Veterans Memorial in Santa Monica

Veterans are honored every week at the Santa Monica Pier.

The Crosses at the beach are a make-shift reminder of the sacrifice that our country's armed men and women are making for us.

The United States has stationed forces in Iraq since 2003, Afghanistan since 2001. The wars must end, our troops deserve to come home.

I applaud the residents of Santa Monica who want to set up a permanent memorial for all the sons and daughters of Santa Monica who have given their lives for their country.

The row of monuments at Pacific Palisades Park is commendable, but the five columns recognize the  branches of the Armed Forces. Indeed, respect is due to every person individually for their efforts on behalf of the United States of America.

Torrance, CA has already set up a Veterans Memorial near city hall. Recently, the city also set up banners along the main boulevard along the memorial and city hall. on each of which a specific resident/veteran of the "Balanced City" is honored. For the first time in years, the city of Torrance was spotlighted on the evening news for good reason.

Santa Monica should provide the same courtesy to her veterans, too.

NO to "NO to Prop 32"

The double-dealing about local unions’ hype about Proposition 32 is the biggest fraud I have read in a long time in Random Lengths News.

“Prop. 32 would severely restrict the right of union members to contribute money to support candidates and issues that benefit working people.”

I was a “member” of the United Teachers of Los Angeles – oh, wait a second. . .Before joining the union, I noticed that a portion of paycheck was taken away by UTLA – without my permission. I had not even joined the union, yet the Union leaders were already helping themselves to a portion of my paycheck.

In no way was I “contributing” to the union thuggocracy. As a first-year teacher, I received no support or representation on behalf of my union, apart from witnessing then UTLA chief AJ Duffy yell at the school board every week. Still I had more than forty kids in every class. Still I was facing off against unqualified counselors and department heads who had no interest in helping out a new teacher like me. Still I had no protection from lying students and harassing parents who knew that they could manipulate staff who had no job protection.

I neglected to mention that UTLA dumped money on political candidates and causes which I did not support, and still do not, in large part because these interests demand raises, kick-backs, and  benefits from the state, which voters, or employees, like me have to pay for. So much for  “benefitting working people.”

Also far as representing the needs of “working people” is concerned, I notice that Sacramento is not working for the people at all , refusing to pass a budget without accounting gimmicks, rosy projections which wilt under the heat of economic realities, or projected tax increases which will hurt everyone: consumers, job creators, rich  and poor.

I support Prop. 32 and Citizens United, and as a citizen of these United States and the Golden State of California, I want an end to union interests pilfering my paycheck to pull strings to pilfer state coffers again and again.

Bloomfield the Independent -- Election Reform

I for one was sold on Bill Bloomfield for the 33rd when I read that he pushed for the following reforms:

Redistricting Reform -- since 2005, Bill was pressing to end the unethical and anti-political practice of permitting Congressmen to politick politicians in the statehouse, who then would make deals with the opposition and gerrymander safe districts for incumbents. In the previous decade, only one incumbent Richard Pombo of Northern California, was removed from office by the opposing party.

This trend has created, in the opinions of many, including this writer, unaccountable representatives who spend more time living it up with other people's money in Washington, including Congressman Henry Waxman, who currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland, far away from the slopes of Palos Verdes and the shores of Malibu.

US Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana lost his seat in a contested primary earlier this year. One of the chief complaints from Hoosier voters included the fact that he did not have a  home address in the state. Such seeming niceties communicate "out of touch." Now more than ever voters are "touchy" about their representatives, and they are "touched" by the bipartisanship, read collusion, which has routinely raised the debt ceiling and proffered pork and back-scratching.

Waxman is one of the Old Guard, politicians who  basically chose their own districts, their own voters, and thus could get away with blunt ignorance of the most basic elements of laws and procedures in Congress.

 Open Primaries -- since 2010, through the diligence of Santa Maria moderate Abel Maldonado candidates from both parties, along with independent and minority candidates, now have a better chance of winning the Congressional seat or another position in the running.

Prop 32 -- If there is one issue specifically which commands respect enough to cast a vote for Bill, Prop 32 is motivation enough. This initiative will protect the workers' paycheck, will prevent unions and corporations from contributing to state political candidates. The control of special interests, specifically public sector unions, has pushed legislators to the wall, preventing them in many cases from enacting necessary reforms which can help balance the budget, cut the spending, stop the taxation and regulation hurting this country, and get Sacramento working on behalf of the voters.

This kind of reform-minded leadership is exactly what we need in Congress. Bill Bloomfield's  independence will force Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders to contend with a separate interest, not just the Tea Party movement, not just the disparate caucuses, and certainly not the special interests, since Bill has refused to take any corporate or party donations.

End the labels, end the gridlock, cut the spending, cut the crap -- Bill Bloomfield for the 33rd!

"Warming Up" Luke-Warm at Best

The earth is getting hotter. Global warming is a reality, it's our fault, and we should feel bad about it.

At least that's what Beach Reporter editor Paul Silva claims.

He enumerates three reasons why he believes that global warming is a reality:

1. Louie, Paul's Labrador Retriever, refused to run and chase a tennis ball after ten minutes following last week's heat wave in the South Bay.

We have had heat waves before in this region, and they were nothing to get burned up about. I went to the mall, like many people do when it gets hot out there. I even met an old college friend of mine. If there is global warming, at least it's working for me.

2. For the first time every, Paul had to wear flip-flops to the beach. I agree that someone who is used to the sand does not normally have to wear coverings for the soles of his feet. Frankly, just because a man's toes get a little "tenderized" does not signal in itself that the entire world is getting hotter. Perhaps the sand is heated up, or "het up" rather because Malibu has descended upon the Manhattan Beach Coastline, demanding more sand for its own eroding shores. The sand is rebelling against their forced transfer, perhaps. . .

3. His wife went to the ocean five times in one week, when normally she would only go in the water one time over the entire summer. Rather than complain about the weather, I think that he should be happy that the weather has brought his wife and him closer together.

Regarding "The National Geographic" survey, a magazine coupled with flashy pictures of exotic climes hardly withstands the scrutiny of the scientific community. Nor is guilt a meaningful indicator about the effects that human beings have on our atmosphere and the "supposed" rising temperature of the world.

I choose to feel the warmth rather than feel guilt or fret about a sleuth of bears potentially roaming the Beach Cities in the near future,

"Obama Enthustiasts?" -- Disillusioned Fanatics

The LA Times reported last week that "Obama enthusiasts" are adapting to the reality of 2012.

The reality is diametrically opposed to the "Hope and Change" which has short-changed everyone with less hope of a vibrant recovery for the country.

"Then the President went to Washington, and things changed. His agenda bent to accommodate how the real world works. Politics got ugly."

Once again, an LA Times columnists excuses the President's complete break from the proper vision of the government and the country. "Things changed" -- indeed, the same way that "things fall apart" as documented by W. B. Yeats.

"Pollsters have detected a steady slide in voters' sense of optimism about the president."

More like a precipitous, calamitous fall. Which pollsters were the columnists indicating? Even when pundits poll groups with a Democratic edge, Romney ends up with more support than expected.

President Obama has no choice but to attack and launch petty assaults on Mitt Romney, a former business owner, venture capitalist, and Governor who led people, places, and policies for the greater good.

There is plenty of enthusiasm out there -- enthusiasm to see Romney get elected, many of whom will be from the camp of "disillusioned fanatics" who had supported the president.

Cows Eating Candy Corn

Cows Eating Candy: Milk Chocolate, perhaps?

Now the cows are eating sweets?

Since the price of corn and other basic food staples has gone so far up, cattle farmers need a cheaper food stuff to fatten their livestock for the slaughter.

Nick Smith of United Livestock Commodities hit on a brilliant and economical idea. He is feeding his cows candy corn!

The alternative is cheap yet fattens up the cattle really fast.

Paul Cameron of California Cattleman's Association  called the move "awfully creative", and who can blame him?

I'm sure the cows like the break from the run-of-the-mill corn on the cob which they had been eating for so long.

Just think -- now these cows will have a taste of why kids go out and get "fattened up" during Halloween.

I hate to think of what they prices will be when the witches, goblins, and second graders come out to play!

Romney and Energy Independence

Romney claims he can advance an energy policy that will make this country independent by 2020.

What did Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, or any other line of presidents say about energy independence in this country?

Jimmy Carter talked big about breaking free of foreign oil, only to witness OPEC limit oil distribution and force Americans by the thousands throughout the country to line up for gas, to visit the pumps only every other day, whether it was a letter or a number which was first listed on their license plates.

Still, discussing energy independence from the perspective of making use of what we have already is better than just talking about dates of independence to come.

Romney wants to open up off-shore drilling off the coasts of Virginia and the Carolinas.

"The plan is focused on supply, not demand." comments Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles Times.

Whether supply or demand, this country should not have to hit up petroligarchies for our flow of fuel.

Chavez and Ahmedinejad both should have less of the global profit when it comes to filling up our gas tanks.

If there is one product worth "buying American" -- that would be gasoline.

As far as decreasing demand is concerned, green technology has been a browned-out failure all the way. Solyndra and eighteen other companies have gone bankrupt in the last two years. There is no demand for cars which will demand less gasoline, yet which certainly would demand more of the consumers of wallet, not just in the cost of the vehicles, but the resulting rise in food prices because of the diversion of foodstuffs to ethanol fuels.

Mr. Romney, now is the perfect time to shout: "Drill, Baby, Drill!"

We Rejoice Because We See Him

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

"The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." (Habakkuk 3: 17-19)

Are you face a crushing defeat, losses incalculable?

Notice how the prophet  Habakkuk, the same who declared "the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4) chose to see the Lord and trust in what He will do.

For what is faith, but to see with the eyes of our understanding (Ephesians 1: 17) what is unseen to the human eye (Hebrews 11: 1)?

I used to quote this verse at length, not exactly what to hope for. I was not seeing the work that He had already done. That is not faith. Paul tell us what we need to be looking at:

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3: 1-3)

We have to know who we are in Christ, fully justified (2 Corinthians 5: 21), seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2: 6)

The more that we know and believe that Christ lives in us (Colossians 1: 27), the more then we can rely on His strength in us:

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)

Then we can realize that, unlike the prophet who foresaw the glory, we can partake of it now:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)

When we know how much God loves us, then our faith works (Galatians 5: 6), and indeed we receive His glory, walking on every high place.

Republicans in the Sea of Galilee -- Washington in the Red Sea

The Jewish Journal took off in a side column against a delegation of Republican House Reps who went to Israel on a more serious, political matter.

The freshmen lawmakers, according to the report, suggest that they were carrying on like high school "freshmen", and after dinner and drinking one of them went skinny-dipping in the Sea of Galilee.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor took the House Reps to task for their risque behavior which risked the original diplomatic mission of the delegation.

I am more concerned with the politicians in Washington,  both Republican and Democrat, who are swimming, bathing, and turning around and playing in the Red Sea, "red" as in "red ink" and a tsunami of debt which is drowning this country and crowding out investment and wealth creation.

When will another savior, or leader, rise up and divide and conquer this red sea of debt which is washing away the future of this country?

Still waters may run deep, but the silent threat of national debt is striking at the core of this country's fiscal health.

Dennis Prager Wrong About "Lies"

I cannot believe that Dennis Prager roped in Todd Akin's misstatement about rape and abortion, claiming that Akin spoke a "lie" to further a cause.

That is patently untrue.

Todd Akin expressed an opinion that was wrong, but then to include that he is a blatant, vulgar liar for making this statement is just a supposition taken to far.

The Truth will set you free. The Truth is a person (John 8: 32).

Yet even for those who choose not to submit to truth as a person, then at least I respond to this charge:

"What we have here, rather than a lie in the technical sense, are two other, more common assaults on truth:

First is the lack of desire to know truth in order for the individual to continue to believe what he wants to believe."

Akin's statement does not fall into this first category.

Then Prager establishes another concern:

"The second reason so many people don't value the truth: Their cause is always higher than truth telling."

Akin was not lying in the first place, and he was not presenting what he believed was untrue in order to advance a cause.

I am ashamed that Dennis Prager has jumped in line with the rest of the Mainstream Media howling about a few misstatements.

Ironically, Prager chose to hear and to conclude certain things not in line with Akin's comments. Who is ignoring the truth at the service of a cause or an argument.