Thoughts for November

There is much talk about what to do in Iraq from all sides of the Political Spectrum. The question of what to do about Iraq is important, and cause for genuine differences of opinion. But what to do next is sometimes clouded with issues and charges which have no place in any decision for future actions.

The biggest charge which should be given no consideration in deciding what to do now is WHY DID WE GO THERE? This is a question for the Historians to decide. It is not an issue on which to make your voting decisions in November.

The only issues which deserve our consideration now all must be based on WHAT DO WE DO NOW? We are there. We do not get a do-over. And because we are there, the important question is What do we do now?.

To put this into context, think about this situation. You have suffered a broken leg. You need attention. To argue at this point about the actions which caused the break is pointless and dangerous. The actions which caused the break are for the reflective period after the necessary treatment for the injury.

Now is the time to debate the consequences of future actions to heal the break. Is treatment to begin at the accident scene, or should immediate transportation to a Medical Facility be the first action? ETC.

Now apply this analogy to Iraq. Do not begin by arguing about why we got involved. Begin by asking what's the best course of action right now? Do we have the necessary commanders, tactics, supplies, and other resources to successfully complete the present mission? What will happen if we continue? What will happen if we pull-out. How can we accomplish either task? And most important, which actions give us the greatest chance for success?

Remember this in November. History will decide the question of Why? We, the Voters must decide What to do NOW!

There will be more on this in the coming months.

Fear OF Global Warming COOLING!!!

We have heard so much about Global Warming from the "Al Gore Alarmists" that most of the general public assumes it to be a proven fact. To a large extant the doomsday predictions have gained so much acceptance because there is a kernel of truth to the Global Warming Issue.

That kernel is that the Earth is getting warmer. But what is not fact is that the issue is settled. Questions still remain unanswered. Is Global Warming a Natural phenomena? What part does mankind play in Global Warming? Can Global Warming be controlled by our actions? Etc.

The Sun Also Sets is one of the latest published articles which does not subscribe to the "Al Gore Alarmists" theories and proclamations. They do not agree that we must implement LEGAL MEASURES AND LAWS to limit Global Warming.

Back in 1991, before Al Gore first shouted that the Earth was in the balance, the Danish Meteorological Institute released a study using data that went back centuries that showed that global temperatures closely tracked solar cycles.

To many in the Scientific Community, it is the Sun which in the most influential force behind Global Climate Change. Global Climate Change is a much better term for what is happening, and has happened many times in the Earth's History. Global Climate Change recognizes the Earth's Natural Historic Cycles of both Global Warming And Global Cooling.

To many, those data were convincing. Now, Canadian scientists are seeking additional funding for more and better "eyes" with which to observe our sun, which has a bigger impact on Earth's climate than all the tailpipes and smokestacks on our planet combined.

The Earth's climate history has many periods of both warming and cooling. By reading the Earth's Biography, many believe that Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) is only an indicator of Global Climate Change, while the Sun is the driving force and cause of Global Climate Changes.

The Sun's activity has been shown to have a very predictable cycle. These cycles are indicated and tracked by sunspot activity.

Kenneth Tapping, a solar researcher and project director for Canada's National Research Council, is among those looking at the sun for evidence of an increase in sunspot activity.

Lack of Sunspots could indicate the beginning a period of sunspot hibernation called a "Maunder Minimum". More data needs to be observed and analyzed to definitely diagnose a "Maunder Minimum". Gathering this data will likely take a year or two.

In the 17th Century the sun experienced a "Maunder Minimum" characterized by low sunspot activity as well as low sun magnetism that

...corresponded with a period of bitter cold that began around 1650 and lasted, with intermittent spikes of warming, until 1715. Frigid winters and cold summers during that period led to massive crop failures, famine and death in Northern Europe.

Research has indicated that it is the Sun is the only real factor driving Global Climate Change.

For instance, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Solar Research in Germany report the sun has been burning more brightly over the last 60 years, accounting for the 1 degree Celsius increase in Earth's temperature over the last 100 years.

And...

R. Timothy Patterson, professor of geology and director of the Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Center of Canada's Carleton University, says that "CO2 variations show little correlation with our planet's climate on long, medium and even short time scales."

And...

In 2005, Russian astronomer Khabibullo Abdusamatov made some waves — and not a few enemies in the global warming "community" — by predicting that the sun would reach a peak of activity about three years from now, to be accompanied by "dramatic changes" in temperatures.

A few years ago, a similar result came from a Hoover Institution Study.

"The effects of solar activity and volcanoes are impossible to miss. Temperatures fluctuated exactly as expected, and the pattern was so clear that, statistically, the odds of the correlation existing by chance were one in 100," according to Hoover fellow Bruce Berkowitz.

The Hoover Study made this statement which is worth remembering.

..."try as we might, we simply could not find any relationship between industrial activity, energy consumption and changes in global temperatures."

Be aware it is a fact that there is not enough data to take the drastic steps being demanded by the "Chicken Little Al Gore Alarmists".

Our Government

In my opinion the United States Government SHOULD be a functional Democracy. In simplest terms, each citizen SHOULD have the right to determine his or her future by making the choices which they feel are best for them. Our government should place minimum restrictions on our freedoms and then only for the purpose of allowing equal opportunity for all.

A Socialistic Government on the other hand severely restricts each citizens right to make choices which will determine his or her future. Again in simplest terms, each citizen can only make choices about their future which the GOVERNMENT feels is best for them. Heavy restriction are placed on freedom of choice in order to force equality for all.

Now consider a government which will "...garnish the wages of workers who refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans". That quote is taken from this article (Clinton health plan may mean tapping pay). These are the words of Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The New York senator has criticized presidential rival Barack Obama for pushing a health plan that would not require universal coverage. Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC's "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment." [emphasis mine]

This is a description of a government on the road to Socialism. It is government telling us what is best for its citizens and imposing punishment for not following the party line.

Clinton said such measures would apply only to workers who can afford health coverage but refuse to buy it, which puts undue pressure on hospitals and emergency rooms. With her proposals for subsidies, she said, "it will be affordable for everyone."

We do not need a govenment deciding what we can afford. We need a government which allows each citizen to determine what they can afford. We need a government which allows choice and yes a chance to fail as well as succeed.