HOA...er...U.N. General Assembly Meets in New York

I’m not really an HOA-type guy. I live in an HOA and see some of the benefits, but mostly I despise the idea. Don’t get me wrong…most of the people on the HOA board are hardworking neighbors who want what is best for our community (but some are merely trying to get payback for the high school student council election they lost).

Some of what the HOA does is good…we have a nice common area, a few swing sets, and a Fall Festival that we attend once a decade. We pay an off-duty police officer to patrol the neighborhood at night looking for mischievous teens and open garage doors. The rules in the CC&R’s may even prevent someone from painting their garage door orange. But that’s about the extent of the HOA’s usefulness.

Because it is the nature of men and women to exercise control when they receive a little bit of power, the HOA board often goes over-board. Here are some case studies:

We received a fine for allegedly having a few weeds in our yard past the “clemency” date. The details are not fit for a blog entry, but I did fight that battle and win. We have also received threatening letters telling us to park our tent trailer in the garage…when it had been out for a total of 5 hours in preparation for a trip. Are weeds and a trailer parked in the street against the rules? Technically, I guess.

But here’s the kicker: There are dozens of homes in our neighborhood who have obnoxious lawn ornaments, Goodwill donations sitting in their side yard for weeks at a time (you know who you are, HOA President…), and weeds that would engulf a medium-sized dog. Oh yeah, and our neighbor parks his monster work trailer in front of the mailbox – every night. Should I be expected to keep my yard perfect and my little trailer indoors at every moment? I don’t think so. But these other ongoing violations should be addressed…somehow.

There are other areas in which the HOA tries to force their will on our community. They raised our rates in the midst of the biggest recession since the 1930’s, citing that landscaping costs were getting too high. How about finding a new landscaper? I know several who would love the work in these tough times, and I bet they’d do it for a lot less than whoever is currently taking you guys out to lunch.

We just received a newsletter that said the board is still “considering the amount of use the volleyball court gets” before deciding to replace a broken pole. They decide if volleyball is a worthwhile activity. By the way, if you are watching the volleyball court to see if it gets used, you probably won’t see anyone. THE POLE IS GONE! Geniuses.

Does this scheme remind you of anything? If you take the letters H-O-A, do some code crunching and rearranging, you end up with “The U.N.” Coincidence? I think not.
The U.N. is the ultimate example of a world HOA gone horribly wrong. Nobody (in the U.S.) really wants to be a part of it, but somehow it is a requirement. The U.N. General Assembly and accompanying committees have received power (perceived as it may be) and they intend to use it.

Do they do good things? Absolutely. They help to distribute food to impoverished nations and give assistance to children and mothers who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance. They also…well, they…what about the…I'm sure they do other nice things. Here are some things they don't (or shouldn't) do:

• World security? That’s handled by the U.S., Great Britain, and a handful of other countries with a backbone.
• Economics? Don’t get me started…but the socialist U.N. tendencies are not the answer.
• Environment? They don’t have any answers beyond what they learned in the translated version of An Inconvenient Truth.
• Social justice? No thanks. I think we can teach our children sex education without your help.
  
  The U.N. is constantly sending harassing notes to the U.S. about our policies. You can’t create so many green house gasses…you need to get rid of your nuclear weapons…blah, blah, blah. Meanwhile, China is in the corner covered in carbon soot. As for the nukes, our weapons aren’t pointed at anyone. North Korea and Iran have documented enemies…and Pakistan is a wreck…let’s start by getting them under control.
  
  As for raising our rates, the U.N. is constantly seeking more funding to further its mission. The U.S. now pays 26% of the peacekeeping fund and 22% of the general fund. There are 192 countries in the U.N., and we pay ¼ of the rent. And we’re the bad guys? We already offer the world our military - now we have to pay for everyone else's pet projects. Talk about redistribution of wealth...
  
  In the grand scheme of things, is my neighborhood government/ HOA a huge thing? No, not really. I live next to a guy who parks his ugly trailer in the street and some people whose front yards are FULL of ugly weeds. Annoying, but not the end of the world. I can reasonably expect the HOA to take care of these indiscretions and hold these people accountable, but it's not the end of the world.
  
  This is the serious part: we live in a world with high-polluting Chinese factories, a dictator named Ahmadinejad, and legions of marching soldiers saluting Kim Jong Il. I expect the U.N. to hold them accountable for breaking the rules. They need to stop pushing their social agenda on the United States and start helping us rid the world of the real threats. If we are going to be a part of this group, let’s make sure they do what is right.
  
  And note to the HOA board: I want that volleyball pole back.

Maybe We All Could Use a Hug...

The political atmosphere has been tense lately, to say the least. I’ve seen people coming out of the woodwork that have never expressed an interest in politics or public policy before. I think the heightened awareness of our country’s plight is a great thing. Sometimes, though, I think we all tend to argue for argument’s sake. It’s important to remember the reason for our battles (whatever they may be). I think a lot of us lose sight of what we are really fighting for…

Let me tell you why I express my opinions, take a stand on important issues, and even make phone calls or knock on doors for a good cause. Actually, let me show you…

My raison d’être

It has never been about me. I want to make sure these guys grow up in a country where freedom rings. Any stance I take on deficits, healthcare, stimulus plans, marriage, or anything else is to make their future better – but sometimes I may get carried away and forget the true fount of my concern.

This week, I saw a video clip that reminded me of what is most important. This is a clip of a father and daughter enjoying a baseball game in Philadelphia. Please take 53 seconds to watch…but be sure to come back for analysis :)

I hope I would respond the same way this great father did. After his amazing catch, his first thoughts were to give the ball to his admiring daughter. When she threw the ball, his immediate reaction was “oh no!” This good man quickly took her into his arms and simply loved her. She may have been embarrassed, but the safety of her father’s arms was immediately available for refuge.

This clip rightfully made its way through the news media. Nestled in between the latest on the healthcare debate and breaking news of more nuclear threats in the Middle East, this touching moment may have been viewed as frivolous. I couldn’t disagree more.

Until we recognize that the family is the fundamental unit of society, we will never solve the world’s problems. We must remember that our primary responsibility is to our children. In our efforts to make the world a better place, let us remember that sometimes the most important thing we can do is give our kids a hug -- Heaven knows they need it. And come to think of it...we do, too.

Quiet No More...

Here we go -- it's time to fight the real battles, beginning with this ridiculous healthcare bill (or bills; there are currently 5 bills floating around in committee).

Last night's speech was a great sales presentation. As usual, President Obama delivered a passionate, well-written speech about the "dire" need for healthcare reform in America. It was nothing more than a sales pitch, however, and I don't believe Americans are buying it. But perhaps the biggest news to come out of the speech was not even part of the speech itself, but a seemingly insignificant jeer from a Republican Congressman.

Representative Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) had the audacity to shout "you lie" in response to the President's assertion that illegal immigrants would not benefit from the new bill. I'll save the details of this half-truth for another post, but suffice it to say that illegals would not be denied insurance for the same reason they are currently not denied ER care.

Was the President lying? Well...let's just say that I'm sure his words were chosen carefully. I think he was telling us what was written in the bill, but I also believe that he knows that the actual consequences that will follow are going to be quite different. I learned in Sunday School that a lie is "any intent to deceive." But I digress...

The Wilson incident (that took all of 7 seconds, max) was headline news today. Again, we stopped focusing on the real debate in lieu of this ancillary story. So, to put the issue to rest, let me give you my take of the outburst.

First of all, I think it was probably wrong to yell what he did during a Presidential speech. It crossed the line of congressional demeanor as we know it. While I would love to have a "House of Commons" approach to presidential speeches, it hasn't ever been a part of our culture. We got rid of that along with driving on the left side of the road and having afternoon tea.

That said, I understand Rep. Wilson's frustrations. During the 40 minute speech, the President drew applause after every partisan comment he made (which were abundant). Nancy Pelosi et al. can stand and clap when they agree with the President, but the opposition's only recourse is to sit quietly when they don't agree with the outlined tenets. I ask: what is more of a distraction; a two word statement or a 30 second round of applause? He felt the need to voice his opinion, and since he didn't sit on the left side of the aisle, this seemed like his only option.

As a side note, I truly enjoyed watching the outrage and sheer disdain on Pelosi's face immediately following the comment. As I watched her reaction, I imagined her telling V.P. Biden that she wanted that man in jail before the speech was over. How dare he speak up? She is the Speaker of the House, after all.

In the end, Rep. Wilson rightly apologized to President Obama for the outburst. President Obama graciously accepted the apology, as did Pelosi (allegedly). It was time to move on with the debate, right? Wrong.

Left-wingers wasted no time hopping on the anti-Wilson bandwagon. Thousands of dollars were immediately sent to his opponent in the next election, courtesy of moveon.org intellectuals.

Here's the captivating new home page content for their website:

Last night, President Obama challenged Congress to "meet

history's test" and fix our broken health care system.

Republicans, led by Joe Wilson, responded by heckling,

booing, and hissing. We can't afford to let right-wing extremists

hold health care reform hostage.

Since when is the Congressman from South Carolina (that only people from South Carolina had ever heard of before last night) the "leader" of the Republicans?

I now patiently wait for the inevitable boycotts. I'm sure that by this weekend there will be grad students and ACORN employees out picketing Wilson sports equipment, the movie Cast Away, all Dennis the Menace episodes that include Mr. Wilson, and any future reunion concerts of Wilson-Phillips (which, admittedly, I would boycott as well).

Let's really "move on" and learn from this experience. Wilson's comment was merely a symptom of a greater problem. Here is the real crux of the issue:

For weeks, Democrats have ignored Republican ideas, intimated at ideas like reconciliation, and subscribed to the notion that they could do this by themselves -- without a single Republican vote. As a result, Republicans are starving for a voice in this process, and it came to a boiling point last night.

The American public, similarly, may feel that they have lost their voice. The liberals in Congress have drowned us out with their standing ovations for too long. I hope that the polls, town hall meetings, and petitions will serve as an outburst of sorts that will ring loud and clear to the President and Congress.

I long for the day when Nancy Pelosi stares at me with as much vitriol as she did to Rep. Wilson last night. Then I'll know that I'm on the right track.

Reason Must Prevail (part 2)

So the President's speech to America's schoolchildren is over,and I have had time to take my kids back to school (they stayed home and watched Yo Gabba Gabba instead of listening to a speech about staying in school and doing your very best for your country).

Okay, I didn't really keep my kids home from school today...and I am so glad that they had the opportunity to see the speech. I know that many of you have differing opinions on this and chose to keep your kids home or do an alternative activity in school. Great! That's what America is all about, and I support your decision.

In this installment of my "Reason Must Prevail" series, however, I want to address a dangerous trend I am seeing: the abandonment of the high-road and the disappearance of true conservative values.

[B]ad hominem

I've heard just about every argument for not allowing our children to view the President's speech today. Almost all of them come down to not wanting children to hear from President Obama - the man. Please allow me to address each one in turn.

Kids don't need to hear from the President, that is beyond his scope of responsibility

The President of the United States holds the highest political office in our country. The office that has been held by men like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, JFK, and Ronald Reagan has many responsibilities, not the least of which is to inspire the nation. Whether you agree with his policies or not, President Obama has inspired many Americans to pursue their dreams.

Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush also addressed our nation's children. I don't think they were overstepping their bounds, either. I'm sure no one pulled their kids out of school citing that nowhere in the Constitution does it say that the President is supposed to address school kids.

This is a political stunt to "harvest" a generation of Obama supporters

First of all, my school-aged kids won't be voting until 2019 and 2022. If my understanding of the Constitution is correct, President Obama will not be eligible for re-election in those years (unless of course he decides not to run in 2012, which is a strategy that I am willing to let him pursue).

Secondly, even if my kids were seniors in high school, I wouldn't be worried about them taking a sudden turn toward liberal principles. Unless there is some brainwashing taking place (and despite some activists' opinions I don't think there is), they will revert to the ideas they have learned at home. If I have left my children vulnerable to changing their beliefs during a single, 20 minute speech, then I have failed as a parent.

Lastly, even if my children did become a lib..libe..liberal (that is hard to write), that would be their choice. A great man named Joseph Smith once said, in referring to his religious congregation, that "I teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves." I pray that my children will make good choices.

I want them to be prepared to defend their beliefs, too. Shutting them off to the world will not prepare them for the debates that will define their generation. I'd like them to know what they are up against. So I would let them watch a highly political "State of the Union" speech, too (although I would discourage behaviors like the obnoxious clapping of Nancy Pelosi - that's one area where I draw the line as a parent).

We don't need our kids to hear about Obama's views on policy

Hindsight is 20/20, but I have been saying this since last week: President Obama is not going to speak about healthcare, gay marriage, or stimulus plans. He is going to speak about getting an education and setting goals. Isn't that something we believe in, too?

Having seen the broadcast, he went further than I expected him to. He actually spoke about many "conservative" principles, such as taking personal responsibility for your future. I don't think Ronald Reagan would have said it much differently.

Obama is pure evil

Many of the arguments I have heard boiled down to this. These aggressive, ad-hominem attacks on the President will get us nowhere....fast.

As to the evil part, I don't buy it. This is a man who loves his family, tries to be a good Christian, and generally tries to do what is right. He just happens to believe in a different set of political ideals than I do. I wouldn't hesitate to have him over for dinner, however, based on his political opinions. (If you're reading this, Mr. President, you are welcome anytime. My wife makes a killer roast, and we'd love to discuss this healthcare plan with you).

It seems more and more that he is viewed as some sort of villain that parades down the street. The popular thinking is that if we are good parents, we will cover our kids' eyes and shield them from the monster. I don't see it that way.

It reminds me of the way George W. Bush was treated...he was for all intents and purposes labeled as the evil man only interested in oil and wars. Do we want to be associated with this classy ad campaign?

Disappearing Conservative Values

We used to stand for values. Values like civility and fairness. It seems like we are adopting the tactics and viewpoints that have defined the left for so many years. Tactics, by the way, that have infuriated me since I was a sophomore in high school...but I never thought that so-called conservatives would choose that road.

The Rachel Maddows, Bill Mahers, a Michael Moores of the world have lost all credibility because of their visible disdain for George W. Bush, Clarence Thomas, small business owners, and every middle-America homemaker. They attack the person, but have no answer for policy questions.

We should be different. We have the policy answers, and they will speak for themselves. We have been so consumed with attacking President Obama that we have forgotten to debate the issues. I'm afraid that calling Obama evil and not letting our children near him will make us lose credibility on what really matters.

The knee-jerk reaction of the left may be spreading dangerously towards the right. Here's an example: When John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, had the audacity to say he didn't agree with the healthcare proposal, left-wingers immediately called for his removal. They also initiated a boycott of the chain of grocery stores. Typical left-wing activism. It is so predictable, if maddening.

But here's the scary part...I have heard people saying that they are no longer watching movies and TV shows that include actors who participated in the "support Obama" video. That video was atrocious, but boycotting TV shows? Really? Is that the best we can do? What's next: a Suns player refusing to catch a pass from Steve Nash because Nash doesn't agree with the war? Let's take the high road and re-draw the line between us and the left-wing fanatics.

In the end, we are all on the same team. President Obama is our president. Remember this popular sign after the Florida recount?

Let's not take that approach. I'm grown up enough to say that President Obama is my president, too. I pray that he will make good choices. I want him to succeed in making America better; I don't want him to fail simply because he is a liberal. I don't want him to be in office forever, and in fact I will go out and knock on doors for Mitt Romney in a year or two (which I did last time...maybe that's what did him in...). Until then, I will fight the battles where I can make a difference.

Let's debate the points where we differ and embrace the areas in which we agree. But let's be reasonable. I hope we can all agree that education, goals, and confidence are American values that we can all embrace. That's all this speech was.

Like Whitney Houston sang..."I believe the children are our future." Let's start by teaching them to get along with each other, no matter their political view.

Maybe...just maybe...we can leave them a world worth living in.

Reason Must Prevail (part 1)

At the risk of getting too political, I decided to write a few blog posts about what I have been thinking lately. So here is my view on point 1:

Czar Schmar

There has been a lot of talk about the so-called "czars" in the Obama Administration. It seems like some talk show hosts and activists have recently dedicated their lives to exposing the true men behind the president. Sounds innocent enough; but I believe the unrelenting focus on the President's advisors is making us lose sight of what is really important.

First of all, there is nothing we can do about the czars. They are not up for senate confirmation and it's the President's prerogative to listen to whomever he wants. We already lost that battle...back in November (actually, I think we lost it in the primaries when we didn't vote for Romney, but I digress). Note to talk show hosts: if you want to spend a few minutes of every show talking about what these guys said in California in February, great! I'm good with that. But I can't even watch Glenn Beck because he has become the "czar Czar" himself -- it completely consumes his show.

I'm glad that the information came out...thank you. I'm over it. I know these guys are radical. I knew it during the election. The horse is dead, let's go beat something else...like the Congress!

The President isn't going to empty his advisory board at our request, but we do have a chance of convincing the blue-dog Democrats that the healthcare bill is bad for America and bad for freedom. I'm pretty sure the "green jobs" czar doesn't have a vote in the House of Representatives, but Heath Shuler and Brad Ellsworth sure do. Let's focus on getting the message out to them.

We do have a say in this representative democracy of ours. Our (nation's) voice was heard in Novemeber, and it said that we will let President Obama live in a cool house with an underground bowling alley. Oh, and he could appoint judges and his own staff. That election is over.

There is, however, going to be a vote on some pretty important healthcare legislation. Our voice must be heard loud and clear -- we don't want it. This is a battle we can still win.

Here's a rough analogy -- let's say that a certain football coach* has been accused of being a cheater. It is well documented in the press that his assistant coaches believe you should be allowed to play with 12 players, regardless of the rules. If we spend all of our time exposing these coaches, we may forget to watch the game.

While our focus is on these assistant's past histories, we fail to see them sneaking a 12th player onto the field right in front of us. If our cameras are focused on the sidelines, we miss the game - and the game is what counts.

Those coaches needed to be exposed...and I applaud Beck and others for bringing the "czar" details forward. We know what they want to do -- heck, we knew during the election last year what President Obama stood for. It's time to get over it. Now we need to "watch the field." Let's make sure they don't cheat or change the rules on us (i.e. destroy the Constitution).

They have to go through congress to get stuff done...let's focus our attention there - where we do still have a voice. In 2 years, when the presidential election is heating up, then we can discuss President Obama and his band of merry men (and women).

Until then, I think we should focus most of our energy on discrediting these ludicrous bills coming from Pelosi and Friends.

*I am not implying that the coaches in the photo are under suspicion of any malfeasance. They were merely the best image available on Google.

Free* Ice Cream

You know those "free" ice cream nights at Baskin Robbins? I know them. I know them a little too well.

Here's what inevitably happens:

- We see the advertisement in the newspaper offering free ice cream from 4-6 PM and think "what a great idea!"

- The kids get riled up with the promise of free ice cream.

- We load into the minivan and drive to the nearest Baskin Robbins (we pass at least 3 ice cream places on the way).

- We see a long line but decide to get out of the van anyway, thinking it will probably move quickly.

- We wait in line for 10 minutes. After changing 2 diapers we discover that we haven't moved at all.

- We decide that the wait is not worth it, and drive to one of the 3 ice cream places we passed on the way.

- If we do wait, we still end up losing: There's never any Peanut Butter 'n Chocolate left...we're stuck with Chocolate Chip, Rainbow Sherbet, or some other flavor that was popluar for a few years in the mid-80's...and the serving size is equivalent to the ketchup cups at McDonald's.

Nobody wins the "free ice cream" game.

Let's compare that to the current proposal regarding universal healthcare. I recently heard someone referencing a Glenn Beck piece about "free day" at the museum being a horrible situation. I think the ice cream analogy works even better.

What President Obama and Congress want is basically a "free ice cream" system. The plan is to insure every American, which sounds reasonable enough. The government will choose the "ice cream;" the taxpayers will foot the bill. Here's what I think will happen (note the similarities to our ice cream fiasco):

- At first glance, Americans will read about "reform" and think it sounds like a great idea.

- The 10% of Americans who don't have healthcare get all riled up at the idea of "big changes".

- Congress loads into a van (driven by a stern Nancy Pelosi who constantly shouts "don't make me come back there!") and drives the reform through the system.

- Initial national debt projections rear their ugly heads, but we keep going anyway, thinking the debt will "disappear" quickly.

Here's where we switch to the microcosmic view of the situation...

- Patients seeking medical care get in a long line (literally).

- After 4 hours in the waiting room, nobody has seemed to go in or out.

- The patient decides to go elsewhere for medical care...but that's impossible. There is nowhere else. The private medical community has given way to the single-payer system.

- The patient decides to wait it out.

- Finally, the patient's name is called.

- Instead of receiving top notch medical care, the patient gets 2 minutes in front of a frazzled, distant, English-as-a-second-language (not that there's anything wrong with that) doctor.

Nobody wins the single-payer healthcare game.

When it comes to ice cream, I want options: Cold Stone Creamery, Nielsen's Frozen Custard, Golden Spoon, Bahama Buck's, Dairy Queen, etc. There's nothing wrong with free ice cream. For some people, it's a great way to enjoy a summer night. But free ice cream every day would lead to bad, bland, less-than-mediocre flavors. It's free (allegedly) but there are no good choices.

With healthcare, I also want options. If I don't like a particular doctor, I'd like the chance to try someone else. There is already a "free ice cream" plan in place: Medicaid and Medicare. The people who can't afford healthcare have access to help. The only thing the new healthcare bill does is take away options from most Americans.

Is there a fringe group of working Americans who need a little help paying for the costs of healthcare? Absolutely. But a complete system overhaul isn't the answer. Vouchers, tax breaks, and other alternatives would solve that issue. Think of it as giving discount ice cream coupons for people to use however they wish. You choose the flavor, not the government.

The bottom line is that I don't want the government choosing my family's healthcare plan. I don't trust them to pick the best option -- If they choose for me, I know I'll end up with one scoop of Bubble Gum and one scoop of Pistachio. Disgusting...

Krĭspē Krēm

Self-discipline is so important. I wish I had more.

A few months ago, I started working out with 3 of my brothers in law. We gather together a couple of times a week and put ourselves through sheer torture for about an hour. Rope climbing, multiple 1/4 mile runs, medicine ball throwing, push-ups, pull-ups, more push-ups, and other forms of "training" await us every Monday and Thursday morning. I'm just waiting for the water-boarding...it's got to be coming soon.

At any rate, I feel like it is making a difference. Not enough for me to feel comfortable at the local pool, mind you, but it is helping a little. I feel like I can carry my screaming kids out of the grocery store or church much more easily now, given my newfound shoulder strength. If I could only eat better, I think I could safely enter the pool without upsetting stomachs.

Sounds simple enough, right? Just eat better. Late-night infomercials notwithstanding, I've tried just about everything. No carbs...yeah right. No sweets...beneficial, but really lonely. Slim-Fast Shakes...doesn't work when you drink two or three at a time. Smaller portions...ends up being two trips to the serving counter. Weight Watchers...too much math (I'm a writer, for heaven's sake, not a statistician).

I was in need of something simple, feasible, and productive. The instigator of our bro-in-law workouts, James, laid out nutrition advice during the first couple of workouts. He could see that we needed some help. He said that we should simply avoid eating anything we couldn't pronounce. Easy enough!

I could do this. All I needed to do was read a few labels, discard anything with monosodium glutamate, maltodextrin, or annatto color, and watch the pounds fall off. I even skipped the Cap'n Crunch the next morning in lieu of fresh fruit and oatmeal. I'd found the perfect weight loss plan with clear rules and a simple strategy.

The rules, however, are what led to the ultimate demise of the program. According the the letter of the law, I had no problem pronouncing milkshake, cheeseburger, brownie, or Krispy Kreme. Once I let justification in the door, it plopped itself on the couch, grabbed the remote, and was clearly here to stay.

As a result of my lack of discipline, I have no relief when it comes time to climb the rope or do some pull-ups. I'm pulling up myself and those dang Boston Creme doughnuts. I may be strong enough to remove my kids during a temper tantrum at church, but I'm apparently not yet strong enough to remove myself from the snares of junk food.

Don't worry, though, I might try the pronunciation rule again...this time in Japanese.

Rats, the Piper, and Sleeping Children

Tonight I went to a 4th grade musical presentation of "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" starring my Nephew (he was a hit, by the way). I couldn't help but notice a few similarities to our current economic/political/moralistic crises. Let me recount the story for those who have forgotten:

1. A town is infested with rats. Townspeople freak out when their lifestyles are taken over by the adorable 4th grade rats wearing gray sweats. The town's political operatives decide that they must act now to rid the town of these vile creatures. Songs ensue.

2. The mayor is approached by a piper who claims he can rid the town of rats simply by playing his magical flute. Done deal. The mayor agrees to pay 1,000 of unidentifiable currency and the piper gets to work. Singing and dancing follow.

3. The rats follow the piper as promised, and the children play and sing. More songs.

4. The piper comes to collect, and the Mayor pays only 100 of the unidentifiable currency. (Definitely no pork spending there). Sad songs ensue.

5. The piper, in his ire, somehow makes the children sleep. (Creepy? Yes, but the 4th grader pulled it off without a "Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka" or "Joaquin Phoenix on David Letterman" vibe).

6. The townspeople inexplicably complain that their children are vegetables, and the mayor finally pays the piper. Hence the adages "pay the piper" and "children shouldn't be vegetables." Songs and happy ending follow.

What can we learn from this elementary school play? Plenty.

First, let's look at the similarities to our culture.

For years, we have subscribed to the notion that our society is plagued with certain rats. Some rats were personal, some were collective. Here are a few examples of personal "rats"that needed to go:

• The horrible circumstance of owning a used vehicle
• The even more horrible circumstance of owning a used vehicle that couldn't qualify as a tank in the US Army
• The shame of living in a house that didn't have at least 3 spare rooms
• The stress of eating a home cooked meal
• Vacations that didn't include a passport or snorkel
• The stigma of not owning a boat, quad, Xbox 360, or Plasma TV

Most of these things weren't really rats at all; they were pleasant, clean mice who minded their own business and led lives with integrity and values. But we begged anyone who would listen to us to get rid of those rats! This is where the piper came in. Instead of a guy with a flute, this piper was a wallet full of credit cards, home equity lines of credit, 2nd mortgages, etc. He saved the day...we got new cars, we drove them more than we should, we bought new homes that were way too big, we ate out in record numbers, and swam with the dolphins in Maui. Life was good.

But the Piper was on his way to collect his check. Coincidentally, and out of nowhere (allegedly), the markets took a hit. Home values plummeted, stocks were devalued, and jobs were disappearing. When the Piper got to town, the mayor (our beloved federal government) started talking with words like "foreclosure" and "short-sale" to scare the piper into leaving. The mayor promised things like "stimulus" and "bail-outs" to buy more time. All the while, the mayor was out talking to more pipers (namely China and foreign bond traders) to try and get rid of more rats (or save them, in the case of Nancy Pelosi - see the salt marsh harvest mouse).

What a mess. It's time to pay the piper! Rather than pay what we owe, however, we have decided to hire more pipers and put off the inevitable. No one, especially our government, is willing to make the tough decisions that will lead us through a painful, yet necessary, market correction. Instead, we are only risking our children's future. I, for one, am not ready to see my children turned into slaves to our debt. If the play taught us anything, it's that our children should be free to laugh, sing, and play...or go to college, raise a family, and live in a free country that answers to no one.

Is there still room for a happy ending this time? I hope so. Those 4th graders deserve it.

Random Thoughts from a Day of American History

January 20, 2009

On this brisk, January morning, President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. The transfer of power was swift and peaceful. It was indeed an historic occasion replete with memories for all who experienced it. While I am seemingly one of only a dozen or so citizens not on the lawn in D.C., I have made some key observations from my living room.

1. John McCain seems to say "I can't look" during the swearing in. The gentleman next to him is a disguised Mitt Romney, taking photos of things he likes as he begins planning his inauguration in January, 2013.

2. Left - Supreme Court Justices Stevens and Scalia lament to Chief Justice Roberts that they had no idea their hats were so hideous. Right - We see Hillary Clinton right before she finds out that she isn't the next president...

3. Senator Feinstein had WAY too much exposure on this day. As the head of the Inaugural Committee, she was apparently required by the Constitution to be next to (or in front of) the new president at all times. My favorite moment was following the swearing in, when President Obama entered the Capitol to sign his first executive orders. The President signed the orders in the company of the vice president and...you guessed it...a California senator. Oh the tradition. As the President was signing, Feinstein oohed and awwed at his "beautiful signature." She went on to comment about how she "used to be a lefty, too, before the accident." You could see the annoyance in President Obama's eyes; it was a scene analogous to a high school senior's nagging grandma hanging out with and making comments to all his friends on graduation night.

4. Of the nearly 2 million estimated people viewing the parade, 1.7 million of them were secret service agents. In all seriousness, how in the world do they keep the president safe in such a situation? I find their training and skills truly incredible. I do feel, however, that they should be allowed to wear track suits or something more conducive to running, wrestling, jumping, etc. I wouldn't want anything, including restrictive slacks or a trench coat, impeding the men and women responsible for protecting our government officials.

5. Today, we all have a new president. Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, and whatever it is that Tom Cruise is all have to come together to get through these hard times. I pray for our new president's success and for the continued perserverance of the American people. We can make it through a recession, a war on terrorism, and a looming decline of moral values. What we can't handle, however, is another day with Senator Feinstein at the microphone. I'm glad this day is history.

Greedy turns into Needy

Isn't it amazing how our economy went from penthouse suite to basement closet in a matter of a few years? I have noticed some very interesting attitudes regarding money that, if paid attention to earlier, could have saved us from the current mess we are in.

I'm no economist, but I am part of the world economy (albeit a small contributing member). And it seems to me that greed, both micro and macro in nature, has led to the need that we now experience as a nation.

Case Study: Not long ago, I was working as a construction superintendent for a national home builder. There was a sense of invincibility within the company and we couldn't build the houses fast enough to meet demand. Lines formed outside sales offices and lotteries with all the flair of the NBA draft selected who would be able to buy a home this week. Most of the homes we sold went to out of state investors who heard about the "wonderful" deals that were "sure-fire" bets to make money. In-state buyers were generally mesmerized by the low prices and despite being highly unqualified to purchase a home, were "pre-approved" in a matter of minutes. Hence, we meet the perfect trifecta of greed:

The Home Builders - These heavyweight contenders just couldn't contain their greedy little selves and proceeded to build home after home after home. They didn't care what consequences would come from over-saturating the market with false equity and empty houses. They epitomized the attitude of "eat, drink, and be merry." How robust are those evening meals looking now? Wendy's dollar menu?

The Lenders - We know what happens to unscrupulous lenders...they get bailed out and spend a fortune on California vacations. Santa's naughty list included names like Fannie, Freddy, and those annoying little Lehman boys. These characters just couldn't resist the urge to take anyone's money, whether they had any or not. For the first time ever, mortgage applications had only 3 boxes: Name, Address (or location of the nearest 7-11 if address is unavailable), and Desired Amount of Cash. Downpayments for homes were less than downpayments for dogs at the mall pet store.

The People - The often forgotten culprits in this whole mess are the very consumers themselves. There are those, who in good faith, bought a house with a ridiculous mortgage rate and ended up upside down in their payments when the market collapsed. I don't think they were being greedy. But some were. The people with 2 kids who upsized to a 7 bedroom house. The couple who bought 3 homes in Arizona, just because they could. The guy who said "I already made $100k on this house in the past 3 months, I'm going to buy a boat with that equity." (True story).

The problem was, that family couldn't afford the payments on such a big house, and now they can't sell it to find a better fit. The couple who snatched up all those neighborhood "steals" now has a 2 page list of foreclosures on their credit statements. And the guy who had a bunch of equity? He hadn't made anything on that house because he hadn't sold it! And now his boat is a $30,000 reminder that he failed high school economics.

The housing industry was by no means the only culpable party to our financial mess. Investment firms, corrupt executives, worthless politicians, relentless unions, and others have added fuel to the fire. This small case study, however, is relevant to us all. The lesson learned is to live with what we have and save a little for a rainy day...or month...or year. Maybe even 4 years. (no political jab intended). The point is, until we can start living without greed, we will never live without need.

Who needs a boat, anyway? Too much maintenance.

Saving Santa...and themselves

This is a Norman Rockwell painting that graced the cover of Boys' Life, a magazine published for the Boy Scouts of America. For the past 7 years, I have had the opportunity to work with Boy Scouts of all ages. While I'm pretty sure none of them have ever saved Christmas by pulling the big fella out of the snow, they have all taken steps in saving themselves in this topsy-turvy world we have created for them.

You've seen them, they're the annoying boys who constantly knock on your door to get the ball they threw over your fence. They're the ones who spend way too long filling up their sodas in fast food restaurants. They're the ones that are too loud in the library or at church.

But they are also the ones who get up early on holidays to put up American flags. They are the ones who spend countless hours collecting food for the less fortunate. They are the ones who put their fears aside and climb to the tops of mountains. Yes, they are indeed the very essence of what is good about America.

While others of their age bracket fill the air with foul and degrading language, Boy Scouts work on merit badges like communications and public speaking. While others pollute the world with graffiti and litter, Boy Scouts earn badges like painting and environmental science. Others participate in gangs and neglect schoolwork, but Boy Scouts participate in merit badges including family life and scholarship.

Make no mistake: today's young men are buried in the snows of negative influences. They can, however, pull themselves out if given the chance. I credit the Boy Scouts for leading the way in rescuing every young man from the snowy mountains of a misdirected adolescence.