A Tale Sadly Told

So the election is over and we are left to mull over its consequences.

I kind of expected the outcome we got but ever the optimist I clung to a tiny ray of hope that my fellow citizens' heads would clear just long enough to cast their ballot. Not so this time. Instead millions of people clambered to the polls and voted for a rock star. Ignoring warnings taken from the very lips of "the one" they chose style over substance. They wanted to make history. To feel important. And now that they've reached their objective, it is each and every one of us who must pay for their heightened self esteem.

I can't help but be reminded of the heavy girl sitting alone at the bar. Most of us have known her at some point. Some of us have been her and now can see her for what she is thanks to God's grace. Some of us are her. She sits and nurses her drink, smiling brightly at any man who glances her way. As the night wears on and her optimism wears thin, the smile is less bright and the line of empty glasses grows. Finally, when she has numbed that part of her that yearns for fineness he sees his chance and moves in. The fella who, for whatever reason, preys on girls like her. He buys one last drink or folds a napkin into a rose and moves in for the kill. With dulled senses and a tiny glimmer of hope ("Maybe he's the One!") she falls for every cheap move. Until the night ends with her standing by as he pays for the room - cash, so the wife doesn't find out. Wife? She wonders, but it is too late. Her body and its need are in control now. Not a physical need for intimacy, but a need to be loved that defines each of us. The next morning she awakens and dresses in her now-soiled clothes. She tries to ignore the emptiness as she walks to her car. The stares and whispers from the desk cannot make her feel any more cheap than she already does, and she vows to never let this happen again. But the next weekend finds her there, sipping a drink as she smiles brightly at the men. Maybe THIS time it'll be different, right?

My fellow Americans are absolutely giddy with this new attention. Whether its because Obama is new, young, attractive, black....it really doesn't matter. He's the romance du jour. I just hope that the tomorrow we all face doesn't start with us trying to clean up a dirtied constitution for use the day after. Having to face the terrible things we allowed to happen the night before.

Things like the "Freedom of Choice Act" which represents a real physical threat to the well-being of babies in wombs up to the very moment of birth. Sometimes even after.

Things like "voluntary" suicide and "right to die" movements who deny their eugenics/T4 way of thinking.

Other little things like bankrupting the industry that provides half the power our country uses (coal).

Oh, and don't forget those other stupid things like trampling the 2nd Amendment (he's a gun grabber!) and debasing the 1st Amendment (which hides under the name of the "Fairness Doctrine").

Before you pooh-pooh what I've said, remember its much like the villainous Hans Gruber in the first "Die Hard" movie. He's got the brown-nosing exec in front of him and is talking to John MacLean. Brown-noser claims to know John, causing his brains to see the light of day as John shouts that he doesn't really know the guy (and he doesn't). Gruber says something to the effect of "Sooner or later I'll get to someone you DO know and love."

Perhaps those who elected the rock star are guilty of wishing to radicalize our great land. Perhaps they just wanted the glamour of making history. Maybe you don't care about abortion or terrorism or free speech, I don't know. Just know that sooner or later, the most leftist politician with the most radical friends ever elected to any office (much less to the presidency) will eventually hit something you DO care about.

And it is then that we will awaken feeling cheap and used. We? Yes, we. You took us all along for this ride. I only pray that there will be enough pieces to pick up along the way.

Do you know that yearning deep inside of you for hope, peace and the finer things of life has nothing to do with a country or a cause? Can you rest in the knowledge that if it all ended today you would still have HOPE? You can't find it on google. Or espn. You won't find it in the constitution or through a rock star president who says pretty things as he uses you. In fact, hope isn't even really a thing or an it. It is a HE. There is but one hope. Not for me but for all the world. His name is Jesus. Do you know Him today? If not, but you'd like to, would you do me the honor of asking about hope? Privately through e-mail or in a comment.

Really. Ask me today. Because if you yearn for hope...eternal hope...He's calling to you. And the time is short.

Educationally Speaking...

A "conversation" I'm having on a frugality forum, of all places:

Me: That hits on a pet peeve of mine. We homeschool -- but are forced to pay school taxes! Teachers at public and private schools may deduct up to ~$500 on their taxes for supplies bought with personal money. But homeschoolers (and here is the kicker - who are legally considered private schools in my state) are SPECIFICALLY banned from doing so. We must register as a "private" school, but cannot enjoy the tax break therein.

Someone else: Yes, but we (public school teachers) are buying supplies for 30 (in elementary schools) or 130 (in middle and high school) students that aren't our own children. You are buying school supplies for your own children. You wouldn't get a tax deduction for anything else you'd buy for your own kids. You choose to teach them at home, then you've chosen to make their education your own, along with everything that entails.

Me again: (Rant ON)
I can see your point, but I can't say I consider it a good one. I'm not talking about buying paper and crayons. I spend $400 to $800 a year on curricula - in addition to all the goodies that go along with it. Not to mention the fact that 1) you choose to teach and 2) they're not your children!

Your comment is a perfect picture of the entitlement mindset that has invaded our lives. If my child attended your school, I wouldn't expect you to provide my child's paper or pencils. You shouldn't have to buy them for anyone. That just didn't happen when I was a kid. Oh I'm sure occasionally a teacher would slip a pencil or notebook to a very poor child in the class. You've just told me it is my responsibility (and I agree) to provide my child's supplies. Then it is also the responsibility of your students' parents.

Of course, public schools could afford to do more for indigent students if they weren't so busy playing put a condom on a banana, but that's another rant altogether. The NEA could do much more good if they would stick to education instead of hosting partial-birth abortionist George Tiller at their meeting...and lauding him for his "pioneering" work. I saw video of that and it absolutely turned my stomach. I suppose the NEA wants to lower class size by any means necessary. If the NEA spent as much time ensuring quality education as they spend lobbying for more money for it, they wouldn't need the money so much.

I know that there are good teachers out there who don't put up with all the foolishness we see in today's schools. I'm sure you're one of them. But I pay taxes for the upkeep of schools and for books. Do you think I'd be allowed a vote at a PTA (or whatever they call it now) meeting? Don't think so. Do I get to check out a/v material and equipment? Nope. I don't want their curricula so that's not an issue. So, to recap, I am compelled by law to give them money; I am not allowed to use their supplies and I'm to simply endure their scorn because I homeschool.

The schools around here are constantly whining and begging for more money. Yet they have state of the art whiteboards that print copies or some such nonsense. New computers every other year or so. It's all power point and slick production. Fun gadgets? Yes. Necessary to education? Nope. Spending is out of control, yet parents are expected to foot the ever increasing bill.

Yes, I chose to homeschool my child. I chose to do without so that I can be home and teach him. I chose to start my own design firm and make money by working much of the night before teaching much of the day. Am I bitter about that? Nope. Not at all.

But if anyone would like to buy a small hershey bar for $6

to fund DS's music lessons I'd be more than happy to

take their money

accept their generous offer.

What do YOU say?

Speaking of Taxes...

I found this article that summarizes what so many of us are feeling these days. I found it here and include it below for your "enjoyment" as it were.

On a happier note, the winner of the book will be announced in just a few hours! After I've had coffee, lol.

Disclaimer: I'm all for immigration. LEGAL immigration.

April 15 Looms: Time for Another Tea Party in Boston?
By John Lillpop Thursday, April 10, 2008


Satire
A Letter to the IRS…

April 9, 2008
IRS
Washington, D.C.
CC: President Bush,
All Democrats, and RINOs

Dear Ladies, Gentlemen and the Undecided:

NOT enclosed herewith are fully-executed documents concerning my 2007 income and taxes, including 50 assorted pieces of meaningless paper normally generated only for the purpose of providing work for civil service types lacking sufficient intelligence and drive to secure gainful employment in the real world.

In calculating my tax obligations, I subtracted my “fair share” of money spent by the U.S. government where my interests as an American citizen were not represented, or were actually subverted.

As any pre-1960 textbook will tell you, “taxation without representation” is not cool.

But, back to my return.

Deductions were made for the following failings by the federal government:

-Borders not secured;

-Existing immigration laws not enforced;

-Homeland security measures not fully implemented;

-Taxpayer dollars used to provide public services to illegal aliens;

-Illegal aliens allowed to evade income taxes;

-Ballots and other public documents printed in foreign languages;

-Salaries and benefits paid to president Bush and the U.S. Congress while “working” on immigration reform.

Taking into account my fair share of services not received, the U.S. government owes me about $15,000,000 for 2007.

Because I am politically conservative, I do not wish to add to the national debt just to rectify the wrong done me by the U.S. government.

Accordingly, I hereby recommend that IRS and ICE team up in a joint effort to collect taxes, current and past, from the largest block of tax evaders known to human kind: 38 million illegal aliens now squatting tax-free in America.

At the risk of being presumptuous, let me offer another suggestion: The greatest opportunity to confront these tax evaders would be at large public gatherings.

May 5 is rumored to be a “holiday” in the illegal alien community, to be celebrated with massive rallies and marches in cities all across America.

What a perfect opportunity for IRS and ICE to help retire the national debt, and reverse illegal immigration all at once by confronting millions of illegals clogging American streets on Cinco de Mayo Day!

How will you know the offending criminals? They will be the wackos flying Mexican flags with “Sí se puede!” or some other idiotic Spanish gibberish tattooed on their foreheads.

By the way, please note that I am filing early---law and order still means something in my house, if not in the White House or the U.S. Congress!

Sincerely,

John W. Lillpop
Overtaxed and Underloved

Disclaimer: I'm all for immigration. LEGAL immigration.

Last evening I watched as a woman - most very likely illegal - get into a shouting match with the clerk at the convenience store. She was trying to buy alcohol and cigarettes using her sister's ID. But it was okay, she said, the stuff was for her sister. (That smacking sound you hear is me smacking my forehead in frustration.)

Around here, the clerk told me later, to accommodate her would have gotten him a $5000 fine and the loss of his job. It started out quietly enough with him informing her of that. But she argued and argued until finally he told her to leave the store and not come back. She kept screaming that she would "call you boss man! It he store, and he fire you!" Of course, we all knew better. She finally left - but not until after hurling the absolute worst of gutter language at him. At top volume. I was glad the kiddo was waiting for me, locked in the van. (Yes, he's old enough to do that, lol.)

As the clerk and I talked, it occurred to me that she just couldn't understand his not backing down on breaking the law. After all she had (so very likely) broken the law to even come to this country, so there was a total lack of fear for retribution. Like a child who is allowed to get away with stealing cookies and change from mom's purse then moves on to shoplifting, she was shocked when someone actually had the gall to call her on it.

I don't like this road our country is on. I want my country back. I would love to trust the public schools. I'd love to work fewer than 5 months just to pay taxes. I'd love for my taxes to NOT go to Planned Parenthood and other organizations that don't in any way represent me.

Sometimes these attitudes don't feel very Christian. As though because we're Christians we should just allow folks to do whatever and try to convert them when we can. But I recently learned that that kind of attitude actually allows others to sin. Enables them if you will. And there's a certain scripture about a millstone that says if we enable or lead folks to sin, we'd be better off dead. Of course, hateful attitudes and violence aren't the answer either. So a happy medium must be found.

Oh by the way, we're Cherokee. And Irish. I carry a portable soapbox with me at all times! LOL Thanks for hanging in there.