Outcomes Matter -

Imagine that you switched electricity providers because you were promised great savings. What would you do if the result of switching actually cost you much more?

As a conservative I am concerned about outcomes more than goals and plans. When a plan is implemented to achieve a goal, I want to examine the outcomes. When the outcomes are great and the goals were achieved, I study the process to make it stronger so that I can implement the plan and improve on the outcomes. When the outcome is horrible and not one goal is accomplished, I am ready to move on.

Arizona and Alabama (and many other states) stated that higher taxes to run schools, higher taxes to run hospitals, higher taxes to run social programs and higher taxes to address crime resulted from illegal aliens. Arizona and Alabama passed draconian laws to push illegal aliens from their soil and we successful in causing the vast majority of illegal aliens to leave their states.

Now is the time to measure the outcomes. Are taxes for schools, prisons, hospitals and social programs lower? No. Has the crime rate dropped lower than other states near the border? No. Are hospitals, police, social services asking for smaller budgets? No. Has overtime been reduced? No.

In both states there are now many job openings. However, Americans will not take those jobs. They don’t want to clean fish and pick vegetables. Some businesses are going out of business because they cannot find dependable employees. Those businesses explain that they compete with China and the rest of the world so they cannot raise wages. China and South America ship fish, vegetables and fruit to the USA at very low prices.

Some of our largest farmers have purchased farms in Mexico to solve part of their labor problem. If these ventures prove successful, we may see farms to be the next big business that moves jobs out of America.

Results are what matters.
Arizona and Alabama clearly stated that the reason for the laws were that the illegal immigrant caused the higher taxes, higher crime, etc. Outcomes matter. Tax revenues are down since the illegal immigrants took flight. They no longer shop for clothes, groceries or other items in those states and sales taxes are down. Many that worked under false social security numbers are no longer paying any state income taxes in those states. As businesses that no longer have enough workers to remain profitable close their doors, there will be more unemployment and lower payroll taxes.

Sputter and rant about illegal immigration and shake your fist at the sky. Then do two things.

1.       Examine the result of illegal immigrants being forced to leave Alabama and Arizona in an unbiased manner. Look at the FBI Crime Stats, not some politicians claim. Look at the numbers. Ask the politicians about the reduction in taxes that should have resulted.

2.       Pretend that you are explaining your point of view to Jesus.

Real and Present Danger

The people with real power see the real and present danger of mass communication. If the Internet and cell phone mass communication remain unchecked, the people may accidentally focus on the people with real power. For example, it is possible that a couple of hundred million Americans may seek the elimination of all arms sales to foreign countries as a good thing. Perhaps the American people will constantly focus on the fact that Congress can legally invest and sell stocks based on their inside knowledge of laws that are about to be passed or stalled in committee that will directly affect certain stocks. Suppose either of those two items replaced the amount of 'talk' about illegal aliens? The first thing you know some very powerful people and lawmakers could see the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars!

The average person can be misled for a long time, but the mass communication technology could be a game changer and wake up the populace. Granted, the government has done an amazing job of keeping us dependent and stupid through our education system, but this could all change. Yes, we will soon see calls to severely limit the Internet, tweets, and texting.

A disappointment for a Republican

The field of Republican candidates for President is a poor field. It is unlikely that we will see a change in the Presidency unless there is some unexpected and dramatic event. After listening and reading positions of the Republican candidates, I cannot find one to support. Somehow the Republicans position themselves as big government and anti-middle class. While I resent the political power of large unions and other super-pacts, I shudder to think what a worker's life would be like without the advent of labor unions.

As always, every powerful politician and power-broker misdrirects (easily misdirects) the focus of the American people away from the public money and public policies that enable the uber rich so that workers fight among themselves.

Fear and Anger

The media will continue to stir up fear and anger. More 'news' about Russia, North Korea and the dangers of the Middle East will keep the citizens quiet about the billions approved for the military. Stories about those billions will include words to suggest this money if for the brave men and women in uniform. There will be no breakdown of the money in the latest Bill. Part of this Military Spending Legislation will be used by The Department of Energy. I wonder if it will help fund another 'green company' in bed with the President and some lawmakers . . .

With all of today's technology, the Congress will continue to avoid showing proposed legislation to the people. The media will make no demands. They are selling fear and anger, not news.

New Accusations

The Penn State sex scandal will lead to additional accusations against schools and coaches. Long-term 'suppressed memory' cases and other sudden outcries will come in large numbers. Somehow, law-suits will help the victims live with their pain.

It is interesting to note that when taking my 'children' to college, I was told that because the 'children' were 18 years old, their grades were private. Although I could pay for my daughter's education, I was not entitled to see their grades. It is interesting to note that 18-year olds are of voting age.

In some states 17-year olds are tried as adults. Based on circumstances, some 15 year olds are tried as adults.

It is interesting to note that at 17, 18, or 19 years of age the 'children' cannot prevent another adult from molesting them. They do not know how to say 'no' or 'stop' and they do not know how to file a report with the college or the police.

Coaches that attempt to engage in inappropriate sexual misconduct should be reported and fired. School officials aware of such conduct should be reported and fired. All parties should be arrested and charged where sufficient probably cause exists.

Question: If an 18 year old man does not report a coach, is he libel for the abuse of children by the same coach tomorrow?

Eliminate monetary damages and watch the accusations go away.

Political Will

Last week's Wall Street Journal ran an editorial about the riots in England and much of what was written about cause and effect applies to situations in the USA. The stand-out paragraph answered the question, "What did we get for our liberal welfare programs?"  Essentially we received groups that view work as a 'lifestyle option' that they are not interested in pursuing. In other words, people no longer view government polices that take money from workers to give to those in real need. They view this process as a right to choose work or living forever off hand-outs.

It makes sense. When the value of welfare checks, food stamps, medical coverage, subsidized housing, free meals at school, free or reduced membership at the YMCA and other organizations, and other programs are totaled they exceed minimum wage.

The answer is not to raise minimum wage. The answer is to only offer work programs in exchange for food stamps, etc. The answer is to eliminate 'unemployment benefits' and to offer work for payments. Its called a job. (Why should anyone benefit from unemployment? Don't we want people to work? Unemployment insurance should be used to provide temporary work where people can earn money. Many people interviewed on TV and Radio programs say that they will look for work when the benefits run out).

The lack of political will and the focus on getting re-elected almost guarantees that things will not change. Some are questioning if a democratic republic is possible because of this very situation. It certainly provokes intelligent thought.

Who Has the Special Need?

The National Down Syndrome Congress was a life-changing event. Surrounded by hundreds of dancing and laughing children, sharing meals and engaging the children and parents in conversation refocused everything in life.

At some point during the weekend, I began wondering what these children see. So many of them have eyes that drift upward and even some parents told me that they wonder how the children seem things. The closest way to describe the look on their faces is to imagine the look of people that are deep in prayer. I am not talking about endless repetitions of the Lord’s Prayer, but the type of prayer where one feels to be in communion with God. That is the look of these children.

We refer to these children as ‘special needs’ children, but I wonder. . .

Perhaps they can see the angels and see God in ways that we cannot imagine. Perhaps everyone else is really the ‘special needs’ person.

Certainly, these children are instantly trusting of everyone. They seem to just exist to love and to be loved. How odd that we others think that these children have ‘special needs’ when it may be that we have the real special needs. Suppose, as fanciful and Pollyannaish as it sounds, everyone trusted everyone and all we needed to be happy were to love and be loved. Perhaps a more accurate way of stating it would be to say, suppose every person recognized that all we needed to be happy were to love and be loved.