Archie Kobain

If you read my last post, you probably thought my next post would be my last.
Yup.  At the time, I thought that too.

Turns out that once the digital ink gets to flowing, however, it’s hard to stop.
Yes, a hiatus is near – but it ain’t here yet.  Archie will live to see another week.

So let’s get to work. There is much to be done before this sabbatical begins…

Republican Dillweeds
I know I criticize the Democrats a lot while maintaining that I am NPA (No Party Affiliation).
My critics argue that my voter’s registration card may say NPA but I am obviously a Republican. I will argue that these critics are feeble-minded idiots who can’t imagine the existence of a free-thinking American, unaffected by partisanship, and only interested in keeping our country moving forward. That’s OK. I understand and I respect your handicapped thinking.

Nevertheless, it’s time to set the record straight.  It’s absolutely true that when it comes to business and the economy, I lean more toward the Republican way of doing things…and, like Republicans, I am all for less government – less involvement in our everyday lives, fewer laws governing the things that don’t need governing.

I am NPA, however, because I really dislike what our two-party system has turned into and the incredible division that it has caused in our country.  It is a deep chasm that continues to grow and further divide our people and our politicians, and makes it increasingly more difficult for our government to act in a unified manner to further the interests of our country.

I know, I know…  You’ve heard this all before.  But here’s what you haven’t heard…

I truly believe that, of our two political parties, the Republican Party is the more fucked-up of the two. And if I was to join either of the “big two” political parties today, it would definitely be the Republican Party – because they need me more than the Democrats.  You see, many people might join a party today so that they can feel at home and partake in the camaraderie. Not me. I have enough friends and comrades. I would never join a party just to vote according to the party line but so that I could try and effect change within that party…and again, today, the Republicans need me way more than the Democrats.

First of all, the Republican Party has allowed itself to be hijacked by these far right thinkers who want to push their agenda on everyone and are willing to bring our country to a halt in order to get their way.  At least the Democrats are a whole lot more “live and let live”.  Yes, there are equally radical Democrats out there but at least they were smart enough to not create a stupid “sub-party” to stand out and highlight their stubborness and ignorance.  The Republican Party excels at ignorance and I am sick and tired of their collective narrow-minded views.  It borderlines on disgusting.

Although the examples are numerous, let’s discuss this one…

Immigration Reform
Seldom do I side with Democrats on business issues…but that’s exact what this is.  First and foremost, it’s a business issue, followed by a “doing what makes sense” issue.  Of course, the far right that has hijacked the Republican party is way too blind to see this.

When you try and talk to the average Repub about some of the proposed immigration changes, they will, without listening, say…

• let’s just enforce our current laws
• no amnesty for anyone, just deport these law-breakers
• no immigration changes, let people use the existing procedures to immigrate legally

I absolutely agree that we should enforce current laws…and we do.  Illegal immigrants are deported all the time – probably daily.  No one is saying that current laws shouldn’t be enforced until they are changed.  The problem is that we can’t deport all illegal immigrants.  There are two basic reasons for this.  The first is manpower.  It is estimated that we have about 11 million illegal immigrants in the US.  11 million!  Does anyone have any idea how many immigration agents it would take and how much money it would cost to deport 11 million people?  Lots!

The reality is that, it’s just like speeding.  The cops can’t catch everyone who speeds.
You…  Reading this…  I bet you sped yesterday.  You, law breaker, you!
But the cops can’t catch everyone.  No enough manpower.

So, just like speeding, the people who get caught, get caught and get deported.
We do, in fact, enforce our current laws…but “deport them all” just can’t be done.

The next, more intangible, reason why we can’t deport all 11 million illegal immigrants is because we need them.  Most of these people aren’t here mooching off America.  They are here working, earning money to support their families.  And guess what?  They are doing jobs that Americans don’t want. Argue that point all you want… Then find me even a dozen Americans who want to spend their day in a field picking oranges for minimum wage… I dare you.

So here’s what this amnesty idea does…  Suddenly, we would have a lot less law-breakers.  I equate this to raising the speed limit (on certain roads), instead of just giving out more tickets. By granting these people amnesty, we also get to know who they are and we get to collect income tax from them.  Note: Most of these people already pay taxes in the form of sales tax and, even when they rent a place to live, they contribute to property taxes…but they are usually skating free on income taxes – unlike you and me.  Plus, all of these American employers, who were also lawbreakers, stop being lawbreakers.  All of this is good for America and good for business.  Are we sure Democrats came up with this?

So what about the idea of deporting these people and letting them immigrate legally, under current laws?  Well…  Currently, the United States has a quota on how many people can legally immigrate to our country every year.  The number is something like 675K and some of those might be reserved for families… i don’t know the details.  Look it up.  But I know that employment based immigration is capped at something like 140,000 visas and, of course, there are all sorts of exceptions, limitations, etc…

So it sounds like we have a good program going, right?

Here’s the thing that very few people will tell you…

“No more than 7 percent of the visas may be issued
to natives of any one independent country in a fiscal year.”

So, taking the higher number of 675,000, this means that no more than 47,250 people can legally immigrate into the US from any one country. Check it…
http://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/country-limit

This means that if we deported 1 million Mexican workers, under the current, ridiculous, immigration laws, it would take us over 21 years to get them all back.  On the other hand, the entire population of Liechtenstein (39,000) could move here next year and still not a single orange would get picked from the groves.  Does this make any sense to anyone?

Bottom line: Yes – let’s enforce current laws until we change them but let’s change them soon.
The ones that are in-place are old, outdated and some just don’t make any sense.
Just like the Republican politicians that support them.

Hey… Who is that guy?

No.  That’s neither a young Axl Rose nor an Axl Rose wannabe.
Although, let’s face it…we’re all Axl Rose wannabees.

And who is this guy…

Nope.  It’s not Jesus and it’s not some guy from Duck Dynasty.

These two guys are from a Southern Rock, Country, Hair Band that I recently discovered
called Blackberry Smoke.  i don’t know why but, I really like these guys.  If only they
were hot chicks, I would have Barnsley look up their names.

Nevertheless, you guessed it…
They are this week’s musical guest. So let’s give a listen to their song: Good One

I think everyone can see why I would love that video… Yes?
It’s a somewhat rock song, somewhat about drinking and it somewhat mentions hot chicks.
What’s not to like?

And speaking of hot chicks…
Where did Ashley Monroe come from?

Ashley Monroe

I can feel a good one coming on…

What? I was just still singing that song.

So there I was one day, watching Willie Nelson, in my hat and newly refurbished boots, when ***bam!***, the hottest chick on television (since the new Wendy’s girl) comes out of nowhere and starts singing with 80-year old Willie.  Really…  Who is this non-redhead?

Ya… I don’t know either.  I’m having the research department look into this.
Also, I was going to play a video… Yes, a second musical guest but we’re out of time.
So, we’ll bring her back another day.  In the meantime, here’s another photo…

Ashley Monroe

Is anyone else thinking thigh turkey?

By the way, thanks to everyone who sent me photos of thigh turkeys.
Example:

Of course, there’s really something wrong with you.
Why are you sending me these photos and who is letting you do this to them?
Repeatedly?

I want answers.  Weirdo.

Hmmm…  Is that everything? Alrighty then. Time to go.
Time to go do whatever it is that I do when I’m not doing this.
I forgot myself…  Would you please remind me?

This isn’t cheesecake!

Wow.  I really gotta go.
See you muthas lay-tah… Peace!

– Arch