"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." ~ Ronald Reagan

Hello my fellow blog folks and other passers by. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to share my thoughts with you on this Tuesday, March 15, 2015. That makes today just one month away from April 15th. Federal Tax Day. I heard a professor who supports the socialist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders say she believes that a 85% top tax rate for high earners is reasonable. She is also a consultant to the Democratic Party. Let me draw back the curtains for you on that one. She would have those who are successful pay 85 cents out of every 1 dollar they make paid into the Federal treasury. (She didn't mention state, local, and other taxes.) She then went on to explain how the individual making the money was not to be applauded but rather it was the conditions allowed by the government that contributed to their success. (A second stanza to President Obama's song: You Didn't Build That.) She said all of this with a straight face. I kid you not. What does she teach in college? I hope you are sitting down. Economics! Where? Sorry to stereotype but when you open the envelope you discover the winner is California. This interview was on one of the premier business networks. I did see a young woman who grew up in our local fellowship post on Facebook her own comments to those still in college who are jumping on this socialist give away bandwagon. She told them how she and her husband were working in their first jobs and attempting to establish themselves. She said she understood that free college sounds great especially when it costs so much but she asked them to think seriously about how that would be paid for. She said she didn't see how she could pay a lot more in taxes and still make her way forward. Have I not been consistent in telling you there's something very strange about the times we are living in? When confiscatory policies and redistribution of all wealth by the government becomes the law of the land I'm not sure we will even have a free country anymore. Sound scary to you? Me too. Voting matters.

Now I ask you, is that girl something, or what?

I actually had no intention on writing that first paragraph. When I saw March 15th it triggered the thought of April 15th and the next thing I knew all these keystrokes had showed up on the electronic page. Don't get me wrong. I'm not for giving anyone a free ride. I'm also just as concerned about corporate welfare, corrupt lobbying influence, under the table deals, payoffs, and the consequences of office holders who mostly profit from their time in Washington. Common sense. The Constitution. A return to the principles that made us who we are. And, perhaps now that I have all of that said, a change of the subject might give me and the rest of us a momentary respite. How about grandchildren? Are they something or what? What about great grandchildren? They are so very special. Or at least the one we have meets that definition. Due to all kinds of scheduling issues, her having a bought of the flu, and other complications, we end up not having seen her for a couple of months now. That's way too long for us to go without seeing our grand kids. Any of them. All of them. I sent out a special appeal on Facebook and Madi's mom said they would work something out as soon as they can. Meanwhile, our eldest, her grandfather, well, he more or less let me know that it was okay for us to be in line but we should remember he is too. He might have implied he was actually ahead of us. I can't complain. He had a role model that showed him how to be a granddad. It was me but I will say he did take the ball and did he ever run with it!

Hornbeck, Louisiana where mom and dad lives. Last Wednesday afternoon.

Now I have forgotten what I had in mind when I first opened up the blank page this morning. I hate it when that happens. It will come back to me but I may not recognize it when it does. I will likely think it's a brand new subject but that too is how it works at this stage of my sojourn here on the planet. I do know there's many folks that have been impacted by the recent rains and flooding. We were especially concerned for all our family and friends over in Louisiana near Toledo Bend Lake. They ended up releasing the most water ever through the flood gates and that precipitated much flooding downstream. Even the little town where my parents live had flooded streets. Their home place was high and dry but the main roadways in and out were closed for a couple of days. That's always scary since they do need medical attention from time to time. Since last week there have been a number of weather related deaths and much damage to homes and property. (In Louisiana it is estimated that more than 5000 homes suffered flood damage.) We can relate some having had our home wrecked by Hurricane Ike. It was a gut wrenching time for us. Our hearts go out to all who are attempting to pick up the pieces. It does remind us all of the uncertainties that accompany this life. We just never know. But God does and we can always trust Him, even when we are not exactly sure what is going on or how we will make it. May He provide is my prayer. Amen. ....More later.