A French dignitary, Alexis de Tocqueville, toured America in 1831-1833 to research our prisons and justice system. The American experience had a lasting effect on him, causing him to write his hallmark Democracy in America. For a child raised in the politically tumultuous country of revolutionary France, this expansive volume was the result of his fascination with our government and its founding.
His research and observations uncovered many things about our young country, not the least of which was his realization that a belief in God played a very critical role in its birth. "The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds," he wrote, "that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other."
Yet Alexis also had a warning:
Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie is not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed? And what can be done with a people who are their own masters if they are not submissive to the Deity?
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Are Earthquakes Good? You Bet!!
I have read Chapter 9, of Rare Earth by Ward and Brownlee, “The Surprising Importance of Plate Tectonics” to try to understand why we have earthquakes and whether they do any good as far as life on earth is concerned.
Actually, I find that the phenomena of plate tectonics is very important to the development and maintenance of life on earth!
The earth has a core of solid iron, but the outer part of the core is liquid iron heated above the melting point by radioactive isotope degeneration. Outside of that is a vast amount of liquid magma, which we know as basalt. Convection currents in this liquid, overheated, basalt cause the hottest parts to rise to the surface where it cools and becomes more dense or actually solidifies. Then, the more dense basalt sinks into the earth causing movement of the liquid and convection currents. The rising and sinking of basalt is called “subduction.” This “boiling” motion causes movement in the thin, outer crust of the earth, and huge chunks move around much as a scum of congealed liquid might move about in a pot boiling on the kitchen stove. The movement of these crustal elements is what geologists call “plate tectonics.” These moving plates colliding with one another are the cause of earthquakes. The collisions cause the rise of parts of the earth’s crust and the formation of continents and linear mountain ranges. Without plate tectonics, we would not have any dry land on earth.
As the hot basalt rises to the surface of the earth, it sometimes breaks forth into the atmosphere causing volcanoes. These volcanoes occur dozens of times every year; and they usually do not do any harm; but they receive lots of media coverage. A volcano discharges huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; and are the main sources of greenhouse gasses that allow the maintenance of warmth from the sun to remain on our earth—without this CO², the earth would be a frigid, frozen, place, where life would be impossible. Volcanoes are the primary source of greenhouse gasses on the earth.
As the earth spins, and the inner core of solid and liquid iron lags behind the spin of the earth, a magnetic field is created around the planet. This magnetic field protects the earth from the bombardment of vast numbers of subatomic particles that are racing through outer space. The particles are electrons, protons, and helium nuclei that emanate from the sun and from star explosions in distant areas of the universe. These particles would kill off all life on earth if they were not prevented from doing that by earth’s magnetic field.
The movement of tectonic plates also contributes to the growth of bacteria in the oceans of the planet. This happens because of the recycling of nutrients into the oceans of the planet—these nutrients are necessary for the growth of microscopic life forms. Bacteria and other microorganisms are the source of oxygen in our atmosphere which allow the development and growth of complex animal life. We are indebted to plate tectonics for the presence of an oxygen-rich atmosphere, which allows and facilitates the animal life on this planet.
WE COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT EARTHQUAKES!!
Actually, I find that the phenomena of plate tectonics is very important to the development and maintenance of life on earth!
The earth has a core of solid iron, but the outer part of the core is liquid iron heated above the melting point by radioactive isotope degeneration. Outside of that is a vast amount of liquid magma, which we know as basalt. Convection currents in this liquid, overheated, basalt cause the hottest parts to rise to the surface where it cools and becomes more dense or actually solidifies. Then, the more dense basalt sinks into the earth causing movement of the liquid and convection currents. The rising and sinking of basalt is called “subduction.” This “boiling” motion causes movement in the thin, outer crust of the earth, and huge chunks move around much as a scum of congealed liquid might move about in a pot boiling on the kitchen stove. The movement of these crustal elements is what geologists call “plate tectonics.” These moving plates colliding with one another are the cause of earthquakes. The collisions cause the rise of parts of the earth’s crust and the formation of continents and linear mountain ranges. Without plate tectonics, we would not have any dry land on earth.
As the hot basalt rises to the surface of the earth, it sometimes breaks forth into the atmosphere causing volcanoes. These volcanoes occur dozens of times every year; and they usually do not do any harm; but they receive lots of media coverage. A volcano discharges huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; and are the main sources of greenhouse gasses that allow the maintenance of warmth from the sun to remain on our earth—without this CO², the earth would be a frigid, frozen, place, where life would be impossible. Volcanoes are the primary source of greenhouse gasses on the earth.
As the earth spins, and the inner core of solid and liquid iron lags behind the spin of the earth, a magnetic field is created around the planet. This magnetic field protects the earth from the bombardment of vast numbers of subatomic particles that are racing through outer space. The particles are electrons, protons, and helium nuclei that emanate from the sun and from star explosions in distant areas of the universe. These particles would kill off all life on earth if they were not prevented from doing that by earth’s magnetic field.
The movement of tectonic plates also contributes to the growth of bacteria in the oceans of the planet. This happens because of the recycling of nutrients into the oceans of the planet—these nutrients are necessary for the growth of microscopic life forms. Bacteria and other microorganisms are the source of oxygen in our atmosphere which allow the development and growth of complex animal life. We are indebted to plate tectonics for the presence of an oxygen-rich atmosphere, which allows and facilitates the animal life on this planet.
WE COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT EARTHQUAKES!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Pro-Life Democrat? An Oxymoron!
When Rep. Bart Stupak (D., Mich.) caved in to Pesident Obama and agreed to vote for the health care bill, he gave up the high ground of his “Pro-Life” stand and did irreparable damage to the cause of life in this country. Rep. Stupak agreed to lead his band of six supposedly Pro-Life Democrat congressmen to the drum beat of the Democrat majority in the House. The six agreed to vote for the pro-abortion health care bill if President Obama would agree to make an executive order to prohibit abortions in Federally funded community health centers.
This ploy by pro-abortion Democrats is a farce. It will never prevent abortions for the following reason. All that will be necessary for this executive order to be rescinded is for NARL Pro-Choice America to sponsor a woman demanding an abortion to apply at a community health center. Her request will be initially denied because of the executive order; then the woman will sue the center arguing that abortion is a part of health care. Given the legal precedents and the lack of a specific ban in the actual legislation, the courts will likely agree, and the executive order will be declared null and void.
Planned Parenthood and even the radical pro-abortion Representative, Dianna DeGette of Colorado are in favor to this false promise of the Democrat leadership of the House. Their obvious reason is that they know that they have won even one more legislative victory for more and more abortions in our country.
Well…we will live and learn, I suppose. Never trust a Democrat who claims to be Pro-Life!
This ploy by pro-abortion Democrats is a farce. It will never prevent abortions for the following reason. All that will be necessary for this executive order to be rescinded is for NARL Pro-Choice America to sponsor a woman demanding an abortion to apply at a community health center. Her request will be initially denied because of the executive order; then the woman will sue the center arguing that abortion is a part of health care. Given the legal precedents and the lack of a specific ban in the actual legislation, the courts will likely agree, and the executive order will be declared null and void.
Planned Parenthood and even the radical pro-abortion Representative, Dianna DeGette of Colorado are in favor to this false promise of the Democrat leadership of the House. Their obvious reason is that they know that they have won even one more legislative victory for more and more abortions in our country.
Well…we will live and learn, I suppose. Never trust a Democrat who claims to be Pro-Life!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
SAVE THE UIGHURS
The Uighurs are a tribe of Turkik, Muslim, people who live in East Turkestan (also known as the Uighur Autonomous Region); and for decades they have been the victims of systematic human-rights abuses at the hands of the Chinese government.
In November, 20 Uighurs, including two children, escaped their homeland and sought asylum in Cambodia. Initially, the Cambodian Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that it would cooperate with them and offer them asylum. However, two days later, these poor people were declared “illegal entrants,” handcuffed, and detained. On 19 December 2009, a Chinese plane, under cover of darkness, departed the Phenom Penh airport carrying the 20 escapees back to China, where they will undoubtedly be mistreated severely, as former escapees from that country have been treated. Chinese practice has been to declare such persons criminals without any proof of that charge.
Why did this happen? Cambodia is the recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars of aid from China and $1 billion in foreign direct investment from China. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called China Cambodia’s “most trustworthy friend.”
Hmmm...! I wonder, could this deportation of 20 Uighurs be due to a bribe? Let us remember that as these poor people are abused unjustly, so are we, fellow members of the human race.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of your friends or of your own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” John Donne 1572-1631
In November, 20 Uighurs, including two children, escaped their homeland and sought asylum in Cambodia. Initially, the Cambodian Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that it would cooperate with them and offer them asylum. However, two days later, these poor people were declared “illegal entrants,” handcuffed, and detained. On 19 December 2009, a Chinese plane, under cover of darkness, departed the Phenom Penh airport carrying the 20 escapees back to China, where they will undoubtedly be mistreated severely, as former escapees from that country have been treated. Chinese practice has been to declare such persons criminals without any proof of that charge.
Why did this happen? Cambodia is the recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars of aid from China and $1 billion in foreign direct investment from China. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called China Cambodia’s “most trustworthy friend.”
Hmmm...! I wonder, could this deportation of 20 Uighurs be due to a bribe? Let us remember that as these poor people are abused unjustly, so are we, fellow members of the human race.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of your friends or of your own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” John Donne 1572-1631
Saturday, March 6, 2010
DOES ABORTION REALLY HURT WOMEN?
YES! It most certainly does. There are six ways in which abortion injures the female sex:
First, with abortion easily and readily available, as well as socially acceptable, it is easier than ever for men to exploit women. Men do not have to live with the decision to abort—women do. Women are ultimately responsible for killing the innocent life within them; and they do not take failure of that responsibility lightly.
Second, abortion separates women from their reproductive potential. In effect, it de-sexes them. Abortion erodes the natural pride which women enjoy in being able to conceive and bear children—a creative wonder which no man can duplicate.
Third, through abortion, women are being abandoned by a society which has no patience for a problem unique to women—an unplanned pregnancy. The young, pregnant, and unmarried woman is being pushed out of school, the family, the home, and friendship links to go it alone and solve her own problems. Abortion, unlike childbirth, is always a lonely process.
Forth, Instead of helping women to be strong, independent and capable of handling their lives in spite of social prejudices against “problem” pregnancies, the expediency of abortion encourages women to be weak, dependent, and incapable of dealing with unexpected challenges. The pro-choice movement says to the woman, “If you want to be equal to a man, you need to have an operation.” This is a bunch of nonsense!
Fifth, there is a significantly higher incidence of depression in women following an abortion.
Sixth, there are physical complications of abortion including the occasional incidence of infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and possibly breast cancer.
Let us not kid ourselves, abortion is not a simple, uncomplicated little operation similar to ear piercing or vaccination. Abortion hurts women.
First, with abortion easily and readily available, as well as socially acceptable, it is easier than ever for men to exploit women. Men do not have to live with the decision to abort—women do. Women are ultimately responsible for killing the innocent life within them; and they do not take failure of that responsibility lightly.
Second, abortion separates women from their reproductive potential. In effect, it de-sexes them. Abortion erodes the natural pride which women enjoy in being able to conceive and bear children—a creative wonder which no man can duplicate.
Third, through abortion, women are being abandoned by a society which has no patience for a problem unique to women—an unplanned pregnancy. The young, pregnant, and unmarried woman is being pushed out of school, the family, the home, and friendship links to go it alone and solve her own problems. Abortion, unlike childbirth, is always a lonely process.
Forth, Instead of helping women to be strong, independent and capable of handling their lives in spite of social prejudices against “problem” pregnancies, the expediency of abortion encourages women to be weak, dependent, and incapable of dealing with unexpected challenges. The pro-choice movement says to the woman, “If you want to be equal to a man, you need to have an operation.” This is a bunch of nonsense!
Fifth, there is a significantly higher incidence of depression in women following an abortion.
Sixth, there are physical complications of abortion including the occasional incidence of infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and possibly breast cancer.
Let us not kid ourselves, abortion is not a simple, uncomplicated little operation similar to ear piercing or vaccination. Abortion hurts women.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Why Women Have Abortions
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, the following reasons are given by women who have abortions. Most women who have abortions provide more than one reason, and almost all of those reasons reflect a lack of practical resources and personal support.
From the latest fact sheet:“Three-fourths of women cite concern for or responsibility to other individuals; three-fourths say they cannot afford a child; three-fourths say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents; and half say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner.”
We can help these women by understanding their needs and helping them surmount them. However, we must also impress upon them that killing an unborn baby does not relieve pain—it only increases it in the long run.
"When a man steals to satisfy hunger, we may safely conclude that there is something wrong in society—so when a woman destroys the life of her unborn child, it is an evidence that either by education or circumstances she has been greatly wronged."
—Mattie Brinkerhoff, The Revolution, 4(9):138-9 September 2, 1869
Let’s all advocate to relieve the pain of unmarried, pregnant, women. WE CAN SAVE LIVES BY DOING THIS!!
From the latest fact sheet:“Three-fourths of women cite concern for or responsibility to other individuals; three-fourths say they cannot afford a child; three-fourths say that having a baby would interfere with work, school or the ability to care for dependents; and half say they do not want to be a single parent or are having problems with their husband or partner.”
We can help these women by understanding their needs and helping them surmount them. However, we must also impress upon them that killing an unborn baby does not relieve pain—it only increases it in the long run.
"When a man steals to satisfy hunger, we may safely conclude that there is something wrong in society—so when a woman destroys the life of her unborn child, it is an evidence that either by education or circumstances she has been greatly wronged."
—Mattie Brinkerhoff, The Revolution, 4(9):138-9 September 2, 1869
Let’s all advocate to relieve the pain of unmarried, pregnant, women. WE CAN SAVE LIVES BY DOING THIS!!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Health Care Industry Profit Margin
It has often been said, lately, especially by President Obama, that the health care industry is taking inordinate amounts of profit from the money it takes in from premium payments paid by its customers. The table below indicates that the health care industry is #86 among other industries in the United States in amount of profit margin. This table was constructed in August 2009 by Mark J. Perry, Professor of Economics and Finance in the School of Management at the University of Michigan. Dr. Perry has a Ph.D. from George Mason University and a MBA from the University of Minnesota. His complete report on this issue can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/nyw78m. (Double click on the table to view it in a zoomed in size.)
It seems to me that, even though, 3.3% of the premium money that goes into health care payments, is a lot of money, this is not an unreasonable amount of profit for an American industry.
It seems to me that, even though, 3.3% of the premium money that goes into health care payments, is a lot of money, this is not an unreasonable amount of profit for an American industry.
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