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Written by Randy Walters
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Friday, 15 July 2011 11:29 |
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Former President and Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower warned us about the Military Industrial Complex, and we did not listen. Since his term as president ended in 1960 we have been in one conflict after another. The loss of American lives and the cost of these conflicts have been enormous. Even so, we continue our actions.---
Technology gives our troops more efficient methods of killing, but the troops must still confront their enemies which puts them in danger of being killed or injured. Troops confronting troops has been the tactic of war throughout history. Boundaries were changed, empires were toppled, dictators came and went, and each instance is accompanied by much death and destruction.---
The terrible truth to all of this is that it can be avoided. The United States is armed with nuclear weapons that could be used as a great deterrent to conflict. The thought of using them is terrible, but the result of their use is not much different than the results achieved by using lesser weapons.---
A nuclear weapon eliminates Martyrs, Heroes, and any need to send troops into harms way. The only time they were used in battle was to stop the barbarian Japanese war machine in 1945, and their results were both successful and cost effective, especially in terms of American lives saved.---
Sending out troops into battle with planes, guns, and all the other conventional items of war is a done at a great cost in money and blood. If our goal in war is to stop an enemy from either attacking us or our allies and deter others from even thinking of such behavior the nuclear weapon is the solution.---
There are those who will argue that the use of such weapons is unthinkable. The use of any weapon should be unthinkable, but if there is absolutely no other choice but to go to war we should commit in a manner that is decisive to the point of making opposing religious or political ideologies inconsequential.---
The terrorists who send young suicide bombers to kill our people would soon run out of volunteers if the devoted knew their actions would bring about certain death for their own people on a massive disproportional scale. They may be willing to martyr themselves, but the certain knowledge that their actions would bring about a reign of nuclear fire and total death to their own people might cause them to decide against such lofty feelings of self righteousness.---
Should the certain knowledge of the consequence of their actions fail as a deterrent, it will absolutely succeed in stopping many others from following in their footsteps as they will be dead. In that scenario the factor of deterrence is successful.---
In order to achieve the goal of no more war it seems necessary that those who would kill us must be shown what we are willing to do in order to protect our nation’s security. They should be warned, and if they attack again the response should be swift and devastating. There should never be any doubt as to our resolve.---
We may not be able to locate and kill the people in charge, but eventually we can kill enough of their own people as to make it difficult to find enough people for a prayer service let alone a jihad.---
The comments I’ve made about the use of our nuclear arsenal may sound mean spirited to some, but war is mean spirited and should only be entered into as a last resort. Once that level of hostility has been reached the use of any lesser weapons amounts to either an economic stimulus for the Military Industrial Complex or a method of inflicting torture on our own people.
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AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS…… |
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Written by Randy Walters
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Friday, 15 July 2011 11:24 |
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Growing up in the 1950s without all the modern amenities of today forced my mother to read me stories. When we entered the modern world via television many of those stories were converted into cartoons and their messages were further engrained. Had the authors and animators known what was to come they would have surely changed the message.---
For instance, the story of the Ant and the Grasshopper with it’s moral of preparing through hard work and saving would never gain the popularity today it had then. In today’s version the Grasshopper would simply have gone to the bank and borrowed enough to get through the winter.
He would have borrowed enough to not only get by, but to continue living and partying in the style to which he had become accustomed. When the payments on the loan came due and the grasshopper was short on cash he would simply have ignored the notices and filed for bankruptcy.---
The Three Little Pigs would not have to be afraid of the Big Bad Wolf. All they would need do is get a restraining order as it is clear now the wolf was violating the pigs’ civil rights with all that huffing and puffing. That’s right, the wolf was a smoker, and the pigs were being exposed to the wolf’s second hand smoke in a “No Huffing or Puffing Zone.”---
The “Little Old with so many children she didn’t know what to do, well she would have hit the lottery in today’s version of the story. She would only have to file the proper paperwork to receive payments from the government for each of the children, food stamps, medical cards, daycare allotments, and student loans to go back to school.---
Since there was never any mention of the Little Old Lady’s husband it’s safe to assume he had split the scene leaving her with the kids. Again, it’s just a matter of paperwork as the Little Old Lady can demand child support and her ex will be shelling out enough for her to afford a new shoe, or maybe even a pair in which to live. If the children were fathered by different dads the Little Old Lady can get court ordered support from each of them on an individual basis and come out even better.---
As for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” now we have a real problem. The title would have to be changed to “Snow White and the Seven Height Challenged Persons,” and her chances of getting financial or other help from the government would be slim to none.---
The mistake made in this story is the work ethic of the height challenged persons. They would be forced to help pay for the services rendered to the Three Little Pigs, the Little Old Lady and her kids, and the extra charges levied by the bank in order to make up for the grasshopper.---
There would also be no help for Grumpy’s Anger Management sessions, Dopey’s drug problem, and Sneezie would not be able to get the medicine for his allergies without a prescription. They would be left entirely on their own due to their lifestyle of work. They would further be exiled from the general population as a result of their choice of music. “Whistle while you work.”---
The only hope for the group is unemployment. It’s a pretty good bet that at least some of the height challenged persons would have lost their job in this economy. This will entitle them to years of unemployment, and if one of them happens to get Snow White pregnant, well that’s a whole different slant on the story.---
The authors of such stories would certainly be challenged today to get their message across. They might not even be able to find an outlet for such antiquated ideas. After all, Sponge Bob is the happening dude today, and the references within that mess are not at all what would have been accepted in earlier times.---
That they are accepted now is proof positive that parents don’t pay attention to the moral, or lack thereof, contained within children’s stories now playing.
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IT’S KENTUCKY, ANYTHING GOES |
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Written by Randy Walters
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Friday, 15 July 2011 11:18 |
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In Kentucky it’s safe to say “Anything goes,” when it concerns, “To the victor goes the spoils.” This applies to the attitude now held by the elite and the politically powerful when it comes to taking what they consider to be their “Due.”---
Three examples come to mind in defense of this statement for this writer. Three instances in which the leadership of our state and our most well known facility of higher education have assumed the right to fatten their buddies with our money.---
Governor Beshear is no stranger to using tax dollars as a reward for political support with his appointments of favor to Ben Chandler’s wife in the transportation department, and Jeremy Horton as a “Policy Advisor.”
Beshear also sought and got an exemption to Kentucky Law which saved 82 political appointment positions in 2010. Hey, it was just a tad over $5 million the law would have saved by abolishing the positions and God knows we can afford it, or not, after all this is Kentucky.---
The next crock of waste comes from the almighty University of Kentucky. This bastion of learning should have an entire department devoted to nothing but cronyism. Cronyism 101 being an introductory course which makes students familiar with the notion that morality is a gray area not to be taken seriously by those wishing to succeed. Or, in the words of the great Curly Howard of The Three Stooges, “If at first you don’t succeed, keep on suckin till you do suck a seed.”---
It would seem that outgoing UK President Lee Todd is still sucking for the seed. The Lexington Herald Leader is reporting that Todd will not be gone when he leaves the top spot, but will be hanging on as a tenured Engineering Professor.---
This is most likely a piddle job for Todd so as to keep him busy in his later years, and at the measly salary of $162,000 a year who will ever notice? Unless, of course, you take into consideration the students who are suffering with tuition hikes, rising prices, higher student loan costs, and the little things involved in getting an education in a state ranked at or near the bottom of the nation in education.---
We must also take into consideration the working families of Kentucky who pay taxes to support higher education, and then must make sacrifices at home in order to help provide an education for their children.---
Hey, Baby, it’s Kentucky, and anything goes when it comes to tax dollars. And, this stuff is perfectly legal. It is reminiscent of the carload of voters who showed up at a Perry County Precinct to vote. The patriarch of the four in the car got out and told one of the local vote buyers. “We don’t want to cheat nobody, we just want what’s due us, $15.00 each.” (This was a long time ago as you can tell by the amount. The price now is up around $75 to $100 or a high mg pain killer per vote, so I’ve been told.)---
Logic would tell you that the Beshear political appointees, and UK’s retention of Todd at $162,000 per year is just “What’s due them,” according to the standards set by whoever’s in charge at the time. Whatever they decide to be the right amount for cronies and political supporters is the right amount because this is Kentucky, and anything goes.---
I will now take this opportunity to put my name into contention for any of the upcoming political crony type appointments available. I can be contacted through the Jefferson Review or on my face book page. Oh, if you wish me to do more than just show up we will have to negotiate.---
Thank you so very $$ much,
Randy Walters
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URGENT NEWS FOR KENTUCKY-DEATH FOR COAL! |
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Written by Randy Walters and Joey Lewis
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Wednesday, 01 June 2011 14:35 |
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Life in Kentucky is nearing a change that is like nothing we’ve ever seen thanks to the EPA and Kentucky’s Division of Water. Together these two government entities are doing more damage to our economy than a trainload of terrorists wearing suicide vests.---
The Kentucky Division of Water has now decided that any operation that discharges water and has a KPDES, Kentucky Pollution Discharge Eliminating System permit will be held to the same standard as the coal industry---.
This will include every industry in the state as well as the sewage plants owned and operated by our municipalities. To put this into perspective it means the water testing people who had previously been able to measure for water conductivity down stream from the outlet will have to start taking their samples at the source of the discharge as has always been the case for mining.---
To make things even sweeter the EPA is now starting to introduce standards for water that will be less than 300 micro ohms per centimeter. Their logic is that continued discharge of water into Kentucky’s waterways, (eastern Kentucky) will kill off insects such as the Mayfly.
The Mayfly is doing just fine at this time, but they are predicting the future without solid scientific proof. The study they used to bring about the water conductivity scam is the “Pool” study, and it is not definitive. In fact, the study itself admits the possibility of not being correct.---
This change in monitoring that will require all Kentucky permit holders be held to the same standards as the coal industry will cost Kentucky more than it can be realistically expected to pay. Not only will the cost of operating a manufacturing facility go sky high, but also the cost of flushing our toilets will become restrictive.
If you doubt the effect these bureaucrats will have on your financial status you are making a mistake. These tests are expensive, but the real cost will come in the form of upgrades to make the permit holders’ facilities compliant to state and federal regulation. It will be nothing for the operators of sewage disposal plants to have to come up with millions of dollars for their systems.---
The water conductivity controversy has been mainly aimed at the coal industry, but the coal industry is not the bad boy in this deal. No, the highest water conductivity discharge levels are found in sewage plant discharge, and from storm drain run-off. To find coal mining in relationship to water conductivity you have to search much further down the list of polluters.---
Biologist Joey Lewis of Hyden, Kentucky, and this writer, both representing Coal Fed Families, testified before the Kentucky Senate’s Natural Resource and Energy Committee in February of 2009, and told the members of the committee to expect this action to take place in the future.---
We also warned them of the financial consequence it would create for local municipalities and Kentucky manufacturing concerns in that meeting these standards would require major funding. Any entity with a KPDES permit will be held to this standard, and 2012 is the year that many of these permits come up for renewal.---
To make matters worse, the EPA has pulled all the pending permits for mining coal in Region IV. Their reason is one of mistrust of quality assurance requirements and testing of water in the region. The order to hold the permits up came directly from the White House. Unless this action is rescinded we will soon start to see mining come to a halt.---
This will mean higher utility rates for everyone who owns a light bulb, and will drive industry from the state, possible the nation when you consider the international concerns, like GE, who operate here now.---
All the talk about EPA easing up on requirements and regulation as a result of the adverse effect it will have on the economy were no more than the usual lip service we in the coalfields have had to deal with since Obama went into office.---
Kentucky is getting shafted by the Obama Administration’s liberal EPA crew, and by Kentucky’s current Attorney General and Governor. Governor Beshear talks a big talk, but has not walked the walk in looking out for Kentucky. He has not filed a state sovereignty suit, nor has our liberal attorney general.---
Coal Fed Families warned you about the possibility of such a situation, and now it is happening. Contact your representatives and senators both state and national. Tell them to back off or plan on leaving public office.---
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POWER RATES-UP, UP, AND AWAY |
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Written by Randy Walters
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Tuesday, 31 May 2011 11:11 |
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The May 25th issue of the Courier Journal cited yet another desire by LG&E and KU to raise their rates. LGE wants 19% more by 2016, and KU wants 12% for their larger customer base. They want this, according to them, as a result of the federal government and environmental regulations.---
The contradiction to the claims blaming federal regulations was brought about when energy companies like Duke Energy and General (we don’t need no stinking taxes) Electric lobbied for Cap and Trade. Their interest in the bill was to add another source of income through the trading and sale of Carbon Tax Credits.---
These tax credits would have been a financial bonanza for the larger corporations at the expense of consumers who would have been charged from every angle. Electricity rates would have become a economic disaster to families and small businesses under a system that would have required higher rates at the threat of the providers going out of business.---
The kicker came when Cap and Trade was not passed. In order to keep up with their environmentally militant agenda the EPA decided to implement the Cap and Trade policy on its own. Recently they have stated they would back away from some of the regulations they were putting into place as a result of the already failing economy, and no doubt the political implications of the upcoming presidential election.---
The power companies’ plans for Cap and Trade Carbon Tax Credit funds almost slipped away, but the EPA still has its fingerprints on one of the nation’s biggest scams in the form of upgrades to coal fired power plants.---
The Public Service Commission of Kentucky granted huge power rate increases in the neighborhood of 19% even though it was touted as 17%. (This writer was told by an AEP Employee that only power company employees got the 17%, the rest of their customers paid an additional 19%.---
The timing on that increase was perfect. It came at a time when power rates were already adjusted upwards in the winter months of November through March. It’s as if the Public Service Commission should change its name to “The Power Company Commission.”---
The role of the Public Service Commission in Kentucky has steadily taken on the appearance of the EPA in Washington. They are appointed officials who, unchecked, have pushed the price of electricity to all time high rates.---
The EPA attack on coal will continue no matter what they say in their press releases. The environmentalists in conjunction with corporate lobbying pressures are putting America in the position of shooting the horse (coal) 20 years before the advent of the automobile. We simply do not have the energy alternatives to which the president and his liberal environmental base keep alluding.---
The bearers of this burden as always are working families who pay taxes. The population of this group is reflected by the unemployment numbers nationwide. Fewer people working and paying taxes will result in those workers having to pay a larger share.---
This can be attributed to failed economic policies which demand more taxes from businesses causing prices to increase, or worse, jobs to be lost. Increasing power rates on working families will have the same effect.---
The more money Kentucky families have to dedicate from their budgets to pay for electricity, the less money they will have for other items. The only choice left them will be not to spend money. When we stop supporting businesses with our purchases they will have no alternative but to down-size.---
A capitalist society is dependent upon a rotation of money. When a concentrated effort such as the combined actions of the EPA and the Power Companies slows these transactions the system faces failure.---
Kentucky has been operating on all of the above negative ingredients. Failed economic policies in the form of over taxation of business, liberal spending that has pushed the state into tremendous debt, and an unelected Public Service Commission that sees no bottom to the consumer’s pockets paints a dismal outlook for the Commonwealth.---
Sadly enough, the current batch of politicians from which we must choose to help solve these problems are mainly the same folks who created and fostered them along. LGE and KU will most likely get their rate increases approved as there are no lights of logic shining in Frankfort.---
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