Ok two things are going on that I want to get to fast.  I applaud the senate republicans for stopping the bill that would tax the profits of corporations more than the established rate.  It is un-American to punish success and to start forcibly taking the private property of private citizens.

I got a big problem with oil companies that are earning 30 billion in profit, getting tax breaks.   Part of the “windfall profits tax” bill introduced by democrats was going to end tax breaks for oil companies.  I am in complete agreement that these tax breaks be rescinded.

Now to the probability of Obama choosing a military leader as his vice president.  I say it would be of the order of an anti-American radical like  Murtha.  This is probably the best gift Obama could give McCain.  Image what the public at large would think about a person who won’t wear an American flag pin, won’t place his hand over his heart when the national anthem in playing, did attended a church for 20 years where the minister vulgarly yelled Goddamn America, has associations with a known American terrorist, profited from a relationship with a slum lord, and who picks an anti-American radical ex military leader for his vice president.

Ok now to some seriousness.  I am planning to ask the question of myself “am I being unfair to the poor?”  My answer is no.  I contend that America is the land of opportunity that provides the basics (public education) to every one.  It is not my fault that people, for what ever reason, do not take advantage of this education.

However, the facts are that one has to be educated in life to make it and America gives a free education to everyone.  Ok, it is paid by federal grants and property taxes.  However, no one has to go to the school office and pay the tuition.  My point is that there is no excuse for some one not being prepared to meet their personal needs.

Therefore, what exactly are the complaints of the poor?  I believe one complaint is they cannot make enough to afford life.  Once, when I was listening to a radio show I heard a caller state that with his and his wife’s combined 90,000 a year earnings they could not afford to live in Chicago, Illinois.

Excuse me if I have no sympathy for people making 90,000 not being able to afford life. However, do all the people who say they cannot make enough to afford life make around 90,000?  I believe the homeless do not make this much.  In fact, I am sure they do not make any money at all.

Who are the homeless, though?  There are families whose parents have lost their income and who could not find another job.  There are people with mental illness.  There are people who prefer to panhandle instead of work.

This is how I see it. People who want to get ahead in America should not be punished because they get a job.  For some people with children it is a reality that a job will not help with the basics and when they get a job they are thrown of public assistance.  For these people, I say let them get a job and continue to supplement their income until they are able to earn more.

The federal poverty limit of 19,500 is a joke.  I  , a single man living in a poor city, can barely make it with that much.  Imagine having three kids in a city like Dallas or New York.  Now, I am talking about people who really want to take advantage of government assistance.

I think if the program demands progress you can judge who deserves to participate by how much the individual accomplishes. 

Moreover, I have a lot of sympathy and solidarity with people struggling with mental illness.  However, I am a firm believer that a person can be taught how to manage his or her mental illness.

In addition, a lot can be done in the public school system to facilitate good mental health.  It just seems like we want to avoid talking about mental issues.  However, what is wrong with a positive and healthy view of mental illness?

As far as the hustlers who only want to take advantage of the system, I say do not let them.  Easier said then done.  No it is not.  Again set standards and drop anyone not meeting these standards.

In addition, some where done the line we are going to have talk about the root of the problem.  I blame democratic rhetoric.  The speeches of democrats about all the poor people who cannot make it are nothing more then panhandling for votes.  Liberals feel obligated to help people, but they don’t even start non-profits.

Obama, himself only started to give substantially to charities a year ago.  Before, he was made aware that it would look bad for a presidential candidate who speaks about the plight of the poor to have such low charitable contributions, Mr. Obama was giving very little to the poor.

See, some one like me would say ,”hey those recent donations to charity by Obama are political”.  In my opinion, Obama’s recent increase to his charitable donations are political.  Hence he is a hypocrite.  He is not alone.  Liberals want to help people but they want to do it with tax payers money.  It is sort of forced charity for everyone but themselves.

Some people however, buy in big to the idea that “government should”.  I get tired of people saying "government should".  I had a conversation with a person today.  This person said Bush is a bad person because he lied, he did drugs, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and his dad has a lot of money.

I know Bush did not lie.  The sit-in for Laura Ingraham on Ingraham's radio show was talking about how a well known news paper reviewed the claims of that recent senate report accusing Bush of lying and this news paper found that this senate report did not show were Bush lied about the intelligence that was known at that time.

Okay, no one should do drugs.  However, I am glad Mr. Bush has quit and has a better life now.  Yes alcohol is a drug. I can hear the critics typing already.

Mr. Bush being born rich is not a problem to me.  I do not think he is a bad person because his dad has money.

Okay, here is my point.  The person I was talking to is very well capable of working, but he is waiting for his social security disability based on mental health issues.   He was recently given an opportunity to make money selling newspapers on the street corner.  I say for some one who has nothing even a little is good.  However, this person did everything to sabotage this opportunity.

When I talk to this person it is nothing but a regurgitation of the democratic rhetoric.  The reason is he was raised in a town were the liberal rhetoric is burned in to a person's mind from birth.  In stupid El Paso, Texas all the majority of the people know is "government should".  Most conversations will come to that point.  That is why I do not talk to most people in this city.

However, I do believe in helping people who really deserve it. This person waiting on his social security disability says his condition keeps him from work.  However, he is up bright and early (5am) to spend his day with the taxi drivers.  I say if he can be up at 5am running errands for his taxi friends, he can get a real job.

However, the democrats have created a culture of dependency.  For the last 50 years Americans have been conditioned to expect everything cheap with all those radio and TV commercials promising 50 percent less.  This is why many have a false perception of the true value of merchandise.  The true value is what the property owner sells it for, not the value the consumer wants to buy it for from the seller.  End of sentence, period.

The democrats with their rhetoric have done the same conditioning to the citizens.  With their constant rhetoric over the poor, democrats have convinced people they are poor and need government assistance.  Today, I heard Obama wants to bail out people who cannot afford their mortgage.  It is a nice thought.  However most people loosing their homes bought more than they could afford.  Why should I bail them out?  I live in an apartment.  When am I going to get a house?

Well when I apply for a house loan and my credit passes.  This year I learned I have a 690 credit score.  If the bottom had not fallen out of the taxi business, I was going to finance a house.  My plan was to buy a home for around 60 to 70, 000.  My payment on a 30 year mortgage would of been around $450, which is less than I pay for the apartment I live in now.

However, I did not let my emotions get the better of me and make an impulse purchase I could not afford.  I think this is the responsible thing to do in life.  Having control of my emotions and a rational brain to think with has allowed me to avoid serious personal and financial hardship.

This why I am very concerned about Obama policies and the fever regular people have about this person.  Obama is a politician who panhandles for votes by patronizing the poor and who can harm America if he is able to put his policies to work.

ALEGRIA MALL