Baby Einstein? Not So Much.

Thanks to my sister-in-law Meg and my old friend Dave for bringing this one to my attention. It seems that Disney is going to make restitution to parents who purchased Disney's Baby Einstein products expecting their children to magically metamorphose into card-carrying members of Mensa, only to see those hopes dashed when Junior ultimately proved to be no smarter than an average bear. Did these people really, truly expect that a series of videos and cd's for infants and toddlers was going to have such a profound impact on their children? If so, isn't this more a statement about the delusional little world they occupy inside their own brains than it is about the failings of these "educational" products? And as I've said before, isn't it the ultimate responsibility of the parents to stimulate and enrich the education of their children from an early age (really, starting at birth)?

I'd wager that most of the parents that are complaining about these products like so many of us, are the type who throw on a DVD, plop their child in front of it, and then read their magazines/newspapers/books, talk on the phone, have lunch with friends, etc. And don't get me wrong, their is absolutely nothing wrong with using that temporary distraction to give yourself a little time for you (I know that I've been thanking God for Erin's devotion to Max & Ruby for several years now)... just don't delude yourself into believing that the distraction is anything more than that... a DISTRACTION. It will not turn your child into Brainiac, no matter how hard you wish it will.

The cynic in me wonders what comes next... what is the next step in our evolution as a blameless society? Perhaps blameless is not the right word, though, as there is always plenty of blaming going on, plenty of finger pointing when results do not meet our expectations. It's just that those fingers are rarely pointed back at ourselves. It is always someone else's fault. Such a lack of humility, personal responsibility, and introspection is shameful and sad. What kind of an example do we set for our children when our (or their) failings are always to be blamed on somebody else? Did your child fail to score an A in school? Well it certainly is not your child's fault! The teacher just doesn't like your child and has a secret vendetta against him or her. Or maybe the clerk at the shoe store sold you the wrong size shoes, and because your child was distracted by those uncomfortably fitting too-tight shoes, he/she couldn't pay attention in class, so yes, it the shoe store clerk's fault! Or maybe those Baby Einstein videos failed to turn your child into a "Baby Einstein" and he or she is now ruined for life. Modern America... Theater of the Absurd.

On a slightly different note, what kind of parent is going to come forward and say to Disney, "I demand compensation! We bought all of your Baby Einstein products, and they were supposed to turn little Trevor into a genius, but he's still a knuckle-dragging cro-magnon imbecile, so I insist you refund me my money!" Will these same parents then be able to come back to Disney in a few years and sue Disney for returning their money (a tacit admission that the child is...gasp... AVERAGE), in the process damaging their child's self-esteem? At this point, I don't think it would surprise me.

In the end, it does not matter who manufactures the "educational" video, music, or toy for your children. What does matter is your level of engagement with them. The most important and effective teachers that any child will ever have is his or her own parents. Nobody and nothing can have such a profound influence over their intellectual growth and development, as well as their physical and emotional growth & development, as their parents. We cannot shirk our duties, especially not on to a bunch of DVDs and CDs. Get a grip people. I'm just saying.

HEY! I'm Not a Bad Driver!!

Earlier this week, before Erin came down with her cold (or whatever it is... hopefully, we'll know for sure after tomorrow's doctor visit), Laureen, Erin and I were leaving Target after Laur picked up some components for Erin's Halloween costume. As we were climbing into the car, I pretended like I was going to sit in Erin's booster seat in the back. Accustomed to such shennanigans, she hardly batted an eyelash as she calmly but firmly stated, "No Dadoo, this is where I sit."

"But I thought you were driving. If you're not driving, who is?" I asked.

Without a word, Erin pointed to Laureen. I smiled at Laur, and said to Erin, "Are you sure you don't want to drive?"

"No. I want Mommy to drive."

"Well, then where will I sit?"

Again, Erin silently pointed. This time, she was pointing at the front passenger seat. Shrugging my shoulders, I strapped Erin in place and shut the back door. Then glancing at Laur over the top of the car, I asked, "Do you want to drive?"

"Not really," was Laur's reply. "Do you mind driving?"

I didn't mind, and climbed behind the wheel. As I shut the door and clicked my seatbelt in place, Erin stated, "Dadoo, I thought I told you I wanted Mommy to drive."

"Why does it matter," I asked. "Do you think Mommy is a better driver than me?"

"Yes Dadoo."

"WHAT!?!?! Why? I'm a good driver! I'm at least as good of a driver as Mommy!"

"Yes Dadoo, but you hit all the bumps. Mommy doesn't hit all the bumps. So Mommy is a better driver."

I looked at Laureen, and she simply smiled back at me.

The Weekly Erinism- Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Laureen was getting ready for work one day earlier this week, and I was in the kitchen heating up some leftover pizza for Erin. Laur was in and out of the bathroom and our bedroom as she went through her regular prepping for work routine. Meanwhile, Erin was in the living room, sprawled out on the floor, dilligently working at assembling her Care Bears puzzle. When the oven timer sounded, I opened the door and was met with the pleasing aroma of reheated, day-old pizza. I pulled the slices from the oven, cheese still bubbling, and deposited them on a plate for Erin.

"Erin, your pizza is ready. Come on in and get the plate," I called out to her from the threshold of the dining room.
"Dadoo, you can just bring it to me in here," came her shouted reply.
Laureen happened to be walking by at this point, and snickered as she asked me, "What did she just say to you?"
"Erin, that's not gonna happen. Come on out here and get your pizza," I shouted back.
"That's OK Dadoo, I think you should just bring it to me."
I looked at Laureen as she began to laugh. Feeling slightly emasculated, I tried again, a little more sternly, "ERIN, COME OUT AND GET YOUR PIZZA IF YOU WANT TO EAT LUNCH TODAY."
"OK!!!!" Then, a moment of silence. Followed by a loooonnnngggg, loud sigh that was audible in the kitchen. Laureen looked at me and we both quietly cracked up as we heard her stomping footsteps coming from the living room to the kitchen. When she entered the room, we did our best to hide our smiles as we turned to face her. Standing there in the doorway of the kitchen was the most miserable looking little girl that I think I've ever seen, pout, sad eyes and all.
In a very small, pathetic voice, she said, "Dadoo, I just wanted you to bring me my pizza. When I say you should bring me my lunch, you should just bring me my lunch."
"Oh yeah? Well, we'll see about that," I replied as I walked away, trying to hold back my laughter.
Erin picked up her plate and sadly shuffled back into the living room. Unbeknownst to Erin, Laureen was right behind her as she entered the living room, and heard her mutter under her breath, "We WILL see about that, if you say that to me again."

The Weekly Erinism- Friday, October 9th, 2009

The other day, Erin and I were out running errands in the Santa Fe, when over the horizon, a giant Burger King sign materialized.

"Burger King," Erin said. Not realizing she expected a response, I didn't reply.
"Burger King. Dadoo, Burger King."
"Yes, I see it Erin."
"I wonder if that one has a playground?" she queried.
"No, that one doesn't have one."
"But Dadoo, it might have a playground."
"It doesn't."
"But Dadoo, I'm just saying, it might have a playground."
"It doesn't. We've been there before. It doesn't have..."
"Dadoo! I'm just saying that it MIGHT have a playground!"
"And I'm telling you that it does not. We've been there before. It does not have a playground."
"Well... maybe we should go there, just to make sure."
"Erin, you can trust me, it DOES NOT have a playground, and we are not going there."
"But maybe you're wrong... or you're just kidding. We should stop and make sure you're not wrong."
"I'm not wrong, and we're not going there. THERE IS NO PLAYGROUND."
"FINE!! YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME!!"

Nobel Peace Prize

Congratulations to President Barack Obama for having been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Of course, this puts him in the illustrious company of our worst President of the 20th century (and national joke as an ex-President) Jimmy Carter, prognosticator of global climate change gloom and doom & former alpha male Vice President Al Gore, and terrorist extraordinaire, the murderous Yasser Arafat. Not exactly a brotherhood I'd want to belong to. And just exactly what "Peace" has President Obama brought to the world? Or maybe a better question is, what exactly has he accomplished in the name of "Peace" and at what cost? We're still fighting in Aghanistan, only with less material support and more restrictive rules of engagement, putting our soldiers at greater risk. Iran and North Korea continue to proliferate their nuke programs, and speculation abounds that if Iran is allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, than Saudi Arabia will be next. There is talk of Japan joining the nuclear weapons fraternity as well. Russia is still in the Ossetia & Abkhazia regions of Georgia. China still threatens Taiwan and occupies Tibet. Armed conflict exists all over Africa. And, in our own back yard in Central & South America, anti-American Marxism is seemingly on the rise. All while President Obama travels around the world bowing to dictators and apologizing for imagined sins of our great nation, never getting anything in return for the damage he is doing to our influence and prestige. History would seem to teach us that, while Peace is a noble goal, it cannot be bargained for or bought (just ask Neville Chamberlain or the Israelis) and genuine, lasting peace is only attained through the unconditional surrender of one's enemies. Perhaps someone needs to remind the President that his responsibilities are to the American people... he is not President of the World, no matter how much he and his supporters want to believe it. So once again, President Obama, enjoy your "Peace Prize". And then, maybe you can get back out there and actually do something meaningful to further the cause of real, lasting peace for your nation, instead of puckering up and kissing the butts of tyrants, dictators, rogue regimes, and weanie leftists the world over.

Priority Platform For America

Since the Democrats have gone off the deep end into the dark, murky waters of socialism, and the Republicans appear to be lost in the woods with no trail of bread crumbs to lead them home to rational, responsible governance, it is time to start thinking third party a little more seriously. Except, there is no existing third party with the right policy platform in place to win sufficient support for a national election victory. This got me thinking about issues, and I started constructing a platform of positions that I'd like to see a party adopt and stand behind. Here is where I am at thus far (more to come):

1. Cut the Federal Budget by at least 33%. It is past time to cut the fat out of our bloated, bank-breaking budget. And I am not talking about D.C. cuts, which are not in fact cuts, but reductions in the anticipated increase in spending. I'm talking real cuts, where you take the current number (whatever it is), and lop at least one third of it off. Yes, this will mean cutting back or even eliminating programs and entitlements, and some hard decisions will have to be made. However, the alternative is a tax burden that can range as high 60% of earned income, and a rate of spending that will literally bankrupt the United States in a relatively short amount of time. Funny how the democrats are always so concerned with deficit spending and "mortgaging the future" when the republicans are in charge, but when they themselves are controlling the purse strings, Keynesian spending is the only way to lift ourselves out of the economic doldrums. And republicans, for their part, get elected as the so-called "party of fiscal responsibilty" and then spend like mad as soon as they are given the chance like Patrick Dempsey in "Can't Buy Me Love", hoping that dollars will buy them popularity and ultimately, re-election. We should expect and deserve better.

2. Throw out the current tax code. 40% of Americans pay no Federal Income Tax, the top 5% of wage-earners pay 50% of all income taxes, and our tax code is over 10,000 pages long. It is time to stop using our tax code as a tool to enforce our social engineering experiments and pet programs, and apply it for the one and only thing it should be used for, raising revenue for our federal government's core, constitutional responsibilities. It is time to establish a super-simplified tax code, that can be explained in no more than 10 pages, or 1/1000th of the size of our current code (heck, our Constitution, which established our government, only needed 6 pages. Ten should be more than enough for the tax code). The simpler, the better.

3. Allow all citizens to choose to opt-out of Social Security. Social Security is one of those big government legacy programs that, for many Americans, has outlived its purpose. If someone feels that they can do better than the Government Bureaucracy investing their money for the future, then by all means, they should be free to do so. And, if they choose to opt-out, they should be able to roll over all contributions they have made to date into a 401K style retirement plan, CD, IRA, or some other investment of their choosing. I would much prefer to control my own financial future/destiny, and I believe most Americans would agree with me.

4. Re-commit to our national infrastructure. This is critical for so many reasons, not the least of which is the free flow of commerce. It is also important for disaster response, public safety and welfare, and national defense purposes. We have neglected our infrastructure for too long (especially energy production & distribution and transportation networks).

5. Re-build, properly fund, and supply our active military. It is shameful that we are straining our Reserves and National Guard the way that we are. It is a mistake that we have let our blue-water navy dwindle down to fewer than 300 ships. Our active ground forces military needs to be expanded dramatically, with an ultimate goal of 1 million soldiers/marines, and if we expect to continue to be the international police force of the seas, then we need to have a navy that can support such a mission.

6. Allow Medical Insurance companies access to all 50 states, and reform the way policies are sold. The reason that I cannot buy an inexpensive insurance policy is that there might only be a handful of players in my state, and the state regulations covering policies dictate what must be covered and at what cost. But if we remove all obstructions to insurance companies competing with each other across state lines, and we make it possible for we, the customers, to purchase a base-line, catastrophic coverage policy with all additional coverages being available a la carte, then it would dramatically cut the cost of medical care. Forcing every American to buy a policy, whether they want one or not, is un-American and exceeds the Constitutional power of our government.

As I say, this is merely a start. More to come, so stay tuned.

That Depends On The Meaning Of The Word "Tax"

"I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."

- President Barack Obama, September 12, 2008 campaign speech in Dover NH.

Very interesting. Especially in light of the exchange the President had with George Stephanopoulis (of all people) on a September 21, 2009 talk show:

George Stephanopoulis: "The government is forcing people to spend money, fining you if you don't [buy insurance]. . . . How is that not a tax?"
President Obama: "Well, hold on a second, George. Here's what's happening. You and I are both paying $900, on average—our families—in higher premiums because of uncompensated care. Now what I've said is that if you can't afford health insurance, you certainly shouldn't be punished for that. That's just piling on. If, on the other hand, we're giving tax credits, we've set up an exchange, you are now part of a big pool, we've driven down the costs, we've done everything we can and you actually can afford health insurance, but you've just decided, you know what, I want to take my chances. And then you get hit by a bus and you and I have to pay for the emergency room care, that's . . ."
Mr. Stephanopoulis: "That may be, but it's still a tax increase."
President Obama: "No. That's not true, George. The—for us to say that you've got to take a responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase. What it's saying is, is that we're not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore . . ."
Mr. Stephanopoulos: "But it may be fair, it may be good public policy—"
President Obama: "No, but—but, George, you—you can't just make up that language and decide that that's called a tax increase."
Mr. Stephanopoulis: "I don't think I'm making it up. "Tax"—"a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes."
President Obama: "George, the fact that you looked up Merriam's Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you're stretching a little bit right now. . . ."
Mr. Stephanopoulos: "I wanted to check for myself. But your critics say it is a tax increase."
President Obama: "My critics say everything is a tax increase. My critics say that I'm taking over every sector of the economy. You know that. Look, we can have a legitimate debate about whether or not we're going to have an individual mandate or not, but . . ."
Mr. Stephanopoulos: "But you reject that it's a tax increase?"
President Obama: "I absolutely reject that notion."

Very illuminating. I guess it is easy to promise no tax increases when you are willing to deny and redefine the actual definition of the word "tax". Brings to mind, in another time, with another President, the idiotic, childish word games over the meaning of the word "is". President Obama's refusal to call this a tax increase would be like me promising Erin, "Don't worry sweetie, you'll never have to eat spinach again if you don't want," and then forcing her to eat a bowl of salad made with spinach leaves. "Oh, sorry Erin, it doesn't count as spinach when it is in a salad. I only meant cooked spinach when I told you you'd never have to eat it again."

Where is the press on this issue?!?! I seem to recall an uproar of righteous discord from the media that cost George H. W. Bush an election because he promised, "Read my lips, no new taxes" and then failed to deliver on his promise. But, as usual, the rules are different when a Democrat holds our highest office.

Where are the Republicans on this issue?!?! Why is it left to the "alternative media" to call attention to this governmental nonsense. With a few rare exceptions, our Republican representatives/leaders have lost their spines or their principles, or both (they lost them some time ago, and still have not found them).

And, no, forcing people to buy health insurance or face a $3800 a year excise tax is not the same as forcing people to buy auto insurance if they want to drive. If someone doesn't want to pay for auto insurance, that person can choose to utilize mass transit, ride a bicycle, carpool with co-workers/friends, or simply walk in order to avoid paying the premium. There will be no choice here, no alternative. You simply must buy the insurance. It's un-Constitutional and, bottom line, downright un-American.

The Oklahoma Abuser Story

Here's a link to the original NY Post article that alerted me to this story:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/teen_mom_kept_me_in_closet_for_years_bf52KsNkqmp3dlrnKMNJ4L

Here's a link to a more in-depth CBS News story about the Oklahoma fiend:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/29/national/main5348428.shtml

An Argument For Forced Sterilization

I saw in today's New York Post how a beast of woman in Oklahoma has been charged with 40 counts of neglect and abuse for torturing her teenage son and keeping him locked up in a bedroom closet for 4 1/2 years. After checking out the story on-line for some more in-depth information, it turns out that this pig had her scumbag male friend in on the abuse as well, beating the boy with a belt, a cable wire, and a tire jack. I am not making this up! But wait, it gets worse. This same animal (the woman) also pled guilty to manslaughter 13 years ago when her 2 year old daughter was brought into a hospital in the Bronx weighing 14 pounds... she starved the little girl to death! Now, if these new charges are proven true, then my question is should a fiend like this evil bitch be allowed to procreate again? If ever there has been an argument for forced sterilization, here it is smacking us right in the face. Spare me the rhetoric about how she must suffer from some sort of mental disorder... I would wholeheartedly agree with that assessment but it in no way excuses her evil actions and should not be allowed to be used as a crutch by her defense to gain any sympathy. If these charges are true, then there us no amount of rehab and counseling that will turn these two monsters into functioning, contributing members of our society, and they should at the very, very least be prevented from ever being in the presence of children again. Personally, I would prefer to see them locked away for life, preferably in a dark, cramped space about the size of a bedroom closet. Why do we as a society delude ourselves into believing that those who prey on our most innocent and helpless, our children, can be reformed? Or that they even deserve an opportunity to be reformed? The recidivism rate for child sex predators is over 80% (I'd wager WAY over 80%, probably closer to 100%, since there are certainly cases that go unsolved or even unreported). People who torment, torture, and kill children are like defective members of society. They can't be repaired. They don't learn a lesson. They don't feel remorse. They are the textbook definition of the seemingly taboo word "EVIL", and should be weeded out and locked away forever or destroyed. And yes, for any wishy-washy bleeding hearts who are reading this, by "destroyed" I mean put to death (what else would it mean?). If we don't protect the innocent, the defenseless, the helpless... the children among us, who will?

Letter to Congress

Here is a copy of the letter I composed and sent out to my Congressman and Senators. Feel free to alter it as necessary and make use of it for yourselves if you are so inclined.

Dear Congressman Frelinghuysen,

I really appreciate your taking the time to read this letter. I am sure you are a very busy man, so I will try to be as brief as I possibly can. I am writing because I have grown concerned over the way our Government is conducting our foreign policy with respect to our traditional aliies and avowed enemies, and I would like to know where you stand on these issues.

Let me start by saying that I don't pretend to be an expert in these matters, and obviously am only privy to the information I can glean from the press and the internet, but it seems to me that we are setting some frightening precedents with our recent behavior around the world.

Take, for example, the nation of Iran. They are a known supporter of terror with a holocaust denying dictator who wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map, and when it appeared that their recent election was a sham, and their people rose up in the streets calling for democracy, we turned our backs on them. To the layman like me, it sure looked like we chose the thugs in their government over the will of their people in their thirst for freedom.

Along those same lines, when Russia invaded Georgia last summer, we saw some tough talk from the previous administration, but did they do anything? Likewise, has anything been accomplished by the current administration with regard to rectifying this situation, or have we turned our backs on an ally in the interest of playing nice with Russia? Again, that's what it looks like to me. Just like when President Obama cancelled the ballistic missile shield that was to be installed in Poland. By bailing on the peoples of the world who have put their necks on the line to support us, don't we hurt the likelihood that a nation will lay it on the line to supoprt us in the future?

And now, with the crisis that is occurring in Honduras, it once again looks as if we've walked away from an ally. From what I've read, seen reported on television, and heard anectdotally from friends who have family living in Honduras, Mr. Zelaya was removed from office by their supreme court, with the support of their legislature, in a bloodless arrest and deportation by their military, because of his attempt to circumvent their constitution and install a Hugo Chavez/Fidel Castro-style Marxist government. The interim president has even said that he has no interest in the job beyond the elections in this November. How could the United States of America, the ultimate arbiter of law and justice in the world (probably in the history of the world), come down in favor of a wannabe banana republic dictator instead of backing the people and their Constitution? It just doesn't seem right to me.

Thank you again for your time. I look forward to your response. Thank you for your service in Congress. God Bless America!!

Sincerely,

John McDermott