Consider This!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:30 — 9.3MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

Mitt Romney and Barak Obama have two different ways that they want to deal with the current economic situation. Gee, if only there was some was to look at each of their ideas in action before voting for one of them. Well guess what, you’re in luck. Neighbors Virginia and Maryland have had governors taking two different strategies to deal with debt and the economy, and I take a look at how it worked out.

Have you ever wondered why Congress doesn’t reduce spending and balance the budget? That line begins an incredibly informative 5-minute video that explains what the main problem is. If we dissolved the entire federal government, including the military, would we have enough tax revenue to just pay for the promises we’ve made?

And in this episode, I announce that I now have a listener feedback line! It’s as simple as dialing (267) CALL-CT-0 [(267) 225-5280]. (Long distance charges may apply.) Or you can click on the telephone icon on the right. When you click the phone icon, you then enter the phone number you’d like to be called at. Google Voice will call that number, play my voicemail greeting, and then you can leave your comment. Now it’s easier than ever to get in touch. Give me a call today!

Mentioned links:

McDonnell ahead of O’Malley

United States Budget Dilemma

Top 10 Percent of Earners Paid 71 Percent of Federal Income Taxes

Read the rest of this entry

Filed under: Budget & Spending • Economics & Taxes • Government

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:42 — 9.4MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

Not one for the kiddos, just an FYI. I’m keeping my PG rating, but it’ll be more PG than usual.

An international symposium in Dublin, Ireland of medical experts put out a statement saying that abortion, on its own, is never medically necessary to save the life of the mother. This should have far-reaching implications in the abortion debate.

After last week’s topic on the normalization polygamy, this week we have a story showing support for calling pedophilia a “sexual orientation”. While the act is still frowned upon (for now), if you change the vocabulary, you change the culture. Homosexual activists have been insisting that sexual orientation is akin to being left-handed or blue-eyed. If you’re born that way, no one can criticize it. Well, if that’s true, where are we heading with pedophilia?

Mentioned links:

Forum in Dublin on maternal health

Born This Way: Sympathy and Science for Those Who Want to Have Sex with Children

Read the rest of this entry

Filed under: Abortion • Human Sexuality • Pedophilia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:07 — 8.9MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

Just two topics this time around. I got a little wordy.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is another international treaty to come out of that august body that, while it is ostensibly one with good intentions, allows the UN to override national sovereignty. Want to homeschool your disabled child? A UN committee might decide otherwise.

In 2004, President of the Human Right Campaign Cheryl Jacques was asked why her groups advocacy for same-sex marriage would not lead to polygamy. Her well-considered answer was, “I don’t approve of that.” Well, what she doesn’t approve of has happened, and the liberal paper The Guardian is asking about the next stop down the slippery slope; why not marriage of 3, or 4, or 17? Slippery slope arguments are worthless, except when they aren’t.

Mentioned links:

UN Treaty Dangers are Real: A Response to Sen. Rockefeller

Reject The UNCRPD

Another U.N. Convention That Poses Threats to U.S. Sovereignty

Polygamy Is Dead End for Homosexual Advocates

Why shouldn’t three people get married?

My personal blog’s entries on Polygamy

First Trio “Married” in The Netherlands

Read the rest of this entry

Filed under: Marriage • Polygamy • United Nations

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:00 — 9.7MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

This time, I’m back with a variety of topics, all coming to you in 10 minutes or less.

Todd Aiken talked about “legitimate rape”, and certainly got his 15 minutes (actually, 48 hours) of fame. Conservative and liberal pundits pilloried him for it. But when a liberal tried to make the exact same distinction, conservatives tried to point that out, while liberals … well, let’s just say they were considerably less outraged (i.e. hardly noticed). For the Left, it’s always political.

A study in 2006 of the charitable giving habits of conservatives vs. liberals showed that if you believe it’s your job to help take care of those who can’t help themselves, you will give more of your money and time to charities. Likewise, if you think it’s the government’s job, you’re less likely to be so giving. A new study has come out looking at this issue, and the results are, well, shall we say “unsurprising”.

Do you need a government permit to be charitable? I’m not even talking about running a soup kitchen; I’m talking about handing out free water. Apparently, in Phoenix, Arizona, yes, you do.

What do you think about Todd Aiken, charitable giving, or intrusive government. Leave a comment and join the conversation.

Mentioned links:

The View’s Whoopi Goldberg on Polanski: ‘It Wasn’t Rape-Rape’

The View’s Whoopi Goldberg on Polanski ‘It Wasn’t Rape Rape’ (video)

Smashing the Charity Stereotypes

Who Gives and Who Doesn’t?

Study: Red states more charitable

Valley woman told she could not hand out free bottled water in summer heat

Phoenix Christians Forbidden to Give Out Free Water

Read the rest of this entry

Filed under: Charity • Economics & Taxes • Elections • Media • Partisanship

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:31 — 9.3MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

Welcome to episode 10 of “Consider This!”, something of a milestone (if only a psychological one). Thanks for listening for lo these…2 months.

In this episode, I’m focusing on the choice of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s vice presidential running mate. I’m thrilled with the choice, and this episode explains why.

Romney has had some issues with his conservative credentials, but Paul Ryan, if he’s allowed to shine and if Romney picks up on his economic themes (since, after all, Romney is the top of the ticket), this will be a great campaign, and a great presidency. The economy is the main issue, and Ryan has done his homework.

Of course, Democrats are grading that homework all over again. The Ryan budget plan has gone through a few changes, even some bipartisan ones, but it’s still constantly demagogued by opponents. They’re trotting out some of the same misinformation they did when it was first proposed, particularly regarding Medicare, and I go down a list of talking points that, by now, have been debunked.

And William Galston, writing at The New Republic (a left-leaning magazine/website) points out himself that, even though he doesn’t like the Ryan plan, demagoging Medicare changes will only mean that, should Obama win, he won’t be able to touch it. That’s not a good thing because, as Galston realizes, something has to change or it will either bankrupt us or go bankrupt itself. It must be on the table.

What do you think of the Paul Ryan pick? Let me know as a comment here or e-mail me at considerthis@ctpodcasting.com.

Mentioned links:

Paul Ryan Takes Apart Obamacare in 6 Minutes

It Begins: Democrats Repeat ‘Lie of the Year’ on Medicare

Networks Falsely Paint Ryan as Spending Cutter Who Could ‘Destroy’ Medicare

Romney’s right: Obamacare cuts Medicare by $716 billion. Here’s how.

Obama In November 2009: Right, One-Third Of ObamaCare Funding Comes From Cuts To Medicare

Why Demogoguing Paul Ryan is Bad For Democrats

Federal Spending: Ryan vs. Obama

You can listen to “Consider This!” on the Blubrry Network if you like. You can find podcasts and save them to your list, and come back anytime and listen to the latest episodes.

The Stitcher Network is another possibility. Again, you can find podcasts, add them to your favorites, and then either listen to them on the web site, stream them to your smart phone, or to some snazzy GM, Ford, and now BMW car. If you do download Stitcher to your phone, please use the promo code “ConsiderThis” to let them know where you heard about it.

Of course, you can always subscribe via iTunes as well. And please leave a comment letting them know how you like it. I have it on good authority that podcasters love it when listeners leave iTunes comment, or comments on the show notes.

Filed under: Economics & Taxes • Elections

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:36 — 9.3MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

Now that the Olympics are over, and burning questions have been answered, like the controversy over Gabby Douglas’ hair, we can sit back and discuss the simpler questions of life, like global warming and voter fraud.

The United States is leading the world in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Yes, even without signing on to the Kyoto Protocol, if such a thing could be imagined. And it’s getting worse in Europe where cap-and-trade schemes are making the switch away from coal make less and less economic sense. But the carbon credit brokers are getting paid, so that must make it all OK.

The Norm Coleman / Al Franken election in Minnesota was decided by fewer votes than the number of felons who illegally voted. Voter fraud isn’t an issue? Really?

A new book by a guy with a front-row seat to the economic meltdown says that Ben Bernanke, even though he was a student of the Great Depression, and recognized the mistakes that the federal government made to extend the length of it, made the very same mistakes he promised Milton Friedman he wouldn’t repeat. Ah, just one more broken promise from this administration.

Mentioned links:

Inside the strange world of ‘green energy’ politics and how it’s ruining the US

Global carbon-dioxide emissions increase by 1.0 Gt in 2011 to record high

York: When 1,099 felons vote in race won by 312 ballots

Fed study says Bush and the banks didn’t cause the Great Recession. The Fed did

Filed under: Climate Change • Economics & Taxes • Voter ID

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:00 — 9.7MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

I’ll have 1 chicken brouhaha, please.

Back from vacation, it’s time for another episode. Niagara Falls was wonderful, thank you very much.

I start out with a run-down of the Chick-Fil-A / same-sex marriage brouhaha. Apparently, businesses are not allowed to have CEO’s with opinions. (Or at least, the  wrong opinions).

The tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado should have the blamed placed where it belong; on the shooter, not on the gun. If only the theater had been a gun-free zone. Oh, wait…

Seven states have begun Medicare prescription drug rationing. Why do we think it’ll be any different with ObamaCare(tm)?

Mentioned links:

PleaseRobMe.com

‘Guilty as charged,’ Cathy says of Chick-fil-A’s stand on biblical & family values

With Chick-fil-A fight, progressive mayors get their ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ moment

Evolve: Obama gay marriage quotes

Rahm Emmanuel: Christian Chick-fil-A bad, anti-semitic Nation of Islam good

“Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day” Facebook page

Rick Warren: Chick-fil-A’s owner told me they set a new world record in sales today

‘Hateful,’ ‘day of intolerance’ Chick-fil-A restaurants across nation provide water … for protesters

Rationing Begins: States Limiting Drug Prescriptions for Medicaid Patients

The Right To Shoot Back: Another “Gun-Free-Zone” Fail

Filed under: Government • Gun Control • Health Care • Homosexuality • Human Sexuality • Marriage • Same-sex Marriage

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:27 — 8.3MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

I’m back with an Olympic sprint through politics and culture.

When you’re speaking out against voter ID laws, do you see the irony when you ask the people who come to present their ID?

Over 46,000 Canadians left their utopian health care system to get help elsewhere, most coming here. With ObamaCare waiting in the wings, where will those poor souls go?

Calling Dave Ramsey. Intervention required in San Bernadino, California, where the 3rd city this month has gone bankrupt.

Mentioned links:

Dodge for Sentate

Journalists Required To Show IDs at Eric Holder’s Talk On The Evil of IDs

We Want Voter ID: Objections and Responses

Report: Thousands fled Canada for health care in 2011

SAN BERNARDINO GOES UNDER

Trash Collection Expected To Drop During San Bernardino Fiscal Crisis

Media Voice Overs (Wayne Henderson)

Filed under: Canada • Economics & Taxes • Government • Health Care • Voter ID

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:42 — 9.4MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

This time, we’re back to an eclectic mix of stories.

Estonia was hit worse than Greece in the financial crisis of 2008, but they’re coming back in a big way, better than most of Europe. What’s the secret to their success?

Throw a party, play games, and learn all about food stamps. That’s the way the USDA would like seniors to sell the SNAP program.

We have a new game called “Name That Quote”. See if you can guess who said it. I give points for getting in the ballpark, but you’ll be surprised which ballpark you have to go to.

And finally, the back stories of a couple of actors you may know, that sound like a movie script they may have acted in. But this was their life.

Mentioned links:

Estonia Uses the Euro, and the Economy is Booming

The Right Mix for Reaching Seniors (PDF)

There is ‘No Place Better’ Than Church to Talk About Political Issues

Filed under: Economics & Taxes • Entitlements • Europe • Government • Interesting • Religion

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:00 — 9.7MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS

I take a more in-depth look at what’s wrong with ObamaCare, what the Supreme Court ruling on it means for your freedom (and your wallet), and what the Republican alternative would be (an alternative that has been around for quite some time).

If the only way it’s constitutional is if it’s a tax, why does the administration continue to defend it as not at tax? What was the actual purpose of the Commerce Clause? What’s so different about giving Congress this new taxing power anyway? These and other questions are discussed

And history has been made as I answer the first bit of listener feedback! Thus, finally, the podcast begins to be more of a discussion. Bertis gets the prize for being the first. What’s the prize you ask? You’re reading it.

Mentioned links:

White House: Mandate not a tax, but a choice

WH CHIEF OF STAFF: IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT WE ARGUED HEALTH CARE REFORM IS A TAX IN COURT — IT’S NOT A TAX

Thomas Dissents: It’s All Unconstitutional

A Plan For Replacement

Filed under: Economics & Taxes • Government • Health Care • Judiciary