Political and other rants for January 2015. Updated 1-07-2015

I had high hopes that the little blue marble would experience a resurgence of positive vibes for this two thousand and fifteenth year after the birth of Jesus.  I still am hopeful but there are still a few things we need to straiten out if we are to make it to 2016.  Some things are local, some national and many are  planetary (the hoax of global warming for instance).  I am just one lone blogger with a big mouth and lousy typing skills, but I am happy to point out things needing scrutiny.

November elections brought the country a whole passel of new Republicans.  Many aligned with the Tea Party.  Many just plain Republicans.  Obama and his empty rhetoric have exposed the left for the vacuous people they are and American voters said "nope" to them.  So now we can see if my brethren will actually stir the pot.  Today a couple of "pot stirrers" have announced they may run for the Speakership of the House of Representatives.  They are not happy with John Boehner who has led them for four years now.  Of course, I think the more we talk about changing things the better.  Sometimes though we need to approach change a bit more carefully.  In Boehner's case, I think he has actually done a good job and the House would be wise to leave him in place.

In the Senate, Senator McConnell will become the Leader and his style is a lot more moderated.  I do like him though and if he and Boehner can keep the kittens herded, we may see some great changes in the Federal government.  I want them to use the power of the purse, that is what they are supposed to do.  Stop funding things like Obamacare and shrink the EPA and Army Corps to a few people and a few projects.  Punish the IRS for their abuse of power.  Change the rules of the IRS to disallow them the ability to punish and confiscate people's money and property without due process.  Stop the grant and loan programs dished out to liberals and other lefties by their pals in most all the departments.  Especially the Agriculture Department.  But it seems that their is no rush  to do so.

Seal the borders and get real about illegals coming into America.  People need to do it legally.  Get in line, do the right thing.  The government could issue work visas which would allow some to stay and work.  But here we are in 2015 and the borders are still a sieve.  There has to be a concerted effort if only for national security reasons!  What is amazing to me is if there are 11 to 20 million people unaccounted for in the "system", then the unemployment numbers must be really really bogus.

California is my home and I have done my best to help elect common sense people to our dysfunctional  Legislature.  We tried to fix the place through "re-redistricting" but the process was hijacked by the democrats who made it impossible for any fair distribution of seats.  So, through subterfuge the left has made our once Golden State into a liberal bastion of over regulation and government hegemony.  My only hope for common sense is someday the Republicans get their heads together and turnout in huge numbers.  But since most are leaving the state for greener pastures. The people backfilling are just more lefty "takers" of the tax money.  Look at the welfare percentages as compared to the population and you will see the problem

Then we also have the issue of realignment here in California.  That is where the State shifted back to the Counties a bunch of duties and of course attached mandates to those duties.  The funding never matches the mandates and so we at the local level have to shift our discretionary dollars to the items the State prefers.  This always leaves the locals begging.  Look at the education dollars.  I say we need a initiative to return 100% of our property taxes (and most of the sales tax) to the local jurisdictions as well as the power to dispense it.  Now that the State will be adding 17-80 cents to every gallon of gas (and using it for the train to nowhere), perhaps the poor and middle class will see the error of their votes?

At the local county and city level her we see dysfunction of "economic development".  The young families are fleeing, schools are closing and the aging of the county continues.  The jobs are now mostly government jobs.  Private enterprise really does not exist here.  Hell the County can't even let a mining application proceed withoutt onerous "made-up"  rules.  It appears the wishes of pot growers is more important than legitimate jobs.  Until we see the push to at least get a business into the hearing system, then I do not believe the elected are serious at all.  Smoke and mirrors apparently.  If you don't believe me then I dare anyone to find any recent public statements about any applications for new business by the elected officials here.  It is all just BS.

Then we have the issue of Terry Lamphier, who may be sworn in today as a city councilman in Grass Valley.  I am sad that there is a terrible cloud over him but as we all know he has been charged with three counts of child porn.  I am loath to convict a person until they plead guilty or are proven guilty in court.  I think every American deserves the benefit of the doubt.  So regardless of the gravity of the charges (allegations) we must not convict in the press or blogosphere before the justice sysystem makes its determination.

I also read that the local ERC has announced a gathering to discuss economic development.  Now I have never warmed up to the ERC because I think it is a toothless entity and a waste of money.  The real action for economic development here is in the county and city General Plans.  Until there is a recognition that those documents are the primary discouragement of economic development nothing will change.  The "zoning" rules implementing those General plans add to the negative reasons no one  comes here with decent jobs.  So, we end up with service jobs and government jobs and lots of retirees.

Internationally we are under attack at almost every level of Western Civilization.  Mostly from Islamic extremists but also from liberals in our own country.  We have to stand up to the PC crowd and stop the madness it brings.  The only people who think PC is important are the pointy heads and other "over-educated" Lefty's.  Regular Americans (and even illegal immigrants) could care less about the dictates of these ridiculous people.  Regular Americans want to be left alone to live their lives.  They are not interested in being told they must except things they don't believe in.  Whether it is from work, religion or social morees.  Most people feel imposed upon and judged by a liberal media and "non-profit" lefty "think tanks" and organizations.  One only needs to watch CSPAN to see what I mean.

Lastly, perhaps America needs to institute a drive to rid the place of unwanted and unneeded rules and laws.  Ratchet back the desire of elected officials and their regulators to implement new laws.  Lets take a few years and review what is on the books and get rid of the impediments to progress.  Overhaul the Endangered Species Act and NEPA.  CEQA rules and regulations from the hundreds of state agencies overseeing every occupation from A to Z.  Get rid of the EEOC and OSHA and leave that to the states.  There are thousands of changes we should make.  If we don't start this year with a vengeance, then we will see the ultimate demise of America.  Let freedom prevail and Americans will double down on progress and economics.

UPDATED 1-07-2015 (If you don't like profanity don't read further.  I am very angry)

This morning three Islamic shitbags murdered 12 people in Paris.  The target was a comic magazine that was known for satire on religion including Islam and Christianity.  The Islamic shitbags also executed two policemen.  If Europe does not wise up and boot these people back to their home countries they will get a lot more of this.  Also, France does not allow gun ownership by civilians and these Islamic shitbags took advantage of that fact.  The religion of peace is at it again.

Locally, is everyone as tired of Heff Pelline's whining and degradation of our local Union Newspaper as I am?  I mean, the fellow is obsessed.  His three or four readers seem to also have a burr in their saddle.  The latest is a laughable criticism of Pelline about a letter to the editor where a fellow says some strong things about Obama.  I guess Pelline feels that free speech on;y relates to him.  If he wants to stop or curb others speech then he should pack up and move to North Korea and become the editor of their paper.  I have been told by people that have read Pelline's screeds against the Union that he must be a can short of a sixpack.  I tell them no.  He is simply a man left behind in the order of importance here in our little county.  I actually feel bad for the fellow.