And the Nastiness Begins

I wonder when it became more important to run opponents down than to express why our own ideas are more sustainable than theirs are.  Are our candidates so  void of political ideas that they have to spend their energy in such non-productive ways?

In my perfect political world, ladies and gentlemen would comport themselves in such a way that they could be observed and considered for their ideology and positions rather than "who stinks least."    I have been voting for more than 40 years now, and I can't remember a time when I haven't just held my nose and voted for the "stinker" just because he smelled better than the "skunk".

Why cannot politicians be pictures of morality, spiritually and leadership?  Why do we not have what we'd like to call "statesmen" anymore.  Instead we have a pack of coyotes, whose purpose appears to be to tear others down in order to make themselves look good.  Why not simply build up one's own self and let the others be concerned about themselves.  At the same time, why worry about what they say?  Simply ignore them.  Ignore the questions about personal life and get on with the things the office you say you seek requires.

Nobody benefits when the life of one of these candidates and/or his/her family is shattered because of the stupidity of so-called journalists.  When I was young we called it "yellow journalism".  I think the term still applies.  Reporters should report the news.  News..not rumors, not hunches.    Honest reporters do not seek to glamorize, distort, inflate, or alter news;  they only report it.  Honest reporters do not go out looking for a way to destroy peoples' lives.  Unfortunately we have all too few honest reporters.

Back to the candidates.  We have a rather weak field.  We can have an Islamist, a Socialist, a Communist, a Social Experimenter, a Thinker, a Centrist, a Rino, a Businessman, an Isolationist, or an conservative.  We've already seen what the Islamist/Socialist is like.  He needs to be unemployed.  The isolationist won't get my vote.  The Centrist will also not get my vote, the Social Experimenter is not for me.  The Rino is not mine either.  So I can choose between the businessman and the conservative.  Neither of them exudes confidence. 

What to do...what to do.  I still lean towards Cain......if he stays in the race.  I'd really like to see Sarah drafted at the convention.  I think the nation would benefit.  I wonder how we can get it done.

Shepherd vs. Sheep Herder

Many people do not know the difference between a shepherd and a sheep herder.  Today I shall attempt to describe the difference in my own personal way.

A shepherd leads, guides, trains, protects, cares for, worries about, is concerned with regard to his/her flock and each member of it.  He/she goes to great length to be sure the flock understands where the flock is headed because he/she is at the head of it as it moves.  He/she cares for the emotional/mental/physical health of his/her flock, protecting from harm whether from within or from without.  He/she takes pro-active measures to assure the flock is not attacked by enemies that could destroy it.  He/she provides for the flock in order to keep the members of it healthy and productive.  The shepherd expects no loss from the flock.  There is no margin upon which he/she is satisfied.  He/she spares no effort to salvage every lamb of the flock.

A sheep herder, on the other hand, pushes a milling flock in an attempt to get it to go the direction he wants it to go without ever giving direction or even a hint as to which way he/she wants the flock to go.  He/she merely prevents the flock from going the way he/she does not want it to go and thus forces the flock to move the direction he/she wants it to go.  The sheep herder is not concerned with the health of the flock, because he/she is merely an employee hired to do a job.  His/her position isn't one of of care and concern, but only one of results.  Losses are expected by the sheep herder and he bases his/her "success" on a "margin" of loss. 

Similarities could be drawn between these two leadership styles and the types of corporate leaders we see in the business world today.  The most effective leaders of the most productive companies are generally those who use the "shepherd" style of leadership.  They are they who look for success by training, by teaching, by coaching,  and by example.  Morale is generally high, incidents of personal injury are low and individual energy and innovative thinking are high.

Companies that struggle, it appears to me, are those who subscribe to the "sheep herder" method.  They use force and  coercion, intimidation and bullying techniques in order to push their employees.  Morale is generally low, incidence of personal injury are relatively higher, individual energy and innovative thinking are relatively low.

I personally use the "shepherd" method of leadership.  Unfortunately many of those around me subscribe to the "sheep herder" mentality.

I suspect many of our governmental elites are also "sheep herders" and are not "shepherds".  Way too few of our so-called leaders are willing to lead.  Instead they follow whatever lead the masses happen to take.

Still waiting for a candidate to shine

I'm still waiting for a candidate to announce his or her willingness to endorse the "Title of Liberty", which is:  "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children."

I have proposed this test of conservatism in the past and offer it again.  Anyone that will endorse this Title of Liberty and will work to see that it is preserved will lead our nation to prosperity and peace.  This is meant as a call to vigorously defend our nation against all enemies both foreign and domestic.  If one is not for preserving our founding documents and the ideals they present, then they must be considered an enemy.

Our borders must be protected.  Our people must be protected physically, emotionally, mentally through military, cyber, psychological, and any other means available.

Our people must be protected from abuses projected from our own government.  We must abolish the portions of government that are chronic abusers of our citizens.  I've reported those departments that I think are not worthy of being retained in the past because of their unrighteous regulations. 

Our elderly and infirm must be protected from abuse.  Our widows and orphans must be protected and loved not merely warehoused. 

We must return to our churches and synagogues to worship Almighty God.  

Why I am the way I am

I am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I believe that men and women are responsible for the choices they make.  If those choices lead them to wealth, I'm pleased to permit them to retain that wealth.  If they choose to share that wealth to those who are less fortunate than they are, I am also pleased.  I'm less pleased when men/women make choices that will lead to financial ruin and public humiliation, but they most often make those choices themselves.

I am pleased when our young people choose to serve the Lord and then choose to serve our nation in whatever capacity.  Three of my sons followed in my footsteps and  served as missionaries.  Two of my sons have served or are serving in the military.  One as a Navy Submarine Electronics Tech, and one as an Air Force Combat Electronics Tech.  I am not less pleased with my children who have chosen not to thus serve, however.  I am very pleased that my daughters have presented me with grandchildren.  I'm looking forward to the day when my sons will follow suit so that I will have someone to perpetuate the family name.

I am pleased when our young people seek to become educated.  In my mind education does not end in the colleges and universities, but rather begins with the rather liberal, mind-numbing drivel that is spread there.  The real education comes with learning how that training fits in with the real-life adventure that begins afterward.  The real education comes after the shiny theory is dulled with the scouring, eye-opening experience of life.

I'm pleased whenever a person finally admits that the utopian thought he/she learned in philosophy was just theory, or that the economic theory learned in school was a model that didn't work in reality.  I'm pleased when one of these people is willing to share what they have finally learned with young people in terms they can understand.
 
I'm please to be acquainted with associates that have learned many of the same life lessons that I've learned.

I guess I'm just pretty pleased.

Republicrat "debates"

These so-called debates are driving me crazy.  I wonder why any of these people who aspire to be president would agree to be questioned by an ultra liberal moderator.  The questions were not what I'd call substantive and did not convince me of anything.  I want to know these things.

1.  Will you protect the border and enforce immigration law?

2.  Will you work to set American English as the "National language"?

3.  Will you fight to maintain our Christian foundational roots?

4.  Will you return government to its constitutional limits?

5.  Will you protect American workers by stopping "dumping" by foreign nations?

6.  Will you work to de-fund the following:  the United Nations, the department of Education, the Department of Commerce,  the Department of Homeland Security (should be integrated into the department of Interior anyway), the EPA, most of the Department of Transportation, most of the Department of Agriculture, most of the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Energy, The Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Labor, Department of Veteran Affairs (reintegrate back into Department of Defense where it belongs). 

Then I can begin to make a decision.