Carolyn is at a Kansas University pep rally for freshmen.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The following was written by Jim
I am guilty of committing one of the internet crimes I dislike. I forwarded the previous eMail without confirming that the information presented as "facts" were indeed true.
A number of the items skate the thin edge of fact, depending on how they are interpreted.
Suffice to say that I am concerned that our government continues to feel that taxing those who are productive, to enable the unproductive to survive, is justifiable. I didn't learn that growing up in my house.
I'm concerned that I work hard, in places that do not fit the classic "Ozzie and Harriet" locale, in order to provide honestly earned money to feed and house my family and give them a quality education, and medical care. I do not do this to provide these benefits to others who refuse to put out the effort on their own. I resent a government that forces me to do so, or I will be deemed a criminal and the money taken from me by force and possibly put in jail.
About 60% of what I earn goes away in the form of income taxes, social security, Medicare, property tax, excise tax, sales tax, etc. Now, 40% of what I earn on investments will disappear as Capital Gains tax. 3% of the sales price of my house will fuel the new medical insurance system. In Russia, they call it "The death from a thousand cuts"
I recall a conversation we had with a bus driver while we were on vacation in the Bahamas. He was asked, "Do you have a welfare system here in the Bahamas?". He replied, "Yes, we have a very good one....if you do not work, you do not eat!"
The problem with socialism is that eventually, you run out of other people's money.
When you vote in November, please vote for a candidate that rewards productivity and efficiency and pledges to reduce the size of the government and inefficiency..if you can find one. Lacking that, vote for anyone except for the incumbent, vote for someone with experience running a business, preferably a small businessman. Lacking that, vote for women. Lacking that, vote for an Independent. Lacking that, vote for a Republican. But vote. Otherwise the parasites living off of productive people will vote to continue to do so...and to do more of it.
Jim
Here is a reply from one of Jim’s cousins:
Loved your email about taxes.
My only addition is that socialism and welfare are also unbiblical. principles. God expects us to take care of each other - yes, but as individuals interacting with individuals. Individual to individual responsibility means that I have to make decisions about how or whether I will care for my neighbor. And feel guilty when I don't want to. And determine what is the best way to look out for those around me.
Equality of wealth is not a biblical principle either. God determines who has enough and who does not. And it is not the government's place to change that. What we have now is a government that believes it is God and that it can solves the world's problems. And that creates a society that expects our government to be God and behave like one.
The current worldview expects everything from its government and nothing from itself!
A philosophy professor I know wrote an amazing paper on this very issue. This email is a paraphase of his perspective - although I believe it wholeheartedly. I'll see if I still have the paper somewhere....
Margaret Eby
Please go out and VOTE in November!! That is the only way to let our Congressmen know what we want.
I am guilty of committing one of the internet crimes I dislike. I forwarded the previous eMail without confirming that the information presented as "facts" were indeed true.
A number of the items skate the thin edge of fact, depending on how they are interpreted.
Suffice to say that I am concerned that our government continues to feel that taxing those who are productive, to enable the unproductive to survive, is justifiable. I didn't learn that growing up in my house.
I'm concerned that I work hard, in places that do not fit the classic "Ozzie and Harriet" locale, in order to provide honestly earned money to feed and house my family and give them a quality education, and medical care. I do not do this to provide these benefits to others who refuse to put out the effort on their own. I resent a government that forces me to do so, or I will be deemed a criminal and the money taken from me by force and possibly put in jail.
About 60% of what I earn goes away in the form of income taxes, social security, Medicare, property tax, excise tax, sales tax, etc. Now, 40% of what I earn on investments will disappear as Capital Gains tax. 3% of the sales price of my house will fuel the new medical insurance system. In Russia, they call it "The death from a thousand cuts"
I recall a conversation we had with a bus driver while we were on vacation in the Bahamas. He was asked, "Do you have a welfare system here in the Bahamas?". He replied, "Yes, we have a very good one....if you do not work, you do not eat!"
The problem with socialism is that eventually, you run out of other people's money.
When you vote in November, please vote for a candidate that rewards productivity and efficiency and pledges to reduce the size of the government and inefficiency..if you can find one. Lacking that, vote for anyone except for the incumbent, vote for someone with experience running a business, preferably a small businessman. Lacking that, vote for women. Lacking that, vote for an Independent. Lacking that, vote for a Republican. But vote. Otherwise the parasites living off of productive people will vote to continue to do so...and to do more of it.
Jim
Here is a reply from one of Jim’s cousins:
Loved your email about taxes.
My only addition is that socialism and welfare are also unbiblical. principles. God expects us to take care of each other - yes, but as individuals interacting with individuals. Individual to individual responsibility means that I have to make decisions about how or whether I will care for my neighbor. And feel guilty when I don't want to. And determine what is the best way to look out for those around me.
Equality of wealth is not a biblical principle either. God determines who has enough and who does not. And it is not the government's place to change that. What we have now is a government that believes it is God and that it can solves the world's problems. And that creates a society that expects our government to be God and behave like one.
The current worldview expects everything from its government and nothing from itself!
A philosophy professor I know wrote an amazing paper on this very issue. This email is a paraphase of his perspective - although I believe it wholeheartedly. I'll see if I still have the paper somewhere....
Margaret Eby
Please go out and VOTE in November!! That is the only way to let our Congressmen know what we want.
Friday, August 13, 2010
A Famous Quote
I think that this perfectly describes what voters need to think about before they go to vote in November!
"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's
initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them,
what they could and should do for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln
"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's
initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them,
what they could and should do for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Poppy
Poppy is a Cat that I rescued from the Vets office. She's been in their hands since the end of April 2010. The owner moved to Kuwait and told the vets office to euthanize her. Fortunately, one of the office workers has taken good care of her most of the time since the owners left Qatar. She is very sweet and loves to sit in our laps.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Jim and I did our round in the USA in June & July. Jim flew into Washington, DC and I into Houston in early June. I met Jim in Washington DC and we spent a lovely week in Williamsburg, VA. Then, we went to Minnesota to visit my brother, John and family. They had a nice celebration for their youngest son, Clayton who just graduated from high school. My mom flew from New Orleans to Minnesota for the celebration also. We continued on our way to Texas and visited doctors, dentists, friends & relatives. The boys are doing just fine. Mike continues to work for Denim Group in San Antonio. Craig is working this summer as a server at a retirement home in San Antonio. (Hopefully saving money for his trip to The Netherlands for New Years.) Craig will continue on with his studies at Trinity at the end of this month. He is changing his major to English! Finally!
At the end of June, Jim and I went back to Washington, DC for Jim to receive a Citation for Service Award for sharing of his knowledge and expertise in artificial lift (Gas Lift) and dedication to the American Petroleum Institute (API). A lot of hours were spent organizing different events for API. It was a very nice luncheon and award ceremony. We had the pleasure to meet the President of API and there was another Shell person there whom was also receiving an award.
July 1st, Jim flew back to Doha, and I flew back to TX. I went to Louisiana to visit my family and friends. I also went to San Antonio, TX and visited the boys again, and more family and friends. I returned back to Doha the end of July. It is very HOT and Humid.
I get up very early in the morning (5-6 AM) to get in 2 hours in the garden before it gets really HOT. It's 100F and 99.9% humidity at 5 AM! The highs are around 120-140F with 99.9% humidity. It's just like stepping out into a steam bath. But the nice thing about this place, is that we know that the weather will begin to start cooling very slowly starting in Sept. By November it will be back in the mid 70s to low 80s. It will be nice until about mid May. It's pretty much a trade off.
I will post a few photos from the summer.
At the end of June, Jim and I went back to Washington, DC for Jim to receive a Citation for Service Award for sharing of his knowledge and expertise in artificial lift (Gas Lift) and dedication to the American Petroleum Institute (API). A lot of hours were spent organizing different events for API. It was a very nice luncheon and award ceremony. We had the pleasure to meet the President of API and there was another Shell person there whom was also receiving an award.
July 1st, Jim flew back to Doha, and I flew back to TX. I went to Louisiana to visit my family and friends. I also went to San Antonio, TX and visited the boys again, and more family and friends. I returned back to Doha the end of July. It is very HOT and Humid.
I get up very early in the morning (5-6 AM) to get in 2 hours in the garden before it gets really HOT. It's 100F and 99.9% humidity at 5 AM! The highs are around 120-140F with 99.9% humidity. It's just like stepping out into a steam bath. But the nice thing about this place, is that we know that the weather will begin to start cooling very slowly starting in Sept. By November it will be back in the mid 70s to low 80s. It will be nice until about mid May. It's pretty much a trade off.
I will post a few photos from the summer.
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