2 million out of the 12 million in Tehran, Iran…..1 person in 6 is standing at the barricades, protesting fraud in the election. People have been shot, yet they still stand in protest. They have no second amendment, and are forced to fight back with bottles, rocks and molotov cocktails.

Yet we, here in America, do nothing. We have the tools, the means, and the reason to do the same, We stand by idly, and watch as our future is stolen from us. We have better means to fight back, yet we stand idly and allow the current regime to loot the wealth of this nation.

If 1 in 6 people in Chicago were to do so, there would be 1 million at the protest. In New York, 3 million. In Atlanta, 100,000. If 1 in 6 in the US were to protest, it would be 51,000,000. Fifty-one Million people protesting. We will, of course have to generally write off the west coast, but still, we could make a difference if we chose to do so.

As it is, in Iran, 1 in 35 people are protesting. Were that to happen in the US, that would be 8.7 million people protesting.

We have the power to make “change”. Yet we sit on our asses and do nothing. That kind of mass protest would indeed make a difference. But we sit on our lard and let them do it to us. The Iranians face possible death to protest the stealing of their country. We choose to do nothing to protest the theft of our future.

Why? Is it just not bad enough, or do we just not realize what is happening? Perhaps we are as lazy as the rest of the world thinks.

I include myself in the group of lazy people. I attended the “Tea Parties”, but I have done nothing since. And things have gotten worse rather than better in the intervening days from then to now.

Yet we sit here, doing nothing. Still.

It’s not like I want to see violence in the protests either, just a peaceful demonstration of our dissatisfaction. But the threat of violence should always be present, if only to prevent any from the other side.

I applaud the Iranians for their fortitude. I am saddened by the citizens of my country and our lack of action.We can barely muster even for one day, planned in advance, 1 eighth of their numbers. And we have less to fear from our Law Enforcement than the Iranians do. We have the ability to fight back, should that need arise. They, with few exceptions, do not.

Yet there they are, and here we sit.

Sad, isn’t it?

Via Insty we have THIS.

All along, those who knew what they were talking about have said that if we just leave the economy alone, things would get better, and fairly quickly.

Here, we have proof:

“The New York Times reported that the U.S. economy “might be stabilizing, if not rebounding, even as economic reports in Europe remained gloomy.” “

sounds good, right? Except for the this niggling little fact:

“One problem with attributing America’s slightly less bad economic news to the Obama-backed $787 billion stimulus package is that very little of the money actually has been spent. As of a month ago, less than 6 percent of the stimulus money had gone out, and only 25 percent is expected to make its way into the economy by the end of the year. “

adn the admission, buried deep in the article, that “”it is impossible to know how much the apparent, if nascent, stabilization of the American economy comes from the stimulus spending and how much from moves like propping up the banking and credit systems, especially because much of the stimulus money has yet to make it to the economy.” “

So we spent all of the money for the next how many years to accomplish, what exactly?

Perhaps we should rescind the rest of the “stimulus”, since it appears that it is not needed.

Then again: “Never let a good crisis go to waste”……

Read the whole thing.

I give you this for your consideration.

I have few comments except to say that to lower standards for any group of people demeans all of the members of that group, be they police, firefighters, midshipmen or anything. Standards are standards for a reason. Plus, it gives ammunition to those who say that minorities are less than whites.

And that is a shame.

Besides, shouldn’t we have only the best and brightest at the Naval Academy? Whatever their race?

I hope that the US handles things better than Iran.

Here is one story regarding those brave souls who are fed up with the current regime and want real change……I hope Mr Obama can hold it together enough that the people don’t take the actions of the Iranians as an example of how to make change.

The big difference is that here we have guns and most of us know how to use them.

Lets hope it never happens here.

Via the Freeholder comes this link from Reason regarding Heinlein’s views on his upcoming 100th anniversary of his birthday.

If you haven’t read R. A. Heinlein’s novels, you should. They are at once dated and timeless.

So I ask you:

When is enough, enough?

We have an administration which meddles in EVERYTHING. That in itself would be bad enough…..But the way they meddle…. Like children with a new knife, not knowing the consequences of their actions. The surety of purpose that is only present in academia. Those with the hubris to “know” that they, the “intelligentsia” know better than all the rest.

They have screwed with our economy, they have, by most reckonings extended the economic crisis rather than reduced it. They have strongarmed the bankruptcy courts and the investors in the car companies, making deals with the unions that basically screw the other secured investors. They have given trillions of dollars to financial institutions with little or no oversight as to how it is spent, but have used these “loans” to attempt to put into place controls that are so onerous that many banks that were strongarmed into taking the TARP money are trying to return said cash. They have loaned money to Chrysler and to GM with no way to get it back, essentially giving billions of dollars to these corporations. This is money that is the property of you, and me, and our children and our children’s children.

All these “experiments”, these amateurish attempts to fix a system that is fundamentally sound, and that will quickly re-establish itself if left alone, have not done anything to create jobs or to re establish investor confidence. Rather, these child like fumblings have extended the misery and have increased unemployment and decreased investor confidence.

Someone needs to tell these children that “we the people” (not me!) that have put them into office that this is not the protected world of academia, but rather the real world, where actions have consequences and where decisions poorly thought out can severely harm the system and the people who are its parts.

“Knowing” how to fix things, in a college bull session sort of way is a far cry from really having any knowledge of the system, and therefore, the effects of any changes you should wish to make.

I hope all those who voted for “change” choke on the changes that Mr Obama and his fine advisers are making to our way of life.

I hope that the administration realizes that this country grew and became great on the principles of freedom from oppression and freedom for businesses to grow, and earn, and create jobs. Rather than the system he is putting into place. Left alone, our system would heal itself and recover quickly. Meddled with, however, it may well crumble into dust.

So I ask you. When is enough, enough? when will we go beyond “tea parties” and do whatever it takes to force our elected officials back to the path that from which they should fear to deviate? When will we cry STOP! and force them to return to the path that made this country great?

When will we reign in the change that is causing such damage to our economy,,,,that once proud economic engine that brought wealth and a high standard of living to all of the citizens of the US?

How do we stop this “change”?

We had better figure out how to do so very soon, or the changes to our way of life will be irreversible. Soon, this country shall begin to look like a large version of Europe. And that is not a good thing.

We must reign in this congress soon. 2010 is too far away.

JMHO.

Via thebredafallacy we get THIS

What an excellent idea. Just say “no”.

Hi Mom and Dad…….

Captain Crunch cereal with crunchberries contains no fruit.

Crunchberries are not really berries….Whoda thunk that?

Only in Kalifornia…..But at least the judge dismissed the case.

I mean, after 4 (yep, four) years, she finally figured out that crunchberries aren’t fruit of any kind.

I am so crushed. I always thought crunchberries were part of my morning fruit ration.

Apparently the only fruit at her breakfast table was the one holding the spoon.

David Carradine found dead in Bangkok.

Reports are that he was found in his motel room.

For many of us, he will always be Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu, the monk who toured the west, righting wrongs and taking the side of the oppressed, using his strength and his prowess for good, never showing anger, only patience, always trying diplomacy first, resorting to violence last, but with great vigor and focus. A bunch of short plays about morality and doing what is right. His influence on many youths was profound. I see few actors today that had his presence.

I will also remember him in “Death Race 2000”. A cheezy movie, but still….

Yeah, I know, he was just an actor and all that. But he was, for me, as iconic as John Wayne, and as influential.

His passing marks the passing of an era for many.

RIP, Grasshopper. May you snatch the pebble once more in the afterlife.

This story shows what asses the courts are.

Teachers have no need for dug tests? Come on. If anyone needs to be clean, it is those who are interacting with, and educating and influencing the thinking of children.

of course, it’s not like they are doing something important like driving a truck, or something.

They are government employees fer chrissake! They all should be subject to random testing.

Make no mistake, One of the most influential teachers that I had in high school was a borderline alcoholic. But he was ALWAYS sober when he was in school. ALWAYS.

ANd, for the record, I can pass a drug test anytime.

But when you take the state’s money, you should be subject to the laws of the state.

And moreso if you are a cop or a teacher.