Advanced Algebra for Dogs

Or just my way of saying Happy Valentines Day?

Just testing my newly learned Grooveshark embeds.

Happy Valentines and Help me Row!

And 200 years later we have Freedom's Death Warrant !



Which leads me to this!!!!

I couldn't resist posting this article by a local Commentator/Pastor Warren Sprouse.

For Want Of A Nail

Thursday, February 12, 2009


I don't know if children are exposed to the old sayings anymore, but at least one should be in every child's memory bank. It's earliest existence is traced back to 1390 AD.
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
A simple proverb, but profound -- perhaps for it's simplicity.
The questions of character, crime, and purpose can be traced to this simple thought.
Our social, financial and political problems are traceable to such an idea.
What is Reform, but the effort to put the toothpaste back in the tube?
When a parent believes their child will grow up morally straight and physically strong simply because they feed them, clothe them and protect them from overt dangers, we get all sorts of results.
Depending upon the genetic makeup of the child and the general culture of the family, such a child may do well, while others not so well.
The reality is: allowing for unknown factors, generally speaking, the way a child is raised determines how they will live.
Which brings me to another Proverb: As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.
We are currently watching as grown men and women, with advanced degrees in all sorts of concrete disciplines, put together a Spending Bill that runs completely counter to everything they know or have been taught about finances.
And when asked about specifics, they have none!
But WE are being criticized for not trusting them.
We watch as local and State officials struggle with a financial crunch they weren't prepared for and respond by making budget cuts, most of which will affect those dependent upon the State, as well as employees and retirees in one way or another. And trying to find new sources of revenue: taxing motorists for the miles they drive?
Well, here's a thought: We had recessions in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. We also had a close call in the 1990's. But no one could have predicted a recession in the first decade of the new millennium?
The recession of the 1970's was worse than this one, although I don't think it was world-wide. Which begs the question: Do we have a global economy or not? Actually we're being told the U.S. recession is not as bad as most other nations.
The solution to the 1970's recession was to get rid of Jimmy Carter and the Democrats in Congress, lower the tax rate and tighten our belt.
In 3 years the economy was rolling and Democrat critics now refer to the 1980's as "The Decade of Greed," for all the money that was made -- by them!
Criminals, by nature or nurture, don't care about their victims. They are so selfish as to not even have feelings for the person they rob, rape or kill.
They act like two-year-olds: I want it! It's mine! She hit me first! But, it's not their fault, they have Anti-Social Personality Disorder.
The truth is, habitual cheats, liars and bullies are made, not born. Now, I believe all children are born with the propensity. No one teaches a child to lie. But to make a life-time pattern of doing so takes help from "The Village."
If you encourage lieing, you get more lieing. If you encourage sloth, you get more sloth, and so on. You see: you get what you reward!
For example: many a parent will refuse to check behind their children when the child says the job is done. They don't want to damage the child's self-image by doubting them.
But if you don't check, how will you know you have a liar on your hands? And if you don't know the child is lieing, how will you correct for it? Assuming you want to.
So, the child gets away with lieing at home and tries it at school. Here the teacher may catch him at it and punish him. Then the parent steps in to defend the child and the teacher learns to leave it alone or face discipline or litigation.
Some of these children gravitate to business and to politics, where lieing is more profitable.
Look at the parade of self-absorbed CEO's. Look at the Cabinet Appointees who are liars and tax-cheats. Look at our President who was recruited and mentored by men and women who are serious criminals, in their own right. Look at our Governor and U.S. Senator who were central figures in putting North Carolina in the financial mess we're in, now taking the high road in discussions about necessary budget cuts. Look at liberal Democrats in Washington who set up the Mortgage system to fail and now lecture about Bush's legacy of greed -- with a straight face!
These people are largely products of parents who grew up in the 1960's. The anti-establishment crowd. The generation that saw authority as something bad and Free Expression as something good.
Well, the chickens have come home to roost! They are now the majority population. The few actual 'adults' left in this country are forced to stand by and watch them tear down more of our culture and values.
If they had just been required to make their beds, perhaps they'd have turned out different.
O, for want of a nail -- Or a real parent!

Warren Sprouse