3 a.m. phone call in the Oval office... Reply: "Shoot it Down"...

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Strategic Defense: We don't know who might pick up that 3 a.m. phone call, but 25 years ago Ronald Reagan made sure that if it's about an incoming ballistic missile, the order will be: "Shoot it down."

Investors Business Daily has a great article about the options that the Commander in Chief will have in the event of a 3 a.m. phone call informing that a ballistic missile is inbound and headed for U.S. soil...

"On March 23, 1983, President Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), telling the nation that the days of mutual assured destruction, or MAD, were over, and that the U.S. would be defended by the ability to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles, not merely retaliate in kind."

"The vice president noted that in 1972 only nine countries had ballistic missiles. Today at least 27 countries do, including those with hostile intent and those that actively support terrorist groups."

Very Good read...

5 Years in Iraq fighting terrorism or wasting "entitlement" money?....

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The Augusta Free Press has an interesting article on the fifth year anniversary of the military action and liberation of Iraq and a "Peace Vigil" held by a local group in Staunton.

This group has held numerous anti-war protests and "Peace Vigils" in the past and I have attended several viewing the topic from the "Other" viewpoint. One thing that I have noticed at these protests and "Vigils" is the re-occuring focus on the cost of fighting terrorism and how that money could have been spent on "entitlement" programs instead. At one protest I saw a sign that showed how much money had been spent and how much healthcare insurance it could have bought instead. Unfortunately I did not get a photo of that sign and it would have been a good visual example of the true protests held in Staunton...

It is interesting to see that the activist highlighted in the above AFP article once again spent a majority of the time on the $$$Cost$$$ of the war and little on the security advances made in this region or the chaos that will happen with a total troop withdrawl.

Is it the responsibilty of the Federal government to provide national security or instead provide "Universal Healthcare" for all? The government already provides treatment to those who can't, or won't obtain healthcare for themselves, in the form of not refusing care in emergency rooms.




Is it the responsibilty of the Federal government to provide Free or "Affordable" healthcare to every American citizen, and even those here illegally, even if they can afford it? The government should help those who can't help themselves but should it be required to take care of those who refuse to take care of themselves?

Higher Minimum Wage = Higher Teen Un-employment...

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The Democratic Party has been quick to list the raise of the minimum wage as one of their triumphs since taking control of Congress in 2006. Many people argued that the minimum wage had to be raised to provide a “Living Wage” for those entering the workforce. But yet they ignored that many of these entering the workforce for the first time are unskilled workers who must be trained by the employer to increase their skills and productivity…


Documentation showed that employees entering the workforce with skills and training already were commanding higher then minimum wages and many unskilled workers were still getting more then minimum wage due to a tight labor market. Businesses were already paying more to attract potentially more productive employees to increase and grow their businesses. This is a proven aspect of the free market system and shows that a employee who increases their skills will command better wages. By setting a high minimum wage it makes it harder for a business to hire, train, and support a unskilled worker such as a teen aged person entering the workforce for the first time…

IBD (Investors Business Daily) has an article with data showing the effects of a mandated increase in minimum wage actually increases the unemployment rate of the unskilled worker. Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy represents the state of Massachusetts were the state minimum wage is at $8 an hour and highest in the nation.

“There, government officials and labor experts alike have been scratching their heads over the precipitous 33% drop in teen employment over the past eight years. "The collapse of the teen labor market has affected all demographic and socioeconomic groups," noted labor economists Andrew Sum and Don Gillis in a Boston Globe op-ed last week.”

“As a basic point of economics, it's a given that anytime you raise the cost of anything, you will use less of it. As such, the minimum wage hike that took effect in Massachusetts this year has been a job-killer for thousands of untrained youths, many of them minorities.”

By simply mandating that a business must pay a higher wage for a unskilled entry employee it takes away that business options and ability to invest in bringing along a unskilled person.

“It's the same everywhere, nationwide or by state: Hiking the minimum wage sounds generous and decent, but in fact hurts small businesses and workers alike, squeezing profits, destroying jobs and forcing businesses to pare back their paid benefits.”

“Faced with a mandatory hike in their wage costs, small businesses have a choice: either fire workers, raise prices or do both. Just letting people go often is easiest. Small wonder that teens — often at the bottom of the labor ladder, and with the least to offer in terms of productivity, training and education — are the first fired and the last hired.”

Congressman Goodlatte Press Conference...

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Congressman Goodlatte held a press conference at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport near Weyers Cave to discuss the budget deficit and the roll of tax cuts in creating revenue to the government. He also spoke about the problem of increased government spending resulting in a $3 trillion debt. Local media outlets covered this and provided the following statements by the Congressman and are linked.

The budget calls for $683 billion in new taxes over the next five years, Goodlatte said. This would mean an average tax increase of $1,800 for more than 116 million taxpayers, he said.“The tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 represent important pro-growth policies which strengthen our workforce, grow our economy and keep America competitive. Instead of raising taxes we must work to eliminate wasteful government spending,” he said in a press release after his news conference.“Congress has a clear choice in the coming months,” Goodlatte said in his press release.

“We can control spending, paving the way for a return to surpluses and ultimately paying down the national debt, or we can pass this fiscally irresponsible budget, which takes money out of the hands of hard-working Americans and sends it to Washington to be squandered on out of control government spending, leading us further down the road of chronic deficits.”

I found it interesting when the Congressman brought up the ongoing budget battle in Richmond as an example of how 48 of the 50 states require a “Balanced Budget” as compared to the federal government.

“Let me note that while they are struggling in Richmond to reach an agreement on their final spending before the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate adjourn, they are required to do something that is not required in Washington,” he said.

“In Virginia, and in 48 other of our 50 states, they are required to balance the budget. And it sometimes involves very painful decisions, very fierce debate in Richmond, nonetheless at the end of the day, year after year after year, the Virginia General Assembly is required to balance the budget.”

The Congressman provided numerous graphs to show how the unemployment rate has dropped, Federal Tax Revenues have increased, and Job Creation has increased, since the 2003 Tax Relief package...

Cross posted also over at "RightsideVA for Bob Goodlatte 2008" site...

Full text and links to news media articles:
Daily News Record
The NewsVirginian
Augusta Free Press
The NewsLeader

Congressman Goodlatte: "Importance of Reining in Wasteful Government Spending"...

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Congressman Bob Goodlatte hosted a press conference today at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave to discuss the “Importance of reining in wasteful government spending”.

The Congressman met with numerous reporters from local television and newspapers organizations.

Congressman Goodlatte discussed and answered questions from the press after presenting information and graphs showing the increased Tax Revenues, Job Creation: Before and after Tax Relief, and the declining unemployment rates after the 2003 Tax Relief program.

NBC 29 had this report on their website...

Continue to "Support the Troops" in your own way...

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Stopped by T-Bonetooters in Churchville the other day and had the opportunity to talk with one of the owners, Dianne, who was instrumental in organizing and providing the logistics of sending packages to local troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both Dianne and her husband Benny were responsible for sending hundreds of packages stuffed full of items needed and wanted by troops serving our country.

I had the opportunity on several occasions to work with Dianne and her crew on this project and their dedication and efforts were always very impressive. Information and photos can be found at the “From Our Hearts” site. Unfortunately due to economic and other conditions this program has been suspended at this time. As I talked with Dianne she told me that she continues to get calls from local organizations looking to donate or get information on continuing support of the troops in this manner.

There are numerous sites out there that are still providing links and services that will send packages to Troops still serving in foreign countries. They can be found at here, here, and here.


In my discussion with Dianne I found that many local people as well as organizations wish to show their support to local citizens who are serving in the military. Many supporters turned out last month for the return of the 116th National Guard unit in Staunton and this was appreciated by the troops but we must not forget those who are still serving their tours.


Like many,I have also continued to support other “National” organizations that provide packages to the troops but like people described above by Dianne, I enjoy knowing that my efforts are going towards someone local that I know personally or know of their families. It is easy to assemble and send small packages of items requested by the troops and will describe the procedure here for anybody wishing to send their own package from home…

There are many items that could be sent to the troops but I have found some to be requested more then others. Overwhelmingly many troops have requested candy or small toys to give out to the children that they encounter during their tours. Following are some of the items that I have seen requested often:

“Priority Mail” boxes can be obtained at local Post offices and will be delivered at a flat rate of $8.95 no matter what the weight is. These boxes can hold many items if packed carefully. Snacks are much preferred and candy is always welcomed to be passed on to the children in the communities they are serving in.

Small travel size sundries are also requested often and help make time in the field more comfortable for the troops. I have found that including a local newspaper with the package is always welcomed in providing local information to the serviceperson receiving the package.

It is not hard to find a local Service member and contacting the local National Guard office will provide leads to local citizens now serving in country. Many people know of families with members serving and welcome the effort and packages sent. We must not forget the troops still serving no matter what the “Situation” is back here at home while they continue to serve in country. Photos and flag waving is always welcomed but lets not forget when and where the “Rubber hit’s the Road”…

Dwight Eisenhower, 34th President...

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“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”

IBD (Investors Business Daily) has been running some interesting and timely quotes lately……

The "Pumpkin" Campaign...

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Courage...

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Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

World War II Memorial ~Washington D.C.~

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