I love the South.  I chose to live here almost 20 years go, and I have never regretted that decision.  I probably wouldn't survive withoutthe magic of air conditioning, but that's a small problem.

HOWEVER....

Hot Dog Buns.  That's a BIG problem<< MORE >>

"Did you hear what Janeane Garrafolo said?!" "Man, that Susan Roesgen at CNN is a !" Yes, I heard. Yes, she is. And I don't care.<< MORE >>

This is to everyone who is concerned about things like the recent DHS report tagging returning veterans, Ron Paul supporters, people who know about that pesky little thing called the Constitution, and many many more as "possible threats" and "potential terrorists."<< MORE >>

I have a medical insurance coverage issue.  Here it is in a nutshell:

• I'm out of a job
• I've been out of a job for almost 6 moths
• Group Coverage from my last job is over
• Savings are running out
• I'm a diabetic
• The medictaions and supplies I have been using come to more than $1200 retail every month
• Individual medical coverage that gives anywhere close to the same benefit levels I once had will cost me (...wait for it...) more than $1200 every month

So you see, I'm rapidly heading up a certain creek while not in possession of a certain implement of locomotion.  Beyond the ongoing monthly expenses (just one of the two insulins I currently take comes to $800 a month - the other is $300) I've had two eye surgeries in the last year - one on each eye.  I;m faced with diminishing resources, escalating costs and no easy prospects in sight.  And that's assuming the eye surgeries both worked well, otherwise NOTHING is in sight, except getting a dog and a cane.  (But hey, I miss having a dog, so maybe there's an upside, even there.)

With all of this, you might wonder if I'm feeling a little more amenable to "universal healthcare", in any of its many proposed form.  After all, I'm now down in (or at least very close to) the foxhole with the other [insert your favorite number] uninsured Americans.

Well, for anyone out there readingthis who is a fan of any of these plans, let me ask you a few simple questions:

Would you think it was OK for me to go out on the street and stick up a few passersby to pay for my medications?  How about a bank?  Or maybe one of those evil rich people, who got "obscene bonuses"?  Or maybe I should just go to tghe pharmacy and take it!  Why not? And I could always go to the doctor who did my eye surgeries, or my endocrinolgist and get them to treat me at gunpoint.

This is really the bottom line question that everyone on the march for "universal healthcare" wants to dance around: 

Exactly what in my predicament -  real as it is - would give me the right to take money, supplies, time or skill away from someone else at gunpoint?  And, if I don't have that "right", what on earth makes it right for one, or a dozen, or a hundred, or a thousand, or a million of YOU to HIRE someone else with guns to take it from one, or a dozen, or a hundred, or a thousand, or a million of "THEM"  (whoever "they" are) and give any part of it to me?

Tell me.  I really want to know.

        

I don't know how many of you are old enough to remember when television actually ran advertising for cigarettes.  You've probably seen some of the old ads on YouTube.  If you haven't here are some pointers to some, so you young whipper-snappers can get an idea of what they were like:




So - Why do I say bring them back?

Because the other side is getting airtime.  You can't watch a day's television without seeing one of those "Truth.com" ads.

Now, let's be clear on my position and opinions:
...<< MORE >>

Just in case anyone is wondering, the radio show that Doug Craig and I do, "Crazy for Liberty with Doug and Garrett" is on hiatus at the moment.  Don't worry, we haven't been cancelled - since we were paying for the airtime, they really can't "cancel" us anyway.

1)  The "economic downturn" has actually caused an enormous BOOM in Doug's business, as he is picking up lots of trade from some of his failed competitors.  (Go Doug!)  As a matterof fact, go to his website http://www.vikingmetals.com/ and make him even busier!

2)  I'm at the other end of the spectrum - out of a job since November - and dealing with a serious vision problem that kept me from travelling to the radio station for nearly a month.  (Sob, sob - I know)

So - we're taking some time off.  But Doug and I are still in this thing for the long haul.  We're still going to continue being royal pains in the butt to anyone who thinks "liberty" is just a word and that gummint is all about the "goodies"!  I expect we'll be back sometime in late summer or early fall, but Doug will have the final word.  (Remember when I said "we" pay for the airtime?  That was a euphemism.  It's mostly Doug - I just run my mouth.)

        

Well, I'm slowly working through som eof the many missed podcasts since last fall.  I'm starting with the most recent show, for February 15th, 2009.

In this outing, Doug Craig was absent WITH official leave (he was delivering goods to an out of state customer.  Yay!  Let's hear it for Interstate Commerce!)  my Guest Host for this show was a libertarian friend named Rock Conner, from Dallas, GA.

Thanks much Rock for stepping into the void and helping me get through this relatively unscathed.

The primary topic for much of this show was the newly minted "American Recovery and Reinvenstment Act",  AKA, the Economic Simulation bill.

So, here we go...

Played: 52 | Download | Duration: 00:55:00

        

Just a little political rant with images set to music. Kind of a "how I feel" thing on the state of Liberty in this country.

Also a larger version on my FaceBook page

        

Topics:
Black Friday and business "Pundits"
WalMart's "Black Friday"
Drop in Energy use worrying utilities?
Thanksgiving - The original "Bailout"?
John Michael Hayes obituary
Chambliss vs. Martin - Doug can't support either of them

Played: 82 | Download | Duration: 00:57:38

        

November 19th, 2008 - Hanover, New Hampshire

My father, John Michael Hayes, who made his career as a Hollywood screenwriter for over 40 years, died of natural causes Wednesday, November 19th, at the Kendal at Hanover retirement community in Hanover, New Hampshire.

I discussed my father's life and career briefly on our "Crazy for LIberty" radio show for Sunday, November 30th.  (Even though Dad died before the previous week's show, I waited until the 30th, because the family had not yet made the formal announcemnt.)  That show will be posted shortly.  The portion cooncerning my father is at about 35 minutes into the hour - so slightly less than that when  the commercials are removed.

Here are some references on the web to Dad, his career and his obituary notices:

John Michael Hayes dot com:  http://www.johnmichaelhayes.com
The Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371088/
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Michael_Hayes
Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/24/AR2008112402850.html
Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-hayes27-2008nov27,0,2561739.story?track=rss
London Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5218670.ece
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/movies/25hayes.html?ref=movies

And here is probably my personal favorite:
http://mysterymanonfilm.blogspot.com/2008/11/john-michael-hayes-lucky-bastard.html
The author is right in more ways than he knows...

Anyone wishing to do so is invited to make donations in his name to:

    Kendal at Hanover
    80 Lyme Road
    Hanover, NH 03755
    For: The Cadbury Fund