H1N1 Flu Pandemic - Warning!

The Watchman has a special interest in public health, having worked in the field for a number years on the environmental side as well as having a degree in environment health science. The transmission of disease has always fascinated me as well as the detective work it takes to figure out how it happens. Nearly a year ago we heard about a serious form of influenza striking in the heart of Mexico. At the time public health officials down-played the threat, relegating the new virus to "no big deal" status. Later, officials took it off the watch list and most public health workers breathed a sigh of relief. Another flu pandemic bullet dodged. Or so they believed.

In July the World Health Organization (WHO) revised their call, and declared the H1N1 flu a true pandemic virus. Late last week WHO public health officials warned of a new twist to the virus, its attack on the human respiratory system directly, with deadly outcomes previously not anticipated. Severe H1N1 It appears this virus has particularly nasty habit of attacking children and young adults. If true to form, it will also kill the elderly either from the flu or complications such as pneumonia.

What is so eerie about this virus is its copy-cat sneaky invasion as the great Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919. That virus acted very similar in its docile appearance early on, then after one or two waves around the world, it mutated into something truly terrify and very deadly. If you want to read about one of the darkest times in world health, take a look at John M. Barry's "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History". It is truly scary how the pandemic spread with hardly any official government action out of fears it might cause panic or worse negatively impact the war effort. But equally comforting is the realization that much of what we today call modern health care was born out of the American medical profession's response to the crisis, as well as, the heroic effort of micro-biologists to find answers in the budding American research labs.

The Watchman's advice is to review your personal medical situation, get vaccinated if in one of the high risk groups, and heed FEMA/CDC guides for preparation of prolonged disruption of normal public services. Think on this: most medium and small towns have maybe two or three employees who know to operate the drinking water system. If they become sick, who will ensure safe water continues to be pumped into the distribution system. Same for waste water, trash collection, food distribution and so on. In 1918, in some cities the dead were piled outside of homes and city workers carted the dead off to mass burial plots. The story of Philadelphia is particularly instructive on how a pandemic can spread and what consequences occur without proper and timely public health action.

I don't mean to cause panic or spread wild rumors, but an ounce of prevention is worth pounds of cure, and just maybe your life.

What Ever Happened to Marcus Welby, MD

I wonder where and when Marcus Welby, MD disappeared from the scene? You might not remember Doctor Marcus Welby. He was a dedicated family practitioner who combined cool intellect with professional acumen and was a highly successful doctor. In fact he was so successful many others were encouraged likewise to become doctors. What Dr. Welby did for the medical profession is much like what the TV shows about CSI is doing for forensic science: motivate people to take on a challenging career.

Lest you think Marcus Welby, MD was a real doctor that he was not. He was a character played by Robert Young from 1969 to 1976 in the medical drama of the same name. The show was number one in its second year and stayed in the top 20 for most of its run. But what I find myself contemplating was how Dr. Welby seemed to focus on curing the sick, not fighting insurance companies and government regulation. Even more odd, was the show only had one nurse and the nurse also worked as the practices' secretary! Amazingly, there were never any shows about the ability of a patent's ability to pay the office visit or co-pay.

What happened between 1969 and 2009? Here are a few ideas:

** Malpractice Insurance went through the roof due to unrestrained lawsuit payouts. Thank you John 'medical trial lawyer' Edwards, et al.
** Employer paid insurance benefits to union workers - non-union companies forced to follow suit to acquire top workers. Also private policy insurance can't compete
** Demise of major medical policies replaced by full coverage policies. Increased risk equates to increased costs even if spread over millions of policy holders.
** HIPPA - Single biggest invasion of government in health care to date. How many privacy act statements have you signed? Each one has to be processed and recorded.
** US Food and Drug Agency - More governmental requirements and costs, some for safety to be sure, many inane rules that only increase costs.
** Doctor rationing by medical schools. Fewer doctors means greater pay for demand
** Insurance networks - Doctors either join the network or have no patients
** Demise of single owner - private hospitals and independent Doctors. Now all are part of big corporate operations and networks having huge overhead costs.
** Third Party Administrators - Part of overhead to control costs - Often the insurance company's gate keeper for coverage.
** 12+ million illegal immigrants going to emergency rooms for treatment.
** Over use of specialist - MRIs and Labs in every facility & if the ailment can't be fixed in the allotted 15 minutes with the PCP, its off to a specialist.
** Indulgent society I -Pills for everything - A no pain society.
** Indulgent society II - Triple Bacon Cheese Whoppers for lunch with a giant side of FF & gulp cup coke.
** Indulgent society III - we drive to the post box instead of walk.

Next time you go to the doctor, count the number of non-medically related folks you observe. Every one of them with the exception of the receptionist is there because of insurance claim processing, government documentation requirements, or financial accounting. Thirty years ago, Consuelo Lopez, Dr. Welby's loyal and able nurse had time to hand out candy to the children. Now she's too busy with meeting the increasing demands of the industrial-medical complex.

Off The Reservation...For a Day

Took the day off and went for a nice ride on the V-Star up to Woodland Park. Wow, why didn't I discover the stress releasing wonder of zooming along at 60 MPH through tight mountain curves sooner? Such power and smooth motoring. Amazing machine and fun to control. I just might give up the working life and ride off into the sunset. Oh..guess I've got to pay for the bike and my other bad habits.

Why Are We Outraged?

The Watchman came across news of the "End-of-Life Guide" supposedly brought back into distribution to Veterans by the Obama Administration. The airwaves are a twitter with outrage and one Senator (Arlen "Turn Coat" Spector) hotly called for a congressional investigation. Guess that's one way to shore up a weasel's flip flopping. As it turns out, apparently the guide was published up to 1997 when it was taken out of circulation. While the BHO administration is dumb to bring it back now while we are all arguing over 'death panels', it was used in past democratic and republican led VA administrations. So let's call this one, at least on the surface, a draw.

That said, the blogs title, "Why Are We Outraged?" reflects the concern of our apparent national hypocrisy over death issues, where death is either at the hands of an abortionist or from the needle for euthanasia of our elders. Indeed why are we outraged? With abortion, killing an innocent unborn defenseless baby, it is done with nary a thought or a how-de-do. The industrial-abortion factories churn out over 1.5 million abortions a year. Big business if I ever saw one! So why the outrage over suggesting a few Vets think of offing themselves? The true 100% disabled, functionally worthless blobs of living tissue are hardly any different than their younger yet unborn counter parts at the other end of the spectrum. Wouldn't it be more convenient for them and other non-vets of similar circumstance to simply pull the plug and just DIE. They are a burden on society aren't they? They require constant care like a baby don't they? They might be of a terrible home-family situation where the wife does crack or is a prostitute. May be the parents don't have extra money to care for their wounded Solider, the poor soul would be sentenced to a life of deprivation. So wouldn't it be just better for the Vet and disabled if we just ended their lives for them? They probably would thank us, don't you think?

Once a nation begins to slide down that slippery slope of considering one segment of society to be worthless, it doesn't take long to find other segments to be equally unworthy of life, liberty, and happiness. So if you are going to be outraged about suggesting we snuff out disabled Vets, handicapped, and elderly citizens, then you'd better be outraged by the blind killing of the unborn. By the millions.

Whole Foods Markets - Part II

The Left is in full attack mode. Several months ago the Watchman made the observation that one of the tactics of socialists and Marxists is to first to eat their own so as to consolidate power and enable focused effort on those who oppose their plans. We are now seeing the first signs of this phenomenon. I reported on Whole Foods' CEO, Mr. Mackey, audacity to write an opinion in opposition to President Obama's health care plans and how the left's reaction was to declare war on Whole Foods by boycotting the business. Apparently over 18,000 incensed customers wrote to Whole Foods' Facebook page indicating they are no longer going to patronize Whole Foods. They are declaring Mr. Mackey is a out-of-the-closet conservative worthy of having his business fall into bankrupcy and thousands of workers put on the unemployment line as punishment for daring to oppose BHO's form of health care reform. But let's take a closer look at Mr. Mackey.

Two years ago, Mr. Mackey looked at his own personal income and values he ascribes too and decided he could live comfortably on what his investments brought in. So he set his CEO pay at $1.00 per year. Yes you read that right. One US Dollar per year. Then during the past year of recession his company HIRED 8,200 workers, making good on their promise to continued provision of first class service to their patrons. Then he decided that all future stock options he would gain as the CEO would be DONATED to charity. Now tell me does this sound like a raving radical right-wing, gun toting, Bible thumping, red necked conservative? Not to me. Kind of wish I worked for Whole Foods!

Because one man dared to present eight common sense reform proposals that conflicted with the party line, he and Whole Foods is being pilloried. The left smells blood in the water and a feeding frenzy is underway.

This weekend, head to a local Whole Foods Market, ask for the manager, and tell him that you are there not because you agree with Mr. Mackey, but because you support his (and our) right to free speech without fear of potential retribution by those who can not win the argument on substance.

Never Underestimate Americans: A lesson for us all

A friend sent the Watchman this video. Regardless of your political views, left or right, one can't help but be moved by the message this young man created.

This resulted from a Mom in Alabama asking her high school son to help with a commercial for the Tea Party she was involved in organizing. It truly slams the message home. Very impressive. Here is her note: "I asked Justin if he could help me make a commercial for my group's Tea Party. He sat down at the laptop for about an hour, and then brought this to me and asked, is this okay, Mom?' After I finished watching it, my stomach was in my throat. Everyone that I have sent it to has really enjoyed it, so I wanted my friends to see it. I am so proud!" A very powerful video...turn up the sound & sit back!

Tea Party Commercial

2009 - The Summer That Never Came and The Check is in the Mail

I know most of my friends in Kansas will scream foul, but believe it or not here in Colorado we've never really had summer. In Colorado Springs we have had record lows and rain just about every other day, and cloudy when not raining. Hottest day has been 87 and if I recall, that lasted all of ten minutes before the clouds moved in for the afternoon rain. If this is global warming, then I'm most glad for it. Where our landscape is usually by mid-August a burnt brown with dust devils blowing skyward, we have a verdant green, rich in every hue. Only draw back is with the cool nights and lukewarm days, the Watchman's tomatoes aren't ripening very well. If they don't, then I'm going to have a giant, all you can eat, green tomato fry on the patio with lots of zucchini bread!

The Watchman can't resist a little political observation. As you all know I've been closely keeping an eye on the health care legislation debate and other wonders of the BHO administration. I heard reported this morning that less than 2% of the car dealers who have submitted the paperwork for reimbursement for fronting the Cash 4 Clunkers program have yet to receive payment. Wonder how many dealerships will now go under because they couldn't get the thousands they loaned the administration for the program with the promise of quick payback. Had to laugh as the Watchman deals with contract payments to vendors every day and after seeing how inept the "electronic" payment system is, I would never want to bet my company's net worth on the "Prompt Payment Act". We had one case where a data entry clerk innocently typed in the wrong 4-digit code for the defense pay office and it took over 5 months to get it straightened out! (By the way the vendor elected NOT to claim interest as he rightly figured the original payment of $82.0K would be held up to process the claim.)

These two activities, Clunkers and Contractor payments, are good evidence of how we don't want government 'innovating' health care administration. I can see going to the death committee's web site and typing in the wrong code so instead of having your ingrown toe nail removed, you get a vasectomy instead. Or how cheerful do you think Doc Miller going to be when you next visit, he hasn't gotten payment for your last three visits, and the local Obamacare point of contact tells the good doctor the 'check is in the mail'.

Aspects to ponder, eh?

Whole Foods for Whole People

Fox News reports upon publication of John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods, opinion in the Friday Wall Street Journal on the health care debt the left wing nuts are forming an all out boycott of the chain. (Whole Foods CEO's Health Care Views Provoke Some Customers to Boycott Store) His opinion contains some pretty grounded ideas on how to fix what needs fixing and leaving that part of the health system that works alone. Nutters on the left wrote comments such as:

"While it was a horrible business move, it was a great courtesy," a commenter identified as boycottwf wrote. "Now, I know that my dollars spent at whole foods are going to fund your misguided conservative views."

The commenter added, "Until you publicly apologize to the nation and pledge that you will provide better benefits to your employees, I will not spend another dime at your store."

BETTER benefits for employees!! Most of the 45 million uninsured would kill for his company's health program that lets workers develop a roll-over health savings account ultimately belonging to them and not Dear Leader Obama. Actually boycottwf''s dollars goes to employee a whole bunch of organic vendors and world wide PC producers of natural products lefty nutters need to keep their karma in alignment with the star Polaris.

Another so-called enlightened lefty wrote:

".......identified as Betrayed, who claims to have been a customer for
nearly 20 years, said, "I was so shocked to read Mr. Mackey's horrible, horrible
opinion in the WSJ. I hope this severely hurts his profits. His customer base is
mostly liberal Democrats who will, like me, be horrified at what we have been
supporting all this time."

Just like the liberal left, whine about things while sipping their organic Chi as they check out of Whole Foods after buying the latest political correct coffee or chocolate. (Obvious a shallow customer: buys organic but hasn't a clue about the business principles of the company.) The boycott will flame out eventually as the left really doesn't want to give up the only quality source of organic foods in many cities.

Apparently neither of the posters to WSJ must have understood what Mr. Mackey wrote. Talk about knee-jerk reaction. What could be more organic and natural than home grown health care, where the local community and individuals take care of themselves. Mackey's is all for over-haul of the health care system, just he wants the incremental, targeted changes that will make an immediate and real impact to millions of citizens. Power to the people, not Washington DC. Actually several of his improvements are part of the proposed plans, stated in plain language, and doesn't require Big Brother's hand in our wallet to do it.

The Watchman for one will be happy to go to Whole Foods. I call on all conservatives to support Mr. Mackey for his right to operate Whole Foods the way he wants and encourage his proactive approach to employee benefits.

Reason #2 Why Government Should Not Run Health Care

Thus far in my investigation, no where in the legislation does it state how much I will pay for government health care and when it will actually be available. When a mutual fund sales person presents a sales pitch to buy shares in a fund, by law, they have to provide a prospectus of the fund to inform you of what the current cost per share is and what the investment consists of. If you sign up, they have to tell you when your shares will be purchased and most importantly if you sell your shares when they will be sold. In the health care legislation, neither of these facts are presented. In fact it appears the authors have purposely wrote the legislation such that a platoon of lawyers would be needed to determine what it does or doesn't do!

The preamble to both House and Senate bills state the purpose of the laws are to provide affordable health care to all citizens. So how can we know what if it is affordable if no individual premium cost is presented? The Congressional Budget Office presented numbers of the cost for the overall program, but how does that translate to what we have to render to Cesar? How will can we evaluate what our individual cost will be in comparison to our current costs? We need to know this before a law is passed the creates a massive overhaul of the system that may be irreversible with out substantial damage to our economy. Should we know the cost before we sign the papers? And shouldn't we know what the base line rules are for entry into and exit from the public option? I think so. President Obama owes us a truth in health care cost explanation.

Reason # 1 Why Government Should Not Run Health Care

The Watchman is a government employee for the military-industrial complex. So I have a pretty good idea of how government run, public option, Obama-Care or what ever euphemism is used to describe a system where government is involved in health care administration will actually operate. The #1 reason is bureaucratic ineptitude and multiple layers of redundant and non-value added approval processes. Every government employee wants cover. That's called CYA in most circles. So every, and I do mean every, decision from buying toilet paper to nuclear weapons has layer upon layer of required approvals from start to finish. I work the environmental arena, and to acquire a simple service such as inventorying the number of blue eyed deer on our installation using a contractor takes no less than 10 civilians from GS-11 to GM-15 passing judgement and if the action involves greater than $1.0M, six more high paid upper level command staff have to sign off on it! All but three are non-value added steps that cost you the tax payer big bucks. (You may ask why doesn't the Watchman just go out and count the deer himself. I would love to, but then who would do all the approvals for the other projects?) Multiple this one action by 10thousand and you see why military has to have so many government employees.

Now, just imagine having to process claims for 375 million people enrolled in public option health care! Only one benefit to this is a lower unemployment rate, but then do you want Doug who took 10th grade three times to be in the approval chain to get your new kidneys? While a shortage of doctors/nurses will result in rationed care, there will be plenty of bureaucrats by the thousands to review your request, passing the paper in an endless loop of CYA. So far I haven't seen any discussion of the HOW on implementation of the democratic plans. And that my friends is just the tip of the iceberg waiting to rip out the guts of American health care system.

Who Would Have Thought?

"McCarthyism is the politically motivated practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence." (italics added)

Who would have thought the Democrats would resurrect the vestige of Senator Joseph McCarthy? The Watchman was born in 1952 smack dab in the middle of the big "Red Scare". Many younger folks don't remember much about that black spot on American history, but the story now needs to be relearned. Over the past two weeks we have heard a rising crescendo of accusation and innuendo by Democratic Congressional leadership, especially Speaker Pelosi, that characterizes citizens who attend their local congressional Representatives town halls as "Nazis" and "unAmerican". Speaker Pelosi has no evidence Nazis are running the protests, nor is it unAmerican to dissent. In fact I thought is was the democrats who invented the concept during Viet Nam, Gulf I and II. At that time it was considered "patriotic" to dissent. But I guess not now, when the President anoints a plan to socialize health care in America.

The Obama White House in a frenzy of fear, promotes a web site and an email address where "fishy" people can be reported as fermenting dissent on the chosen plan. With this new tactic, as stupid as calling an entire police department stupid, brings the specter of "McCarthyism". Again, who would have ever thought this would happen again in America?

The Watchman considers it no small risk to register his dissent to the health care program being shoved down the communal throats of American citizens. If McCarthy was able to black list whole groups of people for alleged communist ties, its not too hard to imagine what the Administration could do with today's modern electronic technology. Is it too far fetched to think my last tax return might suddenly be picked for an audit? Or how about monitoring my financial records or cell phone. Remember the Patriot Act, that allows the government to eavesdrop? Under a moral President we're safe, under Obama, I'm not so sure he won't twist the law to his own use. Or maybe I'll get a visit from an Acorn or Union staff member, carrying a pick-axe handle, to persuade me to reconsider my view. As a federal employee, might my name surface for a "reduction in force"? You laugh...ask those black listed during the Red Scare.

It is most disturbing to see leaders who should know better, insult and castigate the average citizen for taking a stand in opposition to the government under their Constitutional First Amendment rights. And for the White House to energize a "Fink" site is alarmingly similar to the old Soviet Union's methods to intimidate its comrades into submission. Every American of every political party should call on the Administration to immediately stop this activity. For if it continues, then every American should be most afraid of the ghost of McCarthy past.

Quiet Weekend

The Watchman had a pretty quiet two days. Cleaned the garage. Made another 6 pounds of sauerkraut. Killed some weeds with round-up. Burned a couple of steaks on the grill. Had green fried tomatoes. Walked the dogs. Threw a couple of pots on the wheel. Dabbed some paint on a picture I've been working on. Watched a little TV.

I often watch the home & garden channel while making breakfast. Never ceases to amaze me how we are gently inculcated to believe bigger is better, more is not enough, and we can have it all. The real estate shows where home owners want to know if they can get a bazillion dollars for their 4,500 SF house so they can buy a 5,500 SF house. One house had a bedroom so big that you'd need a GPS unit to find the bathroom from the bed. The owner wasn't satisfied with it! For the Watchman life is about contentment. Being happy with what you have and not struggling to have more, bigger,faster and now. I think we'd all be a little more happy if we turned off the tube and sat in a lawn chair to watch the sun go down and the stars come out!

May I Ask Your Thoughts?

A reader wrote to The Watchman with a question regarding my blog on abortion and Volvos: "Without wanting to take any particular side in the argument, may I ask for your thoughts about medical cases where the decision for an abortion is offered as an alternative to maternal death if the pregnancy proceeds?"

My thoughts? From my perspective the situation represents the worse case scenario for any couple to face. A couple reached a point in their marriage where children are desired and then suddenly their dreams, hopes, and desires are dashed. Making it far worse, they face a terrible decision, to risk carrying the child to term, endangering the mother, losing a spouse, or terminating the life they've created in their union of love. The decision is a heart rendering situation and a moral conundrum. I'm sure it has been faced by many couples. Each feeling their way forward in this dark passage of their life, hoping they made the right decision, all the while looking for a light to give them assurance in the end all will be well.

For my part, the decision is an intensely personal and private decision. The community should not look upon what ever decision is made negatively. I'm not a theologian, but in my understanding, our loving Father who created us in His own image, would not condemn an individual for either committing the abortion or opting to carry the baby to term in this situation, if their motives were genuinely driven by a desire to do what is best/right.

Where this situation gets murky is the interpretation of "life threatening
condition" and how one arrived at the point of decision. There are
individuals and medical providers who will look for any excuse to abort
a child, thus the "life of the mother" reason is a convenient retreat
when other reasons are not available. Is the decision reached on a whim, the word of one planned parenthood doctor or made after searching one's heart and gaining greater wisdom from other objective physicians.

However, again, what mortal can know the true motive of another person's heart? My animosity against abortion is its indiscriminate use as a general population control method. The abortion practice results in the unintended consequence of devaluing human life by our society and further degeneration of moral values its practice begets. When one devalues human life as a routine practice, then, as I wrote earlier, it is so much easier to justify doing even more evil. Without thinking or reflection. Our hearts become hard and the ends justify any means.

To me one of the most comforting passages in the New Testament is in
Romans 7:21 through 8:4. This passage tells of Paul's struggles to do
what is righteous in the face of his human nature to be sinful. The
glorious part is despite our best effort we will still be in sin, but
can find solace in the fact that Jesus negated sin by his sacrifice on
the cross. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of
life set me free from the law of sin and death."(Romans 8:1-2) Thus if
one makes either decision, whether to abort the child to save the mother
or to risk death in the birth of a child, we are free in Christ Jesus if
we do so from a spirit of righteous.

The Christian community's acceptance is so vital for the positive outcome of the
individuals involved. We should be ultra supportive, extra compassionate, and deeply merciful to any one or couple that must face this challenge. For if they are not yet come into a relationship with Jesus, a hard heart may forever drive them a way, rightly condemning our hypocrisy. If they are our Christian brother and sister, then our respect for their decision can lead to deeper love of one another and ever more devotion to our Savior. My thoughts? Do as Jesus would do, simply love them as they are, showing them the light they yearn to see at the end of this dark path.

Connecting The Dots

Greetings again from the liquid sunshine state! I think we're beating out Seattle for daily rain.

In the "If you don't believe me" department. Fox News has series on the coming commercial real estate bubble bust. Last Thursday the Watchman warned the Republic about this very real developing financial crisis. Elizabeth MacDonald writes about The Second Wave of the Credit Crisis being predicted by many experts. It is a three parter, so have to be patient to read all installments. Still, it is another independent dot to connect that not all is well fiscally in America despite administration shouts of economic victory.

Cabbage and Motorcycles

The Watchman attempted to make sauerkraut last month. A total dismal failure. Used way too much salt and was a better poultice for a gaping flesh wound from a minnie ball at the Battle of Bull Run. So headed to the local farmer's market and got me three giant heads of cabbage for $4 bucks. Took my refurbished antique cabbage shredder and made up a crock full of cabbage, actually measured out the salt this time and proceeded to mash the salted cabbage into the crock. Should result in a good batch. Problem is I bought two too many heads of cabbage! Just like the government I over estimated the need and unless I want 12 more pounds of sauerkraut I got to figure out what to do with the excess. Cash for Cabbage?

Sold my Yamaha V-Star 250 over the week-end. Also similar to the government this time I underestimated the size to do the job and will actually cause an over all cost over-run to acquire a bigger bike. My eye is on Yamaha's V-Star 950. (At 47 mpg, the government should be paying me a gas saver differential.) Now this baby should rattle the dishes in the house when I leave for work! Let me know your thoughts on this aspect. Am I crazy or what?

If You Don't Believe Me

If you don't believe my take on the looming health care fiasco once government health care is law of the land take a look at radicalprescription.com

A brief cruise through the site looks like a thoughtful and informative discussion of the issue by someone who should know the inside scoop, a real doctor. I'll dig deeper and report back.

Witnessing an Abortion

Today I witnessed on the net a horrific abortion. The high pitched screams, gasping death rattle, and the ultimate life ending choking sputter. The attendants watched with dispassionate eyes as a wonderful creation was destroyed, then they laughed to one another when the evil deed was done. Enjoying the killing. It was truly one of the most awful things I've witnessed. The abortion of a perfectly good Volvo.

Yes, you read that last sentence right. I'm talking about Obama's Cash for Klunker's program. (If you can stomach to watch the wanton, willful destruction, and senseless waste of mother earth's resources, go to Fox News.com video entitled "Don't Watch, Car Lovers.) And before all my Christan pro-life friends get in a tither about comparing the abortion of a small innocent unborn human to a car, please let me explain.

Abortion is about power of a woman to choose her own destiny and deny that of her unborn child. Abortion is about self and makes self more important than others. It is about the ability to "move on with life" rather than be saddled with the burden and responsibility of caring for a baby. Abortion is about continuing the good times with little thought or hardly a remembrance of what was killed. Abortion takes what is whole and breaks it in pieces then is flushed into some waste system. Abortion is about having a free lunch and never worrying about who pays the price. It is an attitude of soul devaluing the very living uniqueness of who we are in a universe where we may still be the only senescent life form capable of loving kindness as well as this most evil of deeds.

But extend that attitude out from our reproductive system. Foist it upon other aspects of our our existence. Ask if we can so easily kill a human being, innocent from the warmth of a mother's womb, then how much easier is it to kill a Volvo? My friends please don't laugh. The Volvo isn't a living thing, but it represents a compilation of the wonders of the human mind. Additionally the Volvo brings together the expenditure of thousands of pounds of natural resources, hundreds of gallons of fuel to make and ship, and then ultimately a means to transport humans from home to work and back again, safely, and with a sense of style worthy of art.

The reasoning behind this act is equally as evil as abortion. The argument is that it is the right thing to do. We're saving the planet by killing one thing so we can have a new thing that gets maybe 5 or 10 MPG better mileage. As with abortion we're saving the planet from over population. One less mouth to feed. It is the right thing to do.

We can have a better car if we'll just abort the one we have, kill it for money. If our child is less perfect, then we kill it so it won't take up resources that might be better used to promote a healthy pure child. It is the intent, then, to do good, yet it hardens the heart, slowly and deadly. It is illogically to waste one already expended resource so that another car, created with still yet more resources, might be acquired. And not even think about it. Hardly. Justifiable waste. And the truly sad part of the Volvo's abortion was there most likely were many who would have used it well for their own transportation. Denied even the opportunity to be blessed with a car many may have never been able to purchase. All in the name of boosting new car sales. Greed. Avarice. An attitude of self. Much like abortion of our human models, children, who would be loved by the childless.

It scares the Watchman to think of the easy link. The smooth connection between how our society justifies one thoughtless act, abortion, can lead to so many other justifiable thoughtless actions that might lead one day to horrific outcomes. If we can kill an unborn or destroy a car,for convenience, what might come next in this world where ethics is short on principle and our return to barbarity is just a step away?

New Poll

See the new poll on the right by scrolling down. Blogspot doesn't have a gadget to count visitors, so the only way I know folks are clicking into the site is by use of a poll question. Or alternatively leave a comment after one of the blogs. Thanks!

The Ression Is Over?

According to the President, the recession is over. Aren't you glad? According to BHO given the stock market is up to 9000 and the great success of the stimulus program we are on our way back to easy street. With just 10% of the stimulus money in the system, the recession was whipped. Imagine what our economy will be like once the full stimulus is into the economy in 2011 or 2012. DOW up over 15,000. 30% returns on our 401(k)s. Interest rates in the low 2 to 3 percents. Unemployment at historic lows of 3%. Home values once again sky rocketing, growing at 9% a year. New car sales blowing out all past records. Cheap easy to get health care. Banks charge only 4% interest on credit cards. Free mortgages with low interest rates to all. Prime Rib in every pot and a H3 Hummer in every triple garage.

Sounds too good to be true, eh? Indeed it is. The Watchman also listens and reads the stories behind the headlines. I heard an interview of Thomas E. Woods, author of a book just out entitled "Meltdown". I haven't read the book, but what I heard from the interview was enough to convince me he knows his economic stuff. Woods indicated there were still a few areas of tremendous instability in the economy, fault lines where economic earthquakes can yet occur to bust BHO's bubble. He likened our current status as being in the eye of a hurricane. Calm waters before the storm moves back over us. The largest danger it appears stems from the commercial real estate market. According to Woods the commercial market is just now beginning to come into stress as did the residential housing market did a year ago. Why? Again Woods explained the mortgages of commercial properties generally have different terms that created opportunity for many investors to jump into the market thinking they could buy these properties and then lease them out for a profit. With the recession, many of these properties can't be leased and the default rate is climbing similarly to that of the housing market. Banks and other financial institutions are holding a lot of bad paper that will default in the next few months, again creating conditions for a crashing of the economy as bad as or worse than the one of September 2008. Wood had two other fault lines grinding together, interest rates and inflation rates for critical sectors is showing increases. Both tend to make economic conditions still more unstable.

The Watchman doesn't want to be a doom and gloom guy, all negative and worry wart, but believe all of us need to carefully observe the true numbers and not rely on the wishful thinking of a rookie President and his 38 czars of dubious ability.