Smart Talk #11
As Mr. Biden’s recent discussion with Saudi Arabian leaders has now been completed, Representative Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) had this reaction: “Isn’t it incredible that the president is having to go over to the Middle East to ‘mother, may I’ beg and plead for the Saudis to pump more (oil), when all he would have to do is take on the progressives here at home and pump more, which, oh by the way, is cleaner American oil and gas.” There’s one fix to the oil & gas crisis, said Waltz: “Unleash American energy. And he (president) refuses to do it.” Clearly, Mr. Biden has become, for whatever reasons we’ll one day learn, totally beholden to, and taking orders from, the Progressives, placing his and their needs well above what’s obviously the best for America: Prospect for and produce our own oil and natural gas! Fossil fuels, of which we have multiple generations worth still in American ground, will be needed and indispensable for decades to come.
On that domestic energy issue, with the solution blatantly obvious to all Americans, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) also had some thoughts: “We should be producing as much of our own oil and gas in America as we can. It was very pathetic when Joe Biden went hat in hand to Venezuela and Iran a couple of months ago, as gas prices spiked, asking them to produce more oil, rather than going to North Dakota of Texas or Arkansas or Louisiana and asking us to produce more oil. That’s what we should be doing.” Smart thought and the obvious answer to this energy crisis….as all rational Americans well know.
On another current national topic, the subject of abortion, pro-life advocate Ryan Bomberger addressed Mr. Biden’s contention that Republicans were trying to prevent citizens from voting (in November) with this brilliant conclusion, tying abortion to voting. Said Bomberger: “Killing voters before they’re born is the ultimate act of voter suppression.” Bomberger has definite authority to speak on the subject of abortion: “I was conceived in rape, but I was adopted in love.”
In her article titled, “The Democratic Party is now the party of welfare – not working people,” commentator Betsy McCaughey wrote this increasing and refreshing bit of truth: “The Democrat Party used to call itself the party of working people and hailed the ‘dignity of work.’ No more. Now Democrats want to guarantee people who choose not to work an income funded by the suckers who show up for employment, care for their families, and pay taxes. Of course, all human beings deserve dignity. But not a seat on the couch in front of the TV, funded by people who toil.” With jobs now going begging, the obvious unfairness of government lard handed to those who could work, but choose not to, is painfully obvious. Far easier to go to the mailbox, it seems, than to go to work. Smart words (and warning) from Ms. McCaughey.
To wrap up this brief review of the current presidency (and his party), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich recently shared these thoughts: “Every week that goes by, Donald Trump’s presidency looks better. Look at his inflation rate, look at the price of gasoline when Trump was president. You know, people find his personality too aggressive and, at times, too annoying, but his policies certainly had turned America around. And in Biden’s case, he doesn’t just fall off his bicycle – he takes the country with him.” Sadly, all too true.
The New York State Supreme Court ruled last month that it is unconstitutional for non-citizens to vote in even municipal elections. More than obvious, you say, but such is allowed in a few states/municipalities around the nation, which is absurd. How can you possibly prevent illegals from then voting in state-wide or even national elections? New York City’s Minority Leader Joseph Borelli (Republican) summed up this ruling, to the benefit of citizen-only voting: “Today’s decision validates those of us who can read the plain English words of our state constitution and state statues: Noncitizen voting in New York is illegal, and shame on those who thought they could skirt the law for political gain. Progressives chose to ignore both our constitution and public sentiment in order to suit their aims. I commend the court in recognizing reality and reminding New York’s professional protestor class that the rule of law matters.”
Last week, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed into law a comprehensive school choice provision for his state. “The bill allows for students, regardless of income bracket, to receive an annual education voucher of $6K, to cover educational tutoring, school supply costs, and/or private school tuition.” Said the Governor: “Today, we’re unlocking a whole new world of opportunity for them and their parents.” Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children, cites Arizona as the ‘gold standard’ for U.S. education. Said DeAngelis: “Every other state should follow Arizona’s lead and fund students instead of systems. Education funding is meant for educating children, not for protecting a particular institution. School choice is the only way to truly secure parental rights in education.” Hopefully, other states, bold enough to put students before politics and organizations, will one day soon follow Arizona’s innovative and correct lead.
On the subject of serious metropolitan crime in America, and in particular, the mass shooting/killing phenomenon, and specifically regarding the recent mass murders in a wealthy Chicago suburb, which is “one of the most gun-controlled areas of one of the most gun-controlled states in the country,” writer Kylee Griswold has proposed a possible bold solution to pre-inform those who might be contemplating shooting up a school, church, or store, since nothing else seems to be solving this crisis of killing within our nation. Suggested Griswold: “It’s time for a new approach, and this particular case presents the perfect set of circumstances to justify it. The Highland Park shooter should be executed, and he should be executed quickly.”
The rapid execution of potential future mass murderers, in cases like this one, where the killer is known without a doubt to be the shooter, should send a signal to future would-be murders that his/her timely death will be a certainty. Now, this does not override the rule of law. This would only apply when there are multiple eye-witness accounts, better yet, clearly telling video, and a rapid trial with a no-doubt conclusion. Then, rather than having a convicted mass killer just sitting on death row, for the now all-too-usual 10-20 years, at tax- payer expense, publicized execution would be administered soon, rather than in a decade-plus. May sound harsh, but so is needless mass killing, and nothing else seems to be stopping this anti-social, anti-community, anti-nation behavior. Something to consider.
Concluding this edition, Star Parker speaks of the historic place and value of spirituality in our lives. Belief in God Almighty is that key. But among Americans, there has been noticeable erosion in that central element of faith. Back in 1944, a World War year, 96% told Gallup they believed in God. In 2022, Gallup reported that the overall number had dropped to 81%. The hope is that there might be a future resurgence of faith-based Americans. Ms. Parker finds this to be essential in order to restore a better balance in our lives between government power and control, and our own personal liberty and freedom. Said she: “Per Gallup, only 16% of survey respondents are, today, satisfied with the way things are going in our country. Government is in our lives in a major way, with trillion-dollar deficits and debt the size of our entire economy. And now inflation, which reflects all of this. Is there a way out without restoration of religious principle and personal responsibility? I think not.” Great to also recognize the badly needed core importance of personal responsibility, clearly lacking among way too many these days. Smart Talk with smart advice.
(Rep. Waltz quote via foxnews.com, Staff, 6-20-22; Sen. Cotton quote via breitbart.com, Trent Baker, 7-14-22; Bomberger quote via breitbart.com, Dr. Susan Berry, 1-19-22; McCaughey quote via nypost.com, Betsy McCaughey, 12-28-21; Gingrich quote via breitbart.com, Trent Baker, 6-20-22; Borelli quote via theepochtimes.com, Bill Pan, 6-27-22; Arizona school choice law via americanthinker.com, Alex Adkins, 7-12-2002; Griswold quote via the federalist.com, Kylee Griswold, 7-7-2022; Parker quote via newsmax.com, Star Parker, 6-22-22).