Introducing The Faith Shift Series

Religion matters ONLY in the way it translates into mainstream moral values and community. The radicalization of ANY religion to serve the forceful inculcation of views and faith is unacceptable. Religion is (should be) as personal as possible, and community faith-sharing and demonstration only matter when they create tolerance for others, and work towards bettering our community.

Your religion, or lack of one, stops at the end of my nose, my eyes, my ears.

Be as faithful as you like in your own mind, in your personal behavior. Don't practice YOUR religion at the expense of my community, my children, my government.
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Scott Walker Recall: Wisconsin Officials Recommend Elections Go Forward

This is a "death cage" match for Demon-crats. If they can pull off this Recall (aided by over $30-40 Million dollars-or more-from outside the state) they can offer sober reflection on Democrats ability to light torches and man the pitchforks. Make no mistake, the Recall effort is just a lynch mob in disguise. Democrats MUST prove their resiliency in Wisconsin, otherwise-horrors!- other governors an dstate legislatures may catch the same deadly (to unions and bloated benefit plans) virus of change to fiscal manageability and responsability. Republicans and Tea Partiers better get the message as well, if this Recall succeeds, states facing fiscal "moments of truth" wil have second-and third-thoughts about balancing their books. Break out the checkbooks fiscal conservatives, the Wisconsin fight isn't over yet!
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The Economic Question at the Core of the Individual Mandate

Everyday Health care cost-shots, well-care- would be much less if ALL consumers paid out-of-pocket, because they would shop for services that meet their needs using competitive pricing.

Second. ANY realistic person knows that the 30-40 million "uninsured" the government contemplates getting insurance would not pay, because they are too poor, and would either get subsidized (meaning taxpayer Citizens pay for it) and, since doctors don't have office hours at night, would continue to use emergency rooms for immediate care, nullifyiny the logic used to promote the plan.

Nobody in their right mind would design a health care system that looks anything like today's model. But, we could easily model a well-care and diagnostic model, based on the free-enterprise system, that would deliver care to everyone for 75% less than today's model, using for-profit local clinics for the 90% of health care that involves keeping people healthy and treating minor ailments and injuries, reserving the higest cost model-the hospital and ER- for circumstances where cost is justified. There is an old rule that says "20% fo your expenses are incurred by 90% of your customers, and 80% of your expenses occur with 10% of your customers." That's the health care model of today.

Let's substitute Catastrophic Care Insurance, subsidized for poor as necessary (approx. $45-50 per month per person) and let the free market, operating through the 15-20,000 clinics deliver the everyday well-care.
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Deadbeat Nation: Why the Public Should Cut Off Wall Street's Credit

Again, we see Congress pushing the envelope, as did Mssrs. Frank and Doll in the mortgage mess (virtually same actors in the student loan case), in this case for creating a structure almost guaranteed to raise defaults by allowing less -than-qualified-and-verified-assets, the college degree, to be used as "collateral" for problematic loans, repayment being based on speculation that the degree owners would achieve gainful employment that justified the investment. There is no evidence that either the process that generated the loan demand, or the results to date thereof, are valid, more the contrary.

Universities have responded to media and government-generated demand by terrific and unwarranted expansion of courses to fill in degree requirements, recruit and overpay less-than-qualified professors (while loading them up with benefits and perks), building unneeded and palatial support mechanisms to help justify the underlying expansion, and more. When we have higher total undergraduate and graduate degrees granted than ever, but less and less graduates eligible to full the technical and scientific job requirements needed in the modern marketplace, education has definitely gone astray. Advanced degrees in social sciences and lesser skills may help pad the revenues and budgets of these "higher learning" institutions, but do little to satisfy the demands of the modern American economy, so much so that the level of recruiting from outside the U.S. for these skill sets exceed the amount produced by the U.S. educational institutions. How's that for poor planning and management?
About Student Loans
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Deadbeat Nation: Why the Public Should Cut Off Wall Street's Credit

Part of the process has to be forcing the banks (and similar financial institutions) to recognize their losses, take the consequences,and move on. If that means a new Resolution Trust Corp similar to that used to restructure the S&L industry in the past, then let's do that-right now. Part of the bail-outprocess was allowing the banks and financial institutions to "defer" or otherwise characterize those mortgage-related debts and financing instruments to the net effect of making them their own judge of the safety and likelihood for repayment, a practice normally reserved for the independent accountants supposed to certify the valuation.

And, similarly, the recent and congressionally-approved cancellation of the Glass-Stegall Act-requiring separation of Investment Banking and similar operations from traditional bank savings and loan operations-gave even more license to the high-risk leverage of speculative trading and other investment-related operations, some of which caused the problems.

Banks and related financial institutions MUST be re-capitalized to the 15%-20% area, restricted as to the amount of capital dedicated/invested in each type of bank activity, except for Savings Accounts, and A-rated mortgages, otherwise Prudent Man Rules apply.

Transparency and limiting risk to the equity owners of banks and financial institutions must rule.
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Arlen Specter: GOP Hurt 'Terribly' By Going After Women's Rights

What's unconscionable is Spector blowing up a minor difference into claiming a "full-on assault" on women's rights.

Even if you agree with every and all types of birth control programs and processes (excluding abortion), the hyperbolic characterization of what some would call reasonable restrictions on expansion, constant expansion, of added and "protected" classes of individuals (who are already protected in most states) is just time-consuming anf political, not helpful. Why aren't they legislating a strengthening of requirements that unwed mothers name the father so that parental responsibility, including child support, be better managed? Why aren't they supporting actual cash incentives for long-term birth control implants, which could include contributions to college or vacational colleges for under-age girls and boys (boys qualify through voluntary (and reversible) vasectomies? Why not more and better ideas that deal with the reduced standards of living caused mainly by too many poor and minority children being born into poverty, fatherless (and motherless) households (11-12% of ALL poor and minority children are being raised by relatives other than the mother, or in foster homes) which has been researched forever and which research proves beyond any doubt that poor and minority motherhood at too early in life (even if married) is a one-way ticket to more of the same for them, and their offspring.
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Don't Blame The Supreme Court For Citizens United -- Blame Congress, The FEC And The IRS

The history of the FEC and it's predecessor, the FERC, Congressional legislation and subsequent court decisions all reveal the attempts of elected officials and candidates to open contribution spigots from every direction (http://www.fec.gov/info/appfour.htm). The original attempts were meant to give Unioins more leeway to raise and fund PAC's, and later attempts, including Citizen's United all show a court bias towards finding backdoor solutions (and dimunition of individual, human Citizen's rights) with granting free speech enhancements to artificial constructs of law being the latest. Unless we, as Citizens, do what's necessary to stop the progession of American Democracy into something less responsive to the individual rights of people-it's Citizens-this will only get worse.

"Personal decisions, personal consequences; individual opportunity, individual achievement."
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Don't Blame The Supreme Court For Citizens United -- Blame Congress, The FEC And The IRS

The Supreme Court's hand were sort of tied. Having previously established "personhood" for artificial constructs of law, including unions (where all this junk law oiginated because of of pressure from Union's through Congress to allow union dues to be spent in support of candidates) the court was trying to level the playing field by extending those "free speech" rights, naturally enough, to any and all articial citizen constructs of law, like corporations, in fact anyone who could write thier name and file the proper papers.

Citizen's United will haunt the electoral process until corrected, and there is no way, repeat no way, that candidates -or incumbents-are going to voluntarily pull away from the teats of the Super Pacs and other campaign funding sources. It is time for the proverbial "clean sweep" in the House and Senate-ALL new representatives and Senators, repeat ALL NEW-nobody left from the old guard establishment.

Only Citrizen's are individually entitled to the Free Speech rights granted under the Constitution; artificial constructs of law are not. What's next? "George Soros Open Society Foundations for President? Waste Management for President" Wait! Why not? A garbage collector would at least have some idea of what "trash" is!!
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Scopes Monkey Trial Revisited: Tennessee Is Still Officially Anti-Evolution As Science Education Bill Passes (VIDEO)

Yet another case where the "religionists" are trying to supplant secularism, the proper course for public schools, with teaching carrying a religious persuasion. Religion is personal and individual, or even practiced in a religious institution with like believers. It is NOT to be extended into public schools or teaching. The sooner we keep religion personal, and not try to inculcate others with faith-based teaching, the better off we will all be.

Practice all the religion you want, in your mind, in your home, with your family, in your church or synagogue, or mosque, or not at all, but NOT in schools, or in innappropriate settings that are best kept secular. I believe you have the right to practice your religion personally, without reservation, as long as what you do is legal. I don't believe my children or grandhildren should have to be exposed to faith-based teaching of any type, except in religiously-based settings and institutions, built, owned, and managed for those purposes.
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I Just Wish He Would Have An Affair!

We are not so far from the "pack behavior" that marked our evolutionary past.

That's one of the reasons that women seem to be attracted to the "bad boys" (the Alpha's), and men are constantly sniffing pherenomes, even unconsciously, and are driven by that reproductive imperative. Would we be much better off recognizing the reality of male vs. female behaviors in modern society? Maybe, but not without some significant changes in attitudes, and laws.
About Relationships
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I Just Wish He Would Have An Affair!

Time for the new Ralationship Contract, a legal documemt, a First in a series of Agreements between couples of different Ior same) sex, who may start with a Relationship Agreement, with documented "outs" agreed prior to the "move-in" date, and a succession of Agreements of ever-more-serious intent leading to marriage, then children,then...whatever.

The guilt that this woman, and so many ohers feel might be mitigated with the clear understanding of the consequences for both parties. The emotions are more difficult, but the rationality that forms the basis for the planning process should help a lot in the evolution of relationships.
About Relationships
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I Just Wish He Would Have An Affair!

With society exerting so much pressure through liberal media fanatical support of feminism, it's no wonder that this woman and many others are outright depressed and angry at their lack of "fulfillment."

Women find any number of excuses for their behavior, as do men, but the facts seem to justify the opinion that society, and feminism has ill-served women, American women in particular.

There is, or should be, a different path that allows women to be fulfilled in the role(s) that evolution laid out for them, without having society judge them as "less than perfect" for their choices.

How about switching the educational system to a home-schooled universe, where the nurturing and parenting job would be full time, including managing an AI-assisted, computer-driven educational program that allows moms to manage education from home? We have the technology, we just don't have the recognition that this approach could solve multiple problems, yet help create a much better society.

Are we better off, culturally and societally, in some ways in having women become more "Beta" in their behavior and desires? Of course. But, we might consider having this come from a different direction, one which recognizes the strengths that come from the nurturing role, while our incentive and reward system takes this into account.
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Hans Sachs Art Collection Seized By Nazis Must Be Returned, Court Orders

There's a difference between authorized and legitimately compiled collections, and those obtained through theft or fraud. Modern day governments , in some cases, take advantage of society's empathy for restoration of artifacts and art by making cliams that are false, in hiopes that sympathy through world organizations will give them back collections they would not otherwise have legitimate cliam to, while other claims are indeed based on legitimacy, and need to be honored. Questions of Provenance and title should have an international organization to help resolution.
About Video
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BP's Influence Peddling In Congress Bears Fruit Two Years After Gulf Spill

You may be confusing the forest with the trees. "If it walks like a duck, etc"

The fact is that a continuing series of decisions point towards more Citizeship rights for artificial constructs of law, and in my mind, this is a dimunition of the value of the rights of Ciizenship vested in people, real people. I don't like to envision a future where IBM or Intel could run for President, as silly as that sounds.

"This stew (legal opinion) smells rancid and tastes worse."
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BP's Influence Peddling In Congress Bears Fruit Two Years After Gulf Spill

In my opinion, here is NO Constitutional basis for the various Citizenship rights given to corporations, including most recently Citizens' United, a travesty guaranteed to further de-value the Citizenship rights of indivuals.
About Gulf Oil Spill
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BP's Influence Peddling In Congress Bears Fruit Two Years After Gulf Spill

You had the basis for a serious discussion, but you destroyed it with your over-the-top, judgmental and non-fact based critique.

There ARE some big problems with the energy industry, not just oil, but coal and gas. There ARE some excesses to be sure in energy's manipulation of the political process (and I could say the same thing about Cable and Telco, Health Care, and more).

There IS a need for more Citizen knowledge of Ecology and Environment to better select candidates for office, and to make informed decision about local and national matters. This is not to say I support radical environmentalism, I don't. But. my version of corporate social responsibility, including all process and manufacturing companies, may actually be more stringent.

See http://scienceray.com/biology/we-want-zero-sum-pollution-now/

I wrote this piece on Zero Sum Pollution to reflect a real need for stopping the destruction of our environment.
About Gulf Oil Spill
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BP's Influence Peddling In Congress Bears Fruit Two Years After Gulf Spill

First, big oil MUST recognize that exploring and developing energy resources is a privilege allowed by U.S. taxpayers. As such, the highest safety standards, including security equipment and inspection processes MUST be implemented and adhered to. No excuses, complete transparency. The money to pay for much higher inspection levels will come from increasing the taxes levied on energy production to accomplish two things: 1. Provide funding for an updated safety standards and inspection process, staffed by professionals ONLY, with the ability to establish equipment standards for drilling and development (fail safe systems) and 2. Use an increased level of funding to build the Liability Fund to 20 Billion or more over a five year period (and agree to industry assessments if an incidence occurs that exceeds the liability fund's resources) and smaller assessment thereafter to fund the safety and inspection process. These liability funds are NOT to be general revenue funds in tnhe U.S. Treasury, but are to be invested as a Trust Fund.

The objective is to obtain an end result of a Liability Fund that continues to grow, if not utilized for accident recovery and compensation purposes (and if one or more accidents occur during or after the initial funds are established, it is replenished by the fees and taxes structure), and which funds through taxes and fees the regulatory safety and inspection process.
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Shantelle Hicks, Pregnant 8th Grader, Outed To New Mexico School Assembly (VIDEO)

OBVIOUSLY DONE A GREAT JOB SO FAR, RIGHT?

The poiint is, nothing's working--so far. Yes "scarlet letters" are offensive to some people's sense of fair play and personal dignity, but is the community involuntarily supporting another claimant for social and health bnefits, plus the long term cost and demonstrated history of dysfunctional children born this way argues that new(old) approaches may be needed. I hope she also "outs" the father, so the community and "system" can make him responsible both financially and personally.

Peer pressure works both ways, so perhaps having seen the result, others may be moe cuatious.
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Shantelle Hicks, Pregnant 8th Grader, Outed To New Mexico School Assembly (VIDEO)

I don't agree with the school's public outing, per se, BUT this girl, absent a rape claim, is a perfect example of what is our of control with girls of today. Pregnant and unmarried at 15...15!!! Her future and that of her child, already challenged, can only get bleaker.

Rightly or wrongly, perhasps this public ridicule will cause others to think twice, particularly if presented with strong moral encouragement from community, political, and religious leaders.
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Sandra Fluke Receives Call From Obama After Rush Limbaugh 'Slut' Comments

Yes, but we are getting closer to accepting religion invested in politics, and vice versa, every day, to the detriment of all. Secularism without morality and social consciousness leads to socialism-the subjugation of independence in the interest of the "greater good"- or worse. Theocracy leads to judgemental enforcement of less-than-free-market, religiously-based "laws" and customs that supress the spirit of a free people.

I subscribe to neither.
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Iran-Israel Tension Mounts: Live Updates On The Drumbeat Of War

What bothers me is that we have spent over one Trilion dollars (that's Trillion with a big "T" folks!) in pursuit of goals which I feel have not been realized, and which sandstorms will cover our bootprints before the ink on the dollars is dry.

We fail to realize that tribal conflicts and loyalties, thousand-year-old grudges and revenge pacts, religions extremeism all conspire to defeat our efforts and the efforts of (unwilling)partners.

Loyalty in this arena last only until the next "bribe" is paid, the last check received.

Ask the Russians.

The attitude in this area has always been, "They will come, they will pay, and they will go. Then we can get back to the business of killing each other."
About Israel
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Iran-Israel Tension Mounts: Live Updates On The Drumbeat Of War

So, you think extended terms of office would somehow limit the "at least one war per generation just to keep our skills sharp" mentality?

If only!

As long as "American Exceptionalism" governs policy decisions, and American leadership is required due to the lack of same throughout the world, we will be (willingly?) dragged into conflict(s).
About Israel
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Iran-Israel Tension Mounts: Live Updates On The Drumbeat Of War

Israel has always claimed that nuclear weapons in the hands of countries with stated policy of "eliminating" the Zionist threat would be an "existential threat" of such a magnitude as to justify the destruction of any facities prior to such a threat being realized. And so Israel has taken out facilities in Syria, and previously in Iraq (coincidentally also attacked by Iran), and has promised to prevent any potential enemy from realizing ambitions to build nuclear weapons.

As to whether such an "all in" stance is justified, one has only to look at a map and see that if Israels' two main cities were "nuked, " over 80% of it's territory and population would be gone, population killed or poisoned, territory unihabitable.
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Sandra Fluke Receives Call From Obama After Rush Limbaugh 'Slut' Comments

Over forty million abortions since Roe vs. Wade provide all the evidence needed regarding the quality and morality of women's decisions "about their own bodies." I'm all for birth control methods for men and women; I'm all for parental, community, political, and religious leaders making the strongest possible case for responsible approaches to sex, for "personal decisions, personal consequences, individual opportunity, individual achienvement."

I'm not for the "convenience of genocide" as an irresponsible alternative to an unwillingness to inconveniece onself regarding practicable and widely available birth control methods.

I'm not for a "feminism" which promotes a specius logic of "personal control over my body" as a justification for the murder of over 1,000,000 babies a year, 98% of which would gestate into healthy (mostly) childhood if left alone to do so.
About Video
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Joe Arpaio, Prominent Sheriff, Unveils Results Of Investigation Into Obama Birth Certificate

If what Arpaio found out about Obama is true, it would be the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on the American people. If untrue, he so damages his credibiliy that anything else he supports or proposes is without merit. Even if untrue, the controversy associated with this appeals mainly to radicals and fringe enthusiasts, not really helpful to those who want to pragmatically address the problem of illegal immigraion. Having established a position as an activist against illegal immigration, a position held by many Americans, a majority in fact, he may be in the process of throwing it all away; "Class, can we say feet of clay?"
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