Not My Idea of Freedom

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This ad appeared in one of the emails I get from a conservative Web site.  My readers know I’m intending upon never going on the public dole (including Social Security and Medicare).  Freedom?  Medicare is supposed to be Freedom?

To my way of thinking, Medicare brings these conditions with it:

Medical treatment confined to “What Medicare Will Pay For”.

Being denied needed treatment recommended by your physician, because a bureaucrat in Washington D.C deems it “not medically necessary”.

Not being able to see your longtime physician, because he or she does not accept Medicare (doctors who see Medicare patients are not allowed to turn down any patient, thus being denied their freedom).

You become a line item on the Federal Budget, not a human being.

Your doctor having to get permission from the federal bureaucracy before he can treat you.

Nope, not my idea of Freedom.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc, Seattle?

That phrase is commonly called a fallacy (after this, thus because of this), but you can judge this instance for yourself, with a couple of stories from KOMO-Seattle.

First, there is this story about the low morale at the Seattle Police Department.  In recent years, there has been an increase in low-level street crime, and many cases of neighborhood-dwellers who shout and jeer at police officers while they are trying to do their job.  The incidents in Ferguson, Missouri and the rise of the “Black Lives Matter” movement have led to distrust of the police, and the feeling in some communities that the police do not serve them, but are a threat.  The city government has not dealt well with the rise of homeless and drug-dealing people living in broken-down, unsightly RVs in city neighborhoods, among other things. Some neighborhoods have to hire their own private security, when the City ignores their plight.

Then, there is this story, of how one local company has responded to the conditions above.  Street Crime Forces Environmentally-conscious company to Flee Seattle.  Seattle prides itself on being very “green”, funding companies such as this one, banning those evil plastic bags and plastic straws, and building street-narrowing bike and bus lanes where automobiles are not allowed.

In these cases, Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc is NOT a fallacy, but very true.

Did you know? Progressives support Slavery.

There have been many stories in the (so-called) Press in the past few years of small-business owners having their businesses destroyed because they would not engage in activities that violated their religious beliefs.  It seems that most states have “public accommodation” laws that forbid “discrimination” on the basis of race, religion, or “sexual orientation”.  These state laws have been used to deny business owners their religious liberty, by insisting that they cater, or bake cakes, or provide flowers, or create custom invitations for same-sex “weddings”.  Some businesses have literally had to close down their businesses, because they refused to violate their moral code.

Now, just think about it this way.  If the State can force a business to engage in any creative activity (and catering, baking cakes, providing flowers, and creating custom invitations are ALL creative activities) against its will, isn’t that tantamount to slavery?  Isn’t being forced to serve customers whose activity violates your own conscience, against your will, Slavery?

Funny, the Democrats and Progressives, who trumpet to the world how much they detest Slavery, turn out to actually advocate it.

(WA Governor) Jay Inslee wants more oversight over Private Psychiatric Hospitals

He does, does he?  It seems that the Seattle Times did a story about all the “incidents” at private psychiatric institutions in Washington. Sorry, no link here due to paywall at the Times web site.  How quickly they forget.  Just recently, there were many stories of the horrific conditions at the State of Washington psychiatric institution, Western State Hospital.

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That institution lost its Federal accreditation, due to less-than-stellar conditions there.  There have been inmate escapes, staffing shortages, and lawsuits due to mistreatment of patients.

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Maybe, Jay Inslee should try getting his own house in order, before going after the private institutions.

I prefer not to be a participant in others’ delusions.

The first Delusion in which I do not participate is the delusion of “man-made climate change”, and the corollaries that demand that we abandon the benefits of plastic items like grocery bags and straws.  It makes me angry when the all-powerful Government decides for me which light bulbs I must use (and no longer may use), and insists that I from now on “bring my own reusable bag” to the grocery store, since it is banning retail stores from providing plastic bags to their customers.  This came in my utility bill recently.

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The worst part of this is that the Government is Requiring retail establishments to charge a FEE for providing paper bags!  This is so ridiculous!  So, what does the retail establishment do with all the fees they collect?  Are they required to remit those funds to the City Government?  This flyer does not say.  I hope they do not have to.

In any case, I refuse to participate in their delusion that banning plastic bags will help “save the planet”, since the Planet is not in need of saving.  And, just in case they need to know, I re-use lightweight plastic bags to take out my home trash, so every bag gets re-used.  I have purchased a big box of lightweight plastic bags, which I will use at my grocery store, every time I shop in the city (which I will try my best to avoid in the future).  If they think they can prevent me from using lightweight plastic bags, they are sorely mistaken.  Maybe they should train their sights on the real culprits responsible for all the plastic waste in the oceans…Asia.  Asian countries put thousands of times more plastic waste into the oceans than the United States does.  Go ban bags there!

The second delusion in which I refuse to participate is that someone born Male can decide that he is really Female, and must have his God-given body altered.  The so-called “gender dysphoria” syndrome (funny, it’s so newly-popular) is a Mental Illness, and cannot be treated with surgery.  Just check out the statistics on suicide by “trans-gender” people who have had that bizarre surgery.  Near 40%!! It is plain to the eye and the mind that a person born with two X chromosomes is Female, and someone born with one X and one Y chromosome is Male.  Removing the male body parts does NOT make a person Female.  So I refuse to call the admin at my place of employment by His chosen new female name.  And HE had better keep out of MY Women’s bathroom.

A Day at the Fair

Starting this past weekend, is the Washington State Fair in the Pierce County town of Puyallup (pronounced pew-allup).  We drove there from our house in Everett, which is a long drive, but it was a nice day on Sunday.  Lots of homeowners there allow their front yards to be used for parking, and local civic groups have lots they use for Fair parking too.  We didn’t even try to find a place on the street.

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This was about five blocks from the fairgrounds.  We entered at the Blue Gate.

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I had a hunch things would not be going smoothly right outside the gate.  First, the sole of one of my flip-flops separated right at the gate, so I knew I’d have trouble walking around if I didn’t get it fixed.  Also, the Fair has gone “total airline” on bag-checks at the gates, so I was required to empty my water bottle before entering.  As if I was carrying something other than water!  It did nothing to improve my disposition, I can tell you.

Once inside, we had to decide where to go first.  I figured I’d have to find someone with glue, or someone selling flip-flops!  Here’s what we saw just inside the gate.

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I knew there was a big building holding the “trade show” booths, of various businesses trying to sell you something. Well, it just so happened that the Vionic people were there, selling their orthotic-friendly flip-flops, so I bought a pair and wore them for the rest of the day.  One problem solved.

Next stop, Carousel.  This is a very pretty one, with nicely-painted horses, ridden by lots of happy kids (and even a parent or two).

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Next, FOOD!

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RushBabe decided to be somewhat incendiary, wearing the Trump garb in Deep Blue Western Washington.

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But this time, I guessed wrong!  I got about a half-dozen remarks on my shirt and hat, and every single one was positive!  I saw another lady in a pink Trump2020 hat, and got a bunch of thumbs-up and people saying they liked my shirt. Very unusual!

Well, what’s a State Fair without animals?  I, being horse-crazy, headed for that area, and I captured two very nice-looking steeds.  I was very pleased to see that the breed that has to be the most beautiful ever designed by Nature, the Friesian, was represented!  They are coal black and shiny, and very graceful. Too bad I neglected to take his picture standing up.

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Here’s another pretty guy.

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And, the obligatory calf.

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And some just beautifully-marked chickens.

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We dropped by the building with local non-profits.  I just got a kick out of these two organizations, back to back.  The Wildlife Conservation folks.

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Back to back with the Trappers!

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I wondered, did they speak to each other?

We visited the Hobby Hall, and saw all kinds of exhibits of crafts made by people all over Washington.

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A nice model of the Titanic.

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And a nice variety of quilts.  I especially loved this Hogwarts one!  See Hedwig on the shelf?  And the LEGO Harry?  Very cute!

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Very Washington!

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And birds.  These quilts are made by professionals, and this one won three awards.

And by this time, we old folks were getting tired, so we headed home.  A great day at the Fair!