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Smith and Wesson’s profits continue to soar while Washington talks

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In the aftermath of the Connecticut school massacre, the country has been the victim yet again of do nothing  Washington. Since the shootings, the leaders of Washington have promised change. Others have taken their typical stances on protecting the Constitutional right to bear arms. President Obama has laid out a plan for change and through Vice President Biden have articulated what they believe is needed.

related information: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-01-25/politics/36542149_1_background-checks-gun-buyers-background-check-system

Through it all, FEAR of change has spurred gun sales, fueling gun manufacturer Smith and Wesson’s projected profits.(quarterly results to be announced today, expected to have tripled). The White Houses key proposal, background checks, could this alone be why sales are soaring? Or is it the gun advocates spreading the fear of bans? What’s the responsible response to the latest massacre certainly requires actual action. While the powers of Washington play politics the big business of manufacturing and selling guns is reaping huge rewards.

More guns on the streets, this seems to be the trend after massacres. What has actually happened after recent tragedies, plenty of shareholder profit, talk and lies. Hopefully this time words will become actions. If Washington has no real intent of changing anything, if they all just shut the hell up, they might keep some guns off the street.

The value of meal time, make the most of it and put the phone down

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cell phone laws

pic: defenderofthemiddleclass.com

The failure of the family, we hear this often in America and we have ourselves to blame.  The lack of time spent on “parenting” multiple jobs to make ends meet play a part in this but what about valuing the time we do have?

In a recent trip sitting enjoying breakfast I might have found yet another failure of our American society. A family of four Dad, Mom and two kids eating breakfast together with two (DAD and Son) intensely using their smart phones. No conversation as Mom was staring off into space (she should have been slapping the phone out of Dad’s hand) and daughter intently eating. This went on for nearly the entire breakfast, Dad shoveling food into his face with one hand and doing whatever on his phone with the other and Junior following the lead. Thirty minutes or so later, they finished with pretty much the only words spoken were to the waitress. I can hear the possible excuses coming and lets face it, you are avoiding the issue.

We can blame the economy and its structure of low paying jobs and the need to work more than one for diminishing family values. We could blame the single parent household, or whatever your excuse is. These excuses make the value of time and the time with our children even more important. If you can’t put down the phone for thirty minutes, have a meal and talk with your children, you have no business having them. You also shouldn’t be surprised when they act stupid and get themselves in trouble or at the very least play on their phone and ignore you.

 

Washington Extremists, no party affiliation, no balance

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North East refinery closures

image source: www.laprogressive.com

“Extreme”, a word often selected by the EXTREME to describe an opinion or position that others do not support. If it is religion, politics, environmental, gun control, etc, the actions behind the word are damaging to damn near every facet of our lives. Lacking balance on the issue(s), Washington extremists have no party affiliation, the extremist is defined by their positions. Balance, a nasty word which politicians throw around in debate but is absent in application. Taking on the many subjects where balance is needed lets look at the environment.

Fracking: The process used in obtaining natural gas from under the earth.  Hydraulic Fracturing, “fractures” rock layers with pressurized fluid and the gas is released and harvested. The pressurized fluid, a mixture of water and possibly any of 750 chemicals. The 70 commonly used chemicals can be found here: www.fracfocus.org 

The expansion of natural gas drilling in the United States (Marcellus Shale) has grown rapidly the last decade and many in Washington are advocating natural gas as our fuel of the future. ”Energy Independent”, a great slogan for recent political campaigns and re-elections has also promised job creation with the expansion of natural gas harvesting. Playing the politics, Washington and State politicians have jumped on board to grow the industry at an alarming rate with little to no study on the effect to the environment the chemicals used will have. In the December 17, 2012 edition of The Nation “ What The Frack Is In Our Food”, plenty of evidence is offered that these chemicals do indeed affect our environment and not in a good way. ” Tails that mysteriously dropped off cows”, a quote from the article that most certainly should grab the attention of environmentalists and those who are not. What will we be eating in the future? Water is the blood of our planet and the water with all the added chemicals used in fracking will end up where? 

The extremes and taking positions, be it energy independence or being independent from fossil fuels does not have common ground does it? Balance and finding common ground, where can we find it on the issue’s of Energy and the environment? Well, just to us the example of tails falling off cows, doesn’t both sides of the issue need to eat?

www.thenation.com

www.fracfocus.org

 

Books on the environment, why are they in print?

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pic: defenderofthemiddleclass.com

Saving the environment by understanding the impact of global warming, the conservation of natural resources and by going green are all ways to make the world a better place. Debating the facts behind each of these along with the many other ways not to waste mother earth, have become everyday language. The Right ignoring the many studies and facts behind the Left’s fight to preserve the earth. Extremists the left is called, tree-huggers the Left is, haters of business and profits! I myself believe that our environment is something that we should take care of. Afterall, isn’t it the quality of life that is important? Saving our planet for future generations so they can live and prosper?

We all have the ability to make a dent in our carbon footprint everyday. Simple stuff like turning off lights in rooms that we vacate is an easy one or keeping your tires on your automobile properly inflated will save a bit of gas. Turning off the water when we brush our teeth is another easy way to limit what we use without any sacrifice. The ideas are limitless and are out there to find so let’s get to the real point.

The environmentalists need to lead by example! It is hard to get by all the written material there is on environmental issues. Books, books and more books, covering a myriad of topics with the central theme being the environment. Going to a book store, you will find hundreds of books dealing with the many issues and risks to our planet. While I was at a bookstore in Vermont (of all places), the 3000 square foot or so store had an aisle dedicated to the environment. Looking for a new book to read I scanned this section and the longer I scanned the section the more disappointed I got. Wasting the environment with all these books! The same books that are intended to SAVE IT!  But we do have a choice no don’t we and that is the KINDLE or some other downloadable book. So maybe a lesson for these “Saviors of our environment” should lead by example and stop the presses. Save a tree and the transportation costs of getting their books on the shelf. And YES, maybe forgo some profits, because with those profits gained at the falling of a tree, the look Republican.

Downloadable Cookbook Good Food New Jersey http://goodfoodnewjersey.com/gfnj-cookbook/

 

Create JOBS, Christmas Buy American Campaign 2012

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Santa

image source: www.prlog.org

The official kick-off of the holiday shopping season is in one week. Much as been written on the subject of   in America products. Recent articles have stated that if each household buys a percentage of their gifts from American manufacturers that “We the people can create our own JOBS! Without getting boring and giving you a bunch of numbers, but I will; ‘We the People” have the potential to create 200,000 jobs. That number, greater than job creation in each of the last six months. So WHY NOT? It only takes a little reading and a small amount of work. You might also be successful in doing this from home, saving gas and aggravation to boot!

In the coming weeks I will add my purchases in the comments section of this post, with the product brand and cost (without being descriptive so not to give the surprise away!!) MY GOAL, is 40% of my purchases will be from American Manufacturers, I will do my best to exceed this number and make my recipients happy as well!! Happy Shopping!!!

To get you started here are some useful links:

Discrimination, homework assignment sheds light on how much work is left

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Passing judgement on others or discrimination, the fine line between  these actions is razor-thin.  In many ways as a society we have made great advances in protecting individuals from discrimination, at least in regard to the laws. The laws to protect the  people from the “people” will never eliminate discrimination as like almost any law they are meant to deter and reduce poor behavior. What we see today might not be labeled discrimination (though it is) but people passing judgement on others rather quickly I might add  and lets face it, it is still discrimination. Judging others for the way they appear, what would you call it? This brings me to the high school psychology assignment/experiment my kid worked on recently with fellow students and what they discovered.

The assignment was to find out “how people reacted to differences in people’s appearances”.The experiment took place at the local mall.  One student used face make up to resemble a skeleton face, in the spirit of Halloween but more of a “gothic” style. The other student, dressed as “everyone else”, or what is considered normal. The third student, was to record the reactions each received when asking a simple question to strangers, ” where can I find this store in the mall. (name of store not important).  Cruising the mall the students took turns approaching other mall patrons asking the question with the “normal looking” student being engaged in conversation and the “made up to be gothic” being ignored overwhelmingly by the strangers. The assignment did not last long however as the “gothic” student did get engaged by an older mall security employee. Actually being grabbed by the arm and being told, “you cannot have that make-up on here, it is disturbing the shoppers”. This being noticed by the two other students (including my own kid), they converged on the mall-cop explaining what they were doing and why, HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT. The MALL-COP, did not want to hear any of it, repeating his original statement, then to add, you must remove the make-up if you are to remain in the mall. Escorting the “gothic” student to the restrooms where she was to remove the make-up. The make-up used apparently was not to be easily removed and the student was not successful in doing so. While this was going on the two students waiting ( mine included, PROUD TO SAY) were engaging the “mall-cop” asking, what rules were in place to give him the authority to make such a demand? The  “mall-cop” unable to give any reasonable rule in place to support his action continued to repeat his original statement going on to say, “if you continue to protest I will remove you from the mall.” This did not deter the students in their questioning and debate with the “mall-cop” as my student and I say this with PRIDE, went on now in the argument stage with the statement of “who gives you the right to discriminate?” This was the tipping point of the debate/argument getting all three escorted/thrown out of the mall. Another question also left unanswered as well.

It is left for you the reader to decide. The above is absent of the emotion of the moment and the personalities of the individuals, but it does have one important key, lack of answers from the person whose job it was to maintain order. Being questioned on why the make-up was not appropriate, he had no answers. Asked what rules were in place to make the demand to remove the make-up or leave, he again had no answers. Finally, when pressed for these answers he made the threat to remove them from mall a reality, again providing no supporting statements. I obviously have made up my mind, passing immediate judgement on appearance, the mall-cop discriminated against the “gothic” student. When questioned on his behavior, the mall-cop like most ignorant people pressed on with little to support his actions and violated the students rights. What have we discovered, discrimination is alive and well, but today we have the ability to fight back as did the students. The end result of the assignment did get them thrown out, but back in the day it might have gotten them killed or incarcerated. So we should be proud AMERICA, we have made some improvements, we just have not come as far as we would like to think.

Afraid of Socialism? Overcoming the fear with the help of Vermont

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pic: defenderofthemiddleclass.com

Last weekend I took a road trip for my first visit to Vermont, visiting South Burlington and Brattleboro. A great visit despite all the SOCIALISM that many Americans fear. Being from New Jersey, I almost felt that I needed a passport to enter the state. For starters, the absence of billboards and I did not miss them in the least. The food cooperative is what I found to be the most fascinating of my visit. People coming together to supply the people with locally grown food. Coming together, a rather obscure thought in the land of New Jersey. Outside of the cooperative, a community garden which had a few people working the land (rather happily I might add) harvesting the last of the years crops.

Driving the state as South Burlington and Brattleboro are about two hours apart, enjoying the scenery with the absence of billboards another noticeable sign of  SOCIALISM, the highways were free from litter/graffiti. Both cities, also had the same endearing quality of clean and this had me wondering as I drove back to New Jersey.”Why is Socialism so feared?Living in communities that work together, help one another achieve community goals and keeping their neighborhoods clean, that’s scary stuff!!

In closing my brief summary of my visit I want to also thank the people and those who are elected to Vermont’s government,I did not see a single Walmart.Embracing socialism, isn’t all that scary even for a guy from New Jersey.

Election 2012, third-party candidates could change outcome of close races

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Presidential candidate Jill Stein

Pic: defenderofthemiddleclass.com

The 2012 election and who wins could boil down to Virgil Goode, Gary Johnson or possibly Jill Stein. Who are these people? They are third-party candidates that will have a direct impact on who ends up in the White House. None of the three have any chance of winning but one or all of them could sway a tight race in Florida or Virginia to President Obama.

With little money these third-party candidates push forward with their candidacies in the hopes of getting some part of their agenda in the political talk. Admirable is their efforts in attempting to force change in Washington, but inevitably their voices will do little in the end.

The Tea-Party, one could dislike the DEAD LOCK they have created by forcing their agenda down the throats of weak politicians, but you also can admire it to some degree. Just as the Occupy Movement has forced the issue of income disparity and the plight of the 99% into the political landscape. Both groups have not wasted their time in creating a new party or re-inventing a party (Green Party). Occupy and the Tea-Party have spent their time and money on the issues and forcing politicians to address the issues that are important to them. Focusing on changing the existing candidate(s) to their way of thinking or risk being forced out of office.

Third-Party candidates have made some noise in the past, most recently Ralph Nader. In the 2000 election Nader received 97,488 votes in Florida handing the state to George W. Bush as he beat Al Gore by 537. The 2012 election and the third-party candidates will swing votes away from Mitt Romney so from my point of view this is good. But what of the lost message’s of these candidates?

I have followed Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein since I saw her speak in Philadelphia. Stein, addressed the issues that the two major candidates have not and has laid out a clear path. Seeing myself more in line with her views than President Obama or Mitt Romney is not enough sad to say. In limited polling, Stein is in the 2% range and a non-factor as far as the numbers are concerned unless you are looking at a very close race in Florida or Virginia.

The time for protest is before and after election day, forcing the issues into the political speak and making politicians address the needs of the people. The time for protest is not on election day. The Protest Vote will only give the voter a four-year excuse of saying , “I didn’t vote for him”. We are a two-party system, like it or not. So to give it to you straight, my heart is with Green Party candidate Jill Stein and my heart is not the decision maker. I will be voting for President Obama.

 

Hollywood and reality television is failing the 99%

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In what is labeled as entertainment, reality television is really a cancer to our society. The ridiculous nature of shows such as Jersey Shore, Toddlers and Tiara’s and Honey Boo, a few of the examples of just how stupid and dangerous television has become. Is it really just mindless entertainment or is it a cancer that is intended to change our society? In deciding that these types of shows might have been created with malicious intent came when I was reading and the show “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” was mentioned. We all should recall the show, touring famous people’s mansions and seeing their stable of cars. I never cared for the show all that much as I wasn’t too thrilled with seeing what other’s had that I did not. But looking back on it, the show could certainly provide someone with motivation or hope I guess.

So to look at today’s programming like “Honey Boo”, what is the show attempting to accomplish? I would hope that nobody is striving to become an overweight SLOB, so what is the point? Maybe it is an attempt to make us focus on “hey life’s not great but I am better than that”. Instead of looking to, “hey with some work I could become rich and famous.” Yes, this does sound rather judgemental, but isn’t this the point of the show? For us to be judgemental? Because outside of this, it has no value to our society and it is also not a motivator to better ourselves.

While the Occupy movement has changed the political conversation to the 99% and income disparity, Hollywood is not doing its job. Honey Boo and other like shows basically say, “hey here is someone you are not” so all is not that bad. It also says, “lay around, be a poor role model and YOU TOO can become a star! Motivation and working hard, two traits that are needed to make yourself better. Also two traits that are largely absent from todays television. WOW, ” never imagined I would ever think Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous would be a societal positive.

Protesting at Chick-fil-A? How about moving up to a more serious issue

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voter id's

pic: defenderofthemiddleclass.com

Standing behind what we believe in and speaking out, that is freedom. The freedom to assemble and protest. We have seen this in the last week all over the country in support of or against Chick-fil-A. I will qualify before I continue that I do get what We the People,are protesting from both positions. What the recent protesting has sparked in my mind is the overwhelming question, where the hell is all the passion for the other issues?

Plenty is wrong with America and we are busy protesting at Chick-fil-A. Where are these people when we should be protesting the failure of our society as a whole? America does not have enough jobs or good ones for that matter and we are protesting at Chick-fil-A. Wall-Street has gotten away with the murder of our economy and we are protesting at Chick-fil-A. The housing market has lost at minimum 30% of its value and again we are standing outside of Chick-fil-A. The elections are fast approaching and we are listening to the GOP, talk of future austerity to our Social Security System and again we are standing outside of Chic-fil-A.

I would HOPE, that you are getting my point. Yes, it is a free speech issue I do get that but enough is enough. To the morons who have stood outside and protested for either side of the issue, wake the hell up. Many of you I am sure are middle-class Americans who generally do not protest NOTHING! But, CHICKEN at Chick-fil-A has gotten you politically active? Will you ever go out again and protest  ever again? Hell, WILL YOU EVEN VOTE?

If I believe my cups half full today, maybe this Chick-fil-A issue and its protests will motivate some to take up some stronger issues, say to protests the laws in place that make it harder for you to join a UNION. Isn’t that a freedom??? Chick-fil-A day, I remember another Chick-fil-A day that occurred on the day prior to voting for Union representation (company sponsored). The results, the people voted down the union and the company won. NO WONDER AMERICA IS SO DAMN FAT.

 

Did the writers of the Constitution have the ability to see the future?

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We the People

image source: www.icivics.org

The Constitution,I wonder how long did it take after the ink was dry for the interpretations or misinterpretations to begin? Considering our history as a nation and all the subsequent laws to be enacted, changed and modified, interpreting the CONSTITUTION  has not been in easy task. To say that we have been actually attempting to interpret our CONSTITUTION with common sense? Well, history is not on our side.

If we would like to believe that we as individuals have the right to bear any style of arms, you would need to be believe that the writers of the CONSTITUTION could see into the future. What is absent in the right to bear arms argument is rather logical if we were to attempt to think beyond the words of the CONSTITUTION. The writers, lived in a time when our country was an agricultural country. Protecting our land, was left up to the people. Threats from within our borders from Native Indians alone would warrant such an amendment. Add the risks of wild animals attacking livestock and people themselves, would be an excellent argument for the  right to bear arms.Do we have such risks in our society today? These risks do not exist do they?

Moving to the guns themselves, did the writers of our CONSTITUTION know that in the 21st century we would have automatic weapons? Or was the second amendment written with the idea that single shot muskets would continue to be the weapon of ownership forever? It is difficult to believe they would be thinking into the future or could even comprehend that technology would advance to firing off multiple rounds per second. 

The interpretation of the CONSTITUTION and its intent if we like it or not deserves some logic. The literal meaning  with no actual thought about what the intent was provides for no growth as a society. The CONSTITUTION was our templet to the future of our society. Since the birth of our nation we have attempted to advance ourselves by creating laws that best represent the needs of our society. By simply applying the CONSTITUTION as written and not taking into account what might have been the reasoning, we will never advance to be the great nation they had in mind when writing the CONSTITUTION.

Gutless, Colorado Governor Hickenlooper in aftermath of Colorado massacre

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In the aftermath of the Colorado shootings, what is clear, America is full of COWARDS.  Politicians and individuals who aspire to be Politician’s do not have the guts to take on the issue of guns. On CNN’s State of the Nation, Colorado’s Governor Hickenlooper showed his lack of GUTS when he stated, “I’m not sure there is any way in a free society to be able to stop a deranged killer. If there were no assault weapons available and no this and no that, this guy is going to find something right? He’s going to know how to create a bomb.”

Then we have President Obama, who has not lived up to his promise when he entered office of re-instituting the federal ban on assault weapons. Have we even heard any discussion on the issue in his three and a half years? That answer would be NO. It certainly can be attributed to a lack of GUTS to take on the Republican controlled House. Let’s move to flip-flop Romney the GOP candidate, who passed an assault weapon ban while Governor of Massachusetts and now is appeasing the Republican base when it comes to guns.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had it right on CBS’s Face the Nation, “its time for the country to do something” That something is to ban assault weapons and vote in the politicians who will do it. I am tired of hearing that guns don’t kill people. Hearing the statements from Colorado’s Governor Hickenlooper, I wonder if he would have a different view if his family was executed in a movie theatre.

We need to do something and that is take out of office the gutless people who run our states and Federal Government. The GUN LOBBY, is running and killing our people along with lunatics and politicians. It is time to stop accepting excuses and ridiculous politics for lack of action.

 

 

 

Jim Thorpe National Bank, no change for Grammy Bea’s Country Store or any other small business in this one bank town

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Jim Thorpe National Bank the only bank in town turns back on small business in community. No account……NO CHANGE

Jim Thorpe, PA a small tourist town nestled in Pennsylvania just past the Leigh Tunnel. A former coal mining town, that now relies on small business to keep its town afloat. Antique stores, niche stores, restaurants, line Broadway offering some of the best/interesting products and cuisine tourists can enjoy. Visiting this quiet and quaint town I have done on quite a few occasions as it has significant family history. The ease of the town and the people who make you feel welcome to be part of their community a big part of why I continue to return as well. My last visit delivered all of the same pleasure of previous visits, with the exception of this one finding.Big Banks,are running rough shot over the small business community and tourists in an attempt to profit more on their backs.

Grammy Bea’s Country Store, located a few paces off-Broadway. Welcomed with a hello from owner John Schafer, I returned the greeting and asked “how are you?” From this point is where most shoppers move about the store, not today. John Schafer proceeded to open up with dialogue about his JIM THORPE NATIONAL BANK experience moments before, the only bank in town. Prior to opening his store, he ran down to JIM THORPE NATIONAL BANK, the only bank in town, to get $20.00 in quarters for his store and also if his patrons requested change for a dollar, to pump into the parking meters that line Broadway. The only bank in town, turned him down. Why??? Apparently a new bank policy was enacted, if you do not have a bank account, they will not supply change. Now, in a town with ONE BANK and not another one in the immediate area, does this make sense for a town that relies on small business to keep the town alive? John Schafer doesn’t think so and neither do we at Defender of the Middle-Class. The small town feel with its small town bank (in NAME ONLY), is without question being held hostage by a bank, who should be supporting the growth of the town not hindering it. What possibly could have been lost in the time it would take to hand out two rolls of quarters? JIM THORPE NATIONAL BANK certainly is looking for tourist money with their convenient ATM right on the street now aren’t they? That ATM mind you charges for withdrawals and does not supply change for the meters that line the street. So let that be a warning to the tourists who support the town’s economy, you are not getting change for the meter at the unfriendly JIM THORPE NATIONAL BANK!

“Small business is the backbone of America” Grammy Bea’s Country Store owner John Schafer believes this and he stocks a huge variety of Made in America products. “WE NEED TO TAKE BACK AMERICA” was his passionate message in my visit to his store. Supporting Made in America products as well as not supporting BIG BANKS like JIM THORPE NATIONAL BANK, who are attempting to take advantage of small business and the community as a whole.

Thank You Grammy Bea’s I enjoyed the visit and LOVE YOUR PASSION!

Grammy Bea’s Country Store can be found on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/GrammyBeasCountryStore

 

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Soda and sugar bans in our future or just more TAXES

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coca cola

pic: defenderofthemiddleclass.com

The National Soda Summit, was held in Washington on Thursday with 250 public health workers and researchers getting the latest science on sugary drinks. The hero of the anti-soda world New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg  did not attend but was represented by his Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. Mayor Bloomberg recently proposed the ban on sale of sugary drinks exceeding 16 ounces. Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia gave the keynote speech, comparing the war on sugar equally as important as the smoking ban he signed in Philadelphia. Politicians, specifically the Democrats are heading down the path of stupid! Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) on Thursday introduced an amendment to a farm bill that would require study by the federal government to links between sugary beverages and obesity.

The hypocrisy of this campaign can be seen in the comparison that Mayor Nutter made with smoking. Laws in the country banning smoking in airplanes,restaurants, etc, has not eliminated the cigarette. We also know through research that alcohol in excess or more than TWO BEERS within an hour is not good and if you drive, you are drunk.(excess bad, excess equals money for state) More recently, we have the softening on processing small amounts of marijuana, another future cash cow for states and another bad is good for state.

Banning sugary drinks, limiting how we can purchase them or even taxing them, which has been proposed by Mayor Nutter previously, will not change the habits of Americans. The taxing idea, seems to be the target if we know anything about government. Sugary drinks in excess, specifically SODA, is no different then eating fried chicken every day of the week. You will GET FAT, we all should know it and do not need government to tell us. The label by the right-wing on this subject has been “the nanny state”, which is not the perfect label. This should be referred to as a “taxing state” issue or a potential future tax.

Coca Cola which has been around since 1886 along with the rest of the “sugary drink” manufacturers have been unfairly demonized. The problem of obesity in the United States has not been caused by them alone. The federal government who through their free market capitalism and then their lets tax it approach cannot even be blamed, though there is a vulture-like quality about this. Sugary drinks, fried chicken and alcohol, ingest them multiple times everyday and you will be fat. The need for bans or limiting sizes will not change how fat we are but could result in a fat PUBLIC WALLET.

 CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA three current cash cows for government (THROUGH TAXING AND FINES) soon to be joined by SODA. That is what it’s about!!! Don’t let the National Summit’s and the “concern” of politicians” fool you!

Protesting what’s important, games of children excluded

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What is important? This obviously could receive many different responses. Where you live, your marital status, economic position,education, all of these and more would be a factor in your answer. In what is a very difficult topic, I do believe many, have no idea as to what is important in the grand scheme of life in the United States.

The other day a friend of mine approached me and proceeded to tell me this and get my opinion on the event.

” Over the weekend I spent the day at the baseball field. My son was playing in the playoffs of the 9-10 year old township Little League. The playoffs consisted of the only three teams in the age group and the winner/losers would be determined by a two loss format. Early during the game, a contested play which resulted in a run scoring occurred. The Coach of the team, a parent, argued the result of the scoring run on the field. After the Coach did not get a reversal of the call, he proceeded to make an official complaint with the leagues commissioner, while the game was being played. The commissioner another volunteer was at the fields for the 9-10 year old playoff. The Coach created a very visual scene for the kids and their parents. So the game in its early stages was being played under protest. The end result of the game, the protesting Coach’s team did win.” My friend was asking if I thought it was an over the top response. My answer was, are you kidding, it is a three team tournament of Little League, why would anyone put that much importance on it?

The above, is an example of what is wrong with America. We have more passion for the games of youth then we do for our own futures. Where is this passion on election day, we applaud 52% participation as a success. Where is this passion while we have Washington discussing the livelihoods of our retired? Where is this passion when we have Governor’s cutting school funding, police and fire? I could go on with my point with many more examples just as these types of people could make excuses for their lack of priorities.

The large majority of us have lost our way. Little League, football, basketball and soccer for our children is an outlet for them and an outlet for our enjoyment. I along with probably many of you have witnessed these displays of anger, frustration and protest when attending our children’s games. The key word here is GAME and if we focused half of this passion on what is really important, our way of life would not be in such peril.