Mike Folkerth - King of Simple

Western Colorado’s own Humorist / Economist

Democratic Debate; “Unbelieveable” is the Operative Word:

Watching the Democratic debate yesterday answered a question that I have long pondered; is it possible for the mentally incompetent to run for president? The answer is; no question about it.

At least it is not necessary for a president to have even the slightest grip on reality. Math is also not an obligatory skill. The ability to speak in whole sentences that contain subjects and verbs is obviously not a condition. In fact, the only stipulation that I observed to apparently be an actual requirement was that one must be well versed in the “spin till you win” discipline.

It was also evident that the contenders are counting on the electorate having a poor recollection of history and no math skills at all. That, along with a penchant for fairy tales, and the fix is in.

Before you have some kind of seizure, I also watched the Republican debate and it was equally horrifying. With, I must say, the exception of Ron Paul, who they didn’t want to let in, but he has too many people donating money to keep him out.

Some of the highlights were Bill Richardson suggesting that exercise should be required to curtail future medical costs and then saying that his New Years resolution was to go on a diet, which is his New Years resolution every year.

Most of the candidates threw some crumbs to the Iowa corn growers by saying such things as “all cars should be mandated as flex fuel vehicles.” Neglecting of course, that such a move is very costly and the consumer would just have to subsidize the farmer and the auto company. Hold on there, I’m not against lower pollutants. There is more to the story.

If all of the farmland in the U.S. was planted to corn and all of that corn was converted to ethanol, it would provide approximately 12% of the current fuel consumption for autos alone. No food, just fuel. So given that fact, if all cars were equipped as flex fuel autos, and all food was converted to fuel, 88% of the cars would have none to burn. But, when in Iowa, lie like a rug and don’t worry, no one will do the math.

Joe Biden, after 35 years breathing the rarified air and contributing to the mess we find ourselves in, seems to have a new plan to make things better. He’s not sure what it is, but is confident that if elected president, he could come up with one.

Nearly every candidate said we can’t afford the war. They stated that billions are spent every day and that drain is dragging Americans further into debt; after which each told how they could support their spending platform by using the money being spent on the war at home. I’m still working on that problem and so far, I still come up with the same amount of debt.

Hillary said she is going to save the family farm. She has never actually seen one, but as soon as she does, she’ll save it. She said that family farms are going to vanish. I assume that means that she still thinks wild buffalo and Studebaker salesmen still reside outside of New York City and Washington D.C. along side family farms.

The grand scheme of the day was to indoctrinate children before the age of four in a government school. Provide free education for teachers in a government sponsored college, and pay them a whole lot more money to pass that government directed curriculum along to the 3 year olds before their parents can influence them differently. Buy them some uniforms while we’re at it.

No one mentioned that a teachers pay is based on 165 to 175 days per year. That benefits and retirement are good. That hours are short and summers are free. Am I against teachers, heck no, my wife is one! But do the math and it’s a pretty good job.

Nearly every candidate suggested that the U.S. is losing jobs. Gee, we haven’t noticed. Several were going to get tough with China who loans us $ 1 Billion per day just to keep us treading water, and China also holds enough of our debt to choke a large horse. Try going in today and getting tough with your banker.

I found it interesting that not one candidate announced that NAFTA and our entry into the WTO which allowed the China syndrome and American Corps to freely leave the U.S., was ushered in by Bill Clinton, not the Republicans that they blamed for our job loses.

Barrack Obama wants to balance the budget and double foreign aid. Hillary Clinton wants to promote free trade and grow our economy. Joe Biden wants to send our kids to a government school for 16 years, all on the cuff. The only thing Bill Richardson was sure of is that he wants to lose weight.

The point is, there are few good guys in established government on either side of the aisle. The promises are fiscally empty and irresponsible. How do you think we got to this point to begin with?

Wake Up America, don’t re-elect anyone!

 
Comments
1.
On December 14th, 2007 at 10:41 am, hayesml47 said:

Hey Mike, Some debates, eh! And we thought Halloween was over! Ya gotta love the Democrats. They are so democratic that they banned Mike Gravel from their debate! Gotta have money to be a Democrat, ya know! And how about the banning of Dennis Kucinich for not having an appropriate sized or type of local office. Boy!, Ain’t that a hoot!

Of course, the Republicans are no better. They just have not thought up a way to ban Ron Paul from their clambake.. They are certainly giving “We the people” very good reasons to ban both parties from this country. I seriously doubt that most of those candidates can even spell constituent, let alone define it.

I think I am actually becoming allergic to Bush, Cheney, Clinton(both), Gore, and the rest of the usual suspects. I get very sick and weak to my stomach whenever I inadvertantly see one of their pictures. Bush is the poster boy for the “Haven’t Gotta Clue” society and Cheney is the poster boy for the “Ghengis Khan” fan club.

And what we jokingly refer to as the “U S Congress” is still using both hands to try and find the table(forget their posterior). Ah, but things will get better1 When the “American Dream” changes back to the “Human Being Dream”(survival in other words). I really think the American Dream has come to be “if I do not win the lottery I’ll just run for office and steal my first billion”! Greed must be our national creed. At least for those that can afford it.

I am in to the second chapter of your book and loving it! Thanks and have a great day Mike!

2.
On December 14th, 2007 at 11:06 am, Mike Folkerth said:

Michael,

It is a hoot alright! Those people are clueless but backed by big money. They don’t want Kucinich or Gravel messing up their deal. They might utter something intelligent ya know?

The Republican side is just as bad. With the exception of Paul, it’s simply more of the same that brought us to the current dance. No one has paid the fiddler and the music is about to stop.

The economic situation is far worse than most understand. As the article that I wrote regarding 3rd world status being a month away from many Middle Americans if (when) they lose their jobs.(it’s on the left sidebar above).

But, Christmas shopping is said to holding up, so there is a little credit left on that plastic to purchase Chinese merchandise.

I’m glad you are enjoying the book,

3.
On December 14th, 2007 at 3:14 pm, Billyb said:

Well Mike, like you have said in the past, pain is usually required to change bad habits of ours. I have wondered for years why we keep slamming our fingers in the car door (voting for the same folks that are wrecking our way of life).

I have come to the conclusion that we as Americans have not suffered enough pain (and have done little to no research on candidates) to effect a change to date. If any one of 99% of the candidates running for president today are elected, we will see that pain and a whole lot more in the very near future (simple math).

I just hope there is a next time, if in fact we are too lazy or too prone to petty peer pressure to do the research necessary to elect the individual who is honestly working to get us out of our mess. And has a track record in congress to prove it. -bb

4.
On December 14th, 2007 at 3:41 pm, Mike Folkerth said:

B.B.
I suppose it is human nature to think that “it won’t happen to me.” So we don’t get activated until such time that we are the one in the frying pan. We then get upset because no one wants to help us, just like we weren’t interested in helping anyone before we felt our posteriors warming up.

We are strange animals. But, the threat of a common enemy makes for strange bedfellows.

I have noticed a growing groundswell of discontent and all eyes are looking at government. The Democrats are totally disgusted with their new congress majority and everyone is disgusted with King George.

So what is a body to do? I say, vote for Ron Paul, but that is just my observation.

5.
On December 15th, 2007 at 6:35 am, KathyP said:

Hi Mike,

There really is a sense of unreality when one views the debates. The Democrats’ was an “agreementfest” in which there was consensus over non issues or, at best, issues that are peripheral to the problems we truly have.

I admit to an admiration of Ron Paul because he has the guts to air opinions about the American Empire that are taboo in most political discourse.

Do you support him because you think he would shake things up enough to effect actual change? I detect clear veins of Libertarian views in your previous posts and in your biography. Is that why you are a Paul supporter? I’d love to know why you advocate for him.

6.
On December 15th, 2007 at 8:05 am, Mike Folkerth said:

Kathy,
As you can also see by my writing, I’m well versed on the economic front that faces our country.

You put it very well, describing the issues that are debated as “peripheral.” The real issues are far to complex for those running for President to grasp. There is no “quick and easy” fix and therefore, no mention of issues that matter.

Long ago I said that if ANY person ever runs for president and tells the truth, I would back he or she to the hilt regardless of party affiliation. Dr. Paul is a truth teller with a 20 year history of doing so.

A friend called me several months ago and said, “Hey Mike check out this Ron Paul, he’s been reading your book.”

When I investigated Congressman Paul, I realized he could have written the book and in many ways had.

At risk of seeming a little kooky, Ron Paul may be the person who could lead us out of the wilderness.

Thank you for asking Kathy. Just the fact that you realize that the top tier candidates never talk about real issues, put you at the head of the class.

Your book should arrive soon.

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