Conservative Corner: The Edge of the Abyss

The office of the President of the United States is the most prestigious office in the world. The election of this of this seat of power has become the biggest game in the country. It turned into a game full of lies, money and government scandal. The question is what party in America is fit, or better yet deserving, to occupy the office that was once held by founding father greats like George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, not to mention American legends like Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

 Every presidential administration has its issues; however, since Obama has questionably acquired the title, we have found that some presidents have more issues than others. Do we as Americans have an adequate replacement for the epic failure of the Democrat party? Plenty but will the liberals, Democrats, socialists, and liberal mass media again keep the right person from getting the job?

We have already seen the damage the left can do, yet still liberals and even some independents vote for them. There was such a hate, (liberals are supposed to be tolerant) of George Bush that, to this day, liberals blame him even though Obama has been in office since 2008. I guess the moderates and liberals have forgotten about the fast and furious scandal, a $16-plus trillion dept, voter fraud, the IRS scandal, the “if you like your healthcare you can keep it” lie, the Obamacare failure, the war on energy,  Solyndra,  Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s sealed records, giving billions to our enemies, voter intimidation, and Bill Ayers. Anyone remember those? After the results of the 2012 presidential elections, the answer is obvious.

Fortunately, the 2010 election year brought the people some fresh, and badly needed new blood to the Washington political arena. Unfortunately, because of the evils and corruption at the Capitol, some of the new people who were elected by “the people” were corrupted and fell into the same hole that many fall faced when they get to a Capitol Hill controlled by Democrats. These once-well-meaning representatives of the people from a conservative base were seduced by the dark side of politics. They are now known as RINOS, (Republican In Name Only). Chris Christy, John Boehner, Lisa Murkowski, and numerous other Republican senators and representatives have betrayed their conservative constituents and voted along with their Democrat counter-parts on the other side of the isle. The left may be joyous at the “bi-partisan” voting from those so-called Republicans, but how many Democrats vote against Obama and his minions. Not many, if any at all.

Many on the left seem to feel that the Republicans and those on the right are the “party of no”. That may be correct. After all, there is nothing in the Constitution about free healthcare, the government paid killing of unborn babies, free contraception, and same-sex marriage, but if the left had their way, the government,(the tax payer) would be paying for all of it. I guess the liberals have this idea that if they want it, it MUST be right. Unfortunately for them, a large population sees it another way. I guess to the eyes of the liberals, conservatives, or anyone else on the right are just second-class citizens who don’t deserve to enjoy the rights ensured to them by the Constitution.

Many moderates, independents and conservatives like the idea of a smaller government. Many Americans do not want to pay for the contraception, killing of the unborn, and food stamps of those who may not want to pay for it themselves. Thomas Jefferson once said, "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have." It amazes me that the left can’t see this.

According to Gallup, the approval rating for Congress as of December 2013 is at just 14 percent. Obamacare approval is at only 44 percent. If only 44 percent, (or less) of the people like it how did it get approved? All the “blood shed” from the Obamacare failure is on the hands of the Democrats since 100 percent of the Democrats voted for it and NONE of the Republicans did, yet it is still forced down our throat. Need it or not, like it or not.

We have already seen the damage a socialist president can do to our country, but can an America-loving conservative, patriotic president have issues? Of course they can. Like presidents, presidential candidates can be good and not-so good. We do have wonderful prospective candidates like Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, and Sarah Palin. We have already seen the leadership value in Ted Cruz in his fight of stop train wreck that is Obamacare. We are also quite familiar with the capabilities of Rand Paul and Sarah Palin. Can these people make mistakes? We all make mistakes. However, we can all count on the liberal mass “lame stream” media to find the Republican faults. A viewing of the documentary “Media Malpractice” proves it without a shadow of a doubt.

I find it staggering that the left seems to have jumped in with both feet to the Hillary “Butcher of Benghazi” Clinton bandwagon. During the 2008 election Democratic primary race Hillary was asking if any of her opponents would answer a 3 A.M call. After the terrorist attack on Benghazi I think we know the answer. To put you heart and vote into such a negligent person is foolish at best.

Every president has put their hand on a Bible and one on their heart and said, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Hillary isn’t even the president and she has already failed the four men who were killed in the Benghazi terrorist attack. Maybe next time there is an attack there will be a new video to blame it on.

 If a Republican loses, America may be at the edge of an abyss from which there is no return.. It is past time for a good, God-fearing, Republican, conservative person to be in the White House, no matter who he or she is. I know it would boil the blood of liberals if Sarah Palin won the office, but in the words of Hillary herself, “what difference does it make?”

dkhummel.com, dkhummel.blogspot.com

Conservative Corner: Minimum Wage Wars

Many of us have experienced the challenge of working in fast food restaurants as youngsters. The embarrassing uniforms, hair nets, sweating over a hot fryer, dealing with grouchy customers, and difficult shifts were part of a chapter some of us would sooner forget.  For others, however, it was the first exposure to the business world and a better understanding and respect for the value of a dollar. Partially because of the reasons listed, it is well known that most fast-food places have a high employee turn-over rate. Most employees of fast food establishments were/are young and know that with an education and plenty of hard work a they can find themselves in respectable, high-paying positions in the professional world. Unfortunately, in this economy not just young people have found the need to apply at a local burger joint for income.

            With the national and state unemployment rates at unacceptable levels, many adults have made the decision to go back to the work of their youth and get temporary jobs at low income jobs.  Now, however, many adults who have gone back to work at the local fast food joint or discount store to help support their family have been reminded one of the reasons why minimum wage jobs have such a high turn-out rate, the lack of a family-supporting wage.

            The average young person doesn’t have a big issue with the minimum wage since many still live a home; on the other hand today’s economy has produced a new kind of employee. These people have families of their own, and sometimes years of experience in the world of business or the streets. With the employment that these new employees fill come with new demands that most minimum wage jobs have never had to deal with before, the threat of high wages and benefits.

            As of January, 1 2014 the Oregon minimum wage is $9.10 an hour up from $8.95. The national minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. The new Oregon minimum wage may be fine for employees with no dependent families; however, it is not near enough for those who have other depend on them. Unfortunately, many small businesses cannot afford to pay outrageous minimum wage payrolls. You may also think corporations may how no trouble being able to pay an increased overhead but even an increase to $15 an hour can drastically cut into a corporate wallet.

            If 75% of Wal-Mart employees make $15 an hour that would cut an 18 billion a year hole in the company. That is 80% of their profits. If McDonalds did the same thing it would be a cut of 4.5billion, or about half of their profit, according to finance.yahoo.com/news.  I don’t know any small company or large corporation that could stay in business by doing that.

            Others may have different reasons for increasing minimum wage, like saying it’s a way to stimulate the economy, but, according to www.minimumwage.com, “research has found no link between a higher minimum wage and economic growth. In fact, a higher minimum wage reduces output in certain industries with a higher concentration of less-skilled employees.” Others yet have argued that increasing minimum wage will reduce poverty, when, in fact “Twenty-eight states raised their minimum wage between 2003 and 2007, in an attempt to reduce poverty rates. Yet research from economists at Cornell and American University found no associated reduction in poverty.”

            It is common sense that when it cost more to produce and sell a product, weather it is cheeseburgers or running shoes, the price of making and selling the product, will come out of someone’s pocket. I’m fairly certain it will not be the stock holders of a corporation. Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour or more would, of course, cut into the profits of all companies, from the little mom and pop store on the corner to the large corporation in the warehouse store. The question is, are you willing to pay more for whatever it is your buying?

Yes, increasing minimum wage would most likely make many low income workers very happy, but what happens when a person who just got a raise to $15 or $20 an hour goes out to spend his or her pay check and realizes that it still doesn’t go that far because the prices have went up to compensate the owners, stockholders, and managers for the cost in the overhead of running a business.

In a world of unicorns and pixie dust we would see low income workers get drastic raises in pay and the companies would just feel sorry for their poor employees and happily take an unhealthy cut in their profits and just to make them happy and  because it may seem fair. Unfortunately, that is not how business works.

So, the next time you go into a Wal-Mart, Burger King, or another discount retailer, be thankful that the person behind the counter is not making $15 an hour or more or you might just see a larger bill than you wanted to.  Do you want overly expensive fries with that??

                                             dkhummel.blogspot.com, dkhummel.com

Conservative Corner: Is Mary Jane That Attractive?

There was a time when the use of marijuana was represented by hippies, beach bums and stoners. Well, those children of the joint have grown up, received an education, and found a way to gaze through the smoke and are now attempting to rewrite the law on what may or may not be harmful.  Twenty of the 50 states have already approved the medical use of marijuana and 2 of the 50 have passed the recreational use of the drug according to the Washington Post, with Oregon, Alaska and California in the wait.

            Marijuana is not a new substance, there are records dating back to 2727 B.C. regarding the use by Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. It was also familiar with the Ancient Greeks, Romans and the Middle East. The Spaniards are reported to have imported it to Chile for its fiber use. Cannabis has been used in North America as hemp for rope, clothing, and paper. As deamuseum.org tells us, marijuana and hemp is used in a variety to products including drinks, candy, coffee, body lotion, makeup, and even shampoo.

            It is become more obvious that marijuana is gaining popularity, especially in liberal states, but does it come without a cost? Like anything else that is smoked, there is a negative side to pot. Dr. Daniele Piomelli, a professor of pharmacology at the University of California, tells us on www.420magazine.com that “There is no question that it is dangerous. Smoking is not a natural way of consuming any substance.” She goes on to say that excessive smoking can be as or more dangerous than tobacco use. “It can do a lot of things to the body. The smoke itself, the tar and irritants and toxins and all sort of different things that have nothing to do with the reason why people smoke marijuana, which is for the euphoria, the ‘the high’- they are all problematic”

            Another problem with the recreational use of pot is the “cultural attributions” Dr. Piomelii also says that “the issue is that cannabis produces inhibition of movement, relaxation, sexual arousal, sensory heightening, and euphoria. All these are phenomena that are not in line with the work ethics of our society.”

            A problem with the symptoms associated with the overdose of marijuana is that it seems most users have become desensitized to the effects. www.drug-overdose.com informs us that contrary to what most people believe, marijuana can be addictive. A person who takes in too much of the drug may not act like the person in the 1937 film, Reefer Madness, but everyone acts differently to different chemicals. If one people smokes and can perform day-to-day functions like a normal person, does that mean someone else who smokes won’t plow into a bus load of children because they were high?

Many proponents of the controlled substance claim that there are no negative side effects and only positive reasons for smoking it.  Medical and personal research has shown that medical marijuana is useful in easing the pain for some ailments. I know people who can’t take “traditional” drugs to combat pain; however, they do use special strains of the plant to ease their suffering. I don’t have a big problem with marijuana as a medication, as long as it stays that way and is regulated as such. I don’t need Spicoli to go speeding down the road in a smoke-filled van and kill someone while trying to reach his next joint just because recreational marijuana is legal.

Legalizing medicinal marijuana in more states isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  I am worried, however, that the more states that legalize pot for medicinal use will legalize it for recreational use and put more people in danger by the hand of someone who has smoked too much and is not responsible for the outcome of his or her euphoric high.  I smoked pot in my early twenties, and I recall how it affected me and my friends.  It’s a feeling I don’t miss and I’m thankful for outliving it.

The only good thing about making marijuana legal would be the money from the sales and taxes, but would anyone risk the danger of having a stoned kid at the wheel of a 1500 pound vehicle just for a few dollars of tax revenue?

Despite the popular opinion of the controlled substance, pot isn’t as “harmless” as many think and the idea of just anyone walking into a pot store buying something and driving anywhere is freighting. If Oregon passes the “pot law” just think of the chances that you could become the victim of someone who just wanted to get high.

                                Dkhummel.com, dkhummel.blogspot.com