Have you ever considered why some people can be paid thousands of dollars for a speaking engagement and others not? $30,000 for a thirty minute speech seems ridiculous to most of us yet former politicians and sports figures have no problem doing it. Some columnists have the same problem, fitting all the speaking engagements into their busy schedule while maintaining their real job. Former presidents seem to have a lock on the six figure speaking fees but former President Ronald Reagan holds the record with a $2,000,000 fee from China. Did it matter that he signed a bill giving China “favored” trade status just before leaving office? Of course it didn’t. (wink, wink)

We have spewers of filth selling out to large audiences just to hear them, i.e. Glenn Beck. Former President Clinton has a speaking engagement a month for big bucks. Guess he didn’t like the idea of Hillary being the sole bread winner. Carl Rove is still in demand, as is many CEOs. So I’ve been thinking (I know, bad for the mental health) why some people can say anything and its repeated worldwide but let Joe Q. Public say something and he’s whistling to the wind but Mr. Public has something to say that’s worthwhile, at least to me.

I’ve come to the conclusion that name recognition has something to do with it. When one of the news agencies wants a quote, they pay someone to say it and don’t think they don’t. I’ll admit that I have a name that isn’t recognized even in the town I live in but there are a few readers of my blogs that do recognize it and I thank you for that. I’ve had several glowing responses to my blogs and I even have a few followers (not family). I’ve written several books that were never published and many magazine articles that were; I’ve lost count on how many but my first one was in True West, 1975. I guess if I had put as much effort in publishing as I did practicing the electrical trade, I’d have name recognition but being a construction electrician paid more. I can’t complain, I made a good living (as my ex-wife can attest to with all the credit card bills she ran up) and have many good stories about the trade and construction in general.

But now as I’ve reached 65 years old, yes I’m that old (or young depending on frame of mind), I’ve been thinking about just what I’m leaving behind when I do go (hopefully not for a very long time yet), how people will remember me. I’ve outlived most of my friends, some I’ve known for more than 40 years, and miss them all. I have one friend left and he’s 75 and on his last legs. We still talk occasionally but he has a difficult time remembering me and most times don’t. We’ve both been there for each other, through hard times and good and I’ll always remember the good times. My published articles have since been shoved into the graveyard and can’t be found but I remember them and plan to write a few more in the coming months, right after I move yet again.

I’ve even thought about writing a book about my life (I had one comment that the writer would like to read it), started it a few times but keep putting it off. Now all I hope is that I can finish it and maybe one day my grand kids will read it and say “I remember grandpa and I miss him.” I can’t say that I’ve led an interesting life but I can say that I’ve led a full one. I’ve experienced most of what I’ve wanted to do and there are a few I’d still like to do. I’ve experienced war, love, hate, racism, bigotry, I’ve been broke and had money to spend and through it all, I’ve driven Chevy trucks. There is one thing I can say with utmost confidence, I’ve never written a lie, everything I’ve written has been true and I have believed what I’ve written. There’s been a few times that I’ve wanted to lambaste someone for their asinine statements but I’ve held my tongue for they have a right to their opinion even if I didn’t agree with them.

Perhaps its because someone is ready to slander and defame someone else is the reason their lectures are in demand, just not by me. I prefer to form my own opinions and thoughts, uninfluenced by someone else. My opinion of Barrack Obama was that he was being handled from the sidelines and I was right. His actions of the past eight months has proven that he has to repay someone for his being elected and is doing so at the expense of the American taxpayer. I’d love for someone to pay me $30,000 for a 45 minute speech but there a very slim chnace of that. Maybe in my next life time.

Surprise, surprise, the answer is NO!! That is my position from watching college educated people try to run rough shod over non-college educated people. Specifically, college educated politicians in position of power in Washington D.C. I think it is safe to say that 100% of politicians have graduated from some college, usually one of distinction and renown. I think it is also safe to say that 90% of them are clowns who shouldn’t be allowed to manage a car wash, much less  a government department.

How does a college operate? Simple. A college professor writes a book and then makes it part of his program, thus insuring sales. Now where did that professor get his education? from reading books written by his instructor. Its all about book learning, not practical experience and it is practical experience that makes things work. Here’s an example. In order to get an electrical license, the electrician must know - as in intimately — the National Electrical Code (NEC). He/she must know formulas, calculations, conduit fill, amperage wire sizes and a thousand other need to knows. He/she must have the practical experience to install that conduit, size wires and pull the wires into the coduit. He/she must know, not guess, how to install an electrical system. That is practical experience.

Now, an electrical engineer has spent four years reading about how to do the same thing but doesn’t have the practical experience, they haven’t dug a ditch and installed the conduit, they haven’t pulled one wire and gotten their hands dirty. Yet they have the final say over the job and if they are wrong, the guy/girl in the ditch gets the blame. They don’t have the practical experience.

An aspiring politician has sat through four years of class room work but hasn’t the slightest idea of how the real world works, they lack practical experience. They do know how to rob Peter to pay Paul, juggle accounting books and make themselves look good in order to avoid criticism for the lack of practical knowledge. Just look at our present sitting administration. They have put the United States (read that American citizens) billions of dollars into debt and have the slightest clue as to how we’re going to pay it off. That’s where creative bookkeeping comes in handy. Call it slight of hand, they distract us from the real problem while giving us false hope. Does anyone really think that all this economic stimulas is about the American people. If you do, then get your head out of your a** and smell the roses. Its all about corporate America and bailing them out, not the American taxpayer. Its all about making them a profit at the expense of the age earner.

I must admit that I was anxious to hear how Obama would apply his problem solving skills to our problems as he campaigned for President, only to be disappointed as he plowed right into helping his campaign backers, those who handled him expertly before and after. Obama is now in the White House, for another 3 1/2 years and living the dream of every minority. It is unfortunate that he chose dept heads with little or no street smarts, a prime example of a college education going to waste. Obama is not helping the American people, he is repaying his campaign promises, at our expense. Maybe he can get a refund.

I see the story today about Kanye West and it disgusts me. What ever hapened to modesty? I remember as a kid watching Steve Largent (Seattle Seahawks receiver, Hall of Fame member) getting touchdown after touchdown, and what would he do? Either set the ball down or walk over and hand it to a ref. Asked why no “celebrations”?…(these are my words, but close enough) “because It (the catch) didn’t win a Super Bowl, and It looks like I’ve been there before” (in other words it was no big deal)…now THAT is cool, classy. This crap of looking around for cameras and pulling a sharpie out of your sock to sign a football on national tv isn’t just UNcool, it’s sickening. If you’re good, people will appreciate it, but this ME ME ME stuff..look at ME. I’m sick of it. It’s a darn shame… Ok, I feel better now..hehe…

Many complaints have been made against the educational system, HOWEVER what most people seem to overlook is why it was created in the first place.

During high school, I discovered a startling fact: “Napoleon created the premise of public education for the purpose of conditioning society to be a subservient culture. To follow orders and not question them.”

In the Land of the Free, and Home of the Brave, does this system foster a generation of free thinkers? No, it creates two separate classes of youth:

1. Those who ingest and regurgitate information.

2. Those who rebel against the system.

Very rare is it to see an individual who thinks for them self and can create new and exciting ways to navigate through society.

Just a thought.

Colorado has a “Make My Day” law. In a nut shell, it simply means that you won’t be prosecuted for defending your home, your family or your life with deadly force. It doesn’t mean that you can chase the suspect down in the street and kill him, as one homeowner did. It does mean that if someone breaks into your home with the intent to do you and your family bodily harm and rob you, the homeowner can use deadly force. In other words, blow them out of their socks. While I would prefer to cause them great bodily harm, I would not hesitate to open up with my shotgun at close range. This has two advantages; 1) it is a final solution to a home robbery and 2) the suspect can’t come back and sue for damages (that’s been done on numerous occasions).

While Colorado doesn’t have the shootouts in the streets like some Texas border towns do, we do have our share of home invasions by scumbags looking for easy pickings. I realize that the police can’t be everywhere at all times (they get there after the fact most times), it is realistic that the homeowner be prepared to protect themselves against any eventuality. I have my shotgun handy but I also have my walking stick, a six foot length of Aspen, hard as a rock and can break an arm or bust a head in one easy swing. To quote an old saying, “I’d rather be judged by twelve of my peers than be carried by six of my friends.”

The bad guys of today are getting younger and younger, knowing they can’t be tried as an adult and most likely, at the most, be sentenced to a juvenile detention center until they are twenty-one, will be released and out on the streets to continue their life of crime, often with an advanced degree in crime. Whenever I move into a new place, I always make sure that the neighbors know that I’m armed and will use my firearms; I’ve seldom had trouble from the local hoods. If I’m forced to use deadly force, I won’t apologize for doing so, I won’t feel sorry that someone is dead and I won’t apologize to his family for the loss of their child. They raised him, saw where he was heading and did nothing to turn him around. Some will see that attitude as callus and uncaring. Far from it, I care but my family comes first. If the cops can’t handle the crime rate, it is up to the individual to be prepared to do so and just call them to haul away the trash.

On a national scale, the crime rate has increased, in spite of what the Justice Department says, and more and more homeowners are being caught in the middle. We’ve been told to just call the police and let them handle it but while you’re on the phone, they’re breaking in and terrorizing your family. I have a shotgun and they have automatic weapons, like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Very unequal, unless the shotgun is loaded with turkey loads. That’s nine pieces of lead the size of a small ball bearing going out at over 1,000 ft per second. Now that can do some serious damage and discourage any intruder because they want to rob, not be killed.

We don’t live in the Old West any longer, we’re supposed to be a civilized nation of laws but the only law to date that makes any sense is the Make My Day law. More and more gun laws are passed each day and not one does any good because the criminals ignore them and they just take away yet another right of the law abiding citizen. I, for one, will not live scared in my home behind locked doors and shuttered windows. I will not be made to live in fear of venturing outside and enjoying life. And I refuse to relie on someone who won’t be there in my time of need to protect me and my family, I’ll do it myself and explain later.

Why am I ranting about this subject? because crime is hitting closer and closer to home. A new neighbor just moved in next door and while they were gone, someone broke in and stole a couple of TVs and a laptop computer (I could have told them it was unsafe to live here but they didn’t ask). I don’t believe that I could live anywhere that is completely safe and no one in their right mind would think so either. All one can do is make their home as safe as possible and refuse to live in fear. To that end, I keep my shotgun handy and loaded.