I’ve been tracking the progress of the blog and its been steadily rising, yesterday was another record day and today looks to surpass that! Thanks to everyone checking it out, and especially to those that are returning!

I got a message on my Facebook wall that someone had talked about me and/or my blog on their site. The message came from a friend of mine, so I went to check it out, but the link didn’t work. My friend was online so I instant messaged them and saw that their status said that their account had apparently been hacked and that any messages from them were spam. Glad I saw that!

More after the jump….
(more…)

Pretty good stuff. Makes us all realize what’s been given. Thanks…. a lot.

I know that some of my latest posts haven’t been very amusing- sorry. And I know I’ve been going on and on and off about the Bailout and all that, but I think some things bear repeating. THIS WAS A STUPID MOVE! You’ll hear the bureaucrats claiming that the taxpayer benefits and that they wouldn’t have voted for the Bailout if they didn’t think it was in the best interest of the people. We’ve heard them saying that the positive effects of the Bailout are going to take some time. Will they still be saying this in six months when its still not working?

You may read this and think that it’s easy for me to call our leaders on the carpet, but what else would you have them do?

Answer: The Common Sense Fix. Rather than c&p it here, I’ve simply provided a link. You read it. You decide. That’s it.

Do you think its time that the people in Washington started listening to we the people? It’s ironic that in a world where communication is so incredibly fast, where one can literally pick up a mobile phone, hit a few buttons, and connect with a person on the other side of the world, that- in a world like this- the people elected to represent us refuse to do so. The government should fear its people, not vice versa. We hold the power. We are the government. We are the people.

I received the following response to my letter to Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID), regarding his Aye vote on the recent Economic Bailout Bill:

“Dear Nicholas:

“Thank you for contacting me regarding the financial crisis facing our nation. I appreciate hearing from you and having the opportunity to respond.

“Like most Idahoans, I was gravely concerned with the proposal put forth by the Department of Treasury in September to address the financial crisis. While I recognize that action needs to be taken to bring our economy back from the brink of disaster, I could not support a proposal that gave the Administration such broad, unprecedented authority and put taxpayers on the line with little hope of recouping any losses.

“Because of my concerns and those of my constituents, I worked to ensure that any legislation I voted on included strong oversight, effective protections for taxpayers, and did not reward irresponsible executives at the expense of the taxpayer. You may be interested to know that H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, included provisions to:

• Ensure that the taxpayer will be paid back in full;
• Include an enormous amount of oversight at four different levels to ensure that taxpayers are being protected at every turn;
• Ensure that irresponsible corporate executives at participating institutions will not be rewarded with golden parachutes or severance pay;
• Cut the upfront cost of the proposal in half and require congressional approval for any additional funding and protect taxpayers against losses;
• Incorporate alternative plans suggested to me by many of the constituents who have called my office, including an insurance guarantee program paid for entirely by participating companies;
• Eliminate payouts to unions, slush funds to political organizations, or giveaways to trial lawyers.

“It is clear that our economy faces grave and unprecedented challenges. The threat of complete financial meltdown is very real, and it would have dire consequences on the jobs, savings, pensions, and future opportunities of all Americans. Our financial system—which hinges on the confidence that when you loan money to others, whether to help them grow their business, purchase a home for their family, or invest in their college education, you will get your money back—has been paralyzed as this confidence has rapidly eroded. The blunders of a few have threatened all Americans with economic disaster.

“It is a sobering task to weigh the potential cost to taxpayers of addressing this problem with the cost to all Americans, should we face a severe recession or depression because credit dries up completely. In fact, I have already heard from a number of Idaho businesses that are being faced with layoffs or closing their doors because of the credit squeeze. In response to this crisis, my only commitment is to protecting American families. I am always mindful that when we reach into the government coffers, we are really reaching into the pockets of American taxpayers, who earned that money through hard work and sacrifice.

“Given the circumstances, voting “yes” on this bill was the only responsible option I had. I share my constituents’ disgust for the excesses of Wall Street, but I will not knowingly vote to inflict on them the kind of harm that would befall Idahoans in a severe recession or depression, just to ensure that Wall Street suffers the consequences of its actions. I did not come to Congress to do the easy thing; I came here to do the right thing, no matter how unpopular it is.

“While I sincerely believe this step is necessary to stop the hemorrhaging of our nation’s financial system before it infects the lives of all Americans, it is clear that more work must be done. First, we must reform the way we regulate our financial services industry and bring the bad players to justice to ensure that this situation cannot repeat itself and that taxpayers will never again be asked to foot the bill for the excesses of Wall Street. Second, we must continue working to ensure that those who are struggling to pay their mortgages in full and on time are able to work out these problems through credit counseling and refinancing of loans. Lastly, we must continue to support pro-growth policies, like tax cuts, that will ensure that our economy not only recovers from this crisis but has the tools to grow stronger.

“This vote was one of the most difficult that I have cast in my years as a Member of Congress. In determining the best course of action on this matter, it was helpful to me to know your thoughts and concerns about this issue and the impact the proposal would have on you. As we work to strengthen our economy, you can be confident that I will continue to support policies that will put us back on the road to sustainable economic health.

“Sincerely,

Mike Simpson

Member of Congress”

wow. Was that not thrilling politicking or what? I think that which I appreciate the most is that Rep. Simpson actually took the time to not only read my letter, but to actually sit down and respond personally to me- that it wasn’t one of his staff members writing me, but my Representative himself! And that he showed deep concern for the loss of my vote is of great value to me. Like I said before, wow. (Are you getting the sarcasm here yet?)

WAKE UP WASHINGTON! It’s time to start working for the people that gave you the office! If you don’t start doing it the correct way, you won’t be there! Idiots.

I wrote my Congressman today because Mike Simpson voted in favor of the Economic Bailout Bill. No, I didn’t thank him. Well, I did thank him, but not for his Aye vote on the bill. Here’s the entirety of my letter to him:

Mr. Simpson, I appreciate that it is important to you to communicate with your district. I also appreciate your service to our State and Country. Please understand that I am not questioning your motives or Patriotism- I am, however, questioning your judgment. I have read your statement regarding the Economic Bailout Bill.

The monies for rural communities lashed to this bill were nothing more than classic pork-barrel spending. Those monies are due to rural Idaho, but not with this type of legislation attached to it. Shame on you and your compatriots that cast Aye’s for this legislation.

Mr. Simpson, I was born and raised in a Christian and Conservative home. And I’m sure you and I hold very similar values. One of the strongest values I was raised with was to live within your means. Our government can’t and refuses to do this. In the recent weeks, Congress has dumped another $1 Trillion to the already staggering deficit of $10.1 Trillion. We, as a nation, are living beyond our means. Living on credit. Borrowing from other countries. The Bible states in Proverbs 22:7 “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” Mr. Simpson, is this principle not true? Why then have you and your counterparts in Congress enslaved us more? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR THINKING!?

Finally, Mr. Simpson, since I have been raised in the matter that I mentioned, I have typically voted for the Republican Candidate in most elections. This will not be the case come November. I will not cast my vote for you. You, Mr. Simpson, have lost my vote. I believe I have stated my reasons, and I stand by my decision.

Now you may not think much of my lost vote, or you may think that your opponent doesn’t stand a chance. Let me run the numbers by you Mr. Simpson, just in case you want to consider them. I have lived in the Treasure Valley for nearly all my life, sans 2.5 years spent in Colorado. I grew up here. I know people. I have a Facebook account and on that account I have over 600 “Friends”. Some are indeed people I speak with and interact with regularly, others are little more than acquaintances. My point: Facebook has over 100 million active users. That’s less than 2% of the world’s population, or 25-30% of the US population. Mr. Simpson, do you really believe that I only know, have met, and can contact at a moments notice merely 600 people? Of course you don’t. By a conservative estimate those 600+ people represent only 5% of the actual people in my sphere of influence. Sure a few votes probably won’t make that much of a difference, but would 6,000?

It’s time, Mr. Simpson that this government did what it was created to do- be of the people, by the people and for them. Government should know that the only thing keeping them in position is the people whose backs they’re riding on! Change is coming Mr. Simpson, but it won’t happen in the White House. No- it will happen with people like me that are tired of a dead system. Good day.

Very sincerely,

Nick Shoemaker

Yes, I believe this Economic Bailout Bill is a form of slavery. Requiring me to pay for the poor (at best) business decisions of a few is not only ridiculous, but is by very definition Socialism. Don’t believe me? I’ll save you the forage through a dictionary:

Socialism: a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

A.K.A.- it’s every ones problem. Wait just a stinkin minute! Why is it my responsibility that a bank loaned someone the money to buy a home on an A.R.M., when that person(s) wouldn’t have qualified for that same loan without the A.R.M.? Answer: Its not!

I think what’s more absurd in this instance is that our Representatives think they can get away with this junk. I don’t think they really believe that we would not re-elect them. Senator Larry Craig (yes, that Larry Craig) stated that he would step down from office after his exploit couldn’t be merely swept under the political rug, but then quickly recanted his announcement stating that he had fought too long and hard and that Idaho would lose greatly if he were to step down at that time because of his various positions held in the Senate. Rather the Senator did the “chivalrous” thing and chose to not run for re-election. WOW. What a hero. Really? Please.

What would happen if we the people decided that misrepresentation was over? Answer: Revolution. (And yes I am referencing the American Revolution. Does taxation without representation ring a bell? If not- GO READ A STINKIN HISTORY BOOK!)

Oh. I added a new category. Its entitled The Man. Go figure.