http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?zone=AB_DailyReport_Thursday&lID=&sID=&ms=&cID=Z&aID=111718.54928.123844&page=1

I may not understand all the ins-and-outs of unions, but I do know they tend to hurt organizations.  They may have had a time in our history, and I do believe workers deserve certain rights and should be able to stand up for themselves when needed, but the cost of and corrupt nature that has become unions have made me an avid “union-hater”.

http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?zone=AB_DailyReport_Thursday&lID=&sID=&ms=&cID=Z&aID=111718.54928.123844&page=1

The above link came to my inbox from the Arkansas Business daily update.

Obviously the article has special importance in Arkansas as Arkansans are “real proud” of their Wal-Mart. 

But the lesson to be learned spans beyond our small state’s borders and are far bigger than Canada.  It seems that if you own a business, and that business is failing you may have to rethink a shut down-if you employ union workers.

A Wal-Mart in Canada is being sued for closing its doors not long after its employees filed to be a union.  Did the company close for this reason alone?  Probably not.  But, if the company was already hurting, then they find out their employees have unionized, might they have projected even lower profits?  You betchya!  Should a company not be able to close down if they are failing and expect/project even bigger drops in profit due to new expenses (i.e. unions)?  And here I thought businesses were suppose to MAKE money (it sure does help when it comes to writing pay checks), I guess that little necessity does not matter to unions.

It is a shame that so many people have lost their jobs, not to mention the indirect costs to that particular economy because Wal-Mart understands something our crackpot government cannot understand…unions are bad for business.  Good luck to WM in their legal battles.

The text below is a diary I posted while the first bailout was being discussed.  At the time, I wrote this very obviously as a joke, I along with many others needed a laugh because the whole bailout business had my heart rate up, and my moral down.  Of course it was also meant to point out what all rational thinkers knew…if you start bailing people out where does it end?  And, of course we were right, the bailout (ie the socializing of our banks, auto industry, insurance companies, etc) has just begun.  But who would have thought the PORN industry actually would be on the list?  (Seriously, can you imagine what the porn industry will be if the government is in control…)                                               http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/politics/porn-bailout-solution/

I have one thing to say:  If they get the bailout, I want a percentage.  My diary clearly gave them the (idea)audacity to request the money.  Even if this is a publicity stunt….well my background is in PR, and I think I would like some compensation.  Heck, if the bailout does not go through, the publicity alone should earn me a little compensation.  —Pay up Flynt!

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(original diary)

I have just been informed in an early breaking news story that the porn industry is in desperate need of a government bailout. This truly is a sad story, as the dilema remains; does the government throw millions of dollars with no restrictions or let all those hundreds of men and women who have given their life (and very important body parts) to the industry be without work?

Obviously we cannot just leave hundreds of men and women without jobs. They have pumped money and silicon into their career and the government must take care of them! What would they do? Where would they go? I mean how many more people can be kicked from this type of career to end up working at an adult video store or novelty shop?

But what exactly is the porn industry in need of? Why are they facing an economic crisis?

First, due to the brainwashed following of Obama, many guys have not been paying their web-based pornography bills. Obama should have known this was going to happen, as a matter of fact I hear that Bill Clinton in a meeting with Obama, WARNED him of this very thing. Obama MUST now have a plan, articulate this plan, and be ready to put it into place on day one.

Second, the health care industry for porn stars and even porn amateurs must be reformed immediately. It is health care that is impeding on new “recruits” if you will, to enter the pornography field. As current stars age, how can they possibly be replaced when a reported 14 million Americans are unable to get the augmentation necessary to enter the field? And, with STD’s at an all time high, we are finding stars to be out on medical leave more frequently and for longer periods of time. Current government policy does not cover this much leave, so it is left to the employer to cover the time off. Many times this could put production behind by weeks. And often the ladies and even the men must make trips to D.C. to try and make money under the table just to be able to put platform stilettos on their feet and leather thongs no their rear.

Finally, as the generation that is now lovingly being referred to as the boom-boom-boomers (porn stars over the age of 30) retire; we must find a way to assist them. Social security alone cannot possibly handle this onslaught of aged people. The porn industry itself just was not prepared for these literally hundreds of people to exit the work force. Porn producers are trying to keep these stars on a bit longer while hoping health coverage will catch up with the overwhelming need for implants, lypo, etc. for up and coming stars. But, as many can probably realize, it is just unfair, cruel even to ask someone at the age of 31 or even up to 34 years old to continue to work in this way. Not to mention that there is a direct relation between a drop in viewership and pornography featuring women of this dismal age.

All of this leads us to question, what is wrong with our country when a 17 or 18 year old woman cannot afford the proper breast augmentation? When will the government realize the need for these men and women to have the proper funds available to receive the right antibiotics so they are out of work for 2 weeks rather than six or eight? It is time to handle this problem…the question remains what is the government going to do? Will they throw money without restrictions? Or will they enlist the help of Eliot Spitzer and Bill Clinton to personally tackle this situation? Only time will tell.

Disclaimer….

I am about as Conservative as any 29 year old could hope to be.  By the grace of God I was born a Conservative, then by the grace of my wonderful mother, who taught me how to think I have managed to stay that way.  Even while my friends seem to be dropping like flies in to the fiery hell that is Liberalism.

However, I am a bit of an environmentalist, just not in the sense of the word that has come to be environmentalists today.  I have always been an avid animal lover (we have had strays in our house that range from dogs to cats, to horses, ferrets, any and ever type of amphibian and reptile) have, since a very early age promoted less consumption, etc.  I don’t eat meat.  I am left with very little trash at the end of the week because I am a recycle-nazi, etc., etc., etc.  In other words I was an environmentalist before Gore made it “cool”.   I don’t believe in man-made global warming, I don’t believe in the environmental “whacko” movement, I don’t believe it is up to the government to tax/police individuals in their homes regarding the planet.  I some how manage to look at the science and conclude that this Earth that has survived so much cannot possibly be destoyed by a couple of billion humans.

I cannot seem to get where the liberals are coming from on their policies, tax ideas, regarding “saving the planet”.  Of course I will openly admit that I have a major flaw in my thinking…I assume all people are rational, but we all know rational is not something you can assume about a liberal.

It still does not seem to cease to amaze me at how backwards the thought process of the liberal (progressive?) movement continues to be.  There seems to be the ever growing notion that raising taxes and ever increasing government spending will save us all from any/all crisis.  We are currently trying to spend ourselves into debt that we have never seen before to save our economy.  All the while state-after-state is looking to raise taxes for environmental purposes. 

In Arkansas for instance, clean coal plants and the Fayettville shale project have both been taken major hits due to the environmental movement.  We are talking possible jobs, lower cost energy, and economic growth in general.  But clean coal is not clean enough.  Drilling for natural gas may endanger that Ivory Billed Woodpecker…or something like that.

So, what is the consequence?  Higher prices.  Even while natural gas prices fall, in Arkansas our price has gone up with tax increases.  We have to save the environment right? But at what cost?  Liberals are suppose to be standing up for the “little guy”.  So what happens to the little guy when the cost of energy continues to rise?  All people need energy.  They need to put gas in their cars.  They need heat/air for their homes.  They need some form of energy to be able to cook, to be able to simply exist in their homes. 

Suddenly those people don’t matter.  I have done the math, and in Arkansas you can live a comfortable but simple life on about $17,900/year (if you do not have children).  Rent runs about $525/average, utilities total about $250/month on average, if you have a car, car insurance, some health insurance, etc, the basics you can live on a pretty lean budget. 

These are the people however who simply cannot afford increases in their fuel or to heat/air their home.  Cost increases on such things don’t hurt the Walton’s or the Dillard’s…but it does hurt the middle-class and lower-class people and families.  I find this to be outragious.  The idea that “saving” the planet by price gauging the very things we All need hurts me to my very core.  Raising the taxes on such things of course all raises the cost on other things we all need, like food and other groceries.

Suddenly the middle to lower-class families don’t matter so much to Gore, Pelosi, Edwards, etc.  Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) is going from state-to-state to “help” assist them in developing a strategy to combat global warming in their state.  To use their services however you must assume man-made global warming is in fact factual, not theoretical.  They do not offer both sides of the coin.

Bottom line, in government in general and especially within the Liberal thought (or lack of) respond first, don’t consider consequences.  We are doing it with the “bail out”, we did it with ethanol, we are doing it with the great new light bulbs which by the way contain Mercury, and we we working our way there with the idea that we must save the planet from man-made global warming.

Try asking a Liberal what will happen in 12 years when our landfills are full of these Mercury lightbulbs.  The bulbs may not have enough Mercury to harm you (though you have to call in hazmat if you break one) but THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS filling our landfills in a few years?  I wonder what the consequences may be for people when they are taxed into the poorer poor house for the good of the environment?

I wonder when anyone in “power” will think these things through?

Let me first open by saying a very Merry Christmas to all.  Merry Christmas in the federal holiday sense of the word.  Merry Christmas in my personal belief that ”Christ the Savior is born”.  And finally, Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends, and to the Muslims Kul ‘am wa enta bi-khair! 

Christmas as the federal holiday, started by Grant in 1870 is meant to be a time of peace, reflection, and goodwill to all.  The government does not promote any specific belief, Christian or otherwise, but has adopted a federal holiday to allow all to celebrate Christmas however they feel necessary.

I personally celebrate Christmas on two levels; one is as a Christian, in which I attend church several times during the week (even now as a non-denominational, I attend the Catholic church where I was raised because no one does a Christmas Eve mass like Catholics) and I am especially mindful of the gifts I have been given by my Savior, and two is as a person who enjoys giving gifts, gathering with my family, extending special greetings for friends, and doing a little more for those less fortunate.

Most Americans celebrate some sort of holiday/Christmas as I described above,  all mean the same thing on some level…Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men, gathering with family, being thankful for the gifts that have been afforded to them.

Then, there are some who for the life of me find all of this quite offensive.  My Jewish friends do not find me wishing them a Merry Christmas offensive, they know that I am Christian but that I am a) not trying to force my belief system on them and b) that I mean this statement in the general terms of happy holiday season that has been called Christmas for about 140 years.  I always send a Hanukkah card to my Jewish friends, because I respect and appreciate their belief system.

These folks that find Christmas so offensive, headed it would seem by the Freedom For Religion Foundation, do not afford me the same respect or appreciation.  They want to push their belief system on me.  I do not mind symbols of belief systems representing the applicable holiday being set up in state buildings.  I do not believe that only a nativity scene should appear…I believe any recognized religious sect should be able to proudly display their symbol representing their holiday of peace and goodwill at this time of year.

While many “believers” may not agree with these “free thinkers”, just as they do not agree with believers, most respect their position.  Our nativity scene does not consist of a banner reading, “Jesus was born in order to save only believers in him from fiery hell, anyone who does not believe this is worthless”.  So, to put a banner in state buildings degrading people who have any sort of belief system, is nothing but intentionally offensive.

Billboards on roadsides specifically denouncing people of faith, are meant to be intentionally offensive to those who do not believe…or lack belief as you do.

So I ask all “free thinkers” to re-evaluate your position.  If some Christian, Jew, or government official has come to your home and forced you to church I apologize.  If your state government allows signs condemning you to hell for your lack of belief, I encourage you to work to take that down.

But, to intentionally offend a belief system that today promotes peace, goodwill, forgiveness, not killing, not stealing, not committing adultery, etc…well it is offensive, and you are not promoting your belief but degrading those who do not believe as you.

Christmas the federal holiday is here to stay!  If you would like to add some sort of chrystal mobile of beakers and Al Gore’s face to your local government building, the government cannot stop you.  We are all free to worship as we see fit, and the government promotes this freedom by having a federal holiday that allows us to do so. 

The bottom line is, what is Christmas the federal holiday with out freedom OF religion?  Why light up the state capitol, put up a pretty tree, exchange gifts, give to Salvation Army, get a day off from work.  It is the Christian theology that this country was founded on that celebrates Christmas which lead to the federal holiday.  This holiday allows you to celebrate in any way you want.  I like to drink mimosas, go to church, spend time with family.  Maybe you like to do something equally “immoral”, that is your right.  But, the infringement on those celebrating Christmas, whether secular or religious is an attack on Americans.  FFRF are welcome to celebrate or not celebrate “christmas” however desired…that is the right afforded to you by the Consitution, all other Americans have that same right.

Oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I have just been informed in an early breaking news story that the porn industry is in desperate need of a government bailout. This truly is a sad story, as the dilema remains; does the government throw millions of dollars with no restrictions or let all those hundreds of men and women who have given their life (and very important body parts) to the industry be without work?

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Much has been aired about Sara Palin. She is supposedly a diva, who shops too much, is not ready on time, does not take direction, and throws temper tantrums.

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I live in the “red” state of Arkansas. We are a strong Christian, conservative bunch, who continuously elect folks like Vic Snyder to Congress. It never ceases to amaze me that a state where folks do not believe in abortion, do not believe in same-sex marriage, has only 13 “wet” counties out of 75, etc, etc, etc, cannot find one viable Republican opponent for Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor, or Vic Snyder. (As an aside, Pryor is a fairly conservative Democrat, Snyder however is a loon).

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Watching Fox News last night, I noticed something very interesting. Almost every male reporter/anchor wore a red tie. By almost, I can honestly say, every SINGLE one that I saw during election coverage, was in fact wearing a red tie.

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While I wore all black today, representing the mourning of my great country. A country that has been the strongest, the best example, of what a capitalist free-market country can be, I mourn for the possible socialist policies ahead. Of most concern to me is socialized health care. This probably is closer to my heart than to some as my husband will be a doctor in about six months, so I have to wonder what our future looks like.

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I have noticed several states, where the race seems fairly close being “called” early in the evening. What bothers me is the percentage of precincts reporting.
At 10:00p.m. central-Iowa is being called for Obama, less than 14% are reporting in that state.
Minnesota is being called for Obama…25% of precincts are reporting and the spread is something like 52% 47% Obama.

How can states with less than half of the voters reporting, especially with the vote being so close be called?

Thanks…I shall now return to drowing my sorrows and planning my move to Cuba

I wonder how many people have done the math on how an Obama tax plan may effect them? I am simply taking into account income taxes. My personal guess is a) Obama cannot lower taxes on 95% of Americans b) that a massive tax cut on lower bracket Americans (if it could happen) would result in other tax increases on the state and local level and c)whether he lowers taxes on 95% of Americans or not….those in upper brackets will pay.

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I am in utter shock when it comes to how well Obama is doing. I have said on RedState before, that I get the young voters. They are naive and are likely in college or right out of, and have thoughts of sugar plum fairies still dancing in their heads in the form of naivity and/or ideology. So, I give a bit of a pass to those 18-24 for being ignorant. Not to mention they are the generation that has grown up in the world of MTV (the CEO made the comment “we don’t have to market to our demo, we own their lives”) youtube, facebook, etc.

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I am sure this was covered at RedState.com. I have not seen anything on it here though, so regardless I will throw out my $.02

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I have been there before and I am sure many of you reading this probably have been there before too.

Even as a young professional, having been in the professional work force only about eight years now, I have run into the problems it seems Palin is running into now.

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My Friends,

We face a most crucial time as we near election day. The next POTUS has an economic crisis, energy issues, environmental issues, and a War On Terror to deal with.
My opponent would have you believe that his relationships, acquantances, etc., don’t matter. He may also have you believe that by talking about his character flaws, I am ignoring the issues.

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I was up on the fence on how I felt about the bailout plan. My thoughts were a)$700 bilions???? b)give the power to “fix” this to the same idiots that got us into this mess and c)there has got to be a better plan.

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I am getting really tired of the “we have lost” comments, blogs, diaries, etc. In every job I have had, I have been something of an “agent of change”. The first thing I tell my co-workers, supervisors, and supporters is to drop the defeatist attitude. The words I cannot stand to hear above any others are, “well that is the way we have always done it” and “we have tried it and it does not work”.

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I have not yet come to terms with how I feel about the bailout. There is the part of me that understands what probably has to happen, then there is the part of me that knows what I would like to see happen.

But this is not about whether we, the tax paying citizens of America should or should not pay for the mistakes that have been made that have lead us to our current situation.

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For the past several days, mainly since the infamous “lipstick on a pig” comment and it’s aftermath, Obama claims he only wants to stick to the issues. He goes on to point out that McCain is trying to distract from the real issues with his attacks on Obama comments. Obama wants to stick to the issues important to America, while McCain and Palin want to distract from the issues.

Oh Really?

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In hearing Obama’s “lipstick remark” a few days ago, I simply rolled my eyes. In my mind, the comment was not a sexist one, but more a quick jab at Sara and her very popular soundbite, “the difference in hockey mom’s and pit bulls”.

Now, he may claim that his comment had nothing to do with Palin and/or her previous lipstick joke, but the audience knew what he was saying and that is clear from their reaction. The left wing bloggers loved it because they could take it as an actual attack on Sara, comparing her to a pig. But, I do not think that Obama was calling her a pig as much as he was poking at her speech. I think it was a cheap shot, I think the left are reveling in it in a different way than Obama meant, and I think it is okay roll eyes and shake heads at his low blow, but then it is time to move on.

I do not think Obama owes an apology. This campaign has and will continue to be full of low blows, cheap shots and quick jabs. McCain would be better off to drop his act of disgust and his attack on this particular Obama comment as being sexist.

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