GM's Defender - Ralph Nader?

Obama's GM Plan Looks Like a Raw Deal
Congress, not a secret task force, should decide the company's fate.

By RALPH NADER and ROBERT WEISSMAN

What public purposes animate the government's planned rescue of General Motors Corp?

Millions of people in communities across the country depend on the government getting the GM rescue right. That's why it is startling -- and mistaken -- for the future of GM to rest with a small, largely unaccountable, ad hoc task force made up of a handful of Wall Street expats.

A congressional abdication of authority of historic proportions has left the executive branch with nearly complete discretion over how to handle GM and Chrysler's restructuring. President Barack Obama has further delegated authority, giving effective control to this task force, which operates under the titular authority of a top-level interagency group headed by National Economic Council Director Larry Summers and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.

In the days before an avoidable June 1 bankruptcy filing, it is imperative that Congress honor its constitutional duties and demand that the GM restructuring deal be sent to it for deliberative review -- before any irreversible measures, such as a voluntary bankruptcy declaration, are taken. This means delaying any precipitous decisions until after Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess.

The case for congressional involvement would be solid enough on constitutional and procedural grounds alone. But the secretive task force's plan raises red flags and requires Congressional examination in open hearings. With the government set to take a 70% ownership stake in GM, there are too many unanswered, troubling questions to proceed with a risky bankruptcy declaration. Here are 10 pressing issues among many:

1) Has the task force conducted any kind of formal or informal cost-benefit analysis on the costs of a GM bankruptcy and excessive closures? These may include the social effects of lost jobs (including more than 100,000 dealership jobs alone), more housing foreclosures, the government expense of providing unemployment and social relief, lost tax revenues, supplier companies that will be forced to close, damaged consumer confidence in the GM brand, and impacts on GM's industrial creditors.

2) Do GM and Chrysler really need to close as many dealerships -- which do not cost manufacturers -- as have been announced? Is the logic of closing dealerships to enable the remaining dealers to charge higher prices? If so, why is the government facilitating such a move?

3) Is the task force asking for too many plants to close and the elimination of too many brands?

4) Why is the task force permitting GM to increase manufacturing overseas for export back into the U.S.? Under the GM reorganization plan, the company will rely increasingly on overseas plants to make cars for sale in the U.S., with cars made in low-wage countries like Mexico rising from 15% to 23% of GM sales here. For the first time, GM plans to export cars from China to the U.S. in what is a harbinger of the company's future business model. What is the conceivable rationale for permitting GM to increase manufacturing overseas -- especially in dictatorships, for export back into the U.S. -- when preserving jobs and industry is the avowed goal of this immense taxpayer bailout?

5) Why is the task force supporting GM's efforts to devise a two-tier wage structure, whereby new auto jobs no longer provide a ticket to the middle class?

6) How will bankruptcy affect GM's overseas operations, with special reference to China and GM's corporate entanglements with Chinese partners? Are they and their large profits being exempted from the conditions imposed on domestic operations? Are GM's China-based assets and profits inside or outside of the bankruptcy process?

7) Would a corporate and government-driven bankruptcy process comport with any rights of owner-shareholders to decide whether they want their company to be dissolved?

8) How will bankruptcy affect GM's obligations to parties engaged in pending or future litigation in the courts with GM regarding serious injuries suffered because of design or product defects in vehicles sold prior to the bankruptcy? Or parties engaged in "lemon" litigation?

9) What guarantees are the task force, supposedly representing the taxpayers' investment, obtaining to ensure that the GM of the future invests in safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles?

10) Why is the Obama administration signaling that, after reorganization, when the government owns 70% of GM, it will not exercise the control that attaches to ownership?

Many in Congress have been eager to disassociate themselves from the perceived mess of the GM reorganization, believing it too complicated. This is a stark contrast to 1979, when Congress held extensive hearings and passed enacting legislation on the Chrysler bailout and later with the complex Conrail restructuring.

If not motivated by their constitutional duty, members of Congress might perhaps listen to political arguments to assert their rightful authority. If GM and the task force take the company into bankruptcy, more than displaced workers will be demanding that Congress answer: "Why are we bailing out the auto companies and then facilitating their moving production overseas? Why aren't we leveraging the public investment to protect jobs and manufacturing capacity, as well as facilitate investments in environmentally appropriate technologies?"

It need not be so. The congressional leadership still has a few days to stop the reckless rush to bankruptcy court and to assert its responsibilities.

Mr. Nader is a consumer advocate. Mr. Weissman is editor of Multinational Monitor magazine.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124355327992064463.html#mod=article-outset-box

Stimulus Package Falls Short

Stimulus projects bypass hard-hit states
By Brad Heath, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — States hit hardest by the recession received only a few of the government's first stimulus contracts, even though the glut of new federal spending was meant to target places where the economic pain has been particularly severe.

Nationwide, federal agencies have awarded nearly $4 billion in contracts to help jump-start the economy since President Obama signed the massive stimulus package in February. But, with few exceptions, that money has not reached states where the unemployment rate is highest, according to a USA TODAY review of contracts disclosed through the Federal Procurement Data System.

In Michigan, for example — where years of economic tumult and a collapsing domestic auto industry have produced the nation's worst unemployment rate — federal agencies have spent about $2 million on stimulus contracts, or 21 cents per person. In Oregon, where unemployment is almost as high, they have spent $2.12 per capita, far less than the nationwide average of nearly $13.

That money "is needed nowhere more than it is needed in Michigan," says Leslee Fritz, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Economic Recovery Office, which is coordinating stimulus efforts in that state. She said officials are generally satisfied with the pace of federal aid, but added, "We certainly feel very intensely the need to move quickly."

The $787 billion recovery package was intended to help turn around the economy using federal money to create jobs, especially in places where the recession has taken the most severe toll. Most of that money goes directly to states to pay for work such as highway repairs, but federal agencies also will spend billions of dollars to do everything from fixing runways and improving national forests to cleaning up nuclear waste.

The first waves of that money flowed unevenly in large part because some federal agencies have moved more swiftly than others to sign contracts for projects funded by the stimulus. In many cases, those first contracts went to projects that began years ago or to companies that have long track records of doing government work.

For example, about $3 billion of the government's first contracts were to speed cleanup of some of the nation's worst nuclear waste sites, scattered over a handful of states. That has created hundreds of additional jobs at the companies that manage the sites, says Matt Rogers, a senior adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, but the impact has been limited to only a few parts of the country.

Liz Oxhorn, a spokeswoman for the White House stimulus effort, said any examination of federal contracts provides "an incomplete picture" of a law that is "providing unprecedented assistance at a record pace to benefit as many Americans as possible." Obama said Wednesday that the stimulus had created or saved 150,000 jobs in its first 100 days. Overall, however, the economy shed more than 1.2 million jobs in March and April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In addition to the contracts it has awarded, the government has asked companies to bid on thousands of additional projects worth upward of $30 billion, according to Onvia, a firm that tracks government purchasing.

Even so, the first contracts have amounted to only about $7.42 per person on average in the eight states with unemployment rates higher than 10% last month. By comparison, government records show it has awarded about $26 worth of contracts per person in North Dakota, whose unemployment rate is the nation's lowest.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-05-27-contracts_N.htm

Thoughts While I Was Away

AUTO INDUSTRY

What happens to GM and Chrysler, when after this government "sanctioned" restructuring and bankruptcy is complete and they still can't sell any cars? Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs, homes, retirement plans, benefits, and futures all because the Democrats/Green People believe that people weren't buying their cars because they wanted smaller, greener cars with better gas mileage. I hope they are right but I'm afraid the reality will be just as many of us have said all along, people can't or won't buy cars if the banks won't loan money and if they either don't have a job or are uncertain about their job.

STIMULUS

President Obama told a gathering in Las Vegas today that his $787 billion dollar stimulus jobs has either created or saved 150,000 jobs. God, I hope he is talking just about the state of Nevada because by my math that equates to $5.4266 million dollars a job. I hope the program works better than that. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090527/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_solar_power

REPUBLICANS

So the Republicans are now changing their tune about helping the domestic auto industry. It seems they just realized cars are built and sold in 48 out of 50 states. The jobs lost nationwide solely due to Chrysler and GM closing dealerships will surpass 120,000 jobs. That is just the dealerships and doesn't include the support services like lending, insurance, auto parts, uniforms, landscaping, window washers, local advertising. Hey Senator Numbnuts...'er Shelby how'd that taste?

POLITICIANS

I believe if all you do is sit and bitch about a problem you become part of the problem. To be part of the solution you need to be proactive. Now there are many that read my writings here and on Craigslist that swear I'm a Republican because I keep slapping President Obama and the Democrats, and I'm not. In fact because I am proactive I get fairly regular correspondence from Senator Carl Levin and Representative Barney Frank of the House Banking Committee. The other day I received emails from both informing me about the new Credit Card Reforms the Obama has requested and congress has passed. I emailed back and applauded the President and our lawmakers for long overdue protections for the consumer. But being one not to mince words I also asked why to you give them 7-months to continue to rape, pillage and plunder the working man when the changes enacted merely are typographical. I said this has been the problem with the Republicrats all along. They pass a law and thump their chests, and tell us how they are "protecting " us then give the banks time to find loop holes. It all smoke and mirrors. If the law is what it is there is no reason it cannot be implemented in 30-days. Hell we implement new tax code in 30-days and that effects every working soul in America. BTW I admire both Levin and Frank, at least they communicate.

SMOKING BAN

The Michigan Legislature has passed a state wide smoking ban but it still needs to make it through the Michigan Senate. I hope someone there has the brains God gave a good sized gnat because although the anti-smoking zealots are dancing in the street, this stupid bill would be a critical blow to Michigan. Tobacco tax revenue totaled $1,129.2 million in fiscal year (FY) 2007, down $39.9 million from FY 2006. This represented a 3.4 percent decrease in tobacco tax revenues compared to FY 2006. Tobacco taxes now account for 4.8 percent of all Michigan taxes. At $2.00 tax per pack with 550 million packs sold each year, who is going to make up for that lost revenue when people quit en mass because they can no longer smoke in public? And don't kid yourself they will, I did. The non smokers? Maybe, but only if they have any money or jobs. My lady LJ lives outside of Columbus Ohio and I think it was two years ago they passed a similar ban. From what she told me restaurants and bars took a huge hit in the revenue due to the law and let's be honest here, can Michigan afford to lose even one more job?

The other problem I have with this proposed law is the exemptions. This law bans smoking in public places, restaurants, bars and public buildings. Where you can still smoke is in Casino's and Cigar Bars. What the hell is that? Either you are going to ban it or you are not. You don't ban something under the guise of health then say you're exempt if your revenue, tax base and kick backs are large enough. I mean we've all seen the improvements made in Detroit due to the Casino jobs and revenue. They've expanded the parking around the Federal Building to handle all of those gambling addicts as they file for Chapter 7.

I could live with the ban if it were applied equally but if it isn't, then there shouldn't be a ban.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/treasury/2007Stat_246388_7.pdf

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

As I am typing this the police, FBI, family, friends and neighbors are searching for a missing 5-year old girl named Nevaeh Buchanan, down in Monroe, Michigan. The fact that this little girl is missing is, in and of itself, tragic. I pray and I hope you will join me in prayer for her safe return. I will say that it doesn't look promising as her Mother was dating a registered sex offender and he is being looked at closely by the police. But that is a story for another time.

What is bothering me is there seems to be an increasing trend in violence again those most vulnerable, children and the elderly. At first, like many, I thought it was only because there is more media today and therefore more exposure to these types of stories but research shows that isn't the case. We all watched that horrible video on the news two years ago of that monster in Florida leading that innocent little girl to her terrifying death. He was convicted and I believe sentenced to death. It made the national news when a punk tried to car-jack and 80 year old man in Detroit and instead of helping, people stood around and video taped it on their phones.

We have become a society filled with people that are callous to things we found terrifying just a generation ago. There has been a desensitizing of people through the media and through the court system. There is no consequence today for actions. If you murdered someone and you're not in Texas or Florida the chances are you'll get another shot at it in your lifetime. They talk about the rights of the accused. What about the rights of the victim? And the potential victims yet to come? In the case above if this man is a pedophile on parole and this little girl is dead, why shouldn't he be dead as a well?

Today "Project Innocence" uses DNA and science to free people wrongly imprisoned and I think that is a fantastic thing. If we have the science and technology to conclusively free a man wrongly accused, then doesn't that mean if we have the same science and technology to condemn one to death? It should! If the science and technology proves beyond a shadow of a doubt guilt then there is not reason for multiple appeals. You get one if a point of law or rights were trampled on but after that you get to meet your maker.

And before all of the bleeding hearts come out of the woodwork....don't tell it to me. Go explain it to the family of Nevaeh Buchanan. Her picture is accompanying this entry so if you have seen her please contact the authorities.

Down Day Today

There are times I come on here and try to be witty, and other times when I have serious thoughts. But through it all I try to stay upbeat and have a vision or light at the end of the tunnel. Then there are days like today where I'm just frustrated. We all have them so you know what I'm talking about.

I have always been a take charge kind of guy. I was the guy people would come to when they had a problem to make things better, and a lot of times I did. I have a knack for that sort of thing. I don't believe in the term "you can't". When someone says that to me it's like waving a red cape in front of a bull. I'm not the smartest kid on the block but God graced me with common sense which has proven to be an invaluable tool throughout my lifetime. I also have been blessed with a keen sense of human nature and the ability to communicate. My Dad used to say, "that boy was vaccinated with a phonograph needle" and there are times I think he was right.

In my lifetime I have started and ran three successful corporations and I have worked in a variety of jobs. I have seen good times and bad. And when the bad got worse I always created my own opportunities. But today I feel like I have run out of steam.

I had dinner with my friend Denise tonight which was good because it was her turn to buy. Denise and I go back to the early 90's when she worked for me at Real Estate One, and we've been buddies ever since. We have shared all sorts of life events and we know when to listen and when to speak to each other. Tonight we talked about her recovery from some surgery and about the economy.

She listened as I told her that I felt frustrated. That in the last 24-hours I had a neighbor come to me and asked for some help while he was away at school training for a new career at the age of 54. Of course I told him no problem but it just was sad that this guy and his family have to do this sort of thing at this stage in his life. I communicated with a former girlfriend, who I fell hands over feet in love with years ago, just to see how she was doing. I knew she was going through some tough times and I wanted to let her know I was there for her if she needed me. Then I heard from a buddy that I grew up with. We've been friends for over 50 years and he told me he just lost his job, and again I felt helpless. These are all friends of mine, people I care for and people I love, and I know they are scared and feeling alone right now.

Our society has become a funny thing, in a way a sad thing because we have, for whatever reason, lost our sense of compassion at times. Maybe it's media overload or bad news overload and this wall we've thrown around ourselves acts as a sanity defense. All I know is we see the news, read the numbers of people struggling and say "that's a shame". It really isn't genuine until it strikes close to home and then the reality sets in.

Today Chrysler released a statement saying they are closing 789 car dealerships across the country. And tomorrow General Motors is expected to close about 1,200 of their dealers. We hear this news, shake our heads and go on with our lives but think about this:

The average dealership employs 53 people between sales, service and administrative staff. That means between today and tomorrow 1,989 dealers will close effecting 105,417 families. Living, breathing, people. Maybe a friend, a relative or acquaintance might be effected. Almost 106,000 families that may lose their homes, will need assistance to feed their families, 106,000 families left without much hope, and for what? Why did this have to happen? Is it the car companies or is it our government? I don't know and today I don't care.

Today, what I care for are my friends that are struggling. Today, I care about 106,000 families that are struggling. Today, I am frustrated that I don't know what the answer is. Today, I'll leave it up to those smarter than me to suggest a solution. Today, I'll pray for my friends and loved ones, and for those I don't know as well.

Sometimes all it takes is letting someone know we are here for them, then back it up with action. Who knows maybe if more of us tried that it might do some good.

What Is The Problem?

Now I'm no big media maven I leave that sort of thing up to my friend, LJ! I am forever asking her who is this person or that person when we watch TV or a movie and she provides me with all the information I need. Now I'm telling you this as a preface for my comments because I admit that I only know what I have seen in the news about this topic.

What I do know is this: A week or so ago during the Miss America contest there were questions asked of the contestants. Miss California Carrie Prejean was asked a question regarding her opinion about gay marriage. In the readers digest version she said she felt marriage was exclusive to a man and a woman. Well, you would have thought she said lets all go kill some baby seals and maybe a few human ones, too.

Lighten up people! They asked her for her opinion and she gave it.

I learned a long time ago that if you don't want to hear the answer then you probably shouldn't ask the question. If this is how this woman feels about the topic it's her right to feel this way. Do you have to like it, no, but it doesn't make her the anti-Christ. It makes her the same as you and me.

Now before the question gets asked let me clarify my position on this. First, I have a step-son that I am very proud of and love like a biological son, who just happens to be gay. Was it hard to accept at first, sure, just like everything else in parenthood it doesn't come with a manual so you learn to adjust on the fly. Over time I came to understand that this wasn't a choice, it was genetic. If he had options I think he would have chose them.

Now as far as gay "marriage" goes I am against it. I don't and will not deny gays to have the right to enter into some form of legal contract, be it a life partner, significant other or whatever other name you wish to place on it. They should have the same rights to pass on estates, benefits and whatever as you and I but I do feel the institution of "marriage" should be reserved in it's traditional term. Meaning between a man and a woman.

Now for some gay activist what I just described is not acceptable, in which case I reply to them that their arguments about wanting the same rights as married men and women is probably not valid. I say this because if you have a contract and it allows the same rights why does it matter what it is called? You could call it hemorrhoids but as long as it gave you equal rights, stop yer bitchin'.

Anyway, I just find all the ruckus about this woman and situation to be silly but then that's just my opinion.

Doom and Gloom

Have you ever given any thought to the fact that someone is always trying to control your thoughts. They like us to worry. Worry sells newspapers, media advertising, gives the local tv "news" something to say is a "breaking story".

And have you ever noticed it's almost always bad news. As if we don't have enough of that already people find ways to change the rules to have something else to worry about. Radon? Lead based paint? Asteroids? Social Security? Every week there is a new definition of some dilemma that effects you and I.

Recently the medical profession changed the definition of Autism. Now Autism is a serious disease and every parents nightmare, just the thing that people want to jerk with to scare the hell out of unsuspecting people.

If I understand this correctly under the old guidelines approximately 1 in every 2,500 births produced a child with Autistic symptoms, but by the new definition that rate is now considered to be 1 in every 150 births. That is a tremendous worry to place on couples about to become parents.

Now I'm not the brightest guy in the world but this topic got me to thinking, if this new definition is true that means the odds are fairly good that one of you reading this is Autistic. I wonder which person it is? Again, I'm not making a joke out of Autism, what I am making a joke out of is how the public buys into things so easily without question.

If today you were expecting a child I think you'd ask a lot of questions. Maybe we all need to question things more.

Sitting Here Thinking

Governor Jen Jen if you want this state to recover why not start with a singular identity? We have 47 different license plates, two versions which are so rusted you can hardly read them, and everything from Internet advertising to what war a guy served in on them. What happened to "Winter, Water, Wonderland"?

Speaking of license plates all of you bicycle riders that think you are cars? When you pay a license plate fee to use the road then I'll agree that you are entitled to the same space as cars. Until them stay on the shoulder and knock it off with the spandex you're not riding in the Tour d'France. ( I wonder how this slipped by Gov. Jen Jen?)

So the people that own credit cards are half the blame for the credit card issuers being in trouble, huh? Let's see...I paid my bill a month ahead every month but they still raised the interest rate we agreed upon after taking billions of our tax dollars. I have never called someone and applied for credit, they always offered it to me. With that said how is it my fault I took them up on their offer?

President Obama I'm pulling for you but your whole plan is getting turned upside down and you're doing nothing just like the last guy. Believe if or not it was artificially inflated gas prices that started the fall of this house of cards, and they are doing it again. Care to tell me what shortage, new war, tropical storm has caused gas prices to go up almost 70 cents since the first of the year? You guys in Washington seem hell bent on nationalizing everything how about grabbing an oil company? I bet you'd see those prices stabilize real quick.

Speaking of Washington buying up all the private businesses. What ever happened to the "Sherman Anti-Trust Act"? It seems to me the United States Government has turned into the largest monopoly in this country.

Before you "dittoheads" start to answer that previous thought, remember your President wiped his feet on the Constitution and got us in this financial mess by ignoring it.

The experts say the recession is about over!!!!! Someone hand me a gun!

Pulte thinks housing prices have hit rock bottom....I wonder if they'd like to buy my house?

The government says social security is running out of money sooner than it expected. I have a solution, how about you fools pay back all of the "loans" you took out of the social security coffers over the last 60 years? Now there's a pregnant idea!

To the City of Detroit. Kudos! With Bing as Mayor and Cockrel on city council you may just have a change.

To the fools that think Ford has it all under control. Two years ago they were smart enough to go out and mortgage everything they own for cash to survive. The problem is now they own nothing, even the Glass House, the banks do. Let's just hope they can pull it off because I don't want any more nationalized car companies.

The government now wants to tax soda pop. How about we start to tax bottled water and, wine and cheese?

If conservation is such a big thing in Washington, why are they exempt to having to use 1.6 gallon flush toilets like the rest of us? They still have the 5 gallon models in congress.

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/107062/Banks-Brace-for-Credit-Card-Write-Offs

Ok Little Angel

You get to be Mommy's little girl today!

Happy First Mothers Day, Chris!

Happy Mothers Day

On this day we choose to honor those very special women in our lives, Mothers. Whether we honor our own Mothers or the Mother of our children this is her special day. It's the day, to make up for all of the other days, when we forgot to say "Wow, you're pretty amazing".

My Mother passed away in 2002 at the age of 83 after a brief illness. To this day I carry a little guilt for a promise made that went unkept but that is a story for another time. Like all Mothers she was the backbone of the family. She was the one that got us educated, kept up fed, kept us clean, taught us right from wrong, hugged us when we needed it and punished us when we needed it. And through it all she managed to keep her sanity which with 3 sons and one daughter was a pretty neat trick.

I remember back in '93 or '94 I was struggling with what to get my Mom for Mothers Day. Any adult child knows just how difficult that task can be at times, especially when the parent keeps saying " There is nothing that I need so save your money". So on this particular Mothers Day I decided to write my Mom a letter, recognizing everything in my life that I knew she had done and thanking her for those things, plus apologizing for the things I may have missed.

I sat down and started to make a list of those things I wanted to mention, and to my amazement before long I was on my third page. I realized then just how much my Mom, like my Dad, had passed on to me. She taught me values, she taught me that it was OK to cry when you lost someone dear, she taught me about compassion, she taught me to tie my shoe, she taught me to love above all else, she taught me the virtues of loyalty, and the list could go on and on.

After some editing and several attempts at proof reading for errors (those that know me are laughing hysterically right now because they know I murder the English language without spell check) I typed it up single space and managed to get it all on one page. I signed it your loving son, Barry and tucked it in a card.

At the time my Mom was living down in Florida and I was leaving the next morning to go spend Mothers Day with her. I arrived at her condo about 3pm on Saturday and after relaxing for a while we went out to dinner. The next morning as we were having coffee out on her balcony looking out over the ocean I gave her that card, kissed her and told her Happy Mothers Day. She laughed then opened it and spent several minutes silently reading it. I saw tears well up in her eyes as she stood up and hugged me. She said " Thank you honey, that meant more to me than anything in the world". She later framed that letter and kept it on the wall next to her dresser until the day she died.

The point is Mothers are an invaluable part of our lives and we often take them for granted. On this Mothers Day do more than send flowers, let them know you realize just how hard their job is day in and day out, and that nobody could ever replace them.

So to all of the women in my life that are Mothers, "God bless you all and thank you".

Happy Mothers Day!

The Fall Of The American Dream

When times get tough it's easy to sit back and find fault or to point fingers. In fact Americans make up some of the best armchair quarterbacks in the world. We find fault with political parties, businesses, local government, foreign governments, the media and other factors but rarely do we take a serious look inward. Now the reasons for that failure will vary from person to person, it could be because our egos will not let us, it could be fear of validating what we already realize, it could be that by looking inward and at our system could possibly make us have to act or be silent.

In my opinion there is no specific reason for the deterioration going on in our society today, it's a culmination of things that have evolved over the past fifty years. The interesting thing is that at this point in our history I'm not sure we can or would want to reverse the ongoing deterioration of our society. I say this because there are many that would disagree with me that any problem exists at all, that things are evolving nicely and "deterioration", like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

That is the beauty part of living in this great country, we are all entitled to have an opinion and it's opinions that keep a democratic republic true unto itself. But have we? Have we been true to those ideals that founded this great country or have they been blurred with time and interpretation?

To understand what has happened we first must understand how it began. Now, most all of us learned the Preamble to the Constitution while in grade school, but for many just like Algebra and Latin it's been tucked away to the back of our minds to that place we store "useless" information. So let's begin there:

The Constitution of the United States of America
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Simple but direct words that prefaced the document that created our nation. Today it would be called a "Mission Statement". But those words were put to paper almost 250 years ago and it was called the Preamble to the Constitution.

The Constitution of the United States is one of the simplest, yet complex, documents ever drafted by the hand of man. If taken in it's purists form, in the literal sense of the word it would still be relevant today and effective. We, on the other hand, chose to allow this document to be a living breathing being subject to interpretation and amendments as the times require. In nearly two and a half centuries we have altered this document 27 times. Altered for the better? That too is subject to opinion but altered by the majority it was. Of the 27 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution the first 10 are those we hold dearest for they are the Bill of Rights. These Amendments were worked out during the constitutional convention and made part of the original document in 1789. The Bill of Rights contain certain inalienable rights or guarantees to the citizens of this young country. Rights and liberties that were guaranteed and that were simple to follow. Our founding fathers, indeed, were collectively not only brilliant but forward thinking. Unfortunately they were still drafting this document in 18th century and had no idea how it would be changed in the future.

Shakespeare Had It Right

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." Henry The Sixth, Part 2 Act 4, scene 2, 71–78

While they are not the sole reason for the downfall of the American Dream, Lawyers hold a position of notoriety because they wrote most of our laws, then found ways to bend our laws to suite the needs of the minority or for their own personal greed. For clarification the term "minority" is used to describe criminals, businesses, politicians, and is not used to describe a race or religion.

To understand how the attorneys have contributed to a downfall in our society you must first agree on some core values that made this country great. Whether it is real or not, fact or fantasy, this country has existed on the set of core values; hard work, honesty, respect for others, respect for authority, morals, family, manners, social acceptance, sense of community, a love of God and country. Now you may not agree with any or all of those but don't use today as the standard to judge them, use 50 years ago. And most of these core values have been distorted due to the actions of politicians, courts and lawyers. Since the road I'm walking down is sure to irritate the majority let's get the biggest sacred cow out of the way, shall we?

The First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

A simple, concise, on point group of words. As a blogger I am blessed that they exist but then I like to think of myself as being responsible blogger. I respect any persons right to agree with me or take exception. Debate is healthy provided it is done in an intelligent manner. You don't need to be a genius to read the paragraph of the first amendment and understand what our founding fathers intended with these words.

While there are those that reject this theory the facts bare out that this country was settled and founded on the basic principle of judeo-christian beliefs. The Puritans and the Pilgrims migrated to this country to get away from the religious oppression that was found in Europe. Therefore the First Amendment addresses that issue, and it goes on further to say that you are not only entitled to believe or pray as you want, if the government tries to control your beliefs you may speak out against it, you may publish notification of it, you may assemble and peacefully protest it, and you may petition the government to uphold its promises. It's pretty straight forward. I'm guessing that most could read it and comprehend it, and I'm fairly sure it was written the way our founding fathers intended.

Now, in the 230 years since it was originally drafted, thanks to our courts and attorneys, the First Amendment has been broadened to cover everything imaginable. Porn you bet, profanity yep, separation of church and state definitely, crass and rude behavior it's my right, flipping off my teacher sure thing, calling my neighbor a f*cker uh huh, demanding God be removed from anything related to the government got to, take down Christmas decorations they offend (but f*ck you doesn't?), using the N-word, C-word, B-word, F*g word, P-word those are my freedoms of expression, lying in advertising free speech, playing music so loud it rattles windows my right, write slanderous accusations secret source, artistic expression just call me Van Gogh, and so on, and so on, and so on.

The interesting thing is I don't see any of that in the original verbiage of the first amendment. How do you correlate the freedom to believe in whatever God you want to become you cannot display the ten commandments on a government building? How do you go from I can speak my mind about the government to become watching a woman copulate with a farm animal is artistic expression? I don't think so!

We have taken one of the most basic of our rights and turned it into an excuse for bad behavior. Now before you get on your high horse let me say I'm not a prude, nor am I a conservative, but I am a realist. And it's the realist in me that says to have a functioning society you need to have limits, for a society without limits is anarchy. There was a time not too long ago when there was porn, you just kept it tucked away. If you wanted to tell your teacher or parents to go to hell, you yelled it in your mind not out loud.

We have bastardized the First Amendment in such a manner that it has attacked and deteriorated the moral fiber of this country. Anything goes according to the courts and attorneys. The problem is when anything goes, so do personal freedoms, so do intelligent conversations, so do honest debates, so do rules and so does authority.

(This will continue)

Happy Birthday Brad....

60? Damn that's old!

Men Where Are Your Testicles?

Since the beginning of time man has been the hunter and provider of food for the family. It's a passage to manhood that we still celebrate in today's society when a boy learns to hunt or fish from his father. It is a form of bonding that has been going on for centuries. Part of that right of passage includes cooking your kill or catch over an open fire.

Now fire was probably the most important discovery man ever made. Some will argue it was the wheel but fire offered man warmth, protection, the ability to cook, to dry clothes and to avoid tipping the pizza guy. It was around the campfire that stories were passed along to younger generations, legends were repeated, first beers were consumed, and young men were taught the age old art form of how to cook over a fire. This culinary education would be carried back into the civilized world and became a valuable part of his future relationship with his wife and family.

For generations men have taken charge of the right of summer called the Bar B Que or grilling. It was with this simple act that he reassured his mate and family that he was the ultimate provider. The alpha male that could not only bring home the bacon but, in the event of an emergency, prepare the meal for the family over an open fire. His woman would swoon in amazement as he mastered the flames, seasoning the meat, the flipping and turning it as the savory juices were sealed inside as the outside seared. Throughout history it was a proven fact that there was a direct correlation between a man cooking the family meal over the charcoal grille and the increased frequency of trying to procreate. Scientists assume that the females feel so protected and reassured by their mates actions that they have this natural maternal urge to bring another life into the world.

So with all of this said what in the name of God is going on with men today? I listened on the radio the other day as grown men debated purchasing a gas grille or a real charcoal grille. Men were calling in talking about side burners and infra-red coils on a BBQ grille. They were talking about spending up to $1,200 for a BBQ grille. While walking through the grocery store today that had several grilles for sale and only one was charcoal. The rest had warming tray, bread ovens, timers and lights.

Men, and I use this term loosely, do not go out and purchase one of these new fangled devices. You already have one, it's located in your kitchen and it is called a stove! Your woman cooks you meals on it almost every night. These new "BBQ" grilles take no effort, no special talent, they do nothing to reassure the family that you are the alpha male. They are a friggen outdoor stove for crying out loud. Your kid could cook the dinner by following a recipe off the Food Network!

I feared this day would come as men were forced to become more aware of their feelings back in the late 70's. We were told that we needed to be in touch with our feminine side. Slowly the testosterone has been sucked out of our bodies causing our, well not mine because I still cook on a charcoal grille, testicles to grow smaller with each passing decade. Over the years we have wondered why our family doesn't look at us with the amazement of our youth and it's all because of these new gas grilles. Your woman doesn't need you to cook outside any longer, and she keeps talking about her friend "Bob". I've never met this "Bob" but he seems to have a specific edge over you or I. The once mighty charcoal grille has evolved into a prop that could be used at a Village People concert.

It is time for men to look back, reach back and move to a simpler time when all that was required to cook ribs, chicken, burgers or hot dogs was a grate, some charcoal, lighter fluid and a pair of tongs.

Now that was cooking!

One Down 4 To Go - Wings 3 Ducks 2

This is going to be a rough and tumble series. I like the Wings in five because, like Columbus, Anaheim will think the answer is to rough up the Red Wings but they are used to that.

The answer is to show the same kind of patience that the Wings display and to out play them, the problem with that is Anaheim is not talented enough to do it.

Osgood, Lidstrom, Zetterberg, and company will prevail!

Study: Ice jam caused Great Lakes water levels to drop

Calling Al Gore, calling Al Gore, you better speak to these fellas because you're not going to like what they have to say. It appears they, like many others, believe some environmental changes are the fault of Mother Nature and not global warming. Shocking! The scary parts is they appear to have evidence to back up their statements. Here, I'll reprint the article below and you can check it out for yourself:

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Study: Ice jam caused Great Lake water levels to drop

Jim Lynch / The Detroit News

A steady drop in water levels in Lake Michigan/Huron over the first half of this decade resulted from natural causes, not man-made ones, according to U.S. and Canadian researchers, noting that the past 18 months of rising waters could be an indication the lakes are headed back to normal levels.

Researchers working for the International Joint Commission this week released the findings of a two-year study on the St. Clair River and the amount of water running through it out of Lake Michigan/Huron. The study was launched to answer questions by lake shore residents who had watched the steady drop of water levels in recent years.

The study found that Mother Nature has been behind the changes under way in the last eight years. "It's not ongoing; it has definitely stabilized," said Ted Yuzyk, the Canadian co-chair of the study board, who added the changes have reversed in the last 18 to 24 months. "And it's not human driven. This is more natural."

For years, many blamed the water loss on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and dredging work the agency performed on the St. Clair River bed in the early 1960s -- work designed to broaden and deepen the channel for better navigation.

Critics believe that work increased the capacity of the river for carrying water out of Lake Huron and led to increased erosion of the river bed that continues today.

The commission is not calling for any corrective action in the Lake Huron-St. Clair River now. And that's not sitting well with members of the Canadian environmental group GBA Foundation, which funded its own study in 2004 which put the blame on human activity.

"The fact that (the report) completely dismisses such an enormous increase in outflow and recommends that nothing be done about it is very disturbing," said Roy Schatz, GBA's founding president, in a press release.

The joint commission looked at changes in the Great Lakes between 1962 and 2006, during which the difference in the water level between Lake Michigan/Huron and the lower-sitting Lake Erie has shrunk by nine inches.

Researchers suggest three contributing factors:

• A change in the St. Clair River's capacity, or conveyance, most likely created during a month long freeze of the river in 1984 that resulted in scouring of the river bottom.

• Changing climate patterns, including greater rain and snowfall in Lakes Erie and Ontario than in the northern Great Lakes.

• Shifts in the Earth's crust, called glacial isostatic adjustment, that are the result of the planet's rebound from the melting of glaciers 10,000 years ago.

Chester Kolascz said he remembers the ice jams created on the St. Clair River in 1984 and isn't surprised it may have played a role. But after 32 years in the area, he has seen the water levels rise and fall and doesn't allow his concerns to move with them.

"My gut feeling is that the lakes in general are a cyclical thing," said Kolascz, 59, who runs the Port Sanilac Marina on Lake Huron. "And from what I'm seeing now, the levels are definitely in an upswing. I wouldn't be surprised if, by the end of the summer, we're back up near our historical averages."

jlynch@detnews.com (313) 222-2034

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090502/METRO/905020351/1409/METRO/Study--Ice-jam-caused-Great-Lake-water-levels-to-drop