These automobiles are machines.  They are not inherently evil.  They have no feelings or agendas.  They do what we tell them, to the best of their ability, without asking questions.  But when they fail (and all machines do eventually), the results can be catastrophic.  While we have the technology to design and build wonderful gadgets, it is nearly impossible to test them under every possible condition and/or every possible failure mode.
I am not trying to justify Toyota for not acting on a long standing failure.  In fact, from the sounds of it, what they did MAY INDEED BE CRIMINAL.  But, for all you Toyota bashers, they are NO different from any American company.  “Maybe if we deny it long enough, it will all go away, be forgotten, and it won’t cost us any money.”  Regarding unwanted acceleration and/or accelerators sticking, I know both GM and Ford have had similar issues.
I have never owned a foreign automobile.  I always preferred the domestic styling and larger vehicles.  But, every American vehicle I owned, had multiple design, and/or quality issues.  And it seemed, the same issues that showed up in one model year, would show up in subsequent years, sometimes many model years down the road.  At the same time, problems appearing in Japanese autos one model year, rarely showed up the following model year.  And almost never a second year.  That’s what’s so perplexing about Toyota’s current dilemma.
Toyota  DOES  OWE  IT’S CUSTOMERS AN EXPLANATION AND AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION.  But, it’s time to get your heads out of your ass, and realize that Toyota and/or  Japan  is not the enemy.  In fact, the reason the American automobile industry is failing, is the American auto industry,  the UAW  and, to a very large extent, the American consumer, who is unwilling to pay for the very standard of living they demand!

Rosie O’Donnell - “It’s not really a right” in response to co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s assertion
regarding the right to bear arms in our Constitution. Really Rosie? Then why does the Constitution say it is?

Ted Turner - “We’ll be eight degrees hotter in ten-not ten, but 30 or 40 years. And basically none of the crops
will grow. Most of the people will have died, and the rest of us will be cannibals.” Afterall, this came from the guy who founded CNN, everything he reports should be completely factual and unbiased without a partisan agenda behind it. Right? Riiigghhhtttt???

“Climate change is the greatest threat facing mankind…we must act now. Future generations are depending on it.” Prince Charles who travels the world in a luxurious airliner transporting himself, his family and an entourage on “environmental tours”. I wonder how much of a carbon footprint Prince Charles leaves behind…

“Global Warming is a very valid issue…I’m wondering if we need to think about other planets and dome cities.” John Travolta, who owns his own fleet of private jets and his very own airport. By all means, take your carbon emitting Douglas DC-8 and fly home to planet Thetan with the rest of your creepy Scientology friends.

“If it was made clear to people that we could win the war on terrorism by driving a hybrid car, that we could stop global warming by driving a hybrid, I think people would do it. But people haven’t made those kind of connections.” Rob Reiner. First of all, how do you propose that owning a hybrid will end terrorism unless nuclear missiles come as an option? Second of all, the government tried to shove the “hybrids will save the environment” crap down our throats already, remember? The tax credits on purchasing a new hybrid, the Cash for Clunkers program that only managed to get rich people to turn in the piece of junk that they had lying around? The truth is, people don’t want them! Not even our “Savior” President, who has been driven around in hummer-type limousines.

Speaking of Barack “If the Japanese can design an affordable, well-designed hybrid, then, doggone it, the American people should be able to do the same…so my job is to ask the auto industry: why is it you guys can’t do this?” Barack Obama. Wait a minute, didn’t I just say this…PEOPLE DON’T WANT THEM! Hybrids didn’t even make the top 10 best selling cars in 2009 despite Obama’s attempt to throw money at people to buy them. At least General Motors was doing one thing right by responding to market demands. And the government is going to run GM?

“We must make concrete changes in our lifestyles to help solve this energy crisis and now is the time to do it…[turn your thermostats up to 78 degrees when you're out and 85 degrees when you're out]..and try to line-dry [your clothes] as much as possible.” Barbara Streisand who owns five homes with a 12,000 square feet air conditioned barn, as well as a lawn sprinkling system that guzzles $22,000 a year in water. Her tour demands include the following:
Parking for 13 53-foot semi-tractor trailers (plus one for merchandising), 4 rental vans, 14 crew and band buses and 1 limousine. When asked about her apparent hypocritical statement, her spokesman said “She never meant that [those concrete changes in our lifestyles] necessarily applied to her.”Hmmm, who would’ve guessed?

“If all workers don’t have the freedom to form unions, I don’t see how we can fix our economy.” Jerry Stiller. Mmm, hmmm, I see what you’re saying: let’s impose impossible demands on the few remaining U.S. companies to give substantial raises, increase health benefits and give lifelong pensions. Those few remaining businesses will go out of business too because they can’t turn a profit under those terms. That leaves exactly ZERO jobs and no more tax revenue to pad the pockets of the poor and the policians. Wait, I thought you wanted to fix the economy?

“It’s a human rights issue. It’s just bottomline fair that workers should be paid for their labor fairly.” Martin sheen’s response when asked about his stance on labor unions. Obviously he’s never heard of the minimum wage law. What can you expect? This is coming from the guy who spent a single night on the streets with the homeless and went back home to his cozy McMansion the next day. Wow, what a savior.

“It’s very easy to blame immigrants for the disastrous state of our economy, the failure of the health care system, the educational crisis, the disappearing middle class and just about every ill that makes this country unwelcoming to the immigrants. That is a smoke screen to distract us from the real sources of these problems. I stand with the founders of this country and the sentiment written on the Statue of Liberty.” Susan Sarandon. Well, that’s good that she stands with the founders of this country, because back in the day, they charged immigrants $10 to enter the country which is probably $1,000 in today’s standard. Their hope was to keep the immigrants OUT by doing so. But do you think that she has really read the Constitution? I doubt it.

“To be so repressive isn’t democratic or free…to be putting up fences, chasing Mexicans, that isn’t right. The U.S. needs better answers than repression, weapons and violence.” Vincente Fox. Oh you mean like rainbow peace flags that emits a theraputic scent with the words printed on them “Home is where the heart is, better turn around now or we will tell you to go home again”??? By the way, who is Vincente Fox?

“It’s insulting that the law would call an immigrant a criminal…it’s horrible.” Actor John Leguizamo. THEN STOP BREAKING THE LAW!!!

“I am a proud non-reader of books.” Kanye West being interviewed for his new book and who also told America out of cue during a Hurricane Katrina special that “George Bush hates black people”. ‘Nough said.

“after years of historic deficits, this 110th Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt.” Nancy Pelosi, 2007. Interesting that she feels that way $4 trillion later.

“It’s politically fashionable to rant against government spending and demand fiscal responsibility. But right now, increased government spending is just what the doctor ordered and concerns about the budget deficit should be put on hold.” Paul Krugman. Just for right now “fiscal responsibility” should be put on hold? So what you’re saying is that it’s okay for me to blow my entire paycheck on clothes and not worry about my bills for now? Great! I’m so glad you approve of my irresponsibility.

“…and the wealthy man, whomsever he may be, for whom I have the greatest contempt, I would fight for him and you would if you were worth your salt.” Teddy Roosevelt. The greatest “contempt” for the rich man? Sorry Teddy, but the good old rich folk provide the jobs that line your political pocket. At least he’s honest, Obama would rather tip toe around the fact that he hates the rich.

“Let me be the first to say that I would be thrilled if America’s health-care system is anywhere near as functional as the post office.” Bill Maher. Seriously? You mean the post office that runs at a deficit and is about as almost as efficient as Britain’s dental care?

“Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life.” Brooke Shields during an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign. I certainly hope they fired her.

“Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that but not with all those flies and death and stuff.” Mariah Carey.

“I do not like this word “bomb.” It is not a bomb. It is a device that is exploding.” Jacques le Blanc, French ambassador on nuclear weapons. Nancy Pelosi term for bomb: sad-face-loud-bodily harm-inflicter.

“Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.” Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC. Murder’s not so important anyways.

“I’m not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president.” Hillary Clinton.

“I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting—only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where two to three could be required” Sheryl Crow on her contribution to “going green”.

“I bring the fear. Does big oil sleep around? Got bad credit? I’ll find the dirt. And I will make big oil regret the day it ever uttered the words ‘price gouging!’” Ben Affleck on trying to discredit the oil companies. No wonder his attempts to get into the Senate have failed. How dare the big bad oil companies increase prices while demand is rising with a silly little scheme to turn a profit. How dare they!!!

World-renowned blues legend John Mayer in an interview:
What do you think about health care? Would you take the public option?
Have you ever heard me play guitar? I’m really f$cking good. You know what I’m bad at? Answering questions about public health care. This is not in my wheelhouse. Do you have any questions about music? I almost got a mad need to lighten up. You need to lighten up, because the questions you asked me were all troublemaking questions. If someone gave me the Nobel Peace Prize, and I didn’t deserve it, I would just shut my mouth and enjoy the h$ll out of it.”
I’m not sure which surprises me more, the fact that he knows his place as a celebrity or the fact that he’s a celebrity who does not think Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

The terrorists were squeezed all tight in their beds,
While visions of sixty virgins danced in their heads.
And I in my Burka, and Ahmed in Muslim attire,
Had just laid down our rifles for a cease fire.

When further out in the desert there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Outside my window I saw a great flash,
I quickly tore open my weapons cache.

The moon outside shone with a bright view,
and I knew my aim would be straight and true.
When, what to my bewildered eyes should I see,
But a battalion of tanks and the entire US Army!

With a stocky old general, so brazen and skilled,
I knew my comrades and I were about to be killed.
More rapid than panzers his tanks they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Smasher! now, Thrasher! now, Slayer and Killer!
On, Blister! On, Twister! on Gunner and Thriller!
To the top of that dune! To the top of that wall!
Now blast away! Blast away! Blast away all!

And then in a panic I heard overhead,
The rolling and wheeling of each giant tread.
As I clutched my rifle and made no sound,
Down the foxhole a soldier fired a round.

He was dressed all in camo, from his head to his feet,
And his uniform was ironed, tidy, and neat.
A bundle of grenades he had flung on his back,
And he looked the leader of the attack.

His eyes-how they darkened! his teeth how they gnashed!
His breathing came quickly, as down he crashed.
He quickly raised his rifle into the darkness of the room,
This underground bunker was about to become my tomb.
I crept behind a table and observed him from my niche,
I could tell by his size and posture that he wasn’t no bitch!
He had broad muscular shoulders and nearly no neck,
As far as I could tell, but I didn’t have much time to check.

He was massive and muscular, a right angry old vet,
And I cringed when I saw him, my pants now wet.
A swing of his arm as he fired off lead,
Soon made me realize I was about to be dead.

He spoke not a word, but fired off automatic round after round,
And filled the bunker with whizzing bullets as we hit the ground.
And resting only a moment when his rifle did jam,
He dropped some grenades and left with a BAM!

He sprang up the foxhole, to his unit gave an “All Clear”
And away they all drove as I shook in utter fear.
My comrades were all dead, and the bunker was destroyed.
I pissed my Burka so many times I was rather annoyed.

I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
“That was for Sept 11, 2001. Have a nice night!”

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We don’t like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we’ll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O’Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them). We’ll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies and illegal aliens. We’ll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO’s and rednecks. We’ll keep the Bibles and give you NBC, ABC and Hollywood. You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we’ll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies, or our way of life, are under assault, we’ll help provide them security. We’ll keep our Judeo-Christian values. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N. but we will no longer be paying the bill. We’ll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find. You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We’ll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right. We’ll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I’m sure you’ll be happy to substitute Imagine, I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World. We’ll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we’ll keep our history, our name and our flag. Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, well too bad. In the spirit of friendly parting, I’ll bet you as to which one of us will need whose help in 15 years. It won’t be us.

Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American
P.S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Barbara Streisand, & Jane Fonda with you.
P. S. S. And we won’t have to press 1 for English.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet during the
holidays a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.
You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan.

In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.

For all practical purposes their plan works like this:

When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die. Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments…

For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7, 800,000 (that’s Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275, 000 during the last years of their lives. This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two Dignitaries.

Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives.

Their cost for this excellent plan is $0 NADA!!! ZILCH!!!

This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds;

“OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK”!

From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into, every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer), We can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement.

Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley’s benefits!

Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.

That change would be to Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen.. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us. Then sit back…..and see how fast they would fix it!

If enough people see this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve. Share this with your friends and neighbors!

During the “Network Special on Health Care” Obama was asked the million dollar question:
“Mr. President, will you and your family give up your current health care program and join the new ‘universal health care program’ that the rest of us will be on?” Bet you already know the answer…

There was a stony silence as Obama eloquently tip-toed around the question and chose not to answer it! In addition, a number of senators were asked the same question and their response was “We will think about it.”

And they did. It was announced on August 12, 2009 that “The Kennedy Health Care Bill” was written into the new health care reform initiative ensuring that congress will be 100% exempt! So this great new health care plan that is good enough for you and I…is not good enough for Obama, his family or Congress??? Personally, I REFUSE to pay for Congress’s gold-plated insurance plans while it takes 6 months for me to get into the doctor. It’s time our self-serving politicians are put in their place.

“Both Oligarch and Tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms.” Aristotle. 

“Democracy passes into Despotism.” Plato.

Quotes the Liberals Don’t Want You to Hear: A very enlightening article indeed. It might be interesting to note that Aristotle was a student of Plato. And when our founding fathers sat down to hammer out our constitution, they were all keenly aware of the writings of these great philosophers, as well as many others. They didn’t just “dream” it all up. No, our founding fathers were great historians as well as statesmen. They drew on centuries of wisdom and experiences of the past. Today’s typical politician is not nearly as well versed in history or philosophy. Most are lawyers or businessmen, better at manipulating people or the “system” to get what they want today with little or no regard for the ramifications tomorrow. Today’s political system is no longer “representative”. The government, more and more, decides what’s to be done. The House and Senate really no longer vote what their constituency tells them to vote. They instead get together and decide amongst themselves what’s best for their constituency. Then along comes Barack Obama. A suave Democrat who somehow sweeps into office, despite a murky past, sweeping controversial issues aside, sealing files and hiding facts along the way.  Now, with the Democratic Party firmly in control, they are spending and legislating their way to absolute control. Guns aren’t the only way to control the people. What about food, fuel, and yes, medical care! 

Plato stated that societies always progress from an Oligarchy (rule by a few elite) to Democracy (rule by the people) and then Despotism (rule by one man). The Oligarchy (the King and Queen and Royal family) stage was probably in England’s earlier days. By the time the United States came along, our founding fathers wanted to start in (and stay in) the second stage, Democracy (rule by the people). Plato then goes on to state that at some point in the Democracy, people fall victim to demagogy (the use of lies, deceit, emotions and propaganda to further an agenda), and a tyrant comes to power. The tyrant’s full fury is not felt until he has disarmed his victims. While I personally don’t want to believe that any Democrat (or anyone else, for that matter) would willingly participate in such a conspiracy, the parallels are scary. Our Farm Subsidy Program controls who and how much of a particular crop gets grown. Pending/proposed legislation for the inspection of farm grown produce, no matter how small the farm could ultimately control availability even in local markets. The storage, transport, processing and mining of fuels has been heavily regulated for years and is getting worse. And yes, medical care. The government is poised to snatch control of your health. By controlling the money for this (or any other service, for that matter), the government assumes the right to determine how that money will be spent and on whom. 

It sounds like Plato was warning us about impending danger, doesn’t it? Isn’t it ironic then, that Plato, the author of Republic, the outline of a utopian society upon which Communism is based, believed in a strong central government that controls all weaponry.  An excerpt from Plato’s Laws; “no one, man or woman, must ever be left without someone in charge of him; nobody must get into the habit of acting independently in either sham fighting or the real thing, and in peace and war alike we must give our constant attention and obedience to our leader.” Aristotle, on the other hand, believed in the people’s right to work and earn his own living, participate in political and legislative matters, and that the right to bear arms is crucial to maintaining Democracy, the “rule by the people”.  

Believing in the People’s right to work and earn his own living, the government should only enforce laws which guarantee safety, or prevent fraudulent activity. It should not be allowed to mandate who does what, when, why, or by whom, by being able to cut off Federal funds. This should hold true at the State level too.  We, as a society, must take responsibility for working and earning our own living. Too many people today demand that the government pay this or that, not remembering that every time the government pays something for you, you give up just a little more freedom. And just a little side note; the government does not have any money. If the government pays something for you, it’ll still come out of your pocket someday anyway. By the time it does, you will have paid ten times as much for it, just like a credit card. In fact, the credit card may be cheaper in the long run.

The right to participate in political and legislative matters: We as a society need to get involved and get informed. We need to make our government “representative” again. We need to hold our elected officials responsible and ensure they are “representing” their constituents and not themselves or special interests (this goes for Republicans and Democrats!).

The right to bear arms: We need to watch this one carefully. Remember, there are many other ways to wrest the power from the people before they actually get to the guns. Your gun won’t do you much good if you’re starving, sick and can’t get to the battle for lack of fuel.

This country is in a battle for its very life. There are many brilliant minds on both sides of the aisle. If we could drop this attitude of “what’s good for the party” and adopt a new attitude of “what’s good for the country”, there would be precious few problems this country couldn’t solve.

“Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms.”  Aristotle

“A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.”  Thomas Jefferson

“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”  Winston Churchill

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.“  Abraham Lincoln

“Better to fight for something than live for nothing.”  General George S. Patton Jr.

“Democracy passes into despotism.”  Plato

“By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise.”  Adolf Hitler

“How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don’t think.”  Adolf Hitler

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”  George Washington

“The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.”  George Washington

 “Anti-jobs, anti-growth” says the President of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Rich Studley. Rich pointed out that the proposals would raise costs for employers and force them to cut workers even further than they already have with thinning profit margins. This new expense to businesses comes at a rather inconvenient time since Michigan’s unemployment rate reached 15.2% in June, the highest rate of unemployment in the nation. For many companies based on minimum wage labor, either cuts are made or prices are sky-rocketed to absolve the cost, both options posing a major threat to Michigan business already in turmoil.

Granholm’s anti-business proposal is expected to go to a ballot later this year.