What Tha?

So the other day my little girl (who just happens to be in the first grade and is discovering the wondrous world of the written word) and I were driving to the local Publix when she spotted a fairly large commercial land for sale sign. As we zipped by the sign she tried to read it and asked me what zoning meant. I told her that the property for sale was zoned commercial meaning that someone could buy it and build more stores. She was horrified at the thought. She told me that it would be wrong for someone to buy that land to build more stores because the squirrels and birds would have to find a new home. She said we had enough stores already. I thought to myself what tha?

I was the one that was actually horrified, just how was she forming such an opinion? When I quizzed her a bit, she told me that no one was telling her those things, that was just what she thought. Of course I was not satisfied. Finally she told me about some pictures a teacher at her school showed her class. Pictures that showed what little squirrel's and birds homes looked like before stores were built on land they called home; poor things. My six year old daughter loves her teacher and her school. How am I supposed to tell her that whoever told her such nonsense is full of bull? Besides, what business does any teacher responsible for 1st graders have in promoting their own values?

What this teacher failed to discuss was the fact many new developments have extraordinarily positive impact on their communities. The Publix store in question probably generates close to a million dollars a week in sales and more than likely employees a minimum of 250 people while the shopping center in total probably generates close to 1.8 million in revenue employing 400 or more folks. Not to mention the sales taxes collected. What's more, the little squirrels and birds only have to fly about 500 yards and they are in the country side. If anyone has any really good ideas on how to communicate such positive things to a six year old. I'm all ears.

I'm going to do my best to make sure that my little girl grows up with a well rounded idea of the world. Teachers should make that easier, not more difficult.

You Might Be A Liberal......................

You Might Be A Liberal If:

You believe that the issue with our deficit is not that federal spending is not too high, it's that everyone's taxes with the exception of your own are too low.

You believe that public unions should have the right to collectively bargain against their employers; the tax payers.

You believe that your Senator or Representative is better suited to make decisions about your neighbors life than they are.

You believe that from each according to his means to each according to their needs sounds pretty cool.

You believe that the United States should grant citizenship to twelve or fifteen million illegal aliens.

You believe that people who feel the Department Of Education should be dissolved are extremists.

You believe that Barack Obama understands how an economy works. An economy base on capitalism that is.

You believe that a woman has the right to end the life of her baby as long as it is in her womb.

You believe that John McCain is a conservative.

You believe that Lindsay Graham would be one Republican you could support for President.

You believe that we (The Citizens of The United States of America) were at fault on 9/11.

You believe that the Tea Party is a flash in the pan.

You believe Bill Maher is funny.

You believe that the United States place in world affairs is just to be part of a collective.

You Believe that it's OK to be in debt up to our eyeballs to the Chinese.

You believe Obama is a good President and you would vote for him again.

You belive Obama is a poor President and you would vote for him again.

You believe that a good national energy policy is doing away with oil and employing wind mills (except on your property, or anywhere that you may have to see them).

You believe that it's ok for the government to manage your thermostat.

You believe that Obama Care is a good thing.

You believe that everyone is equal in their contribution to our economy.

You believe that the rich don't pay their fair share of taxes and should be forced to pay more.

You believe that Obama will be re-elected.

Just One More Voice

Over the Christmas holiday I had the opportunity to visit with my brother for a while and as usual our conversation turned to politics. Like me, my brother is wary of where our country is, where it is headed, and what that direction portends not only for his future, but that of his children. However; unlike me, my brother feels that his voice will not make a difference.

Well Brother, just over a year and a half ago a single voice was heard telling Americans that they should unite to provide opposition to our out of control government. In that instant the Tea Party Movement was born and with it a fire rekindled under a single belief that made our country great; a belief at the very center of this countries fight for Independence; FREEDOM. Freedom from an overbearing government that believes its citizenry is intended to serve the government rather than government serving its citizens.

This single voice that is now the Tea Party is actually a collection of hundreds of thousands of individual independent voices speaking as one. Voices that have our Constitution as a foundation, voices that have translated into action, voices that have indeed made a difference.

Just like the "Shot Heard Round The World" in Lexington MA. so many years ago. The election of November 2, 2010, is only the beginning. We must each remember the words of John Paul Jones when he said: "I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight". His words should be our battle cry because the fight we face begins and ends with the voice of each individual American working together with others. USE IT.