Scewtape, you sly ol' demon. Why do you teach me so well?

Whenever Janelle and I drive long distances we love it. It's a special time that we can have to talk about life, our dreams, our problems, or sometimes to just make funny noises that no one else can hear. (If you have ever spent any time with us, this is normal)

Anyway, on this particular trip back from Fort Bragg, we listened to The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. In a sentence, my brain couldn't unpack the wisdom fast enough. I had to literally stop the cd after every letter to ask Janelle, "Did you get that?" When really, I was just making sure I got that. But don't tell I think she is smarter than me, shhhhh.

I digress, I'd like to review the entire book, but that would take forever and I really don't want you to know how much time I can waste writing reviews on books. Therefore, let me fast forward to the tail end and comment on the last portion of the updated version, which includes a toast to graduating tempters from Screwtape some years later. Here is an excerpt to catch you up.

"The scene is in Hell at the annual dinner of the Tempters' Training College for young devils. The principal, Dr. Slubgob, has just proposed the health of the guests. Screwtape, a very experienced devil, who is the guest of honour, rises to reply."

"You can get him [your assigned human] to practise, not only without shame but with a positive glow of self-approval, conduct which, if undefended by the magic word, would be universally derided. The feeling I mean is of course that which prompts a man to say, "I'm as good as you."

The first and most obvious advantage is that you thus induce him to enthrone at the centre of his life a good, solid, resounding lie. I don't mean merely that his statement is false in fact, that he is no more equal to everyone he meets in kindness, honesty, and good sense than in height or waist measurement. I mean that he does not believe it himself. No man who says I'm as good as you believes it. He would not say it if he did. The St. Bernard never says it to the toy dog, nor the scholar to the dunce, nor the employable to the bum, nor the pretty woman to the plain. The claim to equality, outside the strictly political field, is made only by those who feel themselves to be in some way inferior. What it expresses is precisely the itching, smarting, writhing awareness of an inferiority which the patient refuses to accept.

And therefore resents. Yes, and therefore resents every kind of superiority in others; denigrates it; wishes its annihilation. Presently he suspects every mere difference of being a claim to superiority. No one must be different from himself in voice, clothes, manners, recreations, choice of food."
- Screwtape

I believe that Mr. Lewis has better described my little war against pseudo racism and the hypocritical positions they, who stand on their soapboxes, preach. This combined with false humility (counterfeit humility which lowers oneself instead of lifting up others), is what modern socialism is.

It is the entitlement generation, my generation which knows not oppression but voluntarily oppresses itself for the pity of others, to only then raise themselves to their superiors with, as C.S Lewis would state, "I am as good as you." This is the most deceptive pride in our post modern world.

This type of person will ask for help out of the mudpit of circumstance but when a ladder or rope is lowered, rebuke the helpers efforts since they were unwilling to carry them out. Additionally, anyone who takes the initiative to climb out, they rebuke, belittle and berate in attempts to guilt them into wallowing with them in misery.

Socialism, our liberal government, can only guaranty the equality of results to the point in which no results can be produced. In other words, if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time. This is no way for any free nation to live and prosper. This is no way that God intended man should live, so why do I find myself living in a nation that promotes suffering and submission to an overlord state as a legitimate ideal? To which some Christians can be the worst.

If you are one of the better humans, one to whom are told, "I am as good as you." I encourage you to keep growing and keep prospering. Realize that this phrase comes out in different words like,"You are arrogant" or "You think you're better than me." Know the lies and act appropriately.

If you are embarrassed to discover your own weakness living in the other camp, I encourage you to change your ways and become competent and confident in the life and choices you have. Change only happens in the present. Don't let the future hold you back.

I implore you to read this book, material that has survived the test of generations. I have included links to the audio and hardback versions below.

The Screwtape Letters, Hardcover


The Screwtape Letters, Audio Collection

What's in Obama's $825 billion "Stimulus" Package?

I know everyone is talking about Obama's stimulus package, but how are we allowing them to call it a "Stimulus" package. It is a ruse to hide billions of dollars for pork, special interest spending. He is driving the fear of Americans to place where we will accept anything he says, even spending 5.6% of the GDP from your tax dollars to fund his social programs and agenda. Don't be fooled. Read on if you want to be informed.

Source material: 13-page summary, Article explaining GDP

Let me give you some perspective on how much $825 billion is. If it were it's own country, we'll call it SODOMEE America (Socialist Obama Deception Of Magnanimously Expensive Economics), then it would have it's own GDP and stand in 20th place in the world, right in front of Australia. Not part of Australia, the entire country.

The official title of the bill is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. The first line in the reads, "The economy is in a crisis not seen since the Great Depression." Sigh, what about the Carter years? I don't see people building little communities out of cardboard or tin like they did in the thirties. Anyway, I'll refrain from commenting for the next paragraph while I summarize this Obaminational document.

It states:
-"Since 2001, as worker productivity went up, 96% of the income growth in this country went to the wealthiest 10% of society. While they were benefitting from record high worker productivity, the remaining 90% of Americans were struggling to sustain their standard of living. They sustained it by borrowing… and borrowing… and borrowing, and when they couldn’t borrow anymore, the bottom fell out."
-"A historic level of transparency, oversight and accountability will help guarantee taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and Americans can see results for their investment."
-$30 billion for highway construction
-$10 billion for transit and rail to reduce traffic congestion and gas consumption
-$24.1 billion for health information technology and preventative care
-$102 billion for unemployment benefits, COBRA insurance subsidy, and food stamps
-$87 billion in Medicaid matching for states
-$52.65 billion in various energy and environment related spending
-$6 billion for broadband internet in rural areas
-$8.671 billion for various research in energy, space, agriculture and geology
-$880 million for small business loans
-$65 million in coupons to convert from analog to digital television
-$965 million to replace or improve IT in government facilities (SSA, Dept of Ag, etc)
-$9.96 billion for national defense improvements to healthcare, facilities, cemeteries and housing

Okay, you bored yet? Are you thinking, how long is this list? Let me just say that this is only page 7 of 13 and I summarized most of the specific spending. For those of you who don't believe me, read it yourself and you'll see I'm not lying. The basic numbers is this: $550 new spending and $275 in tax relief through SS payroll deductions.

Now for the fun part...

WHAT IN THE...WHO VOTED THIS GUY IN? STIMULUS? WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?! I DON'T SWING THAT WAY, STOP RAPING ME! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!

**Remembers Happy Gilmore**
"In with the good air, block the bad. In with the good, block bad." Okay I'm better now.

This is NOT a stimulus plan. There is nothing in this bill that directly links this spending to actual numbers or alludes to any principle, not even Keynesian Economics. They believe, blindly I might add, that by spending more of your money, jobs will magically appear. If food stamps were humans, they would crap jobs.

Okay, let me explain a few things so you may understand why this is soooo freaking retarded. It is a simple supply and demand function. If people, businesses or employees, supply a service or produce a product (working a job) that someone else demands (sale) then the economy moves forward. The more supplying and demanding, the better the economy. So give job makers (businesses) an easier time and jobs will result.

Now, Obama, and the caving republicans are saying you don't have enough incentive (Keynesian principle) to make money, so that is why you don't work. I, conservatives, and the founding fathers believe that you have the incentive to work but the government's involvement retards this incentive. You want to eat? There's your incentive. Let me explain.

If corporate tax rates are the highest in the world of any modern country, which they are, then the business has less money (less incentive) to keep more employees. This money is now in the government's coffers and they think they can spend it better (that's laughable) than the business they just took the money from. So, now they have a large sum of money they didn't earn, from people who did, and get to decide how they want to distribute it amongst the masses for the "betterment" of people. Oh, and they subtract large salaries out of this pool to pay people to think about these decisions.

Does this make sense? They are making economic decisions with little or no economic experience, for people who are laboring in the economy as they ponder their liberal and socialistic agenda. Sounds like a nightmare. The only problem is, we're not dreaming.

Example: Congress now has oversight, a hand in, the big 3 auto companies and gets to tell them how to best make a car. People (Congress) who aren't in the car business telling them (GM, Chrysler, Ford) how to make and sell a car.

Class, repeat after me, "Retarded."

I'd sell off all my Big 3 stock if I were you because they are headed for far worse days. When you get in bed with the government, you find yourself chained there the following morning with a bad headache, wondering where your pants were and why you have a number for Frank.

Other than my crazy aversion to anything govern-mental, is the unrestrained gall of this administration to call this package a "stimulus" package. What's even worse, most people are happy or hopeful. Why isn't America grabbing their pitchforks and torches? Let's call this for what it is people; it's not a stimulus package, it's a reshaping of America package. They are taking your money and redistributing it to the tune of $825 BILLION and no one seems to care a rip.

So many people thought Obama was a centrist politician who would bring the people together. The reality, he has deceived 53% of America for their vote, McCain took the remaining 42% with his lies, and that leaves the remaining 5% wackos, to which I am now considered one of them. I voted JOE THE PLUMBER.

So, hats off to you America, if you allow this to happen, thanks for selling my freedom and the liberty of my unborn children. That is, of course, if the government will allow me to have kids.

Update: Even though the bill passed in the House, all republicans vote no. Good for you GOP. You finally grew some balls. Now, let's hope repubs in the Senate can do the same.

Obama's speech is now renamed: "I think I have a dream, can I get an interpretation?"

ABC News Transcript

Obama's Speech Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

I'd like to give kudos to President Obama, formerly known as President-elect Obama. Well done sir. You have yet to disappoint me in material. Here we are only in your first day and I already have a chest of gold nuggets to cash in. Please, keep doing your thing so that I can keep writing.

Although, I have plenty of content to write about, I honestly walked away from the ceremony disappointed. Obama didn't shine like he normally does when he reads the teleprompter. Feel free to read my blog about Rev. Lowery's prayer for some fun.

However, allow me to bring to light some of the more deceptive aspects of Obama's words. I will try to interject some humor...No promises.

He began with opening remarks of grace for Bush's contribution, which was kind of him. But he then laid the foundation of crisis: bad economy, war, failure to make hard choices, lost homes, failing schools, and expensive health care. Though I agree with the state of affairs, we certainly disagree on the causes. Furthermore, his intended methods are misplaced as well.

He "proclaim[s] an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas" stating, like a father mentoring a young adult "the time has come to set aside childish things." That's nice rhetoric but your speech is just like every other so far.

Now comes the stuff I want to hear.

"What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified."

Um...what do you mean the "ground" has shifted. Who moved the dirt from under my feet? Can't they see I'm walking here. Oh, you mean politically. So, you mean that I can't disagree with you? I'm gonna pull from V and say, "People should not fear their governments, governments should fear its people." If being a cynic means you are completely wrong, count me in. Government doesn't work, it's inefficient and that is common knowledge. The only thing government knows how to do well is take, not earn, money from people through taxes and then overspend what it gets.

"then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government." I'm going to call say you're full of crap on this one. I will never trust the government to do a better job for me than I can do for myself.

"a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous." Socialism? I could have sworn "HE'S NOT A SOCIALST!" Economies only thrive when it favors the successful. In other words, it only works when it benefits the prosperous. They are prosperous because they provided a service, or product to many people who needed it.

"Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions." Do I sense a measure of appeasement? Yeah, that worked really well for Chamberlain.

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

What difficult task are you referring to? Bigger government? More taxes? Naw...

I implore you to watch or read the transcript. There is more non-information to soak up. I tried to put myself in the place of a liberal democrat and I would find it hard to be inspired.

The whole event had an air of solemnity rather than celebration. He spoke of hope but what are we supposed to place our confidence in? This speech parallels every other speech and this is the reason why I can only resort back to his voting record. And his voting record is extremely liberal.

Just words. Just speeches. No substance.