I watched the final presidential debate tonight.  I wasn’t going to watch it.  Truth be told, I pretty much lost all interest in the entire presidential race when both McCain, and Obama voted for the “financial rescue package”.  Mostly due to the fact that I could no longer respect either candidate.  I have to say that McCain did very well in the debate tonight.  I was impressed.  I might be on the fence again.  But I don’t know.  I wasn’t very excited, but I feel a little better tonight.  Readers, what do you think?  Should I vote?

During the debate, Senator John McCain mentioned Senator Obama’s plan of “Spreading the wealth”, which is a very socialist ideoligy.  Anyone who reads this blog knows, I’m not particularly fond of socialism, which is what I think the “rescue package”, supported by both candidates (and which I am still fuming about) is.  Socialism has been tried everywhere else in the world, and has never succeeded to the degree that the free, capitalist, Constitutional Republic of the United States of America has.  The problems that we’re experiencing now, both social, and economic, are the direct result of a shift from individualism to socialism, and we’re now starting to reap what’s we’ve sown.  The government isn’t going to solve your problems.  It can’t.  The only one who can improve your situation is yourself.  It doesn’t take a village, it takes you.  You’re responsible.  You can do it.  It’s not someone Else’s job.  it’s not your neighbor’s job.  It’s not your banker’s job.  It’s not my job.  It’s not the government’s job.  It’s your job: to take care of yourself, and to make smart decisions, and to work hard, and be responsible, avoid debt, and take responsibility for your own success.  No politician is going to enact some great policy that’s going to fix your problems. That’s up to you.  If you’re waiting for someone to come along and do it for you, you’ll be waiting a long time.  Probably forever.  So, I can’t get behind anyone who thinks that socialist programs are ever a solution to any American problem.

You see, we have to be smart.  We have to think for ourselves.  We have to insist upon the right to make our own decisions, and then make good ones!  Even if it’s hard.  Even if we’re busy.  Even if we’re tired.  We as individuals need to make responsible choices, and take care of our neighbors, and lend strength to those who are weak, and give generously those who are in need, and worry less about what we can get from the government, and more about what we can do by ourselves!  Our whole economy is powered by the production of goods and services by individuals.  When we each are strong, our economy will be strong.  When we are weak and foolish, our economy will be weak.  Dependence on government, makes us weak.  It hurts us.  And what’s worse; it enslaves us.  Our founding fathers certainly knew this when they drafted the Declaration of Independence, and ushered in an era of unprecidented prosperity, freedom, and growth; the likes of which the world had never known before.  Life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness.  Not the guarantee of happiness, the persuit.  You have to go out and get it, if you want it.  Only by the fruits of your own labor will you really taste the sweetness of life.  In order to appreciate the sweet, you must have tasted the bitter.

So I ask you this:  Will either candidate move us closer to individual freedom?  If so, which one?  Is there one?  Who should I vote for, or should I even bother?

Gentle reader, you tell me.

The Dow(n) Jones industrials, down 875 points this week, and has, today, fallen another 200 points, despite the Fed’s decision to cut interest rates by another 1/2 point.

So what’s the deal?  Why the fear?  The government is coming to the rescue, right?  Well, let me put it this way: If the phone ever rings and the guy on the other end of the line says, “Hi, I’m with the Government, and I’m here to help.”  Drop the phone, and run!  Run for your life!  Don’t waste time gathering up your belongings, or anything like that.  When the government “helps”, disaster is eminent.

The forced passage of the horrible bailout bill — which will be an economic disaster — and the complete refusal to consider any responsible, or realistic means of fixing the credit crisis has only shown the world that incompetence prevails, and our government is too inept to manage this crisis.

I expect that foreign investors are going to be very fearful of putting money into any U.S. assets.  This is will make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the government to finance this $700 Billion Bailout Deal.  Instead, I imagine there will be no easy option but for the Fed to begin printing money to cover the huge costs.  This will, of course, lead to even greater inflation, as the value of the U.S. dollar drops like a stone.  Get ready to pay a lot for everything.

I really hope that I am completely wrong about this, and that things will get better, but It is my belief, that in addition to being a socialist regime, our current government is not smarter than a 5th grader; and we’re in for some pain.

Sorry, America, but this is what happens when socialists reign.  I hope it’s a learning experience.

It’s official, the house passed the bill, and President Bush signed it.  The U.S. Government just jumped head-first into private business, and has decided to take out a $700 billion loan which it will use it to buy junk (mortgage) bonds.  And with one swoop of the President’s pen, the U.S. Government is now going to be competing with investors in the open market.  Interestingly, when President Bush pushed for private investment accounts for Social Security, many of these same politicians thought that allowing people to put government funds into the stock market was a foolish idea and voted it down.  I guess they’ve changed their minds, because they just decided to get into the market to the tune of $700 Billion, despite public outrage and protest.

So it appears that we no longer live in the Constitutional Republic created by our Founding Fathers, or even a Democratic Republic, which the social Utopians have twisted our country into.  Rather, we now live in a socialist dictatorship, where our government tells us what is good for us!  And make no mistake, now that it’s been done, this will only be the beginning!

I only hope that some day our children will know what it’s like to be free to make their own choices.  I truly fear, however, that they won’t.

Our leaders have just sold us down the river, and this country is not going to be the same.  It has been damaged in what I fear is an irreparable way: An obscene desecration of constitutional principles by the very people who swore an oath to uphold them.

We may have just lost our freedom for what is merely a hope of financial security.  And, once again, in the fine words of Benjamin Franklin, “He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.”  I would take it a step further, in this case, to say also: “achieves neither.”

Heaven help our sweet nation, and prevent her from being dragged down by the chains of socialism and greed.  I hope that the derelict politicians who supported this bill go down in flames at the next election.  I’ll certainly do my part in seeing to that.  That goes for Obama, and McCain as well; both of whom supported this monstrosity.  As of this moment, McCain has lost my vote, and I am just sick about it.  He got it, begrudgingly, because he chose Sarah Palin for VP, and I think she’s awesome, but I can’t support a back-stabbing dictator of any stripe.  I am truly sorry, but I guess I won’t be voting at all.  I’ll just write in my own name, or something.

Incumbent Politicians who signed onto this bill beware:  I am actively supporting your opposition, effective immediately!

In response to the Senate passage of the Housing Bailout Bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. said, “We’ve sent a clear message to Americans all over that we will not let this economy fail.”   — Thank you Harry Reid, it most certainly would fail without your brilliant economic manipulations and tactics!

It’s amazing to me that the same people (the Democratic Congress) who have for years now, worked so relentlessly to starve us of the precious energy resources that drive our economy, are now claiming that they “will not let this economy fail”, and praising a foolish $700 billion bailout loan.   All indications seem to be to the contrary, Senator Reid.

Not being a politician, I’m simply unable to understand how a gigantic government bailout at taxpayer expense, and financed through national debt, is going to be an economic success, now, or in the future, especially when there are other ways to save these banks!

Basically, we’re being asked forced to write a giant check to the same people who thus far have proven themselves to be unethical, predatory, irresponsible, and incompetent.  Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, they’re telling us that we must put the foxes in charge of protecting the hen-house.  And if we fail to allow the foxes unfettered access, the hens will certainly be eaten.

So now the Senate has passed the revised Bailout Bill by 74-25 votes, and sent it to the House of Representatives which is expected to vote on the bill on Friday.  This in the face of extreme opposition from the citizens of this country.  We the people.  The ones who are supposed to be in charge.

Welcome to socialism, America.  For all the whining, and wailing about “the right to choose”, it sure seems funny how these politicians never really seem to support it when it doesn’t involve the taking of innocent life. The rest of the time, we’re all way too stupid to make informed choices about the things that directly affect us.  Barrack Obama thinks you’re a genius when it comes to deciding whether or not to kill your baby, but not smart enough to know anything about economics, or ethics, or individual responsibility.  Can’t say much for McCain either, though.  He’s supporting the Bailout too, knowing that you don’t.

Our government is supposed to listen to us!  If this bill gets passed in opposition to the will of the people, that makes it a dictatorship!  If we have no control, what makes us think that we’re free?

At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy lunatic, I’m going to explain something.  There is an underground movement trying to take this country away from you.  It seeks to control and regulate everything.  It is actively working to scare you into submission through an endless onslaught of contrived crises.  Your liberty, your right to choose your destiny, to manage your business and life are under assault.  Every year, thousands of new laws are passed.  With each one, a little more freedom is removed.  For your own good.  For your benefit.  For the good of society.  For the children.  For the environment.  For the squirrels, or babies, or whatever.

Somebody told me a story once about an ancient King who told his people that if they failed to obey him, he would take the sun away and they would all die.  The King had an astronomer in his employ, and he devised to plan to schedule one of his motivational speeches to coincide with a solar eclipse.  He told them that because they had disappointed him, he was angry, and would take away the sun.  Soon after, to his people’s horror, the sun began to darken.  As it continued to vanish, the people were beset with terror.  They begged for forgiveness, and swore obedience in order to please their King and make him bring back the sun.  Eventually, the King relented, and accepted their pleas and offerings, and agreed to bring back the sun.  As the eclipse passed, everyone believed that they had been mercifully spared by their great and compassionate leader.

Might this be happening to us?  Well, global warming, for example has been blamed for practically everything under the sun.  And is the basis for a lot of stupid regulation and needless fear. It’s a hoax, people! Carbon dioxide, which transmits sunlight light just as efficiently as oxygen, and just happens to be a product of human activity which the government wishes to regulate, is not destroying the planet. Every single living creature on earth absorbs carbon, and stores it. Upon their death and decay, it is released again as carbon dioxide gas. It’s what we call the carbon cycle. Trying to reduce carbon emissions is as useful as trying to reduce water emissions.

And now, the banking crisis.  The only way to save ourselves is to give the government nearly 3/4 of a trillion dollars, and trust them to do a better job that they did last time.  And if we don’t do it, we’ll all suffer a horrible financial calamity.

Well, I for one would rather lose my Roth IRA than give up my country.  I love this country!  If necessary, I would give my life for it!  These greedy freaks want me to trade it in for some cash!

How dare you, Senators!  I hope you get what you deserve!