Election 2012, My Final Chapter on the subject

The Republican party was kidnapped several elections ago by the rabid religious right, and this current debacle, Election 2012, is the final result.  The party, to exist in the future, will have to go back to its origins of fiscal conservatism, state’s rights, and minimum federal government.  Oh, my, doesn’t that sound familiar?  As if it came straight from the mouth of Ron Paul.

Yes, most of what Libertarians profess today is straight from the GOP play book of a couple of decades ago.  We need a strong military to defend our shores not change the leadership of other countries.  We need a federal tax code that can actually be understood by a high school graduate.  We need high school graduates that can read and write.  And we need a middle class that is not controlled by Homeland Security measures picked up in some third world dictatorship.

Our small business communities need to be able to operate efficiently and profitably with as little federal intervention as possible.  Those businesses need to be able to hire an educated staff, not a staff that knows how to cheat its way through federal tests.

It’s time for those that still call themselves Republican to divorce the party from those that have altered what Grand Old Party really meant.  Jefferson wrote about “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”  He did not write about guaranteed happiness by way of federally demanded welfare, coupled with food stamps and federally subsidized housing.  To pursue that state of happiness was the goal, the American Dream, if you will.

Despite what some courts seem to think, our constitution was written in stone, in particular those first ten amendments, and if Libertarians had their way, and what the GOP should be striving for, is a federal government that follows the strictures of that magnificent document.  The GOP needs to spend a great deal of time during this next election cycle remembering what the party was, remembering names like Ike and Reagan, in the short haul, and do a little research on times before those Republican giants.

A marriage of Libertarianism and old world Republicanism, led by some brilliant young minds with elegant speaking abilities, and this old country just might find its way back to a position where the average Jack and Jill can hold their heads high.

The Old Guard of the current Republican party, and their lack of understanding what the party was and should be, led to this debacle.  Shame on you, and now, please stand aside and let the vigorous young bucks with strong Libertarian ideals take the podium.

Super Storm

After spending many hours watching super storm Sandy move up the coast, then make its turn onto land, I’m amazed at the after storm pictures.  No, not the damage, but rather, what appears to be a complete lack of understanding by the people who were affected.  There appears to have been little preparation, yet for days forecasters were calling this the most destructive possible storm to hit the east coast in a lifetime.

Maybe it’s a case of those of us that live in the west have a different view of what happens in bad weather, or possibly, the concept of a disaster is something that is more real to us.  Those pictures of people standing in line carrying empty gas cans after the storm, after the power had been knocked out, after the roads were demolished, are amazing.  And, some blaming the government. 

The winning of the west was not done by that breed of easterner.  Here in western Nevada, most of the time, we are aware of powerful storms bearing down on us for many days in advance.  It is a foolish person that does not fill the vehicle’s fuel tanks, does not fill any gas cans that are available, and does not prepare for a lack of water and food.  Disasters come from many angles, storms, fire, flood, accidents, and to not be even slightly prepared is not a mark of intelligence.

There is a movement today in which many people are calling themselves preppers, that is, they are preparing for major disaster even when no disaster seems imminent.  Canning and preserving enough food to last many months, preparing for a total lack of power by way of solar, hydro, or wind generation, and actually hoarding some items such as toilet paper, weapons, and ammunition. 

As we’ve recently seen in vivid television shots, people can become nasty very fast when they are frightened.  To wait until after the worst storm to hit the east coast in its known history, to discover you have no gas in the car or in the extra can, to discover you have no water, to not have candles or long life flashlights, there are no cans of meat and vegetables in the larder, can bring forth, first, extreme fright, then anger, then violence.

When I lived in central Nevada, it was a one hundred mile round trip to the nearest grocery store. You didn’t forget something.  It was while I was there that I learned the art and craft of canning and preserving.  It was during those wonderful years that I learned how to make bread, and Patty and I still make most of our bread, we can dozens of pints of veggies out of our own garden every year, grow our chickens and rabbits, and would not be considered true preppers by their standards.

Because of our chain saws and splitter, our wood stove keeps us pretty cozy in the winter, it’s been more than two years since the furnace has been lit, we have a generator for standby only, and since we rent this little plot, we can’t put up a decent solar array, we have back up in the event of a full power failure.  In the city apartments, this may not be feasible, in some communities, some of what we do wouldn’t be allowed, but to not be as prepared as possible for a disaster the size of hurricane Sandy is more criminal than stupid.

Winter is on its way, so now would be a good time for an assessment of your disaster supplies.  Gas, water, lights, and food should top the list, and there should be enough to last three or four weeks, if not more.  An interesting story came out of Bosnia during their problems a few years ago.  The one item that was worth its weight in gold, the one item one could barter with and get just about anything, was a roll of toilet paper.

Thanks for reading this little tome, read good books, and stay regular.

Come on Wind

Ever get yourself all in a twit and simply want to break out and do something, no matter what?  That was how I found myself one day recently.  All the political ads on TV were driving me crazy, too many commentators making too many comments, all the good guys making fools of themselves, all the bad guys saying all the wrong things, and then on top of all that, the wind was howling outside.

I searched my book shelves and magazine racks and the only thing I could find that I hadn’t already read was “War and Peace,” and I wasn’t about to tackle that monster.  I went outside to check on the kids, the horses were just as put off as I because of the wind, the goat was munching on something, and the chickens were hiding out.  The twit was getting serious, the wind was getting stronger, and the friendly neighborhood bar wasn’t open yet.

I stomped around the house, through the kitchen, the bedroom, the living room and found myself in the office, sitting at my desk.  OK, I thought, that’s about enough, and I started writing, a sure cure for my twits.  Wind, animals, wind, disruption, came together in a set or words that I ended up calling “Growing Cows Out of the Wind.”  I spent hours tweaking the little story, playing with it, and hours turned to days, and the story came together about a week later.

I always let Patty read my stuff, not as an editor might, but as one who enjoys reading.  I don’t write from a “literary” viewpoint, by any stretch, certainly not from the point of view taught in creative writing classes today, simply won’t.  My heroes are Rudyard Kipling, Charles Dickens and their ilk.  Annie Proulx is out of her mind and fun to read, and Hemmingway can teach brevity word by word.  And, levity is a key word in most of my stories.

Patty read the final rewrite of growing cows and said it was funny and she liked it, and I made sure all the letters that needed dotting were dotted and all the letters that needed capping were capped, and sent it off to Epiphany, the magazine that just published my short story “Moonbeam.”  Lo and Behold (I always wanted to say that), I got an email from the editor this morning, and they are going to publish “Growing Cows Out of the Wind” in their next edition.

So, as I’m sitting here this morning, the sun is shining, I have RFD TV on, so there are no politicians yelling obscenities, no commentators commenting, and no wind blowing, the horses are frisky, the goat is eating, and the chickens are running around with their heads in place, the only thing left for me to do is write this little tome for you.  So far this year, I’ve had eleven short stories either published or accepted for publication.  The best year of my writing career.  Come on wind, come on politicos, come on commenta  …  no not them, but all the others.

Until next time, read good books and stay regular.

Politics 101

I’ve done everything possible to keep base politics out of this blog, but something interesting is taking place in this election cycle that I think needs a little closer look.  First and foremost, the concept of courtesy and respect have gone out the window.  When I first got into the journalism racket, that was prehistoric times, 1958 to be exact, respect for one’s office was required.  In an article on President Eisenhower, he would always be noted as Mr. Eisenhower or President Eisenhower, senators would be senators, congressmen would be representatives or congressmen.

I hear reporters talking about Obama this and Obama that.  We may disagree with the man’s philosophies in every respect, but he is the president and that office demands a level of respect.  The protocol is simple:  The person will be referred to by the highest office he or she has attained, thus Governor Romney, President Obama, Representative Ryan.

I have found it fascinating how people react to their own personal politics.  Most readers of this blog are aware that I tend toward a libertarian view with strong fiscal conservatism, and I still wish that Representative Ron Paul was the Republican nominee, but here is what fascinates me most.  Libertarians stand with pride calling themselves libertarians.  Conservatives shout it out, loud and clear, “Look at me, I am a conservative.”  But those of a liberal bent shy away from the label.  “Oh, no, I’m more of a centrist,” is what we hear over and over.  Or, they use little key words like ‘progressive.’

Our president calls himself a centrist and then calls for a new world order, looks to change the first amendment, and simply won’t use the word liberal.  President Obama is as much a liberal as Representative Paul Ryan is a conservative, but won’t come out and say so.  At the same time, those that shy from calling themselves liberals will call a conservative horrible names and then take offense at being called a liberal.

In every political philosophy there are of course extremes, and in this election, no one can get away with trying to call themselves centrist, with the economic question and international relations getting the most attention.  Big spending or tight belts?  Speak softly and carry a big stick or give in to bullies?  Naive?  Maybe, but those two questions delineate this election, the liberal end far to the left and the conservative end far to the right.

See you at the polls.  In the meantime, read good books and stay regular.

Oktoberfest

The first few days of fall, trees rapidly taking on the colors of the season, the sun slipping out of sight way too early, mornings indicating those longer nights, and at times, even a light jacket or sweater might come in handy.  These are the days leading up to the long, dark, and cold days of the hiemal season, when snow flies in our faces, when schussing is an act not just a word, and when walking one must be aware of the dangers of participating in the world famous Comstock two-step, that is, going kerplop in front of your neighbors and friends.

One of the grand pleasures of early fall is a celebration that started back in 1810, called Oktoberfest.  It is the national holiday in Munich, the capital of Bavaria in those days, and was the original wedding reception for Crown Prince Ludwig following his marriage to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hidburghausen on October 12, 1810.  The open fields, almost at the gates of Munich were named in her honor, Theresienwiese, and the locals today call the area the Wiesen.  Ludwig went on to become King Ludwig the First.

The first question many people as is why is Oktoberfest celebrated in September, and there actually is a reasonable answer.  Relating back to that marriage, Oktoberfest started out as the sixteen days leading up to the first Sunday in October.  It’s that first Sunday in October that determines the dates for each year’s celebration.  Over the years, there have been times when it was seventeen days, and years when it was eighteen days, but that first Sunday in October is the date of reference.  This year, Oktoberfest is September 22 to October 7.

And the spelling?  Oktoberfest is the German spelling, and you can bet in Munich it will not be spelled in English.  They say as many as five million people will be on hand for this year’s event.  More people at Oktoberfest in Munich than there are in Nevada. 

Oktoberfest is a fair, there was horse racing in the past, there are grand agricultural exhibits, and more food than a gourmand can ever conceive having set before him.  Sausages, of course, fish, ham, roast beef, and you can bet a barrel or two sauerkraut.  You have to know that Oktoberfest Beer flows as water over Niagara.  And, dear and gentle folk, there is a reason for that special beer.

Those that run the show in Munich have rules on what kinds of beer can be served during the celebration.  Beer must be, at a minimum, six percent alcohol, that is, twelve proof.  It must be brewed in the city, and only then can it carry the dignity of Oktoberfest Beer.  Among the breweries most known in this country are Spaten, Paulaner, and Lowenbrau, and the term Oktoberfest Beer is a registered trademark by the Club of Munich Brewers.

Most beer in the 1800s was brewed in the spring when the weather was cool and developed its alcohol content before summer heat could spoil it.  A natural preservative, if you will.  There was a large effort, according to one myth of the times, to get the barrels down as much as possible before winter set in.  In the early spring, the barrels would be emptied, and that beer is called Bock.

So, gentlemen, put on your lederhosen, ladies don thy dirndl skirts, we must all wear our tirolerhute, that is, Bavarian hats with their tufts of goat hair, don’t become a birerleichen, that is drunken fool, and heist a pint or nine.  To Ludwig!  To Theresa!  To Beer or not Beer, the question remains.

New Mystery Novel

I finally finished my latest genre specific novel, and have put together an outstanding query letter, and will be sending that out to potential publishers and agents over the next few weeks (Be Prepared, Oh Mighty Agents and Publishers).  It’s called “Blood of Many Nations” and my lead man should have been working in the 1930s as a hardboiled private dick, but is trapped in the 21st Century where he has to deal with such things as the Miranda rule, civil rights, and compassionate judges that re-write the constitution.  He doesn’t do well in these things, but he does solve the cases, and in his opinion, and his opinion is the only one that counts, that is the his sole job.  I named him Simon Sol Dorsey, and along with the novel, I have five Dorsey short stories that I am working to get published.

We don’t have the pleasure of the old pulp detective and mystery magazines anymore, and the market is very limited.  Mystery and Western novels sell well, but there is a very limited market today for Mystery and Western short stories.  I’ve been very lucky to get my western short stories published, in book form by Bottom of the Hill Publishing, and in  story form in Imitation Fruit and Rope and Wire, Internet magazines.

One of the stories in Rope and Wire featured a U.S. Marshal by the name of Jacob Chance that I called “Four Corners.”  It has been well received and my next big project is to create a Jacob Chance novel.  These projects pretty much keep me off the streets and out of saloons --- hey, maybe that isn’t the best thing here …

It took almost three years to write “Blood of Many Nations”, my little gem (those are my words), and I hope some day soon you will have a chance to get down to Sundance Books and buy a copy or nine.

In other news around the J-P Ranchette, we had a coyote visit the other morning.  Found him eyeing the chicken yard when I went out to feed.  I yelled at him, chased him off, threw a harmless rock at him, because that’s about all you can do.  Too many people around here, so I couldn’t shoot him.  Sure would have made a fine cape for my Mountain Man expeditions regalia.  With the rabbits and chickens we have, it’s amazing that we don’t have more of these little varmints running around.

Chickens, goat, and horses really don’t like this very hot weather we’ve been having.  Reminds me, I sent a photo off to a farm journal recently that shows my big Poco Rojo standing in the middle of a blizzard, covered in snow, with his warm, dry, open stall twenty feet behind him.  The caption reads, “You can lead a horse to water, but you sure as hell can’t make him drink.”  Haven’t heard back from the editor on that one yet.

That’s abut it for this time.  Have a great day, read good books, and stay regular.

Ah, Politics!

When you’re sitting at your favorite watering hole, whether it’s a neighborhood dive or an elegant cocktail lounge, it’s best not to open discussions on politics or religion.  So, I guess I’ll break one more little rule.  While this blog is not designed to be a forum on politics, rather an opportunity for me to vent, rant, and promote, this year’s election campaigning screams for comment and commentary.

There have always been those that would rather be nasty than accurate during the election process, and often all sides carry the guilty flag, but it seems when names are not associated with accusations, the filth is rampant.  When PACs (Political Action Committees) put their advertising up, it is under a name that simply can’t be traced without help from James Bond, and these committees aren’t held responsible for what is said.  No one is.

That’s the rub, and while I am generally one of those people that condemn more and bigger government, this is a time for just a little more government.  My philosophy on new laws, new government intervention comes down to a simple question: is what’s being proposed really a function of government?  In this case, I feel the answer is a resounding yes.

Of course there is one very large problem with this.  Election law is written by those that have their jobs by way of elections, and elections today are more often won by those that have or spend the most money.  Ergo, election laws will always have major flaws benefiting the electee.

It would be easy at this point in this little tome to use the word naive, but just a few years ago if someone had told you that corporations should be treated as individuals, you probably would have scoffed.  And here come nine people, most often not referred to as being naive, that is, the Supreme Court of the United States, making that the law of the land, thus opening the door to unlimited spending by unknown people who cannot be held responsible for lies, distortions, or slander.

It’s taken us almost 250 years to get mired this deep in the slime of gutter politics.  The interesting part of the current situation is based, according to SCOTUS, on the First Amendment’s right to free speech, guaranteed by the constitution.  But that guarantee is to the citizens of the U.S., and international corporations are not citizens.  They can’t vote.  They don’t hold driver licenses.  They don’t hold Social Security cards.

At least, for those of us that take the time to read what the individual politicians have to say, and not be swayed by million dollar PACs, this election could prove to be pivotal in many respects.  It is more clear cut than in years past, partly due to the liberal wing of the democrat party and partly due to the Tea Party wing of the republican party.  In years past, liberals were led by Lyndon Johnson, the giant of arm twisting big, bigger, biggest government.  The conservatives were led by Ronald Reagan, leader of small, smaller, smallest government.

The art of politics has been tainted by religion and the rabid religious right has been trying for many years to forcefully take over the republican party.  It’s the influence of people like Ron Paul, and now Paul Ryan that is bringing more political philosophy to the table and less religion.  On the liberal side, those most considered liberal are hampered by many that are afraid of the label.  They want to be centrist.  Being centrist is what kept John McCain out of the White House.  It is not the best bet for either Mr. Obama or Mr. Romney.

Without the slime and slurry, these next few months need to be an open debate on the benefits of conservatism versus liberalism, a real political dog fight, in which the philosophy of big government is explained by one side, and the philosophy of small government is fought for by the other.  All four men, Obama, Biden, Romney, Ryan are excellent debaters, all four would hold their own in any forum, and that’s what needs to happen.  CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX and all the others need to shut the hell up and let the politicians have at it.

And the congress needs to take a long hard look at just who is a citizen of this country, individuals or corporations.  And the nine members of SCOTUS need to read the constitution, word for word for word.

Well, that’s it for this edition.  Read good books and stay regular.