Wisconsin Showing Balancing Budget Won't Be Easy

I wouldn't be one to describe the situation in Wisconsin as spiraling out of control but it is something to keep an eye on because its time for government (both state and federal) to put their money where their mouth is. Yes, that pun was intended.

Out of control spending has racked up billions of dollars worth of deficits for many states and trillions for the federal government and now that someone is trying to take away the checkbook we're seeing the three-year-old like temper tantrums thrown by the Democratic party. You may remember it was a Democratic congress that ramrodded the healthcare reform into law because they had the majority. Now we're seeing the true lack of a spine by the Democratic Wisconsin state senators as they've fled the state so there won't be a quorum to pass the bill. True evidence that the Dems only want to play politics when they can guarantee they're on the winning side.

What's at stake here, and what will be at stake on state and federal levels across the nation, is the Democrats relationship to the unions, particularly President Obama. Last November Obama said, "The hard truth is that getting this deficit under control is going to require broad sacrifice." Then just last week he reiterated that by saying that his expectation is that everyone is going to have to make compromises.

I've always been a person who wants to see what you do more than what you say. President Obama's actions in the Wisconsin situation show that he's interested in cutting the deficit as long as it doesn't affect his union buddies. On Wednesday he called the new Wisconsin legislation an attack on unions. I realize the president doesn't have any say in state politics but take my word for it, if he isn't in favor of cutting back on a state level where unions are involved then he won't be on a federal level either.

I don't blame the teachers of Wisconsin for being upset. They're stuck in the middle of a tough situation where there is no easy solution. I know that when my personal finances come short my family and I have to cut back on some things. I'm sure you're the same way and so are most of the teachers of Wisconsin. The problem is that the unions have removed cutting back as a part of the equation. That's why the state of Wisconsin is passing legislation to limit or remove collective bargaining. Its the only way they can cut back on education.

Wisconsin is $3.6 billion in the hole. The new legislation will help them save $30 million by July and then another $300 million over the next two years by asking state workers to contribute 5.8% to their pension plans and 12.6% to their health insurance. Democrats are saying that isn't fair and Jessie Jackson is on the scene demanding the government find the money for a bail out."

Again here we go with the notion that the pocket book it limitless and that's how we got where we are. The other option (apparently the one the Democrats prefer) is to shutdown part of the state government which would result in 6,000 employees not getting paid and to raise state taxes.

Wisconsin ranks 20th in the nation in teacher's salaries. The average is $46,390 per year. Last year they received a 4.7% raise and over the last ten years they've received 21.5% in raises. Like I said, they're in a tough spot but they're a long way from being the victims of the forgotten step children of the state that Jessie Jackson would lead you to believe they are.

Debunked, Delusional Or Genius - What Do Snow Storms Tell Us About Global Warming?

I've been sitting inside by the fireplace all day today as 11.5 inches of snow fell outside bringing Oklahoma City to a complete halt. I've enjoyed the day with the family but I must say that snow days were a lot more enjoyable when I was a child. Finding things to keep three children and a baby busy all day can be a bit taxing and yet enjoyable at the same time. I'm just glad that my kids are able to experience the joy of a snow day because of what the Global Warming prophets keep screaming. Then I began to wonder what the high priest of the Global Warming Cult had to say about all this white stuff.

A quick Google search of the words, "global warming, Al Gore, snow" turned up something that literally made me fall over laughing. On the day of a record snowfall for the month of February in the state of Oklahoma Gore stated the following on his blog.

Last week on his show Bill O’Reilly asked, “Why has southern New York turned into the tundra?” and then said he had a call into me. I appreciate the question.

As it turns out, the scientific community has been addressing this particular question for some time now and they say that increased heavy snowfalls are completely consistent with what they have been predicting as a consequence of man-made global warming:

“In fact, scientists have been warning for at least two decades that global warming could make snowstorms more severe. Snow has two simple ingredients: cold and moisture. Warmer air collects moisture like a sponge until it hits a patch of cold air. When temperatures dip below freezing, a lot of moisture creates a lot of snow.”

“A rise in global temperature can create all sorts of havoc, ranging from hotter dry spells to colder winters, along with increasingly violent storms, flooding, forest fires and loss of endangered species.”

Did you catch that? Let's ignore the fact that data was falsified to support the global warming agenda. Let's also overlook the fact that the Polar Ice Caps ARE NOT melting and that there is insurmountable evidence to suggest that the global temperatures are not rising. Let's push aside, for just a minute, the billions of dollars being pocketed by Global Warming alarmists and just focus on the words of the man who invented the internet. "Global warming produces record snowfalls!"

We're looking at three distinct possibilities here. First, global warming has been debunked by something most people call truth. Record snowfalls are just a part of it. There just isn't enough unfabricated data out there to suggest that we're experiencing an uncommon global rise in temperature. Second, Al Gore and his partners are delusional. Spin a lie long enough and you'll start to believe it yourself.

Then there's the third possibility. There's the possibility that Gore's group is making millions upon millions of dollars from scaring people into believing the polar bears are dying and the ocean levels are rising. Gore puts his money where his mouth is and invests hundreds of millions of dollars into "Green" companies and resources. Every time he's able to convince someone that this farce is true he the returns on his investments get even bigger. The scary part is that people are actually buying into it and thus lining his pockets. That, my friends, is a stroke of pure genius.