Double Standards

What would you say if I told you that I had the right to spend all of my money and never pay my taxes. How about if I said I was going to spend all of your money and never pay it back. Would you think I was a friend or not a friend. Say I was the one writing laws that would govern how you were able to manage your money would you feel confident that I was looking out for the best interest of everyone or myself?

This may sound ridiculous but that is a case being laid against Charles Rangle. D-NY, According to several news reports he has failed to pay taxes on several of his personal properties. "In June 2009, the House Ethics Subcommittee opened a probe of Rangel's trips to conferences in the Caribbean, and in August Rangel disclosed more than $500,000 in previously unreported assets." (Fox News)

This last week the Republican House members put forth a resolution to have Rangle step down from his position on the ways and means committee. (The one that writes the taxes you and I have to pay) The measure was shot down 246/153 vote count here.

Are you wondering why I would question this? I thought about this a long time and finally I have an answer I would hope that people would understand. I had this conversation one time with a dear friend of mine who talked about the appearance of what people are doing. Today in society a man and women who having lunch together must either be married to each other or be single if one is and the other isn't a third party must be present to prevent speculation about the appropriateness of what they are doing, even if it just is a business lunch.

Now think about this... The Representative has questionable ethics against him. They may be on the up and up, but with the climate of today, wouldn't it be better for this man to recluse himself until this was resolved in an honest way, so there would be no question of his ethics and integrity.

I would further challenge that people should call their congressmen, and ask why they voted the way they did, to see if this was more party issue than just believing in one person, OR, have they counseled Rep. Rangle themselves to step aside until this issue could be cleared up.

Thanks

Sometimes we must say thanks even though it might just bite the tongue that speaks the words. My congressmen Lee Terry is very good about sending me updates of what he is doing or going on in the government. Last month I was invited to the Dr. Road show that Senator Brasso and Coburn hosted it was great and I learned so much. This month or it might even be the same month, time seems to fly, I was invited to listen by youstream about the economy. This was so amazing by the depth of knowledge that each of these financial people( maybe economists) brought to the table. Therefore I wanted to say thank you to the one public servent who replies promptly and gives me a chance to voice my questions with proper concern and feel like I am contributing to the national conversation.

Stupid Congressmen

boy am I ever frustrated with the house of Representatives. They hired a speed reader to make the people happy that they read the 900 page cap and trade bill so they could pass it through to the floor. I think this is just deplorable. You couldn't even understand half of what he was saying and then the congressmen didn't even know what was all in the bill. I think if you don't know what is in something you shouldn't be able to vote on a bill you cannot possibly understand it enough to even represent your constituents to the best of your ability.

This summer as a way to help my family deal with all the politics we are teaching our children about the constituition. doing this will help them to understand and deal with all the stuff that is going on and we will have a refresher of what we are suppose to do.

stress release

today I took a day off of obsessing about the government and enjoyed the day; with rain in the forecast for the rest of the week I do not know if I will get the sunlight needed to keep me sane. Hence the Trip to the Omaha Zoo, which was really cool since we haven't been there in a really long time. Miss shanna and I could meander where ever we wanted to go the kids were really great about it the only thing that would have made it tops if I could have had Miss shannon there but then she called and it just was the topper of the day. so now I'm home and back to the grind of kids and all the media craziness that I feel that I need to deal with so tomorrow I will remember the sun and the lovely Apes and what a wonder beautiful day had brought as the clouds gather and the moods diminish. I will keep this alight for me.

Tea Parties

I just wanted to get my thoughts down while I thought of this day. I went to a protest I can not say it was my first but it has been over 10 years since I have been to one. I Was in down town Omaha and I looked all around it was peaceful and respectful. When I got home i was listening to the media about what they saw and heard the main thing was that people are mad and scared. To answer that question I am niether, I choose not to deal with this with emotion because then it is fleeting and temporary. when I think of what I am doing it is to be resolute in how I deal with congress and the presidency.

Each year we do new years resolutions to set new goals and to follow through with them. One of mine was to follow government as best as I could to call my senators monthly, weekly and if necessary daily to let them know what I think of what is going on. I may not always be on top of it but I am firm in my conviction that I will no longer be ignored nor will I tolerate people being unaccountable for their behavior.

Allowing myself to remain quiet would allow other people to make my choices and to have members of congress be uninformed of what my thoughts are, so I do make those calls. I have had really good and bad discussions with the offices ,but I do my duty as an American to be responsible. That to me is what these Tea Parties are about holding accountable the people who choosen to represent us, and make them be held to the highest of standards that we hold ourselves and each other too.

Abandonment

The last two sundays have been very entertaining for me, Faith my youngest has decided at church to sit with someone different during sacrament last week she sat with sister cole and then Gabe and treaven felt the need to join her. I of course was not going to make her watch all of them by herself becuase lets face it they are very busy and sometimes I have to throw one over the pew to my girl shannon so that I can battle the others. WEll today it would seem she saw miss sarah who babysits her off and on so of course she had to sit with the whole elicker clan which was again great for me but then I had to think I must be really relived that she is so comfortable with all these wonderful people that she doesn't have to sit with me what a great ward I live in.