Prop 13, lower taxes and small government //

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I’ll make this short and sweet. . . .

Check out the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Associationand support Prop 13 (for all of you California Residents). Founded in 1978, this organization is California’s largest taxpayer rights organization. Committed to opposing new taxes and defending Prop. 13. California is in for a rough 4 years, so it’s great to have an organization watching the bottom line, even if the Governor Brown and Sacramento aren’t.

If you’re all about lower taxes and smaller government, this is a group to check out. I follow them on facebook so I can see their updates, and you can find their twitter page here.  On their website you’ll find press releases, legislative updates and studies and reports. If you’re not in California, I’m sure there is a similar organization in your state that will provided you with pertinent tax related information. It’s great to stay informed and involved. It’s our money, our future and our bottom line, and we shouldn’t expect the government to ever look out for our interests.

Donald Trump for President in 2012 //

Apparently there are rumors going around that Donald Trump might be in the running for President in 2012. I certainly hope so. Although he’s probably like me and having too much fun running his company and is hesitant to give it up and go to Washington where he would have to hob nob and rub shoulders with a bunch of crooks and slimy politicians. Not my idea of fun. But, either way, I think Donald Trump is brilliant! I would vote for him for President and  I hope he does run in 2012. He’s a genius when it comes to business, he’s recovered from financial problems and he’s still on top! We could really use someone like him to get this country back on track financially and remind Americans what it means to be American. I’ve read all of his books (“The Art of the Deal” is my favorite) and think that this country would be better off if more people did the same.

One of my church leaders once said, “if you don’t know what you’re doing, ask someone who does.” I love that quote! I think Donald Trump definitely knows what he’s doing, and we’d be all the better for replacing Obama in office with someone who actually knows what he’s doing.

The National Organization for Marriage had this to say about “The Donald”:

Most U.S. teens want to be virgins when they marry //

photo source: life123.com

Did you know that a recent survey says that most U.S. teens want to be virgins when they marry? It was news to me. I hadn’t realized that a large portion of teens were concerned with this.

My sister teaches Junior High math in a Southern California public school. Let’s just say she has a very interesting job working with today’s youth. Many teens seem to be lacking some basic moral character. It’s very sad, and honestly something that can really only be fixed in the home. Teaching children correct principles and values is the role of the parents, but unfortunately, many have quit that job and left their children to fend for themselves.

However, a recent study presents some marginally happy news. And considering how much trash kids today are exposed to, and how many of them have little to no parental supervision or guidance, LifeSiteNews.com posted an article about some positive findings from a poll conducted last year by

Drs. Rene Paulson and Jacquelyn Pennings under the auspices of the Christian youth research and outreach organization OneHope as part of their Spiritual State of the World’s Children study. . .recruited [teens] to take the online survey through a panelist company and through social networking websites.

The survey found that 61 percent of youth ages 13 to 18 would like to be virgins when they get married.

Additionally, 63 percent said that, presuming they had lost their virginity, they would change the past if possible and regain it.

I wonder how, if so many teens think that being a virgin when they get married is important, they certainly seem to act otherwise? I’m in complete agreement that the media and television play a huge role in this, in addition to absentee parents who fail to provide the essential moral teachings that these teens so desperately need.  The study addressed the loose morals found in a majority of television shows.

A press release from OneHope announcing the release of the study today said the results of the survey were “surprising” given the high teen exposure to sexually explicit media content such as the controversial MTV program “Skins.”

According to a report by the Parents Television Council, two-thirds (64 percent) of all TV shows contain “sexual content” – anything from flirting to intercourse.

Additional data about U.S. teens’ beliefs and values revealed in this survey include some troubling aspects of the influence of media on children, such as:

What I believe: self reliance is one of the greatest indicators of a person’s moral character //

I found this blog post because the brilliant writer Zoey linked to one of my posts. . . and now I want to link to hers. I think that many American’s are missing how important it is to be self-reliant, and how important this principle is to their happiness and wellbeing, in this life and in the next. It’s not about money, or making a lot of it, it’s about hard work and being industrious, being able to provide for and take care of yourself and your family, using your talents, helping to bless the lives of others, and having the freedom to exercise your agency. Thanks for this amazing post Zoey!

Hey, I’m Zoey and I blog over at Stand, where I join the ranks of the Digital Army as a marriage and family activist. Em’s “Something” is one of my daily favorites so I’m more than excited that she’s asked me to do a guest (re)post for her “I believe” series.

(Photo courtesy of a-penny-saved).
I’ve been thinking long and hard about the state of our nation and the notion that we can just spend ourselves to oblivion. It’s as if a wife said to her husband: “Don’t worry about our dire financial state! We’ll just spend our way out!” How does that make any sense, whatsoever? If there isn’t money to pay the bills you cut the fat and only spend on necessities. Obama and his cronies obviously have no interest in setting that standard. What, with the $252 billion for income-transfer payments, $600 mil for new fed cars, $1 bil for Amtrak (hasn’t turned a profit in 40 years), $400 mil for global warming research, $650 mil for TV conversions, $2 bil for child-care subsidies, and I could go on.

I adore my brilliant friend Journalista:

“I think we need to hold our government officials to the same financial standard that all responsible American citizens hold themselves to. Live within your means. Don’t spend money you don’t have, and prioritize how to best spend the money you do have, even if it’s just a little. That, my friends, is how to build a wealthy nation. All of the free social programs and hand outs in the world will not solve the problems in America if we don’t expect our citizens to buck up and quit relying on the government to take care of them”.

My dad has worked two full-time jobs since before I was born. He and my mother are the most honest, hard working people I know. I’m telling you- they are as honest as honest can be. My dad would have gotten a job at a mini-mart or McDonald’s to pay back any sort of debt if that’s what it took. If us kids didn’t have milk to drink or clothes to wear he would work the sweat of his brow (literally) to meet our needs. I can’t express my gratitude for what they taught me. I wish more Americans were taught the eternal principles of self-reliance and living within your means because I’ll tell you- we wouldn’t be in this sad state right now.

I am grateful to belong to a church that has long taught its members these principles. Here are my favorite quotes on the matter, given by some general authorities:

President Joseph F. Smith: “You must continue to bear in mind that the temporal and spiritual are blended. They are not separate. One cannot be carried on without the other, so long as we are here in mortality. … The Latter-day Saints believe not only in the gospel of spiritual salvation, but also in the gospel of temporal salvation… We do not feel that it is possible for men to be really good and faithful Christian people unless they can also be good, faithful, honest and industrious people. Therefore, we preach the gospel of industry, the gospel of economy, the gospel of sobriety.” (Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1939, p. 208; emphasis added.)

Marion G. Romney: “The most fundamental principles of temporal salvation include two concepts: providing for oneself—self reliance—and providing for one’s family—family reliance. The first principle, that of self-reliance, grows out of a fundamental doctrine of the Church—that of agency. The doctrine of agency is based on the truth that the basic essence of man is comprised of spirit matter, or intelligence, which by its very nature is independent ‘in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself. … Behold, here is the agencyof man.’ (See D&C 93:26–38; emphasis added.) As a result of this eternal condition, Elohim, in creating man and placing him on this earth, gave him his agency to act for himself. While this agency applies to all facets of life, with respect for temporal affairs the Lord makes this specific elaboration:

‘For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.’

For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.’ (D&C 104:13, 17; emphasis added.)

Thus, we understand that all is in place so that man can, if he so chooses, work out his salvation—both temporal and spiritual—and can achieve the benefits promised in this, his second estate. The self-reliance we speak of in the Church, then, grows out of eternal truths connected with the doctrines of intelligence and agency. Consequently, self-reliance, as taught by the prophets, becomes a fundamental truth in the gospel plan.”

Spencer W. Kimball: “The responsibility for each person’s social, emotional, spiritual, physical, or economic well-being rests first upon himself, second upon his family, and third upon the Church if he is a faithful member thereof. No true Latter-day Saint, while physically or emotionally able will voluntarily shift the burden of his own or his family’s well-being to someone else. So long as he can, under the inspiration of the Lord and with his own labors, he will supply himself and his family with the spiritual and temporal necessities of life”.

The freedom and joy that come from using our God given agency to care for our own personal necessities is nearly indescribable. We are not bound to another; we are honest in our dealings with our fellow men; we have security. Most importantly though, our spiritual salvation is dependent upon our temporal actions and through the Savior we can be free.

Thanks for reading! ~journalista

The Obama Stimulus Predictions vs. Reality. Student talks about the Job loss //

Here’s another incredibly genius math video from the Political Math blogger. I love his stuff, and I love even more that I didn’t buy into the “Big O’s” (as my account calls him) promise about him saving jobs. His job creating and saving logic has been flawed all along. I don’t much care for his fake small business promises, but not that I bought into that either. Despite the horrible climate for business in this country, I am so grateful to be running my own company and “creating” my own job. I still have faith in the American Dream and no matter what the Big O tries to throw our way, we can still be prosperous and successful if we work hard. There is absolutely no reason to sit around waiting for a handout from that guy. If I had waited for Obama, I’d be a penny hitting the floor. . . What’s been your experience with the job situation in this country? Feel free to share your stories in the comments. Thanks for reading!

~Journalista

P.S. The Political Math blogger has entered a video contest and needs our votes.

Please vote for me (Matthias Shapiro) at the Know-Y.org Y-Care video vote and help me win the $5,000 prize. (I have a very large scale visualization of the national debt that I’m working on, but I really need some capital to pull it off. This would be an awesome way to help me with that.)

 

 

Visualizing Obama’s budget cuts. Student Explains Obamanomics in 1 Minute

Hi Everyone! I haven’t posted in a while, but this video is too good to pass up. This is the kind of crap info the government tries to feed us if we aren’t looking. All we have to do is stay informed and educate ourselves. The Progressives and Socialists that run our government are very transparent if we pay attention. Happy Viewing!! ~Journalista

The blogger and math genius who made this video has more info on his blog:

Political Math Political Information Visualization and Other  Math-y Things

Go check it out!!!!