What Happened to American Exceptional-ism?

I remember it like it was yesterday.  Being and kid and watching "The Adventures of Superman" after school on TV.  I might not have realized it at the time, but this might have been where I learned about American Exceptional-ism.  Day after day I watched that show and day after day a was reminded that I could be GREAT because I lived in The United States of America.  If you don't remember the intro to the show, watch it here:


So what happened to our country where we aren't allowed to think that we are exceptional any more?  Why is it that even Superman has to turn his back on "The American Way?"



Don't we live in the free-est country on this planet?  Don't "American's" have more opportunity at success than in ANY place in the world?  Isn't that why people from all over the world flock to the U.S. for better opportunity and a better life? (read Mexico, etc.)

I think we all know the answer to that question, well at least everyone who didn't receive a trophy for coming in LAST place when they were growing up.

It's time to turn this ship around folks.  If you are one of those parents who has a child that gets a trophy for everything that he/she does, even when they come in LAST place, you need to get off your collective butts and teach your nanny state kid something useful.  Take all of those trophy's into the backyard and BURN them with your child watching and then have a meaningful conversation explaining that people should only get a trophy for being EXCEPTIONAL.  And if you are NOT exceptional then you have to WORK HARDER to become exceptional and receive that trophy.

People, in general. don't get better by having things handed to them on a silver platter and WINNING all the time.  People learn by FAILING and then working harder for the next time.  Then if they fail again, they keep working harder until they SUCCEED.

It's time time revive American Exceptional-ism in our country, put it has to start with parents teaching their kids that they have to work harder to get better.  If you don't, then don't be surprised when your kids end up at Occupy Wall Street and start demanding that they are ENTITLED to free education, healthcare, jobs, homes, food, etc.

I want MY Superman back!  I want Truth, Justice and THE AMERICAN WAY and NOT "all that other stuff".

Students Forced to Stand and Say Mexican Pledge of Allegiance

In an era when teachers are being told that they can't say the American Pledge of Allegiance in class anymore, apparently it is okay to have students memorize and recite the Mexican Pledge of Allegiance.

In a Blaze exclusive, in McAllen, TX, approximately 10 miles from the Texas/Mexican boarder, students at Achieve Early College High School were forced to memorize and stand and say the Mexican Pledge of Allegiance as a part of their grade.  One student, 15 year old Brenda Brinsdon refused to participate and recorded the event.


"I just thought it was out of hand, I didn't think it was right," she told The Blaze.  "Reciting pledges to Mexico and being loyal to it has nothing to do with learning Spanish."

Brinsdon's offence of the assignment from teacher Reyna Santos's class was primarily because it took place during "Freedom Week," the week after the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, and on U.S. Constitution Day, which happens to be the same day as Mexico's Independence Day.

"Why are we doing their independence when it's Freedom Week and it's also Constitution Day?" she said.

People, parents, and citizens of The United States of "AMERICA", we need to wake up and start taking some action.  If you have a child in school today, you need to ask them what they are being taught.  You need to get a copy of the curriculum for your children and READ IT all the way through.  As a former teacher, this is their weakness.  Because of the bureaucracy in the school districts, schools usually provide a very detailed curriculum of exactly what they will be teaching your children.  PARENTS:  they are hiding it in plain sight and it is up to you to expose what they are doing.

Get your child's curriculum.  Ask your child what he or she is being taught.  Ask the teachers what they are teaching.  Do it NOW, or else the next time you see your kids after they graduate will be protesting at Occupy Wall Street.

Radical Tax Reform (Part 1): Corporate and Business Taxes

Okay, let's break this down, because honestly it's really not all that complicated.  We all know that this country needs a radical overhaul of our close to 70,000 page tax code which covers everything from personal income tax to corporate and business taxes and even how much of your estate that you have to hand over to the government (instead of passing it on to your family) after you are dead.

Let's start by breaking down the most important part of our economy and how our tax system affects them; Corporate and the Business taxes.

It really torques my chain when people start talking about the Big, Bad, Evil and Greedy corporations and businesses (you know...the ones who employ you, give you your paychecks and help you put food on your table and pay your rent/mortgages...) who's primary goal in life is to make as much money as they can so that they can give the fat cat CEO's millions of dollars, becoming filthy rich and having dinner of caviar and champagne on their yachts and corporate jets.  HELLO?!  That's the whole point, isn't it?  And another thing, have you ever heard of a POOR person being able to employ another person.  Obviously the answer is no.  It is the rich business owner who has the ability to employ other people.

But I digress . . . we were talking about taxes, weren't we?

So what are the effects of taxes on corporations and businesses.  If you listen to our politicians in charge today (aka the ones on the left), they will tell you that the rich corporate fat cats and business owners have to pay their fair share and they need higher taxes.  Well, let's say we DO tax the corporations and small businesses (who might be individuals making over $250,000); what will happen then?  Let's break it down:

MORE TAXES=

1. Less money for the Corporation and the Business Owner.
2. Fewer dollars to employ people.
3. Fewer jobs and possible layoffs.
4. Higher unemployment.
5. Fewer benefits or a reduction/elimination of benefits.
6. Higher prices of goods and services passed on to the consumers (who now have no jobs), because the business has to try to make up the money somehow.
7. Corporations moving overseas to avoid the higher taxes and taking their money and jobs with them.
8. Corporations shipping jobs overseas because of cheaper labor and to avoid payroll taxes.
9. Hundreds of Billions of dollars moving out of this country looking to avoid the tax burden.

Sounds like a great idea, huh?  Well, now that we know what some of the consequences to higher taxes to corporations and businesses are, I would like to throw out a HUGE "WHAT IF" scenario.

"WHAT IF . . . we ELIMINATED all Corporate, Business and Payroll taxes?  What do you think would happen?  Let's take a look:  

No Corporate, Business and Payroll taxes =

1. More money for Corporations and Business Owners.
2. Businesses will have more money to hire people and expand their business.
3. Businesses will have more money for benefits to entice high quality candidates to work for them.
4. A major drop in unemployment.
5. Through basic principals of economics:  prices of goods and services will DROP because the cost of production will be less and competition will force the price to go lower.
6. Corporations that have gone offshore to avoid the tax ramifications WILL ALL COME BACK!
7. Foreign Corporations will ALL want to move their businesses to the United States, thus providing MORE jobs for the American worker.
8. Wages will go UP because competition for jobs and low unemployment will force companies to offer more money in order to get the BEST candidates.
9. Billions of dollars will come flooding back into the United States.

Now I know what you are thinking, "Oh my God!  We can't do that.  We need those tax dollars to help pay for Social Security, Medicare and all the other government programs that are being shoved down our throats!" 

Well, yes we can (no pun intended).  We can radically reform our tax code, simplify it and still have plenty of money to fund all of these wasteful government programs.  I don't want to spoil the surprise though and will leave that for a further blog posting.  Next time I'll throw out another "WHAT IF" scenario with some pro's and con's.

Taxes, taxes, taxes . . . WAKE UP PEOPLE!

Answer me this question. How much do you make every paycheck? I'm asking this question because I would be willing to bet that as you think about it, the first answer that comes straight into your mind is your NET income and not your GROSS income. Well people, it's time for you all to WAKE UP and start thinking about your GROSS income because that is how much money you are REALLY making.

When it comes to the topic of money, your job and your income, this could be the single most IMPORTANT question that you could EVER think about and hopefully it will help you PAY MORE ATTENTION to your paycheck and where your money is going.

Most people never think about their paycheck and the only important number that they look at is their NET income. They say, "Oh goodie! I made $750 this paycheck!" and are all happy, when in reality they made $1000 and should REALLY be saying, "Where the heck did my $250 go!" Well I'm here to tell you that it is far past time for you to open up your paycheck and take a closer look.

Here's the first thing I want you to do. Open your check and find the spot where it says NET Income and GROSS Income. Now, take a calculator and subtract your Net from your Gross incomes and this is the money that you are handing over to the Federal and State governments every single time you get paid.

Now that you have an actual dollar amount that is being deducted from you paycheck you need to take a look at where all that money is going. What you will find, at a bare minimum, are deductions for Federal Withholding, Social Security, Medicare, State Withholding and, in most states, State Disability Insurance. In most cases, depending on your tax bracket (aka how much you are taxed depending on how much money you make) you will find that the government is taking about 25% of your hard earned money out of your paycheck BEFORE YOU EVEN SEE IT!

But that's okay though right? You'll get it back come tax time and you file your taxes. After all, April 15th and tax time is when you get a check BACK from the government . . . It's a happy time of year, right?

Wrong . . .

Now your next task is to take EVERY SINGLE PAYCHECK you received last year and add up ALL the differences between your GROSS and NET incomes. Don't use your W2 that you received at the end of the year because I want you to get an actual FEEL for adding up all the money that has been taken out of your check throughout the year.

Once that is accomplished, go and get the amounts of you refunds that you received from the kind hearted and benevolent Federal and State agencies and add those two together.

Okay, here's the kicker. Now subtract the refund amount from the amount of money that they took out of your checks throughout the year.

UH OH! It looks like they are keeping a little bit more of your money than you thought, right? But don't forget, even if you are in a low tax bracket where you are getting your money back at tax time, just remember that the government is still taking your money in advance and investing it so that they, AND NOT YOU, will make the interest off YOUR money throughout the entire year.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a better, more simple way, of paying your taxes? One that doesn't discriminate based on how much money you make but still forces the rich to "pay their fair share" and will still help the poor live a more prosperous life?

Well, there is such a plan, but it will take the "Will of the People" to get it implemented. It will take the will of the people because todays politicians rely on our current, convoluted tax code to stay in power and reap the financial rewards of Fat Cat lobbyist's who will more than happily perform any manner of bribery and corruption to get a beneficial outcome for their special interests. In other words, they won't change, because as soon as they do they will lose all their power. But guess where that power will go? IT WILL GO TO YOU! The American taxpayer. But a taxpayer that will DEMAND representation for the taxes that they will be paying.

But before you can change, you have to WAKE YOURSELF UP! Our country was founded and American Blood was spilled for MUCH less than what is being done to us now! The motto then was "DON'T TREAD ON ME!" and "NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!", and this was over far fewer more inconsequential taxes. The citizens of this country raided ships and threw crates of Tea into Boston Harbor and that was for just a small tax on TEA!!

How much are you willing to put up with before you put your foot down? How much money are you willing to let them take before you say NO MORE!? Is it a car tax in your state? Is it a mandatory purchase of healthcare?

Well, what is it America? You have to choose. You have to make the call. You have to be willing to stand up as one and say NO MORE!

And now you ask "Well? What is this plan?" Stay tuned and I'll start telling you next time.

My 30-Day "Pledge"

The Pledge of Allegiance is almost forgotten in American culture today. For most grown Americans we probably remember reciting it each day in the classroom at school and then never saying it again after graduating. It is my hope that this will change.

I would like to propose a challenge to each and every person reading this to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day for 30 days. I will be putting out my flag each day, putting my hand over my heart and reciting the Pledge; and if I see others watching while I do it, I will invite them to join me.

Below is what the Pledge means to me. It was inspired by the comedian Red Skelton and an on stage performance he did explaining what the Pledge meant to him.

The Pledge of Allegiance

~I pledge allegiance~

“I” – me, myself, individually, not you, they them or us collectively
“pledge” – promise, agree, obligate, ‘cross my heart and hope to die’
“allegiance” – my love, fealty, obedience, devotion and honor.

~To the flag~

The Stars and Stripes, the Red, White and Blue, Old Glory, with 50 stars for each state on a field of Blue and 13 red and white alternating stripes for the 13 original colonies.

~of the United States of America~

NOT the United States of Mexico, Canada, England, France, Germany or even the United Nations. If you are in this country and want to assimilate and become an American Citizen and follow the appropriate rules to become one, then we welcome you with open arms. If you have come here illegally to take American jobs and abuse our welfare, healthcare, and education systems then GO HOME! We don’t want you here!

~and to the Republic~

“Republic” – We are a Representative Republic. We are not a Democracy, a Tyranny or a Dictatorship. “We the People” elect delegates to “represent” us. Delegates who take and oath, and I quote “ to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that (they) will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that (they) take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that (they) will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which (they are) about to enter. So help (them) GOD. And if they fail in that sacred duty it is our Right, no, it is our DUTY to vote them out of office and elect someone who will.

~for which it stands~

“It”, our Flag and our Constitution. Those Rules and laws by which we are guaranteed “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

~One Nation~

Not 50 nations. ONE nation. Working together to provide a more perfect Union.

~Under GOD~

Under Christ, under Mohammed, under Buddha, or under Odin. It doesn’t matter, take your pick; and for you Atheists, it’s STILL under GOD, and don’t worry. Even though you don’t believe, we will still be praying for you.

~Indivisible~

United, joined, permanent and inseparable.

~with Liberty~

Freedom, independence, and the right to live life without fear of threats or retaliation.

~and Justice~

We are ALL created equal, under the law and in the eyes of GOD. Our Constitution gives us equal rights and opportunities in order to prosper and pursue our individual happiness.

~for all~

Which means, in the immortal words of Red Skelton that “This is as much your country as it is mine”.

This is the Pledge of Allegiance to this “United States of America” and this is what the pledge means to me. It should be said each day in every classroom throughout the country and each citizen should say it each day, with hand over heart and in the presence or The Red, White and Blue. Hopefully, the next time you recite it you will think of these things, and it’s meaning will become imbedded in your heart and in your soul.

For those of you who refuse or don’t want to take this pledge, feel free to come and visit Disneyland, our Capital, and our beautiful scenery, and then go back home.