What I REALLY Think! » Citizenship

Pork Spending!

Mike — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:20:04 +0000

$100,000 for economic relief to Maine lobster fishermen

$900,000 for fish management in Mobile, AL

$250,000 to monitor cyanobacteria blooms in the Great Lakes (whatever that is)

$1.65 million for various National Textile Centers

$350,000 for Climate Change and Air Polutant Impacts to New England’s Rare Alpine Zone

$190,000 for salmon research and restoration projects in Western Alaska and interior river systems and ongoing marine productivity research

$200,000 for west coast weak stock salmon solutions

$545,000 to Hubbs SeaWorld for various projects

$700,000 for Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Research

$150,000 for Lobster Research in Augusta, Maine

$1,000,000 for continued research into the New England scallop fishery, to promote sustainability

$500,000 for an oyster hatchery economic pilot program

$7,100,000 for the conservation and recovery of endangered Hawaiian sea turtle populations

$100,000 to prevent the spread of exotic aquatic weeds such as millfoil and others in NH lakes

$360,000 to purchase, install, and maintain rain gages

$3,000,000 funding for climate research at nationwide sites (Reid and Schumer are two of the sponsors)

$3,000,000 for continued research and development of new methods to protect, preserve, and improve the health of multi-species fisheries in New England

$10,000,000 to provide economic assistance, equally divided between states of Maryland and Virginia, to watermen and communities impacted by the Secretary of Commerce’s blue crab disaster declaration of September 22, 2008.

$4,600,000 to restore oyster habitat and plant disease free oysters in scientifically selected sites throughout Chesapeake Bay.

$1,600,000 for citizen-driven environmental protection in Olympia, WA

$10,550,000 for weather research in the Gulf of Mexico

$1,000,000 for the CORE Philly Scholarship Program

$2,000,000 for the counties of Accomack and Northampton for broadband deployment

$1,000,000 for advanced robotics for lunar and Martian exploration

$2,200,000 to recruit minority students who will pursue careers in the sciences in New York.

Unspecified amount of money for bill language making the State of Nevada eligible for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (sponsored by none other than Harry Reid)

$188,000 for drug abuse alternatives center in Santa Rosa, CA

$ 8 billion for “high speed rail” from Disneyland in Anaheim, CA to Las Vegas

$30 million for a salt marsh mouse study in the San Francisco Bay Area

A Nation of Cowards!…

Mike — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:57:04 +0000

“A nation of cowards” or so says our new Attorney General. I can’t believe that we are having to be part of such a childish statement. Mr. Holder states in a description of the US that [we are] a nation of cowards on matters of race, saying most Americans avoid discussing unresolved racial issues. Since when did civility and good judgment get mistaken for cowardice. Regardless if we agree with the current presidents views politically, we made a huge step forward as a country by electing a minority to the highest office in our land. Just because we avoid discussing particular subject with anyone outside our particular sphere of influence does not make us cowards. Generally people also do not talk religion, politics, and a plethora of other subjects with anyone outside immediate friends and family. To call us coward for not doing it is at best an elementary attempt to engage the general populous by a “highly educated” man.

Mr. Holder also goes on to say “…the workplace is largely integrated but Americans still self-segregate on the weekends and in their private lives.” I am glad to see that Mr. Holder is such an authority on the private lives of all americans in all 50 states. I, as do many americas, have frineds that are of one minority or the other. I am hispanic yet of all my friends, I have no other hispanic friend that I get visit with in my “private” life. If you ask me it sounds like the justice department is getting bad intel again.
Mr. Holder holds the position of chief “law enforcer” yet make such archaic and elementary statments as to group all americans in to one big group. Isn’t this the problem at the core of the race issue? Yet he stands on his soap box telling us that we are cowards when it comes to race. Great Job Mr. Holder!

Is third grade too early for sex ed.?

Mike — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:17:28 +0000

News-Leader.com | Springfield Blogs – Schools | Springfield News-Leader.

Are you kidding me? The reason that 10 and 12 year olds are having sex is becasuse parents are not teaching their children that it is inappoprate activites for a person of their age.

We can teach children about sex but we need to keep it appoprate to their age. We dont need to go into all the details with a 3rd grader that we would with say a 13 year old or a 16 year old. Parents have gotten lazy and allowed the world to dictate what is taught to their children and when.

Yes there are times that our children will make bad choices but that dosnt mean we throw out all reason and discretion. When they hit these times our mark should be to get them through it rather than trying to fix or ignore the situation.

There is still a thing called personal accountability.

Alabama NAACP criticizes use of Trail Maids in Inaugural Parade

Mike — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:59:27 +0000

WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Alabama NAACP criticizes use of Trail Maids in Inaugural Parade.

I really think that it is time to put some of these people out to pasture. If the nation electing a black president is not proof enough that by and large our country has moved past this horrible season in history I don’t know what is. He elected president elect Obama by almost a landslide. Yes I realize that in some parts of the country there are still issues that linger but we are a better people now.

Thank God that we have come to a place where we see people as God sees them… “as people”!

That’s the way I see it!

Adopt or Write to the Troops

Mike — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:16:08 +0000

I have to admit that I really didn’t even think about it until last week when I was reading our church magazine and a lady wrote about how she had adopted a soldier and was writing them each week and sending care packages.

I don’t understand how I missed this… I think that it is every Americans duty to support the individuals that are fighting for our country. Regardless of how you feel about the war it’s self. The men and women that are over there are Americans, they are the sons and daughters of our neighbors, they are at their core human beings. Many of them do not have anyone that is capable of writing or sending packages.

I have three small boys and I cant even imagine my boys being over there with out some sort of support from home. I would be proud of my boys to be willing to lay down their life for our country. I am not a soldier never have been and now at my age probably never will be but I am so grateful for all the people who have made sacrifices to make sure our country is still the greatest place to raise kids and have a family.

Here are two places that I know of that can help you connect with a soldier.

1: http://anysoldier.com/
They are mostly a avenue to send care packages and connect with individuals, they state that you shouldnt expect to receive a reply, but many do write back.

2: http://adoptaplatoon.org
They offer both adotption of a soldier, platoon or just a pen-pal. They have a several different campaigns including one for moms. My family used this one for adopting a soldier that we will write to and send care packages.