Common Core & What It Means For Your Child

I admit, I am just starting to look in to the standards of Common Core and what it means to the youth of America, but so far, what I have seen is just plain scary. Thanks to Michelle Malkin, and her excellent articles on this subject. Every parent should be reading her columns on this. To quote Ze'Ev Wurman, longtime math advisory expert: “I believe the Common Core marks the cessation of educational standards improvement in the United States. No state has any reason left to aspire for first-rate standards, as all states will be judged by the same mediocre national benchmark enforced by the federal government. Moreover, there are organizations that have reasons to work for lower and less-demanding standards, specifically teachers unions and professional teacher organizations. While they may not admit it, they have a vested interest in lowering the accountability bar for their members. …This will be done in the name of ‘critical thinking’ and ’21st-century’ skills, and in faraway Washington, D.C., well beyond the reach of parents and most states and employers.” H/T: http://michellemalkin.com

Be Careful Taking A Date To The Shooting Range

Love, Love, Love This Song!

Gun Control, Obamacare and Executive Actions - They Are All Related

There have been a couple of things happening in this country in the past few weeks that have kind of set me on edge.  Maybe I am being paranoid, but really, I wouldn’t put anything past the Progressives in this country and the agenda that they are trying to push on to the American people.

First, the entire gun control issue, and the media hype and spin put to the tragedy at Sandy Hook.  This was a terrible moment in our country’s history, to be sure, and I cannot imagine what the parents and family members of those who died that day must be going through.

But it seems as if this tragedy is once again being exploited by the media and those with an agenda.  As Rahm Emanuel so famously said “Never let a tragedy go to waste.”  The media and politicians immediately began calling for stricter gun laws and a ban on “assault weapons” and “assault rifles”.  Not to mention that there is no such thing as an “assault weapon”, and “assault rifles” are a weapon used primarily by the military, and not available to the general public. 

The President immediately came out with his “Executive Actions” – 23 of them in fact.  At first, the reaction was “well, that wasn’t so bad – he didn’t actually BAN anything”.  But if you read the wording of some of those “Executive Actions” in the context of how THEY can be used to ban owning guns, some of them are downright scary.  Especially when you combine the Executive Actions, the Obamacare regulations, and some of the reports that have been coming from “Think Tanks”.

Let’s look at a couple of the Executive Actions…

#2:  Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.  With this action, the government is overruling HIPPA, which was designed to give you privacy FROM the government.  It basically turns your doctor into a snitch, where they HAVE to ask you about any guns that you own, and if there are any potential mental issues, that information will need to be reported to the government.   If you are a Veteran suffering from PTSD, do you think that you would be eligible to have a gun once that is reported to the government?

Vet Denied Gun Permit

#14 –‘ Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.”  Well, isn’t this handy.  A think tank at West Point just came out with a report talking about how the “far right” is dangerous.  There are numerous other reports which have come out lately which would more than support any findings that the “Tea Party” type is dangerous and terroristic. 

West Point Cites Danger of "Far Right" 

CBS Political Director urges Obama to "Go For The Throat" of GOP

Homeland Security funding "Tea Party Terrorism" study

#16 – “Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prevent doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.”  This is basically a “fix” to something that Harry Reid had inserted into the Obamacare Act at the last minute, which specifically PREVENTED doctors from inquiring about guns in the home.   Now we know EXACTLY how many members of Congress actually read the bill:  0.  Also, see #2, above.

#17 – “Release a letter to health-care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law-enforcement authorities.  This would be more appropriate for mental care providers – again, report to the government please.  Also, if you are a Veteran, are you going to be so willing to seek any care that you might need if it means that you might lose your 2^nd Amendment rights?

#20 – “Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental-health services that Medicaid plans must cover.”   Not sure what this had to do with Gun Control, but I would be looking for some changes in what needs to be reported to the government.

#21 – “Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.   Again, not sure what this has to do with gun control, but I am sure it will somehow tie into Mental Health issues, and who is and isn’t “qualified” to own a gun.

#23 – “Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.”  I would expect to see, very soon, ads regarding guns and mentally ill persons.  They will also try to tie “dissent” into some sort of mental disorder. 

The government and the media have plenty of help in their quest to paint the conservative right as “terrorists”, “unstable” and “dangerous”.  It has been happening for years.

 Southern Poverty Law Center - Religious Right Radicals join NRA

Politico - The Tea Party Terrorist Tactics

We need to be aware of these coming attacks and counter them at every turn.  We need to actively enlist doctors who will come out and speak against the demonization that we are about to endure.  We all need to support ANY organization that supports the 2^nd Amendment, and immediately cease to do business with any company that does not.  (Groupon, I am calling you out). Make no mistake, those Executive Actions will turn into gun control, mark my word.  

Be ready.

Can Anyone Argue That the Debt is Unsustainable After This?

This is why the "Fiscal Cliff" deal is just another step down the road to economic failure.  Our politicians know this, but are too cowardly to actually take any steps that might help our country.  They are only concerned about their careers and what they can get from Washington while they are in power.  Any politician who votes for the "Fiscal Cliff" deal that raises taxes on ANY American needs to be voted out in 2014.  Cutting spending RIGHT NOW is the only way to save our country.


Here is a real eye opener regarding our debt and government spending:

U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000
New debt: $ 1,650,000,000,000
National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
Recent budget cuts: $ 38,500,000,000

Let’s now remove 8 zeros and pretend it’s a household budget:

Annual family income: $21,700
Money the family spent: $38,200
New debt on the credit card: $16,500
Outstanding balance on the credit card: $142,710
Total budget cuts so far: $38.50

 Via The Blaze

"Fiscal Cliff".... "Container Cliff"..... Good Time to Talk About Being Prepared

Ok, so we now have what the media is calling the "Container Cliff".  This actually could turn into a big thing for our economy, especially combined with the "Fiscal Cliff".  Please, enough with the Cliff's!

First of all, the reason for this impending strike.  (This could actually shut down 14 ports between Boston and Houston and would affect 15,000 workers.)  But this whole threat of a strike is over.... Container Royalties that began in the 1960's.  These are royalties that the unions demanded from companies after larger containers were starting to be utilized and modernization was allowing companies to streamline their processes, such as automatic weighing of containers.  Because of course it would be ridiculous for the union to just accept reality that due to modernization, there would be less need for their workers.  No - the companies must pay for that!  And for the workers currently receiving them, the companies and port authorities aren't threatening to take them away, they just want to cap them.  Some of the recipients of these royalties weren't even born when they were conceived!

And it's not a small sum these companies are paying the union employees.  The average pay for a ILA worker is $15,500 per year.  ON AVERAGE.  In Savannah, GA, it is more like $36,000 per worker. 

So in light of the fact that we know this in the bag for unions  union friendly President will not invoke the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, which bans jurisdictional strikes, we should be prepared for what this might mean. 

New supply chain practices and Just In Time principles have changed the way that retailers are re-stocking their inventory.  The average grocery store keeps on hand a 3 day supply of food.  Keep in mind that retailers are also needing to re-stock from the holidays.

So, this would be a good time to take inventory of what you and your family have on hand, and think in terms of getting and being prepared for this kind of a circumstance.  It doesn't need to be a strike, it could be a natural disaster, or it could be a local disturbance in the supply chain. 

As the Boy Scout motto says:  Prepared.  For Life.

Sigh. Let's Have That "Assault Weapon" Gun Ban Talk

First of all, let me say:  There is no such thing as an "Assault Weapon".  This is a politically inspired, media driven catchphrase that is intended to put a perjorative spin on firearms.  There ARE assault rifles:

 1.   as·sault ri·fle   

Noun A rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use.

They are, as you can see, intended for military use.  Since the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, civilians have been prohibited, unless they have prior clearance from Federal or State authorities, from owning an assault rifle.  So the use of the term "Assault Weapon" by the media is grossly misleading.

So, since the entire narrative since the tragedy of Newtown has been a ban on these "Assault Weapons", let's take a look at how out of control our gun-toting country has become.  Because, to listen to the media, and in particular, Piers Morgan (vile), we irresponsible gun owners are out to shoot everyone on sight.   

First, let's look at crime statistics from 2001 to 2010 (last years available on fbi.gov website):

Violent Crime:  Down 13.4%
Murder and Non-Negligent Homicide:  Down 8.0%
Murders:  Down 14.8% from 17,209 in 2006 to 14,745 in 2010

 (Source)

Ok, so crime rates, as far as guns and homicides go, is decreasing. So, how about those gun ownership rates?  Are they going down also?

Nope. As you can see gun ownership rates have been steadily climbing since 2005 (beginning year reported on the ATF website). 

(Source)

Liberals, Progressives and the media NEVER move into the direction of personal responsibility after these tragic shootings.  But do not let them win the argument that guns are the problem when we have a national tragedy such as the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. 

The type of gun, or how many bullets the magazine holds, is not the problem.  The evil person that is pulling the trigger is the problem. The only type of "control" this country needs is self-control.  The kind of self-control that comes with acting as a responsible, respectful, productive member of this society, and expecting others to do the same.  Until we do this, we can only wait for the next tragedy to strike.

God help our country.