Chronically Skeptic

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the Presidential campaign this year.  Which candidates stand out in your mind and why?  Next, think about the whole "Education Savings Accounts."  There are a lot of people coming out in favor from the conservative right and the conservative right does nothing without a profit motive.  Who makes the money, who stands to win, who stands to lose, and why should we give a damn.  Now, think about the last time you watched the morning news and think about the stories.  How many "bad news" stories permeated the fabric of your being this morning?  

All of these and a whole lot more contributing factors have created a generation of skeptics who are tired of the profit motives of the right, the socialism of the left, and the lack of trustworthiness of electronic media.  Talk radio, for example, is the same as it has always been on a national, syndicated level.  It's all the same and they are all puking out the same tripe day after day.  Local talk radio in this market basically consists of consultants who are probably just using the airwaves to plug their clients. 

No one should have any question as to whether or not we deserve to be skeptic.  We have earned it and frankly, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

It's no wonder that there are so many people who have become chronically skeptical.  Promises are made by politicians who desire to garner our trust and our votes, but once elected, those promises fade away like cotton candy does in the mouth.  I used to keep track of campaign promises and how they were left unfulfilled by the Governor, members of the State House and Senate, as well as the United States Senate but I gave up after realizing that the campaign rhetoric will never match the actual performance of the same.  

Look around you, friends.  Wake up and smell the bullsh*t that has surrounded us for far too long.  It's there, it stinks, and it is staining our shoes.  

How do we rid ourselves of this mess?  First, we become skeptical of things around us that are of human origin.  Matters of politics, economics, campaigns, consultants, and property are all external and guided and ruled by man therefore, they are destined to fail at some point.  The whole natural gas and oil bust has been kind of an example of how unpredictable the world around us can be but conversely, matters of faith and conscience are found in the spiritual realm and there is where we cannot afford to be too skeptical.  

Sure, we are to "study to show ourselves approved," which means that there will always be a sense of skepticism, but feelings themselves are deceptive and we should be skeptical of emotional responses to eternal truths.

I hope that makes sense.

Of course, these are just my opinions and I could be wrong, but I am skeptical that I am.

Gorilla

Thumbnail Sketch Monday

Taking a look at the horizon, there is plenty to ponder...

1.  Feed the Children Mess.  Larry Jones has become an amazingly polarized figure in Oklahoma and now, across the country.  The Oklahoman is reporting that a New York ad agency is suing the non-profit organization formerly led by Jones and regardless of what you think about FTC, the problems transcend just this one non-profit.  It is scar on the face of all religious non-profit organizations trying to do the right thing.  Televangelists, in my opinion, have created more damage for the body of Christ than just about any other influence out there.  From the lavish sets to the million-dollar homes, the decadence at the highest levels of televangelism are nothing short of an atrocity.  The aggregate result when scandal hits is all of Christianity is negatively impacted.
Read the story here.

2.  Dave White on KTOK.  Last evening, Dave White (independent candidate for CD5), was interviewed on Gwen Falconer-Lippert's show and really surprised folks.  When asked about why he didn't run as a Republican since he has been a life-long Republican, he responded, "The Republican Party has become too liberal," and he mentioned the fact that he didn't want to be owned by special interests like other Republican candidates.  This guy is the real deal, friends.  Naval Academy graduate, Navy Seal officer, patent owner and successful business owner, his resume is by far the most impressive of all candidates for Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District.  See his website here.

3.  Obama Nominates Kegan for SCOTUS.  Former Harvard Law School Dean, Elena Kegan, has been nominated to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens and thus far, conservative pundits such as Michelle Malkin are having a blast lampooning Kegan.  So far, the talk around the beltway is she's "moderate" - which means she is more than likely a liberal.  Confirmation hearings ought to be very interesting in this polarized political environment.

4.  Reason Together.  OU Political Science Professor, Keith Gaddie, and I had an interesting conversation about "reasoning together," about the level of vitriol that has come about this political season already.  And we're not even close to the primary.  We're seeing the uber-conservative wing of the Republican party taking out its anger and frustration against their own - and the Brogdon/Fallin race is merely one of many examples of this.  During one Tea Party event in Oklahoma, a speaker called for the dismissal of Gary Jones as the Chair of the Oklahoma GOP - forgetting that under his leadership, we have control of both the House and the Senate in this great state.  The aggregate result of the blood-letting will be that perhaps we'll get some decent candidates elected who aren't owned by consultants or special interest groups.  But in the meantime, we have to ask ourselves to what end?  What profit a man that he gains the whole world but in the process, loses his very soul?

5.  Mark Shannon Celebration of Life.  Once again, according to Mark Shannon's website, a celebration of his life will be held at Faith Bible Church, 600 North Coltrane, Edmond this Thursday the 13th at 2pm. 

6.  Remote Area Medical.  Giving back is a big deal and according to http://www.ramok.org/ they are doing just that.  From July 9-11, they will be providing FREE medical help for folks in Central Oklahoma at the State Fair Park.  Check these guys out.  They deserve it.  Hell, I may give them a free ad on my blog just because of what they do.  Volunteer here:  www.ramok.org/volunteer

More to follow, keep checking back...

How Serious Are We About Reform?

Americans are very, very pissed off.  Gasoline prices are going up, unemployment is still a problem, we feel as though our rights and liberties are being eroded and we feel as though the federal government has its grubby fingers in virtually every aspect of our lives.  First with the bailout of banks as a result of the home mortgage fiasco, then with the auto industry and now, the federal government that touts itself as the "protector of the citizenry" has become the consummate provider of corporate welfare to the insurance industry with Obamacare.

Yes, I said it.  Obamacare does nothing but serve the "big business" they supposedly hate by mandating every American purchase a product thereby propping up an already successful business.  For the conservatives in Oklahoma, why hasn't Frank Keating come out against Obamacare?  Why?  Because he is a lobbyist for the insurance industry.  But I digress.

So, I ask you:  How serious are you about reform?  In Oklahoma, we have seen numerous Tea Party rallies that have succeeded in getting people really fired up, but provided no singular leadership or even a platform for supporters to follow.  Tea Party rallies are a good thing, don't get me wrong, but for an already conservative state like Oklahoma where Republicans own the House and the Senate, own all of the Corporation Commission (the agency that regulates about 80% of the state's economy), and in this election cycle, will own the Governor's Mansion, the position of Lt. Governor, the Labor Commission, the Superintendent of Public Instruction position, and probably even the State Treasurer's office, the rallies are tantamount to having Aubrey McClendon lecture Larry Nichols on the benefits of domestic energy exploration.

At a time when the Tea Party rallies should be focusing on how to help Republicans in tough Oklahoma House and Senate Districts, they degenerated to name-calling and bashing committed Republicans such as Oklahoma GOP Chair Gary Jones.

Again, I ask:  How serious are we, as Republicans, about reform?  In 2004, when President Bush won re-election, most talk radio guys and gals were gushing.  They were tickled pink that George Bush had defeated John Kerry and that Republicans still were in control in Washington.  There were auditory celebrations that became legendary.  I, on the other hand, opened my show with a piece from Mozart's Requiem Mass and warned, "To those that much is given, much will be required."  I warned that if we did not follow through with our promises of more jobs, a more stable economy, reduced deficits and fiscal sanity, we would lose the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate and in 2010, we would see a Democratic President.

I hate to say it, but I told you so.

We have seen Republican after Republican campaign on immigration reform.  We have received none - and the 14th Amendment remains to be interpreted by the SCOTUS fully.  We have seen Republican after Republican campaign on energy policy reform.  We have seen a lurch to the left, an embracing of "green energy," and domestic energy production that is abundant and clean-burning be left virtually out of the equation (namely, natural gas). 

And here is the really sticky wicket for my Republican brethren in the state of Oklahoma:  What is still the biggest growth industry in Oklahoma even after Republican leadership in the House and Senate?  State government.  Government is still the largest employer in Oklahoma...  Follow me?

If we're serious about reform - REAL reform - we have to take a look at candidates running for political office and determine whether or not they are true servant-leaders with an eye to the future or if they are simply more of the same.  At the same time, we have to ask ourselves whether or not candidates aren't just riding the wave of pissed off people to further their own political careers, or if they have truly considered all of the consequences of their positions and the intended and unintended consequences therein.

Don't think that 2010 is "in the bag" for Republicans.  As a party, we've shown how easy it is to snatch defeat from the hands of victory.  While we were reeling from the fact that Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House, there were a handful of people willing to admit that we brought it upon ourselves.  It's easy for us to stomp our feet and scream from the rafters how "President Obama hates capitalism," while Republicans in our own state are passing legislation that would make even the Supernanny blush in comparison.

Think about it:  If we're serious about reform, we must begin in our own back yard, in our own neighborhoods and we do so by using the brains God gave us to step away from the elixir of emotionalism and educate ourselves on the candidates and the issues important to us.  And most importantly, we fact-check.  Trust, but verify.

I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.