I went to the early voting place yesterday. For the first time I voted my conscience rather than practicality. I voted almost straight ticket Libertarian. The only one I didn’t vote for was the person running for Senate. I have been impressed by Dole, so I stayed with her. Yes I know some of you will be happy, some will be sad. Many will say I threw my vote away. In this world and with the choices we have, though, I was not happy with either candidate or party. Real change would be if a third party, especially one that stands for personal liberty and responsibility, were to be elected. Given the fact that both mainstream candidates supported the “bailout” and both seem to want to continue to expand the power of the federal government, neither share my view of limiting government and returning responsibility to the people or the states. I do not agree with everything the Libertarian party stands for but I have come to believe that neither mainstream party represents my views at all. Since there are not a lot of Libertarians running, though, some races I did have to choose from Democrat or Republican.
I am tired of people wanting the government to run their lives. The government seems happy to step in an oblige. I want people in office who will say, “No, its your responsibility to find what you need. We will not give it anything to you just because you scream for it.” I obviously am not heartless. If there are people, which I know there are, who truly can’t fend for themselves, than we need to help them. But, I believe that private entities in the community should be the driving force for that help, not Washington. Neither party seems to believe that any more. Not that one of them didn’t stop believing that in the 1930’s.
Is my vote just wasted. No, I truly believe that this may help create a basis for change in the future. Libertarians need to start winning ballot recognition and keeping it. Once they are permanently on the ballot then they will begin to be invited to debates. In NC Mike Munger was invited to too gubernatorial debates. We need to see a national push for presidential debate representation.
Change, true change, comes gradually. Sudden events that seem to force change really force compromise, which is not change, it is repeating the status quo in a new way. For real change to come to Washington we need new ideas. Neither party offers new ideas. There are only the old ideas dressed in new clothes. One day I hope they will be exposed, like the emperor was. For now, we must be patient. Change will come.
Published on October 25, 2008
in personal.
Thanks to the help of my family, we got all of our big heavy items moved last weekend. We still have a few small items, but it should be okay. Now we just have to figure out where to put everything. I own too many books.
10/19/08 The Riddlemaster of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip. Morgon of Hed was born with three stars on his face. In a world where riddles can be dangerous things, if left unanswered, he finds that his stars are the greatest riddle of them all and he must find an answer.
10/15/08 Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The final confrontation with evil. The heroes must chose to continue the fight or give in all together.
Published on October 14, 2008
in personal.
I have bad news for those that loved the white computer desk. It came into existence as Jeremy’s desk. Later, it came to my care where it stayed for several years content in my attic. Finally, there was a place for its special use in my apartment. On October 12, 2008 it decided to try to fly on its own as it flew out of the truck I was using to carry it to my new abode. I watched as it shattered into many pieces as its attempt failed. White desk, you will be missed.
Published on October 12, 2008
in politics.
I just saw this article about Indymac’s new fast track loan system. Indymac was taken over by the FDIC in July and has been restructuring their mortgage loans. This program reworks the loans to offer lower payments. They take the information they have about earnings and structure the loan so it is no more than 38% of income. Good idea. They also offer financial counseling for those that have late payments. So it will help people learn to work to get total spending down or better. It is an interesting idea I hope works. This is a market solution. They admit that even these new loans won’t work for everybody but if it works for the estimates 2/3 they are hoping it helps, it is great.
Here is the article. Go to the article link in this blog.
Thanks to Miss Cellania… I provided a link to the picture in case it doesn’t stay up like it is supposed to.
![[government:jan.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9GHoR-RJLy8/SOlY4UfRTyI/AAAAAAAAI4s/Bndg8vakIvg/s1600/government:jan.jpg)
Published on October 11, 2008
in politics.
According to U.S Population Clock, run by the census bureau, there are approximately 305,000,000 people int the United States. If there is ten percent of the population making $250,000 or more we can remove them. That leaves roughly 30,500,000 people that make under $250,000. If the $700,000,000,000 bailout was divided evenly among all those people it would give each person roughly $22,000. Why not send the money to the people who need it and split it this way. Better yet, cut out all the people who don’t make taxes and you could increase that number by 1/3 to 1/2. Could you imagine getting a check in the mail for $30,000. What would you do with it? Why not pass a law like that. Then what you can do is direct the money that is going to a person that is behind on their mortgage to the lending institute that holds their note. Any money left over goes to the person. Any student loan, car loan, etc… that is behind will be caught up and the excess will go to the tax payer that needs the money for gas, or what ever. If m wife and I got that money, $60,000, we would pay off all our debts, expect a few key pieces, and set the rest into an account to gain interest. It is a win all around. My Student loans would be paid off, my car would be paid off. I wouldn’t need to worry as much about a summer job, I work for a traditional calendar school. Think about all you could do with that money.
Oh, well… It is good to dream big. I just hope the next economic stimulus package is passed. Even $1,000 each would be nice.
10/11/08 Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The dragon armies are sweeping across Krynn. The band of heroes now must find the two artifacts that will help them defeat the nightmares returned, dragons. As they fight one will rise up to lead the armies and one will fall…and the others must continue their search or all is lost.
Published on October 11, 2008
in politics.
“We are waiting for the election before we expand. It depends on which candidate gets elected. If one does, then the economy will improve and we will be able to give cash for books and expand the store. If the other is elected, then the economy won’t get better and we will only be able to give trade credit. We won’t get as many books that way. I won’t tell you which candidates I’m talking about though.” -Steve
I love it!
