Just some thoughts

I have really felt a lot of confusion this election. Not necessarily about who I am planning on voting for, but really about how so many of us can so strongly disagree on what is best for our country and our families.

Honestly. If you happen to stumble across this post and disagree with my thoughts, I would love to hear some of your reasons for your support of other ideas. Just please be civil ;-)

Because one of my main causes for confusion is this...since when is it ok to vote to take property from somebody else? I understand that many that support the idea that the "rich" should have to give more because they have more and that those that don't have as much should be helped. It ends up being somewhat of a moral argument...or the word that I have heard from both Obama and Biden..."fair." That it is our duty to sacrifice so others are taken care of.

The crazy thing is that I believe that statement in a different context. I believe that to those that are given much, much is expected. I am personally striving to be a compassionate, giving person. And I would have to say that I have a long way to go before I can even see Mother Teresa in the distance.

But I believe that the decision to give what we have to others should be a personal decision. Our household (as I'm sure most of yours' do) willingly gives a percentage of what we have annually to charitable endeavors. But that is a personal decision made by me and my husband. I strongly believe that the idea that the government can force people to support others is completely contrary to the spirit and wording of the Constitution. To maintain the freedom that this country has enjoyed for over 200 years, the people must remain free from excessive government involvement. Everytime the government gives us something, even protection, we are giving something back in return...some freedom. Obviously there are some necessary give and takes. But we should not sell our freedom for a mess of pottage!

And the idea that a politician can come in and promise to help you by pledging someone else's money is very disturbing to me. This politician gets all the credit for being compassionate and generous without giving one cent of his own money, but instead by using somebody else's money. And these days, it seems like this happens on both sides of the political spectrum. Politicians seem to think they have to buy our votes. That they have to promise more spending and more favors for each of us.

I do not want anything extra from the government!

If we feel strongly that people need help, then we, individually, should decide to help them. We can start foundations, donate money, give our time to volunteer. But the government should never force anybody to do those things.

People are balking at using the term socialism to describe Obama's ideology of "redistributing the wealth." That is because here in the US, socialism carries a very negative idea with many people. However, can somebody explain to me how this idea that everybody is forced--by the government--to share their excess with those who have less-- is not the equivalent of socialism? As I understand it, socialists believe that capitalism unfairly concentrates power and wealth among a small segment of society which results in an unequal society. They advocate the creation of a society in which wealth and power are distributed more evenly.

Friedrich Hayek argued that the social control over distribution of wealth and private property advocated by socialists cannot be achieved without reduced prosperity for the general populace, and a loss of political and economic freedoms.

But the idea sure sounds good, doesn't it? It sounds nice. It sounds compassionate. It sounds like if you don't support it, you are greedy. I mean, why wouldn't you vote to help somebody out? Are you so greedy? But the ideas that surround socialism are empty promises. Every time a society has embraced socialism, the results include stagnanted growth, less for everybody, shortages. I lived in Venezuela before Chavez and I visited after Chavez. I talked to person after person, none of which had much to begin with, who talked about the new difficulties introduced because of Chavez' socialist agenda. Those who had less before have even less now.

And I am having a hard time understanding why so many people feel that it is ok. History does not support socialism. Why would it be any different for us? The basic premise is based on what I consider immoral...forced distribution. Unless you can voluntarily join the "group", forced giving seems so wrong to me.

And this is where it really gets confusing to me.

I go through both sides of the argument logically and I cannot come up with historic evidence, current evidence, moral evidence, or economic evidence that supports this redistribution of wealth idea. All I can see is that it sounds good and nice, so people don't care that it doesn't really work. And they focus on the niceness of it...the "fairness" of it...and they forget that the central issue is not about being nice and fair. We should all be nice and fair and generous. The issue is that the government should not be enforcing fairness by being unfair to some. The government should not be determining whose "needs" are greater. That is not the role of the government of the United States of America as established by the Constitution.

And one more thing ;-)....

If you are going to pledge others' money, there should be a requirement that you first have to pledge your own. If you truly believe that there is a need for monetary help...donate your money! The politicians (and Hollywood for that matter. Why do we hear about evil CEOs that make a lot of money, but no mention of Hollywood and athletes who make just as much and more money. I honestly don't get it. Personally, I don't care if someone makes a lot of money. I don't think money makes somebody evil. But if you're going to attack the wealthy, why are the job-creating CEOs the evil ones?) that speak so negatively about the "rich" usually live in a very nice, at least million dollar homes. I am not one to judge somebody else's house. Because in my opinion, it is your decision how you spend your money. But if you are out there preaching that we need to sacrifice in the name of fairness, then be the first in line. Sell your large home and buy something more modest. Donate the money to a cause that you care about. Be an example of sacrifice.

Because that is what this country is about in my opinion. Each individual has the ability and power and freedom to make a difference. To create change. It should not be the government, or one politician, making the changes for us. It should be each of us, individually doing our part voluntarily, that can create change. In our neighborhoods, in our homes, in our schools. Do not wait for government to do it for you. You have the ability to make it happen. And if somebody tells you that you need the government because you cannot do it yourself, prove them wrong. Because they are wrong.

If this is about compassion, be compassionate. But do not steal from somebody else to make yourself look compassionate when you have not donated your own wealth first.

And finally (yes, I am finally done with this rant!) a quote that has been attributed to Alexander Fraser Tyler,

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over lousy fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average of the world's great civilizations before they decline has been 200 years."

Fly in a cup

What an exciting day. Not only did we have pancakes for breakfast (yes, those are chocolate chips...for breakfast), but at dinner, Natalie caught a fly in a cup.


She really did.

She came up behind it slowly and put that cup right on top of the fly. And the fly just let itself be caught. But then Natalie wanted to feed the fly. When she lifted the cup up to share her dinner with the fly, away the fly flew.


But about 20 minutes later, the fly was back and this time Andrew cupped that fly.

It really was an exciting day.

ps--my kids really did get dressed that day. It's just hard to keep them that way!

Big steps for little James

Three big things happened at our house tonight.

1st: James walked!

2nd: Natalie's pacifier broke.


We have a paci-stays-in-the-bed rule that was constantly broken by this girl. The broken paci means the end of pacis for her. She was oh-so-sad as was expected, but actually adapted to sleeping without the paci fairly quickly. Phew.


3rd: We actually caught some first steps on camera!!


You can hear Natalie in the background crying about the broken pacifier.

Pantry

This is what I was doing for a few days in October...

Turning this:
Into this:

Into this:


It feels soooo good!

Waiting for the right moment

We headed to a local dairy farm this morning. It was free admission today and that was enough to get me excited. It was just great to be outside. We didn't have too much time to spend given the amount of time it took me to get out the door with my little kids, but it was definitely worth it.

First, the "hay" ride from the car to the entrance was a treat.

Then there was a maze with painting inside. Definitely a treat.

And homemade ice cream. And the cookie dough ice cream was blue. That was a treat.

But my favorite part of the whole farm was watching Andrew in the hay. First, you must know that Andrew has been an extremely cautious child. But every year I see more of that cautiousness disappear. So, I was excited that he had even climbed to the top of this hay stack. And then he wanted to jump. Way to go!

But that is where it got funny. He was up there for a while waiting for the "perfect" moment to jump down. And from where I was, I gathered that the perfect moment was one where nobody was up top with him, and nobody was anywhere even in his peripheral vision up top or down low.
So he would crouch ready to jump, would stay in that position for a little bit shaking his hands and with a big grin. But then he would say, "Hey!" and "Hey!" and "Hey!" as kids continued to go where he didn't want them to go. He would stand back up, address the masses that weren't listening, and then he would crouch again. This went on for a while.



My friend Vicky and I were at the bottom just laughing.

But finally I guess the coast was completely clear because...

He looks pretty pleased

Hoping to use this picture at Natalie and Seth's wedding some day ;-)

Magic

To a boy who just turned a year old, bubbles are MAGIC.

Things I want to remember

There are some days when I just want to freeze moments. Dimpled hands and wrists. Fat baby feet. My finger locked in a baby-hand-hold. The sound of Natalie's voice. James' toothy smile. Andrew loving to snuggle with me and tickle his back. Looking in the rear view mirror and seeing all three of my little ones crammed into that seat.

And especially lately, seeing James dance to Nutcracker music (he loves it!) and watching Natalie and James try to copy Andrew's sofeggio signs as we sing and sign along to the "do-re-mi" song. Natalie has it down pretty well, but you should see her look of concentration as she glances sideways at Andrew to make sure she has the signs right. Oh, she wants to be so big. And James....well, I wish I could capture the moment...the laughter, the amazement, the wonder...as I watch him back there also trying to copy the signs and managing a pretty good "ti" (yes, a drink with jam and bread).

Natalie attempting "ti" or maybe we should call her version "teepee"

That will bring us back to "do"

So, this afternoon I looked around and just wanted to freeze it all. Here is what I want to remember:

Kids so excited to clean windows and glass tables

ALL of the pillows off the couch for the third time that day. And heaven forbid we clean the "fort" up.
James the sidekick. He shadows the older kids and wants to be doing whatever they are doing. It just warms my heart.

Spaghetti Andrew style:

And Natalie's version:

I've lost that FALL feeling

So, it's still in the 90s.

And I have not seen one colorful leaf yet.

And I am still wearing white pants.

But it is October. So how do we get into the Fall spirit?

Well, tonight we made the attempt by "booing" some of our friends and neighbors.

The kids helped me make suckers and put it all together, but of course the best part (just after eating the suckers--James included) was doorbell ditching. Although one house was pretty quick on the draw and had the door open before Natalie and John had time to leave the porch.

I think I was just as excited to watch them approach the door and come running back, little legs pounding the pavement, huge grins on their faces, and then a little play-by-play from Andrew.

Just looking at black and orange ribbon made me feel more in the Fall mood.

Next step, those Halloween decorations that should have been up last week!

Do you think James is excited to eat this sucker?