What President Obama Needs To Say

Tonight, President Obama is going to give one of the most important speeches of his administration. Why? This speech will show if he is truly ready to stand up and be a leader.

This entire debate now falls upon leadership, and I will be looking as to whether he falls into step with his party or not. If he does, we will see this plan fall to pieces, because he refuses to be the leader he was elected to be.

There are many points of contention in this plan:

• It is too long and too much for one bill. It needs to be broken down and dealt with topic by topic. If the president agrees to this, he will be showing leadership.
• The government option (call it what it is!) is a boiling point. The liberals want it, and the American public does not. To drop it will lose votes, and to keep it will lose votes. Here is a major point of leadership. He has already said in the past that this is his one goal - a single payer system. Where will he stand tonight?
• The cost of the various options being "submitted" (because if you are not a Democrat you are not allowed to have your plans heard), are astronomical. He wants this plan to be revenue neutral. To pay for it, you have to make major cuts somewhere. Where is he going to stand on this?
• Also on costs, the current mountains of pages hide costs in various places. Some plans push a bulk of the costs onto states which are already in the hole economically. Other options hide costs by calling for "non-budgeted" expenditures which are totalling in the billions. Will he address this?
• What about tort reform? The democrats will not touch it with a ten thousand foot pole because they are heavily funded in their campaigns by these lawyers (case in point, the former Senator, wife cheating, ambulance chasing lawyer named Edwards). The Republicans want reform. A real leader will make some kind of move towards fixing this problem which would save doctors billions, that in turn would cut costs for patients.
• The people do not want the IRS having more power (we want it abolished anyway, but that is another debate). To suggest that the IRS should be allowed to fine people without health coverage goes far beyond the scope of this under-controlled institution. Also, health records do not need to be sent to the feds for better record keeping. That is too much government and too close to home. We want a federal government that is a whole lot less cozy with us. President Obama needs to address this issue.
  

There are also points to agree on:

• People with pre-existing conditions (such as myself) need hope that they can find good care in the future.
• People who lose their jobs need hope that they can carry their insurance until they get a new job and either get new insurance or be allowed keep what they have.
• There needs to be more competition instead of one or two insurance companies dominating a state. The federal government could fix this easily with interstate commerce adjustments.
• Costs need to be clear. Patients need to be able to shop the costs.

To see a good framework for such a plan look here: Empowering Patients

These pillars, in the Empowering Patients Act, were framed by doctors, who are now representatives in Congress, and can be subdivided for separate debate. That what we really want.

So Mr. President, again, if you are listening. Do not shove this enormous bill down our throats. It is too much to swallow and way too much for legitimate debate. If you really want to get it right, break it up in pieces. Then we can get to the real debate and real changes for those who need it. Thanks for listening, if you are. I guess we will find out tonight.

The Government is Losing Income Tax Revenue

22 and 57

What do those numbers represent?

Give up?

The first number represents an amount of individual income tax revenues. The second represent corporate tax revenues. Still do not know?

Tax revenues from individual income tax is DOWN 22% as well as tax revenue from corporate taxes which is down a whopping 57%!

This equals billions of dollars. Where is our government going to get the money to pay for all these plans for health care, clunker programs, and other spending programs?

You guessed it. Geithner did not speak out of place. I watched Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, dance around the subject of taxing the middle class yesterday. In his "uhs" and "ums", he unequivocally opened the door for higher taxes which will be wagered on the middle class - you and me.

History is repeating itself. Things are bad but because the liberal Democrats have not read the history that led up to the Great Depression; they are on the fast track to repeating the same mistakes which prolonged that depression - higher taxes (cap and trade), corporate taxes, and then middle class taxes.

We can make better choices:

• The FairTax is a good start - creates a constant flow of revenue for our federal government
  

• Cutting corporate taxes and giving small businesses tax breaks for job creation would be an easier start - lowers the prices of goods and helps provide revenue for businesses to create new jobs
  

• Drastically cutting back in federal spending is another - federal waste does not create jobs; it creates more debt
  

But the best idea would be for the President to man up and stop signing ridiculous spending bills and to revoke the stimulus spending. Why? The stimulus spending is not a fix - it is a bubble creator. He needs to be man enough to admit, now is not time for the change he is hoping for. Better change would come from a president who would much rather fix the spending problem of our government. Reduce spending and start paying off our national debt. Only then will we be in a better financial standing as a nation.

The stimulus is creating a situation in which inflation will skyrocket and the national debt will continue to bloom. The stimulus spending, when it actually gets spent, will in time make the economy look better - but at what cost? The stimulus is not a fix; it is a bandage. The problem is unfettered government spending which will take decades to recover from.

I am not a doomsayer. I am a realist. When I wanted to get control of my finances - I paid off all my debt. My wife and I will no longer use debt to fund our life. We use cash, and boy is it liberating!

Our federal government can do the same thing but very, very, hard decisions must be made, and that must come from stronger leadership.

Addicted Leadership

This is the last of a few posts on credible political leadership. As you can see it deals with addicted leadership. Addictions can range from gambling to drinking to sexual immorality.

For many people, they do not see the problem with gambling or drinking , especially if done in moderation. Okay, then why does Paul say this:

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. Romans 14:21 (NIV)

Now, Paul was talking about eating things that some thought were sinful, but he added a tag line - "...or to do anything else..." That is an important note. What do addictions do to people?

Addictions are crutches. They are mental disturbances in the mental processes of those addicted. Drugs, for example, cause differing affects on the brain through chemical processes. Those same chemical reactions happen with other addictions as well (even gambling).

Addictions alter the mind. Is that the way you want leaders to lead, with altered minds?

Gamblers have problems with debt, embezzlement, forgery, and fraud, not to mention physical ailments, abusive tendencies, and more.

Alcohol can cause ailments such as dizziness (want a dizzy person ready to push the war button), talkativeness (means people are not listening), irritability, mood swings, and impaired judgment as well as being linked to domestic abuse, suicide, vehicular manslaughter, and depression.

Leaders are supposed to set the example not become one. Addictions (or tea-totaling) also drive the addictions of others. Paul wanted to get people to understand that what we do in public and in private does affect the manners of others.

Credible leaders set the standard and do not bend from it. This is the type of leader I want in political office. Just think of having someone in office who thinks that debt is wrong and runs their life debt-free....

Are we not gambling with the future of America every time we elect officials who may have addictions? What gamble do we get from the "cocktail" parties given in the White House when the President wants something out of Congress? How many "deals" have been made under the influence of alcohol?

We need political officials who will act differently and with the understanding that God will withdraw His Spirit from any nation that abuses His sovereignty.

The elections are coming next year for many in Congress. How will you vote? Are you ready to demand credible leadership?

Church-Going Leader

What would regular attendance to a Christian church service do for a leader? Not much if the person is there just for votes or just to be seen. Even less if the "church" is off base on its biblical teachings.

Just attending church does not make one holy or right with God. Church attendance has become no more than a social networking service for many people.

We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (GW)

Here the Bible tells us that we are to encourage each other to do "good things" and to "show love." Somewhere in the past 200 years of the existence of the United States, this has become lost in translation.

If you and I want good leaders, then we should want someone who believes in truth and has integrity. The Christian faith is a lifestyle choice. Believing, that Jesus dies for our sins and accepting that He therefore can forgive us, is just the beginning of our Christian life. We also have to make lifestyle choices that honor and respect God and His way for living.

Gathering together at church is where we firm up our convictions through encouraging each other - not just to go get our God fix. True leaders are not afraid of the humility that grows from following God, and in my opinion, our public officials need to undergo a weekly dosage of this kind of humility.

Leaders who submit to biblical teaching are more more apt to have moral ethics and will act upon those ethics for the betterment of our society and not weigh their decision upon public opinion or popular thinking. They act upon standards and convictions that restrain them from acting too quickly in crisis and from acting too slowly when decisions have to be made. Their decisions are founded on principle.

To take a quote from Moses, I wish that all our leaders had the Spirit of God upon them.

How would we benefit from a leader who actually went to church regularly?

Truth and integrity matter. They are the sole character traits that make or break great leaders. Could you vote for a liar or thief with good conscience? How much more could our President get done if he was holding Bible studies in the White House instead of the weekly Wednesday night brandy parties?

Someone with faith understands purpose. I do not want daydreamers running our country. Faith provides purpose, and purpose attends to focus. Focus increases drive and passion. Too many of our public officials lack drive and have little innovation. Suppressing truth like many ultra-liberals wish to do, crushes drive and increases ones ability to manipulate and control mindsets.

Christianity is a threat to many because it inspires and removes distractions. It also encourages us to live in peace with everyone and to act with kindness. Kindness cures bitterness. Christianity also teaches against sexual immorality which some would claim to be repression instead of freedom. The problem here is that any sin, including sexual sins, are distractions and keep people from achieving their best.

The benefits of a "church-goer" grow into character. I want to be able to choose people with character; people who:

• show love
• do the right things
• strive for peace
• act in kindness
• listen to God
• refuse sinful practices to avoid distractions
• extend hospitality
• hold marriage with honor
• aren't driven by money
• have principle and moral ethics
• accept authority as well as act in authority

What more would you want from a leader?

Why Do They Hide Adultery?

The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk; he thinks, 'No eye will see me,' and he keeps his face concealed. Job 24:15 (NIV)

If adultery wasn't so bad, then why do men (and women) hide what they are doing? Why is it such a big secret? Could it be because they feel guilty?

President Clinton led a grand jury on a wild goose chase as he dodged questions about his sinful act of infidelity by quibbling over the definition of "is". An asinine way to keep things in the "dark".

Adulterers meet in the dusk because the dusk is the most difficult time of day to see. Why? Because our eyes are making the adjustment to the dark. The adulterer does it mainly because they think that they will not get caught.

The question is, does adultery make a person ineffective to lead?

But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Prov 6:32 (NIV)

Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive; 33 Expect a bloody nose, a black eye, and a reputation ruined for good. Prov 6:32-33 (MSG)

Notice how adultery is characterized in both versions. Adultery is self-destructive. How capable are people who are indulging in their sexual desires with someone other than their spouse? Do you wonder if they may be distracted trying to find out how to make the next "night visit"? Of course they are.

And then there is the fear of being caught thing. Black eyes and bloody noses are the least to be expected. If we lived in biblical times, then we would know adultery as a capital offense, which deserved none other than death.

The NIV version says that a person who commits adultery lacks judgment. How stable is a person who spends most of their time cheating on their spouse or chasing after some other person's spouse? If they have standards for relationship set that low then how much lower are their standards for leadership?

Adultery ruins reputations forever. People spend lifetimes trying to rebuild their lives when they are caught in an adulterous relationship.

But President Clinton stayed on as president.

Yes, unfortunately he did but look how ineffective he became afterward. His reputation is still impugned, and he is rarely seen with his wife.

This isn't a pick on Mr. Clinton post though. He unfortunately fit the topic. I pray that he was really sincere in his repentance and that he has changed his ways. Jesus forgives and so should we.

An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?” Prov 30:20 (NLT)

For a leader to be effective, they cannot be consumed by sinful immoral acts. They will continually act as if it doesn't matter or that it is just a personal matter. I am sorry but you cannot separate the personal life from the public life unless you have multiple personalities. Your ethics will show in both areas of your life. If you lack moral ethics in your personal life you will act without moral ethics in your public life.

If we as Christians do not hold our leaders up to higher moral standards, then they will continue to live in dark corners spending more time making new liaisons instead of acting on behalf of those they serve.

Help them out. Vote for a person who holds marriage in the highest regard. You will see a big difference in the ethics of that person as compared to the lack of moral ethics of the one who commits adultery. Plus, a moral person is a lot easier to trust.

Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse. A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench. Prov 10:6-7 (MSG)

The truth is in the lifestyle. Choose leaders wisely. Remove the stench from government.

Identifying the Political Knave

I used Charles Finney quotes the other day to help steer a short series of posts I am beginning. If you haven't read it: A Nation Falls Without Leadership

"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular." Luke 6:26 (MSG)

According to the dictionary, a knave is "an unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest person." This person can be crafty or skilled in their manipulation of others. Know anyone like that? As Jesus says in the verse from Luke, trouble emerges from living only for the approval of others (hence the "woe to you" in other versions).

I am amazed at how many of today's politicians seem to have become "flattery" driven individuals who look to indulge the whims of the people instead of providing leadership. Many are very skilled at indulgence, feeding people a little agenda at a time hoping to addict them to their subversion or weaken their resolve. How many times have you heard, lately, that we are in dire straits and heading towards an impending disaster? Didn't God say He would always watch over us, when we do the right things?

These politicians flow with popular opinion and are at times frozen or afraid to take a stance even when the popular view is blatantly wrong. They are quick to blame others and remain sly when providing answers.

But what can we do about it?

Knaves cannot be trusted so don't trust them. I mean it. They say trust me and do completely opposite things behind our backs (some in front of us). Look for someone you can support or demand accountability from your representative but beware of their skills and deflection tactics.

Elect honest people. Integrity follows an honest person. For example, honest people pay their taxes and don't answer questions with questions.

Good leaders "cultivate honest speech". They are not intimidated by opposing views and consider the truth.

Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth. Prov 16:13 (MSG)

The best way to identify a knave is found in Proverbs 21:29:

Unscrupulous people fake it a lot; honest people are sure of their steps. Prov 21:29 (MSG)

Who do you know that is sure of their footsteps and would make an honest representative in government?

A Nation Falls Without Leadership

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)

As much as I would like to see a political party embrace only Christian views, I think that would be a disaster. Let me explain before you decide to stop reading.

• An all Christian party should reflect an all Christian society. We do not live in such a society.

• An all Christian party would push people away from the church and would seem antagonistic. One of the main problems that young people have with Christianity, according to the book unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters, is that Christians are too political. I tend to agree.

The real factor for the success of a political party should be seen in the embracing of moral values that stem from the Judeo-Christian faith. That stance is a lot different and can be more inclusive.

Does this mean that Christians should not be involved in politics and hold our nation to a standard of living that reflects our values? Absolutely not.

The surest way of gaining wise guidance or leadership for our nation is for informed Christians to actively participate in voting or even as candidates. We have too often turned politics over to dishonest and disrespectful men and women because we fear that politics is for those who are corruptible. This is such a farce.

Charles Finney said it this way:

"...the time has come that Christians must vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics, or the Lord will curse them." — Revival Lectures

That's a very bold statement. Finney was a huge supporter of ending slavery and extending rights to the enslaved black Americans. He once said, "It is a great national sin. It is a sin of the Church."

There have been too many people who wash their hands of sinful practices in government all because they prayed about it instead of making their voices heard or they take the shameful neutral ground because they believe everything in politics doesn't have a moral ground for argument.

This is why our nation is floundering and threatened by world economic domination. Christians haven't called for righteous men and women to stand in the gap and hold our nation to standards of moral fortitude. Here's another statement from Finney:

"They (the voters) must be honest men themselves, and instead of voting for a man because he belongs to their party, Bank or Anti-Bank, Jackson, or Anti-Jackson, they must find out whether he is honest and upright, and fit to be trusted. They must let the world see that the Church will uphold no man in office, who is known to be a knave, or an adulterer, or a Sabbath-breaker, or a gambler, or a drunkard." — Revival Lectures

What would happen to politics in America if we held our leaders to this standard? I am including Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and whomever else. Those in all parties can be held to these standards and should be held to them. If they violate them - they lose their position!

This is not hatred nor bigotry nor anything else that demeans people, and it is not a "test of faith". We in the church can hold our leaders up to certain standards. This is why unfaithful pastors are removed from their positions. This is why pastors who cheat on their taxes or are unfaithful in stewardship are put to shame. We have standards in the church and holding our governmental leaders to such standards is not wrong nor should it be discouraged.

Notice what Finney said about the voter - "they must be honest". We ourselves should be held to the same standards and abide by those rules. Our national future will depend upon changing our view of politics and understanding what government is for.

"...the time has come when they must act differently, or God will curse the nation, and withdraw his spirit. As on the subject of slavery and temperance, so on this subject, the Church must act right or the country will be ruined. God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the Church will take right ground. Politics are a part of religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as a part of their duty to God. It seems sometimes as if the foundations of the nation were becoming rotten, and Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you, he does see it, and he will bless or curse this nation, according to the course they take." — Revival Lectures

The foundations of our country have rotted. Now it is time to call in those who are honest and upright and who will start shoring up our foundations once again. We, as a nation, must return to the true original intent of the founding fathers, and we, as Christians, must return to God and His ways.

The Church must take the right ground.

Mixed Priorities Lead to Miserable Results

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."2 Chron 7:14 (NIV)

I once heard humility described as putting God first, others second, and yourself last. There is a lot of truth to this. Most problems people have in life stem from mixed priorities. For those struggling with priority, they usually are putting more emphasis on one priority over the others. They tend to spend more time honoring God and missing opportunities to respect others and neglecting themselves. Or they acknowledge God, passionately pursue serving others and "humble" themselves with "me" time.

I heard of people who literally try to divide their days up by percentages in hopes of trying to equally divvy their time. I have tried scheduling my time. The biggest problem that I have with schedules is forgetting to add in time for interruptions. I took a class that told me that the average person spends four minutes trying to re-focus after interruptions. That is most of my day!

Leading our country out of this mess is going to mean a lot of interruptions! If ever our leaders needed to understand humility and how it affects their character and ability to accomplish tasks, then now is the time.

Just imagine trying to balance your own budget without any priorities? If you don't care anything for church or for God, then you would never set aside giving as a priority. If you enjoyed eating out a lot, then you would probably spend a lot of your wealth on over-priced meals while neglecting to fund your retirement. If you like your entertainment and media, then you would neglect setting aside an emergency fund that would help when those "unexpected occasions" arose.

Like Dave Ramsey says, "Who would ever imagine that kids would grow out of their clothes, Christmas comes at the same time every year, that a car will eventually need tires, or that your roof will one day leak."

Our national spending habits reflect this same attitude. We are going to need a Guinness Book sized humble pie in order to swallow this. Spending more money is not going to make the cause of the problem go away - it only deals with the symptoms.

The following is a chart of debt from the Treasury Department since 1979 ($826 Billion) until last year ($10 Trillion).

Date Dollar Amount

09/30/2008 -- $10,024,724,896,912.49

09/30/2000 -- $5,674,178,209,886.86

09/30/1979 -- * $826,519,000,000.00

* Rounded to the nearest millions

In 30 years, we have gone from under a trillion dollars to over $10 trillion! Imagine this - in just five years after World War II, which invested billions of dollars in war spending, our debt was only $250 Billion. A very bad habit of debt spending started after we fully instituted the INCOME TAX! Look at the numbers. (Another argument for the FairTax, but I digress)

If God is trying to tell this country anything, it is how irresponsible we have become with public debt. We dishonor ourselves and we dishonor God, who many credited for allowing them to come to such a great land of opportunity.

For wisdom to once again come into the halls of our nation's capitol, we will need to humble ourselves. But how do we do this?

Humble Ourselves Before God

We need to understand that humility is not about self-deprecation. Humility if learning how to put Christ in the proper place in our hearts.

Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:9-10 (NIV)

In our pride, we are refusing to turn to God, and this act of foolishness is keeping us down when God wants to lift our nation up (Here are further references: Deuteronomy 30:1-6; Ezekiel 33:11).

God takes no pleasure in the death of sinners. God would much rather us live. But we have to decide as a nation who we will serve, and that starts in every individual household. We cannot and should not legislate religion.

However, we each need to learn how to spend quality time alone with God in prayer in order to give recognition to who He is. This time spent will flow into our lives and eventually impact our communities. We have spent 60 years getting into more debt and more problems, it may take more time and a lot of dedication to see recovery, but do we have any choice?

We need to learn how to respond to God. I am so afraid that we are so numb from our moral decline as a nation that we can longer feel the prick of God in our hearts. Humility re-establishes our ability to hear from God. Corporate revival only happens when individuals respond appropriately to God.

But to what end?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4 (NIV)

Humility will change how we view others and ourselves. With God as the number one priority in a person's life, they are prepared to share His love and communicate kindness yet not neglect correction and teaching for others.

Character is revealed in our humility. We are more likely to to compromise and give in to the moral low roads because they are easily travelled and more convenient. Unfortunately, those roads only lead to short term pleasure or short term solutions. For those in leadership, moral and ethical short cuts run the risk of losing respect of those who follow them, endanger desired outcomes, and spill into the lives of those influenced by them (including staff and family).

Humility prioritizes one's life and opens the door for balanced living. It is this balance that we need in order to help see the restoration of America. Balanced living is the answer for those seeking to see justice and compassion. It will also help us to have compassion for the mistakes of leader's and yet still hold them accountable (making room for change and forgiveness).

One final point, never congratulate yourself for your humility - because it will no longer be! A little humble pie will go a great distance toward the way we think about debt spending. Debt spending is unhealthy and wrong.

"If my people will...humble themselves" How serious are you about seeing true change in our nation? How much would you like to see us reverse our economic downturn? Enough to be humble? What would you like to see from the attitude of our country? Leave a comment.

The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling On President Obama

President Obama addressed the House Democrats yesterday, and said if we don't pass the stimulus plan by mid-February, America will go down in flames. "Hurry, hurry, rush, rush! We are going to be crushed."

I can't believe that a president who is supposed to portray confidence and hope is now portraying confusion and doom!

Are we not a great country that has won its own independence, crafted a rule of law by the people, overcome a Civil War, helped defeat tyranny in two World Wars, battled through a great depression, overcome the throws of communism, and is standing strong against terrorism?

What changed? Where is the leadership that stands up in such a time and rallies the people and provides vision?

A true leader should be doing at least three things:

1. Providing Purpose - We need to understand the desired outcome. We need to know what the stimulus plan will actually do and why it should be done this way
2. Providing Direction - What are the goals? How can we accomplish those goals? How can the people get involved (it's not all about the government)? We need to take responsibility and pay off debt and begin saving and learn how to work a second job if necessary. Answer the who, what, when, where, why, how! Besides, the people paying off debt, the government needs to LEAD THE WAY AND PAY OFF ITS OWN DEBT! Be an example and lead!
   
3. Providing Motivation - Motivation is the cause of action. Where is the confidence? If our government isn't confident - why would we be? I believe we could get behind a leader who is prepared to hold "bailout" hopefuls to the fire - Get it right or strike out! Also, a leader who is prepared to set limits to spending

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "War is waged only with vigor, decision, and unshaken will: one must not grope or hesitate."

True leaders get people to go against their nature. People need to feel comfort, and a leader has to provide that comfort through sacrifice and hard work. Our leaders cannot afford to grope their way through this economic problem. They need a real plan and need to stop throwing out numbers.

So ask yourself, who is providing the purpose, direction, and motivation for our future? My help comes from the Lord, because there is only so much man can do. Take responsibility for your actions and together we each will make a difference amongst those around us.

Be a difference maker. Be a leader!

We Need Real Leadership

Venezuela's president, the super mouth from the south, has decided to have "military" maneuvers as a show of strength against the U.S. The Russian mafia government as a means of throwing a tantrum has decided to refresh its alliances in Latin America (or at least with those countries that want something to do with them).

Of course, the reason for these maneuvers are to test new toys that Venezuela is getting ready to purchase. Russia has signed a contract to provide a bunch of new weaponry, and they are also looking to broker a deal to create an energy alliance. Russia is moving to provide Venezuela with a refinery so Venezuela can refine its own fuel. This is what interest me the most.

Venezuela is the ninth largest oil producer in the world and provides the U.S. with a large portion of our oil supplies. The alliance with Russia seems to be a move in which Russia can use to manipulate us. Russia's tantrum has all the earmarks of the old Cold War posturing.

Russia is trying to flex a muscle it hasn't used in twenty years. If we do not wake up soon we will have a huge problem on our hands. Venezuela with this new alliance will not have to sell oil to us.

We need to invest in our own renewable sources and until we can get to that point we must find new sources for oil. Drilling fifty miles off the coast is not going to help us. We need to drill where the oil is.

Picken's plan looks better and better. At least it gives us a direction. Right now our politicians are lost in a fog. I would love to see someone stand up and take a firm position.

JFK was loved by most not because he was a perfect president. He was loved because he had vision and direction. He said we should put someone on the moon, and we did. He took a bold move in standing up to the Russian move to put nukes in Cuba, and Russia backed down.

Lincoln is loved not because he was president but because he believed in abolishing slavery (unpopular as it was), and he stuck to his guns. There was a Civil War and his ideas won in the end.

Our new aged politicians are too busy trying to become movie stars and popular icons. They are afraid to take a position and go for it. I would love to see one of the candidates come out with one strong idea on each of the major topics and run on those ideas. Lay out their plans and let us decide which plan we like.

All I hear are wishes and hopes of the candidates. I have written about this numerous times but with Russia becoming a pain, Iran blowing everyone off, and North Korea pulling the shades down low, we do not have the luxury of getting this wrong.

• Drill Here, Drill Now - and Pay Less. Then invest heavily in renewable energy.
• Adopt the FairTax and bring our corporations and jobs home
• Vouchers all the way for school (any school), set federal standards, and let competition meet those goals
• Go back to pre-Clinton banking rules to regulate the banking and stocks systems in a healthy way to help stem off greedy and underhanded trading that leaves us vulnerable
• PAY OFF OUR NATIONAL DEBT
• Actually implement our immigration policies
• Take care of our environment (it is not about global warming; it's about being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted us with)
• And most importantly, let God be God in America again

Was that so hard? It would easily take four years just to get these eight points taken care of. Maybe then we could get away from personal attacks and get back to really debating each other's ideas.

Where Are Our Leaders

I was reading an article last night that the UN has been funneling millions of dollars unchecked into North Korea. And people think we should keep the UN?

I would love to hear what the presidential contenders have to say about it. They would probably wash it under the rug just like all the media markets.

The UN has outlived its usefulness. I cannot understand why we would waste so much money on an organization that grants itself special favors and could care less how its funds are spent. It sounds more and more like the United States government.

Our government wastes more money than I can think about.

The candidates spend so much time talking about how they will tax this group and not that group. How about CUTTING SPENDING? If I have to cut back, then the government should have long ago cut back.

All they can think about is getting new funds and spending them. Why not cut expenses and then pay off our national debt? The Republicans have been very good at increasing spending over that last seven years. The Democrats are just as bad. Neither will admit it but they both are money vacuums more worried about funding their fake pet projects back home that will in turn fund their next campaign.

I am more than a little angry. I am wanting a leader who will lead and not barter.

I am so glad I have Jesus in my life. Without Him, we would really be in trouble. But look at these times as signs of things to come.

I am not trying to be a naysayer and doomsday prophet. But I seriously wonder if our political pandering to appease the jealous governments around the world is their way of trying to bring our success to an end.

Many foreign governments have for two centuries tried to look for chinks in our armor. Have they finally found it in the form of the Democratic appeasers and the pride-filled Republicans?

A real leader becomes a role model. People need and want it. This is a heavy responsibility, one that many times bears great dishonor while trying to do the right thing. Yes the right things and not overly trying to just be right. Setting an example in times like this will help our nation, and there is not a more powerful aspect to leadership.

If our leaders expect people to save for their futures, to care for their health, to stand in loyalty, and to embrace commitment, then they have to model it. They are the ones who need to start by truly decreasing government spending and paying off our national debt. Maybe then we could pay for affordable health care for those who need it - but not until then!

People in America imitate the behaviors of those who lead them. And when the real leaders cease to lead because they are too busy trying to become rock stars and movie stars, then the people will turn to those influences because at least they know those people are phony.

Until our leaders in Washington set high standards and actually stick to them, unlike the Republican party, their examples will continue to set our country in a spiral of uncertainty. Standards have to be attainable, this is why I harp on certain attainable goals for our nation:

• The Fair Tax to unchain our people and help those in need
• Drilling in at least one place in the possible US oil riches (without Democratic vetoes)
• Voucher programs that allow parents to have the right to put their child anywhere in a school they choose
  
• Immigration policies that will be humane to those who risked so much for the American dream while securing our borders to ensure no one else takes advantage of us
• Cut spending and pay off our national debt to get us out from under the thumbs of foreign governments who own more interest in our economy than we do (namely China)
• We need to take care of our environment with real and tangible policies
• And We need God, plain and simple

That's my soap-box this week. Thanks for reading.

Leadership R Us

When does a leader cease being a leader? When he or she gets elected. Then they become a puppet.

Our elected officials have again failed to provide leadership on a needed issue. President Bush is now giving a speech on global warming, and instead of becoming a leader and finding real answers as to whether global warming is true or not (I am still on the fence because too many real scientist and in-the-know people are coming up and saying the science is wrong).

I do believe we need to become less dependent on oil and should do everything possible to reduce pollution. I believe in conservation and working to care for our environment. These are all Christian values that I hold. I do not, however, want to make a mistake in how we approach the issues. Let's find out the truth instead of blindly going out on a ledge because a bitter politician says the debate is over.

A true leader doesn't get his chain pulled but instead pulls chains. Take Henry Ford for instance. He told his engineers that he wanted a specific type of engine and he would not take no for an answer. For several years his engineers told him it could not be done, yet Ford stood his ground until they made a break through and actually accomplished what he knew could be done all along. That is leadership!

President Bush is bowing down to politics instead of leading. His proposals will probably lead to larger government which he seems all too good at leading us towards.

Another failed leader is former President Jimmy Carter. A man once sworn to uphold our Constitution is now forsaking it and taking foreign policy into his own hands. He is not an ambassador, and someone needs to remind him that he is not the President. I can't believe that he even considering meeting with a known terrorist.

Congress failed the leadership test when it white-washed the bill to protect our borders. Come on, how do you pass something without funding it? Here was the perfect chance for the Congress to pass a needed bill and still be able to show compassion towards our friends in the south who are beneficial to our economy with the many jobs they come and perform among us.

FM 22-100 is the Army's leadership manual. I had to read this as an NCO and still read for great insight. It says that every battle or beginning war will not wait for the units to be prepared. Sometimes you have to fight as you are.

Our elected leaders need to read this over and over. They are more enamored by their limelight than taking the tough stance. Tough fights are hard to prepare for, but leaders can take this task and lead. Any leader that tells you that they know where they are headed, is someone to beware of because they are leading an agenda not a tough fight.

Leaders must take the initiative, make rapid decisions, and motivate others. Leaders know which direction to head and can adjust as they go down that path. Not every decision is a perfect decision but at times are necessary decisions. Leaders know how to see the big picture and how to paint others into that picture.

We need leaders who will take unpopular stances (which President Bush has done at times) when they see the larger picture. We need them to stop giving us fluff and start painting us into the picture.

Leadership is a risk. It is at times very lonely. Leadership will identify one's true character.

I say all this because I really feel that we need a leader who will stand up for the right things instead of just trying to right.

Leaders provide purpose, direction, and motivation. Think about this as you get ready to select your choice for President. Don't be swayed by politics. Get in the know and find out the truth. Elected officials just want to be elected again.

You can start by finding out the truth about the FairTax. You will thank yourself for it.