Monday, April 7, 2014
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Occupy Wall Street? Try Occupying a Mental Hospital
A political activist at heart, I suppose I should get a warm fuzzy feeling inside when I see people trying to take part in the democratic process. There is a new movement in America that you might have heard about: “Occupy Wall Street”. At first I thought this was just a fad, a conglomeration of people that would at best be thought of as populists. Populism reigned supreme in 2008 with the election of Barack Obama, so such a movement of “anti-rich, anti-Wall Street” sentiments is entirely possible.
So it made me curious. What exactly are the demands of these people? A quick overview of what these people want is quite startling, not to mention quite costly. The following is a breakdown, and you can be the judge if these people are legitimate or certifiable. Be forewarned, this is the most socialist propaganda I have ever seen come out of these United States. I would go so far as saying this is borderline communist what they are asking.
Demand 1: $20 per hour minimum wage. There is a jobs killer if I ever saw one. That is the fast track to killing small business. I’m not sure whether I should laugh or throw up in my mouth at that one.
Demand 2: Universal single payer healthcare system, banning private insurance carriers. Who is going to pay for that, and do you want the government being the ultimate decider of your healthcare needs? If businesses cut back on employees due to the $20 minimum wage, then no one is going to pay for this anyway because everyone will be out of a job.
Demand 3: Guaranteed living wage regardless of employment. So what you are saying is someone who chooses not to finish high school or college should be guaranteed a living wage in spite of the fact they are lazy. Way to de-incentivize the “if you work hard you will make more” mentality that has been the cornerstone of the capitalist spirit. Everyone will be paid money to survive regardless of how hard you work. We tried this with communism, and it did not work.
Demand 4: Free college education. Yes, more free money. Everything is free! If that is the case, I am in arrears for 5 years of college education and I want reimbursed the full amount I paid. And I am tagging the government for interest because technically I shouldn’t have paid that money in the first place. They owe me. Again, who is paying for all of this free stuff?
Demand 5: Bring the fossil fuel economy to an end and fast track green energy. Find a viable source of energy that is not going to cost the government billions in tax credits and maybe we will have something to talk about. I am all for finding cleaner energy, but it needs to be cost effective.
Demand 6: One trillion dollars in infrastructure improvements. I see we are taking a page out of the FDR playbook with this one. Let’s spend a trillion dollars to put people to work on a very temporary basis. That is a great plan, let’s spend more of the money (that we don’t have I should point out) to create a momentary bubble of employment. When that bubble ends, let’s spend a trillion more!
Demand 7: Decommission all of our nuclear power plants and let’s spend a trillion dollars on forests and wetlands. First, lumber companies reforest. That is a known fact. Second, this creates no jobs whatsoever. And third, are you serious? Decommission the nuclear power plants? Why not invest in some better ways to eliminate the toxic output of these plants. There are plans in the works to help take care of these problems, but they lack the proper funding. Democrats have a burr up their ass about nuclear power, and it is starting to annoy the hell out of me.
Demand 8: Racial and gender equal rights amendment. Not even going into this one. I’m not sure how much more equal we can make things. You be the judge of that.
Demand 9: Open border migration. Great idea, let’s let the drug dealers in, the terrorists in, and why not just annex the entirety of Mexico while we are at it. You can’t account for these people now. How the hell do you plan to account for them with an open migration policy? Are they paying taxes? Will they be covered under this new socialist healthcare system? Do you people know anything?
Demand 10: Bring American elections up to international standards of a paper ballot precinct counted and recounted in front of an independent and party observers system. Our system of elections is fine in America thank you. As an officer of the Board of Elections locally, I am happy to say our system is pretty good.
Demand 11: Debt forgiveness for all! Whoo!!! Free money! I was irresponsible, and now I am getting a bailout! I see personal responsibility has no meaning to these people. The bailout was wrong for the financial companies, and it is wrong here.
Demand 12: Outlaw all credit reporting agencies. Blah blah blah.
Demand 13: Allow all workers to sign a ballot at any time during a union organizing campaign or at any time that represents their yeah or nay to having a union represent them in collective bargaining or to form a union. Oh yes, we can’t forget the unions. No comment.
Judging by this author, these people are certifiable. They want everything under the sun free and they have no concept of money or personal responsibility. They want the great socialist state where the government is the answer to all of their problems. What a sad situation this has become.
Shame on them. If you want to live in a socialist or even a communist country, there are plenty of them out there that are doing pretty terrible that you can go live in. Yes, America is facing hard economic times, but the answer is not to turn this country into a socialist nanny state.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Monday, July 11, 2011
CPA Exam Edition
Today my letter came from the CPA Examination Services confirming I passed the CPA exam. I had been waiting for this letter since getting the unofficial results back in June, but finally three weeks later the Examination Board finalized those results, proving that I have not been dreaming. The mill stone is no longer around my neck, and my head is no longer on the chopping block as fears of losing an entire summer to studying to make the September deadline fade into memory.
Tonight I hung that letter on the wall next to my degrees from Youngstown State and Ohio State (and my really awesome picture of myself and Karl Rove). The Youngstown State degree had not seen the light of day for almost three years, and the Ohio State degree had not been seen since graduation day 2010. I swore never to put them up until I passed, and a few years later, I can actually see what they look like now.
Coming into June, I honestly did not think I would pass this exam. I cannot sit here and tell you truthfully that I planned on breezing through this because I doubted every step of the way.
After coming out of the Financial Accounting part of the exam feeling like I completely blew it (especially since taking two months of studying nights and weekends to get prepared), I was ready to throw in the towel. I had convinced myself in my mind that I failed because never had I prepared for an exam so hard only to leave feeling like a complete failure.
After taking a month off in preparation for the May Primary and to get mentally back on track, somewhere I found some strength to come back to the studying table for Auditing. Like Rocky in Rocky III, I went back to basics after taking a severe ass kicking by a gigantic Clubber Lang sized exam. I remembered studying for accounting at YSU with my friends Hanna, Angela, Anthony, Cecil, and that entire crew and the time we put in on study guides. Study guides never failed me at YSU, and I knew they wouldn’t fail me on the CPA exam if I applied them correctly.
As an aside, I watched a lot of Rocky during May, as well as Star Wars and the Karate Kid—people doing impossible things. A steady diet of that actually can be a healthy thing.
In the end the study guides did work and Auditing turned out to be my best exam of the four. Financial Accounting was truly the shocker—75 right on the nose. As a near 4.0 student, it is the first time I can honestly say I was happy to get a score that low. If I was a bookie, the odds on my passing that exam in my books would have been 99 to 1. Somehow everything came up Mang that day in Columbus.
I do owe a lot of thanks to family and friends who have been supportive over the last two years. You all believed in me even when I did not believe in myself. We finally got there and it means a lot that you stuck by me when things did not always look so optimistic, both in respects to this license as well as things of a more personal nature. I will not forget those people, and for that (as is custom in Italian culture) there will always be that loyalty.
As another aside, there is more than one young professional in the Mahoning County Republican Party and I did it because I think it is important to have a young professional who is not a lawyer. Sorry lawyers, but there are too many of you in Mahoning County. And in that drive to get a non-lawyer young professional into the Mahoning County GOP, I did that one for my own personal satisfaction.
Of course, a great deal of thanks goes to my Lord and Savior. I may not be the best Christian, but I try to see the good in people and treat people with respect (except when I am driving and people need to be told how badly they do so). Church is important, and someday I will get back into the routine, but I have found too often some of the worst offenders of treating people with disrespect and being nasty have come from the people who refuse to miss a weekly Mass under any circumstance. It is part of why I struggle with the faith to this day.
In some strange way I need to thank Congressman Bill Johnson. We have had our differences, and we still do have our differences. But supposing the 2010 Primary went differently, I might be in Washington today without my license and looking at an uncertain redistricting plan. In retrospect and looking down the road, I might go so far to say that losing that Primary (as hard as it was to swallow) might have been the best thing after all.
But I do wish Congressman Johnson and his staff well in this year and in future years. What’s done is done.
Well, that is the CPA Exam Thank-You Edition. I will leave you with this inspiring quote from a movie we all know and love.
“I do have a test today. That wasn't bullshit. It's on European socialism. I mean, really, what's the point? I'm not European. I don't plan on being European. So who gives a crap if they're socialists? They could be fascist anarchists. It still wouldn't change the fact that I don't own a car. Not that I condone fascism, or any ism for that matter. Isms in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon: "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me." Good point there. After all, he was the Walrus. I could be the Walrus. I'd still have to bum rides off of people.”
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
South Park Has it Right
Perhaps it has been a little while since last writing, but I think this article is long overdue. After watching the mid-season finale of “South Park” last week, I guess Trey Parker and Matt Stone pretty much hit the nail on the head about some things I have believed for some time but really couldn’t express in words: everything is crap. To quote Randy Marsh, “It’s like the same story keeps happening every week, only it keeps getting more ridiculous”. Ignoring the double meaning of this line to the alleged ending of the show, the application of this line to life is remarkably on par to how things continue to progress today.
It amazes me that in 2011 you can learn more from a cartoon than any other program on TV (the news included because regardless of what side of the aisle you are on, it is one opinion and point of view after the other, the actual news end of it be damned). South Park, as crude and outrageous as it can be, is more culturally and politically relevant than anything else you will find on television today, and 90% of the time I usually come away agreeing with the underlying point they are trying to make.
“It’s like the same story keeps happening every week, only it keeps getting more ridiculous”.
Take your pick of topics on this one, but it holds true for everything. Politics—Anthony Weiner? That is both ridiculous and pointless, not to mention just plain sick. And he will not step down despite his sick behavior. Thanks Anthony for setting a new artificial rock bottom, because in politics rock bottom is shattered on an increasingly frequent basis. There’s one more in the book for sexual addiction. A sexually addicted male, yeah, there is a real shocker. Hate to break it to every media figure, political, athletic, or pop cultural, but wanting to have sex is not a medical condition. Rather most guys can control their impulses from doing extremely stupid things. I take that back—many guys can, because there are a lot of guys out there that do extremely stupid things and I am unsure if they are the majority or the minority anymore.
What about sports? What about LeBron James getting his own TV show to determine what HE is going to do picking his new team? You can chalk that up to narcissism and one more self-absorbed, selfish player in sports continuing the trend that we have seen over the last ten years. Plaxico Burress, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Terrell Owens, yes, people I think we all aspire to seeing as great role models.
Popular Culture. I’m not even going to talk too much about this, because I think this angers me more than most. I believe it is a major contributing factor to the cultural decay and amoral wasteland of what we see here in 2011. The media since the late 90s has given people the means, abilities, and licenses to be complete assholes. Respect and courtesy is gone. The family structure has been shot to hell. There is moral flexibility in everything, especially in the professions that claim to adhere to a moral code. It is a complete joke. And as far as the quality of the mass media market, if God had any sense of pity he would come and strike us down to prevent us from seeing one more ridiculous, overblown, and low budget reality TV show.
Technology. In a nutshell, this is my feeling about technology. Yeah, it is cool, and yes, I can use it. But is there really any point? I think technology has gone beyond the point of utility and has crossed into the plane of “ridiculous”. I think the obsession with these new technological “toys” is unhealthy. It doesn’t produce anything, it doesn’t create anything, it is just some form of equipment that we stare at for hours on end.
South Park had it right. Each week things get more and more ridiculous. Sure, some of this stuff may look all glamorous and impressive on the surface, but deep down it is what it always has been for the last two decades: crap.
You can call me a cynic or a pessimist, but forgive me if I look around at the world today and am completely unimpressed with where things are heading. We may live in a small corner of the world, walking around completely oblivious to others, what is happening in our towns, and what is happening in the world, but in the rest of the world things are in complete shambles and it is a very dangerous place. And yet no one seems to know or care, and they go back to listening to their iPod.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
It amazes me that in 2011 you can learn more from a cartoon than any other program on TV (the news included because regardless of what side of the aisle you are on, it is one opinion and point of view after the other, the actual news end of it be damned). South Park, as crude and outrageous as it can be, is more culturally and politically relevant than anything else you will find on television today, and 90% of the time I usually come away agreeing with the underlying point they are trying to make.
“It’s like the same story keeps happening every week, only it keeps getting more ridiculous”.
Take your pick of topics on this one, but it holds true for everything. Politics—Anthony Weiner? That is both ridiculous and pointless, not to mention just plain sick. And he will not step down despite his sick behavior. Thanks Anthony for setting a new artificial rock bottom, because in politics rock bottom is shattered on an increasingly frequent basis. There’s one more in the book for sexual addiction. A sexually addicted male, yeah, there is a real shocker. Hate to break it to every media figure, political, athletic, or pop cultural, but wanting to have sex is not a medical condition. Rather most guys can control their impulses from doing extremely stupid things. I take that back—many guys can, because there are a lot of guys out there that do extremely stupid things and I am unsure if they are the majority or the minority anymore.
What about sports? What about LeBron James getting his own TV show to determine what HE is going to do picking his new team? You can chalk that up to narcissism and one more self-absorbed, selfish player in sports continuing the trend that we have seen over the last ten years. Plaxico Burress, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Terrell Owens, yes, people I think we all aspire to seeing as great role models.
Popular Culture. I’m not even going to talk too much about this, because I think this angers me more than most. I believe it is a major contributing factor to the cultural decay and amoral wasteland of what we see here in 2011. The media since the late 90s has given people the means, abilities, and licenses to be complete assholes. Respect and courtesy is gone. The family structure has been shot to hell. There is moral flexibility in everything, especially in the professions that claim to adhere to a moral code. It is a complete joke. And as far as the quality of the mass media market, if God had any sense of pity he would come and strike us down to prevent us from seeing one more ridiculous, overblown, and low budget reality TV show.
Technology. In a nutshell, this is my feeling about technology. Yeah, it is cool, and yes, I can use it. But is there really any point? I think technology has gone beyond the point of utility and has crossed into the plane of “ridiculous”. I think the obsession with these new technological “toys” is unhealthy. It doesn’t produce anything, it doesn’t create anything, it is just some form of equipment that we stare at for hours on end.
South Park had it right. Each week things get more and more ridiculous. Sure, some of this stuff may look all glamorous and impressive on the surface, but deep down it is what it always has been for the last two decades: crap.
You can call me a cynic or a pessimist, but forgive me if I look around at the world today and am completely unimpressed with where things are heading. We may live in a small corner of the world, walking around completely oblivious to others, what is happening in our towns, and what is happening in the world, but in the rest of the world things are in complete shambles and it is a very dangerous place. And yet no one seems to know or care, and they go back to listening to their iPod.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Why So Serious? A Cynic's Point of View
People say I am too cynical. That is an interesting observation. Someone famous once said “I’m not cynical, I’ve been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years!” Kidding aside, I do not believe people are naturally cynical. I think all people start out as optimists; just contributing circumstances can at times make people question life.
Half the time I feel like I am diving into the shallow end of the pool, expecting there to be more to people and half expecting them to have some kind of substance behind their lives and attitudes aside from the complete superficial, take-no-prisoners-step-on-anyone-to-the-top ambition, and nasty dispositions. People today are a lot nastier than they used to be in case you haven’t noticed, but I think popular culture has given the impression that it is okay and in fact encouraged to treat people like shit—like this is now the new norm.
And alas, every time I dive into the pool expecting something different, I realize the second that I dive in that I made a mistake as my head slams against the concrete.
Unfortunately, it seems like there is no deep end of the pool, but rather the whole damn pool is shallow. You would think after the first handful of skull fractures that you would realize and accept that life and people are naturally this way: mean spirited and shallow. I am really tired of seeing the inner good in someone just to be completely wrong in the end. Or maybe I am not wrong, just sometimes that good is buried deep within a façade that cannot be broken through.
And yet, some part of me still thinks there is some good out there somewhere, which is why I keep cracking my damn head on reality every time I do something, whatever that may be. There are glimmers of hope, but my overall impression of people generally has hit an all time low.
I am not in a bad mood ladies and gentlemen. I am just unimpressed with where things have headed. I am not perfect—some of you have more than pointed that out, some of you have made a long list of everything that is wrong with me. I am not unaware of those things, I am a bigger critic than all of you combined, do not mistake that either.
I am not cynical. I am just let down. If that makes me a cynic, so be it. Most people will not get this article, but to my friends who do read it, I hope you understand.
Half the time I feel like I am diving into the shallow end of the pool, expecting there to be more to people and half expecting them to have some kind of substance behind their lives and attitudes aside from the complete superficial, take-no-prisoners-step-on-anyone-to-the-top ambition, and nasty dispositions. People today are a lot nastier than they used to be in case you haven’t noticed, but I think popular culture has given the impression that it is okay and in fact encouraged to treat people like shit—like this is now the new norm.
And alas, every time I dive into the pool expecting something different, I realize the second that I dive in that I made a mistake as my head slams against the concrete.
Unfortunately, it seems like there is no deep end of the pool, but rather the whole damn pool is shallow. You would think after the first handful of skull fractures that you would realize and accept that life and people are naturally this way: mean spirited and shallow. I am really tired of seeing the inner good in someone just to be completely wrong in the end. Or maybe I am not wrong, just sometimes that good is buried deep within a façade that cannot be broken through.
And yet, some part of me still thinks there is some good out there somewhere, which is why I keep cracking my damn head on reality every time I do something, whatever that may be. There are glimmers of hope, but my overall impression of people generally has hit an all time low.
I am not in a bad mood ladies and gentlemen. I am just unimpressed with where things have headed. I am not perfect—some of you have more than pointed that out, some of you have made a long list of everything that is wrong with me. I am not unaware of those things, I am a bigger critic than all of you combined, do not mistake that either.
I am not cynical. I am just let down. If that makes me a cynic, so be it. Most people will not get this article, but to my friends who do read it, I hope you understand.
Alex
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Of New Year's Eve and 2011 Excellence
After giving it some serious thought, I have decided that when I start working again next week, I am going to dedicate $20 of each paycheck to what I am dubbing “Alex’s New Year’s Fund”. In fact, I plan on opening a new savings account for this designated purpose. So by starting work on January 10th I could plan on having roughly $1,000 at the end of the year, allowing me to fulfill my ultimate goal: get the hell out of Youngstown, OH for New Year’s. With my trusty Priceline account, I am sure I could get a decent room somewhere for a few days and still have enough for food and cover charges into bars that are actually, well, fun and most importantly, not here.
Due to a lack of steady work over the last year, this dream has not been realized, but assuming the stars continue to be aligned correctly, this issue has been resolved. I am looking forward to returning to work.
Let me say that I am not a fan of New Year’s Eve, nor really a fan of New Year’s Day. But putting present circumstances into perspective, it may not be because of the actual day rather than the lack of a good experience here at home. Here in Youngstown, I cannot recall a single outstanding New Year’s Eve where I have thought “You know, this was an awesome time and I can’t wait until next year to do it again”. The whole experience here has been mediocre at best and could explain why I dread the thought of it every year. It almost catches you up in the reality that because the experience sucks you don’t want to go out, but if you stay at home you feel even worse for it. And if you are single, God have mercy on you. Let the day end quick.
New Year’s may be phenomenal someplace else though and that fact has not escaped me, which is why I am putting together this separate savings fund. It may be a rip roaring time somewhere else, and in light of the fact this is probably 100% true, I have no intention of being here next New Year’s Eve, nor any New Year’s Eve subsequent to 2011.
But 2011 is now here, ending a rather unusual but moderately successful 2010. Here’s to better times, a successful, healthy, and fruitful new year, and a big boot to the ass of all that went wrong last year. I know I made several mistakes that I am not going to repeat again, and I hope that whatever mistakes you made you will consider making some adjustments as well. 2010 brought a lot of good, but realistically, it was a giant pain in the ass despite havings its moments.
Due to a lack of steady work over the last year, this dream has not been realized, but assuming the stars continue to be aligned correctly, this issue has been resolved. I am looking forward to returning to work.
Let me say that I am not a fan of New Year’s Eve, nor really a fan of New Year’s Day. But putting present circumstances into perspective, it may not be because of the actual day rather than the lack of a good experience here at home. Here in Youngstown, I cannot recall a single outstanding New Year’s Eve where I have thought “You know, this was an awesome time and I can’t wait until next year to do it again”. The whole experience here has been mediocre at best and could explain why I dread the thought of it every year. It almost catches you up in the reality that because the experience sucks you don’t want to go out, but if you stay at home you feel even worse for it. And if you are single, God have mercy on you. Let the day end quick.
New Year’s may be phenomenal someplace else though and that fact has not escaped me, which is why I am putting together this separate savings fund. It may be a rip roaring time somewhere else, and in light of the fact this is probably 100% true, I have no intention of being here next New Year’s Eve, nor any New Year’s Eve subsequent to 2011.
But 2011 is now here, ending a rather unusual but moderately successful 2010. Here’s to better times, a successful, healthy, and fruitful new year, and a big boot to the ass of all that went wrong last year. I know I made several mistakes that I am not going to repeat again, and I hope that whatever mistakes you made you will consider making some adjustments as well. 2010 brought a lot of good, but realistically, it was a giant pain in the ass despite havings its moments.
We are all human, but as always, there is no accounting for taste.
Have a happy and most excellent 2011 everyone!
Have a happy and most excellent 2011 everyone!
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Dangers of Ignoring Human Nature
Human nature is an unusual thing, though many times it is predictable. We expect people to behave as we know them to behave. Sometimes when a person is trying to act differently and when we hope the result will be different, contrary to what we hope would happen turns out to be the same predictable behavior, either out of maliciousness or because of weakness—human nature.
There is a familiar allegory out there known simply as “The Scorpion and the Toad”. For those of you unfamiliar with this story, a scorpion is looking to cross the river and comes across a toad. The scorpion calls out to the toad, asking him to take him across the river. The toad replies to the scorpion that he will sting him, and says no. The scorpion, quite persistently pursuing the toad, finally says that if he were to sting the toad, both of them would die.
The toad, a rather intelligent animal, thought about this logic for a few moments and agreed. After all, he had been pursued by the scorpion for a rather lengthy period and the reality that both would die if anything happened fit the logic that it would be okay.
Halfway across the river, the scorpion stings the toad in the back. The toad, rather indignant but powerless now, yelled out to the scorpion “Why did you this? Now we both will die”. The scorpion responded, “It is my nature.”
Regardless of the agreement and the logic the toad used, his ignoring the nature of a scorpion in the end doomed him. Much like this example, human nature is predictable but not always logical. It can follow patterns. Someone whose nature is loyalty will rarely be disloyal. Someone whose nature is dishonesty and self servitude will rarely be honest about his true intentions or have a genuine interest in the success of anyone but himself.
Sometimes it is easy to fall into the trap of ignoring human nature, and it is when we ignore what our instincts are telling us do we truly find ourselves in trouble. It may be convenient to ignore it, or it may be presented in a way where the true nature is hidden behind a veil. It may come disguised as flattery, or it may be disguised by the promise of grandeur.
The point of this is simple: do not ignore the nature of people, whatever that nature is. If your instincts are telling you one thing, chances are your instincts are correct. Do not fall into the same trap the toad did, because what is logical is not always what is predictable.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
There is a familiar allegory out there known simply as “The Scorpion and the Toad”. For those of you unfamiliar with this story, a scorpion is looking to cross the river and comes across a toad. The scorpion calls out to the toad, asking him to take him across the river. The toad replies to the scorpion that he will sting him, and says no. The scorpion, quite persistently pursuing the toad, finally says that if he were to sting the toad, both of them would die.
The toad, a rather intelligent animal, thought about this logic for a few moments and agreed. After all, he had been pursued by the scorpion for a rather lengthy period and the reality that both would die if anything happened fit the logic that it would be okay.
Halfway across the river, the scorpion stings the toad in the back. The toad, rather indignant but powerless now, yelled out to the scorpion “Why did you this? Now we both will die”. The scorpion responded, “It is my nature.”
Regardless of the agreement and the logic the toad used, his ignoring the nature of a scorpion in the end doomed him. Much like this example, human nature is predictable but not always logical. It can follow patterns. Someone whose nature is loyalty will rarely be disloyal. Someone whose nature is dishonesty and self servitude will rarely be honest about his true intentions or have a genuine interest in the success of anyone but himself.
Sometimes it is easy to fall into the trap of ignoring human nature, and it is when we ignore what our instincts are telling us do we truly find ourselves in trouble. It may be convenient to ignore it, or it may be presented in a way where the true nature is hidden behind a veil. It may come disguised as flattery, or it may be disguised by the promise of grandeur.
The point of this is simple: do not ignore the nature of people, whatever that nature is. If your instincts are telling you one thing, chances are your instincts are correct. Do not fall into the same trap the toad did, because what is logical is not always what is predictable.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Mang's Christmas Albums: No, We are Not Ridiculing Music Here (Much)
Normally at this time of year I would criticize the musical choices of our local radio broadcasters (I will not name names Clear Channel, but you know who you are). It would not be unusual for me to take a few shots at such musical abominations such as “Happy Christmas/War is Over” and “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time”. I might even make the comment that Andy Williams needs to relinquish his monopoly on the Christmas music market and stay in Branson, MO where he belongs.
But alas, I am not going to make those comments (even though I pretty much did in that last paragraph). Instead this year I would like to point out the musical genius of a few Christmas albums that you have some familiarity with and a few you might not, just to show you I am not a heartless bastard who likes to do drive-bys on Christmas music.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965)
Perhaps the quintessential Christmas album. You are probably thinking it is overplayed, but the reality is only two songs on this album receive major airtime, and one is significantly cut. "Linus and Lucy" is the most frequent, and "O Tannenbaum" is the second most frequent, though the song itself has been shortened in length quite harshly.
The rest of the songs on this album are terrific, but they are heard infrequently. It is all the more reason to appreciate it as a masterful Jazz composition as well as a masterful Christmas composition. The Vince Guaraldi Trio was a brilliant group, and without the soundtrack, the show itself would not have been the same.
"Christmas with the Rat Pack"
"Twisted Sister Christmas" by Twisted Sister (2006)
But alas, I am not going to make those comments (even though I pretty much did in that last paragraph). Instead this year I would like to point out the musical genius of a few Christmas albums that you have some familiarity with and a few you might not, just to show you I am not a heartless bastard who likes to do drive-bys on Christmas music.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965)Perhaps the quintessential Christmas album. You are probably thinking it is overplayed, but the reality is only two songs on this album receive major airtime, and one is significantly cut. "Linus and Lucy" is the most frequent, and "O Tannenbaum" is the second most frequent, though the song itself has been shortened in length quite harshly.
The rest of the songs on this album are terrific, but they are heard infrequently. It is all the more reason to appreciate it as a masterful Jazz composition as well as a masterful Christmas composition. The Vince Guaraldi Trio was a brilliant group, and without the soundtrack, the show itself would not have been the same.
"A Merry Mancini Christmas" by Henry Mancini and his Orchestra and Chorus (1966)
This is an album very near and dear to my heart, and I'd say it is my second favorite album of all time. Of all of the albums listed on here, it is by far the most retro in sound, and sadly the songs on this album receive zero airtime on the radio.
Most of the songs on here are medleys, which is interesting as you do not get many medleys anymore (when was the last time you heard one on the radio?). But the transitions are flawless and the voices are very smooth. The orchestra is fantastic.
Unfortunately, this kind of album could not be produced today, as by today's standards (however unusual), this might come across as too generic. And for its brilliance, it is very simplistic and easy to listen to.
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"Christmas with the Rat Pack"I try to avoid compilations if I can but this collection of songs by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. is probably as good of a collection as any. While it does not cover the entire Christmas selection, this album covers the highlights (though I strongly recommend you pick up their individual Christmas collections).
You may be thinking that a handful of these songs are overplayed, namely Dean Martin's "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" and "Baby it's Cold Outside". This is true, they are overplayed. However, for being played as often as they are, they are not particularly as annoying as say "Last Christmas" by Wham!
Any way you slice it, the Rat Pack is class defined.
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"Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time"
You know how I said I try to stay away from compilations? Yeah, I lied. This is a very unusual album, and occasionally these songs will find their way onto the radio. It is by its definition a novelty CD. The songs that most frequently find airtime are "Christmas Don't Be Late" by the Chipmunks and "Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer" by Elmo and Patsy.
In a few rare instances (like today on a station that barely was coming in out of Cleveland) you will come across a song like "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" by Cheech and Chong, which is hilarious, or "The 12 Days of Christmas" by Bob and Doug McKenzie, which is equally hilarious. But outside of that, don't count on hearing any of these gems. This one is definitely worth a listen.
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"Twisted Sister Christmas" by Twisted Sister (2006)The good, bad, and the ugly all wrapped up into one. Believe it or not Twisted Sister does some pretty decent songs on here, and at the same time they have come up with some unusually bad pieces.
This is an album you will probably will never hear on the radio, unless 93.3 or 102.9 do a special classic rock Christmas request.
"Oh Come All Ye Faithful" is hilarious as it reworks "We're Not Gonna Take It", so even though it is a Christmas song, you still come away feeling pissed off at the world.
I hope some of these albums bring happiness and joy to your Christmas season. Some are brilliant masterpieces while others bring Christmas music to the lowest common denominator.
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Enjoy!
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Greed and Success: Is Greed Really Good?
I have taken a little time off from writing due to work constraints: political, accounting, or otherwise. But Mang Now is going to be back with some regularity and hopefully on a weekly basis. As I am currently in the process of applying for different jobs with the State, there comes with it some downtime that lets me do some writing as well as other endeavors like studying for my CPA.
Anyone who knows me well enough will tell you I am not a fan of today. I find today’s world to be highly superficial, materialistic, impersonal, pointless, and for a lack of a better word, unsatisfying.
An evening or two ago I ended up watching Wall Street, the timeless classic that made the motto “greed is good” into a household phrase. There was an exchange in that movie between Bud and his father Carl that I think is often overlooked when considering the scope of the whole movie.
Carl: He's using you, kid. He's got your prick in his back pocket, but you're too blind to see it.
Bud: No. What I see is a jealous old machinist who can't stand the fact that his son has become more successful than he has!
Carl: What you see is a guy who never measured a man's success by the size of his WALLET!
Bud: That's because you never had the guts to go out into the world and stake your own claim!
Carl: Boy, if that's the way you feel, I must have done a really lousy job as a father.
I think that is often something we overlook today. In my opinion, greed IS good. It serves as motivation. It makes us want to do better, to be better in life. But are the words “material gain” and “success” interchangeable? That is an idea I have struggled with on a regular basis, and I think it is something a lot of people today struggle with. What I have concluded is success is all in the eye of the beholder.
To me, success is doing a job I like doing even if it doesn’t translate to making the huge dollars doing something that would make me miserable. It can be living modestly if it is with someone I’d want to spend the rest of my life with. Success to me is being happy.
Unfortunately, the media and society in general promote success in different ways. Making a ton of money is one way. Sleeping with as many people as possible is another. Is this an adequate view of what is success? I do not know. I will not knock anyone’s hustle, but I can point to several examples where people had attained both of those goals but were completely miserable. I have seen firsthand what financial obsession can do to a family as well.
I think what I am trying to get at here is to evaluate what is really important. Greed is good, but don’t let it define who you are as a person.
Alex Mangie
The Mang
Friday, June 11, 2010
College Shakeup: Potential Super-Conferences on the Rise
It has finally happened. Colorado is officially making the move from the Big 12 to the PAC-10. Nebraska has done everything but officially come out and say they are moving to the Big 10 from the Big 12 (and was actually reported on Y103 this morning that it has actually occurred which is not accurate), with an announcement expected sometime today or early next week.
Is this the end for the Big 12?
There have been reports that if Colorado and Nebraska make the move, then Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State would move to the PAC-10, practically dissolving the Big 12 conference. The remaining schools would be Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, and Baylor. These schools will need to align with a conference somewhere, particularly Kansas.
This would create a super-conference in the PAC-10 comprised of some of the best football programs in the nation. If that happens, I cannot see the Big 10 just settling for a 12 team conference. It almost forces the Big 10 into expanding, and the Big 10 will probably take another look at Missouri down the line if what is expected at the PAC-10 comes to fruition.
Also, it raises a question about the SEC, because the conference has been very quiet in regards to all of this. Geographically, it makes more sense for Texas and Texas A&M to join the SEC. Also, SEC teams typically have bigger TV contracts than the PAC-10 (ESPN reports that the typical contract for an SEC team is $205 million compared to a $58 million contract in the PAC-10). There are already rumblings about Texas A&M considering the SEC as an alternative to the PAC-10, and I would not be surprised if the SEC begins making contact with Texas.
Big 10 options—Remnants of Big 12 and looking at the Big East
If the PAC-10 expands further than Colorado, the Big 10 should (and probably will) expand further than just Nebraska. They have several options to consider, one of which will involve Notre Dame.
The Big 10 can consider forcing the collapse of the Big East by approaching West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati, in hopes that it would force Notre Dame into joining the Big 10, bringing the number of Big 10 schools to 16 (supposing Nebraska comes through). It would be risky, because I am not sure if Pittsburgh, WVU, and Cincinnati would be a good fit for the Big 10, though academically they are a good fit. However, you have the chance of picking up the coveted Notre Dame program.
The Big 10 can also choose to look west and pick up Missouri. I think Missouri would be a good fit in the Big 10, both geographically and academically. The Big 10 can also consider bringing Kansas into the fold. It would preserve the rivalries between MU, Nebraska, and Kansas. Additionally, they can still look to pick up a school like West Virginia or Pittsburgh, in hopes Notre Dame would still be in play. If the Big 10 can pick up one Big East school, it might force a collapse of the Big East program notwithstanding, as it is already a weakened conference.
I am in favor of the second alternative, because geographically with 16 teams, you can make two divisions: Big Ten West and Big Ten East. Chances are this would be the last expansion of the Big 10, and if they are sitting on 15 teams, the pressure is going to be on for Notre Dame to join and be number 16. It would be enticing because Kansas, Pittsburgh, and WVU tend to have decent basketball programs, and Notre Dame would benefit in both respects.
The Mang
Is this the end for the Big 12?
There have been reports that if Colorado and Nebraska make the move, then Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State would move to the PAC-10, practically dissolving the Big 12 conference. The remaining schools would be Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, and Baylor. These schools will need to align with a conference somewhere, particularly Kansas.
This would create a super-conference in the PAC-10 comprised of some of the best football programs in the nation. If that happens, I cannot see the Big 10 just settling for a 12 team conference. It almost forces the Big 10 into expanding, and the Big 10 will probably take another look at Missouri down the line if what is expected at the PAC-10 comes to fruition.
Also, it raises a question about the SEC, because the conference has been very quiet in regards to all of this. Geographically, it makes more sense for Texas and Texas A&M to join the SEC. Also, SEC teams typically have bigger TV contracts than the PAC-10 (ESPN reports that the typical contract for an SEC team is $205 million compared to a $58 million contract in the PAC-10). There are already rumblings about Texas A&M considering the SEC as an alternative to the PAC-10, and I would not be surprised if the SEC begins making contact with Texas.
Big 10 options—Remnants of Big 12 and looking at the Big East
If the PAC-10 expands further than Colorado, the Big 10 should (and probably will) expand further than just Nebraska. They have several options to consider, one of which will involve Notre Dame.
The Big 10 can consider forcing the collapse of the Big East by approaching West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati, in hopes that it would force Notre Dame into joining the Big 10, bringing the number of Big 10 schools to 16 (supposing Nebraska comes through). It would be risky, because I am not sure if Pittsburgh, WVU, and Cincinnati would be a good fit for the Big 10, though academically they are a good fit. However, you have the chance of picking up the coveted Notre Dame program.
The Big 10 can also choose to look west and pick up Missouri. I think Missouri would be a good fit in the Big 10, both geographically and academically. The Big 10 can also consider bringing Kansas into the fold. It would preserve the rivalries between MU, Nebraska, and Kansas. Additionally, they can still look to pick up a school like West Virginia or Pittsburgh, in hopes Notre Dame would still be in play. If the Big 10 can pick up one Big East school, it might force a collapse of the Big East program notwithstanding, as it is already a weakened conference.
I am in favor of the second alternative, because geographically with 16 teams, you can make two divisions: Big Ten West and Big Ten East. Chances are this would be the last expansion of the Big 10, and if they are sitting on 15 teams, the pressure is going to be on for Notre Dame to join and be number 16. It would be enticing because Kansas, Pittsburgh, and WVU tend to have decent basketball programs, and Notre Dame would benefit in both respects.
The Mang
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Arizona Rising--The Front Line for Real Immigration Enforcement
In effort to reassert the authority of the states, in upholding what is in fact a federal law, Arizona has passed what is broadcasted as a “controversial law” in regards to illegal immigration. It is not entirely dissimilar from the federal law, perhaps less stringent in certain aspects. But nonetheless, Arizona’s answer to a poorly planned federal approach to immigration policy has met widespread criticism from those on the left that are quick to make the issue about race rather than upholding the current laws.
Unfortunately, it is out of necessity this law was created because the Obama Administration has failed to take action in securing the borders. It is one thing Obama has in common with Bush—inability to follow the law on immigration policy and failure to take the necessary steps in securing the borders.
Before going any further, let us address the issue of racial profiling. Mexico is a Latin American country. Hence, illegal aliens are going to be of Latin American descent. So, naturally, if there is going to be an illegal immigrant in Arizona, 99.9% of the time it is going to be someone who is Latin American. That is not making a racist statement. That is the reality of the location and situation. Arizona’s law discourages racial profiling, but if it would please the far left, Arizona should make it mandatory that EVERY person pulled over or questioned for lawful cause must show proof of citizenship.
The real question is who benefits from opposing Arizona’s new legislation? Could it be certain individuals are seeking votes? I believe that to be as true under Bush as it is under Obama. It could be certain groups want open borders. Hate to break it to those groups, but few countries have an open border policy for non-citizens. Sorry to rain on the parade for those people, but that is the law here in the U.S. No open borders.
Why would Arizona pass this law? Kidnappings are the highest in the nation in Phoenix as a result of the illegal immigration situation. Murders are on the rise in the state. There are a fair amount in the prison system that is costing the state money that otherwise would not have to be spent to house these illegals.
Arizona should be applauded for trying to do something, rather that ostracized for political motivations. The same cities like San Francisco that welcome illegal immigrants under the banner of a “sanctuary city” are being let free to run amok of things rather than criticized for their failure to follow federal law.
You want to cut money in the federal budget? Cut off federal funding to cities that openly declare they are sanctuary cities and have legislation supporting that stance. If the federal government can cut funding to states that refused to lower their speed limits, they can cut funding to cities that refuse to enforce the federal law. Those cities would shape up in a hurry, but no one has a cajones to do anything about it.
Grow some backbone for God’s sake and do what is right and lawful rather than pandering to the far left and using race as the be all and end all excuse for doing or not doing something. Race is the excuse for everything anymore, and as an argument it is growing old fast. No, it is already old and cliché and those using race as a criticism for everything people do not agree with need to get a new line.
This is not that difficult folks. Mr. President, do your damn job and enforce the law.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Unfortunately, it is out of necessity this law was created because the Obama Administration has failed to take action in securing the borders. It is one thing Obama has in common with Bush—inability to follow the law on immigration policy and failure to take the necessary steps in securing the borders.
Before going any further, let us address the issue of racial profiling. Mexico is a Latin American country. Hence, illegal aliens are going to be of Latin American descent. So, naturally, if there is going to be an illegal immigrant in Arizona, 99.9% of the time it is going to be someone who is Latin American. That is not making a racist statement. That is the reality of the location and situation. Arizona’s law discourages racial profiling, but if it would please the far left, Arizona should make it mandatory that EVERY person pulled over or questioned for lawful cause must show proof of citizenship.
The real question is who benefits from opposing Arizona’s new legislation? Could it be certain individuals are seeking votes? I believe that to be as true under Bush as it is under Obama. It could be certain groups want open borders. Hate to break it to those groups, but few countries have an open border policy for non-citizens. Sorry to rain on the parade for those people, but that is the law here in the U.S. No open borders.
Why would Arizona pass this law? Kidnappings are the highest in the nation in Phoenix as a result of the illegal immigration situation. Murders are on the rise in the state. There are a fair amount in the prison system that is costing the state money that otherwise would not have to be spent to house these illegals.
Arizona should be applauded for trying to do something, rather that ostracized for political motivations. The same cities like San Francisco that welcome illegal immigrants under the banner of a “sanctuary city” are being let free to run amok of things rather than criticized for their failure to follow federal law.
You want to cut money in the federal budget? Cut off federal funding to cities that openly declare they are sanctuary cities and have legislation supporting that stance. If the federal government can cut funding to states that refused to lower their speed limits, they can cut funding to cities that refuse to enforce the federal law. Those cities would shape up in a hurry, but no one has a cajones to do anything about it.
Grow some backbone for God’s sake and do what is right and lawful rather than pandering to the far left and using race as the be all and end all excuse for doing or not doing something. Race is the excuse for everything anymore, and as an argument it is growing old fast. No, it is already old and cliché and those using race as a criticism for everything people do not agree with need to get a new line.
This is not that difficult folks. Mr. President, do your damn job and enforce the law.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Saturday, May 8, 2010
The Return of Mang Now! Post Election Edition
It has been a few weeks since writing, but the reality of work has prevented me from doing anything with great certainty outside of the campaign. Even in consideration of losing the 6th Congressional primary by a mere 1,634 votes to a person whose character and morals I continue to question, I believe the experience has been completely worthwhile. I have taken a lot away from this race, and I intend to continue to participate in running races in the future.
To those of you who have noticed that my Allen for Congress magnet continues to remain on my car door, I am aware of that fact. When I am ready, I will take it off.
To those of you who have noticed that my Allen for Congress magnet continues to remain on my car door, I am aware of that fact. When I am ready, I will take it off.
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Interesting races as of May 4th. Carol Rimedio beats Dave Ludt. County Sales Tax Renewal passes huge. Fisher blows out Brunner.
Politics is a funny thing. Once you become involved in the election process, everything else seems to become boring. Accounting, for instance, is not very appealing right now given the excitement and strategic planning of a campaign. There is so much that goes into a race that it can be very consuming and time demanding, and for once I think I have finally found something I enjoy doing for a living that actually has potential to pay off. It also means I now have to muscle through the CPA exam even when my heart is not 100% in it, but I will do my best.
Accountants talk about the busy season—a once a year gig that lasts for three and a half months. Campaign staffers and candidates are quite aware that there are two busy seasons for them. During an election year the entire year itself may be a single busy season. It can result in days that start at 5:30AM and last until 1:00AM the next day. The campaign may require traveling as much as 8 hours on the road in a single day. It may involve fighting with the Secretary of State or the Federal Elections Commission. Very likely, it will result in keeping track of all the finances and paying payroll taxes with all the appropriate agencies. If things are going the wrong way, you may find yourself knocking on the doors of 1,000 people in a single week.
One thing for certain is it is never boring. Crunching numbers or playing the best game in the world? I think I know where my loyalties lie.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Mahoning County Results: Donald Allen: 52% Bill Johnson: 36% 103 precincts won out of 124.
Politics is a funny thing. Once you become involved in the election process, everything else seems to become boring. Accounting, for instance, is not very appealing right now given the excitement and strategic planning of a campaign. There is so much that goes into a race that it can be very consuming and time demanding, and for once I think I have finally found something I enjoy doing for a living that actually has potential to pay off. It also means I now have to muscle through the CPA exam even when my heart is not 100% in it, but I will do my best.
Accountants talk about the busy season—a once a year gig that lasts for three and a half months. Campaign staffers and candidates are quite aware that there are two busy seasons for them. During an election year the entire year itself may be a single busy season. It can result in days that start at 5:30AM and last until 1:00AM the next day. The campaign may require traveling as much as 8 hours on the road in a single day. It may involve fighting with the Secretary of State or the Federal Elections Commission. Very likely, it will result in keeping track of all the finances and paying payroll taxes with all the appropriate agencies. If things are going the wrong way, you may find yourself knocking on the doors of 1,000 people in a single week.
One thing for certain is it is never boring. Crunching numbers or playing the best game in the world? I think I know where my loyalties lie.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Mahoning County Results: Donald Allen: 52% Bill Johnson: 36% 103 precincts won out of 124.
Columbiana County Results: Donald Allen: 43.4% Bill Johnson: 42.8%
Jefferson County Results: Donald Allen: 41% Bill Johnson: 37%
Monday, March 22, 2010
Don't Fear the Healthcare Reaper--The Real Fight Begins Now
It is always darkest before the dawn. That is what I can say about tonight’s passage of this healthcare takeover initiative. Tonight we witnessed history, certainly without any question. Healthcare reform as defined by the liberal Democrats, and only the liberal Democrats, has passed in the name of what one Congressman referred to as “social justice”. I do not want to get into the details too much in regards to “social justice” theory, but for purposes of this article let me just say it is something I have reservations about.
Healthcare has become the obsession of liberal policy. It has been for years. They went to any and every length to get this piece of legislation passed, in spite of the wishes of the American people. There has been overwhelming opposition to the legislation as it had been drafted. There have been protests nationwide. Phone lines have been jammed to the point of collapse on Capitol Hill. And despite all of this, they passed this legislation. Even with 54% of Americans disapproving and only 36% approving, they passed this legislation. Public opinion be damned.
Will of the people or fulfillment of their own personal crusade? I think we know where the truth lies. You can see it in their eyes. You can hear it in their voice. Pelosi’s face was practically glazed over with giddiness tonight. Congresswoman Slaughter’s attitude and tone of voice clearly indicated a high opinion of her own self-worth and came across very condescending. I know what narcissism looks like because I have lived it in my family, and people like Pelosi and Slaughter are showing the classic symptoms.
In the words of Chris Matthews, I think there were a lot of thrills going up the legs of the Party leadership there tonight.
It is like these people are crazily obsessed, and you could have pointed that out in any one of those liberals in the lineup tonight. They think they know what is best for you, and their body language and tone of voice clearly show that is how they think. And they think they are wonderful for it.
Let us set the record straight. There are going to be a lot of people going on a permanent vacation from D.C. this November, and I look forward to playing an active part locally in that process. When the Supreme Court hears this case (and I say “when” because they will hear this in the near future guaranteed), they will find it unconstitutional, and everyone that voted for this disaster of a bill are going to have nothing to show for it—not even their job.
You cannot in good conscience find this bill as written to be constitutional, and I believe the Supreme Court will do the right thing. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I sure as hell am happy I did not infuriate the Supreme Court on more than one occasion over the last couple of months. Unfortunately for our president, he cannot say the same thing. And no amount of judicial ass kissing is going to save him. Sell crazy somewhere else—we’re all stocked up here.
The Democratic Party and their interest groups have made a career in dragging things through court. Now we will return the favor 20 fold. By the count of Real Clear Politics, it may be 38 fold and growing. How is that for a stimulus package? The Feds are going to have to hire a lot of attorneys to defend this one.
Do not fear the reaper. Republicans will fight tooth and nail, and for every inch. We should not fear the reaper. The liberal Democrats, however, should fear the reaper. Because in their case, the reaper is going to come to them in the form of 9 Justices clothed in black robes.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Healthcare has become the obsession of liberal policy. It has been for years. They went to any and every length to get this piece of legislation passed, in spite of the wishes of the American people. There has been overwhelming opposition to the legislation as it had been drafted. There have been protests nationwide. Phone lines have been jammed to the point of collapse on Capitol Hill. And despite all of this, they passed this legislation. Even with 54% of Americans disapproving and only 36% approving, they passed this legislation. Public opinion be damned.
Will of the people or fulfillment of their own personal crusade? I think we know where the truth lies. You can see it in their eyes. You can hear it in their voice. Pelosi’s face was practically glazed over with giddiness tonight. Congresswoman Slaughter’s attitude and tone of voice clearly indicated a high opinion of her own self-worth and came across very condescending. I know what narcissism looks like because I have lived it in my family, and people like Pelosi and Slaughter are showing the classic symptoms.
In the words of Chris Matthews, I think there were a lot of thrills going up the legs of the Party leadership there tonight.
It is like these people are crazily obsessed, and you could have pointed that out in any one of those liberals in the lineup tonight. They think they know what is best for you, and their body language and tone of voice clearly show that is how they think. And they think they are wonderful for it.
Let us set the record straight. There are going to be a lot of people going on a permanent vacation from D.C. this November, and I look forward to playing an active part locally in that process. When the Supreme Court hears this case (and I say “when” because they will hear this in the near future guaranteed), they will find it unconstitutional, and everyone that voted for this disaster of a bill are going to have nothing to show for it—not even their job.
You cannot in good conscience find this bill as written to be constitutional, and I believe the Supreme Court will do the right thing. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I sure as hell am happy I did not infuriate the Supreme Court on more than one occasion over the last couple of months. Unfortunately for our president, he cannot say the same thing. And no amount of judicial ass kissing is going to save him. Sell crazy somewhere else—we’re all stocked up here.
The Democratic Party and their interest groups have made a career in dragging things through court. Now we will return the favor 20 fold. By the count of Real Clear Politics, it may be 38 fold and growing. How is that for a stimulus package? The Feds are going to have to hire a lot of attorneys to defend this one.
Do not fear the reaper. Republicans will fight tooth and nail, and for every inch. We should not fear the reaper. The liberal Democrats, however, should fear the reaper. Because in their case, the reaper is going to come to them in the form of 9 Justices clothed in black robes.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
We're Not Gonna Take It: Battle Royale in Congress over Healthcare
It is Battle Royale in Congress, and we're not gonna take it. The healthcare debate is coming quickly down to the wire and every Congressman is now considering his or her own position in the scheme of what will be one of the most controversial votes in history. Shots are being taken at both sides of the aisle. Republicans are stonewalling, having fortified themselves in a seemingly unbreakable, unified stance. Democrats are fighting amongst themselves. Blue dogs are fending for their seats in the upcoming election against anxious and awaiting conservative candidates, but Speaker Pelosi continues to bring down the hammer with her obvious fake smiles and pandering.
President Obama himself came out to Northeast Ohio to pick off a vote from Dennis Kucinich, who politically will be safe in November but no less will likely face stiff opposition regardless of the district’s makeup. Obama even came on to FOX News of all places, the very place he and his administration has criticized up and down since 2008.
My God, the carnage! The humanity! And you thought politics was boring and uninteresting. No, this is a very real thing, and far from boring. The shady deals, arcane proceedings in Congress (i.e. “deem and pass”), the masses rising up in opposition—Yes, THIS is politics today. THIS is the transparent process Pelosi referred to in all of her hypocritical glory.
Welcome to the party. Finally, Obama and Congress have awakened the angry giant that is the American people, and they have flooded the phone lines at the Capitol and have gathered en masse across the country to boldly stand up and declare, in the words of Twisted Sister, “We’re not gonna take it!” There is even Jim Traficant, a politician and convicted felon, coming out and fighting for the voice and will of the American people, however unusual his approach.
At this point, the Democrats do not have the votes. They are shy a handful. There will be no Republican crossovers. The Democrats will need to pass this bill on their own. Madame Speaker, in all of her wisdom and desperation to pass a failing legislative initiative, is invoking the “Slaughter Rule” (so appropriately named after Congresswoman Slaughter), or more commonly known as “deem and pass”. It is a vote on the rules that would in effect deem the legislation passed. No matter how you slice it, it is a vote for or against healthcare takeover, no matter how they try to disguise it.
It is shady and underhanded, and while it is apparent that Republicans have used this approach on different legislation over the years, never has it been done on something so comprehensive and transformative for the worst. It is a sham and insulting to think the Congressional leadership is trying to pull this kind of stunt.
But Obama says the bill will be posted for three days before passage.
Well, unless you are employing a small army of people, the likelihood of getting through a few thousand page bill in a couple of days is not very good. The way you beat transparency is to fill a bill with so much legalese and in a massive number of pages and let the public go through it. It may be available, but it sure as hell cannot be examined properly in a short amount of time.
I do not know if they will pass it. I know the leadership is going to employ every tactic at their disposal to do it, but I am unsure as to how some of the Congressmen will respond. It is my understanding the lawsuits to fight this legislation have already been drafted and are ready to go to court should this bill pass.
My advice: find some time to call and email your Congressmen. Make your voice heard on this one. It is not too late to make a difference.
I leave you with the wise words of Twisted Sister to Madame Pelosi. "Oh you're so condescending, you're goal is never ending, we don't want nothing not a thing from you! We're right, we're free, we'll fight, you'll see"
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
President Obama himself came out to Northeast Ohio to pick off a vote from Dennis Kucinich, who politically will be safe in November but no less will likely face stiff opposition regardless of the district’s makeup. Obama even came on to FOX News of all places, the very place he and his administration has criticized up and down since 2008.
My God, the carnage! The humanity! And you thought politics was boring and uninteresting. No, this is a very real thing, and far from boring. The shady deals, arcane proceedings in Congress (i.e. “deem and pass”), the masses rising up in opposition—Yes, THIS is politics today. THIS is the transparent process Pelosi referred to in all of her hypocritical glory.
Welcome to the party. Finally, Obama and Congress have awakened the angry giant that is the American people, and they have flooded the phone lines at the Capitol and have gathered en masse across the country to boldly stand up and declare, in the words of Twisted Sister, “We’re not gonna take it!” There is even Jim Traficant, a politician and convicted felon, coming out and fighting for the voice and will of the American people, however unusual his approach.
At this point, the Democrats do not have the votes. They are shy a handful. There will be no Republican crossovers. The Democrats will need to pass this bill on their own. Madame Speaker, in all of her wisdom and desperation to pass a failing legislative initiative, is invoking the “Slaughter Rule” (so appropriately named after Congresswoman Slaughter), or more commonly known as “deem and pass”. It is a vote on the rules that would in effect deem the legislation passed. No matter how you slice it, it is a vote for or against healthcare takeover, no matter how they try to disguise it.
It is shady and underhanded, and while it is apparent that Republicans have used this approach on different legislation over the years, never has it been done on something so comprehensive and transformative for the worst. It is a sham and insulting to think the Congressional leadership is trying to pull this kind of stunt.
But Obama says the bill will be posted for three days before passage.
Well, unless you are employing a small army of people, the likelihood of getting through a few thousand page bill in a couple of days is not very good. The way you beat transparency is to fill a bill with so much legalese and in a massive number of pages and let the public go through it. It may be available, but it sure as hell cannot be examined properly in a short amount of time.
I do not know if they will pass it. I know the leadership is going to employ every tactic at their disposal to do it, but I am unsure as to how some of the Congressmen will respond. It is my understanding the lawsuits to fight this legislation have already been drafted and are ready to go to court should this bill pass.
My advice: find some time to call and email your Congressmen. Make your voice heard on this one. It is not too late to make a difference.
I leave you with the wise words of Twisted Sister to Madame Pelosi. "Oh you're so condescending, you're goal is never ending, we don't want nothing not a thing from you! We're right, we're free, we'll fight, you'll see"
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Mang Now Endorses Donald Allen for OH-6 Congressional District
It has been longer than I would have liked since last writing. As it happens, we have been extremely busy with the May 4th Primary Elections coming upon us quickly. In politics, a month and a half is not a lot of time, especially when you have 261 miles to travel (4 hours and 40 minutes total from Canfield, OH to Portsmouth, OH). Dinners, events, town halls, local meetings, parades, and everything in between are involved in these kinds of campaigns, and there is the strategy and fundraising that are conducted amidst all of it. It makes for a lot of late evenings and early mornings.
The 6th District is my home and it has been for the last 24 years. It has always been special to me, even in the state of disrepair many areas are in here. That is why I and others are putting in a great amount of time into this Congressional race, because we all feel the Ohio 6th District deserves better representation than what we are seeing with Congressman Wilson.
Donald Allen is running for Congress in the 6th District in the Republican Primary, and I believe he is the best man for this job. He genuinely believes in working for the people of the district and cares about the problems people are facing here in Ohio during this economy. An independent businessman and local veterinarian, Don Allen truly knows the meaning of hard work and has faced the same realities every other hardworking American has faced—making payroll every pay period, paying taxes, paying insurance benefits for employees, and dealing with the reality of an economic downtown that has hurt everyone except Big Government.
One thing I can say for Don Allen is the man is genuine. I try to work for people of great character and integrity, and everything the man said he would do in the time I have spent working with him has been done, and usually with a smile on his face. He has yet to disappoint in my eyes, and a person who says what they mean and mean what they say is good in my book, and certainly worth a chance in Washington D.C. Additionally, he has a wonderful family (and a lot of cats), and I know someone so devoted to his family and his country (having served in the military for over twenty years) will be a good fit in the Capitol.
The time demands on a Congressional candidate are staggering, and he has made every effort and accommodation to run downhill into this primary. Our task is even more complicated given the difficulty in the geographic logistics of this district—261 miles is a lot of district for anyone. And yet given the balance between work, family, and campaigning, he is still going all out.
Someone who is honest, hardworking, and knowledgeable about the issues is someone we need to have in Washington. I would encourage you to look at where Donald Allen stands on the issues of healthcare, energy policy, foreign policy, and the other different issues we are facing as a nation today. His website is: donallenforcongress.com
Mang Now! officially endorses Dr. Donald K. Allen of Boardman, Ohio.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
The 6th District is my home and it has been for the last 24 years. It has always been special to me, even in the state of disrepair many areas are in here. That is why I and others are putting in a great amount of time into this Congressional race, because we all feel the Ohio 6th District deserves better representation than what we are seeing with Congressman Wilson.
Donald Allen is running for Congress in the 6th District in the Republican Primary, and I believe he is the best man for this job. He genuinely believes in working for the people of the district and cares about the problems people are facing here in Ohio during this economy. An independent businessman and local veterinarian, Don Allen truly knows the meaning of hard work and has faced the same realities every other hardworking American has faced—making payroll every pay period, paying taxes, paying insurance benefits for employees, and dealing with the reality of an economic downtown that has hurt everyone except Big Government.
One thing I can say for Don Allen is the man is genuine. I try to work for people of great character and integrity, and everything the man said he would do in the time I have spent working with him has been done, and usually with a smile on his face. He has yet to disappoint in my eyes, and a person who says what they mean and mean what they say is good in my book, and certainly worth a chance in Washington D.C. Additionally, he has a wonderful family (and a lot of cats), and I know someone so devoted to his family and his country (having served in the military for over twenty years) will be a good fit in the Capitol.
The time demands on a Congressional candidate are staggering, and he has made every effort and accommodation to run downhill into this primary. Our task is even more complicated given the difficulty in the geographic logistics of this district—261 miles is a lot of district for anyone. And yet given the balance between work, family, and campaigning, he is still going all out.
Someone who is honest, hardworking, and knowledgeable about the issues is someone we need to have in Washington. I would encourage you to look at where Donald Allen stands on the issues of healthcare, energy policy, foreign policy, and the other different issues we are facing as a nation today. His website is: donallenforcongress.com
Mang Now! officially endorses Dr. Donald K. Allen of Boardman, Ohio.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Saturday, March 6, 2010
On Crime and Local Politics
I have always been intrigued by organized crime and its connection to politics. It is something I have had exposure to in the media, through word of mouth from people who have heard rumors, and through generally researching over eighty years of articles published by the Youngstown Vindicator on the subject of organized crime and politics. We all know the stories, we all know the players--Bertram de Souza usually gets a dig in at the Mob and politics whenever he gets the opportunity to do so. It is something that we will never truly forget, even if we actively try to.
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Even at Ohio State during my Fraud Examination class, Phar-Mor was the the very first thing we covered. Walking into class, late mind you, I heard the words over the speakers "Hi, this is Ron Verb, you are on 570. What do you think about the Monus scandal?", with a big panoramic image of my hometown projected onto a twenty foot screen.
There are only a handful of books out there that exclusively deal with organized crime in the Mahoning Valley, and the two that come to mind immediately are “To Kill the Irishman” which primarily was about Cleveland’s organization but directly tied in the players in Youngstown and “The Merchants of Menace” which I believe is the only historical book that covers the Mafia in Youngstown for the first half of the 20th century. “The Merchants of Menace” is a rare book that is available in the library but cannot be taken out. Any research has to be done in house. It is expensive to purchase a copy of it, as it has been out of print for a long time.
Over the years I have collected different items to include in the research, more historical of course rather than modern (old police reports, old pictures, old magazine articles, mug shots, old fingerprints, etc.). Some of the items date back to the 40s. Some of those items related to events that happened only a block or two away from where my grandfather grew up.
There is a lot of story to tell from the last thirty years alone, and unfortunately I do not believe it will be told in its entirety until twenty or thirty years from now. The reality is it is a story that cannot be told, at least not now. I do not believe enough time has passed to delve into the details well enough and to obtain accurate accounts of the events as they unfolded. While it something I would like to research further, I am still not entirely comfortable asking a lot of questions about what happened twenty years ago. And I doubt many people would be willing to answer many questions about those events. I also suspect people would not be happy with my digging around in that particular past.
It would be a phenomenal story, involving crime, law, party politics, money, and the interactions of two city crime factions vying for control of Youngstown from Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Maybe when enough time has passed, the story will get told. Unfortunately, given the current makeup of Mahoning County, that time simply is not now.
There are only a handful of books out there that exclusively deal with organized crime in the Mahoning Valley, and the two that come to mind immediately are “To Kill the Irishman” which primarily was about Cleveland’s organization but directly tied in the players in Youngstown and “The Merchants of Menace” which I believe is the only historical book that covers the Mafia in Youngstown for the first half of the 20th century. “The Merchants of Menace” is a rare book that is available in the library but cannot be taken out. Any research has to be done in house. It is expensive to purchase a copy of it, as it has been out of print for a long time.
Over the years I have collected different items to include in the research, more historical of course rather than modern (old police reports, old pictures, old magazine articles, mug shots, old fingerprints, etc.). Some of the items date back to the 40s. Some of those items related to events that happened only a block or two away from where my grandfather grew up.
There is a lot of story to tell from the last thirty years alone, and unfortunately I do not believe it will be told in its entirety until twenty or thirty years from now. The reality is it is a story that cannot be told, at least not now. I do not believe enough time has passed to delve into the details well enough and to obtain accurate accounts of the events as they unfolded. While it something I would like to research further, I am still not entirely comfortable asking a lot of questions about what happened twenty years ago. And I doubt many people would be willing to answer many questions about those events. I also suspect people would not be happy with my digging around in that particular past.
It would be a phenomenal story, involving crime, law, party politics, money, and the interactions of two city crime factions vying for control of Youngstown from Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Maybe when enough time has passed, the story will get told. Unfortunately, given the current makeup of Mahoning County, that time simply is not now.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Comfortably Numb: Technological Enslavement and America's Future
There was a movie that came out back in 1987. It was called “The Running Man” starring the current governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Interestingly, it took place in the year 2017, not exactly far off from our time. The premise was a game show that criminals would fight for their life through, ultimately with the chance of winning their freedom and a substantial cash award. It was a live show, where the numb and entranced masses cheered for blood, even taking bets on who would get killed first.
I mention this movie because I find it interesting and relative to our time. We have not come quite to that point in entertainment, but we are getting closer. Society in 2017 in the movie basically was reminiscent of a police state, where the government pacified the masses of people with these kinds of shows that were both outrageous and violent. The economy of the world has collapsed and the government is the ultimate authority on cultural activity, and all the while no one seems to care.
My generation and the generations behind me are pacified now. Everyone is worried about getting the newest BlackBerry or iPhone and new “apps” and no one really is paying that much attention to what is going on around them. Life is a party for many of them, and the majority does not have any interest whatsoever in current events. They drink, go to clubs, listen to music, fuss around on their cell phone, play video games, watch TV (not the news though), and they meander around worrying about the most trivial of things. Many of them are plugged into their MP3 players whenever they are going to and coming from classes or work, making any kind of human contact impossible. Human avoidance is one of the symptoms of what has evolved over the past ten years and if you have not noticed this behavior I suggest you take another look around.
Meanwhile, this country’s economy is going to hell. The Chinese hold an exorbitant amount of American debt. Iran is in the process of getting a nuclear weapon. A planned overhaul to the healthcare system for the worst was narrowly dodged but now being brought back to the forefront. Cap and trade is still being talked about. The Federal government is looking to pass another “jobs” bill to compliment the one that busted last year. Unemployment is still in double digits.
And yet, we are concerned about our cell phones, Tiger Woods, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Jersey Shore, and any other slew of popular culture/technological mind entrancements that has enslaved this country. I am of the firm belief that while technology has its benefits, it will eventually be one of the causes of our downfall.
How many hours do you spend a day in front of a screen? It could be any screen: computer, cell phone, television, PDA, take your pick. One study from Ball State University concluded that on average Americans spend eight hours a day in front of a screen of some kind. Eight hours. That is one third of a day. And this is not considering people under the age of 18 mind you.
Pacification.
We as a country are fascinated with the trivial and are losing sight of the important things. For example, 54% of the eligible voting population voted in 2008. This was a presidential year, and half of America could really give a damn. But I bet they could tell you the latest happenings in popular culture. Do not even get me started on the off-year elections.
While everyone is so preoccupied with their newest and popular gadgets, music, and entertainment (no matter how bad and trashy the entertainment is becoming), things continue to get worse in this country and no one seems to care. They may acknowledge that something is wrong, but you will not see much action from these people. They are too busy to be bothered. And when apathy continues to the rule the day is when the problems become unsolvable.
“The Running Man” shows a population of people so preoccupied with glorified, outrageous entertainment that they cease to care the world they live in has fallen apart. And that is where we may be heading if we are not careful.
2017 may not be so far off after all.
I mention this movie because I find it interesting and relative to our time. We have not come quite to that point in entertainment, but we are getting closer. Society in 2017 in the movie basically was reminiscent of a police state, where the government pacified the masses of people with these kinds of shows that were both outrageous and violent. The economy of the world has collapsed and the government is the ultimate authority on cultural activity, and all the while no one seems to care.
My generation and the generations behind me are pacified now. Everyone is worried about getting the newest BlackBerry or iPhone and new “apps” and no one really is paying that much attention to what is going on around them. Life is a party for many of them, and the majority does not have any interest whatsoever in current events. They drink, go to clubs, listen to music, fuss around on their cell phone, play video games, watch TV (not the news though), and they meander around worrying about the most trivial of things. Many of them are plugged into their MP3 players whenever they are going to and coming from classes or work, making any kind of human contact impossible. Human avoidance is one of the symptoms of what has evolved over the past ten years and if you have not noticed this behavior I suggest you take another look around.
Meanwhile, this country’s economy is going to hell. The Chinese hold an exorbitant amount of American debt. Iran is in the process of getting a nuclear weapon. A planned overhaul to the healthcare system for the worst was narrowly dodged but now being brought back to the forefront. Cap and trade is still being talked about. The Federal government is looking to pass another “jobs” bill to compliment the one that busted last year. Unemployment is still in double digits.
And yet, we are concerned about our cell phones, Tiger Woods, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Jersey Shore, and any other slew of popular culture/technological mind entrancements that has enslaved this country. I am of the firm belief that while technology has its benefits, it will eventually be one of the causes of our downfall.
How many hours do you spend a day in front of a screen? It could be any screen: computer, cell phone, television, PDA, take your pick. One study from Ball State University concluded that on average Americans spend eight hours a day in front of a screen of some kind. Eight hours. That is one third of a day. And this is not considering people under the age of 18 mind you.
Pacification.
We as a country are fascinated with the trivial and are losing sight of the important things. For example, 54% of the eligible voting population voted in 2008. This was a presidential year, and half of America could really give a damn. But I bet they could tell you the latest happenings in popular culture. Do not even get me started on the off-year elections.
While everyone is so preoccupied with their newest and popular gadgets, music, and entertainment (no matter how bad and trashy the entertainment is becoming), things continue to get worse in this country and no one seems to care. They may acknowledge that something is wrong, but you will not see much action from these people. They are too busy to be bothered. And when apathy continues to the rule the day is when the problems become unsolvable.
“The Running Man” shows a population of people so preoccupied with glorified, outrageous entertainment that they cease to care the world they live in has fallen apart. And that is where we may be heading if we are not careful.
2017 may not be so far off after all.
The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown
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