“There was a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish…” Marcus Aurelius

Two out of the last three weeks have found me in different parts of the country: Las Vegas and DC. I attended meetings there related to my business affiliations of 38 years. Below are my observations on these popular destinations in the worst economy since the Depression.

The Prince of Arrogance strikes again
 
I have concluded we have a president that is so into the Moveon.org, “Crap-on America” crowd that he will do anything at their beck and call, while the rest of us poor “rednecks” (or in my case a “Joosier”) protests.

Tuesday was Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

It has been more than 60 years since the last of the Nazi Concentration Camps — in which over 11 million Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, Poles, Slavs, and other perceived undesirable individuals were murdered — were liberated.

Last Saturday, during intermittent rainstorms, about 700 everyday, run of the mill Americans gathered outdoors at Lion’s Club Park in Rolla, MO. for a tea party. No one was bussed in. They drove themselves.

My introduction to Adam, a scrappy little puppy, white, fluffy-coated, pug-nosed Shih Tzu, was sudden, thrust upon me be my then wife. We had agreed not to get pets without consulting each other. “But, he was sooooo cute, and Sarah (our not quite one-year old) just loves him,” she said.  “And he only cost $600!”

Remember when Joe Biden, our VP Gaff Master said before the election that if Barack Obama were elected president there would be a tragedy within the first sixth months of his inauguration?

Cash Cab, a TV quiz show on the Discovery Channel has hooked my wife. She Tivos episodes then insists on viewing them during “boring” sporting events like the NCAA Basketball Tournament or during the newest Super Bowl beer commercials, driving me to other TVs or a local sports bar.

With the legislative session past the half-way mark, many are speculating on what the big issues for 2009 will end up being. 

Obama Bad…Democracy good…Socialism bad…Capitalism good…citizens screwed.

Like most teens these days, my 17 year old daughter possesses a cell phone. The first time I called her she answered, “Hello.” I started talking then heard her respond, “Who is this?” I said, “I’m the guy who’s providing you food, shelter and cell phones!” She retorted, “Ha, you’ve been punk’d! Leave a message after the beep.”

“He betrayed us! He played on our fears!”
—Al Gore

Shopping is something that we all must do some time during the week or the month.  You have heard the  Chamber state that it is important to shop locally but most people don’t know WHY it is important to do so.

Over and over again, we’ve heard about how the federal stimulus dollars are going to help us recover during these tough economic times.  There are many parts of the federal plan that have some serious strings attached – strings that would re-write or trump Missouri law.
Just over a week ago governors from across the Nation met in Washington, DC to learn about the federal stimulus (dependency) package recently lashed onto the backs of taxpayers present and future.

The lambs were housed, nourished and cuddled.
They trusted the “One” to provide all sustenance. The master preached “hope” and “change” for their future.