Go here. Buy a shirt, wear it on Fridays, and declare your support for the troops.

Yes, I am wearing my “Rolling Thunder” red shirt. I must say, I look very presidential in this. I may make this my official public appearance garb, with maybe a tasteful jacket over it for more formal gatherings.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

I have mentioned on occasion the fallacy of having rules (or laws) without enforcing them. At one time, I was on the verge about ranting how Congress (opposite of Progress) was enacting new laws, but not making provisions for enforcing them.

A perfect example has popped up in my own backyard. Actually, it’s in the street, but you get the idea.

Missouri Avenue, an arterial between 75th Ave. and 67th Ave. here in Glendale, has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. This is a residential street, with houses, a park, and an elementary school located along the right of way. The police presence here is abysmal, at best. I have seen patrol cars enforcing the speed limit twice in the seven years I have traveled this stretch of Missouri Avenue.

About a month ago, there were survey hoses stretched across the street. My guess is they were seeing what the average speed was. Since most of the people traveling that stretch of road know there aren’t any policemen enforcing the 25MPH sepp limit, the average speed was probably up around 40. I have been passed on that street many times, usually because I am traveling the speed limit and the ones passing me are much more important and need to get where they are going.

Two weeks ago, markings appeared on the pavement. Two lines, curb to curb, with the letters “H M P” spray painted between. This tells me the city, in it’s infinite wisdom, has decided that instead of enforcing the speed limit, it is going to force everyone to slow down to 20 MPH to go over these speed humps. Based on the model of the exiting speed humps on 73rd Ave., these speed humps will be state-of-the-art, with emergency vehicle breaks in the middle. That’s right, the speed humps will stretch curb to curb, except there will be two breaks the width of a vehicle centered in the middle for firetrucks and ambulances to not be hindered.

One problem: the speeders, who have not been held responsible for breaking the speed limit, will now feel that they can use the EV breaks for themselves. And they will, based on the model of 73rd Ave.

To review: The law-abiding drivers will be slowed down below the 25 MPH limit to negotiate the humps. The law-breaking drivers, who are speeding, will cross the center line to use the emergency vehicle breaks and continue speeding.

I feel so much safer already.

Because the city will not (or cannot) enforce the speed limit, it is forcing itself to spend money on installing speed humps that are not really speed humps so much as slalom courses. The speeders will still speed, and the non-speeders will be slowed down. Money spent, no revenue from the speeders held accountable for breaking the law, and more inconvenience for the rest of us.

Good move, Glendale Arizona!

I believe the first thing that needs to happen is a moratorium be put into place regarding any new law that proposes to “beef up” an existing law. Enforcement of the existing law must be proven for a six month period, and, if the problem has not improved, then the stiffer law may be introduced.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

“Jacko” has asked me to tell you about my military service. Since I believe in full disclosure, here it is – warts and all:

United States Marine Corps:
Enlisted, on the delayed entry program, in January of 1980.
Shipped out to boot camp (MCRD San Diego, on the buddy program with Kenny, a high school bud) 24SEP1980
Training commenced 01OCT1980, Third battalion, platoon 3090.
Graduated boot camp, 12DEC1980.
Arrived Monterey Defense Language Institute January, 1981.
During the course of learning Korean, it was discovered that a slight hearing impairment rendered my services as a linguist unnecessary. Turns out there is, indeed, a big difference between “dictionary” and “drugstore” and it could actually matter in times of strife.
Assigned to Communications platoon, H&S Co., 3rd Bn, 5th Marines, 1st MarDiv, Camp Pendleton. I was now a radio man in the Fleet Marine Force. Ooh Rah. Battery Operated Grunt.

Pretty unexciting tour of duty, the unit rotated to Okinawa twice in the time I was there. We participated in Team Spirit 82 and Team Spirit 84 while in Korea. We lost a platoon from Lima Co. in a training accident during TS84; the chopper they were on (CH-53a “Seahorse”) ran into a fog bank and the side of a mountain, in that order. No survivors. A couple of Marines from boot camp were involved in a little dustup on a small island named after a lousy Ford car. A Marine friend from DLI was in the barracks at Beirut, along with four other Marines I had met and trained with along the way. Served UCMJ for dereliction of duty while on Okinawa. (charges warranted a verbal warning. butterbar OOD walked into the barracks on my firewatch just as I bent over to adjust the blouse on my boot; he thought that since my eyes were not on the corridor I was obviously neglecting my post.) Served another one for expressing the desire to see if a different butterbar would float in the Sea of Japan. (also a verbal warning. butterbar crawled into the hold of the ship we were being slow transported on for a beach exercise and caught me sitting in a chair right next to the only dry door in the hold, and thought I was not being vigilant. after all, someone might sneak in and steal a jeep or something…)

Due to the lateness and delays involved in my promotion to corporal (finally promoted, in spite of excellent pros and cons, time in service, etc. etc. on 01MAY1984), I figured that was going to be the story of my enlistment. I elected to not reenlist. Since I was by that time a functioning alcoholic, I am very surprised to see on my DD214 that I still managed a Sharpshooter on my rifle and a Marksman on my pistol. I was sure I would have UNKED on both for the first time. The rest of my time in I wore Expert badges in both. I also was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, two Meritorious Masts (recruiting duty, you know), and a Sea Service deployment ribbon (w/1*). All that and an Honorable discharge to boot.

Looking back, if I had known then what I know now, I would have reenlisted. I should have stayed on board and served a full twenty years or more. There is so much slack in the civilian world that I am considered a real pain in the butt when I start holding people to the minimum standard. That’s just sad.

I hope that answered your question, Jacko. If anyone wants any details, drop me a line.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

Jenn has invited me to call in to her Fabulous BlogRadio Show to debate with John Bootie.

Only problem I can see with “debating” John is that our positions are so similar, people may not see the difference between us.

Here’s a hint – My favored hair style is a flat top.

Anyway – it should be, at the least, an interesting conversation with another person more interested in the Country than his wallet.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

On this day, I would like to first wish you all a safe and fabulous Fourth of July celebration, remembering all those who have given all in order to secure these continuing liberties.

Deborah, from the North: Thank you. Your note means a lot.

Moving on to current events – the Governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, has signed into law a bill that should effectively remove the illegal immigrant from the state of Arizona. At least, the incentive for them to be here will be removed. The bill has built in penalties for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. No, not monetary – at least, not directly. First offense would result in your business being placed on probation for three years (five, if the hiring was ‘intentional’). Second offense your business license would be revoked. Period.

I’d say that’s pretty tough, wouldn’t you?

Only one problem. The enforcement part.

It really doesn’t matter how “tough” the laws are, if there is no enforcement and, more importantly, punishment, the lawbreakers won’t care. They will continue to break the law.

The only effective law is one that is fairly enforced, and punishment meted out afterward. Currently, the national passport requirements for traveling to Canada, Mexico, or any Carribean vaction spot are not being enforced, because “people weren’t ready” for them I say, tough. There was plenty of warning the rules were going into effect. The lack of punishment can be seen as the root cause for many maladies crippling the country today, mostly at the local level which will spill into the regional levels and beyond. Graffiti is a widespread problem because no one wants to hold their kids responsible for damaging other people’s property. Vandalism follows, with the “broken windows” model following (where there are broken windows or other signs of vandalism, the basic crime rate will rise).

My solution? Well, it’s pretty simple, yet it will be seen as a radical departure from the status quo: Hire enough police officers to have an effective presence in the area. Follow that with actually prosecuting and punishing those caught breaking the law. Overcrowded prisons? Just another incentive to not break the law. Once the perception is changed to actual punishment of the criminals, instead of coddling, the number of crimes and criminals will be reduced. Heck, even if the only thing the additional officers do is patrol the streets and write speeding tickets, overall the roads will become safer when the speeders slow down and the minor traffic infractions are not occurring as often as they are now.

Back to the illegal immigrant law: There is talk of a large exodus of the illegals, since they won’t be able to find work. Boo-freakin’hoo. I look at this as a positive. Number one, the traffic was much lighter, and there were fewer accidents, on the days of the illegal immigrant rallies. Number two, once the cheap labor is gone, the market will do a rapid self correction and people will be able to get a decent wage once again. Number three, the entry level positions that the illegals love to hang on to forever will be freed up for high-school students to once again use as a stepping stone to the workforce.

On a personal note, the neighborhood will be safer to walk in at night. Right now, the large groups sharing the single family homes are causing enough traffic and trash to make anyone feel uncomfortable outside their own home.

Well, I’ve prattled on long enough. Time to update the on-line numbers and then catch some sleep before the festivities of the day begin.

Please be safe. Don’t drink and drive. If you must drink, do so responsibly. Remember that alcohol and gunpowder don’t mix. Well, they do, but with usually disastrous results.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008