Riding Around in a Drunk Man's Car

Secession fever has apparently hit Texas! 

  Bumper stickers like the one above are actually showing up in impressive numbers.  This one is courtesy of TexasSecede.Org.  I was reading this story and the comments on MSN.com.  It had been linked to Drudge Report, but also had MSNBC followers reading it, too.  So you had two distinct groups writing comments; one of which was amusing to read.  Those not in favor of the idea were writing some of the most unintentionally humorous stuff I'd read in a long time.  Here's a comment that kinda summed up the liberal viewpoint:
  "If Texas secedes from the US, then Texas must shoulder for itself the responsibilities of all of the US Government Agencies on which it now relies. Perhaps they should appoint a Texan who can read to check into what it will cost the citizens of Texas to replace the services those agencies provide, such as the FDA, USDA, Army Corps of Engineers, National Guard, to name a very few of very many."
You just can't make this stuff up.  So many of these agencies are overstaffed, overpowered, agenda-driven, and cost way too much.  It's one of the main reasons that secession is such a great idea.  Sure, some of the things these agencies do are necessary.  But much or all of each one of them should be eliminated.  You ask how secession would be paid for...well here's your biggest starting point.
  With this said, let me ask you a question.  Would you like to be forced to ride around in a drunk man's car?  If you're sane, you wouldn't.  Well, that is a good analogy of what it's like for a responsible person to be forced to submit and live your life in the failed and dangerous world of liberalism and big government.  You know the big crash is coming; just not sure when.  It's mindless to just keep waiting for that moment to happen when there's a chance to get out of that car.  Secession is that chance to say "I don't want to jump off the cliff with the other lemmings."  I promise you that secession can and will work.  And all those things that are wrong with America CAN be fixed!  If you think the US government is leading us into eventual financial and moral armageddon (which they are), this is now the only way out.  If you're tired of your values and your religion and your hard-earned savings being attacked, this may very well be the only way.  If you're afraid your children and grandchildren won't have the opportunity you did, this may be the only way. If you're tired of your tax money going to parasites and an out-of-control government, this may be the only way.  If you think the media is against you at every turn, this may be the only way.  If you really want things fixed, and get liberals out of your hair once and for all, this may be the only way.
  So, as an average person like yourself that truly cares for everything decent and right, and wishes to preserve it, I am BEGGING you to open your eyes to the consideration of secession!  Forget the strategy and discussion for a moment.  What I can promise you is what you see in California, Illinois, and Detroit will happen in Oklahoma and Texas, too.  Liberalism is plague to all man; and it spreads easily among the weakest of our citizens.  I don't know how long the window of opportunity will last, but I know the longer we wait, the deeper the hole we must dig ourselves out from. 
Take care,
Marcus

To Blog or Not To Blog

   It is obviously apparent that just because you have a blog, it doesn't mean anyone will read it.  And this one definitely isn't being read much at this time.  That's okay, though.  I'm not doing it for personal attention, and I may not be ready to aggressively publish the blog, anyway.  You see, I really am just an ordinary guy, and hold no illusions that the thoughts in my head are special or more interesting than what others say.  I don't even know a single politician.  This is more an exercise in organizing my beliefs and learning how to write properly.  If you are reading this, please understand the only agenda I have is finding a way to preserve what is or once was right with this country.  I really love America, and I want my daughter to grow up with the same freedoms I have taken for granted since childhood.  That's about it...nothing else. 

Why Conservatism Didn't Sell in 2012

Note:  Not every post will be directly related to secession.  Sometimes it's helpful to discuss what got us into this situation in the first place.  On occasion, I may focus on another of my passions.  Finally, there will be times I just don't wish to be serious.  Today, I want to talk about the latest elections...so bear with me.

  In the months leading to the November 6th elections, it was obvious there was lacking a certain enthusiasm on the Republican side of the aisle. Notice I did NOT say the conservative side; I said Republican. Oh, there were some high points; but mostly the message getting out wasn't exactly going to rally the troops. Repblicans didn't win out because conservatism wasn't explained and articulated properly. Let's start with Mitt Romney; the prospective leader of the party.
  Governor Romney never was and never will be a true conservative. Do not get me wrong...on a personal level, he is a fine man. There is no question about that. But you don't become governor of Massachusetts by having a conservative streak. Looking back, he was nearly the worst candidate possible at this time to wrest the presidency from Obama. He got the republican nomination because he wanted desperately to be president. It would be a crowning personal and family achievement. He was well organized in the primaries, well funded, and he knew how to work the system to his benefit. Plus, he knew how to go for the jugular when in a tight race with republicans. That was because his opponents were not going to aggressively challenge him on his personal wealth or business background. Romney also avoided any scandal or unforgiveable misstep. But the causes for his success in the nomination did not serve him well in the general election.
  If you weren't in a swing state, you really didn't see much of Mitt Romney. He got about two minutes on the evening news; but wasn't really ever presented in a positive way. The aggressive Romney in the primaries turned into the passive Romney against Obama. He wanted to stay above the fray; and not get into any discussion about what he was going to do specifically. The only thing we knew is that he would sign a law that ended Obamacare before it could get off the ground. I keep wondering if this was his idea; or that of his campaign staff. I'll never know for sure, but observation suggests it was some of both. Governor Romney to me here in Oklahoma was asking for my vote simply because he wasn't Obama. There wasn't a whole lot else being said.
  You see, you cannot just say you're going to cut taxes and spending. You have to say why you need to and provide details of how you're going to do it. You have to present a picture of what things will look like if it is not done, and one of what it will be if it is. And you gotta really believe it and be passionate about it. That's what I didn't hear and see. The conservative message of limited government and taxes will win every time if you have the right person saying it. He or she has to be articulate to be sure. But more important, you need to be passionate in your conservative beliefs; and not afraid to say something that will be chastised by liberals or the media. They're going to try to crusify you no matter what you say. Just the fact that you're not a liberal democrat will be all the justification they need. When the 47% comment Romeny said in a speech to donors came out, it was a golden opportunity for him to strongly explain exactly what he meant; and why an entitlement culture is so destructive to our country and to individuals and families. No...he just ignored it and hoped it would blow away in time.
  When the democrats attacked him with accusations he didn't pay any taxes in the past 10 years; he should have immediately confronted the lie and turned it around on them. Andrew Breitbart (rest his soul) made a career out of turning around an accusation into an opportunity to embarrass his accuser. Exposing democrats as liars would have been more beneficial than hiding his tax information. Romney paid a relatively low effective rate on his taxes because they were on investment incomes rather than income from employment. Plus, he donated a lot of money to charities. Then...and this is a big one...why on earth didn't Romney say he would release his taxes one hour after Obama released his college records? That opens the door to suggest Obama has something to hide. Romney had to know that Obama has something huge in those records that he doesn't want people to know about. He could have just implied that there was possible fraud; which there very well may be. I guarantee this is what the democrats would have done. Romney wanted to play a gentleman's game; and if he had passions, he wasn't going to show them. At least not until the debates. Mitt Romney could have finished off Obama if he had stayed as aggressive in the second and third debate as he did in the first. But he chose to play it safe and likeable. It was astonishing to watch.
  I think Governor Romney was also afraid to truly confront Obama. There were just lines he wasn't willing to cross.  Was it Obama’s likeability or ethnic makeup?  Probably both.  I find it amazing that so many people really like Obama.  He’s conducted some of the most underhanded schemes ever imagined in politics.  He leads a party inherently corrupt, and his campaign was filled with lies and scams.  But they still like him.  I could write about this for a week, and I still wouldn’t understand it.  You’ve got to believe there is some truth that the belief in liberty and freedom has been overrun by entitlements and a false sense of security.  It's sad to watch, but doing nothing will only make the inevitable worse.
Take care.
Marcus

Back on the Air

  Wow...it has been a long time since I last posted.  Over three years, to be exact.  So much has happened since then; and hopefully I've learned a little on the way.  I think I should be forthcoming on why I quit posting.  My wife and some friends were concerned that in this hostile political climate; I could be punished for even discussing the possibility of secession.  So I stopped.  It might be worth noting here that since then, I've been audited twice by the IRS.  This had not happened in my entire life; as I am not a person that looks suspicious on paper.  My salary and deductions would never raise a red flag.  But facts are facts.  Then my worst fears were realized; and my mother was diagnosed with dementia in early 2010.  I have no siblings; and my father had already passed several years ago; so it fell largely on me to take care of her.  This was a life-changing event for me; and I may have finally faced up to the reality that at some points in your life; you must put aside your own plans for a period of time and dedicate yourself to someone else.  Her dementia was rapid onset; and she went downhill fast...passing away in late 2010.  It was my trial by fire, and it didn't kill me.  So I hope I am stronger for it.  Finally, the outcome of the 2010 elections gave me some hope for the future; although it was short lived.  Reality came crashing down on November 6th, 2012.
  In the past week, secession has been discussed more than any time I can recall.  Before, I simply wished to discuss the possibilities; but wasn't advocating it.  Things are different now.  I can discuss values and morality some other day.  But at the moment, I'm focused on economic realities.  Unfortunately, we're now in such a downward spiral due to the national debt that the chance of avoiding financial collapse is impossible.  We as a nation lack the fortitude to reverse our course; and our politicians seem more than willing to let us fall off the cliff.  We can't save the whole nation...it is obvious they way the populous voted in the 2012 elections.  They're just too ignorant, or too brainwashed, or don't care, or see this collapse as an opportunity.  The latter would be the political elites who are following the Saul Alinski playbook and believe collapse is their chance to introduce true marxism to the nation.  If you find that impossible to believe, then please quit reading my blog.  You're one of the ones that refuse to get your head out of the sand. 
  So my future posts will not only be discussing the ramifications of secession, they will also be addressing how to make it happen.  I surely wish there was someone smarter than me that could lay out another possibility to save this nation.  Trust me, there's plenty of smarter people.  But so far, I don't see that happening.
Take care.
Marcus