January 18, 2013 at 12:16AM

"Creative Leaders work to reduce complexity, slim down central staff, eliminate excessive layering, and create units of manageable size." (Hickman 2009 pg. 61) Can you name ANY current political leaders that fit this definition?? Justin Taylor

January 17, 2013 at 05:44PM

In the face of a budget crises here in the US, Obama finds in his infinite wisdom to actually propose a .5% raise to all government employees. Really?? I was reading an article the other day, perhaps last week about it, and I am now reminded as Congress battles over whether to increase the debt ceiling, so that we can go further into debt, and spend more money on more things we probably don't need. When is Washington going to start cutting expenses, and stop trying to create more government jobs, just to be able to say, the economy is rebounding... when every government job is that much more of a strain on taxpayers?? Yes, I love a raise as much as the next person, who doesn't?? But that raise was going to cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions every year. How do we get Washington to learn to spend less and not more, and cut the pork bellies and start tightening the fiscal belt, while at the same time, helping loosen and/or create policies that foster an environment of private sector job creation?? Justin Taylor

January 16, 2013 at 03:17PM

Ronald Reagan – 40th President of the USA (1981-1989) “There are those in America today who have come to depend absolutely on government for their security. And when government fails they seek to rectify that failure in the form of granting government more power. So, as government has failed to control crime and violence with the means given it by the Constitution, they seek to give it more power at the expense of the Constitution. But in doing so, in their willingness to give up their arms in the name of safety, they are really giving up their protection from what has always been the chief source of despotism government. Lord Acton said power corrupts. Surely then, if this is true, the more power we give the government the more corrupt it will become. And if we give it the power to confiscate our arms we also give up the ultimate means to combat that corrupt power. In doing so we can only assure that we will eventually be totally subject to it. When dictators come to power, the first thing they do is take away the people's weapons. It makes it so much easier for the secret police to operate, it makes it so much easier to force the will of the ruler upon the rule.” Justin Taylor

January 14, 2013 at 05:48PM

Abraham Lincoln said the following: "You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves." Justin Taylor

January 12, 2013 at 07:01PM

Democratic Congressman Kurt Schrader of the 5th District of Oregon is talking on a show called Straight Talk. I'm impressed and actually agree with just about everything I think he said. He was talking about how this Gun Control stuff is not very smart, because there are plenty of laws for Guns on the books already, and what we need to do is Change the Culture of Violence, because that is the only way we are going to change things in this country. The fact is we have a right to guns in this country, but we need to be smart about it... he said what I believe. Oh he also mentioned a story. He said that with so many budget cuts, that police and military are being downsized and funds are being diverted so they just don't have the means to protect everyone all the time. He had a friend that actually called the police with an urgent matter, a 911 call, and the Police could do nothing to help him. They were not ever going to be able to arrive... so the point of the story was, people like his friend want to know they can protect themselves, their families, and their property. It's scary when you think about it. He also talked about the fiscal cliff and how that needs to change dramatically too. He actually voted against the last deal, because it didn't do anything to solve the actual problem which deals with spending cuts. He talked about several things, and he is actually what he considers himself to be... a Centrist. Justin Taylor

January 10, 2013 at 03:26PM

I watched the opening remarks by VP Biden today on Gun Control. OK, I watched most of it and paid attention to about 2/3 of it. Too be fair, despite many differences in our beliefs and a couple of small parts of what he said. I do have to say, the media is being much less fair to what he actually says. ON both sides of the coin. Extremists either way seem to be having their way. Both the BAN everything groups and the Let's not talk at all groups. Obviously conversation should ensue, but also conversation shouldn't be a distraction from the fiscal crises... nor should it be about what kills people, but in fact should be about prevention in general a change of culture. Most of what VP Biden said was more about asking questions of the religious groups, and talking about the moral aspects of the issue and finding common ground, that does not impede on the second amendment. I can appreciate that. I just hope, they don't go do crazy road and do stupid stuff with their recommendations and I hope they leave it up to Congress and don't even try to use executive privilege. Just down the street from my house here in Oregon, in the Sellwood area, yesterday two men walked around with the so-called 'assault rifles' fully loaded, the same type used in the recent elementary school shooting, on their backs. One of them has a concealed carry permit and had a handgun on his hip too. Very visible. The reason they did this was to raise awareness that just because someone has a gun, doesn't mean they are bad or irresponsible. In fact they are normal regular young guns, exercising their right to carry if they so choose. It sparked a lot of 911 calls, and the police did stop and talk to them, to tell them they had. Of course the police also said, no laws had been broken and there was nothing they could do. The one guy said, if laws are passed preventing owning or buying certain guns, then this would be their one day that they were able to exercise their Constitutional rights. Still watching... what do you think? Justin Taylor

January 07, 2013 at 11:29PM

Gangster Squad. I saw this movie tonight. For those that don't know, it is based on a true story. Actually based on a book about a very dangerous and violent time in 1949. In Essence, Mickey Cohen, one of the most dangerous and violent mafia bosses of all time, controlled the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and, if he had his way, it would have been every wire bet placed west of Chicago. In order to maintain control of LA Cohen was willing to commit any all all acts of extreme violence. Cohen was poised to make the likes of Al Capone look tame and he had even cut ties with Chicago, because as far as he was concerned, he was God and LA belonged to him, like manifest destiny. Cohen had politicians, judges, and many in the police in his pocket and EVERYONE including the media and the law were afraid of him. It was seen as a deathwish to go against him, because Cohen lived a life of violence, he was born in violence and of course destined to die from it. The movie is violent, but the story is based on violence and a violent time. Everything that happened was never meant to be been told, because of the extremes that the police chief had to allow this special squad to take, allowing them to step outside the law and go to war. It is also rather funny, lots of light moments to break up the action and tense moments. Very well acted, by all the actors, with believable characters. Although it is not 100% true to the story or the book, because of events that happened last year, it is still very down to earth and realistic. However, it's not just a bunch of unnecessary fantasy violence, the violence, is used to tell a violent story, which I thought was from a very poignant yet real point of view. After the World War, the action to clean up LA was seen as a Domestic War, I could even equate it to a domestic war on terror, where extreme actions are taken to remove a blight on society and save millions of lives. This is not a family movie, but it is based on historical events, so it is worth it for those that like action and adventure and a well told story. Justin Taylor