BTS On The Road 6 Jackson TN

Turtles VS. Ranchers, How The West Was Lost!!

I find it hard to believe that people are actually on the side of the BLM on this one. Even if Mr. Bundy should be paying a grazing fee, which by common law standards it is questionable, the way this is being taken care of is atrocious!!


                            Truth Be Told: Turtles VS. Ranchers, How The West Was Lost!!

 

The last line of my previous post "Truth Be Told :The Bank of America Looses $800 Million and so does it's Customers!" was " Who's going to protect us from the protectors?!"  I thought of that line as I kept hearing more and more about the situation between Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and The U.S. Bureau of Land Management. 

 

 It seems it all started 20 years ago when the BLM changed the rules in the middle of the game (that they were decades late joining in on) and Bundy refused to pay his "Grazing Fees" because he felt the changes infringed on states rights. The changes were made by the BLM to protect an endangered desert turtle. How the hell does forcing someone to pay money for grazing their cattle on land that their family has been grazing since 1877 help save turtles? Telling them NOT TO GRAZE there seems to be the common sense thing to do, but that's not how our government operates. It's about MONEY, not the turtles! It's about POWER, not the environment.

 

 The Governor of Nevada, Brian Sandavol, does not like the way the BLM is confining protesters to "First Amendment" areas where they're allowed to protest. Also, if the animal rights people who pushed for this rule change were really serious about their convictions, wouldn't they be alarmed by the reports of cattle being killed just to get rid of them? If I do not hear of any animal rights groups questioning the treatment of these cattle, I will NEVER take any of them seriously again and will remind anyone of this event anytime they try to shove their " I Love Animals and You Don't" ideology down my throat! We do need to protect the endangered species of the planet, but it's time for common sense solutions instead of alarmist reactions!

 

 These animal rights groups and our government could care less about this family's way of life! They are pigs without honor in this instance!  If you do not believe this man is being treated wrongly, then why the hell should you believe in FREEDOM? There could not have been another solution to this? Whoops, turtles are dying, you got to pay the BLM money now! No meeting of the minds, no getting the BLM, Animal experts and the rancher together to find a solution that does not include just paying a damn fee? Why does it always come down to paying our growing government money and the citizen, a cattle rancher in the instance, getting screwed? Why? I'll tell you why, because we let it!! WE ALLOW THIS CRAP! Oh, he supplies meat, he's evil, this turtle must be saved! We listen to these idiots without saying "No, your wrong and you will always be wrong!".

 

 I really don't think this is a Liberal/Conservative issue. I think it's a Patriot/Traitor issue, yes I wrote "Traitor". There are people in our government and in our citizenry who are traitors to the values this country was founded on. Our forefather's believed that men were endowed with inalienable rights by our creator. I heard Obama state that finally the government recognized that Health Care was a right of every citizen, a right mandated by our government. That's not true and our government was never supposed to dole out rights on a whim, but to protect rights. Whose right is our government protecting out in Nevada? Their own, I believe. We'll see what happens, I hope it ends well but hope is a fragile thing these days.

 

 Truth Be Told: Our Government is kind of like a turtle, it's slow but once it bites you, it doesn't let go!!!

Bank Of America Looses $800 Million and so does it's customers

Another post for the Weekly Telegram. Usually I do one a week, then post it here. This time I was so angry, I posted this as soon as I wrote it. I think we really need to look beneath the surface a lot more as a country. It is OUR responsibility to make sure we are governed properly!!


           Truth Be Told: Bank Of America Looses $800 Million and so does it's customers.

 

 

 Here's a quote straight out of one of the reports from Fox Business on this story. If you can't tell what's wrong with this picture, I will enlighten you.

 

 

 "Bank of America (BAC

BANK OF AMERICA CORP.

) is reportedly in talks with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to settle an investigation into the banking giant's credit card add-on products for at least $800 million.

A settlement would represent the newly-created agency's fifth settlement with a credit-card provider over add-on products like identify-theft protection and debt cancellation."

 

Got it yet? Let's go over this. The government starts yet another agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, because there's just not enough government agencies. No other agency could have handled what ever the hell this one is doing, they could not have just added some personnel and a couple of more desks, they needed another AGENCY!! That's my first problem here. This is one of those things a President or Congressman proposes to add something to their legacy. " Oh yeah, I started that Bureau and we've taken it to those bad ole banks!!! Yes, sir!!". I'm sorry, but growing government with another such Bureau is good only about 2% of the time.

 

 " But Mr. Shirley, they socked it to the Bank of America, that's damn good!!"  you may be thinking. Let me first say that I just opened a savings account with said bank and I don't want them pushing me into protection or extras that I don't need. I do believe the government should make sure these things don't happen, but there's already agencies and bureaus that can handle such things. More bureaus means more man power, more investigations as they have to justify their existence, more paper work, more money needed to fund these.....

 

There's what I was coming to, the MONEY!! $800 MILLION DOLLARS and this is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (What a BS name) FIFTH settlement!! Well, they sure are well funded if you ask me. They should not need ANY taxpayer money for about 100 years. Let's look at that $800 million, where does it come from? The Bank of America will be giving to the CFoB the money from where? That's right, the money they have made from their customers. So this government Bureau protects us by finding a wrong doing by the bank, then hitting the bank with a heavy fine and then the bank will find a way to offset the fine by getting it from the customers some how. Our fees will be raised or the minimum requirement for a free checking/savings account will go up, etc. , etc...

 

How come the customers whom the bank perpetrated these extra protections upon don't get a piece of the $800 million? That would be protection I can believe in!! That would be true justice from an upstanding government agency that puts it's money where it's citizens are! But, NOOOO, they will celebrate this victory in the CFoB and at the end of the year they will party down! There will be a big banquet in a swanky hotel with award plaques, a catered buffet, open bar and a service staff of Bank of America employees. I'm outraged all the way around and I'm not sure why more people aren't.

 

 Actually, I have a good idea why there's no outrage. People want the government to do everything for them and when a Bureau from the government, especially a new created one, hits a bank with a disciplinary action like this, folks only see the bad old bank not the Bureau taking the cold hard cash. We get ripped off either way!!

 

 Truth Be Told: Whose going to protect us from the protectors?!! 

Celebratitng The Little Things!!

Continuing with my theme from last week because I believe it's important!! Also, The BTS Radio Show turn celebrates it's 1 year anniversary this week, coincidental to this post, I did not plan it this way. The Web TV show "Comics On Parole" acknowledged the anniversary and I must day that it's a testimony to my recent posts. If we support each other, we can accomplish what we set out to do and even more!!



                                                    Celebrating The Little Things!!

 

 I have a saying from one of my comedy books that goes  " Learn to appreciate the little things in life and maybe your wife will too." and although it's a joke, I thinks it's funny because it's true.

 

 In last week's column I talked about the rich getting richer and the mindset of us folks who want to succeed. Let me say first that it's not all about money, success, that is. My mindset has evolved and I'm seeing that we measure our own success a lot different than those who "support" us. I once had someone tell me years ago when I started doing  stand-up comedy that they would come and see me when I got big and famous. "Don't bother" would have been a good response, but a waste of breath. This person represents a small minded approach to life who's children will be told "they won't amount to much" unless they do succeed despite the terrible upbringing. These are the types of people who never rise above their station in life and it's pretty much their fault, although they are happily ignorant of it. They're the type that scream about "The Rich Folks!!" but never really aspire to be one unless they win really big on Bingo night. They, as I wrote last week, repeat the same economically terrible decisions as their parents and blame the outside world for their circumstance. Some of the blame does belong on the outside world, but repeating the same behaviors generation after generation only solidify the grip the outside world has on these folks. They have relinquished their power to change, as Johnny Hotshot said on our "Pros & Cons" segment during the Weekly Telegram last week, due to a certain comfort level. "I Want My MTV!!".

 

 I've learned that hard work, determination and sacrifice can get you turned and headed in the right direction. These things can even get you where you want to be in your career. What these things can't do is bring you happiness in what you choose to do with your life, that comes from appreciation. Looking at the small victories, enjoying the ride on the way up and surrounding yourself with people who are there to cheer you on the whole way, not just part of it, that's where the true joy in life comes from. Having folks to share these things with and celebrating the successes on their path are where the true riches come from. I have been blessed enough to build a community such as this and I really do celebrate when I see people I know succeeding. There's no jealously because I working hard on my success as well. Can you imagine whole communities such as this? What about cities, county's or even an entire state?

 

What would happen if the folks who were in the lower to middle class started supporting each other in this way? What if we saw each other through the small steps right up to rest of the process. Instead of waiting until someone "made it", we were there at all times.

 

I'll give you an example from my industry that you can equate to other professions. A sitcom star's show will get canceled. He will then decide that to make money, he will hire some writers and hit the road as a comedian. Has he performed as a comic before? No, but how hard could it be? You would think it would be tough for him to get work, but not so. The comedy clubs will hire him in a second because he's been on TV and guess what? People will line up to see him and he'll sell the club out, so he'll get work every where and get paid just about what ever he wants to charge. Meanwhile, guys such as myself who have been struggling for 20 years, will be regulated to opening for this guy or just loosing the work. I may sound bitter, but this is not a drill folks, this is reality. What really sucks is the guy's performance, so the people who came to see him are disappointed and don't come out to watch me or one of my peers who are much funnier that "Mr. Sitcom" when we're are at the club. Now expand this out to life and industries at large and you see the "small mindedness" of the situation. Everyone shares the blame. The Sitcom star, the clubs and the people who support him and not the true comedians.

 

Life happens in increments, people fail or succeed at their own pace. We should support the good people around us however possible. You will be pleasantly surprised to see what happens, especially when they start to succeed and that support come back to you!!

 

Truth Be Told: Celebrate the little things that happen in peoples lives, otherwise why the hell would they want you there when the big things happen!!

The Rich Get Richer...AND WE LET THEM!!

I'm putting this post out BEFORE it's in my syndicated column "Truth Be Told" because I think it's that important. I also had a conversation with my fellow Comedian/Film Maker Amaru Lewis after watching his movie (He wrote, shot, edited, narrated, etc) "Annie Was A Liar: The Truth About Being In Foster Care" and it seemed to me that this post could be tied in to what we had discussed. I will expound on The BTS Radio Show Wednesday, March 26th. If you can listen live, I'll post the archive and the show on Spreaker when it's available.


                         Truth Be Told: The Rich Get Richer.....and WE LET THEM!!!

 

 

As someone who grew up in a broken home, had a mother who at one time was on food stamps, lived in my grandparents basement for a short while, I have seen the poor side of the fence very close up. I know there's folks out there who've had it far worse and I don't want to get into a comparison war, I'm just qualifying my poverty status. I've also struggled recently, as many have, in this stubbornly sluggish economy.

 

 For a good part of my life I fell into the "hate the rich" and "woe is me" mindset that so many poor and lower class (economically) people have everywhere in the world. I now believe this very mindset keeps these people where they are forever. This is what we saw with the 'Occupy Wall Street" movement. I can identify with their frustration, but, I never understood their mindless ramblings however, and their ignorance defeated their own movement.

 

 Crying, whining, acting like trash and stealing are not ways to get the rich to change their ways and come off with some dough. All these activities do is make the snobs say to themselves, "There you have it, a bunch of savages who can't even form coherent thoughts!!". No, I believe now there are other ways to turn the tables and WE do have the power to do it. Alas, I feel there are many whom even if they understood this, would not make the life changes necessary to carry out an economic revolution.

 

The change many were looking for in electing Obama was from the outside, they never bothered to look within. These people weren't going to change horrible spending habits ($2000 rims and a $1000 stereo system on a car worth $1500), they expected someone else to change the rules, the game, the field or what ever it took for them to get "Theirs" without working for it! They were not about to focus on education, hard work, sacrifice, goals or putting together an economic plan. It's taken me a while to figure out that it really is up to me, I have to be the change I want to see.

 

 The rich stay rich because we let them. These poor fools don't sacrifice for a better way of life, they sacrifice for a pair of $300 shoes or a big screen TV. They don't think about who gets their money! These idiots buy the yachts, condos and Islands for the greedy ones while standing out in the streets making nonsensical speeches and talking on their $200 cell phones.

 

  The rich folks could help out the situation by supporting independent, family owned businesses, giving back to the communities they grew up in by building new stadiums for dilapidated schools or sponsoring a segment on my radio program The BTS Radio Show! (Hey, I have to eat too!).

 

 How do we take back some of the wealth in this country and grow our middle class again? It's really very easy. Support your fellow man!! Help the little guy out, support those family owned restaurants when you hear of one opening in your area. Stop giving money to the well known national brands, explain to your kids it's cooler to support folks like yourselves instead of the people who already have 3 houses. (I know that's a tough one). Think about the economic impact you, your friends and family could have if you stopped buying from a brand who does not treat it's employees fairly. If a company is found to pay it's workers poorly, never gives raises, cuts it's losses buy firing people instead of not taking huge bonuses for it's CEOs, let's put there GREEDY, NON-WEALTH SHARING ASSES out of business. If a company's CEOs, owners, board of directors, etc. invest or stick their money in overseas accounts QUIT BUYING THEIR PRODUCT.

 

Truth Be Told, when we reward people who are greedy, we can't complain about a bunch of greedy rich folks!!

 

Putin Puts it to Obama and the West of the World!!

Here's the post I submitted for my column "Truth Be Told" in The Weekly Telegram, it should be up soon, but you folks can see it first. I know the situation has accelerated since I wrote the post, but I did find my comments were close to what other people were saying. I want people to know, these are my own opinions, I wrote this before I heard or read any comments about the crisis, thanks.


               Truth Be Told: Putin is Puttin it to Obama and the West of the World

 

 

I know the situation in the Ukraine is not a laughing matter, but I was amused watching the changing headlines on AOL as this event unfolds. When things started really going downhill and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev last month, I was watching the news. First, Obama said for Putin not to interfere in the situation or there would be consequences. Nothing concrete or specific, just "Consequences". The next headline about Russia relayed that Putin was going to his Parliament to seek permission to use force in the Ukraine. Obama's headline did not change, just the good old "Consequences" and nothing more. Then the headline for Putin changed to read that he had gotten permission to use what ever force he thought necessary and it was a unanimous vote by the way. Still, "Consequences" from Obama and nothing more. Putin went in and now the stress level is very high, but on who?

 

Putin made quick calculated decisions, weighed pros and cons without testing the wind or putting together a task force. Whether you like him or not, he's a strong leader who does what he think's is best in his country's interest and does not seem to car what Obama says. They had a 90 minute phone conversation at some point during this incident in the Ukraine and what ever Obama said did not deter Putin.

What ever sanctions the West may put on Putin's Russia can be made up by signing deals with other countries or at least, that's what the Russian's are counting on.

 

Didn't Obama have strong words for Putin when Snowden scampered off to Russia? Where's Snowden now? HMMMMMM...

 

 I don't think force would be the answer in this case and I'm sick of war myself anyway. Strong leadership and someone who can build bridges with people he may not see eye to eye with is what's needed here. We don't have that in this man, Obama, who's are President for now. He's great at leading people who believe in him, terrible at gathering support from folks who don't. He talks down to people whom he perceives may not agree with him. That's a horrible way for a 'Leader" to act and does not instill confidence. His blind followers will never see this, but even people on the fence about him have to admit he's more of a divider that someone who brings people together. Truth Be Told, RESPECT can be a better deterrence than words or force sometimes!

The Gay Thang!!

From my "Truth Be Told" column. We also debated the Arizona law that was vetoed by the governor that dealt with Gay rights vs. Religious rights, so to speak. The debate between Will Roberts, Johnny Hotshot and myself on the Pros & Cons" segment of Will's Weekly Telegram became quite heated at times. We are now on over 36 stations worldwide with the show and I must imagine we strike a nerve with some folks.


                               Truth Be Told: The Gay Thang

 

 

 Yes, I know I spelled 'Thing" wrong, but since you're here, let's go!!

 

 We now have  basketball and football players who have come out as gay, and may I say from the spots talk shows I've listened to the past month or so on this subject, that there have been gay players is nothing new. That they have come out is new and yes, brave. Now let's look at facts as see where we can go from there.

 

 I don't believe people should be bullied or picked on because of ANYTHING!! Let me repeat, anything, religion, sexual preference, skin color, weight, etc. Unfortunately this happens. I got picked on a lot as a youngster, I was nerdy, I had a terrible last name for a boy and I tried to do what was right. Not a good combination. The fact is, because I'm a straight, white,Christian male, I should just shrug it off and deal with it. I have so no big deal. Yet, change any aspect of my religion, sexual preference or skin color and I can gain a lot more sympathy towards my behavior in certain situations.

 

 I'll say it again, because some people forget what they read when you write something they don't agree with. NOBODY should be discriminated against because of religion, sexual preference, skin color, etc. This should be for all people, not certain folks as this is the case a lot in this country. We should have equal rights, not SPECIAL rights!! When people try to force their views or lifestyles on us whomever they are it's wrong! We don't HAVE TO ACCEPT some one's lifestyle, but we should not harass them because of it. This is where I think the GAY AGENDA looses it's way. Yes, I understand you're a minority. Do you? Do you understand that usually a man is attracted to a woman and because you're not you're different. That's not my fault and I don't have to understand it, accept it, teach it to my kids or be subject to sensitivity training about it. I don't, however, have the right to bully or try to make you're life hell because you are different. I also feel marriage is between a man and a woman, should I be castigated because of my view? If you do and you're gay, then you're a hypocrite. You want me to respect you and you're view on gay marriage, but mine is null and void. Oh, and I'm  homophobic. RIDICULOUS!! At the same time, I don't think the government, should have a say in the matter either way. That's between, GOD and the 2 people who want to be joined in Holy Matrimony, so there, surprise!! 

 

 These athletes, if capable, should be able to compete without a fear of what will happen in the locker room. But at the same time, they must understand that their team mates do not have to accept their life outside the game. When we as a society can respect each other equally and tolerate our differences, we will truly be civilized. This is not the case with some groups who only see their side of things and refuse to see the people who have never harassed them or the people who have stood up for them, even thought they may not agree with their lifestyle.

 

Truth be told, in the end, you get the respect you give.