More gloomy data on higher taxes

More unfortunate news, even for those of us who don't make a quarter million a year.

Stonewall Jackson's Beard

Does anyone else think that other than being a total bad ass, Stonewall Jackson's beard may be his greatest claim to fame?

Thomas Sowell

This excerpt from Professor Sowell's article on the current state of things with big government and taxes on the rise and our enemies still alive and motivated:

"How did we get to this point? It was no single thing.

The dumbing down of our education, the undermining of moral values with the fad of "non-judgmental" affectations, the denigration of our nation through poisonous propaganda from the movies to the universities. The list goes on and on.

The trajectory of our course leads to a fate that would fully justify despair. The only saving grace is that even the trajectory of a bullet can be changed by the wind.

We have been saved by miraculous good fortune before in our history. The overwhelming military and naval expedition that Britain sent to New York to annihilate George Washington's army was totally immobilized by a vast impenetrable fog that allowed the Americans to escape. That is how they ended up in Valley Forge.

In the World War II naval battle of Midway, if things had not happened just the way they did, at just the time they did, the American naval force would not only have lost, but could have been wiped out by the far larger Japanese fleet.

Over the years, we have had our share of miraculous deliverances. But that our fate today depends on yet another miracle is what can turn pessimism to despair.

Special Education

For the past 7 weeks I have been working as a special education teacher's aid. I have been in 3 different classrooms; high school, 5-7, and early childhood. I have learned a couple things about myself. First, if I ever thought I was patient before, I was wrong. This profession requires an immense, almost saintly level of patience. But we are charged with being 'patient with all.' And patience as a virtue needs to be exercised. Lately it feels like my patience has been running a marathon every day.

On my first day in the high school, the teacher, Theresa said to the class, "Today we will have a new teacher, Mr. Andy..."
To which a student in the class interrupted, "AND HE'S A DORK!"
There were a few seconds of awkward silence .... "Ok, then," Theresa said.

The biggest challenge for me has been trying to teach the kids how to read, write, do math, etc. without being able to have a conversation with them. None of the kids in early childhood are able to have a conversation with us, which makes the education process frustrating. Some of our kids are Autistic, and at times can lash out for no particular reason. For example, one of the girls in the class got her shoe string caught around a chair. When I knelt down to try and free her, she yelled and grabbed my beard and pulled with vigor. "Nooooo!" I cried, "I'm trying to free you!"

The best part of my job is the small victories that come by from time to time. For example, I taught a student to write her name two days ago. And, I helped another learn to subtract. Thus I have passed on my knowledge in mathematics, in its entirety, to the next generation. But, most of my day is not exciting. Most of my day is spent keeping the kids away from the fire alarms and on task for the most part.

After my days at school I wait around for Amanda to get off work. I spend my days walking around the small towns and in the fields. Most people give me the strangest looks, probably because I look like a wandering homeless man ... which really isn't that far off. Yesterday, I came across a construction crew working on replacing a pipe under the road. I stopped by and commented to a worker, "Whatchall doin, replacin a pipe?! Well, see ya." and I kept walking. I soon hope to be upgraded to "that crazy homeless guy who walks everywhere." Full speed ahead!

Cheers.

And when I'm tired and weary
And a long, long way from home
I just reach for mother Mary
And I shall not walk alone

2 great economic articles by Thomas Sowell

On the crash in the housing market.


On the disastrous new bill.

Stimulated

The following is the economic consequence of bad governing and misplaced hope in a "stimulus."

Lets have a look

Humanae Vite

Here is a prophetic excerpt from Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vite. It is a beautiful and necessary document for any Christian. This particular section is profoundly relevant to our times. It was given to the Church in 1968.

Consequences of Artificial Methods

Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.

Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.

Infidelity increases in marriage, the objectification of women, increasing promiscuity in youth ... and now in several European countries, and largely in our own as well, government sponsored contraception and abortion. Amazingly and terrifyingly true but not unexpected from a culture that sponsors the philosophy held by the elites of the West.