Energy Security: Vital to a Nations Independence

This is the fourth part of the series on Energy Security.

Part IV

Barriers to Energy Security.

In the previous parts of this series we discussed how Energy Security is vital to our National Security, how much energy is available, and broke down the costs associated with the energy we use.  We have focused on Oil, but that is far from the only source of energy available.  In this part we will look at the obstacles facing Energy Security.

There are two major categories of Energy Sources.  The first category is the Fossil Fuels.  Fossil Fuels include Oil, Natural Gas, and Coal. The second category is Alternative Fuels. Alternative Fuels include Bio-Fuels (ethanol, methanol, etc), Wind, Solar, and Nuclear.  Each of these energy sources face Technological, Economic, and Regulatory barriers.

Technological barriers are the easiest of all barriers to overcome.  15 years ago oil in North Dakota was considered non-recoverable. Prior to that time oil was drilled vertically.  You drilled straight down.  The difficulty with a well of this type was you needed to position the well directly over your target.  It would take many wells, on many different pieces of property to recover the oil.  Then along came horizontal drilling. With a horizontal well you could drill to multiple sources from one piece of property.  It was not only more economically feasible, but it was environmentally friendly.

Economic barriers are often the greatest barrier.  Recovering coal or oil that costs more than can be bought from other sources does not make sense. As pointed out with the North Dakota example above, the horizontal drilling resulted in economically feasible recoverable oil.

The overwhelmingly greatest barrier to Energy Security are the Regulatory Barriers.  Before any energy undertaking can begin the legal battle must be fought. This is fairly easy at the state and local level, however, when the Federal Government gets involved the idea of Energy Security is replaced with political agendas. It is here we discover that an economically feasible endeavor becomes too expensive for the market.  This is not to say there should not be regulations, but as with most Federal Regulations they over step common sense and dance into "What If".

Fossil Fuels

The Great Satan

There are certain truths about Fossil Fuels that must be considered.  They are dirty when compared with some Alternative sources.  The recovery, refining, and use of Fossil Fuels do indeed have hazardous bi-products. These bi-products include sulfur, radiation, nitrates, and mercury (to name just a few). There is also a direct impact on the land used during recovery.  This is especially true of coal.  There is no escaping the fact that Fossil Fuels are not as clean as other forms of energy and they are not a renewable resource. It is also true that they are not as dirty as some would have you believe. 

Coal provides 49.61% of the electricity in the United States.  Oil (3.03%) and natural gas (18.77%) provide 20.80% of the electricity generated in the U.S. In total Fossil Fuels provide over 60% of the electricity generated in the U.S. 

The Great 

"What If"

Like many educated people I count on the principles of science to describe the world around me.  Although the Scientific Method begins with a "What If...", it quickly moves to the "What is...".  The greatest "What if" involves Global Warming...more specifically Human Caused Global Warming (HCGW).

The "What If" of HCGW is based on the premise that human activity contributes to Global Warming. This is a scientifically sound principle..everything on earth is intertwined and will affect the environment in either a positive, or negative way.  However, the "What If" of HCGW exponentially expands from speculation of a contribution by existence, to a major cause of Global Warming.  It is in this stretch that HCGW jumps from science to politics.

By far the most common argument among those that support the HCGW idea is..."The Vast Majority of Scientists agree that humans are the major contributor to Global Warming." Once upon a time the Vast Majority of Scientists also agreed that the Earth was flat and the Sun orbited the Earth.  Luckily for us you don't vote on the truth of science...but many people will vote on the Politics of Science.  For the sake of argument we will assume that the Great "What if" is true.  How does that affect Energy Security?

Satan, The Great What If and Energy Security.

The Quest for Alternative Energy.

A very good friend of mine in Montana is at the forefront in the quest for alternatives to Oil. He is an innovator of new lubricants that are affordable, renewable, and have minimal impact on the environment.  He has spent the last 15 years and large sums of money attempting to tackle one aspect of of the Energy equation.  He uses organic materials to create his lubricants..this means he grows them on his farm.  

So far he has created a lubricant that will work under certain environmental factors..sadly the environment they will work in, is not found in Montana.  Although his lubricant is renewable, its impact on the environment is unknown...and it is not affordable.  I have yet to see any new technology that is initially affordable. 

The technological ability of an alternative source of energy to be effective requires that it be economically feasible.  If we could use corn as a method to supply our energy needs, make that corn burn super clean, it would be of little use if it cost $10 a gallon and pushes the price of food up.

The extremes of the HCGW debates are all or nothing views.  This is not an intelligent, or even secure point of view. The environmentalists would have everyone believe that energy producers want to destroy the environment.   On the other hand there are those who want to just drill or dig for energy. They both want to scare you into making irrational choices. Fear is not a good position to be in when making security decisions.

Drill, Dig, Nuke, Windmill, Solar Panel, and Who Knows What Else?

When deciding your best course, you should know where you are.  At present the machines of human life run on fossil fuels.  These are the same machines that put the Western World at the top of the game.  Nuclear power is a cheap alternative that could replace the use of Oil and Coal as forms of Energy. Wind and solar energy is in its infancy, but they too show an ability to create viable power systems. 

By removing the irrational regulatory barriers to fossil fuels we buy enough time to create sustainable, economically viable, renewable energy alternatives.  We will have the time to create clean battery technology to make Wind and Solar power work.  We will have the time to look at the impact of bio-fuels. But most importantly we build an Energy Secure nation.

Summary

In this post we looked at the barriers to Energy Security, and how those barriers are/can be broken down.  In the next post we will bring it altogether in a plan for building an Energy Secure Nation.

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Why-Krugmans-Argument-Against-Fossil-Fuels-Fails-Economics-101.html

http://www.essortment.com/fossil-fuel-its-impact-environment-57291.html

http://www.salon.com/2011/05/31/linbd_fossil_fuels/

http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/index.html

http://www.modelt.ca/faq-fs.html

  

Energy Security: Vital to a Nation's Independence

This is the Third Part of the Series on Energy Security.

Part III

What is the Cost of Energy Security?

Most of us realize the cost of energy.  We see it when we put gas in our vehicle, or pay our power bill.  The cost to us, and its effect on our economy does not stop there.  Everything you come in contact with has an energy cost. To understand these costs we will focus on Oil as an energy source.

At the time of this blog being written the cost of a 42 gallon barrel of oil was $98. From a average barrel of oil you will, through the fractioning process, get about 19 gallons of gasoline. Do the math..Cost per gallon=$98 per barrel/42 gallons in a barrel.  Cost per gallon $2.33.  Keep in mind this is pre-production cost...nothing has been refined yet.  Refining adds another $.50 per gallon...which brings us up to $2.83 per gallon.  Of course there is a tax with that.

Federal Taxes are a flat 18.4 cents per gallon.  State, and local taxes are highly variable based on where you are.  In Florida the total in taxes is 38.4 cents per gallon.  That now makes the price of one gallon of gas $2.90 per gallon.  Of course the company that refines the gasoline must transport it to the pump, advertise it, pay employees etc...this adds another 29 cents per gallon. Leaving us with a flat cost of $3.19 per gallon.  At present, (20 September, 2012) the cost of gas at my local station was $3.70 per gallon.  That would mean the gas companies are making 50 cents on every gallon...right?

Not so right...that 50 cents does not account for other taxes (income, property, etc).  This is where things get  difficult to track on a per gallon basis.  The other factors that affect cost at the pump are so highly variable that it becomes nearly impossible to accurately track..so that this point I must make an educated guess.

In 2007 Exxon's stated after tax earnings were 10.4 percent. That is higher than the industries average earnings for that year of 8.3%.  Those numbers are after-tax income.  To make maters worse those earnings include the sales of non-gasoline items.  Yes..those $2 Twinkies add to the company's profits.

In the retail world (and you are buying gas at retail prices) the cost of an item already includes all of the associated expenses.  This includes the actual cost of an item, advertising, employees, sales space, and other operating taxes.  Then they bump that to "what the market can bear" or what is commonly known as the markup.  Jeans for instance carry a markup of 100% to 350%.  Now lets say that your local gas station shoot for Exxon's 10.4% profit.  It would appear that the sale of Jeans is much more of a greed issue, than the sale of gasoline.

But what about the base cost of $98 per barrel of oil?  Where does that come from?  We have all heard of the theory of supply and demand.  The greater the supply and the less the demand the less money something is worth...and the inverse is true as well. There is another factor at play...Market Sentiment. There is a mistaken belief that investors in oil control the price as part of a grand conspiracy.  There is some truth to that...but that is something to be discussed a bit later.

The way most people invest in oil is by investing in the oil company.  This has no impact on the cost of oil one way or the other.  The oil companies profit as we described is not just from oil, but from all of the other products they sell as well.  However, there is a special group of investors, and they do affect the price of oil. They are called Futures Investors.

Futures investments mean that a purchaser agrees to pay a particular price for a product on a specific date.  This is an extremely important method of investing since it allows a company to plan for a rise, or drop in prices of a particular product. Futures investors come in two flavors...the Hedger..and the Speculator.

An example of a Hedger would be an airline.  They buy oil based on a set price.  This protects them from unexpected hikes in price that would affect the cost of their business. A Hedger intends on actually buying the oil.

A speculator is a totally different animal.  They use guesses (educated sometimes) to determine what the price of oil will be at a future date.  They have no intention of buying the actual product. This type of investing can be a roller coaster to doom, or a ride to great wealth.  And the determining factor in both is Market Sentiment.

The mere belief that oil prices will rise..or fall is enough to result in the immediate increase, or drop in prices. This is like letting your cat play the piano...he might hit some comforting notes...but he is just as likely to drive you nuts.

Although Futures Investors play a significant part in the price of oil world wide, there is of course OPEC. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is the largest organization that controls the price of oil. The list of member countries in OPEC reads like a Who's Who of unstable dictatorships, and theological opposites of the western world.  But there is a symbiotic relationship.  OPEC needs the money from the industrialized nations of the west to survive, and the west needs the OPEC to continue forward.  Or so they want you to believe.  As much as I would love to jump into that discussion right now...it will be saved for the next installment of this series.

Part III

Summary

You have learned the reason gasoline costs what it does.  The fact that nothing in this nation moves without it has been a fact since the invention of the internal combustion engine.  In the days before the train goods were moved by horses.  A horse could move twice its weight 30 miles per day.  So if you wanted a nice orange from Tampa, it would take 25 days to have it transported to North Carolina.  In that time..it would not be so nice. Prior to the invention of the train your food had to be locally grown. A train can move that orange in less than 12 hours.  Add refrigeration and you can get fresh orange juice year round.

Look around your home...everything there is tied to the price of oil.  For manufacturers of goods, energy is a prime consideration in what you pay for those goods.  I have watched those shows were people get "back to nature".  They brag about their independence from the normal world...while they cut wood with an iron axe.  That iron was mined using modern methods of digging.  It was smelted in large furnaces fired by coke (a coal derivative).  It was transported to the store by truck or train using petroleum products.  The people who mined the ore, smelted it, and eventually sold it..all used Oil to survive their day.  Try as you might...oil is a requirement.

The Cost imposed by Government equates to 56.4 cents on every gallon of gas sold in Florida (86.9 cents in California) compare that to the before tax profit of the Oil company of 50 cents and it is clear that the entity that profits the most is the Government. 

Most of the argument about Oil comes from those who dislike big oil companies (I call that jealousy) and the environmentalists (I normally write that environMentalists). As far as big oil goes...they profit no where as much as the Government..and they take all the risk.  In the pricing scheme the post Oil per barrel cost is peanuts compared to what the raw product costs.

The next installment in this series will deal with the issue of how we can become independent of outside influences in creating Energy Security.

Read Part I and Part II 

References
http://www.api.org/News-and-Media/docs/Testimony-Archive.aspx
http://www.oil-price.net/
http://www.floridastategasprices.com/Tax_Info.aspx
http://www.wisebread.com/cheat-sheet-retail-markup-on-common-items
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/determining-oil-prices.asp#axzz26zrfE0H0
http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/press_room/178.htm

Energy Security: Vital to a Nation's Independence

This is the second part of the Energy Security Series.
To read Part I Click Here

Part II

Measuring Energy Resources

When measuring Energy Resources there are some fundamental ideas you should know.  For many energy resources such as, Coal, Oil, and Gas there is a big difference between how much exists, and how much can be recovered economically, or within the confines of current regulations.

The economics of recovery is affected by not just the difficulty in recovering the resource, but also recovering it within the confines of current regulations. The basis of how much in recoverable resources is based on these two issues.

According to President Obama's administration the United States has 20 million barrels of "proven" oil reserves.(1)  When the President refers to "proven" reserves he is talking about resources that can be recovered given economic, technological, and regulatory constraints.(1) What does this mean?

When they say economic constraints this basically means the oil can be sold at a competitive price. Probably the most self-regulating portion of any business is the ability to sell the product at a profit.  For U.S. producers this means waiting for the price to be increased by OPEC before they can sell what they have.

Technological constraints are a bit different.  15 years ago much of the oil located in North Dakota were not technologically accessible.  However, in the 15 years since then drilling methods have made the oil not only technologically accessible, but economically accessible. Technology has opened all new sources of Oil alone and continues to do so.

Regulatory constraints is a government created obstacle.  It takes approximately 10 days to get a permit to drill for oil in North Dakota...it takes a couple of 14 days to get a permit to mine coal in Ohio...it take 27 days to get a permit in Colorado...it takes almost 307 days to get permits from the Federal Government..and in the case of coal..it may take even longer.  Some will probably argue that the Federal Government is more concerned with the environmental impact.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The States are very keenly aware of the impact that drilling or mining may have on their natural resources, and people's lives. Why does it take the Federal Government so long to approve a new well or mine, when the States can do so in at most a few weeks?  Maybe we can answer that question by the end of this series.

What about he President's opposition? The Republican party uses a USGS study that says there are 198 billion barrels of oil that is "Technically Recoverable".(1) Technically Recoverable includes not just oil we know is there, but also oil we think is there based on geological surveys and can be recovered by present technology.  The estimate does not take into account the economic feasibility, or regulatory constraints.

As you can see by the chart there are 763 barrels of undiscovered oil..and the United States has 26 percent of that oil. Is this an accurate picture of the oil resources for the United States.  No, it is not.

The USGS only takes into account traditional oil. You know the kind that squirts out of the top of an oil well.  However, it does not take into account the oil found in the tar sands of Canada, or the shale oil in North Dakota and Montana.

Using these numbers it is easy to see that President Obama is underestimating the amount of oil resources available. Though it may look like the Republicans are over estimating the amount available it may very well be likely they are underestimating that amount as well.

A much more detailed study that included all forms of Oil concludes that there is approximately 1442 Billion Barrels of oil in the United States alone. According to Energy for America if we include the 320 barrels of oil in Canada, and the 31.2 billion barrels of oil in Mexico we have a total of 1.7 trillion barrels of oil.  That is more oil than the world has drilled since the discovery of oil in Titusville Pennsylvania 150 years ago, or enough oil to power the United States for 250 years.(2)

Invariably someone will ask, "What about Alternative/Renewable Energy Sources?" What about it?  We certainly will not stop researching and testing alternative sources of energy, but on the other hand why would we cripple our economy now on untested alternatives?  If we can't find a viable alternative energy source in the next 250 years...maybe we should all find a cave now?

In the next installment of this series we will look at the Economic impact of Energy.




References Used.
(1)http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/04/how-much-oil-is-really-in-the-us/256186/
(2)http://www.energyforamerica.org/inventory/

Other Refrences
http://www.energyforamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Energy-InventoryFINAL.pdf
http://www.energyforamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Fact-Sheet-on-Inventory-Video-Logo1.pdf

Energy Security: Vital to a Nation's Independence.

Part 1

The Importance of Energy Security

For a nation to be able to exist it must be free to make its own decisions independent from influence from other nations.  There are three key elements that empower that type of freedom.  They are Economic Security, Energy Security, and National Security.  These three elements are connected to one another and a weakness in one, will cause a weakness in the entire system.

Security Pyramid 

Many will tell you that Economic Security is a very complex system that requires years of advanced study.  In reality, you are an expert (if you are not in debt up to your eyeballs).  If a nation owes other nations then it is not free to pick its own course.  Economic Security is closely tied to National Security.

National Security is defined by the Instruments of Power that a country can use to remain free.  These Instruments of Power are defined by the D.I.M.E theory.  The D.I.M.E theory can be quite complex but I will attempt to make it easy to understand.

Diplomacy is a very important part of National Security.  Diplomats negotiate with other nations on nearly everything.  Social issues, Import/Export treaties, Peace treaties, Military access, and mutual support agreements...and many more.  A nations leader may say one thing to the public, but his diplomats convey the real message to other nations, or in some cases try to head off something a politician said that was stupid.

Information about ourselves and other nations is key in National Security.  This information comes from many sources, with a huge portion being gathered, analyzed, and distributed by a nation's intelligence agencies.  The release of this information is sometimes carefully scripted to lead a nation's enemies in to believing one thing, when in fact something else is true.

Military power is the sword of National Security.  The size, arms, training, logistics, and demonstrated ability to project this power where needed greatly enhances a nations ability to project power and achieve National Security.

Economic power is the funding that can be wielded against an enemy, or even friends. It allows a nation the ability, should it need to, to act independent of any other nation.  It enhances diplomacy, helps gather information, and builds a strong Military.  Without it a nation will not last long.

Energy Security is a mainstay of modern nations.  Without energy industry does not create anything, products do not move to consumers, armies do not fight. A nation must have its own source of abundant energy to claim Energy Security.

The importance of Energy can not be understated, it is the vital to the survival of any nation. The following video is a presentation by Congressman Allen West, Colonel US Army (Ret). during the RNC as part of the NewtUniversity series.

Go to Part II

How to Make Pizza

K.Z in Maryland wrote to President Obama with a very sad story.  You see if the Payroll Tax Cuts were allowed to expire K.Z would not be able to have pizza night with his kids...or...have cable T.V.  OH THE HUMANITY!!

Don't despair K.Z....Let this Tea Party Activist show you how to survive the horror of losing 40 bucks.  First...lets make some Tea Party Pizza.

THE DOUGH.  There are two routes you can go here K.Z.  First you can buy the pizza dough already made, or you can make it yourself.  Here is a recipe for your own pizza dough...best of all there are no preservatives.  Get it here...I have tested this one..and it is yummmmmy.

THE SAUCE.  The sauce is actually optional...since you are a liberal you will be drawn to put tofu or some other nasty ingredients on top...I keep it simple...so tomato paste, garlic, basil and olive oil to taste. You can also splurge and buy a jar of ready made sauce....but it is full of yucky preservatives.

THE TOPPINGS.  Carrots are not good on a pizza, so you might want to try out some nice onions, green peppers, or my favorite Meat.  I'm just guessing here but I think your lack of meat may be causing you to not think clearly.

Now making your own pizza is a load of fun and a great way for the family to have an awesome Pizza Night...best of all it will cost under 12 bucks for a super extra large PIZZA.  You can take the time you would normally be spending with the cable remote and actually TALK with your children.  You will also be introducing them to the concept of being frugal, working toward a goal, making their own food.

As a Tea Party Activist I am not a fan of taxes..however..the payroll tax is supposed to go toward Social Security..a system that is already unsustainable...mainly due to fat lazy pigs like my Ex-sister-in-law.  Instead, to pay for your tax cut the Democrats want to raise the fees on new home sales.

The issue is not eating pizza...watching movies...or spending time with your family.  The issue is creating a budget that forces our government to live within its means....something you might be interested in trying. I see many people every week that make far less than you or I and they have a great time with their kids doing some crazy things like fishing, playing board or card games, or just talking.  I seriously do not think your problem is not having another 40 bucks in your pay check...but you might be a tad bit lazy.   If you would like to see how bad things could be check out any of the references to the Great Depression...or heaven forbid the recessions of the 60's.

Good luck K.Z.  you are raising some government dependent children...I feel for you.

The Unexplained Mystery of Brown Mountain.

Brown Mountain has always been a place of mystery.  The local native tribes consider the mountain a sacred place.  They tell stories about how in ancient times there had been a great battle between two tribes.  At the end of the battle many braves had been killed, and how the Indian Maidens had set out in the darkness with torches to try and find their braves.  Since that time mysterious lights have  appeared on certain nights and weave their way to the top of the mountain.

By the mid 1700's the old Indian trails had become a rough dirt track that led from the small settlements in the Western North Carolina mountain's to the more civilized areas near the coast. The journey would take several weeks and was filled with danger.  The first of which was crossing Brown Mountain.

Sam was driving his team of mules up Brown Mountain.  The mules pulled the wagon slowly, but deliberately up the Mountain side.  The wagon was laden with large barrels of apples and other goods that he and his family spent all summer preparing.  He looked forward to being Moses to sell them in the local villages, and picking up supplies that would keep him and his extended family fed though the winter.  With him was Moses, one of his slaves.  Moses and Sam were more than just Slave and Master, they were friends.  Both of them were 50 years old..an old age by mountain standards.  Although they had made this trip many times, this trip was different.  They would try to cross the mountain at night.

Even in the best of weather the trail over Brown Mountain was dangerous, but with the clouds gathering near the summit, the thought of descending the mountain's rain soaked roads in the dark was not something Sam looked forward to. He figured that if pushed through the night he might beat the storm.  If he waited it might be days before he could cross the mountain.

Around midnight the team reached the summit.  Clouds were swirling close overhead, and as lightning stabbed at the darkness a mist began to settle on the trail below them.  Sam and Moses gently began to guide the team down the trail their way lit by torches and the lightning.  As they descended they had to look hard to see the edge of the trail in the darkness. Though the lightning did provide some light the mist was growing thicker, and the trail was becoming slick with mud as a light rain began to fall.

It is said that when catastrophe hits..time seems to slow down..this was certainly the case for Sam and Moses.  The rear wheel of the wagon had slipped ever so slightly off the trail..the mules feeling the weight of the wagon pulling them backwards panicked and began clawing at the trail to gain a foot hold.  For the slightest of moments it appeared the mules would win..then the wagon tumbled off the trail.

Moses was thrown clear of the wagon in those first moments..and he watched as the wagon careened tail first off the trail dragging the terrified mules..and his master with it.  Sam clung to the buckboard and tried to apply the brake with no effect.  He watched as the mules were slammed against trees as the wagon towed them down the mountain side.

The mules were the first casualties as they were dashed against rocks and trees..miraculously the wagon had missed the first dozen obstacles before finally slamming into a tree throwing Sam down the side of the mountain. Sam slid for what seemed an eternity before coming to rest hard against a rock.

Moses found himself just a few feet off the trail.  At first he found breathing very painful..but in a few moments that passed and he was able to stand.  He walked up to the trail and began looking for some sign of the wagon. Through the mist, as the lightning flashed, he could see a swath of mule and wagon parts littering the slope down the mountain.

Sam slowly opened his eyes..his back was the first thing he noticed..because it felt like someone had lit a fire there..the pain was excruciating.  He tried to move, but couldn't. All he could see at first was the mist and from time to time the lightning revealed that he was under a very large oak tree. He tried to call out, but the pain was too great, and he found himself struggling to remain conscious.

Moses began picking his way down the debris filled slope.  The mist was growing thicker, and the rain was picking up a bit.  He was able to find a torch that had been on the wagon.  Using a flint he kept for his rifle he lit the torch and used it to aid him as he began searching for Sam.

Sam was not sure how long he had been lying there, he figured he had passed out for some time, since the mist was thicker than before, and the rain had lightened up some.  He tested his back and found that it no longer hurt.  This was good since he had to get up and start trying to find Moses. He rose slowly and began looking around him.  He looked first up..then down the slope.  He knew there was no way he could climb the slope, his best bet was to find the trail and follow it back up to where the accident all started.  When the lightning flashed he could see the trail just a few yards below him.  He began making his way down to the trail.

Moses had gone 50 yards or so, half sliding, half falling down the slope.  Every few yards he would see parts of the mules and wagon intermingled with mud, roots, and trees. He began to call out for Sam, and slowly waved his torch in hopes of catching Sam's attention. He noticed that the mist was getting thicker..but at least the rain had slackened.

Sam had made it to the trail.  He was surprised to find that it was not as slick as he thought it should be. He also was surprised to find that after such a terrible fall he was in no pain at all.  He hoped that Moses had also been so lucky. That is when he saw it.  Just ahead in the mist something was glowing and slowly waving back and forth.  It looked like a torch. It was a bit too far to call out, so he quickened his pace to try and catch up to it.

Moses continued down the slope, waving his torch side to side.  He began coming upon larger parts of the wagon.  Their cargo was broken open along the slope.  He realized that he had been lucky to have been thrown free of the wagon when he did.  He could not imagine that his master had survived, but he held out hope.  That is when he saw it...a faint glow along the trail just below him.  Could it be Sam?  He quickened his pace to try and catch up.

Sam was catching up to the light.  That is when he saw there was another light just ahead of the one he was closing in on.  Could it be that there were others on the trail tonight?  Something caught his attention and he turned and looked down the trail.  What he saw sent a chill up his spine.

The mist had grown so thick that Moses's torch had taken on an unearthly glow.  Much like the light he saw on the trail.  As he got closer something didn't seem right about the light. It did not move like it was being carried..it sort of floated. Moses made it to the trail and was just a few yards from the light, that is when he realized he was not alone.

Sam stood frozen as the first Indian Maiden passed. The glow of her torch illuminated her face, the face was that of extreme sorrow as she looked left and right..then slowly passed by him without a word.  The trail was filled with a long line of glowing torches, each one carried by an Indian Maiden mourning her lost brave.

Moses stood and watched as each solemn figure passed by him.  Each with tears streaming silently down their faces.  Each looked right though him, searching for their lost loved one, existing in that place between here and the here-after.

Sam felt a force urging him to walk up the trail, back to the crest where everything had gone so horribly wrong. The mist was growing thicker as he climbed, but he felt no pain as he climbed that mountain in search of Moses.

Moses joined the procession of Maidens as they moved up the mountain, he had no fear of these ghostly creatures as he climbed the mountain in search of his master.

It is said that today, when the mist forms in the valley and begins to enshroud Brown Mountain, the souls of the searchers can be seen proceeding up the mountain in search of their loved ones.  Scientists have said that it is an optical illusion caused by the headlights of cars and trucks on the nearby highway, but that does not explain the first recorded sighting of the lights in 1765 by a German surveyor of the area.

There are a great many things on this Earth that do not have explanations..this is one of them.

THE SACRED COW

When I was young and dumb…some will say the dumb part has not changed…a friend of mine asked me for help.  He was married and had two kids…he explained that he had run short for money to buy food.  I was single and relatively speaking…rich.  Being a super nice guy I lent him $100 to buy food for his family.  This is what friends do for one another. 

About a month later he approached me again.  This time the tire on his car had blown out and he needed some money to buy a replacement.  I told him that I had some money to loan him…but I would need it back since I was saving to go on leave.  He promised that he would repay me.  I loaned him $100 dollars.  He was so happy he invited me to his house for a home cooked meal…I never pass up a home cooked meal.

He lived in the housing area on base.  It was a very small apartment…part of a duplex.  The furniture was used…his kids were clean…and their clothes were very nice.  The apartment was clean…his furniture was nice, but I could tell it came from a thrift store. 

After dinner we sat down to watch some movies on cable, and talk.  He began to complain about how much the cable company charged for their service.  He told me that he was always running behind, but he couldn’t let them disconnect him…his family could not live without cable.  Most of us have our Sacred Cow…for him it was cable.

A Sacred Cow is something you will do whatever it takes to keep.  It is not to be touched by anyone for any reason.  The basics of life will even be sacrificed for the Sacred Cow. I could tell that if I even suggested that maybe he should drop the cable service until his finances were in better shape he would have fought me tooth and nail.  His Sacred Cow was a necessity to him.

As our National Debt continues to climb our nation is faced with making some tough decisions.  We have many Sacred Cows which many are ready to defend at all costs. In fact, as our Sacred Cow becomes more expensive we will do what it takes to keep it.

Politicians…like the rest of us realize that in order to get our debt under control…the Sacred Cows need to be modified…reduced…maybe even eliminated.  That truth does not seem to matter.  At the mere mention of touching one of these Sacred Cows…people will pull out all manner of excuses.  They invoke the image of Granny in a cold house…with no food.  They raise the Flag over the wounded Veteran.  Like my friend…even the suggestion of reducing the amount spent on a Sacred Cow will result in the gnashing of teeth…anger…even to the point of violence. 

People will cackle like hens and runabout like brain damaged raccoons even if someone thinks out loud about touching their Sacred Cow.  Granted the greatest among these are Politicians…who are prone to making grandiose claims….or party partisans who make fools of themselves in defense of obviously failed social experiments. The Sacred Cow must be preserved! 

Our nation can no longer afford the luxury of providing food, shelter, and clothing to the children of illegal foreign nationals...at the expense of feeding our elderly, or caring for our wounded Vets.  We can no longer afford to support educational experiments at the expense of our students and teachers.  We can no longer afford to subsidize other nations at the expense of our own.

I do not call of wanton cutting of any program…however…every program is full of waste…each and every Sacred Cow must get trimmed.  Unlike a Hindu Barbecue…Cow must be on the menu.

I challenge everyone to look at your own Sacred Cow and seriously decide…what fat can be trimmed to make it better for us all.

THE UNCERTAINTY TAX

Submit for your approval…you are sitting on your front porch sipping on tea when you see a truck pass by…the truck is spewing smoke..and generally stinking up the neighborhood.  You head to your garage and start working on making fuels cleaner.

You invest all of your extra money…all of your free time…and after years of hard work design the perfect system.  Your system uses coal…but unlike other systems you can capture almost all of the CO2 released in the process of creating electricity from coal.

You find the perfect site…you and other investors spend millions in legal fees, engineering plans, and environmental studies…the Environmental Protection Agency issues you a permit to build your plant. Things are looking good.

You have secured the financing, bought the property, and have all the other permits needed to build your plant.  Then just as you finish the ground breaking ceremony…a letter arrives from the EPA revoking your permit.

You are out all of your money…and time that can never be recovered…you have no recourse.

The EPA did that to the Spruce Number 1 Coal Mine in West Virginia.  In an unprecedented move it revoked a permit. This means that no company that has followed the rules can have any certainty that the permit means anything.

Top Enviro-Mentalist

How does this affect you and me?  Well first off companies that require approval to build a factory, or plant can not be sure that the permits it has attained will have a hard time finding financing.  Who would issue a loan, or invest in a project that may…at any moment be cancelled? This does not just affect the investors in the project, but all of the sub-contractors, lending institutions, local, and state Governments.

For those of you that have driven through Appalachia, you are aware of the tough lives those people live.  Since the most recent popular fad is the religion of Human Caused Global Warming…a pseudo science…based in myth and lies…the EPA is now poised to use regulatory means to enforce political belief.  For Appalachia it cost them 250 jobs on this one project alone.  For the region it has cost $250 million in direct investment into the area.

Of course all of this holds to President Obama’s promise to force energy prices to skyrocket.  Who does that affect most of all?  The unemployed poor..who of course depend on our tax dollars to pay their electric bills…the working poor..who must decide between food and clothing or keeping the lights on.  Of course it also impacts companies who must charge more for goods and services to pay to keep the conveyors running.

The EPA is not about protecting the environment…it is about protecting and enforcing political dogma based on a unfounded theories…extending the reach of the Federal Government into state, and local Governments, and destroying the ability of business to innovate in a way that promotes a cleaner environment.

In any discourse concerning the economy…this type of roadblock must be removed.  Returning the EPA to its original mandate is not enough.  The EPA must be completely reengineered to an agency that works on facts…not political hype.

Reference: Wall Street Journal

MY MAILMAN IS OVERPAID

MY MAILMAN IS OVERPAID!!

Everyday my fat lazy Mailman, referred to by some as a postal worker…a term that implies he works…does his best to not do his job.  If it is possible he will fold, spindle, and mutilate anything that does not easily fit in a mail box.  When the package is too big to be furiously stuffed into my mailbox he loves to pound…and I do mean pound…on my door.  Then with a sneer he says, “You have another oversized package”.  I guess maybe by using the U.S. Postal Service to get my packages I am in some way violating his personal rules on walking.

When I first saw him he reminded me of Santa Claus…Gray hair, beard…basically the shape of a bowling ball with feet…and stubby little arms.  Now he looks more like a very angry elf…Ugg…he is way over paid.

When President Obama said he was freezing Federal Civilian Pay I thought about fatso…serves his lazy bones right too.  But then…I wondered…Why was the Obama so quick to stick it to the Federal Worker…that is so unlike him.  Was he saying they are over paid?

The Republicans have been saying that for a long time..and it has nearly become one of those urban truths.  Government workers are massively overpaid.

Just B Askin posted here that that is not true….So if they are not overpaid what is the truth?  I set off to do some digging….and this is what I have found.

I began at a place that many people trust…Fact Check.org.  Here is what they had to say:

• Senator-elect Rand Paul of Kentucky, for example, said recently: “The average federal employee makes $120,000 a year. The average private employee makes $60,000 a year." This has become a GOP talking point and the basis for the House Republicans’ call for a hiring freeze in the "Pledge to America." But it’s misleading.

• The analysis is based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and crudely done by dividing total compensation (salary and benefits) by the number of current federal civilian employees. Comparing such averages is quite misleading, for two reasons:

     o First, BEA says the figure is inflated by including compensation that is actually paid to benefit retirees, not just for current workers. The figure is at least several thousand dollars too high, by our calculations.

     o Second, the average federal civilian worker is better educated, more experienced and more likely to have management or professional responsibilities than the average private worker.

Do I think Rand Paul was wrong?  Yes…How wrong is he…I do not know.  I will accept, for now, the idea he is several thousand dollars too high…I will go so far as to say he is 10k to high…that would mean that the average Fed Employee is paid 110k..versus the average civilian worker being paid…for giggles…70k.  That is still a difference of 40k.

Now they throw in this crazy notion of Fed workers being better educated and experienced.  That is a very dubious claim.  For instance, to become a Federal Worker you take a Civil Service exam…Your score goes a long way to getting hired by the feds…But wait…before being hired there are many “perks” that can be added to get on with the Feds…these perks to your points include ethnicity, gender, military service, and disability.  So much for equal employment opportunity.

Now lets look at an example.  Jane and Jack apply for a job with the U.S. Postal Service.  Jane has worked for Fedex for 5 years…she is white…and under 30 years old.  Jack is fresh out of the military…He has a 10 percent disability connected with his military service…Jack is a Pacific Islander.

The first thing that happens is they are graded by a computer…Jack and Jane both score a 100 on the Civil Service Exam.  However, Jack gets 10 point for his service..and another 20 points for his disability.  Jack gets to move on to an interview…Jane doesn’t.

The point here is not that Jack does not deserve a boost up…the point is that the average Federal worker is not necessarily better qualified.  A federal worker is not graded on the profit they bring to the company…in fact…who knows how they grade them?

Factcheck.org goes on to repeat themselves to the point of making me sick. In fact they say “We calculate…” but never say how they calculate their numbers.  Factcheck.org should be called Fatchance.org….much like my Mailman.

So, what is the real truth?  We will probably never know.  I do know this…we have a deficit that is more money than I can imagine.  While private employment drops, Federal Employment has expanded.  If Federal workers are so darn good…they can do what I do…get a job that pays more money in the private sector…where you are expected to make a profit…not just spend money.

If you would like to know more about this, check out the article at: Are Federal Workers Overpaid

Want to know more about fatcheck.org?  Check out the “impartial” panel. Progressives are us.

I am now trying to figure out how to order a 200lb anvil..and have it delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.  Hope Santa enjoys lugging that puppy.

My Devil Dog!!

Today I received some of the greatest news since...well...since my son was born.  He is now a Devil Dog! I am so proud of him it is hard not to overdue this report without seeming like a prejudice father.  But I am!. For those of you who have never had the privilege and honor to serve this nation let me explain what happens when someone joins the U.S. Military Service.

First thing is making the right choice for you.  Not all services are created equal..each has its own challenges..each has its own pros and cons.  As the years have progressed our nations military has gone from being separate services to a combined fighting system.  The lines of communication between them has gone from a blurry fat line...to a much sharper fine line..one that has made our military the greatest fighting force on this planet.

I myself chose the Air Force...most of my family were either Navy or Marines...However, my Father served in the AF during the Korean war...and my uncle started out as a Marine..then transferred to the AF and made a career of it. However, when the time came I made my choice based on what I wanted to do..and being a cop is what I wanted to do.

My son has always wanted to do something special with his life...and this step..is the first step toward that goal.  His choice of service is one that I have always been in awe of.

The second step is Qualifying for the job.  It is not an easy thing to do.  In today's military you must be more than just strong...you must be smart.  Idiots need not apply.  The position he chose is as a Special Communications Signals Collector Operator.  Google it.


Most civilians see a person in uniform at parades...or in a recruiters office.  It is easy to forget that the little girl..or office person you are looking at is also a trained combat weapon.  They not only do paperwork..but are trained to fight.  You won't see that in your local bank.


The third step is Basic Training.  Basic Training is a test of your will as well as your body.  You are trained to respond as part of a team...you are trained to be able to operate at full speed while under trying circumstances.  This is something that lasts a life time. To complete basic is an accomplishment that is something to be proud of.


The fourth step is completing combat training.  Everyone in our military is trained to fight..hence the term U.S. Armed Forces.  Learning the complexity of moving as a team...utilizing the correct methods of engagement..knowing your weapons inside and out.  I guess this is why Homeland security worries about our veterans.


The fifth step is learning your job.  In my son's case...this will be pretty technical stuff.  In fact, with all military specialties it is learning new and exciting things..knowing how your specialty enhances the war fighting capabilities of the greatest Military Force on Earth.


Finally he will deploy with his unit...he will continue a learning process that will last a life time.


It is hard to say when a boy becomes a man...but on this day...I learned that my little boy is a full fledge Man..with the rights and responsibility that comes with the title.


Congrats to you buddy...Welcome to the tribe of Veterans...you are now a Devil Dog!!


Out of respect for him I will not tell you which one is him...he and I are not that keen on photos...but I will say he is the good looking one.


His video is here: Charlie Company

The Space Race.

Memories can be fuzzy things.  Especially, when the event happened so long ago.  There are those certain things that are as clear as the day they happened.  I have tracked my early memories based on the events of history.  One of these early memories took place when I was 4 years old.

It is significant because I shared that moment with my Dad. His excitement was a key to the memory..the event added to it.  A man, Alan B. Shepard, was about to be launched into space.  I remember the blurry image on a small black and white T.V.  I was bitten by the space bug.

I didn't just watch it on television, I played with it in the backyard.  My Dad helped me launch our first rocket.  It was a baking soda and vinegar rocket. I marveled as it buzzed to untold heights.  In fact, it probably only flew 20 feet, but it was amazing.

I remember listening to the beeps and tweets of passing satellites on a radio my Dad had built. I had no idea what it was saying, I just knew it was talking to me from space.  I watched every flight of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions.  I hung on every update, and imagined myself up there with them.

My Dad had a Ford Ltd Station Wagon. The one with the flip up seat in the back.  I would climb into that seat and imagine I was docking to the Lunar Excursion Module, as my Dad hooked up the old Cox tent camper.

I drank Tang because that is what Astronauts drank. I ate those disgusting breakfast sticks, because that is what Astronauts ate.

When I got older my Dad, Brother, and I would build better models using solid fuel engines.  These rockets would take off quickly and fly as high as a few thousand feet.  We worked at making our recovery systems better by cutting holes in the parachutes. We built our own launch pads with plywood, wire coat hangers, and 6 volt flashlight batteries. Each of us would build our own rockets then fire them as a family.

There were four rockets that I was most proud of.  The first was my attempt at multi stage rockets...the Black Widow was a two stage rocket that could reach 2000 feet.  It took me several attempts to get the second stage to light correctly...when it finally did it was attacked by a crow and destroyed during the recovery stage.

The second was a glider recovered rocket.  I painted it a super ugly dark blue.  During its maiden flight it disintegrated shortly after clearing the launch pad...too much engine...not enough rocket was to blame.  After some technical adjustments it flew well, sadly during recovery it landed high in an elm tree.  The tree, with the help of the wind destroyed it beyond recognition.

The third was the Eggscrambler. It had a clear payload area that could take and egg or other small creatures for a flight.  Its also introduced multiple engines in a single stage.  The trick was getting all three engines to fire at the same time.  We tried connecting them in parallel and in series circuits...upping the power to a 12 volt car battery.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.  As you might imagine we were happy when it worked, often amazed at the outcome when it didn't.

The fourth was the greatest challenge of all.  The Saturn V. This was a three foot tall, multi-engine, multi-stage rocket.  The First Stage consisted of 5 engines and the second stage consisted of 3 engines.  The rocket was a very detailed model, and because it was so heavy would only reach just a few hundred feet.

It took my Dad, Brother, and I weeks to complete the model.  Many of our early launch attempts were complete failures with only 1 or 2 of the engines lighting. We had tried launching that rocket so many times, that my brother and I never expected it to fly.

One day my Dad said he had an idea to get it off the ground.  Unfortunately, I had a very bad cold and my Mom would not allow me outside.  So I watched as my Dad set the rocket up in the field across the road.  We always followed the same launch procedure.

10.  Check to see that there are no low flying aircraft in the area.
9. Check the to insure that all batteries are connected and working.
8. Check the wind to make sure you are not down range of the rocket when it clears the guide wire.
7. Check for people down range.
6. Check for birds
5. Check again for aircraft.
4.
3.
2. Energize the batteries.
1. Ignite the engines.

The engines lit..all of them..and the white smoke they generated quickly became a huge cloud.  The rocket began to move!

At first it was very slow..too slow from what I could tell.  It cleared the guide wire and hovered for a moment..then...the second stage ignited..just a bit early. The shock of the second stage igniting blew the the recovery system out and the parachutes deployed.

For the next few seconds my Dad and that rocket were locked in a death dance.  It chasing him..and in the confusion...him chasing it. When it was all done, the second stage had suffered severe damage.  The rocket sat as a nice looking charred model for a few months, before being relegated to the bone yard.

When I was about 12 or so we took the trip of a lifetime..for me anyway.  My uncle was stationed at MacDill  Air Force Base...and we were going to take a trip to visit him. Along the way we visited my other Uncle who worked at Warner Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia.  That is where I saw my first C-130.  An aircraft I would become familiar with in another post.

The trip to Florida would not be wasted..we saw St. Augustine, Daytona, and my nirvana...Kennedy Space Center.  I know I must have walked around with my mouth agape...seeing the Saturn V transporter, the building where everything was put together, the history, and the sadness of the pad in which Grissom, White, and Chaffe died. We would later visit Disney Land, but I barely remember that.  Kennedy Space Center...how could you beat that?

I have followed every space mission since I was a child...As an Adult stationed at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico I was fascinated by the stories that a physicist there told me about his contribution to space flight.  Later, after receiving my degree in computers, one of my first customers was a classmate of the Rocket Boys in West Virginia.  He had to force me to take his money.  His stories were always fascinating.

The space program has contributed untold advancements in engineering, medicine, energy, and management.  I am very saddened at the possible loss of this marvelous addition to the education of America. I am hopeful that this is but a brief pause. Our space program is a National Treasure that must be preserved.

I would like to say thanks to Space Coast Conservative[dot]com for inspiring me to tell this story.

Teufel Hunden

Teufel Hunden

By

CaptBlackEagle

            With Veteran’s Day fast approaching I have always felt that something should be said for those that came before us.  In our modern world we often get bogged down with the politics of war and fail to remember the sacrifice, dedication, and patriotism expressed by those who go to war on our behalf.  The right and wrong of a war can be argued.  But the shear bravery, audacity, creativity, and selflessness of those who fight reflects honor on our country, and sends a message to our foes.  Don’t Tread on us.

          This story is the story of the United States Marine Corps.

            The U.S. 2^nd and 3^rd Divisions had been dispatched at the request of the French, by General John “Black Jack” Pershing to defend the area around the city of Chateau-Thierry. The divisions fell under command of the French XXI Corps.  This meant that although the American divisions were part of the American Expeditionary Force, they would receive and follow the orders of the French.

            The need for these units was based on a thrust by the German Army Group Crown Prince toward Paris.  The German Army Group had dispatched the 237^th Division, 10^thDivision and later reinforcements from the 197^th, 87^th, and 28^th Divisions to take and occupy the Chateau-Thierry area.

On the first of June 1918, Marine Captain Lloyd Williams began to dig in along with the rest of second division near the town of Lucy-le-Bocage.  When advised to withdraw he said, “Retreat Hell, we just got here!”   The whole move had been a mess, given the emergency of moving a whole division to counter the German thrust.  However, the Marines quickly turned disorder into order.  Soon they were demonstrating to the Germans the damage American marksmanship can provide. 

On the 2^nd and 3^rd of June the German 237^th Division Occupied Belleau Wood.

On the 4^th the Germans launch an attack at a place called Les Mares Farm.  The 2^ndBattalion, 5^th Marines defend the farm.  The Germans ran head long into well-prepared positions.  Marine machinegun, and artillery tear into the assault and turn it back.  This is the closest the Germans will ever get to Paris, just 50 miles away.

On the 5^th the French commander orders the 2^nd Division to recapture Belleau Wood.  The 4^th Marine Brigade is tasked to recapture the wood.  According to the French the Germans only occupy a small corner of the wood.

On the 6^th of June the Marines launch their attacks.  The first attack comes at 0500 to capture hill 142.  With this hill the Marines can support the main attack on the wood. Despite some tense moments this attack is successful.

At 1700 hours the 5^th and 6^th Marine Regiments frontally assault the wood.  To get there they must cross a wheat field.  The wheat field is well covered by German machineguns.  Gunnery Sgt Dan Daly yells, “come on you son of a bitches, you want to live forever?”  The attack is a near disaster.

The 3^rd Battalion 5^th Marines are decimated and the 3^rd Battalion 6^th Marines barely make it into the woods.  In addition to the attack on the wood, the 4^th Brigade was ordered to take a railroad station just outside of the town of Bouresches.  The station is heavily defended and the attack fails.  The action on this day results in the most casualties suffered by the Marines in a single day, 1087 men.

From the 7^th to the 15^th of June the Marines engage in the back and forth of trench warfare.  They endure bombardment and gas attacks.

On The 16th of June the 3rd Divisions Army units relive the Marines.

On the 22^nd of June the Marines reenter the battle relieving the Army units.  The French continue to order the woods be taken.

On the 23^rd of June the Marines launch an assault that makes very little headway, but results in terrible casualties. Two hundred ambulances are needed to remove the wounded.

On the 25^th of June the French finally bring in enough guns to reduce the woods to firewood.  After a 14-hour bombardment the Marines capture the wood.

On the 26^th of June Major Maurice Shearer sends the signal “Woods now entirely-U.S. Marine Corps.”

Legend has it that a German dispatch to headquarters described the newly arrived American forces as fighting like “Tuefel Hunden” or “Hounds from Hell.”  This is the origin of the term “Devil Dogs”, a common term of endearment and honor for the Marines.

The result of the action at Belleau Wood demonstrated to the Germans that the Americans were here to fight.  The overall action resulted in the German advance being stopped.

Total casualties 9,777

Medal of Honor awards: Gunnery Sgt E.A. Janson, Lt. JG. Weedon Osborne (a street in Bouresches is named for him), Lt. Orlando Perry, and Gunnery Sgt. F. Stockham.

Excerpt of a Citation from the French Government.

“During these operations [of early June], thanks to the brilliant courage, vigour, dash, and tenacity of its men, who refused to be disheartened by fatigue or losses; thanks to the activity and energy of the officers, and thanks to the personal action of Brig. Gen. Harbord, the efforts of the brigade were crowned with success, realizing after twelve days of incessant struggle an important advance over the most difficult of terrain and the capture of two support points of the highest importance, Bouresches village and the fortified wood of Belleau.”

In French, Belleau Wood is Bois de Belleau.  At the end of the battle the French renamed it to “Bois de la Brigade de Marine.”

Salute to the “Devil Dogs.”

How I founded the Tea Party

INTRODUCTION

IT is a statement I have made many times,  and it does raises an eyebrow or two.  In most cases, I have had the luxury of discussing this face to face.  Answering questions that arise in the course of a conversation. It is within this discourse that I have been able to explain that statement.

Anyone that has been a part of this movement will recognize the truth. It is the difference between those in the movement, and those who oppose our voice that require greater explanation.

This article is for them.
Make sure you watch the Video at the end of this article.

MY POLITICAL PAST

When all the laughter dies in sorrow 

And the tears have risen to a flood 

When all the wars have found a cause 

In human wisdom and blood 

Do you think they'll cry in sadness 

Do you think the eye will blink 

Do you think they'll curse the madness 

Do you think they'll even think 

When all the great galactic systems 

Sigh to a frozen halt in space 

Do you think there will be some remnant 

Of beauty in the human race 

Do you think there will be a vestige 

Or a sniffle or a cosmic tear 

Do you think a greater thinking thing 

Will give a damn that man was here

Kendrew Lascelles

Prior to founding the Tea Party my political life consisted of showing up to vote...voting a straight Republican Ticket...and returning home with the feeling that I had accomplished my civic responsibility.  I was politically in a dark, warm, and safe place.  

Oh, I discussed politics, but only to keep someone from boring me into non-existence with their pictures of children, dogs, or cars.  My favorite discussion surrounded religion, or what if military situations.  That all ended on a dark and stormy night in Montana.

As a young Security Specialist one of the jobs we had was to baby sit nuclear missile sites.  We would go out as a pair and sit all night making sure no one tried to steal the beast.  On this particular night I was paired with a guy who was, for lack of a better word, out there. Being on the edge of out there myself...I liked him.  He was entertaining. 

In our previous assignments together we would discuss what if scenarios...such as...what if we were notified that the missiles quietly sitting underground were about to be launched...what would you do?  My first inclination would have been to drive as fast as I could...not with the hope of avoiding disintegration...but to enjoy the exhilaration of being propelled to the afterlife in an old dodge truck.

On this particular night things were ugly from the start.  It was raining as hard as I have ever seen in Montana. The night was so dark that just finding the road was difficult, but that is the mundane danger we must face to keep America safe.  As we passed the bridge that passed over Belt creek we were notified that it was now closed to traffic.  As we began to climb into the Little Belt Mountains we were told time and time again that the bridge we had just crossed was closed to traffic.  At one point we came upon a bridge with water flowing over it...we were told.."let us know when you are over"...we did...they closed it.

Our target was the Alpha-5 Minuteman Missile silo.  The alarm system...called the Banjo...because it looked like a green banjo...was not working.  They never worked in the rain, snow, or for that matter in perfectly clear weather.  We made it to the site and prepared for what would hopefully be just a long night.   

Alpha 5 had a history.  It was what JFK called his "Ace in the Hole".  Located high in the mountains and surrounded by very nasty looking peaks on 3 sides.  It was a pilot option site...meaning the pilot of our helicopter support unit could decide to attempt a landing or not...no questions asked.  It was also haunted.  What would scare me this night was not ghosts.

The rain had stopped, and after doing a walk around of the site my partner started with "So, let me pose this question...", he always started the ball rolling this way.."What if our commander ordered us to take part in enforcing martial law on a town?" 

Easy question....I would follow the orders.  My partner began adding additional what ifs..and I had the answer...until he hit the scary one.

"What if those orders violate the Constitution?", he asked.

When I graduated from High School, what I knew about the Constitution went like this....Some guy wrote the Magna Carta...then we went to war for our independence...Ben Franklin helped some other guy write the Constitution...We won the war...and McDonalds invented the hamburger.  Armed with all that Constitutional knowledge I could get a Big Mac..and that was about it.

It bothered me that I could end up not only involved in hurting innocent people, but I could end up  as the party to an overthrow of the country.  We discussed this for the next few days...that is how long it took them to find a pilot.  That rainstorm had created what is called a "100 year flood".  There would be no driving out for a long time...and we were running out of food. 

That was a turning point for me.  I decided that I needed to keep up on current events, and learn as much as I could about our Constitution.  From that day, till I retired from the military I took every course on U.S. History that I could.  I read many books that were dedicated to the U.S. Constitution.  However, I still remained naive' about our Government.

I believed that my representatives, especially the ones I voted for, were looking out for the country.  A feeling that I shared with millions of other Americans.

MY AWAKENING

After I retired I decided to go back to school full time, of course I still had to work full time, but civilian work was a snap compared to the job I did in the military.  My major was in Computer Science, but I just couldn't stay away from history courses. When I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, I had accumulated enough credits between the courses I took while in the Military to get a History degree. 

The aftermath of 9/11 was my first twinge that something was not right.  The Patriot Act was dancing all over civil liberties in order to purchase a false sense of security.  Ben Franklin said, 

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

I believe...Liberty first...safety second.  There is nothing safe about being a Nation of Free people.  I began to question the rationale of our Government, especially my representatives.  Things began to click...war with Al Qaeda...makes sense....war with Iraq...why...WMD's...I can buy that they had them at one time...Congress agrees...good with me....what  no WMD's...okay...who broke the checks and balances...nothing but finger pointing...the math was not making much sense.

I began discussing this...sometimes heatedly...with my friends.  Educated people with whom we could discuss our differences without shooting one another. Then the bottom fell out of the Housing market...then the bottom fell out of everything.  

Suddenly everyone from the President, to Congress, heck..to the School Board became math stupid.  They began suggesting that I pay for someone else's bills?  I became angry..and as the hulk would say...you won't like me when I'm mad. 

Everyone I spoke with were feeling the same way...We had to do something!!  Discussions between my friends began speeding up...the tipping point came in the debates of the 2008 Presidential Elections.  We now had the choice between two candidates that differed very little from one another. They both suggested that the Tax Payer, us, absorb the poor business and personal decisions of others.  

After the Inauguration of President Obama I still thought that there may be some hope of a Fiscally responsible government...that was not to be...he began spending money like a fat kid in a candy store...the only difference was, he wanted the other customers to pay for it.

I began to increase my network of like minded people..then along came Rick Santelli...Calling him a modern day Patrick Henry may be pushing it...but he was at the least a modern day Samuel Adams.  Like millions of Americans I began looking for someone to join with...to help stop this madness.  

Along with three other people we organized the first Tea Party in Great Falls, Montana...we were joined by about 500 other founders and expressed our disgust at the way our Government had been abusing the privilege of representing us. We were joined by ten's of thousands of like minded founders.  In the months that followed we had meetings established national organizations, raised money.  We managed to rouse Millions of soccer moms, stay at home dad's, Sunday School teachers, Professors, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islanders, Fat, Skinny, Old, and young.  Working from the bottom up we have created a Total Quality Management Masterpiece.  All with simple goals...restore Fiscal Responsiblity, Limited Government, and Free Markets...the things that have made this country the greatest country of all time.  We are not better than everyone else...WE ARE EVERYONE ELSE.

SUMMARY

In the beginning they made fun of us...called us Tea Baggers...a rabble.  I think the British said that...just a rabble. Now the power elite are standing toe to toe with Soccer Moms...Farmers...and plumbers....just a rabble...but a dedicated, stubborn, and right rabble. Even better...they are becoming an extremely well educated rabble.  The message we send is to forget party, and remember your responsibility to US....the WE in WE the People.

The following video is dedicated to the tens millions of Tea Party Founders!

THE STORY BEHIND THE VIDEO

The Whole World is Watching.

The Video is in 5 Acts, that describe my journey to founding the Tea Party Movement.  Yes you heard me right. I founded the Tea Parties, no need to thank me.

Act 1 is a poem read by Robert Lamm of the band Chicago.  The title of the poem is “When All the Laughter Dies in Sorrow”, by Kendrew Lascelles.  Mr. Lascelles is best know for his poem The Box, which was performed by John Denver on his album “Poems and Prayers and Promises”


The symbolism here is that the earth is being watched by a "Greater Thinking Thing".

When All the Laughter Dies in Sorrow, suggests that the Human Race is being observed by some “Greater Thinking Thing” and our activities though important to humans, has little effect on this “Greater Thinking Thing”. 

In the last line the poet asks the question “Do you think that a greater thinking thing, will give a damn that man was here”?

Act 2. Is a short description of my journey to understanding my political beliefs and the documents that created our nation.  The song is “Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten”, by Arvo Parte.  Mr. Parte best known for his sacred music.  I selected this particular piece due to its somber mood and use of the church bell at the beginning. The bell is heard throughout the piece. It signifies the loud and sustained sound of Liberty.


The symbolism here is pretty strong.  


It begins with the Church, early governments were controlled by Monarch, but the Church often controlled the Monarch. It was the Church that helped repeal the first Magna Carta.


The graveyard shows the death and destruction of the many wars between 1215 and 1297 when the Great Charter was reinstated.  It indicates that the quest for freedom...even the few granted by the Great Charter...was costly.


Next we have William Penn. William Penn was one of the most forward thinking men of his time.  He  recognized that religious freedom was key...and that a single recognized religion had no place in government, but was important to exist within the men who ran government.


The final section of this act is about the creation of the United States.  Patrick Henry quotes bookends the symbols of freedom, the Bell, and the Unknown Soldier.  

Act 3 Is how I viewed my country during my service in the Military.  We provided many inventions, as well as, examples to the world about what Freedom means.  We used our might to free Europe from its self-created hell, and provide, free of charge, our resources to the poor and those who suffered during times of disaster.  We are a loving nation.  Often while being derided by those we helped.  The song “Bourree” is a dance of French origin…it is very carefree and uplifting type of melody.  This particular version is inspired by J.S. Bach’s Bourree in E minor, and performed by the band Jethro Tull. 


These inventions were possible because of Free Markets.  

Act 4 Is what I call the “Great Awakening Part 2”.  This is the political awakening of the American people.  Not just the Right, but for the Left as well.  The protagonists in this are Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid. They represent the forces that are attempting to usurp the Constitution. They are clearly the antihero in this act.


The antagonists are the people as represented by the Tea Party. 

The song “Some Day” by the band Chicago is a great choice.  Created while they were doing protest songs it uses the chant “The Whole World is Watching” taken from the protests held during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. I got the idea from a video here in Florida when a group of protesters at a county meeting were kicked out…they began chanting “We Will Be Heard”.  Oh Yes they will be.  In the song the singer asks “Do you know what I mean?” then after asking the listener to look around he asks “Now you know what I mean?”


The first symbol is the subway where a crowd has gathered...they cant see more than the person in front of them. This represents the haze of misinformation that is sent out by the media. 


The next two symbols represent the face of Hate and Fear...Reid and Pelosi.  They are not just the target, but are both filled with hate and fear of what the awakening will mean for them. 


The symbol of the Man in the Chair indicates the despair that many Americans have felt when dealing with our Government.


The answer for the people now arrives in the form of the Tea Party.


In the next video clip you see people running from the camera in fear..with the exception of one woman..she runs to the camera as if to say stop...she represents the Tea Party and its call to stand up to the Government.


The egg being shot by a bullet indicates how fast the bullet of truth has shattered the world of the old political elite.  


The Next video is from the protests in Iran, and reminds us that those in power will do what ever they can to silence us.


Beginning with the earth graphic and ending with Edward we are reminded of the road to our freedom. 


To promote discussion the rest of the symbolism is up to you to decipher.

Act 5 is where the question from Act 1 is answered.  “Do you think that a Greater thinking thing, Will give a damn that Man was here”?  You will have to watch it for the answer.