afrikaner farmers, who are being murdered as their land is confiscated by gangs of black marauders, to immigrate to the US.

Kaine’s kill shot at Rubio: “Are you aware ever, during the apartheid era in South Africa, did the United States establish a special program to allow South African blacks, who were treated as second-class citizens, so that they could claim refugee status in the United States?”

Rubio: “No, because I was in the eighth grade at the time.” (Mom! Timmy got a popsicle 30 years ago and I didn’t!)

Kaine: “. . . should [we] try to do that in an even-handed way?” (Do you mean in a racist way?)

Rubio: “I think we should try to do what is in the national interest of the United States.”

What a refreshingly adult answer. Rubio pointed out that the big problem is numbers. We can’t continue to allow millions and millions of unvetted “refugees” from all over the world to move here. It is unsustainable economically, culturally, and from a security standpoint. But why not accept a small group of truly threatened, well-vetted people who would bring value to our society and assimilate well?

Senator Airhead says we should also be letting the black murderers of the white farmers in South Africa into our country because that would be “fair”.

I can’t help it, my head is still shaking.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

And life ain’t fair to me
But that don’t mean I ain’t ready for eternity
My mind weigh heavy, but the spirits still sing
And I might not get this lucky again

Life Isn’t Fair – Smooth Hound Smith

Hey Moe! How About Them Tariffs?

Posted on by Standard 1

Today’s stock market activity looks like the work of three men: Larry, Curly and Moe.

This morning news reporters breathlessly claimed that President Trump has put a hold on his promised tariffs against imported goods. Then the markets went crazy as nobody could decide if the reports were accurate (no, he didn’t – yes, he did – wait, is this fake news or not?). Financial advisors and political pundits flip-flopped like catfish in the bottom of a boat. I saw the DOW and NASDAQ drop 3% and then bounce back to 2% gains inside of 15 minutes.

All of this gyration makes clear that the stock market is not a real economic indicator. And that the news and political folks play on our emotions constantly. And that our level of economic sophistication, not to mention our attention spans, have atrophied to something like the third-grade level.

In reality, nothing in the economy is different today than last month. But the mere mention of any Trump initiative is sure to send everybody into a tizzy. Those afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome believe that he is hell-bent on destroying our country (and the world), because he is a Nazi Fascist Orange Man who wants revenge for being treated so badly by so many for so long.

The fact is, our stock market has been wildly over-valued for a long time, and the recent downturn is no different from any correction before. Remember that nasty inflation during the Biden years that caused prices to go crazy? During all of that inflation, the stock market continued to float higher and higher. Analysts touted greater sales and profits by our domestic businesses. But sales were up only because of inflated prices, not because more units were being produced and sold – each dollar in the system was worth less. And profits were higher because sales were higher.

This disconnect between production and prices caused the stock market to blow up artificially, and sooner or later it had to pop.

Maybe the threat of tariffs scared some people into a doom-and-gloom selloff. But folks, it was going to happen anyway, just like it has many times before. And the market has always recovered before, usually in a matter of a few months.

Trump is just shaking things up and trying to drag the world economy back to some semblance of sanity where our debt doesn’t increase by a trillion bucks every couple of months, 20% of working-age men aren’t home on disability, and we don’t send checks to people who died 50 years ago.

Watching all this chaos, I can’t help but chuckle a little bit. Nyuk, nyuk nyuk.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

Hey Moe! Nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk!
We-be-be-be-be-be!
Oh, wise guy!
We never miss a chance to get up and dance
We’re doing the Curly Shuffle!
THE CURLY SHUFFLE – Jump ‘n the Saddle Band


Vietnam

Posted on by Standard 5

I graduated from high school in 1971, not yet eligible for the draft. In 1972 I turned 18. The war was winding down, and the number of American soldiers ‘in country’ was significantly reduced from the peak in 1968. Still, the word on the street was that young draftees were being sent to the front lines to replace the guys who had survived tours of combat and wanted to go home in one piece. The young grunts were easy meat for the more experienced and war-tough Viet Cong.

A great Marine recruiter had approached us senior boys at my high school before graduation, and I thought about enlisting, but after graduation, with help from my dad and my young wife, I was able to afford college and bypass military service.

1972 was my first year eligible for the draft lottery, and my number was 228. That year only the first 95 birthdates were drafted.

I was relieved, of course, at the time. Still, I had a gnawing ache that so many of my brothers had served and died in ‘Nam, and I didn’t. I saw the war protests on the nightly news, along with the reports of guys returning from the war being vilified as “baby killers”.

To this day, over 50 years later, there is a special place in my heart for Vietnam vets, who served our nation in that ugly war, without really knowing how their spilled blood made a damn bit of difference. Some were driven by pure patriotism, and some were just unfortunate draftees. All of them laid it on the line for their buddies.

Throughout our history, America has lost many brave young men on the battlefields, including more recent conflicts in the Middle East. Some Americans would have us send our young to Ukraine for God knows what purpose. I’m a patriot, and have reverence for all of our lost soldiers and war veterans. But I don’t ever want to experience the national heartache of the pointless Vietnam War again.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

He blesses the boys as they stand in line
The smell of gun grease and the bayonets they shine
He’s there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted he’s a good holy man

SKY PILOT – Eric Burdon and the Animals

Draining the Swamp – Trump 2.0

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The first few weeks of Trump 2.0 has been exhilarating for long-suffering conservative Americans. Early reports of young brainiacs with their AI algorithms revealing mountains of waste, fraud and inefficiency are music to our ears. Volunteer auditor-in-chief Elon Musk and newly-confirmed director of Office, Management and Budget (OMB) Russ Vought hit the ground running – no, they hit the ground flying at hypersonic speed! They are determined to streamline performance, knock down the debt and deficits, and get rid of federal flab. As Trump would say, they are attacking the Swamp with a speed and ferocity “no one has ever seen before”.

So far, so good. Trump 2.0 has already:

  • eliminated DEI departments, programs and costs
  • attacked woke and politically weaponized practices
  • exposed inappropriate spending, targeting foreign and domestic outlays that taxpayers would never approve
  • required federal employees to show up for work and prove their merit
  • closed the borders to illegal immigration and started deportations
  • negotiated favorable foreign trade arrangements
  • promised to get rid of unnecessary and duplicative departments, unused buildings and unneeded personnel
  • identified opportunities for upgraded technology and efficiency

But all this swamp-draining optimism seems eerily familiar. I recall a similar feeling at the beginning of Trump 1.0, and found an old article I wrote about it eight years ago. My enthusiastic and well-intended predictions turned out to be embarrassingly inaccurate.

For one thing, my article focused on one of many less-than-stellar Trump cabinet appointees, Mick Mulvaney. Mick was plucked by Trump from his gig as SC legislator to seek and destroy federal waste and corruption via the OMB. It didn’t happen.

When we first met, Mulvaney impressed me. He was very bright, had a real grasp of Tea Party conservative principles, and walked the talk as a founder of the fledgling House Freedom Caucus. And he hired Russ Vought, a friend and mentor from Heritage Action, as his right-hand man. But I got a chill when I asked Mulvaney if he could implement zero-based budgeting to get our spending under control. He said I should forget about reducing spending. “Our budget is so huge and complicated that nobody in government will even try to cut spending – ever.” Mulvaney said that the only way to reduce the debt, which was about $10 trillion at the time, was to outgrow it by revving up the economy and tax revenues. Tax revenues grew rapidly, but spenders gonna spend – and some of them will spend $2 for ever $1 taken in.

Needless to say, Trump’s success at draining the swamp was about as real as my photo-shopped picture of Mick wrestling an alligator. The swamp creatures from the left and right were bigger and badder than Trump 1.0 bargained for, and he got his nose – and ours – bloodied.

But nobody ever said Trump is a quitter. He recognized his errors, he listened to good advice, he meticulously studied and planned, he literally dodged bullets, and he returned victorious to implement Trump 2.0. The stakes are higher this time around as our debt has ballooned to $36.5 trillion and is growing by a trillion bucks every 100 days. We don’t yet know if our Republican Senate and House will support Trump 2.0 or prefer the fetid smell of the swamp.

Last November American voters peered over the edge of a steep cliff. At the bottom we saw the extinction of our freedoms, our prosperous and moral civilization, and the future of our children. We turned away from the edge and now have One More Last Chance before we’re through.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

Give me just a one more last chance Before you say we’re through I know I drive you crazy baby It’s the best that I can do We’re just some good ol’ boys, a makin’ noise I ain’t a runnin’ ’round on you Give me just a one more last chance Before you say we’re through

ONE MORE LAST CHANCE – Vince Gill

January 20, 2025 – Mixed Emotions

Posted on by Standard 1

What a historic day as President Trump is inaugurated to be our 47th president. The story is Braveheart revisited – pushed to the edge of the cliff, we let out a primal scream, and charged behind our leader into the teeth of our evil enemy. To victory!

The last four years has been nothing less than an existential battle for those of us who are engaged in the war to save our nation and culture for our children and future generations. I find myself in a swirl of mixed emotions today and am recording them for future reflection.

THANKFULNESS – thanks to God for answering prayers and for His perfect plan. Salvation is there for those who will accept it and it is our responsibility and honor to preserve and share that good news.

CELEBRATION – Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble! We have taken a daily beating from the press, from our political adversaries, from every institution in society. But we kept fighting, knowing that truth and justice always wins out in the end.

BROTHERHOOD – We had to stick together and keep each other inspired, informed, and encouraged in the face of withering attacks from a relentless enemy. For some of us it was a four year battle, but many of us have been in the trenches since the Tea Party days almost twenty years ago. I am so proud of all of my brothers and sisters who have led – and followed – when the going was tough.

HUMILITY – Our battle isn’t personal, although the other side wanted it to be. It’s tempting to shame and embarrass our vanquished opponents as they did to us. But some of those who have not been on our team just didn’t know any better. We should celebrate today and then get to work for all of our fellow citizens, because we know better and we are better than the few evil ones that did so much damage.

ANGER – I will try to release the anger I have toward those evil ones and will cut their sheep followers some slack. But it will take a while because of all the personal carnage they caused. And justice must be meted out to those with evil intent, as a deterrent to future villains. It will be hard to forgive those who arrested innocent protesters like my nephew on January 6, 2021 at the cost of prison time, loss of careers, homes, and savings. I’m confident that TODAY President Trump will pardon them all. He promised me.

DETERMINATION – I doubt most people know how close we came to losing our precious American way of life. Let’s make damn sure we don’t get pushed to the edge of that cliff again.

Onward! And may God continue to bless America!

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

Let’s grab the world by the scruff of the neck
And drink it down deeply and love it to death
So button your lip, baby, button your coat
Let’s go out dancing, let’s rock and roll
You’re not the only one with mixed emotions!

MIXED EMOTIONS – the Rolling Stones

Change – Get Used to It!

Posted on by Standard 1

Now that I am officially an “old fart”, I find myself looking back and comparing our current economic situation in America to what it was.

Some have a Forest Gump attitude about life. “It’s like a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get.” My philosophy is more like what we used to say about the weather in Montana: “if you don’t like it, wait five minutes and it will change.”

My history is pretty typical of most American men of my age. I got a good education, was raised with a solid work ethic, and was able to maneuver through the risks and opportunities of a generous American free market system to enjoy a fair degree of comfort and security. While there were rich folks and poor folks, most were in the middle – working hard and enjoying a good standard of living.

I look around now and see a really different landscape. Those who are doing well are doing very well. But there seems to be a greater proportion of poverty, drugs, and empty-headed wandering every year. The middle class has been hollowed out.

The “poor” are not starving. In fact, obesity is now normalized to the point that most commercials feature fat people dancing. In ever-growing numbers, today’s economic lower strata are totally dependent on the government for basic needs and a fair amount of wants. Addiction to drugs, alcohol, and digital entertainment has destroyed the drive to improve standards of living. The “working poor” are as hard to find as two-parent families.

I live in a beautiful rural area of South Carolina, and we are bracing for rapidly accelerating population growth. Big business wants and needs what we have – space, great climate, and an apparently available, affordable work force. But I’m not sure I understand the prevailing economic formula that is driving this exodus to the sticks. Can cost-effective employees, able and willing to work, be found when the government (a) will provide them a secure and somewhat comfortable living without leaving the couch, (b) continues to increase the cost of labor through inflation and perceived “fairness” laws, and (c) no longer provides the quality of education required for employees to function profitably?


Government (mostly at the federal level) has become so bloated that it consumes nearly half of our annual GDP and the interest on our $36 trillion debt is not helping. Along with that, the unholy alliance between big government and big business has pretty much destroyed private business as we know it. The Amazons of the world dominate what is left of the private economy.

America is at a crossroads right now. If we can succeed at shrinking big government and stopping its rampaging overreach, maybe we can level the playing field of economic opportunity for all Americans.

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

Just gotta get used to it
We all get it in the end
Just gotta get used to it
We go down and we come up again

Another Tricky Day – the Who

A Bright Sun-shiny Day

Posted on by Standard 1

Whew!

After four years of teetering on the edge of a cliff in a hurricane, Lady Liberty can finally take a deep breath. There is hope for our nation’s survival as a functioning democratic republic.

I had been saying for some time that Trump’s support level nationwide – among the common people, not just the urban jet set – had to be nearly 80%. I can be prone to hyperbole, but I’m now feeling pretty good about that projection. After the election, now that the sun has come out, it seems that everybody loves Trump and is singing Make America Great Again.

Let’s not be naive, there are still forces of evil hell-bent on destroying our president, our country, and each of us personally. But there are also many gleeful sheep peeking out of the shadows who were afraid to show their faces before November 6. An estimated 50% of Christians did not vote, and that entire voting bloc (about 67% of Americans) is now relieved that somebody else carried Trump forward to rescue and restore their values. Add their numbers to the popular vote he actually won, and you are nearing my 80% claim.

A surprise to me is that widespread vote fraud was either not attempted or was suppressed by aggressive counteraction. I had expected a 10% to 15% cheating advantage by the left, but only a few questionable maneuvers were revealed this time around.

So, now what? Can we really turn this big ugly ship around?

Here are just a few ways that the new Trump America can emerge from the malodorous swamp and start smelling like roses very quickly:

Stop all government payments to and for non-citizens. ALL of them. The ones who are draining the most funds will leave. Start enforcing our border laws and restrict inflow to work visas only.

Stop allowing 94%+ of federal workers to “work from home”. Many already have second jobs and will quit their government jobs. Many will be eliminated by DOGE because they have proven they aren’t needed at the office. Government employment can be easily reduced by 50% or more. Easily. No really, read that last sentence again.

Implement zero-based budgeting in agencies and force Congress to present a real budget, on time, every year as required by law. The last time they did that was 1996. Make every agency actually balance their books and account for every dime. After all, that’s what the IRS requires of us.

Stop all payments to NGOs. All of them. If their functions are not important enough to be handled by our federal employees, we either don’t need the programs or the federal employees. NGOs are at the core of most of the embarrassing and egregious corruption in our federal government.

I could go on all day. But that’s a good start. Let’s enjoy the sunshine and get to work!

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW – Jimmy Cliff