Standing in line at the grocery store behind a 300 lb woman and her 4 bratty kids at the end of a long day was frustrating enough, but watching her pile her mountain of groceries on the belt was just the beginning. Little Debbie’s, Doritos, frozen pizza, and enough meat to feed a small army (all explaining her ever expanding waistline): one by one the items just kept coming out of her seemingly bottomless cart like clowns from one of those little circus cars. I’m standing there waiting, tired and impatient, one of the aforementioned kids is playing on their smart phone, the mountain of groceries now seems to eclipse even the rays of the sun – and then it happened – the final insult – one final slap in the face – one last indignation to cap off a frustrating day – yes you guessed it, it’s the food stamp card. Yes, out from her gigantic purse comes that very patriotic looking red, white, and blue food stamp card that she swipes like a ninja. Gee, I guess I get to pay for my groceries and hers too! I look at my basket of carefully selected groceries then once again at the mountain of taxpayer funded groceries in front of me and wonder, “Who’s the real idiot here?” Why do I bother going to work to earn a living?” Why not just sit at home on the couch eating Doritos, watching the Maury Povich Show, and playing who’s the daddy like this gluttonous land-bound creature? Why get up early to actually try to accomplish something in life; where’s the incentive to work? Aren’t I entitled to free stuff too? Let’s see, if I do absolutely nothing I can get free housing, food, clothing, cable, cell phone, money for a college degree (not that I would ever use it for that) all paid for with other peoples money – what’s not to like? Oh, and should anyone ever challenge my ‘right’ to all these free goodies, I know I can count on an army of Liberals running to my defense. I ask you my friends, how the heck did we get here?

Welcome to class warfare; welcome to Obamaland.

President John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your Country can do for you, ask what you can do for your Country,” how did that turn into Cell Phones are a civil right? How did that profound statement of personal responsibility and unity of purpose turn in to ‘take all you like’ we’ll get someone else to pay for it? How did standing up and taking responsibility for yourself and your family make you the bad guy?

The Obama Administration has been stoking the fires of class warfare since taking office, they have worked tirelessly to stir up animosity, jealously, and anger between the classes. They constantly repeat the tired old Liberal line of ‘those evil rich people and Corporations need to do more, they need to pay more because it’s only fair!’ This Administration feels that you and I aren’t paying enough to support the deadbeats in this Country and the deadbeats should be mad at us! The anger I might feel over the abuse of taxpayer money is irrelevant to the reigning Regime – I need to shut up, go to work, and pay more and more so they can spend more and more – “it’s only fair!” So what happens when folks like me have finally had enough and just give up? What happens when those ‘evil rich people and Corporations’ give up and either move out or close their doors? Where will the money come from then Mr. Obama? Who will you tax when there’s no one left working? How long before ‘Atlas Shruggs?’

Bottom line: the Liberal Left in this Country is leading us down a path to complete financial destruction and it’s up to you and me to stop them. Don’t just ignore the insults, rebuke and refute them. Don’t turn a blind eye to the waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars; point it out – to anyone and everyone who will listen. Most of all don’t sit quietly by, use the gifts God gave you to make a difference – everyone has a part to play. With your hard work, your dedication, and your prayers; God willing, we can still turn this thing around.

Derrick

The Daily Rant

7-29-2011

Budget debate reality check

Obama is threatening to default on our Nation’s debt if he doesn’t get his way; he has made it abundantly clear that he will veto any plan that doesn’t allow him to print a few Trillion more dollars to blow on useless liberal/socialist programs. Mr. Obama has threatened to withhold checks for Social Security recipients, he’s threatened not to pay our military families, but where are the ‘shared sacrifices’ for his constituents? Hello? Is anyone paying attention at all? Has anyone heard him say WELFARE CHECKS might not go out? Has anyone heard him threaten not to fund FOOD STAMPS? How about Medicaid (which I have no idea why we have anyway)…, how about shutting down Public Housing? How about ending that 99 weeks of unemployment? He’s all but killed NASA, but what about the Labor Dept, HUD, Energy, Education, etc? He has stood in front of the American people and decried the evil Corporations and their huge tax loop-holes – promising to make them pay their fair share, but what about the 51% who pay no Federal taxes at all? What about all the people who pay no taxes but get a huge tax refund? Is it just me, did I miss it somehow; but when and where has Mr. Obama threatened anyone other than the actual taxpayers and those who have paid in to the system their whole lives? Where has he mentioned making the deadbeats pay in something…anything? He talks about taxing ‘Millionaires and Billionaires’ while in reality he’s going after anyone making more than $200K (your employer.) He’s threatening not to send out grandma’s Social Security check while he continues to add millions of illegal aliens to Medicaid and promising them amnesty! Fact is people, the tax loop-holes this clown keeps harping about would save a measly $3 Billion over 10 years, but ending the ‘Earned Income Credit’ would save $50 Billion EVERY year or a half a Trillion dollars over 10 years! Shutting down NASA would save $17 Billion a year, but cutting Food Stamps by just 50% would save $38 Billion a year! Ok, now what if we made EVEYONE pay some taxes? What if those approximately 57 million households that pay no Federal taxes, paid just $100 a year, a measly $1.92 a week? That small ‘shared sacrifice’ would add $5.7 Billion a year in revenue every year, an increase of $57 Billion over 10 years, far more than the $3 Billion those tax ‘loop-holes’ would net us.

OK, so what if we cut the budgets of the following Depts. By just 50%:

Dept. of Education – Save $68.6 Billion per year

HUD – Save $30.9 Billion per year

Dept. of Energy – Save $14.9 Billion per year

Dept. of Labor – Save $6.8 Billion per year

IRS – Save $6.65 Billion

EPA – Save $4.49 Billion

Check out a list of Government Departments and Agencies here:

http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml

Think we could find more savings here?

Ok, I’ve just listed just a couple of simple ideas that would save $220.24 Billion a year (two and a half times the Boehner proposal) while increasing revenue by $5.7 Billion a year – a deficit reduction of $2.26 Trillion over 10 years. Is it really all that hard? Seriously, all this before we even get to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Defense, Unemployment, Foreign Aid, etc, etc, etc.

One final thought; I am no one - just a working stiff, but if I can come up with actual budget cuts, why can’t Congress? I know this is just a start, but if I can come up with these in just a few minutes, how much more could our elected officials find if they actually tried? Maybe my numbers are off a bit (but I did research each of them), but with all the resources these folks have surely they can do far better than I, right? I have to wonder if any of these people really want to fix the deficit or are they content in watching us go down in flames.

I could go on, but I have to get to work to help pay for all this crap!

A very frustrated citizen,

Derrick

Thomas Paine once said, “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace” but have we lost this attitude? Have we become so selfish that we are willing to dump our problems on the backs of our children and grandchildren? Are we so self absorbed that we are ok with our children paying the price for our mistakes? Let me ask you this; if one of you were to fall fatally ill, would you rather it is you or your child? If one of you were forced to make painful sacrifices during their lifetime would you rather it is you or your child? So why are we so reluctant to do what we must to preserve the future prosperity of our Country? Many Americans are demanding fiscal responsibility, and rightfully so, but are we really prepared to make the sacrifices in our own lives necessary to facilitate it? Please understand, as I ask you these questions, I’m asking myself these very same questions.

I think back on the sacrifices my parents made that I might have more than they did; that I might have a better life and a better future. I think of how much they did for me and how little they actually did for themselves. I think of my mom canning and freezing all summer long. I think of my dad leaving long before daylight, spending endless hours toiling in a factory. They worked hard so my siblings and I could have a better life and a brighter future. I know that I have it far better today because of the sacrifices they made, but will the next generation of children be able to say the same of us? Face it; we’ve all grown pretty soft, even the least amongst us has it pretty good compared that of past generations, so are we now beyond making sacrifices ourselves? Have we as a people simply grown too soft and too spoiled to dig down and dig in?

Friends, we are at a crucial phase of this conservative resurgence and we have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves some very serious questions. Will we continue to forge ahead and continue to stand up for what’s right; do we have the energy and the will to continue the fight? Will we support those Congressional leaders who do make the hard choices or will we back down in fear of losing our own Government perks? We know the country won’t survive if we don’t change our borrowing and spending habits, but will we be the ones to stop it or will we pass it to the next generation?

Bottom line: The borrower is slave to the lender; will America choose freedom or slavery? Is your elected official willing to sacrifice their political career if necessary to do the right thing and are you willing to give up your Government perks to do the same?

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The Daily Rant

6-09-2011

Bonnaroo and Those Who Spoil it for Everyone

For those who may not be familiar with Bonaroo, it is a giant 4 day music festival held once a year in the tiny town of Manchester TN. This event with its widely varying lineup of artists attracts over 80,000 fans to this remote town of just 7,000 people. Yes, Bonnaroo can be more than a little inconvenient for the local residents with flooded stores, make-shift camp sites, and snarled traffic, but most tolerate it with a smile because it does bring a much needed influx of cash to this small town.

Now, I will be the first one to admit that patience is not one of my strong points. I hate waiting, I hate standing in line, and I have absolutely no tolerance for traffic! However, even I try to embrace this once a year invasion because of the positive economic impact it has. There are the organizers and the fans who spend money in the local hotels, stores and restaurants, the venders who come from everywhere to sell their goods, and of course the musicians who come to promote their work; capitalism in action.

Now the downside; trash, loud drunks, thieves, drug dealers, meth-heads, smelly hippies, and of course the obligatory ‘slip and fall’ in the Wal-Mart store. Yes, in spite of my dislike of long lines and against my better judgment, I ventured into the local Wal-Mart for a new CD (which was completely inundated with people stocking up on beer and bug spray for the festival), when in noticed a small crowd gathered near the electronics area – uh oh! Yep, you guessed it, on the floor sat a woman (weighing 300+) holding an ice pack on her knee.

Welcome to the new normal in the Land of Obama.

Best wishes to all the Bonnaroo folks for another successful festival, I’m just glad it happens only once a year.

Contact Me

Good grief!

Steny Hoyer actually has the gall to tell the American public that we are not broke – and with a straight face? Obama’s Budget Director Jack Lew confidently claims that the debt ceiling will be raised before it’s reached; news flash - we’ve already hit it! Obama is off prancing around Europe again, this time pretending to be Irish, after telling the Israelis to just cough up some land already! And yes, last but not least, the Dems are literally salivating at the opportunity to kill Paul Ryan’s plan, a plan that could save Medicare from collapse - while claiming they are saving Medicare! Is the American public really that brain-dead? Has Washington become nothing more than caretakers for a population of welfare addicted zombies? It is becoming painfully obvious that the majority of Americans are either in denial or they simply don’t care.

How far we have fallen.

If America was truly the great nation it once was, we would have never elected these criminals in the first place, much less tolerate the daily barrage of lies. Where is the outrage; where are the protests, where are the calls for their heads?!?!  Have the people become so lazy and ignorant, so preoccupied with their own comfort that they are willing to give up their freedom? I’m really beginning to wonder if there is any point – why bother? Why talk if no one is listening? Why write if no one is reading? Why fight if no one cares?

America has an important choice to make and I’m afraid they’ve already made it.

Derrick

The Daily Rant

5-16-2011

Entitlement reform: extreme, radical, mean-spirited? Really?

The evidence is everywhere – spending is out of control, our National Debt is way too high and without a rapid change of direction our National economy is headed for disaster. The problem is enormous and immediate action is critical, but the solution itself is amazingly simple – cut spending. We are spending far more than we are bringing in and the only logical step is to reduce our spending to a level below that of our income. Now, as you well know, there are loud calls from the left to raise taxes on Corporations and those evil rich people, but the fact is we could raise the top two tax rates to 100% and not even cover this year’s deficit. Understand, those selling this line as a solution to our financial crisis are either lying to you or completely ignorant of the facts.

If your personal budget were running $500 in the red every month, cutting $2 dollars a week from your ‘discretionary spending’ wouldn’t fix the problem, cutting $20 from your cable bill wouldn’t fix the problem – everything would have to be up for scrutiny. Cutting the Nation’s ‘discretionary spending’ is great, but it won’t fix the problem either. Everything must be up for scrutiny so for us to ignore the big elephant in the room would be foolish, like it or not, we have to address entitlements. We can not get spending under control without addressing Food Stamps, Welfare, Unemployment Insurance, Medicaid, Obamacare, and yes, Medicare and Social Security. According to Investors Business Daily, entitlement spending is growing 50% faster than the economy and the Social Security ‘Trust Fund’ will add $5 Trillion to our National debt. So how can we address spending without addressing these entitlements? We can no longer kick this can down the road; frankly, we’ve run out of road. Only the most devout worshiper at the alter of liberalism would insist on continuing this disastrous path.  

Now we’ve all heard the attacks from the left calling any attempt to reform entitlements as ‘extreme’ ‘radical’ and ‘mean-spirited’ but is it really? The fact is Social Security will collapse without reform; Medicare will collapse without reform – so how is attempting to reform these programs mean-spirited? How is trying to save Social Security extreme? How is trying to save Medicare radical? If you want Social Security and Medicare to fail then fine; dig in your feet, keep your head in the sand, and keep calling us radicals. No one is saying entitlement reform will be easy, but it is necessary to preserve our Nation’s future. However, if you really don’t care about the future, if you really want to take away grandma’s social security check – then keep supporting the liberals who oppose entitlement reform.

“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.”

Ronald Reagan

The Daily Rant

5-12-2011

Teacher proves need for Education Reform

The following letter was sent to Radio Host Ralph Bristol regarding the ongoing efforts in the Tennessee Legislature to reform our failing education system. The author of this letter, who claimed to be a teacher as well as a teacher’s union leader, just explained the need for education reform far better than I ever could. Someone break out the RED PEN! The inability of a TEACHER to write a simple 'angry' letter without embarrassing spelling errors clearly demonstrates the need to rid our schools of incompetent teachers and the Unions that protect them. The Teachers Union has put their own agenda above the needs of our children. The Teachers Union has worked diligently to keep these lousy teachers in the classroom and it’s time for them to go!

Support true education reform today!

From a teacher,

I will be succent in my remarks and enumerate them. First, let me say that I hope you have the wherewithal to read this email on the air. You see sir, I am a teacher .

1. As a teacher I do not understand why I am villified and so despised by members of the current mahority in the state chambers right now.

2. absolutley nothing in any of the propsed laws improves student learning condition, student performance, or addresses in any way how to better equip teachers with the necessary tools to do thier job.

3. When the military goes into action and fails on a  mission, do we blame the lazy ill prepared soldiers? Do not docors and lawyers PRACTICE? Yet when it comes to teachers, we blame them for student failures and demand perfection from a teacher without allowing a teacher to "practice" his or her profesion.

4. Your dear friends Sen Johnson et al say how TEA leaves out non memebers. Why have younot reserched some of his rhetoric more? EVERY TEACHER BENEFITS FROM EVEY WORD OF A LOCAL CONTRACT WHTHER MEMBER OR NOT. THAT IS CURRENT LAW under Tennesse Code Annotated.

5. All of the actions of current lawmakers is nothing more than political payback for the TEA routinely supporting Democratic candidates. TEA supports pro public education candidates. .

6. Local school boards are mebers of the TENNESSEE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. Yes, a UNION. And their membership is paid for by TAXPAYER dollars.

I challenge you sir to find anything false in any word I have said. I will continue to teach because I love my high school math students. I work 2 jobs so that I can provide a descent living for my family.Yes, TWO jobs. I am a teacher of mathematics and a hospital supervisor on weekends. Lastly, I am not only proud to be a TEA member, but I sir, am President of the Rutherford Educatoin Association.

Sincerly,

Keith Cornelius

Note: the Rutherford Education Association website lists Mr. Cornelius as ‘Chief Negotiator’

http://www.reateachers.org/#

Contact Me

Simply amazing; how can you turn the killing of the world’s most wanted terrorist into a PR disaster – simple, let the Obama Administration handle it. This has to be the most incompetent group of bungling fools ever assembled in one place. How many times will these folks change their story? The White House has released so many conflicting statements that even White House spokesman Carney admits he’s confused, (but I doubt that’s all that difficult to accomplish.)

So let me get this straight, Obama canceled the original plan to bomb the Bin Laden complex because he wanted proof to show the world, but now he refuses to provide such proof? Seriously? Where is the logic? Is this Obama’s foreign policy or a Monty Python skit? Is this Administration trying to create doubt? Do they want to encourage conspiracy theories? Are they trying to create a new controversy similar to the Birth Certificate fiasco? When I first heard the news of Bin Laden’s demise at the hands of US Black Ops I was ecstatic (finally justice for the victims of 9/11), but now even I am having doubts. I trust our military, but like most of America, I do not trust this Administration. They claimed to have watched the raid live and even showed us a picture of them watching it, but now they say there was no live video. They claim to have photos, but you can’t see them. They claim to have video, but you can’t see it. They claim transparency, but…you get the picture.

One last question; exactly how do you enflame terrorists? They are terrorists; they kill women and children indiscriminately, they are the physical manifestation of pure hatred. They hate you, period. They will seek to kill you regardless of what you say or do. Worrying about their sensitivity is a fool’s journey. Appeasement is weakness, and Obama’s quest to appease terrorists will get us all killed.

God help us all.

Derrick

The Daily Rant

5-03-2011

Obama takes credit for getting Bin Laden

Obama got Bin Laden where Bush failed – well, not so fast there lefties! Yes, we all saw Barack on TV bending over backwards to pat himself on the back (while shamefully refusing to acknowledge the efforts of President George W. Bush), but lets look a bit deeper than the media’s whitewashed version of events. First of all, Obama didn’t put the bullets in Bin Laden’s head – US Black Ops did. Yes, Barack gave the order to carry out the raid, but it’s important to understand that he cancelled the original plan to hit the compound with B-2 Stealth’s back in March because he wanted to ‘show the world proof.’ As for Obama’s getting credit for giving the order to ‘go ahead’ with the raid, imagine for a moment that Barack had refused to give the order – can you imagine the backlash when that came to light? It was a no-brainer, but he’ll milk it for all it’s worth.  

Now, the real issue here that will certainly drive the lefties nuts and that the media is sure to bury – where the Intel came from – drum roll please…water-boarding! Yes, the nickname of the ‘courier’ who eventually led the US to Bin Laden came from ‘enhanced interrogation’ at secret CIA sites. Oh my, didn’t Obama promise to end such practices? Does my memory fail me or didn’t Obama apologize to the world for the ‘torture’ that occurred under the Bush Administration? Remember the calls for Bush to be tried for war crimes? Now Obama takes credit for getting Bin Laden? Huh? Once again Obama benefits from policies put in place by the Bush Administration. Just connect the dots, without the water-boarding of a terrorist; Bin Laden would still be alive. If Bush never gave the ok to water-board terrorists, Osama would still be sucking oxygen. Think about that lefties.

Let me remind you that the Obama Administration charged 4 Navy SEALs with assault for slapping a terrorist they captured in Iraq, but it’s ok to shoot one? Strange bunch we have there in the White House.

One final point – why did we give this mass murderer a ‘proper’ Muslim funeral on a US Aircraft carrier? Osama Bin Laden was washed, wrapped in a white sheet and presided over my a Muslim Imam before being lowered into the sea? Why? Have we become so politically correct, so worried about offending Muslim ‘sensibilities’ that we pay this evil man this much respect? How much respect did he give the 3000 innocent victims who were slaughtered on 9/11 by his command? What about the sensibilities of the Sailors and Marines on the USS Carl Vinson who may have lost friends and family because of this monster?

Osama met his fate at the hands of the US Military, just as it should be, but Obama getting credit – please.

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PS The left is already calling for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

The Daily Rant

4-30-2011

Gas prices – who is really to blame?

Ok, that’s it; we’ve got to have a chat about gas prices. Yes, gas prices, those two words on everyone’s lips. Crude oil and therefore gas prices have been on the rise and seem certain to damage an already depressed economy. Ok, so who is really to blame for this; dastardly Big Oil guys, greedy Wall Street Speculators, the Libyan/Syrian crisis, George Bush? Well if you said yes to any of those, you would be wrong. 

First of all, the Libyan/Syrian crisis has caused some concern on Wall Street, but these countries are relatively small players on the overall oil market and not a major threat to supplies. And as for those greedy Wall Street speculators, they simply try to predict where oil prices will go based on the most current information they have –like it or not - there’s nothing evil or sinister about it.

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the widely spread, widely accepted idea that Big Oil is just lining their pockets by sticking it to the American public – sorry folks, but this is just patently false. I know the Liberals lose their minds when you attempt to introduce facts into a discussion, but the sad truth is a lot of conservatives actually hold this same view. How much would you guess the Oil Companies actually make on a gallon of gas; $1, $2? Who do you think makes more off a gallon of gas; the Oil Companies or the Government? Fact: in the first quarter of 2011, Exxon/Mobile made an average of 7 cents per gallon of gas sold while gasoline taxes averaged 48.1 cents per gallon – so ask yourself, is it the Oil Companies or the Government sticking it to the American Public?

So if it’s not Wall Street or Big Oil‘s fault, then who’s fault is it – drum roll please - the biggest culprit in the explosion of gas prices is none other than his Majesty the King, The Great Messiah, The Merchant of Change, The Bringer of Justice and all around do-gooder,  Mr. Barack Hussein Obama!  Can I get an Amen?!?!? Yes folks, love him or hate him, it’s his policies that are driving up the cost of EVERYTHING! Oh, and in case you missed it, Mr. Obama is attempting to divert the blame by ordering an investigation to find out who is really gouging the American consumer – save the money Mr. President – it’s you! This ridiculous excuse for a President has stated publicly that he supports more domestic oil production, but has blocked any and all attempts to do so and has even gone so far as to defy a court order to resume drilling in the gulf. His green energy policy is clearly designed to the force the price of carbon based fuels so high that the price of so-called ‘clean energy alternatives’ seems more attractive – and he’s succeeding. However, the biggest cause, the real elephant in the room, is the declining value of the dollar – period. The spend, spend, spend policies of this failed Administration are driving down the value of the dollar and therefore increasing the cost of nearly everything we buy. Faith in the US dollar is dwindling around the globe; the disastrous policies of overspending, “quantative easing”, massive debt and deficits, and the Administrations refusal to seriously address these issues are driving the dollar to dangerous lows. Have you noticed it’s not just gas prices that are rising, but practically everything we buy; have you looked at the price of groceries lately?

You may now return to your fantasy land of blaming Big Oil or Wall Street if you wish, but if you voted for this joker, it’s really you who are to blame.

The Daily Rant

4-20-2011

Open Letter to Freshman House/Senate Republicans

Dear Congressman/Senator,

I will attempt to be as polite and tactful as I can, however I will not pull any punches, I will not be politically correct, nor will I be ignored. The simple truth is I’m disappointed in you.  

I write your office, yet I only receive form letters in return. I call your office, and your staff is very friendly, yet uninterested, uninformed, and unhelpful. You were more than willing to talk to me at meet-and-greets, Candidate Forums, and Tea Party events when you were campaigning, but now you seem to have no time for me. I hate to admit it, but I fear I have been duped. I supported you in the hope that you would bring the voice of the People to Washington, yet you now seem uninterested in what the People have to say. Funny, that’s exactly what your predecessor did.

Please allow me to give you one piece of advice, not that you’ll heed it, but ignore us at your own peril. Notice: the Tea Party is relentless, we worked hard to elect you, but we will work just as hard to defeat you if you turn your back on us.

Unfortunately, I expect nothing but a form letter in response.

Sincerely,

Proud American, concerned citizen, Tea Party activist, and registered voter,

Derrick Waggoner