As usual if Tim, Virgil, or anyone wants to use any of these to promote Tim just let me know and I’ll get you the full size images, raw, uncropped, whatever you need! Thanks to Tim for letting me shoot this show!
The current administration, the media, and a good chunk of the populous seem to be confused about the definition of rights. First and foremost our constitution grants very few rights, the right to vote being one of the granted rights, but it enumerates many rights. The Bill Of Rights cover rights that the founding fathers believed were granted to all people and was set up to protect the people from the government attempting to infringe rights that exist outside of any government’s ability to grant them. So there are two kinds of rights in the document that is the framework for governing this nation. The current administration says that we have a right to health care in this country and I couldn’t agree more. However they do not mean what the words the use actually mean. What they mean is that we are all entitled to health care. We have a right to health care in this country already. We have a right to buy insurance as we choose. We can go to any doctor that will see us and pay him to perform all sorts of medical services for us. The government can only regulate what is safe and what is not. I have a right to have the level of health care I want to provide for my family. We are not denied this right by not liking insurance companies, by not being able to afford their rates, or by not having any number of things covered by said insurance companies. Like it or not the right to health care exists in this country.
For something to be a right all people must have equal access to said thing. Every single citizen of the United States of America has equal access to health care. Every one of us can have the same services for the same price as anyone else. For a thing to be a right it does not mean, by any stretch of logic, that we all must have the same exact level of said thing. It must also, conversely, mean that we can choose to not have the thing. If you start applying the current liberal definition of “right” to other rights enumerated in our constitution it becomes painfully obvious just how ridiculous it is to say the current push to pass laws requiring us to have insurance is based on some sort of “right” to a thing.
If having a right to a thing means the government must provide it for me, as stated concerning health care, then I also expect the following in short order: my own printing press so that I can exercise my right to freedom of the press and a shipment of top quality arms so that I can exercise my right to keep and bear arms that has been affirmed by SCOTUS as an indivual right. We can talk about other rights later and how the government can provide them for me.
It’s not a right if the government requires us all to have it, gives us money for it, and runs the industry. At that point it’s a straight up entitlement and I do not believe we are entitled to anything. We have rights that we must choose to exercise but more importantly that we can choose, without penalty, to not exercise. The current attempts to push a set of health care entitlements on the American people and attempting to cloak them as rights is almost as perverse as the Patriot Act claiming to defend freedom whilst yanking freedoms away from us.
You have a right to believe that you are entitled to health care but since that isn’t codified anywhere in our laws your right to believe that ends where my belief that there is not an entitlement begins. You can claim, at the top of your lungs all day long, that the government should cover the cost of medical care for you and yours and it won’t make it right or true. You can scream about health care being a right but as long as you want to government to provide it what you mean is that it is an entitlement you want the government to give you since you already have a right to pay the same amount of money as me and have the same health care I have.
I can see how this wouldn’t seem fair to someone raised in the entitlement mentality that has permeated through our school systems and news media over the years as fair has been redefined to mean that everyone has to have the starting position, the same engine, and the same pit crew for this race and if their driver fails then it’s not their fault. That is not what fair has ever meant, not what it means now, and will not be what it ever means. It is fair because the government cannot stop either your or I from getting health care, it is fair because for the same dollar I can buy the same amount of health care as you. If you think that having better health care because I have money or having worse health care because I have less money than you isn’t fair then please tell me how we will start dumbing down smart doctors so no-one receives better care because their doctor is smarter because that’s where that logic takes you.
In closing all of this talk about rights and fairness is about neither one. They are merely words the current administration and the MSM is using in order to make this entitlement they want to pass more palatable to the American people. What they are doing is not fair, or just for that matter, and it certainly isn’t about rights since the right they are pushing already exists for every American. It’s just like the last administration trying to redefine freedom to make the Patriot Act easier to swallow and it’s still disgusting.
Since I have started posting about politics again I thought it would apropos to mention what I am or am not when it comes to politics. I am a registered independent. I am not a Republican and have just as many disagreements with their recent governance and policies as I do with the current administration. I don’t like to apply labels to myself but if forced to choose a political idealism I would call myself a Libertarian. I don’t ever vote based on party affiliation but rather based on stated beliefs and voting records on a handful of issues. While I do have a short list of what I call “non-starter” issues they are not the only things I look at in a candidate. I also look at the office for which a candidate is running and decide if the issues I usually vote on even apply before making a decision. I am not going to post the list of issues at this time, but may well later, as I am not supporting any candidates at the moment.
I will also say that my opposition to the health care take over that is being perpetuated by our federal government stems not from thinking that the Democrats involved are socialists, although some of the provably are, but rather from a base ideal that the federal government has no right to dictate to the states how to deal with the issue and furthermore has no right to force me to purchase anything from a private entity such as an insurance company. The plan on the table could be one, like Germany’s, that stood a chance of working and I would oppose it just as vehemently. I oppose almost all government meddling in the form of price fixing, dictating what any given company can offer the public, or what any private citizen is required to purchase. While I have addressed the fact I don’t think this plan will work, and history will prove me right, my opposition starts long before the question of whether any given plan will work or not. The tenth amendment sums up my feelings on the matter and while the federal government has been doing an end run around the amendment using subsidies like highway dollars and school funding the amendment exists and should be enforced. But I digress. I wanted to re-frame any debate that might take place here since the minutiae doesn’t matter concerning this bill hence this explanation.
If you take things down to a state level the things I agree with and disagree with change greatly as the states are granted all powers not explicitly granted to the federal government and while there are things that they cannot interfere with, like the bill of rights, they are afforded much more power over the existence and lives of their residents than the federal government. When it comes down to issues on a state level I will argue merits and flaws extensively and usually with great passion. In contrast with my views on the federal government which usually end with “They don’t have that authority and I wish that SCOTUS would smack them down” regardless of which party is in power.
I do not believe that taxation is illegal, that the amendment allowing it was ratified improperly or not ratified, that income is not defined properly, that I can opt out of the tax system. I do believe that a flat tax would be better this country. The figures show that a flat tax of 5% (that number may be inaccurate now as it’s been some time since I looked) with no credits, exemptions, and what not on every tax paying entity would bring in more money that our current arcane system. I know that the so-called stimulus could have paid off every dime of consumer debt in the country and had money left over but the way it was used didn’t do much of anything for the economy. I believe tax cuts will save the economy and that raising taxes will prolong the recession. I am not a truther and think that they should be kicked squarely in the teeth and I should be allowed to do so as protected political speech. I don’t believe in conspiracies for multiple reasons. And I am now rambling…
Suffice it to say I am not a huge fan of the current administration and its apparent desire to insert itself further into our private lives. I am also not happy about the other side of the coin, being Republicans, and their chosen path at the moment. I think things through on a regular basis and don’t tow any party line. So there’s my little, and completely inadequate, description of my political views. I had to post this as I have more posts planned this week where this reference will be good for my two or three readers.
- And with that…home again, home again. Sober and tired. G'night all… #
- @cowbelle78 not a chance … barely feeling it in reply to cowbelle78 #
- Jaeger, whiskey, beer. Topped off with waffle house. Perfect southern night. #
- I'm at Waffle House (1001-1063 Addicks Howell, Houston). http://4sq.com/9Ol2JJ #
- Wow. The Beatles…with a Turkish accent. That's … different #
- Dear alcohol: I'd like to feel your relaxing effects. Please. K. Thanks. #
- @gaslight_anthem looking forward to it! in reply to gaslight_anthem #
- @Rockstar_Aimz working on getting there myself… in reply to Rockstar_Aimz #
- No sweetheart you ain't country. Nope. Not even a little bit. Don't care what you sing at karaoke. Nope. Got more country in my pinky finger #
- I'm at The Bull and Bear (11980 Westheimer, Houston). http://4sq.com/4rN4oD #
- Best line of the night: how do I follow a cowboy singing Violent Femmes #
- today sucks. I am going home. where it will no doubt continue to suck. maybe sunday night will cure this funk… #
- I miss the swine flu…when people got swine flu they didn't ask for money, now it's tsunami this, earthquake that…money, money, money
# - Where Eagles Dare is the perfect song for coding right now…might have to just queue up the box set #
- RT @autopsy4: updated ninebullets: THE FOX HUNT – LONG WAY TO GO: http://bit.ly/dsZQ8G <- MUST LISTEN #
- Why oh why is Kick In The Eye available for karoake but not Passion Of Lovers?? Bastards one and all #
- @autopsy4 Dude that's the only reason I ever go to Mickey D's. The McRib == The Shit!!! in reply to autopsy4 #
- Having done Sisters of Mercy – This Corrosion and Peter Murphy – Cuts You Up at karaoke I am now scowering the intertubes for Skinny Puppy #
- I'm at Lucky Village (1111 Dairy Ashford, Memorial Drive, Houston). http://4sq.com/bFpsy2 #
- @themotorcars Worked just fine! Great to see ya on here. in reply to themotorcars #
- @autopsy4 I liked one or two of his tunes. Never got into him. Probably why you are like you are about him. Disappointment… in reply to autopsy4 #
- @autopsy4 You seem to love hating Shooter. I don't care for him myself but you don't care for him out loud, a lot.
in reply to autopsy4 # - @autopsy4 Pump Up The Volume is never a bad idea… in reply to autopsy4 #
- @cowbelle78
I am lucky my wife doesn't take me seriously… in reply to cowbelle78 # - @cowbelle78 I'd share your tent (ok maybe that was a little creepy but I thought it was funny) in reply to cowbelle78 #
- @plank10 Some days it's just got to be The Takers! in reply to plank10 #
- If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there’d be a shortage of sand. – Milton Friedman #
- @autopsy4 You know it! in reply to autopsy4 #
- Bottles even #
- All my new friends live in bottle…. #
- RT @AntiRecords: Sage Francis reveals the Shepard Fairey created album artwork for Li(f)e and North American tour dates: http://ow.ly/1dQmW #
- oops, I mean next Friday #
- Hell yes! this Friday is @kaseyanderson here in H-Town!!! #
- @autopsy4 I still maintain it's Boston. I have never seen so many accidents or been almost hit so many times in a single day before or since in reply to autopsy4 #
- @cowbelle78 PNW wasn't so bad, no worse than here (I give the edge to here on that one) WORST DRIVERS EVER: Boston, Mass in reply to cowbelle78 #
- @BoogieStudio22 You 'd think the same about Houston, Texas seeing as we get more rain that Portland or Seattle in reply to BoogieStudio22 #
- @Truersound We are a small company, seven or eight of us, the person doing the review, her husband manages the Starbucks. in reply to Truersound #
- OK I tried it again. I really did. Two weeks now. And I hate #empathy and think Ubuntu is stupid for switching from #pidgin Switching back. #
- @kaseyanderson People drive like idiots everywhere. You should see people here when a drop of rain hits their windshield. in reply to kaseyanderson #
- I have my yearly review in about a week. I am guessing the fact it's at Starbucks is a good sign… #
- It's hump day, get your top 5 on!!!! http://bit.ly/ahkvLi #
- RT @autopsy4: updated ninebullets with this Wed.'s Top 5 subject: Cover Songs: http://ninebullets.net/archives/top-5-cover-songs #
- @autopsy4 SXSW TB style as well: Raisin' hell and livin' cheap in reply to autopsy4 #
- @HoustonPress You totally left out: Ray Wylie Hubbard – Screw You We're From Texas!!!! in reply to HoustonPress #
- @autopsy4 RGR that in reply to autopsy4 #
- @autopsy4 That's not good, is SXSW looking shaky? in reply to autopsy4 #
- My co-worker is eating something that is the aroma equivalent of nails on a chalkboard #
- I wonder if I am allowed to sleep at my desk? #
- So it looks like I get to go to work tomorrow. The contracts are signed, finally. Thank God for salary. #
- I'm at Midnight Comics (Suite B, 2505 S. Highway 6, Houston, TX, Westheimer & Hwy 6 N., Houston). http://4sq.com/cwfwzE #
- I'm at Nan's Games Comics Toys (2011 southeast freeway, Houston). http://4sq.com/clB2HI #
- I'm at asgard games. http://4sq.com/deS4Vp #
- I'm at Third Planet (2718 Southwest Freeway, Houston). http://4sq.com/6OVe1a #
- That blows! Turned away TCG…you must be mad. #
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4
Mar
So last week a co-worker came to me with three tickets to see out local hockey team, the Aeros, vs the Manitoba Moose. Since I have four boys a decision had to be made. Since I took Aoghdan to his first show last year and Diarmuid is really to young to enjoy a hockey game I decided it would be Seamus and Hamish going. I hadn’t seen a hockey game in years and was looking forward to spending the time with the boys. So I bailed out of work a little early and thanks to my better half was able to just pick them up and head downtown to the Toyota Center. We got there in plenty of time and since the tickets included a parking pass it was all very easy to manage. The boys, dressed rather handsomely I must say, were almost vibrating with excitement. Now Rob had warned me that these seats were amongst the craziest of hockey fans but I had idea what we were in for!
So the first shock involved how much they wanted for food. I have been to sporting events and a lot of shows and the Toyota Center’s food vendors rank up there with highest prices I have ever paid for what amounted to state fair food. Seamus got a personal pizza (8.00), Hamish got a corn dog (6.00), fries to split between the boys (4.75), I got four small chicken strips (8.50), and a large drink to share (5.75)(for a damn Coke)! A pleasant surprise was that the Aeros schwag was the cheapest sports memorabilia I think I have seen with a good selection of 5.00 stuff that wasn’t cheap or cheesy. But with the concession prices it didn’t balance out all that well. But the best surprise were the seats. They were, and I don’t know the hockey term for it, right behind the opposing team’s goal for the first and third periods, 2 rows from the glass!
We quickly found out that most of the noise in the arena during any given game is made by the section we were sitting in. At first the boys were a little intimidated by the cowbells, shouting, banging on the glass, and the friendliness of the folks sitting around us but the quickly got into it even sneaking up two rows and banging on the glass a couple of time. We learned a lot of the traditions for our section, joining in taunting Schnieder (Goalie for the Moose), berating the refs, and yelling at the Aeros to take shots. The first couple of times players were checked into the boards the boys were kind of taken aback but the first time someone got checked and his skates made it above the boards where you could clearly see them on the other side of the glass Seamus screamed out “I love this game!” which elicited a good chuckle from those around us. The first time a puck flew towards the glass, hitting with that gunshot sound hockey fans are familiar with, Seamus jumped out of his skin and had a shocked look frozen on his face for better than a full minute.
We even got see some guy set his beer on the ridge on the glass, and watch physics take effect and dump it directly into his lap about 30 seconds later. I hope his nice pants weren’t ruined. The boys loved the game and a lot of that was due to the section in which we got to sit. We plan to go back soon but plan to eat somewhere else first in order to avoid the outrageous prices. And Rob promises I’ll get all the tickets he can’t use since he has season tickets.
The boys are still talking about the game and Michelle even waited for us to get home and took more pictures (the ones in this post are from my horrible phone camera) and even used one of them for her Project 365 picture. The one below is the one she used. Make sure you check her site and her gallery on a regular basis since she’s a bad ass photographer and is only getting better!
