Why It's Easier to be a Liberal (part 1)

I recently had someone pose me the question, “Why would anyone want to be a liberal? There’re wrong on nearly everything, and they’re always so miserable.”

The answer: it is easier to be liberal than conservative. You can almost hear the voices now; “it…is…not…. It’s hard to… be concerned... about the bunnies.” Well, sorry to burst your bubbles, but it isn’t hard. In fact, there’s nothing hard about being a liberal – excepting the occasional hair pulling every time a conservative makes a fool of you in front of others. I know that you liberals feel bad when that happens, and this leads me to my first point.

To be a liberal, one feels instead of thinks. The basis for liberal arguments is rooted in emotion, not logic. Logic requires the application of rational thought, hard evidence, and critical attention to detail. Feeling requires whatever base emotion that touches one. Logic requires that to find a solution, one must prove what the cause is; feeling needs only correlating evidence. Logic requires one to train the mind, and be versed in the area of discussion. Emotion is instinctive, acquired at birth, and requires no extensive training.

If you don’t believe liberals use emotion instead of logic, watch how many times they start their arguments with “I feel.” If you “think” a particular way about a subject, you open yourself to questions on the data that backs your thoughts up. But, the way you “feel” cannot be challenged. Ever wonder why self-esteem is more important than math in your local school? Liberals want feelers, not thinkers.

Being a liberal also requires little intelligence and wisdom. This is not to say that there aren’t so intelligent liberals – college campuses are full of book-smart liberals. One must temper intelligence with wisdom, however. Wisdom comes from experience – something many professors lack (they’ve lived their entire life in the ivory tower, protected from the “real world.”) Wisdom shows that results are most often dependant on more than one variable, and that variables are only isolated in the lab, particularly when human beings are concerned. Take taxes: if one only considers the tax rate variable, tax dollars go up when the rates are raised. Yet, wisdom (gained through experience) shows that people change their behavior, finding more tax shelters, etc; and taxes go down.

The act of the personal attack is also sign one lacks intelligence, or the facts gained through observation, to back up one’s position. Try to discuss racial preferences with a liberal; get labeled a racist. Take a stand against gay marriage, you’re a homophobe. The fact that these responses to a position on issues resonate with libs indicates we’re dealing with the product of a dumbed-down educational system.

Next time: Liberal consistency.

Friday's Quote 3-16-07

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

- Ronald Reagan, US President

Pro-Choice Doesn’t Extend to Education

In his State of the State speech, Ted Strickland announced his intention to eliminate private school vouchers for students in failing schools. In the very same speech, Comrade Ted proposed an increase in state-sponsored health-care for all children. Said state-sponsored health care includes, presumably, abortions. So, in Ted’s world, a prospective parent should have the choice – regardless of economic circumstances – of aborting their child but not the choice – regardless of economic circumstances – of how and where any child they so graciously allow to live should be educated.

The inconvenient facts about Ted’s position on abortion are all too clear. While serving in Congress, the governor voted several times in favor of governmental funding of abortions, and even federal funding of research into the “abortion pill.” He has received unquestioning support from NARAL, and he has promised to veto any pro-life legislation that comes from our state representatives.

In addition, Comrade Ted received a 100% rating from the NEA, and was heartily endorsed by the teachers’ unions. Those unions have a long-standing opposition to private and religious schools, or any competition to a state-sponsored monopoly on education – a monopoly that would insure their jobs regardless of ability. So, political payback required the governor to being quickly to remove the biggest sources of competition to our failing school system – private and religious schools.

I find it interesting that the governor heartily endorses using my taxpayer dollars to fund something I’m against – abortion, but wishes to deny it for something to which liberals object. And before quoting the First Amendment at me, I heartily suggest everyone re-read that one – there is no “wall of separation”, excepting that the government shall mandate no religion on the people. (In fact, this phrase derives from a letter from Jefferson to Danbury, Connecticut, Baptists.) Red Ted also plans on eliminating the ability of for-profit companies to run charter schools. Because we all know that for-profit companies will compete to gain more students (hence profits), and in order to compete they might well provide a superior education at a lower price than their public school counterparts.

My recommendation to our Komissar? Let citizens carry their own tax dollars to the school of their choice. If parents want to take their children to private school, why should they continue to pay double? Introduce more competition to the schools, not less – competition drives excellence, no matter what the self-styled experts at the American Psychological Association (the same folks who published an article claiming adult-child sex isn’t harmful) say. After all, isn’t this all about the children? How can we, in good conscience, deny them the education they deserve – instead of the one that the government has been giving them?

Margaritas ante Porcos,
Right Wing Toledo

Bankruptcy and Suburban Emergency

Yesterday, in response to the city’s usurpation of ambulance service, one company laid off 18 workers, and took half their ambulance force off the street. The company, who took out long-term loans in anticipation of a long period of service, has now found its revenue forecast cut drastically. In order to pay off those loans and avoid bankruptcy, costs are being cut. You cannot blame the owner of the business, he’s doing his best to avoid bankruptcy. Funny how the same group of politicians who decry bankruptcy as a form of “government welfare” seem to be the same ones who are putting the businesses in bankruptcy in the first place.

When the city finally succeeds in running the ambulance companies out of town, one important question will remain. What will the suburbs do? Sylvania, Oregon, and other townships under the local 911 service will not have private ambulance service to turn to in an emergency situation. This will leave them with two choices: create ambulance service themselves or contract with the City of Toledo to handle their ambulance services.

I’m sure Emperor Carty and others in One Overlord Center are licking their chops at the prospect of providing emergency transport services, at inflated prices, to the suburbs. The great question will come when; there is a shortage of ambulances, which will get service first – a Toledoian who may not have insurance, or someone in Sylvania resident who is paying an inflated rate. Everyone outside of the city ought to pay close attention to this issue, it affects you more than has been reported.

Margaritas ante Porcos,
Right Wing Toledo

City Council Pulls the Plug on Local Business

Yesterday Michael Ashford, Wilma Brown, Phil Copeland, Mike Craig, Joe McNamara, Mark Sobczak, and Frank Szollosi voted to euthanize several local ambulance businesses. The city plans to take 40% of the ambulance runs away from private business, in order to supposedly raise $600,000 yearly. According to the Emperor’s spokesman, 40% is a “small percentage” of the business. To business owners, could you survive a 40% loss of your revenue? What business experience does the mayor’s spokesman have to indicate that this will not cause a company to close its doors?

Well, looking deeper into the plans reveals a key items The vast majority of the ambulance service will be in west and south Toledo, with minimal ambulance service on the east side and in the central city. By concentrating on the wealthier portions of the city, instead of where the majority of emergency runs come from, the city is cherry picking the profitable runs, without having to cover the costs of the runs that gross little or no funding – those without insurance to cover the ambulance run cost. So, in reality, while taking 40% of the runs, the city plans to take a much higher percentage of the revenue away from private business.

Executives of the major ambulance companies in the city have announced cuts, and in one instance, the potential of moving their headquarters outside of the city. According to them, the city is not friendly to business. Welcome to Toledo, folks – ask the people over at Costco, Rite Aid, and the Pharm – they’ll tell you that Toledo hasn’t been friendly to business for years. Unless, of course, you’re a failing automotive company – then you get free land (stolen from citizens), tax abatements, and hugs and kisses from the administration. I heartily recommend that these companies withdraw all service from the city in emergency services – and begin your cutbacks immediately. Keep a minimal staff to service your private health care contracts, but no sense waiting for the axe to fall. After all, if the city provides such high quality care (like the quality one gets from every other city department) it makes no sense to wait – let the people of Toledo get their Cadillac ambulances immediately. After all, what’s a few hundred jobs.

It is also my understanding that the billing portion of our ambulance service will be contracted out – and a RFP was issued before City Council voted. If so, is this added expense already considered in the yearly planned $600K? Somehow, I think that this is a hidden line-item. Is the $200K for ambulance lease included? I’m no fortune teller, but I suspect that a new emergency services fee” will be included on our property taxes – right next to the trash pickup fee.

Oh, My Aching Poll...

Emperor Carty rants in today’s Blade about the “inflammatory and derisive” poll that showed his job approval numbers at around 40%. It is his contention that this story will make his job harder, it more difficult to pass his budget, and that the newspaper does the city a disservice by discouraging new political talent. Well, I have some follow-up questions for hizzhonor:

- It is your contention that this article will make your job harder. Where in the job description of Mayor does it state that the job will always be easy?

- Should articles that speak poorly of the administration not be run by the newspapers and other media? Or just articles and reports that question your pet programs? Do you think that such restrictions qualify as censorship and violate the First Amendment?

- Did you complain that the Blade was attacking Republican candidates prior to the primary and general elections, attempting to link every candidate with Tom Noe without a shred of proof?

- Have you complained that the national (and local) media have constantly harped about the President’s declining approval numbers while he is attempting to put down a terrorist insurgency (does it effect his “ability to govern”)? If so, is it because you only disapprove of attacks against yourself, but approve of attacks against your political opponents – and is this fair?

- Do you think that the Blade’s stance on Republican and conservative candidates discourages new political talent, with new ideas, from running? If it does, do you disprove of it?

- Will you now ban Blade reporters in the same manner you banned reporters from WSPD?

I cheerfully invite Mayor Finkbeiner to answer these questions, and will be happy to publish such – in the interests of fairness. But, I’m not holding my breath.

A Father-Daugher Talk

Sent from a friend:

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his. One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth & she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?"

She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, & lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, " Welcome to the Republican Party."

Friday's Quote 3-9-07

Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education.

- Victor Hugo, French Author

The Real "Cash Cow"

In an article in today’s Blade, the Toledo Federation of Teacher’s president Francine Lawrence accused the state of setting up a “cash cow for church schools and private schools.” Her argument is with a program that allows students in failing schools to receive vouchers for attending private schools, both religious and non-religious. Interim Superintendent John Foley agreed, stating that vouchers were “another way for the state to harm urban schools, and not give us the resources to get better…” This is a rare show of unity between the TPS administration and the TFT, indeed. The real reason, is of course money. TPS wants to be the only calf at the cash cow’s udder. The reason that parents would change schools in order to be eligible for vouchers, according to both the TPS and TFT, is greed. Therefore, according to the twin paragons of the education system, the state must cease giving back taxpayers their own money.

What should be alarming to the public school system is not that parents are transferring their children in order to get vouchers, but rather that they so want to escape TPS, that they’re willing to sacrifice 2 years of their children’s education in order to obtain a better one. With about 5% of the eligible students taking vouchers in the first year of the program, Toledo outpaces districts around the country offering vouchers for failing schools. Apparently, even in the “non-failing” schools, the students are not learning enough – an indictment against the system as a whole.

Parents are fleeing public schools for private centers of learning where far less is spent each year per student. Yet, the only solution to the problem, according to both the teachers and the administration, is more money. If money were really the solution, than our students would lead the world, yet nothing is farther from the truth. Instead, parents are sending their children to locations where dedicated teachers (making far, far less money than their public-school counterparts) teach to a level above the minimum. To criticize the parents for doing anything possible to make sure their children receive the best possible education is insane – the sort of insanity that can only be propagated by a socialist-type school system. And in such a system, the cream doesn’t rise to the top, it is spoiled by the sour milk.

Margaritas ante Porcos,
Right Wing Toledo

Dr. Grossman and the Fat Crusade

Don’t’ say I didn’t warn you. Fresh off of his victory against private property and the freedom of citizens, Dr. David Grossman, Health Commissioner of the City of Toledo, is launching a program to have restaurants in the city serve “healthier food.” In conjunction with Emperor Finkbeiner’s Get Fit program, one can see that the first aim will be the elimination of trans-fats in the city – such as the ban instituted by New York City. Ironically, the kick-off for this program will take place in Sylvania Township – not Toledo. If the mayor can’t find his own city, how can we expect him to find our “health weight?”

Since the government is now in the business of regulating otherwise legal product use, the total regulation of what you can eat in restaurants shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Trans-fats are just the trend of the day. I’m sure we can expect to hear that the government is not interested in approving menus – just like they weren’t interested in banning smoking on anything but domestic flights in 1988 and 1989. In the next 10 years, expect to walk into an eatery, step on a scale, and be handed the menu you are allowed to choose from.

The city’s Director of Economic Development should be screaming at the mayor – oh, that’s right, the mayor IS the director. Let’s face facts; limiting the menus will help drive those customers away who survived the smoking purge. Last time I checked, the local taverns haven’t exactly seen a surge of non-smokers packing the place since the ban was instituted – despite the assurances of the local anti-smoking police. I understand that Emperor Carty and Lackey Grossman don’t believe this would be the result. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, and expect different results.

Once the restaurants and bars have left the city, I suppose it will be a leaner Toledo – specifically the tax base.

Shameless Self-Promotion

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Friday's Quote 3-2-07

Balanced budget requirements seem more likely to produce accounting ingenuity than genuinely balanced budgets.

- Thomas Sowell, American Economist

Budget From the Blue Means More Green From You.

Well, Emperor Finkbeiner has released the portions of the 2007 budget, aka “Your Seized Money.” Some of the budget reduction ideas hold some merit, such as the shuttering of the pool system. Let’s face it, the system is underused, and overly expensive to maintain, staff, and insure. Personally, I have no problem with filling them with concrete, then painting them green to placate the environmentalists.

Staff reductions and department “eliminations” also hold promise. But, why are we simply giving the section another name, why not eliminate Affirmative Action completely? After all, in a time of budgetary woe, why are we accepting bids from someone other than the lowest bidder who meets the requirements? According to the Fourteenth Amendment, protection, due process, and by extension, the benefits of government cannot be discriminated by race. And, receiving a governmental contract is a benefit of said government. And, can someone tell me why we had Departments of Recreation along with Parks and Forestry? Oh, that’s right, more jobs for cash contributions (that’s pay to play for those keeping score at home).

Most importantly, however, is the raising of revenue proposed by the Emperor. There is to be a new tax on your trash, a tax that was covered by the “temporary” ¾% income tax that keeps being renewed. The new tax amounts to a near 20% increase on top of the average city resident’s income tax bill.

So, what I want to hear is, the sound of liberals screaming – this tax hits the poor far more than the rich. The poor create far more of the garbage being eliminated, that is the stuff that isn’t tossed into the streets by young hoodlums dealing drugs and shooting police officers. So, I suppose, being the evil conservative that I am, I should be in favor of this regressive tax. Sorry guys, as a true conservative, I’m against governmental taxation in as many forms as possible. Let’s try working the guys 8 hours a day (instead of the 6 they average), or better yet, open up the city contract for bids. Oh rats, I suppose we can’t privatize trash collection at the same time we’re trying to seize the ambulance business from private industry. My bad.

Margaritas ante Porcos,
Right Wing Toledo