Sand Hill Philosopher

Healthcare Reform: Where Did We Come From?

Present Healthcare Reform Legislation is before Congress in a form that no one understands, especially those who will be providing it. One thing healthcare providers know is that more bureaucracy will not solve the issue.

Almost everyone, in Congress and in "real" America, agree that something has to be done about access, cost and quality of healthcare. Perhaps a look at where we came from will be of some help.

In 1992, when I was three years out of a Family Practice Residency, an elderly gentleman in his 90's was brought in to see me for an acute respiratory infection on a Saturday morning. His daughter explained to me that he was a retired physician and was only visiting for a few days.

Fascinated by this man, this historian of the noble art of medicine, I pondered the fact that he had gone to medical school shortly after WW-I. He had served over-seas during WW-II, and had re-entered the world of "everyday" Family Practice in the late 1940's.

Temporarily forgetting his illness, I blurted-out, "What is the biggest NEGATIVE change you have seen in medicine since you went to medical school?"  Without hesitation, he pointed to the waiting room: "There, in the lobby. We would NEVER have let a person as sick as I am sit among other patients, either well or sick, in a common room."

When asked to explain, he replied that mornings were generally devoted to house-calls, and afternoons were used for the "non-infectious" cases, fractures, lacerations, obstetrics, surgical evaluations and dermatologic cases.

I have often thought about his remark, and glanced into a waiting room where five or six doctors had as many as fifty patients waiting, most coughing or febrile. We tried to schedule well-visits and routine follow-ups in the first slots of the morning and after lunch, but inevitably, the contagious would show up and ask to be seen.

We should gather two things from this: first, prevention of illness is key to containing the cost of medical care, and opening access to doctors available; second, patients must be better educated, or develop better understanding of what is urgent and not push in to see a doctor, for what even twenty years ago would have been recognized as a "common cold" and no medical treatment generally necessary. There is a split responsibility here.

I have previously written on "The Dangerous Co-Pay" and how it led to over-spending and over-utilization of resources. Doctors and hospitals have been blamed for much of the cost of healthcare, but in my experience, at least 1/3 of the tests ordered and as much as 1/2 of the money spent on office visits is unnecessary.  Any new plan for healthcare reform must address this patient-driven model of care. Perhaps it is time that we quit letting "sick" people into the office and return to home visits.

Let us do some thinking about ways in which knowingly sick people subject dozens of other people to illness, usually needlessly. This will account for much of the over-utilization at the primary care level.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

"Tea-Sipper" attacked by Press

Note from Rick Green on Facebook:

 

"Get ready for an onslaught of negative press directed at our team, it's nothing new to us & will not distract us from our positive, principled march to victory! Despite all their twisted innuendos and rehashing of decade old political attacks, even some of their intended insults are badges of honor. I love this one:"

 

One newspaper wrote:

 

"Green is just the Jesus-baseball-and-Thomas-Jefferson sort of candidate who appeals to an electorate in a Tea-sipping mood."

 

Hey, I'm proud to be the faith based Little League coach that studies the founding fathers!! They mock the very things we care most about because they do not realize that most Texans agree with our values.

 

So thankful for the endorsement of former Supreme Court Justice Scott Brister!

"We need judges who will not wilt under pressure, or change their opinions to please the newspapers. Rick Green will be that kind of judge. His service in the TX Legislature gives him a perspective on TX law that no other member of the Supreme Court has. I urge TX Republicans to support him in the April 13th runoff."  --Scott Brister

 

These are the same reasons that I have thought about Rick Green, and considered him worthy of support in the run-off for Texas Supreme Court. You can tell a lot about a man by who is attacking him.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

 

Consent of the Governed

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government. (Declaration of Independence, Paragraph 2.)

In circa 1978, while Governor of California, Ronald Reagan gave a speech at the von Mises Economic Conference, hosted at Hillsdale College. In this speech, he blamed many of the problems of failed government upon legislators not considering what was actually best for their constituents. He then went on to say that this type of government required that people report their opinions on legislation, and that the legislators would then respond.

As an example, he recalled a few years earlier when weight sensors were required in automobile seats, and if weight was upon the seat, the seat belt had to be latched for the vehicle to start. The problem arose when you sat an object on the seat, such as a bag of groceries, and the car would not start, without fastening the seat belt across the seat, behind the groceries. This became such a hassle, that just three months after instituted, when Congressmen went home to their districts, the out-cry (just from people who had had this problem and had bought these cars within the three month time period) was so resounding, that the first order of business on returning to Washington, DC, was to repeal this law.

That was in the mid-1970's. Now look at the year 2010 AD. We have legislation pending in Congress that "the governed" are howling about, has 2/3 of the public against it, and I have to ask:

What about the Consent of the Governed?

When do we repeat the 234 year-old fact,

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.

Personally, I liked the Original United States Constitution, and would like to see that government restored.

Has our government become destructive of these ends, of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

 

Liberty Requires Sacrifice

After more than one year of watching these Conservative "Right-wing Extremists" take shape, learn to state their ideologies and educate themselves deeply in the United States Constitution, early American history, founding documents, and with consideration of the Founding Fathers' variety of  religious convictions, national origins, and wide differences in economic conditions and education much work has been put into Americans educating themselves on Freedom and Liberty. Not since the sweltering summer that kept everyone 'on their edge' while that diverse group of men at the Constitutional Convention have so many Americans devoted themselves to the learning the Foundations of Liberty, as they have over the past year. The Founders developed and penned a true Classic of Government, Literature and inspired Wisdom like the world had never known before. That document, The Constitution of the United States of America remains the hope of every person in the world suffering from  bondage and persecution.

History has shown that our nation's own founding documents, when given to a nation that "wants freedom and democracy" holds little chance of surviving in freedom. Do you know what the reason has been? A lack of commitment, in which each person, "pledges their lives, fortunes and public honor to achieving and maintaining these same desired freedom." Wanting it is just not enough. Our Forefathers had the 'want-to', and the commitment to see it through. One of the wealthiest of these men died in debtor's prison for monies lost, which he had given to the Revolutionary War effort. Others lost their homes; property was taken from them or destroyed. Some died, and some lost their wives and children because of their 'sacred pledge of honor'.

I have no doubts about the Ideology of Conservative Americans, of the Tea Party Groups, the 9/12 Groups, and most Republicans, and their sincerity.  The question remains, and will only be known when actually proven or abandoned, after the SACRIFICES begin. Our Founding Fathers knew that conviction without preparation for sacrifice, and, that sacrifice with conviction of principle, would each be insufficient to bring about the kind of revolution they needed in 1776, and that we need NOW.  It is also not enough that half the Conservatives bear the conviction portion, and the other half bears the sacrifice: we must all be prepared to serve both functions. One might reply that they have little to sacrifice, but the point is that we must all be ready to sacrifice everything that we have. You may complain that you already have so little, but what is that sacrifice to the man who has much, and he gives it all?

I pray that we will try and learn as much of one another's needs and wishes, before we are called to sacrifice our lives, fortunes and sacred honor for one another. It will increase our chances of winning and strengthen our commitments to one another, to Conservatism, to liberty, and, in short, TO FREEDOM. As we work towards these philosophical and political ends, remember the words of President John F. Kennedy,

Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country.

May God Bless America!

Remember the Alamo!

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

 

 

The End of the Road for Barack Obama?

In an article posted by the British newspaper, The Telegraph, Simon  Heffer examines the failure of Barack Obama, but rightly places much of the blame on Obama's failures. Not only have things not improved, but many areas have become worse as a direct effect of his administration, and his Chicago-mob thug, Chief of Staff Rham Emanuel.

One interesting quote, however, places blame on the American public and their "infatuation" with Fox News:

The Fox network is a remarkable cultural phenomenon which almost shocks those of us from a country (note: Britain) where a technical rule of impartiality is applied in the broadcast media. With little rest, it pours out rage 24 hours a day: its message is of the construction of the socialist state, the hijacking of America by "progressives" who now dominate institutions, the indoctrination of children, the undermining of religion and the expropriation of public money for these nefarious projects.

Could it not be that there is some truth in these points of hijacking of America, domination by institutions, construction of a socialist state, indoctrination of children, undermining of religion and use of public funds for nefarious projects?  I have certainly witnessed these things occurring in America.

If there is not at least a modicum of truth in these allegations, and Americans aren't seeing evidences in other media, as well as their lives, why would they spend two years fixated on these ideas? Interest in important, pertinent and accurate news, is not a "remarkable cultural phenomenon," it is a human characteristic.

Bob Dylan said, in the Sixties, "Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean people aren't out to kill me."

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

Telegraph article: http://bit.ly/bd2R5g

Conservative AND Dangerous

 In an effort to be headed by pit bull James Carville, the Democrats plan to do opposition research on the top seven or eight leaders in the Tea Party Movement. According to BigGovernment.com, they will try to identify one or two persons they can perhaps "turn," either with money or threats, to create a mole in the movement. The others will be subjected to a full-on smear campaign. This is the type of strife that Carville is known engender, and will signal that the "triangulation" terror has begun.  From there, it can be quickly spread within the various groups without much "outside" assistance at all.

The liberal media has already being mobilized. On the same day as the RNC meeting two weeks ago, the New York Times ran a spread that dismissed the Tea Party Movement, "as in league with politics' dark-side."

Early in the article, the reader was told of how one lady, and her Tea Party Group members had also joined other groups, including "Glenn Beck's" 9/12 Project, and conjectured an association with a resurgent militia movement.

The threats of a political realignment and the shear numbers of newly active citizens, such as the Tea Party Movement  and 9/12 Groups would create a Conservative Swell. This coalesced "swell" would be comprised of those believing in limited government; that the citizens hold the reins of power, and not the Progressives, who believe all blessings flow from government, instead of the Creator. This Conservative Swell could make rivers flow backwards for days and move mountains. This type of symbiotic relationship among Conservatives will be cataclysmic, not only for the Harry Reid-type liberal who force legislation that as many as 36% of Americans oppose. But For Everyone. Why do I say, "For Everyone?" Much damage has already been done.

It is said, "To the Victor belongs the spoils," the spoils in this case will be large debt, millions of citizens with a sense of entitlement, massive unemployment and large Social Security promises.

That brought back memories of the report released by Janet Napolitano's Homeland Security Department, warning that recession and the election of the nation's first black president "present unique drivers for right-wing radicalization."

That was before the Fort Hood Massacre by a radicalized Muslim soldier and the attempted downing of a U.S. airliner by a Nigerian Muslim with explosive underwear. Back then, the Homeland Security Department and the liberal media, were on the lookout, as the report put it, for "domestic Right-Wing terrorists" (i.e., white, male, middle-class, Christian, gun-owning, Bible-reading Americans, who can both read and speak English). Now some are trying to paint the Tea Party Movement with that broad extremist brush.

The Tea Party movement is not a coalition of John Birchers, white supremacists and militia-group wannabes. They are taxpayers who don't want to see their money squandered. They believe in the limited government intended by the Founding Fathers. They believe in states' rights as enshrined in the 10th Amendment. And, yes, they believe in the Second Amendment, too.

Most of all, they are red-blooded Americans; Conservative, religious, family-oriented, and have sacrificed a life of "more", for a "life of better" and they are 'typically' Republican, Libertarian or Independent. They believe government should serve the people, not the other way around. They are dangerous people indeed.

For an Obama/Reid/Pelosi Government, they may well be politically fatal.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

 

How to Get a Republic, and Keep It If You Can

Those great men plodded on through to present the Political Opus known as The United State's Constitution, with its poetic, yet informative, introduction, and then the clearly stated, easily understood Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities incumbent upon a free people who are to govern themselves; followed by the succinct, flawless responsibilities of the Federal Offices, the method in which they are chosen, manner of succession, and ways in which the various individuals and groups would work together, deal with differences, finally showing their method by which citizens and officials would conduct themselves and keep each other in 'checks and balances.'

The 'bow' of individual Rights and Liberties, ten short statements that we cherish as "The Bill of Rights," were then trimmed upon the document so that Progressives, Liberals and every other group that prefers tyranny, taxes and slavery to Freedom, regardless of moniker have insured our basic individual Freedoms. When one of the signers was asked why he would not sign the Constitution without these ten  new 'amendments' upon a new, freshly penned document, when the wording of the main body certainly spelled out that we were given legitimate liberty. It is said that he replied, that unless clearly spelled-out, the most basic freedom could be withheld by a zealous government, or excluded by a court because of the lack of detail pertaining to the subject. Those ten priceless guarantees regarding Individual Freedoms have rescued many hundreds of thousands of citizens from the needless abuses, because that one foresightful man required this Bill of Rights in order for him to grant his signature. While it seemed a slight thing to essentially everyone else at the Constitutional Convention, this small, obstinate request has served each and every American more times than we know, and has kept the government from running over us roughshod.

If we lose this opportunity of bringing Conservatives together at this historic time, with people from every ancestry in the world, differing educations, interests, abilities and religions, it will not be because the Left-Wing has beat us in a battle of ideas. Destruction will come from within, perhaps sewn among our fertile fields of dreams of Liberty; our depraved nature and our inborn proclivity to greed for power and money will lead to mistrust, disarray among the leaders, and selfish individuals who will destroy this reborn Conservative Revival, and put the condescending and vitriolic "Progressives" in duly-elected positions with liberal power, while it takes months, perhaps years (if, ever), for us to lick our wounds, and live to see a new generation rise-up and say, "This is not what America was intended to be," and once again starts the labor, and, perhaps, the blood-shed that oft accompanies such impassioned efforts.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

 

Obama's Actions Will Force Call For Civil War

President Obama declared Wednesday that he would push Healthcare Reform through Congress. This is in spite of the fact that a minority of Americans favor Government-run Healthcare.  He is forcing Americans into actions that he can only enforce with violence, if we refuse to cooperate.

Barak Hussein Obama also mocked the Republicans, who brought out a copy of the 2,700 page healthcare bill, which no one has claimed to have fully read and understood, as a grand-standing move that was meant entirely to play upon the public's perception of the bill.  (The same BHO that put doctor's coats on children.)

What is "the public's perception of the bill?"  Most Americans believe that it is too large to read and understand, and that the instigation of such onerous terms upon healthcare providers and recipients alike, will result in an unwieldy, poorly understood bureaucracy that no one will be understood.

His proclamation that this will go through, and the consummation of the hostility by Harry Reid (by manipulating the use of parliamentary rules), and Pelosi's pressuring of House Democrats to push this through, will divide this country, and I believe will lead to the Civil War and destruction of this great Republic.

Since being President of the United States, BHO has done nothing, except win the Nobel Peace Prize, for which he did nothing, except push for government take-over of healthcare in this nation.

People will die. Obama, by failing to represent the people, and his reaching past constitutional limits, has lit a fire that will burn a nation.

After his declaration, the people of this nation face no option but Civil War to counter-act his treasonous acts.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

Connecting Conservatives

As the grass-roots activists met with the Republican National Committee during February 2010, The New York Times decided The Tea Party are "bitter people clinging to their guns." No doubt the meeting between representatives of the Tea Party Movement and RNC Chairman Michael Steele will be seen as confirmation that the Tea Party Movement is merely a franchise of the "vast right-wing conspiracy."

In fact, Steele was merely doing what the Democrats still refuse to do: listen to Americans frustrated by a government that ignores their wishes and dismisses their concerns. The Tea Party and 9/12 groups are the "we the people" part of the Constitution that the Democrats continually try to ignore and work deceit upon.

The meeting between the Tea Partiers and the RNC was not an attempt to co-opt their movement. It was an attempt to provide a forum for Tea Party voices to be heard. And heard they were. Michael Steele, RNC National Chairman, spent nearly four hours two weeks ago at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., listening to average Americans petition for a redress of their grievances. Judging from recent elections, Democrats are ignoring these same people at their own peril.

(To the reader, it may not be commonly known that this uncommonly keen, erudite, respectable gentleman, Michael Steele, is of African Ancestry, but, "politically" is not considered "Black" by the politically-confused, racial minorities, and the non-minorities that keep the mud stirred-up.)

BigGovernment.com reports that recently, a conference call of Clinton allies was held on how to "slime" the "new" Grass Roots Conservative Movement. While there is growing tension in some areas among local Tea Party Movement groups, the 9/12 Study Groups and the conservative Republicans, it is the traditional, conservative Republican that is a member of these several groups, and that is showing the statesmanship to bring the groups together, solidify purposes and goals, and will eventually meld Conservatives into the dangerous foe, that a desperate man, seeking freedom, is likely to become.

I would like to point out the following with clarity and distinction:

Conservatives have not always banded together and become as aware of the interest of other, smaller bands of Conservatives as we should have. This has been based on narrowly focused causes, and a lassaiz-faire view of minding one's own business, and staying out of the business of other people. We are now discovering that there is an element of commonality in these smaller groups (NRA, Pro-Life, etc), and in the larger Conservative groups (TEA Party, 9/12 Groups) that is strong enough to bring us together. We must, however, develop the skills to widen our vision of the Conservative Movement to include all of these groups, and we must all fight for each other, or continue to fall separately. We are a growing consolidation of persons that largely hold similar personal priorities, as well as views of the Constitution and the government's role in our lives.

We must make it a priority to listen, and even make sure that commonly used words have the same meanings. Ultimately, we must be prepared to bring our battle arrays together as one. One such example would be abortion. Most Conservatives are strongly against abortion, and a very few are "undecided or in support of "special circumstances"; to develop a strong coalition front, it is likely that these persons that are undecided, or might believe in 'special circumstances' should put their help behind Pro-Life Candidates and agendas, and Pro-Life Persons, for example, may have to surrender lesser concerns of their own, and put their work into the other persons 'Primary Concerns", for example, not requiring a gun safety course in order to just own a gun. God knows how discouraged the young, new Colonial Americans would have been had they watched the shouting, sometime discourtesies of the Founding Fathers during the hot summer that our Republic was forged.

Ultimately, Conservatives must join together and support one another's causes.  The above-mentioned options on negotiations and lending support to each other for the good of the Conservative Movement are starting points. Is there a point in which you can lend support to another Conservative group, in order to win their support of your core, Conservative values?

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

 

Liberty Must Be Supported: Have You Voted?

Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have

Thomas Jefferson Quote, & How to Kill a Wolf

Dear Readers,

  As we consider this age of "entitlements" in which we live, and watch legislators promise millions of dollars to states based upon their need for a Senator's vote, we are led to the gallows by those whom we elected to serve us. We have seen Nebraska and Louisiana

What Do Political Endorsements Mean To Voters?

Political Endorsements are an important part of demonstrating

Great Chuck Norris Quote

"As a former state legislator and Constitutional scholar trained to defend our nation's founding principles, Rick Green is exactly the kind of justice we need on the Texas Supreme Court."  --Chuck Norris

The Essence of Governing Begins with Voting

In Texas, and in other states around the country, early voting will start tomorrow, and will culminate in the primary election being decided in 2 weeks.

We will face choices in the polls that will

"Stop Watching News & Bloggers" - President Barak Hussein Obama

It was shocking today to hear that the reason that President Obama and the legislature cannot get anything done is because people, "Spend too much time watching CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and bloggers, instead of getting out and finding out what real people are doing."

Texas Gubernatorial Debate, Round Two

Tonight, Texans watched Governor Rick Perry, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Mrs. Debra Medina responded to questions regarding past performance, current conditions in Texas and the problems that the next Governor will face in the future of Texas.

Putting aside the rhetoric (and prejudice, as best as one can), let us try to work through the answers that were given, on a Pro and Con basis.

Nationalism & Revival, T. Roosevelt Quote

The material progress and prosperity of a nation are desirable chiefly so far as they lead to the moral and material welfare of all citizens. Just in proportion as the average man and woman are honest, capable of sound judgment and high ideals, active in public affairs -  but, first of all, sound in their home life, and the father and mother of healthy children whom they bring up well - just so far, and no further, we may count our civilization a success.

State of the Union, Contempt of Congress & Contempt of Supreme Court

Last night, I had the frustration of listening to the State of the Union Address, given by President Barak Hussein Obama.

A Filibuster-Proof Senate? Probably Not.

Essentially every Conservative in America is still rejoicing about Senator-elect Scott Brown winning the "Kennedy Seat" in the US Senate. The first "hurrah" was taking the Massachusetts' election, the second "hurrah" was the belief that the Republicans now have a Filibuster control of the Senate.

Adventures with The Lone Ranger & Tonto: Tracking Candidates

Tracking Kay Baily Hutchison in Canyon

Welcome, listener. Join us as we hear The Lone Ranger ask, "Why would she go this way?"

"Stop, Kimosabee. She no go straight."

"This Ad Paid for by Kay Bailey Hutchison for Governor"

"This Ad Paid for by Kay Bailey Hutchison for Governor"

Kay Bailey Hutchison (hereafter, addressed at KBH) has created an ad against Texas Governor Rick Perry that is as creative as a George Lucas movie.

Get Our Money Back?

Today, President Barak Hussein Obama announced vociferously that he was going, "to get our money back."

The tone of his voice, the context, and the rest of his verbiage made it sound like someone had been robbed, and

Christmas & the Three Granny Senators' Bad Choice

This is a frightening story of Three Granny Senators, and what happens when they didn't keep their word.

Once upon a time, there were three Grandmothers who wanted to be home on Christmas day. Their names were Granny Kay, Granny Olympia and Granny Susan. But they had a BIG problem!

Texas Governor's Debate: How The Candidates Scored on the Key Points

Regarding the Texas Gubernatorial Debate on Thursday, 14 January 2010, most people who are familiar with debates would put Governor Rick Perry as the clear winner on what Texans have held as fundamental ideas in this election: Economy, Federal Abuse of Texas (States' Rights), Abortion and Taxation.

Apologize for Freedom? What Is That All About?

While our president, Hussein Obama, trots the globe apologizing to and kowtowing to every nation's leader who will meet with him, he claims that we have been "arrogant in the past."  What do we have to be "arrogant" about?

What Do Doctors Think About ObamaCare?

This is a letter I received from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.  They have been the "AMA Alternative" and are celebrating their 67th annual meeting this year. I have maintained contact with many physicians since my disability, and find that they are quite worried about the future. They love their jobs and the practice of medicine, but now they face a paperwork nightmare, legal danger from the government, and tremendous loss of income. One 36 year old physician I visited with this week is looking for another career.  The number of physicians enrolled in MBA programs is at a record high, as they prepare to venture into areas that don't involve patient care, government harassment over legal issues, and provide a more reliable income. I think you will find the letter enlightening.

Name Your Czar: Here Are the Top Spots!

Long ago, I lost track of how many Czars BHO had acquired, but here is a partial list. Interesting how many are not qualified

Bozeman's Infrastructure: Tennis Courts

The city of Bozeman, Montana, has decided to use Federal Stimulus money to put special rubber tile on several tennis courts.

Indian Weather Rock Needed in Copenhagen

When I was growing up in West Texas, and old man told this 10 year-old boy that an old Indian had given him a Weather Rock.  It was round, discoid and approximately 3 inches thick and 7 inches in diameter.

That is hard for a boy to ignore, so, I bit the bait, and asked, "What is an Indian Weather Rock."

Federal Employees are Social Parasites

They work less.    They produce nothing.    They have become so Elite that they are no longer common, like Real Americans are.

A Billion Dollars Per Household?

This is too true to be funny.

The next time you hear a politician use the Word ‘billion’ in a casual manner, think about whether you want the ‘politicians’ spending YOUR tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but try:

Knowing One Another Helps Cooperation

A court has just shut-down a Charter School using a "Classical Curriculum".  One of the major tools that is used in the "Classical Curriculum" is making sure that students have a very strong foundation in the Basics. Then they progress through Latin, Mathematics, Classical Literature and History, much of which is learned by the study of Original Documents.

While long a believer in this approach to education, for a better critique of this approach to education and curriculum please visit www.beehive5.blogspot.com .

Michael Medved mentioned today on his radio program that a judge has once again intervened to "save people from learning the Bible." Interestingly, this particular Classical Curriculum contains studies of the Bhagavad Gita (Hinduism), the Book of Mormon, the Code of Hammaraubi (the oldest known codex of written law, from Persia), Mohammad and Islam. Altogether, ten world religions are studied.

The Judge ruled that it was only the Bible that was a problem, and the school must either drop the Bible from the curriculum, change to another curriculum, or shut the school. This is just another example of Judicial Activism, and Judicial Bigotry.

Interestingly, the curriculum is not a "Sunday School Approach" to the Bible, but a study of its impact on culture, history and the fact that not only Christianity, but Judaism and Islam rely heavily upon the text for their religion, worldviews and customs. While the Bible is generally considered a marvelous book of literature in its own right, many classicists, including William Shakespeare, quoted it frequently. Abraham Lincoln once said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." That is a simple, profound statement, imbedded in our nation's history. Whether you are Christian or not, the import of the fact, and the clearness of expression can't be denied, even if you discover that Lincoln was quoting Jesus, speaking in Mark 3:25. These words had great impact, and directed minds to a worldview that brought an end to The Great War (US Civil War, 1861-1865).

Medved added that even though his own children attended an Orthodox Jewish High School, one of the best teachers in that school dedicated significant class time to the discussion of the Christian Doctrine referred to as "Calvinism". Was it to teach the Jews that they should become Calvinistic Christians, or Calvinistic Jews? No. It was so they could understand so much history that occurred during the Age of Reformation, and hundreds of years of politico-historical actions effecting the whole world, regardless of the student's own religion.

All religions have a worldview, which is largely drawn from their religious beliefs. By studying these religions, and worldviews, we will understand each other better. My sons all studied the Major World Religions: I'm glad they did.

Let me try to set aside my outrage over the Bible portion of the court ruling, and close by saying,

Regardless of your opinion of religion in general, your personal choice of religion, or even your denomination within one of the bodies, Don't you think that you will be better educated and understand where the other person is coming from, if you understand at least a little about where their worldview is coming from?

You can have knowledge without Faith.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

 

This Blog Post: http://bit.ly/7lCUlo   

www.MichaelMedved.com

www.Beehive5.blogspot.com

EPA Head Mistress Does Not Know Chemistry, or Other Stuff

As you are probably aware of by now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a unilateral decision to classify Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) as a "poisonous" gas, and therefore subject to their regulation.

Out of Work, or Not Working

   Link to this article: http://bit.ly/2hH38p

 

When I was in medical school in Houston, 670 miles from Muleshoe,

Best of the Week, December 6, 2009

Here are the posts that were most read this week, including  two previous posts that continue to draw a lot of attention.

They are:

How YOU Can Stop Judicial Activism   http://bit.ly/Stop_Judicial_Activism

What Everyone Needs to Know About Economics: Even You   http://bit.ly/8UDPGb

Judicial "Highhandedness" Equals Jucidial Activism   http://bit.ly/Judicial_Highhandedness

If Guns Kill People, Why Do People Go To Jail?   http://bit.ly/54eIDP

Judge Needs Removed: Can Anyone Be "Too Religious"?  http://bit.ly/6Pcgsx

These posts collectively represent three of this weeks most read articles, and the two top articles pulled by readers from previous weeks. If you missed them, don't let it happen again. You ought to at least know what others are learning about.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

Judge Needs Removed: Can Anyone be "Too Religious"?

I have been shocked at many rulings, and have been an activist in pushing for the impeachment of judges who are guilty of "highhandedness", otherwise known as judicial activism, and, sometimes called, "ruling from the bench."

Barbara Boxer on Climate Change Emails

Barbara Boxer, known for her brilliant mind, erudite learning and intimidating ability to express herself, is concerned about "stolen e-mails." J

In a taped interview, she expressed no concern about the lying scientists.

GITMO Judge: Constitution or Risk Impeachment ?

A current case worth watching for constitutionality and opportunity for Impeachment is the Federal Judge hearing the case of the GITMO prisoners. He has been pressured into taking the case by the Obama administration, and it belongs in a Military Court, or Tribunal. It also belonged there several years ago, however.

Judicial "Highhandedness" Equals Judicial Activism

The early Father's of our Nation most frequently removed judges from office with a charge of "highhandedness."

By this term, they meant what we today call "Judicial Activism" or "Ruling from the Bench". In this abuse of power, the courts mistakenly usurp authority not granted to them in the United States Constitution, or when they misapply the Constitution, or any other law, thus rendering the law inapplicable to the type situation for which it was drafted.

Winston Churchill Comments on Saturday Senate Vote

It is often repeated that at a State Dinner in Britain, Winston Churchill had grown weary of the constant challenges of a woman sitting next to him. Churchill was finally overcome by the pinch of the seating arrangement and the woman's brash challenges to him, Mr. Churchill finally queried,

US Federal Judge William Blount Impeached

Many people hold the mistaken belief that a United States Supreme Court Justice cannot be impeached. As an introduction to the idea of cleaning our courts of Judicial Activism, I would like to first rid you of that notion.  The Federal Judges, including the Supreme Court Justices, can, and have been impeached.

How YOU can Stop Judicial Activism

The Process for removing Federal Judges (including Supreme Court Judges) is EASY.  The steps, in reverse order, are:

3. Have a judge that you disapprove of his lifestyle, a single court ruling, or a string of what the public believes are poor decisions, or patterns of dangers pending.

2. Have Congressmen (House and Senate) who are willing to impeach the Judges.

1. Have voters who will only vote for Congressmen who are willing to impeach judges who have offended the sensibilities of their constituents.

Harvard Medical Dean Condemns Medical Reform

The Dean of what is arguably the top medical school in the nation, Harvard Medical School, spoke out on Friday condemning those Congressmen who would vote for a reform of the nation's medical system that would lead to a one-payer system, or disrupt the patient/physician relationship in any way.

After the refusal of the AMA to sit astride the bull-ride of the Medical Reform battle,

Will AARP Position Cost Childrens' Lives?

The offenses committed by the US Presidency, Congress and the AARP should be championed by someone as an elder abuse.

For years, the AARP has said that it is the voice that speaks for America's seniors.  They have been heavy proponents of Obama-care, swearing repeatedly to older Americans that they represent "their" best interests.  In pushing this bill through Congress, and the voices of America's seniors supporting the AARP, the AARP members have  beeen extorted.  We cannot have a socialized medicine and strong new research that reveals expensive therapies.

Fracturing the Conservative Movement: a Texas example of Damage

Yesterday we looked at the problem with fracturing the Conservative Force in upcoming elections, and the way it tore Conservatives asunder in 1992, allowing Clinton/Clinton/Gore into the White House. Conservatives must coordinate their candidates so they are spread across the slate, from school board, to District Attorney, to Senators and Presidential nominees. Fractionation of the Conservatives (and that is what the liberals will do), will not allow us to attain the goals we all hold for the next election cycle.

We have a similar issue brewing in Texas right now in the race for Governor that demonstrates the effects of fractionation.

Spring House Cleaning, and the Senate

The seeming resurrection of the sleeping Conservatives in this current course of politics is inspirational. But it leaves me with two major concerns.

In watching the Conservatives finally stand-up, to vote and to take enemy gun-fire, is exciting, but I should point out that it is the lack of many of these "Sleeper Cells" of people that caused our nation to face the current crisis. If there had been more of you/us in this Conservative battle years ago, we would not find the nation in the sad state of functioning that we now find as easily as locating a pig farm in Indiana.

Is Congress Constitutional Anymore?

Certainly the U.S. Congress, as described in the United States' Constitution, Article I, is "constitutional" in that sense, but do they regard each bill and amendment with a consideration as to its constitutionality?

Socialism & Communism Found to Be Unhealthy

Governmental regimes are unhealthy, even Fatal; and, they don't provide good healthcare to those who are left alive.  Who killed more people under their socialistic regimes: Hitler, Stalin or Mao Tsetung? Look at these numbers and Think with me.

Treaties, Global Warming & the US Constitution

The President of the Unites States is appointed in the United States Constitution, Article II, Section II, Paragraph One, to act as Commander and Chief of the US Military and the State Militias. Paragraph Two states:

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur;

The Constitution attests in Article VI, Paragraph Two:

This Constitution and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

The weight and impact of a treaty (a contract agreement between the United States and one or more foreign powers, who are authorized by their government to make such contracts) specifies a type and degree of cooperation, which may not be equal between the parties (e.g., a Peace Treaty), but each party is bound to the portion regarding them.

At one time, treaties were primarily made to establish the responsibilities of parties to perform certain duties for one another; retribution was typically limited to damage of the offender's reputation, and the offended party was no longer bound to maintain its responsibilities as a party of the contract (treaty). It is more and more common to see treaties in "our Global Community" proposed that lend a method of punishment, pecuniary damage repayment, fine or other defined means of retribution outlined within the treaty.

There are at least three primary problems with the Copenhagen Treaty to Limit Greenhouse Emissions. These are:

1.   Scientific Evidence does NOT support the International Committee on Climate Change's (ICCC) belief that CO₂ emissions are responsible for Climate Change. (see The Sand Hill Philosopher article, "When Will Global Warming End?" on this blog.) Dr. Ian Plimer, an original member of the ICCC resigned because of the selective and faulty scientific evidence used by the group, and persuaded his home country of Australia to withdraw from this treaty and the so-called "Cap & Trade" issues put forth.

2.   There is no scientific evidence that humans, or human activities, contribute to atmospheric CO₂ levels. Studies show that even mild elevations of CO₂ in confined spaces where plants grow causes the plants to grow more rapidly, converting the CO₂ and H₂O to plant products, and releasing O₂ into the atmosphere.

3.   The Treaty Limitations on developed countries, such as the United States, as compared to undeveloped countries, such as Kenya, are so disparate as to be ridiculous. The penalties, and likelihood of enforcement, are also far from fair and equal.

If a country is to develop, without any emissions of "greenhouse gasses" (H₂O is the primary one, at about 73% of total) they will have to rely upon developed nations to provide them with the machinery, technology and industry to develop. If that is to be obtained from the United States, for example, we are penalized for helping the developing nations of the world. The treaty also does not explain at which point a country is no longer considered "developing" or "Third-World", and there is no mechanism for them to be re-classified, or what their punishment would be under the proposed treaty.

Dr. Ian Plimer, in his book, Between Heaven and Earth, gives abundant proof that our climate is cyclical, with repeated warming and cooling cycles. (Where DID the ice ages go?? Who was harmed when Memphis, Tennessee emerged from beneath a glacier six thousand years ago?) He also proves, by multiple studies that atmospheric CO₂ levels have almost no variation in the atmosphere, and comprise only .11% of the total CO₂ in the earth and its atmosphere. He proves that these heating/cooling cycles are results of what happens in the distances between the earth and sun, solar flares, angles of rotation, and ions in the space "Between Heaven and Earth". The eruption of the Mount St. Helen's volvano in the 1970's released more CO₂, nitrates/nitrites (responsible for 'acid rain;), poisonous gasses and particulate matter into the atmosphere than all of human history.

The following article is from the Orange County Record Newspaper, and is also on the website of The Center for National Policy Analysis, a non-profit think-tank that evaluates laws, policies and judgments that will affect our nation, for good or bad, and tries to analyze what the impact of such actions will be on our Nation.  Please read the article, follow their blog, and visit the link to the Orange County Record.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

FROM COPENHAGEN TO NOPENHAGEN FOR CLIMATE TREATY

In a major blow to the campaign against the presumed threat of global warming, world leaders acknowledge that a legally binding global treaty won't be approved at next month's 192-nation climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The concession Sunday significantly delays U.N. efforts to orchestrate a treaty to limit greenhouse gases to replace the Kyoto treaty, which expires in 2012.  Nations like the United States and poorer nations share the blame for the missed deadline.  Their concerns are similar to our own, says the Orange County Register:

WORLD Magazine: just what the Sand Hill Philosopher Ordered

Are you searching for a new magazine that is consistent with your worldview?  I had grown-up reading Time Magazine and Newsweek, with an occasional glance at US News & World Report, but during college, they became more one-sided in their reporting and I became more critical of what I read. [Perhaps they were always that liberal, and I took a while to catch-on.]

After I refused to read the magazines anymore, I felt a little ill-prepared for the journeys to places that would invoke read-less waiting upon me.  I always wanted that magazine rolled up in my pocket before I left my dorm room.

During my medical residency in Waco, Texas, my wife and I learned of a news magazine with a worldview alternative to Time and Newsweek: it was, and is, WORLD Magazine.

The magazine takes a clear, conservative, Christian worldview on events at home and abroad. They carry the same topical columns that the other news magazines do, but with a worldview closer to mine and the typical Sand Hill Reader.

At first I thought we might be signing up for a "religious bulletin", but though they have a "Religion Column" from time-to-time, there is no doctrine or denomination pushed. They simply, and clearly, bring me the weekly news in a magazine form.

Over the last 20+ years of readership, I have seen them grow in number of subscribers, number and quality of writers/journalists, and stature among America's journalistic reporters as a respectable source of news and information.

If you have already given up on ABC, CBS and CNN, to turn to Fox News, why not drop your Time, Newsweek and US News & World Report subscriptions, as well, and subscribe to WORLD Magazine? The Editor is Joe Belz who always has an excellent editorial.  Marvin Olasky (Professor of Journalism, at The University of Texas, Austin) is a regular contributor and serves as Editor In Chief; another well-known columnist that appears in each issue is Adree Seu.

The November 7, 2009 issue contains the following as a partial list of its contents: Quotables, Quick Takes, Movies & TV, Books, Music, Lifestyle and Tech, Charity, Sports, an article by Janie B. Cheaney (Subdued and Preserved: America's National Park System is a product of civilization) and articles in the following categories: Islam (Dutch Politician Brings anti-Islam Message to Britain and America); Government (A Platoon of Czars Sets Policy); Persecution (Vietnamese Refugees Call for Washington to Act on Abuses); Politics (Critics Worry About the Effects on Free Speech of Recently Expanded Hate Crime Laws); Environment (Climate Change Becomes the Latest Excuse for Population Control); Iraq (In Disputed Kirkuk, Christian Presence is Targeted); Sudan (Militia Attacks in South Sudan Threaten "Peace" Agreement); Education (Public-school Educators Ignore a Charter School That is Accomplishing What They Cannot); Radicalism (Moving from Corporate America to Academic America).

The cover articler is, Do the Math - How a government-run system will entice your employer to drop your health plan -- and press religious institutions like Belmont Abbey College to violate their beliefs.

To review more about the magazine, and see up-to-the-minute news articles, visit their web-site at www.WORLDmag.com. Subscription information is also found on this page. I have known hundreds of satisfied readers over the years, and know thousands who stay wrongly-informed by the more common news magazines, or ignorant all together.  Why don't you check-out their web-site and subscribe. I don't think you will regret it.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher