Oscar Wilde and the future

On a daily basis I receive motivational messages in my email. It helps me retain my perspective on the daily grind and how to best keep myself on the path as well as possibly give me a little ammo to help my friends a co-workers with things when they get tough.
I have heard many things from this site for the past few years and even had a story published online through them detailing my very good friend and the experiences and the lessons I learned from him along the way.
The other day I received this:

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

--- Oscar Wilde

This message had a special impact on my thoughts. This was just the issue that had been brought up to me when I decided to run for President.

My son, who is quite a thinker, asked me if I was ready for the world to view all the things from my past. I thought about it and told him that, I am who I am, no sense in trying to make myself something I am not or to try to hide the poor behaviour that I had in the past, as I truly think this gives me a broader appreciation of the value of good choices. If there are those that refuse to let people make choices and learn from them and forever hold those choices against them, I guess there may be a few out there that will never support me. That is truly their decision.
There can not be a single person in the world that can say that they never made a poor decision. If so they are probably lying to themselves and to all of us. There are also those that try to hide the past so they look perfect in the eyes of men, but to the eyes of God they are still who they really are.
I refuse to whitewash or lie about the poor decisions of my past, but I see them as tests in order to make me stronger and give myself a stronger sense of personal worth and values. Those that really know me understand me perfectly and there can be no compromise in my words or actions.

I see in the news that the Occupy Movement is putting serious strain on the municipal patience and the cities expenses. I also see that there are a few within the ranks that have used this movement to act like fools and be violent and drug ridden just for the expense of cheap entertainment. Why do we not take care of business in a sane and civilized manner? This movement is important and I really think that it can have the desired impact if the movement activists retain control of the members within the camps. There can be no place for public displays of drunkeness or drug use. You still have to be true to the cause and not cheapen your actions with inciting the involvement of the law.
Be loud, proud and above all the true spirit of American values. Keep control of yourselves and exercise your rights, but remain in control of your own destiny and keep your composure.
I have yet to see any public figure of any circumstance have the guts to have any interaction with the occupy movement protesters. All these so called representatives hide behind closed doors and let the troops (Police) handle things instead of trying to find out what the real American public needs. I for one find this to be a perfect example of derilection of duty on their parts and they should all be removed from public office. If they were really trying to fix this country that they all profess to support, why do they not step out of their offices and go see their constituents, the voters of America.
Why, I know why. They are scared and they believe only in the corporate greed and the success of the all american dollar. They have forgotten the faces of the people that put them there.

Time to take this country back from these hypocrites. Time to "Take it Back" and give it back to the citizens.

The Occupy Movement and Americans rights

I watch every day the events unfolding all over the country and the occupy movement that has really taken the country by storm.
I see that MOST cities have decided to have a hands off approach to the protests as long as the persons involved act in a reasonable and responsible manner. There are those few, protesters and law enforcement alike, that have serious behaviour problems.
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This outlines the proper access and also gives the protesters the proper guidelines that should be followed when Americans are engaged in protesting.
I implore all protesters to read this and truly understand the our forefathers were protesters themselves. They had lived their lives under a Monarchy and had had enough. It was a different circumstance and a really different time then, but the idea was the same. Stand up as a group and express peaceably if possible your dissatisfaction with the powers that try to control you.
As Americans we do have rights, and not the least of them is to be able to express our dissatisfaction with the status quo. We all must remember though, that, these expressions must be peaceable and organized or the entire movement becomes nothing more than an expression of anger and discord.

Do not let the big business and government pressure restrain you. Restrain yourselves and keep on expressing your dissatisfaction, but do so in an orderly and organized manner. You must not quit, but you must be able to control those within your ranks that would do harm to your cause by acting in a violent and rougish manner.

I have taken this campaign and the related ideas that I have very seriously and I ask you to do the same. Keep the pressure on them, but please do not let members of the group cheapen the effect.
Remember, our country was started with the idea that Americans have right to govern themselves, let us control ourselves and effect some REAL change in this country, by using the power of numbers, not the effect of violence. We all can effect change and return the control of this FREE country back to the citizens that live in it.
I ask for you to let me try to be that new leadership as I am one of the millions that have had enough of career politicians serving only big business and themselves while disregarding those that elected them.
This is our country, not just theirs.   "Take it Back"

9-11 and the changes in our country

Like most Americans I did have numerous chances this last weekend to observe the various rememberances and solemn ceremonies related to the 10th anniversary of 9-11.
I watched these ceremonies with the reverence and understanding that things in this country are NOT like they were when I was a child.
When I was a child there was patriotism and a sense of comfort amoung Americans. We were the big dogs on the block and we were comfortable in knowing that we were doing the right things within the world. Even though there were struggles in our own society we were a pretty secure people.
All that changed on September 11, 2001.
I remember exactly where I was when this event unfolded.
I had just stopped home to attend to my father that morning and the news was on detailing the first crash into the WTC. I stood there watching the news and could not believe how someone could make such a mistake as to fly into a massive skyscraper in broad daylight.
I was on the phone to my wife and watching the news broadcast when the second plane struck the other building. I knew then that the first crash was no accident.
I do remember that all I could say was "Oh my god, I can't believe this". I stood there with my dad and just absolutely could not believe what I was seeing.
I, like so many other Americans, really had no idea how this event would shape our culture for the forseeable future from this point on.

In World War 2, the Japanese dared not attack America on our own shores. They were assured that the typical American citizen would not just blindly stand by and let such an event occur without swift and sure retribution. We were still the big dog.

Now we have been shown that there are groups and nations out there that not only despise us for our culture and freedoms, but seek to destroy those very things that we hold precious in our daily lives.
They have taken much, but not all from us. They have not taken the American spirit and the willingness to stand up to this type of action.
George Bush said that "They will hear us very soon" and he was correct. I firmly believe that this nation is the greatest on the globe and we need to find the way to get back to being the big dog on the block.
The surge of patriotism and comraderie that occured after the attacks on the WTC was really something to behold. I saw a small glimmer of that this weekend but I wish truly that this would be the norm in our daily lives. We need to be proud of being Americans each and every day. Being a patriot and defending our country should not need ceremony and a special occasion. We should be vigilant and defensive of our culture and way of life each and every day.
I was truly moved by the victims of the tragedy and acts of terrorism that day like many other Americans and I will never forget the innocent victims of that act.
I personally wish for something more to come out of this. I want all Americans to remember that there were many others sacrificed and many others that fought bravely and gave everything prior to that day and there are still many that still do this each and every day just for our right to be FREE!
Freedom isn't Free is more than just words. It is a fact of being the leader in the quest to be the greatest nation in the world.
Yes there are those that despise us and wish us evil, but the American patriotic spirit will never be hidden behind closed doors.
Be proud of your freedom, but remember it does have a price.

Happy Feet and not so happy ratings

I don't know about you, but I have been loosely following the saga of the wrong way Emperor penguin that ended up on a beach in New Zealand.
Happy Feet, if you don't know, was a lost Emperor penguin that somehow ended up thousands of miles from home and thought sand on the beach was snow. It nearly killed him.
The citizens there in New Zealand took him in and nursed him back to health with numerous volunteers and the contributions of many of the citizens and others world wide.
Their efforts resulted in getting him back to health and putting him on a boat ride (very expensive one at that) back to where he could hopefully make it back to where he really belongs.
Just a wonderful story of people doing what they do best, taking care of things!!

I know alot of people just like this, they are the local cruiser community!! No kidding, the giving spirit lives here in America too!

I also have seen just this morning that the popularity results for our current President have slipped to another career low for the administration.
I see that even 2/3 of those that voted for President Obama don't really like the way things are going in this country. Wow, that really is a bummer for all of us.

I can't totally blame the current administration for all the problems plaguing our country right now, but the way they have been handled have certainly not been for the best.
Childish sandbox fighting just for the sake of party affiliations and just to pick a fight. STUPID!
The real losers in this battle have been the citizens of this great country, not their political parties.

If the elected members of our Congress could only take a lesson from those that rescued a wayward penguin and work together to actually accomplish something. I would certainly expect better approval ratings for the bunch of them.

Discretionary law enforcement

With the modern crisis that nearly every city and state currently is facing, I see why there is an issue with enforcement and prosecution of offenders of the law. I also understand that there are issues with manpower, resources and other tools needed to take care of the challenges faced by law enforcement and the judicial system.
What I fail to understand though, is how and by whom are the determinations made as to what laws to enforce today?
If there are laws on our books that aren't cost effective to enforce and they are something that someone in authority chooses not to enforce, well, why are they there?
The reason the laws are there is because they were created to protect the law abiding citizen. The law makers listened to the citizens and created the laws. The enforcement is apparently discretionary?
This is not acceptable. If there are laws to protect the citizenry from opression, discrimination, exploitation or criminal acts, they are not discretionary.
I have seen our own government take the teeth out of immigration reform and give amnesty to those that break the law and are in our country without the legal right. I have seen our government coddle those that would persecute and terrorize us. I have even seen our own government ignore it's own citizens for our best interests, like we are all children and too stupid to take care of ourselves.
If laws are not to be enforced I say get better enforcement, not remove the laws and penalties. I for one believe that the law is best if obeyed and enforced for the betterment of all free citizens and our society.
A lawless society is a failed society, but one with laws that they do not enforce is a joke.
Just my opinion, that's all.

Letter to Jason Chaffetz

Sir,
I watched with some distress last night the announcement that you will not challenge Orrin Hatch for his Senate seat.
I heard that your decision not to do so was for reasons that I personally can not understand.
It seems that your decision not to challenge him is purely economical. I do understand this to a point. I personally do not agree with your decision though.
I am sure that you do not know that I am in the process of trying to get on the Western states General Ballot for the position of President of the United States.
I am not politically connected, wealthy, or someone of the elitist self entitled sort that seems to reach this lofty position in the country.
I am just an ordinary citizen, that meets all the Constitutionally required conditions and feels that I can make a difference in Washington.
I do not understand sir, how you go from wanting to be a person with exceptional ideals, goals and aspriations, to belittling yourself and only thinking it is about money.
I do understand that the electoral process and the marketing that it takes to reach the people is very expensive, but you must not lose sight of your ideals and goals.
If I were to go by your statement last evening that it was purely about the money that it costs to run I certainly would not have any aspiration to pursue this goal I have.
I understand sir, that my goal is lofty, but not unattainable. I feel that I, as a regular individual, have something to offer the American public that has been sorely lacking in the political arena for some time now. I will not back down, I will not surrender, I will prevail even in the face of certain defeat.
There are opportunities that only infrequently present themselves to us in this journey of life, and the choice to take a chance or not is purely individual.
I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and discuss things if you are available sometime in the near future.
I work for a large construction contractor and usually at this time, have fridays free.
If it is possible I would like to meet with you to discuss this matter and others further.
Do not dismiss this opportunity, the failure to excell is only a matter of choice and circumstance.
Failure is difficult, even more so when the opponent is yourself.
Thank you for your time,
Barte P. Hess
Candidate for President of the United States
and ordinary citizen.

The day after........

So here we all are the day after our Congress saved our country from total and utter financial meltdown.
I hate to sound so negative about it, but they had months to do this and instead concentrated on being a bunch of children looking for TV time.
I guess that there had to be some sort of deal made, but I didn't see any real significance to this package. The real cuts and responsibility still have to be served up by the Super Congress?????
I have to agree with Judge Napolitano with the regards to as to the legality of this special commission. I see that there will be some Senators and Congressmen that won't like having their rights and abilities to do their jobs (or not) away from them.
Just what we need down the road. The legal fighting will only escalate and our World market compadres will just keep laughing at us for so much fighting going on within our own government.
China and apparently several other world powers don't think too much of our system and certainly think we all look like a bunch of dip sh*** for the fiasco that this all turned out to be.
States are already freaking out as well as the Pentagon over the perceived loss of revenue that is coming. I say we should have been more responsible prior to this matter and there are a few states that are still in fine shape. Utah is one of those.
The sensationalistic manner that Congress handled this only serves as a reminder that they are mostly just there for themselves and their special programs. They really have forgotten who put them there, and why.......
I really think it is time for a non-partisan approach and I really don't care how many toes get stepped on, the PEOPLE have had enough of this crap.
It is time for someone to give them a big smack upside the head and remind them to stop the grandstanding and get to work!!! Do your jobs and no one gets hurt, ha, ha, ha.......
Really, this is the time. If not now........when?

Unemployment

I have so much to be thankful for, even the basic thing such as having a job. I was just reading an article about the long term unemployed and it makes you shudder to hear the stories of these nearly forgotten Americans (at least by the politicians) that struggle every day with the need for financial security.
I have been affected by this as well, with my sweetie having a seasonal work schedule, but we have learned to adjust things for that consequence. I couldn't imagine both of us being out of work for 6 or 12 months, or years as some have been.
I hear these stories and I see the frustration and despair coming off of them in waves. They start to doubt their own given talents and abilities when this goes on for so long.
I can't totally blame this on the economy, or the government, but I can blame it on our own recent practices of becoming a consumer nation that does not produce that much here anymore.
We need to try to figure out how to regain the manufacturing industry here in America. This would really help not only the lack of employment opportunities for everyone, but reduce our foreign dependance on other imported goods.
Not that many years ago America was a manufacturing and resource giant. We have given that up for cheaper quailty goods and the corporate vision of cheap labor.
We need to regroup and bring back manufacturing and the jobs that come with it. We can do this if we decide we have had enough of cheaply toxic painted chinese toys.
Take our economy back along with our government.......

The ongoing Budget saga

Like all of you I can't help but see every day the disappointing progress (or total lack of it) with regard to the Federal budget and the ceiling.
I get so sick and tired of all the red hats and blue hats party politics regarding this important issue. I understand some of the party politics and their party loyalites, but when the hell does common sense start to intrude upon the lack of progress.
I see their individual points but there must be a time when they stop all the stonewalling and posturing and actually get something done. The silly fighting and BS that all these career politicians are doing right now does the average common citizen absolutely no good. We are concerned about the solvency of our Nation and as a group we should all be.
I really have a hard time with giving corporations tax breaks to send their businesses off shore, and the lack of incentive to get a real effective tax system in place that treats all Americans equally and corporations as well.
It is time for the corporations and ALL Americans to do their part. I believe that a flat tax system would be a benefit for all middle and lower income citizens and would require businesses to pay a fair and equitable amount that could enable ALL Americans to start to help in getting out Nation out of the incredibly deep fiscal hole we are in.
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF ALL THIS 2 PARTY BS!!!
Get off your party high horses, stop all this childish crap and DO SOMETHING!!!
All you people were elected by your respective state citizens to do a job, get on with it!!!
Save our Country and the Country of our children from certain monetary collapse and an even further worsening of the economic conditions for all Americans.

Small town America

Well, it is no secret that I was born in a small town and the appreciation I have for them never goes away.
I spent my Saturday with my sweetie and our Hotrod in a small town called Coalville.
The simplicity of small towns and the friendliness of those that live there makes me remember much simpler times in life. We really need to remember these things. Remember that we are all from the same country and be good and kind to each other.
Small town America should not be a thing of the past found only in books. The closeness and the compassion for one another should be a much more prevalent thing in todays society.

Only in America!!

Just like most of you I spent the 4th of July with family and friends. Enjoying the pleasures that can only be appreciated in a society that is truly Free to do what we choose.
I got one of the Hotrods out of the garage and went to a car show with my sweetie and enjoyed the company of many people that were there celebrating the freedoms we all sometimes take for granted.
It was distrubing though that the event was not started off with a traditional flag raising ceremony and the presentation of the colors. We didn't even have that part of the event until later in the evening prior to the start of the demolition derby and then it was fantastic.
I understand that I hold values and expectations that are sometimes a little old fashioned but those are the values that I was raised with and so are traditionally what I expect.
I do not take my freedom for granted and I hope those that read my blog snd support me in my lofty goal can understand that we all have a responsibility to protect those freedoms and rights that we hold precious.
My view is not one that all share, but it is who I am. I am an American, patriot, dad, parent and husband.
I only ask that we all remember how we get the freedom to do what we choose.

The numbers are in????

I just noticed that Iowa conducted a survey of voters to see whom they would support for the GOP nomination and it is still up in the air. It does look like Mitt and Michelle are duking it out for the eastern states and I do understand that I have a long way to go.
I did see a very important thing right at the end of the story. It states that most voters are still up in the air as to whom they might support for the Presidential election as the numbers are very early in the campaign. As Jeff Daniels character said in Dumb and Dumber, having a chance in a million, is "I still have a chance".
I am still gathering signatures and getting an article ready for SLUG Magazine. I should be having an article coming out soon in Salt Lake City Weekly.
Please check them out and give me any feedback you might have. I really do want to do the best I can for America and all Americans.

Only in America

I spent the weekend enjoying the freedoms that we have in this country. I went to 2 different car shows and attended the 15th Anniversary celebration at the local drag strip.
It is wonderful to see the patriotic celebration that accompanies these type of events.
There are so many countries that do not have the freedom to enjoy such an activity and it is certainly taken for granted by so many.
Freedom isn't free, is more than a slogan. We need to appreciate the freedoms we have here every day and really appreciate the sacrifices borne by those before us that have enabled us to do the things we do.
I never fail to be inspired when I hear the national anthem and see our flag raised over these events. It is our responsibility to be respectful and reverent when the colors are presented as well as to understand that America is the greatest nation on the globe.
Be happy to be an American, and always be proud.

Motivation and success

Yesterday, just as I was seriously starting to doubt my ability to succeed in this immense task, I suddenly recieved and email from Motivateus.com.
Funny how when you need something to spark you to do things and suddenly it is right under your nose.
I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful and supportive family and the other basic necessities of life, even in these very difficult times.
I needed a kick in the pants and suddenly there it was. I truly feel that this is the time for a totally different perspective in Washington. It is really time to "take it back", our country, from the political stonewalling and stagnation that strangles the American public and spirit.
It is truly about "attitude", whether you succeed or fail. I refuse to admit failure in this task.
The time is right, and the American spirit needs a real motivational chit chat.
Keep your heads up, and never quit. Failure is not an option, I think I heard that somewhere before. It makes sense.

The Pledge of Allegiance and being an American

There has been alot of controversy in the press lately about the Pledge of Allegiance and having the words "under God" in the refrain.
I personally don't see any sort of an issue there, it does not specify the particulars of the God, it could mean, the catholic version, protestant version, budda, or any other number of supreme entity you may choose.
There are those that use this little refrain to complain that there is no seperation of church and State and that as a Nation we are hypocritical, as we also have the word God on our currency.
Here in this country you have many choices, unlike many other nations on the globe. If you choose not to say the words "under God" , don't. I don't see how this equates into an epidemic of hypocrisy.
Our founding fathers did their collective best in setting up and structuring this world class democracy. They believed that there was a greater being at work in helping them accomplish this task. Not to say that they all believed in the same version of God, but the humility of understanding they were not all powerful kept them firmly on track and allowed them the open mindedness to achieve a leadership structure that has stood the tests of time and numerous conflicts and wars, both here on our shores and world wide.
Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, the freedom from oppression, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievences.
If you are an American you should be very proud, if not, you should want to be one and please accept our collective value system and join us as a Nation.