The Side Effects

Just saw an interesting story on TV. The headline basically was that Tennessee was falling short on tax projected revenues. Why should this be a surprise to anyone? Yet it is. Some people just don’t get it. When the economy is good, tax revenues will be good. When the economy goes into the tank, then so will the revenues, being as most revenues in some way, are based on trade.

During President Trump’s early presidency, the economy and revenues were up, even at the state and local levels. Then along came the virus and the economy was partially shut down. Soon after, the revenues were dramatically reduced.

Surprise, surprise. The only way to truly increase revenue is to improve the economy. True; increases in taxes will temporarily increase revenue. However, in the long term, the economy determines the revenues. When taxes are too high, it chokes the economy and discourages production, enterprise, and, of course, buying.

Certainly other factors contributed: riots, mass looting in stores, intentional increases in energy prices and increases in tax rates contributed to economic downturns.

However, I put the primary cause on Fauci, who provided economic support to the development of the China virus, as well as making one decision after the next that resulted in disaster after disaster. However, the damage that Fauci caused did not stop in our pocketbooks. Many can attest to the horrid damage in human lives as well.

Flag Waving

They are coming to America, as the song title says. However, the flag they wave is not the Stars and Stripes. Instead, they prefer the flag of the country from which they come.

Repeatedly, the dems point out that we are a nation of immigrants. True, but always before, the immigrants let go of their old flag, and country; and took up their new flag, and new country.

I don’t know when it changed, but there was a time when dual citizenship was not permitted. If anyone knows the benefits of split allegiance, please let me know.

As Jesus said, a man cannot serve two masters. I do believe that goes to nations as well. For when the time comes for decisions, do you decide for the Stars and Stipes or for your former colors. To be sure, the decisions just might confront you each time you enter a voting booth. Are you, for sure going to vote for the good of the US, or will you maintain your ties to your prior country? Just which country will benefit from your vote?

Which flag gets waved? Which flag gets saluted? In my book, a person ought not gain citizenship until they are ready and willing to put down their former colors.

This is greatly amplified in Congress. There is a Constitutional requirement for the president to be a native born American. It is a shame that there isn’t such a requirement for both houses of Congress. This very day we have people in our Congress who wave foreign flags and they are proud to do it.

There’s just some wrong about that. To whom do they owe their allegiance? For whom do they cast their votes?

My Thanks and Appreciation to the Voters of Memphis

Don’t know for sure.  However, my best guess is that the value of my property just went up somewhere in the neighbor hood of 8 or 9 thousand.  Just a guess.  It does take a while to verify things sometimes.

However, Memphis just had an election and they chose a mayor who will not quash the crime problem.  Most likely, he will make sure to drive the treasury well into debt and he likely won’t help the transit system much either.  If anyone expects the LG&W outfit to improve, think again.  You just put the wrong man in the job of mayor to expect that.

The fact is that the new mayor will likely do everything he can to destroy the city from every point he can think of.  I would say it will be from ignorance but he will know exactly what he is doing.  By the way, he will also have the Dems, AKA communists, behind him helping him in every way.

Even now, I suspect the phones at U-Haul have started ringing.  They will be one of the few businesses in Memphis to benefit, at least for a while.  Already, many businesses have threatened to shut down or move.  Why should they stick around when their customers are heading south, north, east and west?

And so it is… the property values in Memphis will head south as the populace takes off for parts unknown.  And, of course, part of them will be headed for Desoto County.  That will drive my property value up.

There are, of course three downsides for me.  Our streets will be more crowded.  Those driving our streets will be more reckless.  Worst-of-all, they will likely bring their democrat ideas with them and ruin things down here the same as they did up there.

Be it know that the voters just put a Friend of Criminals, what I call FOCs in the mayor’s chair. No doubt, as time unfolds, he will make sure to put more FOCs into various city positions. Also, he has friends, AKA as city councilmen and women. If this keeps up, I just might be able to retire.

Wait a minute. I am retired. I am sure you get the idea.

Not a Fan of Crowds

Daily writing prompt
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.

Put me in a crowd and I will head for a corner.

Actually, when I saw the prompt, I had a little laugh. People rarely are interested in anything I want to say. Moreover, much of what I hear in a crowd, I wish I had a way to unhear. (Or un see) Many crowds have folks who are drinking, and I don’t mean tea. I don’t like being around others who are drinking, even one on one.

Very few have any interest in discussing electronics, computers, Christianity or politics. Might I remind that we are cautioned about taking about religion and politics. It somewhat limits my conversation.

As usual, I could talk about the weather. As Mark Twain, said, “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.”

I guess old Samuel Clemens never felt out of place. He seemed to always have something to say. I sure wish I had his gift of gab. It sure would be nice to have folks listen to me when explaining the plan of salvation. It would be nice if I could command the attention of thousands when I warn against the fallacies of communism.

Well, little as it is, I do what I can, even though I can’t draw a crowd.

Selection by Color

Let’s pretend. I really hate this because it is such a horrible subject, but it is the only way I can see of getting the point across.

Let’s pretend your eight-year-old has been discovered to have a brain tumor which must be surgically removed.

So, you are waiting in this nice carpeted room with really comfortable furniture. A woman enters the room and breaks the news to you. Then she says, we have four surgeons here that are qualified. Your surgeon is a good one, he is the forth best. He has a 90% survival rate and currently 75% have had no complications.

You say, “Wait a minute! You said the other surgeons are better!?

“Well. Yes the all are.”

“Well. Why can’t I have the best surgeon?”

“That isn’t allowed.”

“Why?”

“Your surgeon must be black. But there is no reason to be concerned. He really is very good.”

“Why must I have a Black surgeon?”

“It’s our way of making sure that the black surgeon has equal opportunity. The last three surgeries were by white doctors. It is the black surgeon’s opportunity. We don’t want anyone to think we are being prejudice. It would reflect badly on the hospital, the staff and we might even be sued. Do you realize how much it cost for just one week in court?”

Of course, the above is ludicrous. We, all of us, have the right to chose the surgeon we want within our means. Invariably, if we are smart, we will choose the best one, if we are able. In the not too distant past, there were people who refused to let a Black doctor treat us, let alone do critical brain surgery. Still, there are those who hold such thoughts, stupid as the may be.

It was not that long ago that women were not permitted to be doctors. It took years to overcome that problem. And indeed it was a problem and, to some degree still is. Doctors should be selected on their qualifications and how much they charge. It should have nothing to do with the color of their skin or their gender. On the reverse, the the black person should not be selected any more because he is black than to select the white man because he is white. Least wise, that is the way I’m going to do it. If you feel better with the inferior black doctor, that is your choice, just as it is the choice of a person to select the inferior white doctor.

It is equally stupid to chose the Black surgeon just because he is black and has a license to practice as to chose the white doctor just because you don’t like people with black skin. When that eight-year-old little girl of yours in in that O.R. you will want the best surgeon you can get to work on her and I don’t blame you. No one else should blame you regardless of the color of their skin.

It just happens, one of the best brain surgeons to ever live is Black. I would have had no problems him working on my child. No problems at all. But if that black surgeon is just above the level of a quack, I don’t think I’ll let him touch my child and it has not one thing to do with his color. My only concern is his success rate. If anything else, I am somewhat reassured if the man has a good relationship with Jesus.

On the other hand, the dems don’t have that sort of idea. They selected THE One person in this world worse than Old Joe for vice president. They selected a woman who publicly admitted she cannot define a woman for Supreme Court justice. And now, guess what, they have gone in search of another black woman to replace Diane Feinstein.

Guess what. I don’t want those dems selecting my doctor, nor the doctors of my grand-kids. No telling what they would come up with. Unlike justices, doctors must have some knowledge of the between men and women.

Guess Old Joe Never Learned That Lesson

When I was a little boy, I learned the blame game didn’t work. When I was confronted with what I had done, I tried saying well, so and so did this, that or the other thing. Usually, when I did that, my chastising was generally worse.

Apparently, Joe and friends never learned that lesson. Each time he is confronted, he and his friends start pointing. They begin playing the blame game.

Well, why shouldn’t they do it. For me, it never worked. For them it always does. Then again, Old Joe has many more helpers to make it work.

A Matter of Litter

I noticed the last few days a news story about junk in the Mississippi River. Some group is going around removing it and I certainly commend them for it.

The fact that the junk is there says a thing or two about Americans. When I first stepped out onto Sydney streets during my R&R there, I was amazed. They were clean. The parks were not just just litter free but also well landscaped.

It has been over fifty years since I was there so I don’t know if it’s the same there. However, it somewhat shamed me. Consider what it is like in San Francisco or NY, NY these days.

Most Americans are careful about the way they maintain the appearance of the interior of their car so they toss the paper cups out the window.

I guess, from time to time my car is a little trashy. I hold onto my trash until I can dispose of it properly. On the other hand, I frequently see folks lower the window of their Lincoln Town Car and toss their coffee cups out.

Sometimes, it makes me wish I was carrying a badge. Then as I think it over, I realize it would do little or no good. Nowadays, the police are not permitted to pursue for hijacking. Don’t think I would be permitted for illegally discarding a Starbucks coffee cup.

Looks like we’re doomed to put up with hijackers and litterers… streets and rivers. Also, reminds me of the trash thrown out by the news media.

How’s This for a Scenario?

Old Joe fights to maintain his leadership in his party and loses the election to Trump. First day Trump is in office, the price of oil is cut by 25%. In the next week it goes down to $40 a barrel. Russia and Putin go into a tailspin and inside a month they are broke and can’t fight any kind of war. They won’t be able to give their oil or natural gas to anyone.

All those folks in Afghanistan that Trump knows who they are and where they are, decide it is time to head for the hills and Afghanistan become a free country again.

China is afraid that the cost of trade with the US will go up so they start getting more reasonable about Taiwan. Who knows? They might even let go of their hold on Hong Kong.

The folks in Iran are afraid of being picked apart by drone strikes so they agree to give up their effort to build atomic weapons. After a few more months, the money going from Iran into terrorists groups starts drying up so they stop sending rockets into Israel.

All those folks heading the no-justice department are afraid so they start for parts unknown. Possibly, they might join that commie friend of theirs north of the border and find their refuge there. Some might go to Russia or China and find out what it really means to live in country where freedom is no more than a word.

I would hope that Trump would hold some serious housekeeping and fire anyone he can in the leadership of the FBI, CIA, IRS and Justice department. On day two, he can start arranging the return transportation for all illegal aliens. He can tell them that they would be far better off if they go back willingly.

Okay. I know. It is wishful thinking. First he has to get elected. In a country that holds elections like that last one he was in, that is going to be difficult. I mean, when the laws and rules of elections are ignored, it will be a uphill battle all the way. This is especially true when the media is on going to be all out for Joe.

I don’t hold out much hope. However, I think this just might be the last chance for the republic. If Old Joe wins; if the dems win, I’m afraid there will be little left of the constitutional government that so many gave their lives for over the years and over the decades.

Unfortunately, it might also be an end to peace in the Middle East as well. Israel just might have to start fighting for her survival. I don’t have any idea what that will lead to. I sort of hope I won’t be here to see it.

Across State Lines

I normally do not like it when Memphis tries to run things down here. So I normally try to keep my nose out of their affairs. I mean, if they want to turn the criminals lose to run free on their streets, it’s really none of my business, other than when they start coming down over the state line.

Ages ago, when they were trying to put casinos here in Desoto County, there was a lot of money spent by those up in Memphis to tell us how great it would be to have the casinos. The only money we had to fight back was from a few churches and a few private citizens. Really. What business do those businesses up in Memphis have to tell us what is good for us.

I don’t like political moneys crossing state lines. I know. It’s legal. It just isn’t right for someone from NY, NY trying to tell us how to run our states. On the other hand we have no right trying to tell them how to run theirs. It just is that they have more money and they are more willing to release it to make sure they get the representatives here that they prefer. As I said, just not right

To be sure, I openly ridicule those of other states when they do or say things that affect me. For instance, when they cry out for help from us because of their poor planning. As I said, they are the ones with the money. Why should they come after the money from the other states, especially those who have much less than they do.

Now, Memphis stands on the precipice of another election. Guess what. It looks to me that they are about to make another mistake. It appears they are going to chose a mayor that is in favor of the status quo and pass on a man who will put the criminals behind bars. That means the crime will only get worse and it will overflow into our neighborhoods down south of the state line.

My guess, it’s not just me who is not minding my business. My guess is that there is a lot of money coming south from democrat states to insure that law and order remains nothing more than a TV show. Of course I can’t prove it, nor would I want to try. It’s something that looks pretty obvious to me once you look at the campaigns. I just can’t imagine a person who wants to continue to let criminals roam the streets, has the true good interest of Memphis at heart. My guess is that “across state line” finances are involved. A whole lot of it.