What is Fascism?

The left and the right have accused each other of being fascists, not just in the current health care discussion, but in the most recent administration as well. Why the reference to fascism? Because fascism is an epithet and is depicted as the worst possible government one could imagine. So demonizing the other side as 'fascist' is intended to paint the other side as dark and evil.

What is fascism anyway? The word is derived from the Italian word 'fascio,' meaning bundle.

What type of government is fascism?
Contrary to popular belief, fascism didn't start in Nazi Germany.
Fascism came into being in Italy. It was the vehicle used by Mussolini to come to power. Fascism was an attempt to navigate between individualistic capitalism and statist communism. In a fascist government, economic control is exerted to force business and corporations operate in accordance with government dictates. Profit is allowed and corporations are permitted to operate as they desire within parameters circumscribed by the government. Companies are privately owned but government officials are assigned to advise or even actually run the companies.

The problem with fascism is that such governments tend to be dictatorial and heavy handed. Hitler adopted fascist philosophy because it served his purposes exactly. It was Nazi Germany that gave fascism its bad reputation. The term 'brown-shirts' comes from National Socialist German Workers' Party, whose henchmen wore brown-shirted uniforms.

Are there still fascists and fascism in the world? Yes. The name has changed, but the system is the same. Look about in various countries and even within our own and you will see fascists (who do not call themselves such). Saddam Hussein was a fascist. The Baath party was modeled after the Nazi party. Syria and many other Middle Eastern countries are very probably fascist states under other names.

So if you see a government advising and subtly or overtly running private companies, you can see a sliver of fascism at work (i.e., bundling government and private businesses together).

Beck Stumbles

Although I agree with Beck on many issues, I just find him too animated to listen to for more than 5-10 minutes at a time. I think his comments about Obama are not quite accurate. While I do not believe that Obama is racist. I do believe that he is more inclined to promote a black agenda even if it may be unfair. i.e. He jumped all over the white cop that arrested his friend and said they acted "stupidly" while admitting he did not have the facts of the case. But I do not think he believes the black race is genetically superior to the white race, which is the definition of a racist. He just sides with the black community when ever occation arises.

These dang blue dogs!

These blue dogs are starting to really piss me off. If they permanently derail the Democrats' efforts to reform health care in a truly meaningful way, I will not forgive 'my' party for a long time. Like Alan has written, the Democrats control everything, if they can't get it done, they will have no one to blame but themselves (and a lot of answering to do). I am not in Matheson's district, but if I were, I would not vote for him for reasons that precede and include his current positions. Those blue dogs must also face a reality: state nominating conventions are often dominated by the more extreme elements of their parties, they could get shot down in convention.

Since not much is happening on the blog, I thought I would post this. It comes from a Yahoo article. Should Michelle Obama be wearing shorts in public.

I don't have a problem with the first lady wearing shorts. It does rub me a bit out of taste to have the first family traveling so casually on Air Force One. No other first lady has dressed so casually. Even Chelsea Clinton and the Bush girls were usually dressed a little more respectful than just shorts and sandals. I don't know, it may be me but I think since those who staff Air Force One are dressed to the nines so to speak, those who fly on Air Force One should show a little reciprical respect.

Introducing the Burkini

I don't follow or care about fashion, but this picture grabbed by attention.
The burka is frowned on in France. In fact, it may even be illegal.
A woman was thrown out of pool in France when she showed up in a burkini.
Feminists claim the burka restricts the freedom of women, which I can agree with, but in this case, I guess you need to show more skin to be a modern feminist.

Rating Obama’s Approval Rating

It was my feeling that Obama's falling approval numbers was nothing for him to worry about.
He has stayed above 50% approval, a level I think any president would be happy with in our current blue/red divided country, but then I read the following by Peter Wehner, who states

My former White House colleague Nicholas Thompson, now vice president at the Tarrance Group, sent out an e-mail analyzing the new Gallup poll that shows President Obama with a 51 percent approval rating — the lowest of his administration. More interestingly, Obama’s approval is down 14 points from his initial rating — tying President Clinton for the biggest drop since the Eisenhower era.

For those interested, here’s how different presidents match up when comparing their initial approval rating with their average approval rating in the August of their first term: Eisenhower +6 (from 68 to 74 percent), Kennedy +4 (from 72 to 76 percent), Nixon +3 (from 59 to 62 percent), Carter -3 (from 66 to 63 percent), Reagan +9 (from 51 to 60 percent), George H. W. Bush +18 (from 51 to 69 percent), Clinton -14 (from 58 to 44 percent), George W. Bush -1 (from 57 to 56 percent), and Obama -14 (from 68 to 54 percent).

Now, a poor first year doesn’t necessarily translate into defeat in a reelection campaign (witness Bill Clinton) — just as a good first year doesn’t necessarily ensure reelection (witness Bush 41). Still, you would rather start well instead of poorly. Clinton — though he won reelection — created the conditions that allowed the GOP to take over the House of Representatives in 1994, for the first time in more than half a century. And whatever future awaits President Obama, he cannot recapture the past six months, when there was an enormous amount of good will for him. He had a chance to reshape the political landscape strongly in the favor of Democrats; instead, he has resuscitated the Republican Party far beyond what most people thought possible.

None of us can know what will happen. But all of us know what has happened: Barack Obama has lost altitude at an alarming rate, as quickly as any president in the modern era, and his signature domestic issue is becoming politically toxic. That cannot be good news for him, his party, or his liberal cause.

Clinton was famous for polling about everything - even where he should vacation - so that he could strengthen his chances at a second term and then improve the image of his legacy (which he destroyed in the Lewinsky scandal).

So that brings up the question, "Will Obama change his tone or direction based on the polls?"
I think it is unlikely, being the ideologue that he is.

Michael Vick Signs with the Eagles

Michael Vick has signed with the Eagles. I am very supportive of this for the following reasons.
1. He has paid his debt to society as established by the law and the judicial system.
Why shouldn't a person be able to use his skills to make a living if the law does not prevent it?
2. I believe in second chances.
3. It makes PETA mad. Some animal rights groups claim that his crimes are unforgivable and I respect that view, but PETA has cried wolf so many times, it's hard to feel sorry for them.
So the question is: Would you have him on your team? I would for his talent, but it would be difficult from a publicity standpoint.

Some points about the proposed health care reform

An article from CNN (ostensibly centrist, but known to have leftward leanings) list five major ways in which the health care reform will restrict freedoms we currently enjoy. Points 3 and 4 are major problems for me and my family.

First, we currently have a high deductible HSA and we like it a lot. It encourages us to make minimal use of health care resources, and we have a Health Savings Account that we use to make payments for medical expenses and we make monthly payments into the account. If we need a high-cost medical procedure, we are covered, but otherwise we pay for minor medical expenses from the account. We really like our plan.

Second, point 4 is indeed what I have feared, and I have read on pages 15-18 of the health care reform bill that current plans will be grandfathered. That is, current plans can continue unless some change (even minor changes) is made to the plan. If some change occurs, then you are thrown into exchange and you must shop for insurance from the exchange. The plan cannot add new people unless they are dependents of current subscribers, so the plan will die by attrition.

These points in addition to the unacceptable cost to the nation overall prevents me from even entertaining thoughts of supporting it.

The Health Care Reform Bill

Click on the link to read the health care reform bill.
It is 1018 pages and is guaranteed to put you to sleep every night for the next 1018 days.
It has yet to be published in its final form and it appears to continue to grow. I have seen numbers as high as 12oo pages. So please don't ask us to read it and demand that we find what is wrong with it. I have a full time job and a part time job to attend to, so I have no choice but to leave the judgment to the experts.

Consider the following problem I have in my teaching.
Students invariably turn homework in late. It is a monumental hassle to grade late homework, so I take off points as a deterrent. In some egregious cases, students turn in late homework even after the last deadline is past, and even after classes have finished. I can't grade such homework before the grade submission deadline. Nevertheless, such students often complain saying "I worked so hard and turned in all my homework! Why did I get a D?"
What is a teacher to do? Just accept the big stack of late homework and assume all the answers are correct? Any teacher would say "forget it!" and not give any points.
This is what the Democrats are asking us to do. Check every last detail of this rush, rush 1000+ page bill, and when he public doesn't like the rush, the Democrats complain "We worked so hard and we passed the bill before recess. Why are we getting a D?"

Eeee Gadddss! The Unions are coming!

So now the unions have instructed their own to show up at the town hall meetings to counter

'the mobs' and 'express' support for the hc reform (even though not all aspects of it please them). Should be fun. Having attended Democratic conventions here in SLC where the gay caucus was at odds with labor, I know how daunting they can be, they aren't afraid to play to hardball.

The American people need it?

I was thinking about posting this on my blog but thought it isn't about me so I will put it here. Yes it is a political post.

While in Elkhart again today, Obama said, "I promise you, we will pass reform by the end of this year because the American people need it."

Funny how the American people don't think so...even though over 85% of Americans are insured and over 56% (and growing) don't want Obama's reform. He seems to be deadset against listening to the people.

He was supposed to be a uniter. On this issue, not the case. He also said he wants to get an overhaul of the health care system before the end of the year and, if necessary, without bipartisan support.

And now the Democrats are even throwing a religious twist on it. "The time is closing in," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. "We cannot finish this year without passing major health care reform. It's our sacred duty to the American people."

I know I am not saying anything anyone does not already know, and everyone knows how I feel about such issues but I just had to vent again.

Also how is it when Obama claimed to be a "Community Organizer" it was a great and glorious thing he was doing. Now that some town halls have become active with people against the health care reform, and "organized communities" are suddenly "mobs" and a terrible things.

Well Done, Bill

Just wanted to throw out an "Atta boy, Bill" and give credit where credit is due. Any time we can get US citizens out of a bad situation like what those reporter ladies were in is a good thing. I don't see that we gave up anything and yet we saved two women from 12 years of hard labor in North Korea. So good job on this issue Bill.

How Do We Produce These People?

I can't help but wonder how in the heck does a country like ours produce such idiots as this lady? Santa Cruz has an "open mic" at the city council after it conducts its business and this stupid lady shows up. Really, what vegetable grows on a tree? Also, does the east coast really have slaves and still believe in slavery while the west coast is a union? Oh well, we can build "stuff" and then sell "stuff". How do we produce these people?