Clint Eastwood

A lot of people I've spoken to did not like Clint Eastwood's stand up comedy routine at the Republican National Convention.  Personally, soon as Clint Eastwood introduced the chair, I suspected he was not following convention rules.  I question the reasoning of those who allowed Clint Eastwood to talk for five minutes.
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Why would anyone familiar with Clint Eastwood expect him to follow rules.  Even when he was acting in his spaghetti westerns, he would scratch out dialogue that he thought was unnecessary.  I think that's why he was chosen for the characters he played. Though he was not the violent person he played in those movies, his personality certainly complemented the characters he played..

I heard that visitors to his house were greeted by a hangman's noose. Eastwood intended it as a joke.

Anyway, his speech at the Republican National Convention was absolutely hilarious.  He should have performed this comedy act on a late night talk show. He should not have taken up an extra fifteen minutes to perform it at the Republican National Convention.

Below, I provide a link to a book review. The book is titled  'Clint: The Life and Legend.' It was written by Patrick McGilligan.

Eastwood: The Life and Legend

Recipe for a Tragedy

A young teenager comes walking (toward the west) up the hill of an unlit road. He is wearing dark clothes, has headphones covering his ears, listening to loud music while looking at a gadget in his hands. The teenager is on the right side of the road.

A blue sedan with bright beams is on the opposite side of the road and is a ahead of the young teenager. This blue sedan is traveling east.

A Hyundai is coming up the opposite side of the hill. The car's headlamps are on but the driver is not able to see the young teenager ahead of him and to his right. The Hyundai is traveling west.

Near the top of the hill, the teen veers between two parked cars.

As the Hyundai comes over the hill and the driver is blinded by the bright beams of the approaching blue sedan, the young teenager walks into the street from between the two parked cars.

The passenger in the Hyundai yells "Look out!" At that same instant in time, the Hyundai driver sees the teenager ahead and to the right of his vehicle. The driver applies the breaks and comes to a stop.  The blue sedan passes the Hyundai and keeps on going.

The teenager doesn't stop. He crosses the road without looking up from the gadget in his hand.  The teenager probably had no idea how close he came to being hit.

If the driver of the Hyundai had been driving faster, the teen would probably have ended up in the hospital or dead.

Mitt Romney, CEOs Worried About Economy

According to the article "Why CEOs Are Worried About The Economy" written by Rick Newman and published in USANews.com, the top concerns of CEOs are the European crisis, commodity prices, and the Chinese economy.

So what does Romney have to say about these three concerns? Romney advocates tax cuts, deregulation and drilling for more oil. The problem is that none of these fully address the concerns of the CEOs as listed in the article written by Rick Newman.

So I went to the web site 'Mitt Romney for President' and accessed to the page 'Mitt Romney On The Critical Issues.'  On that web page, there is not a single word about the European Debt Crisis.

Romney clearly defines his position regarding the trade issue between the US and China.

With regard to commodities Romney focuses on oil. He ignores all the warnings that the world's supply of oil will be depleted. There are numerous web sites on the Internet warning about the depletion of oil.

While the Republicans show great concern for the cost of programs they don't like in the next 30 years, they show no concern over the depletion of the world's oil supply. Romney has no interest in developing any other form of energy. Romney has no interest in solar power, wind power, global warming, our aquifers or the environment.  He is willing to sacrifice everything for profit.

Romney claims to have consulted with CEOs. I think he should consult with them again and update his proposed policies.

Having said that, the only interest the Republicans express concerning the future of our nation is the debt. But in order to secure the future of our nation we must be concerned with everything. What good is alleviating the debt for future generations if we neglect all other economic and environment needs of future generations?

Romney's vision of our future is a recipe for disaster.

References:

Why CEOs Are Worried About The Economy

Elect Romney 2012 Website

Oil Depletion Analysis Center

Christianity and Capitalism

With all the talk about Paul Ryan's inspiration for politics and his comments about Ayn Rand, writing a blog about Christianity and capitalism seemed natural.  I've read the four gospels of our Lord Jesus and I have not found any parable wherein Jesus speaks out against capitalism.  Our Lord Jesus spoke against greed. But there is a difference between greed and capitalism. They are not one and the same as some would have us believe. Here are some references, parables and quotes from the NIV Study Bible that directly or indirectly relate to capitalism.
 
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

In Luke 16:1-14, Jesus tells a parable about a manager accused of wasting his master's possessions. The manager loses his job. Then the manager lowered the debts of three people who owed the master so that they would be indebted to the manager. In other words, the manager 'cooked the books.' Hence, the manager had someone to take him in. The master commended the manager's shrewd dishonest actions.
In the NIV Study Bible, Jesus explained the meaning of the parable as follows: Luke 16:9 "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourself, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."

In the notes for Luke 16:9  in the NIV Study Bible, it states: "God's people should be alert to make use of what God has given them to gain friends by helping those in need, who will in the future show their gratitude by welcoming their benefactors into Heaven."

In the NIV Study Bible Luke 16:17 Jesus says, "You cannot serve both God and money."

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.

In the NIV Study Bible Mathew 20:1-16 Jesus explains what the kingdom of Heaven is like by telling a story of laborers in a vineyard and their dispute over wages paid to them. The laborers, who had worked a whole day were paid the wages they had agreed to, complained about workers who were hired for only the latter part of the day and paid the same wages. Those who only worked the latter part on the day were paid first. The master explained that he had the right to do what he wanted with his money.  Jesus explains this parable in the NIV Study Bible by saying "So the last will be first and the first will be last."

Jesus at the Temple

In Mathew 21:12, Jesus reprimands the money exchangers in the Temple yard. In the NIV Study Bible it states: "He (Jesus) drove out all who were buying and selling there. Jesus said, 'It is written My house will be called a House of Prayer. But you are making it a den of robbers.' "

The Parable of the Rich Fool

This parable is about a rich man who produced a good crop and decided to save it for himself.  In the NIV Study Bible Luke 16:20, God speaks to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you."  In 16:21 Jesus said, "This is how it will be for he who stores things up for himself but is not rich toward God."
In the NIV Study Bible, Luke 12:15 Jesus talked about those who grow rich for themselves instead of growing rich in the sight of God.  He warns us to avoid greed in all it's forms.

In the NIV Study Bible; Mathew 19:23 Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." When the apostles asked, "The who could be saved?" Jesus answered, "With man, this is impossible. But with God all things are possible."

Note that Jesus didn't say "But with God this is possible." He stated, "But with God all things are possible."  Not just a rich man entering the Kingdom of Heaven, but all things.

Conclusion

The above sections of the New Testament clearly indicated that Christianity and honest uncorrupted capitalism can exist in harmony as long as that capitalism is not based on greed and selfishness. Our Lord Jesus encouraged honesty in our business dealings as well as our personal dealings with others.

Response to Reverend C.L. Bryant's FreePAC Speech

The Reverend C.L. Bryant gave a speech at FreePAC on August 2, 2012. This is my response to his speech.

President Obama is not your enemy. He is your President. As your President, he deserves as much respect as President Ronald Reagan. President Obama is a patriot just like all other presidents.

President Obama honored President Abraham Lincoln's famous words that our great nation is a nation of the people, by the people and for the people. The Republican leaders have not truly lived up to Abraham Lincoln's words.

Both Democrats and Republicans served in wars and died for our nation. Both Democrats and Republicans are patriots.

Republicans love big government in the form of tax incentives and tax subsidies to big business. Tax incentives and tax subsidies favors some large corporations and consequently discriminates against other large corporations.

Republican big government oppresses the workers with lower wages and less benefits.

Republican big government places an undue burden on the states by transferring financial responsibility for government programs to the states; thereby forcing the states to raise taxes.

The Republican Congress members shirk their duties. There are many examples including the attempt to allow our banking system to fail, the refusal to help the US Auto Industry and the attempt to force a default on the national debt payment. The Tea Party Congress members shirk their duties by refusing to compromise.

Democrats and Republicans are good people. Liberals are good Christians just like Republicans. Reverend C.L. Bryant's is a devoted Christian. Liberal members of the Clergy are devoted Christians too.

Democrats are patriots who stand up for God and Country. Democrats love America just like Republicans do.

President Obama is a patriot. All the Democratic politicians are patriots. President Obama loves our nation as much as any other President in the history of our nation.

If Republicans truly understood the US Constitution they would not be trying to expand big government into the private lives of our citizens with the Gay Marriage amendment.

Is Reverend Bryant absolutely sure he wants to restore the country that our Founding Fathers gave us? I don't think he understands what our Founding Fathers gave us. For example: Does he know that Thomas Jefferson was not a Christian. Thomas Jefferson believed in Deism which accepts our Lord's teachings but not His miracles and not His resurrection. They do not accept our Lord Jesus as the Son of God.

In short, Reverend C.L. Bryant owes President Obama an apology for slandering him. Obama acted like a patriot of our great nation. Obama was willing to compromise with the Republicans. Obama is not a dictator. The Tea Party Congress members has earned the label dictator.

And there is no reason to mock Obama's wife. Reverend C.L. Bryant did not sound like a Reverend devoted to our Lord Jesus. He sounded like a politician willing to slander others to win an election.

Reverend C.L. Bryant's FreePAC Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=bYItpzNrKXM&feature=endscreen

Our Health Care Experiences

Joyce and I have two doctors who are absolutely wonderful and very generous. One doctor is our family doctor. He is extremely polite and always asks "May I" before doing anything. He offered me free prescription samples. I thanked him and refused the samples. I told him to save those prescription samples for someone who really needs them.

The other doctor is my wife's heart doctor. He is a very kind generous man. We've known him for years. He  took care of my mom 30 years ago.  She was experiencing pain that extended from both ears to her throat and down the center of her chest.  The family convinced her to go see a doctor. One of her main arteries was 90% clogged. She underwent a procedure with balloon catheters to clear her arteries. At the time, I was surprised because my mom always ate a balanced diet.

But nine years ago I learned through experience that in some cases, including mine, the body manufactures cholesterol to high blood levels even if one doesn't eat high cholesterol food.  When I went on a low cholesterol diet, my cholesterol levels sky rocketed.

Another expensive prescription medication is the strong antibiotic given for H Pylori; a stomach bacteria that is believed for be responsible for ulcers. My wife did not have an ulcer, but she did have a polyp in her stomach. A biopsy revealed that she had H Pylori. She was prescribed Pylera. A fourteen day supply of the prescription, Pylera, would have cost us nearly $900 without insurance. Fortunately, our insurance covered most of the cost and we only paid three hundred and something dollars for it.

My wife and I have been blessed thus far. No hospital stays. I opted for out of network insurance coverage because I recognized the high cost that one could incur if one does not have out of network coverage.