http://sledgepi.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Bert Sledge en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:55:56 GMT 2009-12-29T14:55:56Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977873340 I am going to use many of my own experiences to demonstrate that lower costs need not be Draconian or culturally seismic alterations to our economic and social fabric as is now proposed in Washington, . . . Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:16:54 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977873340 Bert Sledge 2009-10-28T02:16:54Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977869617 Today’s news had an article on how the nearly 700,000 vehicles in this program have clogged the recycling scrap yards. See " Cash for Clunkers trade-ins piling up ". With the typical blatant liberal . . . Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:54:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977869617 Bert Sledge 2009-10-25T23:54:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977869327 I haven’t written anything since April as you may have noticed. The main reason is that I have been busy becoming extremely familiar with our health care system. Let me state unequivocally, that . . . Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:14:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977869327 Bert Sledge 2009-10-25T18:14:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977654693 I will always give credit where it is due.  I have major differences with President Obama but giving the order to use deadly force on the Somali pirates was not only the correct thing to do, but . . . Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:58:08 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977654693 Bert Sledge 2009-04-13T13:58:08Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977653845 For medical reasons, I have had to sleep in my recliner in the family room for the past three months. I do so with my companions Racer and Rockie (and sometimes Pepe). We have four dogs and a cat . . . Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:45:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977653845 Bert Sledge 2009-04-12T15:45:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977644328 The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. Dante Alighieri No, you did not read the title wrong.  Most people don’t know that . . . Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:39:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977644328 Bert Sledge 2009-04-02T08:39:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977640509 The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun. R. Buckminster Fuller In the first two parts of this article I laid down the facts of the origin and current status of FEMA and the use of the . . . Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:06:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977640509 Bert Sledge 2009-03-29T15:06:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977632860 As you saw in my first article, FEMA is not what it appears to be. This can be said with most rules, regulations, and laws that come out of Washington (and most state capitals). Human greed and the quest . . . Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:51:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977632860 Bert Sledge 2009-03-21T13:51:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977625589 It would seem natural that all governments would want to protect their people in times of disaster, both natural and man-made (though not all do). Contingencies may be set up for such events. The United . . . Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:52:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977625589 Bert Sledge 2009-03-15T15:52:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977625138 I had planned on writing a lot more than I have in recent weeks, but I just couldn’t decide on what topics to approach. Quite honestly the myriad of problems out there cry out for discussion and action; . . . Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:38:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977625138 Bert Sledge 2009-03-15T03:38:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977598680 "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. "   Edmund Burke Yesterday, Feb. 17, 2009, . . . Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:18:54 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977598680 Bert Sledge 2009-02-18T15:18:54Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977595452 "The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. Dante Alighieri" If everything continues as it is, it may disappear altogether. . . . Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:03:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977595452 Bert Sledge 2009-02-15T17:03:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977593694 I have not written anything since the election. There are three reasons for that. 1. I had some health issues that needed correcting. I have been and still am working on that one. 2. I have been . . . Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:06:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977593694 Bert Sledge 2009-02-13T19:06:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977505487 There is a point in each of these for life today.  Look if you dare. The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. . . . Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:50:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977505487 Bert Sledge 2008-11-13T07:50:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977490730 I haven’t written much lately because I have been doing my prime duties of taking care of business and my family.   However, I have been sifting through the growing pile of ashes of the maelstrom . . . Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:03:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977490730 Bert Sledge 2008-10-28T13:03:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977474648 Starting on May 16, 2008, I wrote a series of articles entitled Three Big Bubbles Will Burst. I want to revisit them and take a look at what has happened. 1. Oil Prices, May 18, 2008 . I predicted . . . Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:46:44 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977474648 Bert Sledge 2008-10-11T18:46:44Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977457012 If this bailout plan is put in place, that is exactly what we will become.   Our country in one stroke of the pen will cease to exist as a Representative Republic and will shed its last remnants . . . Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:48:32 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977457012 Bert Sledge 2008-09-23T21:48:32Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977453585 We're screwed. Do you get it yet? The line between the public and private sector was just indelibly blurred. Just as Chavez has been nationalizing the private sector in Venezuela, and Rep. Maxine . . . Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:49:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977453585 Bert Sledge 2008-09-19T19:49:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977445828 Even I was confused on this one. Talk about intricate conniving on a grand scale. The federal government itself took over Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac directly, probably so the Fed would not get its . . . Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:03:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977445828 Bert Sledge 2008-09-11T05:03:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977443830 I wrote yesterday that the Fed takeover of Mae & Mac would cost us.  The total is probably going to reach $300,000,000,000 ($300 Billion).  That's a lot of zero's.   Do . . . Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:30:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977443830 Bert Sledge 2008-09-09T03:30:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977442568 The Fed took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac today. They are now running them and “infusing” capital. What does that mean? Where do they get the money? The Federal Reserve System is a private business . . . Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:22:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977442568 Bert Sledge 2008-09-07T17:22:52Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977442424 The Inconvenient Truth is that Global Warming is an established money maker. As always, follow the bucks. Why do people like Al Gore and Michael Moore jump on these and other theories? Money. They . . . Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:41:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977442424 Bert Sledge 2008-09-07T12:41:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977442084 The Corporate Bankruptcy Act of 1898. “The modern corporation dates back to 1601, when Queen Elizabeth I created the East India Trading Company. At the time, the concept of a corporation was quite . . . Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:58:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977442084 Bert Sledge 2008-09-06T22:58:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977440868 I'm sure there are a lot of you think this is a conspiracy too, since I'm sure one of the reasons Gov. Palin was at the State Fair when she got the call was the release of this quarter. It . . . Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:19:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977440868 Bert Sledge 2008-09-05T17:19:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977440252 The past 20 years have been tough, at least for me.  I felt so often I had to vote against a candidate for president instead of for one.  Finally that is over. I was not a John McCain supporter . . . Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:08:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977440252 Bert Sledge 2008-09-05T04:08:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977438241 I was not really very interested in this election because all I saw were 3 Liberals running on both tickets, and quite frankly I’m tired of it after 20 years of liberal fiscal policies in the Federal Government. . . . Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:02:32 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977438241 Bert Sledge 2008-09-03T17:02:32Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977438165 Last night Senator Fred Thompson showed the Republican Convention what a real conservative looks and sounds like. Here is the speech in its entirety if you haven’t heard it: Fred Thompson Speech . . . . Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:58:32 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977438165 Bert Sledge 2008-09-03T15:58:32Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977428330 Horse racing may be the “Sport of Kings”, and fox hunting that of the aristocracy, but prostitution has been the sport of the masses. Ever since the beginning of human history, women and men have . . . Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:34:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977428330 Bert Sledge 2008-08-23T04:34:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427726 The Republicans deserve to lose because “they forgot who brung them to the dance”. It wasn’t the Neo-cons (the extreme Religious Right), it certainly wasn’t the Neo-Libs (the extreme Socialist Left), . . . Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:42:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427726 Bert Sledge 2008-08-22T15:42:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977426716 Listen up Dear Friends, If any of you think the Russian Bear is going away simply because many of you are want to ignore the problem, wish it away, or find peace at any price, forget it! Pat Buchanan . . . Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:13:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977426716 Bert Sledge 2008-08-21T15:13:15Z