So. What's there to be thankful for, anyway?

Where do I begin? Maybe you should tell me. Or, better yet, tell yourself. What do YOU have to be thankful for?

Outrageous prices for most everything? Taxes? Unemployment? Gas prices? War? Death? Traffic? Crime?

Doesn't sound like we have a lot to celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday, right? Well, not so dang fast, buster. I don't know about you, but I've got a lot to be thankful for. And, so do you. True, we've all got those pesky little things like taxes and traffic to deal with. And, yes, it seems like we're always on the brink of war or conflict somewhere in the world. Unfortunately, we have thousands of troops either in harm's way or getting ready to go there. And, thankfully, we have those brave men and women to make sure those conflicts remain somewhere else.

Gas prices? A pesky nuisance, a price we pay for the luxuries we have in this great nation. If we, the average joe, ever wanted to bring gas prices down, we could do it. We would have to learn how to conserve, to become more conscious of our wastefulness. If we, as a UNITED nation of motorists would decide that enough is enough, and as a group would stop wasting gas, then our dependence on those nations that provide us with oil at inflated prices, those distillers and distributors and dealers would soon get the message. Once they find out that they can not, please pardon the pun, hold us over a barrel, then and only then will the pump prices go down. So, enough of your whining about gasoline prices. If you don't like it, then get organized and do something about it.

Taxes are what they are. It's the cost of Big Government doing business. Who created Big Government? Well, check out the mirror, my friend. It was you. And, me. We, as a nation, continue to send representatives to Washington to represent us. And, they do it so lavishly (is that a word?). Government has grown over the decades. The shear numbers of Americans employed by the government has reached a level that is scary. But, again, quit complaining. It's your fault. And, mine. If we, as a UNITED nation of people would send the same message to Washington that we could send to oil and gas leaders, then our Big Government would get back to a reasonable size. And, it doesn't have to start in Washington. It can start in our communities, at the city council and county commission levels. Hold those we elect acccountable. If this wave would sweep the state, the country, then you can bet that business would not be the same in the future.

Unemployment is a bit more difficult. It's out of control. We have one out of every four veterans in the unemployment lines. And, that's likely to increase dramatically as we reduce the number of troops we have. Countless others remain unemployed, many because they're un-employable. Their skills are no longer needed. That said, there are still opportunities and programs that will help. Let me point out the Community College System in North Carolina. Regardless of age or background, if you're willing to apply yourself, they will help you help yourself. Read that line again, and take it to heart.

Now, what do I have to be thankful for. First, a full life. Approaching that magic year of 65, I have remained in relatively good health. As with many today, there have been ups and downs in the health arena. Nothing that could not be fixed, usually by my own hand. With a little guidance from the medical professionals, life is good.

My wife. Of a mere six years, but six wonderful years. Understanding and loving. And, just as important, a word so often unused or misused, caring.

A daughter, a granddaughter, and a host of other relatives, far and near, and friends, and neighbors. And, oh yeah. An 89-year young mother. Taught me a lot in my almost 65 years. Two dogs and a cat (that still thinks he's a dog). Great companions. Great for stress control.

I've had a great life to be thankful for. I've learned to cook. Mainly because I like to eat, and the stuff I like is seldom cooked the way I like it at a restaurant. I'm still trying to get some control on the amount that I cook. I know, I know. There's no reason, or way to justify, cooking 16 quarts of spaghetti sauce for "just the three of us".

Maybe that's why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Friends and relatives from far and wide. All getting together to eat. No expectations, no putting on the airs. Just normal people, having a good time.

Please, for this special day of the year, remember those who have given so much to ensure the sanctity and sanity of this great nation. Thank them every chance you get. And, when you start searching deep inside, you'll no doubt come up with a lot that you should be thankful for.

 

Sex, Lies, the Army, the Marines...who ya gonna trust? How about the president for a change!

Well, well. A week after the election, and the dust hasn't settled. All sorts of noise about voter fraud, voter intimidation and the like. That pesky little Benghazi mess that left four Americans, including an ambassador, dead remains a nuisance for the Obama administration. Congress made noise that it wants answers, but waited until after the election to begin making some real noise. Is that pesky mess getting a lot of attention? Of course not. Suddenly, right after the election, it was divulged that David Patraeus, Obama's choice to head the C.I.A. (folks aren't talking much about this being a Bamma-Man, are they?) was resigning after the F.B.I., acting on a tip, uncovered an affair between the nation's top spook and a chick who's been working closely with him on a book. Whatever. Now, that's big news. A sex scandal. Good stuff. Is it newsworthy? Absolutely! Does it overshadow the Benghazi-Betrayal? Absolutely not. But, it is doing just that. The murders of four Americans quickly became old news, at least for a couple days, while a smoke screen, better than any military team could have ever wished for, was laid out. And, as soon as that smoke began to disperse, along comes another one. Boy, these Washington guys are good. No wonder that they managed to snooker so many voters on 6 November. The second phase involves a top military leader, a Marine Corps general. Some 20-thousand pages of e-mails to a military "socialite" (I have a more common name for her) took off. And, lo and behold! It was related to the first scandal. More oily rags and green leaves were piled on top of the fire with a result of even more smoke. So, here we have it. A dumb CIA director who got involved with a woman who was not his wife, a woman who is not the brightest star in the sky (did you see the video where she shared obvious pillow-talk with an audience?), followed up by a marine general who should have known better before sending thousands of e-mails to a "socialite", some sort of "honorary" consulate (someone needs to redefine the root word "honor"), and you have a smoke screen that has the media and our legislators going around in circles. There are a number of legislators who are not being sidetracked. Senator John McCain is running full speed ahead, obviously ticked off by the attempts of POTUS to draw attention away from Benghazi and the attack on our consulate. And, Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina's 3rd District, told me on Live and Local with Raeford and Friends that he wants the truth, at whatever cost. So, here we have it. The administration hanging with a lie they started within hours of the obviously premeditated attack on our embassy, diverting the attention of the ever-so-gullable mainstream media who don't want to ruin their chances at getting invited to the next big White House shindig,and those of us who have seen through the whole mess. But, have we? What other agenda does the administration have? How about a reduction of defense spending, a reduction of our warriors? Do you not think that the liberal memebers of the Congress and Senate will use the military affairs mess to justify cutting out what they see as excessive spending? And, what defense can the Defense Department use to justify all that money going to them when abuses, and excessive spending, and hanky panky are played out every night on the television news? Oh, and don't forget that hot little treaty before the UN. Waiting until after Obama secured another term so as not to give ammo to those defenders of our Second Amendment...you know, one of those constitutional amendments that liberals are ever trying to neutralize. It has been scheduled, again, for next spring. Obama's gang, prior to the election, maintained that he would do nothing to challenge that amendment. And, thank goodness that so many believed him. After all, when has he ever lied? Forget about Benghazi. That doesn't count as a lie. He said he never lied, that he said on 12 September that the attack was an act of terror, while maintaining that some pitiful excuse for a film was to blame for the spontaneous attack. Trust me. The check's in the mail. I'll never let you down. I am not a muslim. By the way, an American, a former marine who has become a muslim, told me on the air that Obama had to be a muslim to have gone to muslim schools. And, if he was no longer a muslim, then he was subject to be punished. Yeah, well, don't wait for that to happen.

Election: OVER! Gone but not forgotten. Who won? Not us. Whoever "us" is.

Well, the election has come and gone, and I...for one...am so relieved. I don't have to listen to the lies, the insults, the ridiculous claims that have bombarded my fortified stronghold any longer. Oh, I'm not talking about the claims from the candidates. I'm referring to the insults from our journalists. You know, the group that is suppose to be fair and impartial. Reporters who don't distort facts through admission or outright editing for content. I remember a time, a long time ago. Or, as any Fair Tale beings: "Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a fair, impartial, and dedicated breed of man known as reporters. Men, and a few women, who didn't dress like movie stars, who didn't socialize with policians. True journalists who devoted their time and energy into getting the scoop. Yes, they wanted dirt. But, only if dirt actually existed. They dug for facts, and did not let their personal feelings interfere with their mission of getting to the truth. Neither republican, nor democrat, this apparently extinct breed were the true independents of their day, a day that has long ceased to exist". If truth be known, the journalists of yesteryear, regardless of their formal education, were perhaps the best educated voters in this country. They let the truth influence their personal, and therefore their readers', opinions. Presenting "just the facts, ma'm" allowed the masses, the voters, to actually think for themselves. It allowed them to challenge lies or half-truths made by policians stumping for votes. Today, because of social-politicking, invites to the White House for a beer or a dinner or some other social event, reporters wearing red-carpet dresses and suits fit for, well, a king or queen, can't help but to be swayed. It has become so obvious to everyone but themselves. Even the late night comics make fun of these new age journalists. For one, I am sick and tired of it. And, I am so embarrassed by the antics of them that I am almost ready to support a modification of the First Amendment. And, shame on me. "In order to guarantee unbiased reporting, no journalist shall be allowed to attend any political functions on a social level; and, no journalist shall have a right to register as anything other than an independent". Now, that is saying more than you can imagine. Coming from me, a staunch supporter of the Constitution. Me, who has maintained that, left alone and adhered to, this 200-plus year old foundation can return this country into the great nation it was. Shame, shame on me for allowing a thought that the Constitution should be modified to even cross my path. Nawwww....it wouldn't work, anway. We, as a nation of people and not sheeple, need to insist that the bosses who control who is hired in the media wake up and smell the roses. Otherwise, there will come a time when someone is going to slither in (or, maybe he has) and seize control, and then we will have issues with more than the First and Second Amendments (gotta get rid of that pesky little second one before attempting to work on the others). These are my opinions for you to share if you desire, or send to the www.dumpsite.com if you prefer.

Time For New Leadership. With an emphasis on LEADERship.

Many say that the election of 2012 is the most important election in history. I agree. But, not for the reasons others cite. As it is with every day of our lives, the very next one is the most important one. All the others are nothing but history. Hopefully, we will have learned from the mistakes we made on those days. There will be changes with this election, as there are changes with all elections. We will either have a new president, or we will have a president who has learned, hopefully, from his mistakes, a president who has discovered that it takes more than a pretty face and some fancy words to actually get the job done. Whoever is elected will be working with new faces in the legislature. The faces belong to people who may or may not like him. In North Carolina, there will be a new governor. One term governor Beverly Purdue, earlier this year, was reading the tea leaves and decided that it was best for all concerned that she not come out for a second round. She was right in that decision, perhaps the smartest decision she has made in her almost four years as governor. The leaders of the United States and North Carolina do need to wake up. The people are beginning to. It will not be about the voters who put them into office. There will liekly be almost as many people who DON'T want them in office as there are people who do. What they need to understand is that a growing population is fed up with big government, with runaway and uncontrolled spending. We are fed up with the business-as-usual attitude. We voted, in 2008, for change. And hope. Polls indicate today that we are not happy with what's been going on. We are deeper in debt than ever, our kids are not getting the education we were promised, our nation is not as strong as it once was, our standing in the world is not even second best. I can go on and on, and I'm sure you can add to this. Our next leaders need to step up to the plate and examine, first, the people they have chosen to surround themselves with. Are these "advisors" on the payroll simply because they support the big guy? If so, they should be fired. No one man can lead the state or the nation alone. Yes, they need advisors, but they need advisors and not "yes-men". They need adsors who can look around and say, "listen up Mr. President...". In North Carolina, it's no secret that Pat McCroy, former mayor of the state's largest city, is without a doubt the next governor. He has a lot of work to do, and I feel reasonably comfortable that he can get the job done. IF he's as smart as I think he is. He has run a remarkably clean campaign. None of the snarky, back stabbing, negative stuff that has become so much of what we get crammed down our throats every day, coming at us on our televisions and radios, in our newspapers, even on our phones. I am tired of it. All of it. If I was governor, I would gather all of the elected leaders of the state's various agencies together. The insurance commisioner, the lieutenant governor, the school superintendent, the attorney general. Those kinds of people. We would meet to see what areas we need to address as a united North Carolina. No one doubts that education is a top priority in a state that has thrown a lot of dollars in that direction, with very little to show for it. We all know that we have many issues in our state law enforcment agencies, starting with the SBI crime lab, employee morale, and the like, that need to be fixed. Who isn't aware of our insurance woes. There's a problem when we have commercials on TV from insurance companies touting "safe driver rates", only to learn that safe driver rates do not apply to North Carolina drivers. This would be my first meeting. My next meeting would deal with waste. I would gather the department heads of all agencies in one big room. Perhaps a large auditorium-type of classroom on the campus of North Carolina State University. The leaders at the Department of Transportation, Crime Control and Public Safety, the top staff at the govenor's office, those from the Department of Social Services. You get the idea. It would be a semi-formal session, one where I would let one and all know that it will no longer be business-as-it-has-been, and that I never, ever want to hear anyone say "that's not the way we've been doing it". I want all to understand, as a group, that all sacred cows are being sent to slaughter, and that the state was going to be run as a profit=making business. The next session would be with EXPERIENCED legislators, not from either political party. Those folks who have been around for a while, and have recived "the peoples' choice" award for one reason or another. My address to them would be much like it was to the department heads. Waste would be discussed. I would encourage them to lead the less experienced legislators by example, and to work on reducing the you-scratch-my-back-and-I'll-cratch-yours method of operation. Legislators should be encouraged to examine the needs of their own districts, of course, and convince their fellow legislators why a bill is is needed that will help the citizens of their districts. The way it all to often works now is that one of our duly elected reps exchanges his support for a fellow rep's bill in exchange for his support of another bill. And, just as "all too often", neither have a clue what the other legislation is all about, and could care less. That's the way they play politics. And, you thought this type of crap stopped when the election was over. Along with the department heads, the staff, key legislators...I would look for citizen advisors. And, I would NEVER choose one that had contributed any significant sum of money to my campaign. In fact, if he showed up as a contributor, or his family did, that person would not even be in the running. I would want to make it clear that money would buy you nothing from the governor. I would be a rather busy governor. Some things, you just sort of have to do. Like accepting a azalea each spring from the fine folks representing the North Carolina Azalea Festival. It's part of being approachable. But, I would also make sure that I was in touch with the leaders of every community and county in North Carolina. I would check every day, even if it was for 5 minutes, with a mayor, a councilman, a county commissioner somewhere in the state. It would not always be the same ones, and it would matter not the size of the community. That is the only way to keep your fingers on the pulse of this great state. Now, this is personal. But, something that might interest me, if I was governor. Most every talk radio show is available with live streaming on the internet. Why not devote a half hour a couple days each week and evesdrop on some of those shows? Talk about getting an earful. Wouldn't have to be the same ones. In fact, it should not be. Kind of like flipping channels until you find something interesting. Ok, that's how I would start if I was governor. No "let's all hold hands and make nice" crap. Not a dictatorial stand. But, one where I would definitely set the tone. One in which "this is not the way we have done it" would be the last words out of your mouth. As president...well, that's a different story. Much the same. But, on a huge scale. I'll have to give that a lot of thought. -30-