Clintonomics

Just a couple casual observations on Hillary Clinton's economic "solutions". She proposes freezing interest rates on mortgages for a year. In addition Senator Clinton suggests "fixing" adjustable rate mortgages at their present rates. What else, hmm...we have an idea to "seize" oil company profits and use that money for alternate energy development. Last, but not least, under her health care plan we would have taxes withheld to force us to pay for health insurance if we do not agree to buy it voluntarily. Put this together over a period of months listening to her ideas and all I can say is OMG!!!!

Let's see, Mrs. Clinton could not possibly have taken economics. If so, who would teach these views! I am old enough to remember Jimmy Carter fixing oil prices. Price fixing, as well as loan freezing causes more problems than it solves. The market reacts and develops supply/demand log jams, many unpredictable. Second, you simply do not "fix" an "adjustable" rate loan. These are simplistic, populist, solutions. The masses might like them...and "the masses are asses" analogy is appropriate here.

As for "seizing" profits...so much for capitalism...not that we could not, or should not encourage, or give incentives for all that money to be put to some use for the greater good. But the fact the she consistently uses language like "seize profits" concerns me.

Finally, mandatory taxation is not a health care solution. I agree with Mr. Obama on this. People pass buying health insurance because they simply can't afford it, not because they don't want it. The solution is not forced purchases, it is finding a way to make it affordable.

These are all bad ideas. I am certain that if implemented they will not work as intended, and the consequences will be negative. I hope the Senator changes her views!

And the Republican nominee for President is...

John McCain...war hero, career politician and unafraid to say "no" to the party pit bulls and do the right thing. Not a bad choice for President, but don't say that to Rush Limbaugh! Rush said if McCain is elected President he will "destroy the Republican Party". How absurd...and uninformed. I agree with Peggy Noonan (former Reagan speech writer) who said McCain won't destroy the Republican Party, George Bush already destroyed it. I understand McCain has an 82.3 voting score with the American Conservative Union. Maybe Rush and company should lighten up on their best chance to keep a Republican in the White House.

While I'm on the subject...

Speaking of suffering...................let's think about...............church......

I have, with rare exception (and Sean if your still reading here; "The Brook Church" was an exception) had a terrible experience with church. It remains the most frustrating, lonely, confusing hour of my week. Maybe I should stick that up my theology of suffering, huh! Maybe; however, why is this? I've felt this way all my life! Even as a non Christian teenager being forced to church by my well intentioned parents. And still now, as a professing believer for the last 25 yrs.

I've been told it's my own fault. I don't love people enough, or I don't try hard enough to get involved. I've tried to get involved many times and it just leads to greater loneliness and frustration. I've prayed. I've reached out to those who seem to be in the same boat as myself...

Frankly, I have given up. I would stop church all together, except doing so feels as if I am leaving God Himself. Where two or more are gathered, right? I've thought, maybe I'm not really a Christian. That's possible I suppose. Only God knows. The only way I'll know that for sure is when I die, which is not a comforting thought, incidentally. I've read 1st John many times, which is written so we can be "certain" we are "in Christ" and I come way with even more questions.

Lastly, it's possible my experience is not so uncommon. In that case it falls under the "fallen world" ideas I mentioned yesterday. So, what is the answer? How about none of the above.

Suffering...updated post...

I read often of people saying they cannot believe in God because if He is all loving and all powerful, how or why does He allow such widespread and horrible suffering? I even read of a Baptist pastor (who I would expect to have dealt with this kind of issue before ordination) had "lost his faith" as a result of the issue of suffering.

I am no theologian; however, it seems to me people simply don't read their Bible, and have a small, two dimensional, narcissistic view of God. No wonder they can't deal with such a basic issue.

Here is how I see it. People are not created for suffering. We don't like it. If someone enjoys suffering, we can safely assume some kind of mental problem. That said, we live in a fallen world. God, after man, and woman in effect told Him to take a hike declared the world cursed. Suffering would be part of our experience...no exceptions. He sent His Son, who suffered Himself in the worst way possible. It tore Gods heart apart, but He did not spare his own Son suffering in this cursed world. The implications of the cross are overwhelming, and even though they apply to the problem of suffering, I won't get into all that now.

God is not only loving and all powerful, He transcends time. Science tells us time/space exists mathematically as a unit which if you had the right dimensionality you would be able to stand outside and observe the end from the beginning. This is how God describes Himself. We however, only experience a passing of time. We do not stand outside that dimension. God also is judge of the whole earth. He says He will wipe away every tear, and right every wrong, then He will judge all of us...no exceptions. This will take place in time/space. In God's experience, it is a done deal. He has not "allowed suffering" at the end of the day. It has been dealt with perfectly in spite of a cursed world.

That may not make suffering in our limited experience any easier, so back to the cross. Jesus says He took our judgment on Himself. He suffered in our place. Weird, but that is what He claimed. In time/space, we are with Him now (in a sense).
I'm betting my life He is not lieing...what are they (the "there can't be God if there is suffering" crowd) betting their life on?...some one dimensional, tiny, humanistic, mannish view of God that leads them to reject Him as weak, cruel or both?

Suffering, God answers the issue.

Picture

I thought Id try a picture on here. This is me watching Ohio st. loose the national championship. Like it?

#@%&!! School!!

Yeah. I never did like school growing up, and now that my kids go, I hate it even more. It's not that I have a problem with authority, I just have a problem with the kind of authority schools exhibit. I'm not sure how I'd define it though...
"absolute, stupid, bureaucratic authority" maybe? Or how about "fascist"?

Here is the deal, my boys seem to get in trouble a lot at school. We had to take one out and home school him. They busted him royal for smoking a cigarette. What BS. I don't care if he smokes... HORRORS!!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not permissive. I drug test all my kids. I want to give them one more deterrent for that, but smoking a cigarette? Good grief. What's the deal. Is it dangerous? Unhealthy? So is driving or eating junk food...
I'm rambling. My other boy is getting in trouble now...horsing around, not sitting in his seat, talking, and other "major offenses" that win him detention...just make him do a couple laps around the school, damn it.

So many schools are dominated by women, and designed for girls! My daughter has never been a problem...go figure. Anyhow, I hate getting calls and emails from the women teachers and the women principles (never male teachers...seriously!) that my boy did not sit in his seat, or talks too much (he is loud).
I have them call my wife. I'm starting to loose patience with the whole stupid BS show...There, I said it and I'm glad...

Get Skype

Last night I talked and SAW my brother and his family in Taiwan. We used Skype with web cams. The hour long call was free. Its much better than just a phone call!
So...I recommend it.