Taking a stand:

Friday-September 16, 2011

Taking a stand:

Over the course of the next two weeks, I will not be publishing every day. There are some things that I need to do that will get me into a position to do more than just writing and organizing those that want to take a stand in their own neighborhoods.

The time to take a stand for whatever you believe in never takes a holiday. When you take a stand you become a leader. Some might not like the stand that you take, but then again some will. I will make a stand in a far greater capacity in the coming weeks. This I can promise.

You, too, can make a stand by identifying what really concerns you and getting others to listen by simply asking some questions. Many in America are reluctant to speak their minds and make their opinions known. Some of us should not take a stand for some of things they believe, but then again who am I to criticize?

Making a stand is a choice that only you can make. But don’t complain while doing nothing about it.

Our revolution was all about a few taking a stand for the majority. A few patriots over the course of a quarter of a century made it possible for us to live in freedom and made it possible for you to take a stand today.

On today’s date, in 1782, the great seal of the United States was issued.
On July 4, 1776, the same day that independence from Great Britain was declared by the thirteen states, the Continental Congress named the first committee to design a Great Seal, or national emblem for the country. Similar to other nations, The United States of America needed an official symbol of sovereignty to formalize and seal (or sign) international treaties and transactions. It took six years, three committees and the contributions of fourteen men before the Congress finally accepted a design (which included elements proposed by each of the three committees) in 1782. In the end, the seal would be emblematic of our liberty.

Those that designed the seal took a stand. They wanted the seal to project power and be emblematic of our liberty. The original committee included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. These three individuals were used to taking a stand against everything that opposed what the seal ultimately would come to represent.

Today, I fear the great seal is just a seal that is used, because it’s always been used. Today, I fear many of us are afraid to take a stand. However, sometimes people will surprise you if you listen to the stand they are taking.

I will be back full time in week or two to talk more about a stand that I am intending on taking."The liberty of speaking and writing guards our other liberties." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to Address, 1808.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: Take stand speak about it and write about it. The great seal provides you with that liberty.

Winners and losers:

Thursday – September 15, 2011

Winners and losers:

When Government steps in and decides who will win and who will lose nobody wins. In the case of the breaking Solyndra scandal, the Obama administration and government authorized nearly half a billion dollars to the company to promote the administration’s green agenda and selected this company to showcase, as its model. Solyndra manufactured solar panels up to about a month ago, when it went bankrupt and 1,100 people lost their jobs. The reason cited was competition from China and a bad business climate, with a reduced market.

The same company applied for federal loans, under the Bush administration and was turned down, because it was considered a high risk. In fact, the approval sources under Bush said that Solyndra would go bankrupt in September of 2011, if it continued down the same path it was going. Guess what it did? This is why the loan was originally turned down.

Under the Obama administration, new documents now show that stimulus money was given under a fast track approval process to Solyndra. There is a fine line between what a loan is and what stimulus money is. With stimulus money winners and losers can be picked.

Many congressional members have said that some of the documents could lead to an investigation of the process that led to the fast tracking in the Obama administration. Some members of Congress are using the impeachment word. Here we go again!

Regardless of how stimulus money made its way to Solyndra, this is clearly the case where the administration wanted to use a company of this kind to show how successful stimulus money can be when applied to promote the presidents ill fated green agenda. This president has committed the number one crime against his country and that is putting his agenda before the country’s well being. This is why this president is sinking in the polls and within his own parties support.

However, we must not ignore the larger picture and that is that government has no business making loans or giving stimulus money to any company especially when the people who are getting the money are political supporters. If government would get out of the business of picking winners and losers the American people would always win. Because, in the end, Obama is not responsible for picking up the tab; the American people are.

The other side of the coin is that the bureaucracy is at fault, because there is layer upon layer of approvals that will insure certain entities get the money even though one layer at the lower end of the food chain turned it down.

The President is out campaigning and is ignoring this scandal that comes at a time where it could be the proverbial nail in his political coffin.

While in Raleigh, campaigning for his jobs bill (another government stimulus), the President said: “If you love me, you gotta help me pass this bill.” In my opinion, this is no way that any president should be talking. I had mentioned this story to a friend of mine today and she said, “Can you imagine if my husband said this in a meeting with General Motors?” This is small story, but it leads up to the bigger picture of this president’s desire to have it his way or no way. It finally defines his narcissistic way. You all know what the results of this combination is 9.1 % unemployment, more job losses, more foreclosures in fact there was a 33% jump in August and, of course, the slow dismal economic growth record.

The government’s arm of control when it comes to job creation is centered on union jobs, and public works jobs. These jobs though needed also become a drain when the tax payer and individual business’s are constantly forced to pick up the tab.

The Senate says we have to be brave, be bold and go big with a new jobs plan. I say being brave, being bold and going big would be to get government out of making jobs and deciding on who the winners are and who the losers are.

I believe we are seeing the beginning of the end of the Presidents support. A lot of the so called “no way speech” that is being aimed at the President is now coming from his own political supporters in Congress and especially the Senate where 28 seats are up for re-election next year.

The problem is that every day we are seeing the results of what happens when a president or any leader is putting self before the country. The country gets hurt and its people get hurt. It doesn’t have to be this way, because no body should pick the winners and losers, except the American consumer. After all, they are still able to spend their money the way they want. Until that day, the government needs to just stay out!

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: There are winners and losers everyday. There are business startups and business closings everyday. However, the ones that always win are the ones that make it on there own, without the governments help. Just look at the stats and follow the money!

It is what it is!

Wednesday – September 14, 2011

It is what it is!

A win is a win and a loss is a loss. No matter if it’s on the tennis court, golf course or baseball diamond, someone has to win. Some of us can break the rules to get a better score or we can make up an excuse about the loss just to make the blow a bit softer.

What happened in New York’s 9th district last night was a blow. It was a defeat for the President, the democratic challenger and the liberal. Bob Turner, the Republican who never held office before, won fair and square in a district that has been in democratic hands for 90 years. His message connected with many democrats and he got the Jewish vote. This election is the one that will go down as the first election that was a referendum against the President. Say what you will about last years Congressional race, that one was seen as a normal midterm with great results for the Republicans. Bush had his mid term defeat and Clinton had his, but this president really got his delivered to him last night.

The spin all day has been aimed at lessening the blow. However, as more details come out we are finding that the loss was not due to the Anthony Weiner Scandal who’s seat was vacated by his resignation which was the backdrop to yesterdays special election. No matter how you cut it, the Presidents ability to lead is hampered, if not gone. His inability to create jobs is now the issue. He is not a fighter for what makes America great, because it is his vision that has been exposed and now rejected by most Americans including democrats.

I see a trend and it is a healthy trend. I think many citizen politicians are going to be elected in this next election. The next election in 2012 will be about Main Street. I believe that many Americans see that prosperity on Main Street is gone.

I believe that the fairness that the liberal speaks of just does not exits it never has. The liberal always speaks about fair competition, but the liberal will stack the cards or change the score when they need to, to win. The fairness that liberals fight for gives the final determination in any arbitration to the Union’s and government bureaucrats who are one sided and care about one thing and that is their self interest.

I have many discussions with many people in the course of a day. They all say they want fairness and what is best for the country. Many will always go back to their old tactics and one sided view. But many are now saying hold on, I don’t want the status quo, I want something different. The election in New York’s 9th proved that people can vote for what might be right for America after all. It is what it is!

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: I believe that the more citizen politicians who get involved will be the key to turning the country around. It took 80 years to get it to where it is now it might take that long to turn it around, but turn it around it will. It is what it is!

What's all the talk about?

Tuesday – September 13, 2011

What’s all the talk about?

I don’t know why everyone is in such a tizzy over some new statistics.

WASHINGTON - Filed: by Hope Yen of the Associated Press.

The ranks of the nation's poor swelled to nearly 1 in 6 people last year, reaching a new high as long-term unemployment woes left millions of Americans struggling and out of work. The number of uninsured edged up to 49.9 million, the biggest in over two decades.

The Census Bureau's annual report released Tuesday offers a snapshot of the economic well-being of U.S. households for 2010, when joblessness hovered above 9 percent for a second year. It comes at a politically sensitive time for President Barack Obama, who has acknowledged in the midst of a re-election fight that the unemployment rate could persist at high levels through next year.

The overall poverty rate climbed to 15.1 percent, or 46.2 million, up from 14.3 percent in 2009.
Reflecting the lingering impact of the recession, the U.S. poverty rate from 2007-2010 has now risen faster than any three-year period since the early 1980s, when a crippling energy crisis amid government cutbacks contributed to inflation, spiraling interest rates and unemployment.
Measured by total numbers, the 46 million now living in poverty is the largest on record dating back to when the census began tracking poverty in 1959. Based on percentages, it tied the poverty level in 1993 and was the highest since 1983.

Broken down by state, Mississippi had the highest share of poor people, at 22.7 percent, according to rough calculations by the Census Bureau. It was followed by Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Georgia, New Mexico and Arizona. On the other end of the scale, New Hampshire had the lowest share, at 6.6 percent.

The share of Americans without health coverage rose from 16.1 percent to 16.3 percent -- or 49.9 million people -- after the Census Bureau made revisions to numbers of the uninsured. That is due mostly because of continued losses of employer-provided health insurance in the weakened economy.

Congress passed a health overhaul last year to address rising numbers of the uninsured. While the main provisions don't take effect until 2014, one aspect taking effect in late 2010 allowed young adults 26 and younger to be covered under their parents' health insurance.

Brett O'Hara, chief of the Health and Disability Statistics branch at the Census Bureau, noted that Brett O'Hara, chief of the Health and Disability Statistics branch at the Census Bureau, noted that the uninsured rate declined -- from 29.3 percent to 27.2 percent -- for adults ages 18 to 24 compared to some other age groups.

The median -- or midpoint -- household income was $49,445, down 2.3 percent from 2009.
Bruce Meyer, a public policy professor at the University of Chicago, cautioned that the worst may yet to come in poverty levels, citing in part continued rising demand for food stamps this year as well as "staggeringly high" numbers in those unemployed for more than 26 weeks. He noted that more than 6 million people now represent the so-called long-term unemployed, who are more likely to fall into poverty, accounting for than two out of five currently out of work.
Other census findings:

--Poverty rose among all race and ethnic groups except Asians. The number of Hispanics in poverty increased from 25.3 percent to 26.6 percent; for blacks it increased from 25.8 percent to 27.4 percent, and Asians it was flat at 12.1 percent. The number of whites in poverty rose from 9.4 percent to 9.9 percent.

--Child poverty rose from 20.7 percent to 22 percent.

--Poverty among people 65 and older was statistically unchanged at 9 percent, after hitting a record low of 8.9 percent in 2009.”

I wanted to be accurate, so I cut a pasted an article, which I never do, but today we must start addressing the trend that has developed over the course of many years, but now has accelerated over the course of three years.

These statistics come as a result of liberal ideals and liberal policy making. It’s been the quest of the liberal to create the perfect set of conditions so that social architecture can be performed. For many years now our deficits have swelled due to entitlement programs, large government agencies, spending and giving aid to some that take it because its there to take. This only helps to encourage the high poverty levels that we see in this report today.

Every report that contains these types of figures centers around one cause, unemployment. The statistic of 9% unemployment has lingered for two years and shows no signs of improving. This is the new norm, so I guess we are now being conditioned to get used to it.

Our Forefathers used three words continually through our founding documents. These words are; happiness, prosperity and posterity. These are the keys to solving the problems that our country faces today. Our current leaders do not understand what you and I see when we walk down Main Street. They have not demonstrated the ability of solving the problems that many of them have created on Main Street. High unemployment, high energy cost and slow economic growth are the results of bad policy. This is what has to change.

When you walk down Main Street, do you see happy faces? When you walk down Main Street, do you see signs of prosperity? Do you feel that a jobless recovery will deliver on the promise of happiness and prosperity for our posterity? Do you believe that continued government spending on false markets will deliver prosperity to us and to our posterity? When you walk down Main Street, do you see the signs of a growing economy with a growing sense of opportunity that our posterity will enjoy? Do you often wonder how our posterity will pay for the errors of those who have been engrained with the Washington experience? These are all legitimate questions that we must now start to ask and then demand solutions too.

I believe that the fight for Liberty, Freedom and Independence is ongoing. Its not that we don’t have these things any longer, it’s that we don’t have enough of these things anymore. This is the basis of how we can restore job growth, lower the cost of energy and increase economic growth which results in wealth on Main Street.

It is wealth that we are talking about. It’s the ability to create personal wealth regardless if you pump gas, cut lawns or run a business. We are all in this now and we are all being pulled down because of these statistics.

There is a term that we all have used. It’s called dumbing down. This term mainly has its roots in educational debates, but there is a reason that it can be used here. We have been dumbed down to accept the status quo. The status quo in this case is, now costing everyone. From the very rich to the very poor these statistics not only brings down our standard of living but our personal standards as well.

These figures don’t instill the one thing that will provide a healthy economy and jobs so that this kind of poverty can be reversed. That word is confidence.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: I will have confidence when the solutions come form a practical person who can lead with confidence. Then, we will be asking: what’s all the talk about?

It didn't take long:

Monday - September 12, 2011

It didn’t take long:

In its entirety, I am posting what Paul Krugman wrote about 9/11. The title of his article in the New York Times is “The Conscience of a Liberal. “

Is it just me, or are the 9/11 commemorations oddly subdued?
Actually, I don’t think it’s me, and it’s not really that odd.

What happened after 9/11 — and I think even people on the right know this, whether they admit it or not — was deeply shameful. The atrocity should have been a unifying event, but instead it became a wedge issue. Fake heroes like Bernie Kerik, Rudy Giuliani, and, yes, George W. Bush raced to cash in on the horror. And then the attack was used to justify an unrelated war the neocons wanted to fight, for all the wrong reasons.

A lot of other people behaved badly. How many of our professional pundits — people who should have understood very well what was happening — took the easy way out, turning a blind eye to the corruption and lending their support to the hijacking of the atrocity?

The memory of 9/11 has been irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion for shame. And in its heart, the nation knows it.

I’m not going to allow comments on this post, for obvious reasons.

First of all, Mr. Krugman has the right to speak what he thinks, what he believes and what he thinks others should hear. I do the same each day. But the difference between him and me are immense. I do not think for a minute that Mr. Krugman is a hero, nor am I. But I know that I wouldn’t run from terror, but I believe he would and then take the credit for saving the day.
Mr. Krugman has the ability, like every other liberal, to re-write history, even when the events and the proof aren’t necessarily what he says they are. The events of 9/11 were not of Commissioner Kerik’s, Mayor Giuliani’s or of President Bush’s making. In fact, the events of 9/11 can be traced back to another liberals reign and that was Jimmy Carter.

The events of 9/11 caused the death of innocence. The events of 9/11 were perpetrated out of hatred by one man and a bunch of his delusional followers. The events of 9/11 also spurred on patriotism that we hadn’t seen in decades. This is what Mr. Krugman detests. He uses the argument, “the attack was used to justify an unrelated war the neocons wanted to fight, for all the wrong reasons.” Mr. Krugman would not know what the wrong or the right reason was if it stared him in the face.

The fact of the matter is that the war on terror will not end under a liberal. It will however end when a true leader brings it to an end. That will be the day when the terrorists are no longer living. The fact of the matter is that all the most important parts of the Bush plan in conducting the war are still in place. Mr. Krugman and the President have not been able to prosecute the war in the way they would like and that is probably fortunate for this countries security.
The fact of the matter is that, when 9/11 occurred, every liberal was livid that they were not in charge, because they would have “raced to cash in on the horror.” This is one thing that I do know. Liberals will always prefer the political wedge instead of the correct wedge that will defend our liberty, our freedom and the independence that they always trade for security. It was Franklin who said: “Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security.”

The title of this piece is “The Conscience of a Liberal.” I believe that this is what needs to be defeated now. Mr. Krugman, you do have freedom of speech. I wonder if you knew what it took to give you that freedom.

There is an old saying: “War is Hell”. There is another quote it goes like this: "We are bound, you, I, and every one to make common cause even with error itself, to maintain the common right of freedom of conscience.” This quote goes both ways. I believe that it can defend some bad decisions, but it will never defend a lie that you made about the people you say who cashed in on the horror of that tragic event ten years ago.

I wrote yesterday, it is best try to leave a place better than the way we found it. Mr. Krugman, I do not think you are capable. But then again, that’s the conscience of a conservative.

Unlike Mr. Krugman, I do allow comments on this post for obvious reasons.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: The quote that is not attributed in this piece was authored by Thomas Jefferson. You know the guy that put into writing your right to freedom of speech! It didn’t take long for Jefferson to think that you have that right, because it was his conscience that told him you do.