Schwarzenegger Defends Spending on Illegals; Says Cut Elderly and Ill American Help!

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes cutting aid to the most vulnerable of the states residents, the elderly, frail and ill, such as Alzheimer's patients. Per this story in the Associated Press today:

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. – With empty pockets and maxed-out credit, California is debating whether it can continue honoring all parts of its social contract with the state's most vulnerable residents.

The state faces an unprecedented drop in tax revenue and a widening budget deficit amid the deepest recession in decades, prompting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to propose cost-cutting steps that once seemed unthinkable.

At stake are programs for the poor, elderly and frail, placing millions of people in the nation's most populous state at risk of falling through a decades-old social safety net.

Ending the welfare-to-work program for mothers and their children would affect some 546,000 families, and health insurance could be eliminated for 1 million children from low-income families. Services for Alzheimer's patients, disabled and other frail recipients of in-home care also would be greatly reduced under the governor's latest budget proposal, leaving more than 400,000 people without such support."

Yet, Schwarzenegger defends spending 4 to 5 billion dollars annually on illegals services, insisting they are not part of California's budget problem. He says it's a "small percentage" of the deficit California faces. HELLO!

If you have a 24.3 billion dollar budget shortfall, then that's 16% to 20% Gov! Then add all the taxes these folks don't pay, and the money they send back to Mexico rather than spend here, and there's lots more money that you lose. Then add in the amount of criminal activity encountered, incarceration cost, cost of police services, emergency services not covered by the above 4 to 5 billion, cost of the Border Patrol and ICE due to the illegals, and, well, you get the picture. I'd bet the cost is double what you postulate it to be. And you say we need them here to work the fields and pick the crops and work construction jobs. How stupid is that? If they were not here, Americans could have the jobs at decent wages, because employers would be forced to pay the true value for the labor they need.

Then, get this quote from the Governor: "You know something, as far as I'm concerned, I'm happy that they can get the services," he said Friday. "Because I would like to have the services if I'm somewhere in another country … if I have an accident with a motorcycle and I go to an emergency room, I don't want someone to say, is he here legally?"

(Obviously, Arnold has no idea about the Form 1011 where ER personnel can't ask about citizenship status. That's how all the illegals get the free ride. How could he not know that if we're spending 4 to 5 billion dollars on "services"! Plus, other countries do not provide "free" services to people who arrive there legally or illegally. You'd better be prepared to pay or have insurance or a credit card. Arnie...if you know of a place that will provide free services...maybe we can deport all the freeloaders to there?)

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1923957.html

Arnold, you make me want to vomit. Your pandering and political correctness to play all sides of what appears to be a polygon are sickening to the taxpayers of this state. You've been hanging around the Democrats in Sacramento too long, and your mind is gone. Worse, you're selling our American elders and ill down the drain, to get in bed with those whose votes you're seeking at any cost. You won't get mine, and I hope any one who is smart won't give you, or any other incumbent, theirs either! And Schwarzenegger has the balls to call anyone else a Girly Man?

Carfax or Carfix --What you'll never know!

First off, I'm not picking on CarFax. There are lots of other similar vehicle data providers that promise to provide you with a complete vehicle history report on that used, or sometimes new, vehicle you're thinking of buying. Unfortunately, all have the same Achilles heel, in that the information you receive might be so incomplete, that you can get a wrecked, or salvaged vehicle, and never know it. Even the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System won't have the information you request! And it's run by the Federal Government, but the system is still full of the same holes! Even Consumer Reports has indicated in a recent issue the problems with relying on these services.

Many fleets, including federal, state and municipal fleets as well as large privately owned fleets are what is known as self-insured. That means they pay all their own claims on their vehicles. Some file a bond with the states they do business in, others simply show they have the assets to pay any and all claims that result from the use of their vehicles. Others purchase only excess liability insurance, and have what is known as a SIR or Self Insured Retention. That means they retain the first dollar costs of a loss themselves, ranging anywhere from a hundred thousand dollars to millions, and then the insurance policy kicks in to pay anything above that amount.

However, the SIR does not include property damage to the fleet vehicles, only liability, so if a vehicle is in an accident, it gets reported to no one. Minor or repairable damage is covered by the fleet owner, often in their own, or contract, body shops. If the vehicle is severely damaged, has frame damage, or is totaled, it usually is sold as surplus, at auction or placed on bid with other vehicles on an "as is" basis. The purchaser signs an agreement that there is no warranty and the vehicle is purchased "where is, as is." The vehicle can be almost new, as far as miles are concerned. I've seen police vehicles with only a few hundred miles on the odometer totaled in an accident, sold to a bidder and repaired, then end up on eBay and the sellers say nothing about previous damage!

As for clear title, there is absolutely no guarantee a salvage title will be issued on the vehicle, as state laws vary so widely, a vehicle can have a clear title and still have been a total wreck. With a clear CarFax or other report!

Worse yet, pull a CarFax or other report and most times you'll find no mention of any Fleet Use, Governmental Use, or Damage of any kind. Because it's never reported. The report will show the correct information as far as the VIN and perhaps the mileage if the vehicle was required to pass smog at any time, or registration changes, if it was sold and re-registered. But, if it was almost new, and wrecked, you'll likely find nothing other than the description of the vehicle.

Every one of these reports depend upon someone providing truthful, factual reporting, so it's really possible that if you're looking at a vehicle from a private seller, a one-owner or perhaps a second owner vehicle, you actually can get a report that provides good information. But, if you're looking for a vehicle and you suspect something might be more than is contained in any report, simply walk away from the car. Because once you purchase it, you're the one with headaches. Remember that the "lemon laws" don't cover used vehicles, and the old phrase "caveat emptor" or "buyer beware" is more applicable today than ever. Lots of people want to get rid of their vehicles, especially with the down sliding economy, and you don't want to be stuck with a junker. Used vehicle values are down, and dealers don't usually give people anywhere near what their vehicle is worth at trade-in time; worse if they simply want to sell their car outright to a dealer or get out from under a car payment.

Take the vehicle to a mechanic of your choice and have it checked out. A few dollars spent up front beats hundreds or thousands spent later. A good mechanic knows what it takes to get a vehicle in tip-top shape and he'll give you the straight story. An example is a great deal on a car that needed 4 new tires. Sounds like a small item, right? Nope! The exotic tires cost about $400 each and were different sizes for the front and rear. That added almost two thousand dollars to the cost of the vehicle when you include tax, mounting, balancing, and the road hazard warranty (a must with these short-lived jewels!) So the deal wasn't so sweet after all, but the new owner didn't bother checking first.

Finally, if the deal seems too good to be true...it usually is. Like they say, "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch." It might seem free, but the string is there to reel you in. Happy car shopping!

For great information on used police cars, see the eBay guides by drcop2u.

(A hint: Dealers will usually give you $500 to $1000 "back of book" for your used vehicle if it's in excellent condition. That means if you take the Trade In Value and deduct that much from it, you can get a rough idea of what to expect on a trade-in. But remember, dealers use many different books; Kelly Blue Book, NADA Book and even one called the Black Book (?) And for an unpopular color, make or model, the "back of book" deduction could be more. )

For the Record

Most of us here in America are not Native Americans. Thus, we come from foreign stock at one time or another. A mixed bag in many cases, others more pure-bred where the families are perhaps more recent immigrants to the United States than others.

As for me, I am a mongrel of sorts. Irish, Scottish, Cornish, (English) French Canadian and Dutch. I'm proud that my paternal grandfather came from Holland. He came here legally at 8 months old in 1879, worked as an insurance salesman, truck driver, laborer and a landscaper. Yes, a landscaper like many Hispanics do today. But he came here through Ellis Island in New York legally! He came to California to follow his dream, and died here in 1941, still working, and without reaching that pinnacle of wealth, the street paved with gold, that most hope for in their life. I never knew my grandfather, but I hope he at least was a happy man and loved and lived life to the fullest possible. At least in his Final rest, he is buried with the movie stars and celebrities in Forest Lawn. It took death to be side by side with them, but he made it.

My paternal grandmother's father was from Cornwall, a place off the English coast that is Gaelic and many people speak the Gaelic language, similar to Ireland. Her mother was all American, the only one whom we can trace roots way back to American soil and the time of the Revolution. My maternal grandmother was a foreigner too, from Nova Scotia, Canada. Her mother was from Scotland. My maternal great grandfather's side of the family was from Ireland.

So, as you can see, although I consider myself an All American, I am composed, as many of us are, of a melting pot of heritage from all over. But, the big difference is that our families came here legally, and worked, paid taxes, built the country, not drained it and didn't look for handouts.

Our forebearers didn't look for some sort of "entitlement" where simply by taking breath they had everything coming to them. Somehow that attitude has pervaded our society, and the government panders to the multitude that holds out their hands in greed rather than gratitude. We have allowed generation after generation of welfare recipients to grow on the backs of taxpayers, where one welfare child has children, and those children have more offspring to be fed, clothed and taken care of by the system, while the "baby daddy" is responsible for nothing. Watching TV, I note there appears no shame for the welfare recipient to announce that the "baby daddy" is in prison for drugs or other criminal activity, or has deserted the mother and child, leaving the taxpayers to foot the bills. And, no, if he's not in jail, she won't admit to who he is anyway, because there is a minuscule chance the authorities might actually find him and cut off some of her welfare!

Then we have the illegals who have multiple children, paid for by the taxpayers, and somehow think this is their "right" to come here and live off someone else. And groups form and tell us these illegal aliens have "civil rights" after they break Federal Law and protest when our law enforcement agencies actually have the audacity to enforce our laws? Go to another country and do something illegal and see who protests for you! See how the foreign authorities there coddle you! Nope, only here do we make laws and then allow people to continually break them with no penalty. And now, the illegal population and their supporters are depending on Obama to help them gain amnesty and citizenship for breaking the law. With his record so far, there's sadly a good chance he'll pander to them and do so.

Is it any wonder why people are so dead set against illegal immigration? Yet more people draining our taxpayer-fed system? Sure, illegals do work that many don't want to do. But if you cut off the supply of illegal labor, and fined and jailed those who take advantage of cheap illegal labor, the jobs would pay more, and would be open for legal workers, regardless of where they're from. People deserve decent wages and living conditions, and living in a cardboard box while working for less than decent wages at some establishment, whose owner knows he's employing illegal labor, is patently wrong, morally, ethically and legally. And if both sides of the immigration issue can't see that, there is something very wrong.

Bring back the day laborer program. Let people enter legally, work, pay taxes, and return home when they want. Make employers pay fair wages, and if they employ labor for more than a day, require they provide adequate housing that is inspected and safe. Allow them to charge a nominal fee for housing and meals and require they provide a safe environment with good sanitation. Close the border tightly to illegal immigration. That would be fair to all, especially the taxpayers who are sick and tired of footing the bills for illegal immigration.

How about it Washington? Are you listening? Or are you more interested in ripping off the taxpayer and bankrupting the country with more bailouts and give-aways this week? Better listen to Bernanke or you'll be broke sooner than later. He's one of the brighter stars on the wilted tree in DC.

Wanna Buy A Government Motors Car?

Good Grief, the government is in the car business! Obama stressed that they took 60% of GM simply to bail them out, but I find it difficult to believe the government will be able to keep their grubby paws out of the car makers business when and if they finally emerge from bankruptcy. Obama stated further the government would only be involved in the "most critical" decisions...which to many translated dictating what kind of cars they make to meet his greenhouse gas emissions mandates. Socialism and a bailout all rolled into one. Pretty neat package at the taxpayers expenses. Oh yeah, one more thing, Obama stated that the predictors were wrong in thinking the car business would "fall off the cliff" and Chrysler sold more cars in May than they did in April. DUH. Of course they did...they cut the prices by ten to fifteen thousand dollars on some models, and had to liquidate inventory by June 9 as dealerships were told they lost their dealership franchises with Chrysler. Plus, some dealers purchased vehicles from other dealers at below invoice prices to beef up inventory in markets where they were able to move vehicles. What the hell is this guy thinking? Does he think we're too stupid to see the spin?

For those who thought the Democrats were going to save America, you were sadly deluded. They will sink the country with their free spending, just as they have California. Yes, California has a Republican governor but he has been unable to bridle the run away spending of the Democrat controlled legislature and look at the mess we're in. A state that will again run out of money by July and that held up Tax refunds this year because there was no money to pay them. A state that throws billions at welfare and illegal immigration costs and cuts education and mental health benefits for the most needy.

And, the Democrats in Washington will do the same. Spend every penny they can print and watch while the country sinks so far into debt we'll never get out. Did anyone notice that the personal savings rate went up for the first time in 14 years? That's because people are scared of what's coming, and squirreling away cash as best they can to prepare for the future. When Washington talks about playing with Social Security and Medicare, and is silent on welfare, that speaks volumes about where the administration is coming from. People who earned the money and placed it into a trust with the government will likely get screwed, as those who put zip into anything continue to enjoy a free ride on the taxpayer and the backs of the retired.

What happened to Social Security? Why is it being drained so fast? The government neatly blames all those retiring due to the recession and not enough going into the plan. But what about all the borrowing from the plan that took place over the years? What about the movement of money from and to Social Security that wasn't repaid with adequate interest? Why didn't the government act to increase the Social Security tax gradually over the years to accommodate retirement potentials and only use the money for retirees?

What about the millions or tens of millions of Form 1011 charges for illegal aliens that are charged to Medicare annually to drain a separate portion of the fund? Why should the illegals get free care and then the Americans be told their Medicare is on the verge of collapse? Go to another country illegally and see how good your health care is. Wait, go to another country legally and see if you get free health care. Not only no, but hell, no! Looks like their politicians have more brains than ours do. We're not talking about emergency, absolutely needed care either. We're talking about every little damned thing that you can show up at the ER for. Just be illegal and you're home free. And the taxpayer is paying for it.

Sad

The People Have Spoken in California

The voters of California have finally come to their senses. How this could have happened is way beyond my mortal powers of comprehension, but they have. They defeated all but one of the six propositions that the state legislators tried to have passed on the May 19 special election, and passed just one...the proposition that says no pay raises to state politicians when they don't balance the budget. Good for you, voters!

Now how about placing a proposition on the ballot that says NO PAY AT ALL IF THE POLITICIANS DON'T PASS A BALANCED BUDGET ON TIME? Bet that would get them off their dime and political oriented butts to pass the budget in a heartbeat! Or maybe get some of the dead wood out of office once and for all.

Or, maybe, California voters are going to dump the politicians who have been draining this state so long when the next elections come around? Or will they forget how bad things are and simply vote along the same old party lines and place the same old useless politicos back in their seats for another round of what could be bankruptcy and tax hikes?

Car taxes went up, sales taxes went up, counties are complaining they don't collect enough taxes because property values plummeted, people have asked for revaluations to reduce taxes on lower valued homes; many homes have been foreclosed, and taxes are not being paid.

Employment is the worst in about 40 years so income tax revenue is way down, so they raise the income tax rate..how about that for brilliance? Tax the crap out of the remaining working people to make up some of the lost income so the state can continue to pay for welfare and Medi-Cal for the illegals and the welfare recipients and the will-not works? Cut education, teachers and services for the understandably medically needy, but still be sure to throw that money at the services for those who won't ever contribute anything to society due to a lack of work ethic and/or pure laziness? How much can the working people of California accept before they realize how bad they're getting screwed? Year after year, ad nauseum?

Time to dump the surfer dude image, folks and get involved with changing the way Sacramento does business. If you don't, your children and grandchildren will bear the huge burden that the politicians keep piling up. The fastest and best way is to vote, and tell them you're not happy with them. Get them out of office, and make them get a real job for a change. Let them see what the working class sees, a dwindling paycheck and increasing bills and taxes. It isn't a pretty sight!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a day to remember the fallen warriors of our country; those who made the ultimate sacrifice to give each of us freedom and the ability to reach out for the American Dream. No, they didn't give you the American Dream, you have to work for that yourself. But they gave their lives to assure you had the freedom to reach out for it, free from oppression, tyranny and grave injustice as is the case in so many other countries.

Men and women gave all so that we might live free. They didn't do it for fame or glory or a medal to pin on their uniform. Medals usually came too late to shine in a parade; many were laid on rows of caskets at ceremonies in such places as Arlington and Fort Rosecrans. The Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Coast Guardsman, Air Forceman or Merchant Marine never saw the glint of the Silver Star or Purple Heart or other medal in the sun as it laid upon his casket. But the family knew the bravery that he or she displayed many days or weeks or months before this day came to pass.

Most of our fallen warriors did come home, to be interred in their beloved country near family and loved ones. But many didn't and are buried on foreign shores in huge cemeteries, marked by simple crosses and markers, the only remnants of fierce battles, where Americans shed their blood to give freedom to others in a foreign land. They didn't know the people, but knew freedom was as important to them as it is to us. Freedom, the one thing that is perhaps as much important as life itself.

In my humble opinion, the three most important things are life, love and freedom. Without them life is just a bleak and somewhat hopeless experience. With perseverance and luck, many find love, but it takes a very special person willing to lay it all on the line to fight for your freedom. When you realize the warrior doesn't know you, or the individuals they are fighting for in most cases, it makes it even more impressive that they are willing to sacrifice all for others, to give them a chance at a better life.

On this Memorial Day, I will remember my brothers who have fallen in Vietnam, as well as all those who have fallen before, and after, in every war and conflict. I will remember those who have been ravaged by the remnants of war, and who have died as a result of service-connected injuries and illnesses, those who never appear in casualty rolls, but who are casualties just the same.

And some special prayers to several brothers who are very close in my heart today and always will be. Rest well my brothers; we'll all be crossing the bar to join you some day.

And, just in case anyone ever forgets:

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

Poncho is Dead, thanks to General Motors

Many of us die-hard aficionados of Pontiac called the marque "Ponchos" as a shortened version of Pontiac. I have no idea when this started, but back in the 1950's when someone owned a "Poncho" you knew it was a Pontiac. No big long name, just a simple pseudonym for a great car. And, now Poncho is dead, thanks to the idiots at General Motors.

How could this happen? Let's take a short trip down memory land, to when the muscle car was king of the street. The American Muscle Car, that is. Yes, there was the 1950's Corvettes and the Chevy's and even the Fuel Injected 1967 Pontiac Bonneville and Chevrolet Bel Air, but the car that set the tone for all muscle cars to follow was the 1964 Pontiac GTO.

In the early 60's, most of the big engines were in big cars, such as the Ford Galaxy with a 427, a Chevy Impala or Biscayne with a 409 or later on a 427. Dodge and Plymouth as well as Chrysler offered big engines as well, including the 383 and 440 blocks as well as the 426 Hemi. But again, these were in big cars with lots of weight to pull.

So, along came the GTO, from the parts bin at Pontiac, built on the Tempest frame and body and infused with a 389 cubic inch engine and a 4 speed transmission, the "Little GTO" was just about King of the Street. Add three two barrel carburetors, or three deuces as it was known and called "Tri-Power" by Pontiac, and you had a potent street and drag machine that few cars could match. The Mustang came along later that year, but the smaller engined "Pony" car was no match for the "Goat" as the GTO was called by many. For years the GTO ruled the streets and was the cradle upon which the American Muscle Car industry was born, giving rise to the famed Olds 4-4-2, the Plymouth Road Runner and GTX, Dodge Super Bee, Shelby Mustang GT500KR, and even such unusual, yet amazing players, as American Motors with the AMX and Studebaker with the Supercharged Lark, and Studebaker-Packard with their Hawk series.

Camaro soon followed along with Firebird. The car that Grandpa drove, the Buick, gave birth to the Buick Grand National in later years, followed closely by the venerable GNX version that could whip just about anything on the drag strip with it's turbocharged V-6.

Then, for some strange reason, in the 90's GM decided that we didn't want what we wanted. That we wanted what GM would give us, and like it or not, if you wanted a GM product you had to settle. What? Settle? We were Americans and not used to settling for just any Iron. We wanted muscle and not rice burners and Japanese tuners. We wanted cubic inches and V-8's and thunderous exhausts. And GM and Chrysler let us down. Ford still produced the Mustang and thus, has survived the debacle pretty well, at least to this point.

GM dumped Oldsmobile. Remember the slogan they used during the waning years of that marque? "This isn't your father's Oldsmobile!" Hell no it wasn't. Dad's Olds had horsepower and could smoke most of the cars on the road or the track on Saturday nights. It had style. The new Oldsmobile was pathetic to say the least. No self respecting muscle car person would own one. Thank God it wasn't your father's Olds!

Buick was the consummate symbolism of a granny car. Driven by the aged and the perfect vehicle to clog the highways between the senior citizens home, and the all you can eat buffet in Senility City. Big and style less, they were avoided at all costs by the younger population. Then, someone got the idea to use the same body style as the Olds Cutlass during the early to mid 80's and create the Buick Regal. Then, why not turbocharge it. Then create the Buick Grand National. Now there was excitement on four wheels. Then, for the ultimate fun with a V-6, came the GNX, a Super Stock version of the Grand National. For once in a hot rodder's life, they actually could say YES to the jingle "Wouldn't you really rather own a Buick?"

Aah, but GM screwed this up too. Blame it on gas shortages or maybe brain shortages at GM, but the fast Buick's disappeared in favor of over sized behemoths that guzzled gas anyway, and were never going to sell to the kids and young adults who had money to spend. Buick regressed to the car driven by senior citizens and people who didn't yet have their AARP card just didn't want to see in their driveway

I am saddened to see Pontiac disappear, just as I have been by many of the names of our automobiles that once graced our streets. I have had three Pontiac's, a 1957 Bonneville, a 1966 GTO and a 2005 GTO. I bought that 2005 GTO thinking somehow it would hearken me back to the days when the GTO was king of the road. Maybe I thought, somehow, it would bring back 1964 and the excitement of the era when the GTO was the car to drive. Factually, it was faster, drove better, handled better on curves, and had a better fit and finish than my 66 Goat. But, it wasn't really a GTO at all, and it wasn't really even a Pontiac. It was a re-badged Holden Monaro, made in Australia and not in the USA. It was scary fast and fun, and had GTO emblems, but it still wasn't true American Iron like the old days. They only made the "new" GTO for three years, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and production ceased. There will never be another GTO made. Period.

Bad decisions on the part of the automakers, greed on the part of the unions and trying to force cars that we didn't want down our collective throats has brought us to the current state of affairs. Those of us who bought American for 50 years now turn to the imports for better value, better performance and mileage, and stability of the makers. It never had to come to this. But when companies forget that the consumer gets what they want, not what you want to give them, it all ends up the same.

Bottom line is that the tag line on Pontiac commercials "Pontiac...We build excitement!" has fallen on deaf ears, as it just hasn't been true. What Pontiac and GM has done is build apathy, and the motoring public has finally responded by saying we'll have someone else build something exciting for us, thank you. You had several generations to make the grade and failed, now it's someone elses' turn.