HORRIFYING

(Published in the Independent Coast Observer)


Editor:

For nearly thirty years I've spent a large portion of my professional life working in Europe with European client companies, colleagues and good friends.  For at least the last twenty of those years I've told friends around the world (some of whom, until recently, were really tired of hearing it) that Europe's socialist system was in an accelerating spiral of collapse, with eventual catastrophic results.

When an American – at least one with eyes open – spends this much time abroad it's impossible to avoid being a witness to the specter of incentive dying, as Europeans become increasingly reliant on the state for essentially everything.  One can almost watch citizens on the street grow progressively more accepting as paralyzed governments seem unable to reverse these trends.

Daily media accounts vividly describe what the economic meltdown of European socialism  – using Greece as the example du jour – looks like.

Germany may yet postpone the inevitable for Greece, but that's the pathetic best that can be hoped.  Eurozone national banks are the largest bank holders of Greek sovereign debt.  And as was learned dramatically here in America during the mortgage securities crisis, the Obama government is only too ready to vector billions of US dollars to bail out European banks.  Once German money runs out – as it will long before Spain, Portugal and France face certain Greek-style meltdowns – all of our futures can only be imagined.

A careful read of today’s European economic situation should scare the living bleep out of every thinking American.  What should be most alarming is that under the Obama government literally every root cause of the looming economic and social catastrophe in Europe has a horrifying American parallel.  No Presidential election in our country's history has been more important than 2012.  The survival of our society is literally at stake.

Gary A Curtis

Concerned Coastal Voters

The Sea Ranch

LEFTIST CLOWNS

 (Published in the Independent Coast Observer)

To some of us the Obama 2012 Campaign is one big circus. In Ring One, you have the President himself, the Great Distractor, who, unable to discuss his highly unpopular and meager accomplishments, focuses on things such as class warfare, more taxes on the rich, evil Republicans, and himself, himself, himself . . . .

In Ring Two, a motley assortment of the President’s political, celebrity, and media surrogates dressed in clown suits, run about carrying his water in large containers with holes drilled in the bottom. Supporters drinking free beer laugh hysterically, whereas the “likely voters” quietly point to the water pouring out on to the sawdust floor of the Democrat’s “big tent.” The well-heeled clowns pretend they’re watering a garden of flowers (e.g., huge federal expansion, chronic unemployment, no national budget in three years, gargantuan deficit), but the savvy voters see only a sisyphean folly and the barren landscape of failed economic policies.

In Ring Three of Cirque d’Obama, you have well-meaning local Obamacons channelling credentialed (but misguided) hucksters like Robert Reich and Paul Krugman. These “experts” eternally proclaim their reactionary creed that no government program can ever be abandoned or modified in any substantive way no matter how much it has failed, or how much it will cost to maintain.  All the clowns throw fists full of money to the crowd and shout in shrill slogans, “Obama Cares, “Republicans are Evil,” and “Kill the Rich” (except for the Democratic rich, of course).

The increasingly skeptical audience of voters are mildly entertained by these leftist clowns, but then they remember the economy is still in the tank and the President has steadfastly ignored the coming entitlement program meltdown. In the final analysis, clowns parading distractive baubles will not prevail. The majority of voters will demand results, not a circus.

Jim Littlejohn

Concerned Coastal Voters

Gualala, CA  95445

WHO ARE THE CONCERNED COASTAL VOTERS?

by Jim Littlejohn 


(Article published in the Independent Coast Observer, May 17, 2012)

Concerned Coastal Voters (CCV) is a group of local citizens who share a deep love for America and the principles upon which it was founded, especially the Constitution. We share deep concerns about the current direction and governance of the country.  We discover, share, and discuss data and facts about America's challenges, for example, the economy, the size of government, foreign relations, health care, over-regulation, homeland security, and many others.  Through these activities we hope to become both better informed and more moved to action to help return America to strength, prosperous growth, and Constitutional governance.

CCV was formed in 2010 and has been, until recently, a relatively small (but merry) group of conservatives whose primary means of getting their views across was the welcome but limited venue of the ICO. This is changing fast. In the past few weeks CCV has more than doubled its membership from an initial core group of 14 to more than 30, with many more potential members waiting to be added over the next few weeks.

We have a diverse membership of local people from many professions and backgrounds; e.g, business, law, medicine, art, sales, real estate, education, technology, military. Some of us are retired and others are still out there working. For example, one of our members is a world-traveling management consultant for an international firm.

As for myself, I was privileged to work for the federal agency charged with desegregating schools and colleges in southern states and for many years was in charge of developing and writing policy to guide the enforcement of the civil rights laws affecting our nation’s schools on race, national origin, disability, gender equity, and age. I worked for both Democrat and Republican administrations and served each to the best of my professional abilities. I am particularly proud now to be associated with the fine people in CCV and draw daily upon their wisdom, intelligence, and support.

Our new website (www.concernedcoastalvoters.blogspot.com) is rapidly evolving into a sophisticated source of news articles, videos, links, and other information that has caught the attention of readers as far away as Washington, D.C. CCV is not associated with any other group or political organization. We encourage a lively, but civil, debate on the issues of the day and absolutely respect the opinions of those who disagree with us.   

To us, that is the American way. Out of discussion and dissension will come resolution and, we hope and pray, a better world for our children and grandchildren.