RAY THOMA$

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About RAY THOMA$

  • Birthday 09/17/1938

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    http://www.geocities.com/raythomas101
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    raythomas101@yahoo.com
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  • Interests
    I am a "photo realism" artist, after 20 years doing photo realistic 10' x 40' billboards. Since I didn't want to smell the same smells I did as a billboard artist after retiring, I did most of ny recent work in colored pencils. But now I do mostly black and white pencil. My main interest is in searching out the truth the so-called "mainstream media" ignores in its push toward a collectivist world, and telling the "individualist" side of the story.
  • Location
    Denver, Colorado

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  • Full Name
    Ray Thomas
  • Favorite Music, Artworks, Movies, Shows, etc.
    Chet Atkins and other fine guitaurists, as well as most music that has a melody. I'm a former "barbershop quartet" singer. I like most music that has harmony.
  • Articles
    I'm Running for President!
  • Description
    I'm 68 years old, and after a stroke, a quadruple bypass, and an approaching stent surgery on my legs, I don't get around much so I seem to have plenty of time to do what I mentioned above. If you want to see what I actually look like, go to www.sierratimes.com and check out the "News Nuggets" column.

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  1. Kat: I haven't had much time to be here lately while I got my new book ready to be published. Now it's in production, I'm rewriting another that I originally wrote in 1976. But I still find time for my blogs. One of which is "The New THOMA$ REPORT" on Town Hall (http://thomasreport.blogtownhall.com/default.aspx) and the other "The Bull Cutter" on Blogspot (http://bullcutter.blogspot.com/). I sometimes miss a day, but mostly they're updated daily, sometimes several times a day. I'm not sure what those terms mean either. "Pinging" is looking for a location for a URL by "pinging" his URL, but I don't know how to do it. "Trackback," I don't know about. RAY THOMA$ My Personal Site http://www.geocities.com/raythomas101/
  2. Neil: I think people spend too much time over unimportant details (such as Rand using a Remington-Rand typewriter to come up with a name) and not enough time on her philosophy itself. I'm about as near as possible to being an Objectivist, without being one. I spend my time using most of her philosophy in running my life. But there are places where she and I diverge. Which doesn't mean I don't respect her philosophy itself. That's one reason I call myself a "rational individualist," rather than an Objectivist. Her personality aside, I find logic in most of what she says, with the possible exception of places where she starts with an erroneous premise (which I usually won't discuss, since I don't claim to be an Objectivist). Even so, finding Objectivism changed my life considerably and opened my eyes to things that previously confused me terribly. I don't care if she had an affair or ran a "collective" in her own life. I think her use of the word "collective" was a big joke on her part. In any case, I think it is her philosophy that counts. In any case, a good article. RAY THOMA$
  3. WORDS MEAN THINGS Copyright © 1999 By Ray Thomas, Updated 2007 When you read what anybody writes, it's important that you understand the meanings of the words used as we use them, and as they are used by collectivists. For that reason we have provided this glossary defining them. You'll get a laugh out of many of them and some will teach you something profound you never knew. We will continue to add to this list as we find new ones. ABSOLUTE: An undeniable truth. That which cannot be rationally denied under any philosophy based on reason and logic, and whose very existence (logic) is denied by subjectivists. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Legalized racism, perpetrated by the liberal elite to punish people for the sins of their fathers and grandfathers. It is also used as a means to fan the flames of hatred, thus further dividing us so the liberals may more easily control us. An insult to blacks, Latinos, and women because it assumes that they can't make it without help. (On "dividing us," see "Diversity" below) ALTRUIST (FORCED): The forced altruist can best be defined by their slogan: "FROM each according to his ABILITY, and TO each according to his NEED." What this means, in plain terms is: Take the fruits of creativity and productivity from those capable and willing to produce new wealth (profit) and give them to those who have not earned them (See: collectivist, elite liberal, the anointed, looter, below). THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: You're all Forrest Gump. (This is not our definition. It is the elitist definition. They think you're all of limited intelligence and have to be "led," for your own good.) And if you keep on allowing them to con you into ignoring politics, they may well be right. ANTI-GOVERNMENT: This is how the power seekers describe anybody who opposes what they do as government employees. Actually, we aren't "anti-government," we're "anti-criminals in government." There's a subtle difference. THE ANOINTED: The self-anointed "believers" in forced altruism and their own sovereignty over your rights and property. (See forced altruist) AXIOM: It is a proposition that defeats its opponents by the fact that they have to accept it and use it in the process of any attempt to deny it. Good example: the looters' attempt to convince you that "there are no absolutes" by making an absolute statement that there are (absolutely*) no absolutes. (*word added for illustration) BASIC PREMISE: It is an absolute that permits no cooperation with its antithesis (opposite) and tolerates no tolerance. BLACK RACISM: Same as white racism, but directed against white people. (See Affirmative Action, Diversity) BELIEVERS: Those who have bought, hook, line, and sinker, what the forced altruists (under whatever name they use) say is true and live by that belief. (See Liberal, Moocher.) BOGUS POLLS: These help in convincing people you're right if you're a power seeker (liberal). (See: Hegelian Principle #2). BUREAUCRAT: A political appointee, usually in the top echelon of government (But not always. Can be found at all levels of government and business), characterized by bureaucratic arrogance and lack of respect for the people they serve. Best comparison: the old "highborn aristocrat" (in their minds, at least) These people want to enact as many "regulations" as possible, taking rights away from citizens and giving them (the bureaucrats) the power to issue "permits" for things that used to be rights, and for which they don't have the right to "permit." Notice, they always "exempt" themselves. (See: The Anointed, Power Seekers) COLLECTIVISM: This is a system that is the natural result of the institution of forced altruistic principals that say man has no right to exist for himself and only exists to serve others. The "collective" is "others." These are the only people who will benefit from altruism. They are the moochers. CONFLICTING REGULATIONS: A standard tool of the forced altruist (looter, power seeker). One agency makes a regulation that is opposed by a regulation made by another agency. To obey the first is to violate the second. This way one or the other can "get" you any time they wish. (See" "Creating Criminals") CORPORATE WELFARE: This does exist, but it isn't "tax breaks for the rich," as the liberal elite would have you believe. It is the million and even billion dollar "subsidies" given to big and small corporations by governments. It is this factor that created the myth of the "robber barons" of the 1800s. There were two kinds of businessmen: those who accepted subsidies, and those who succeeded without them (The former hate he latter). It is the former, rather than the latter who were the "robber barons." CREATING CRIMINALS: "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one 'makes' them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted -- and you create a nation of law-breakers -- and then you cash in on the guilt." (Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged") CYNIC: Somebody who has been around long enough to have seen it all before, and thus is not buying it this time. By that definition I am definitely a cynic. DIVERSITY: A looter invention designed to institutionalize the separation of races. It is creating "institutionalized racism," and will divide the races, religions, and sexes into easily controlled smaller groups who are too busy fighting one another to pay attention to what's being stolen from them. GOVERNMENT SHAKEDOWN: Have you ever wondered why businesspeople keep on donating money to politicians, while at the same time those politicians are shaking them down for more? It's the old "protection racket" with a new twist: the government is the mobster demanding money so he will not bother them. A good example is the tobacco deal where they pay the government to keep people from suing them over their own stupidity. Another good example is the Microsoft Anti-Trust suit. Gates didn't pay off so they decided to just "take" it. (And they did. Now Gates, who has "learned his lesson) is saying he intends to give away all but 10% of his fortune.) GOVERNMENT WORKERS: People working for the government, but who may or may not be bureaucrats. Most are good people, doing the job they were trained to do--- unless they become bureaucrats. Not all are bureaucrats, and they know a bureaucrat by his actions better than we do. They have to deal with him daily while we can limit our contact to once in a while. My brother used to work for the state government, and my niece still does. Neither could be described as "bureaucrats." (See Liberal And Bureaucrat.) HEGELIAN PRINCIPLE: 1. Create a problem or build an existing one up out of proportion to its importance; 2. Publicize the problem far and wide, whipping up hysterical frenzy to get people to demand a solution; and 3. Offer a solution that takes away more rights and more money. (something not possible without the previous conditioning in steps one and two.) This gets people to approve their own enslavement (Ayn Rand calls it "The consent of the victim."). HIGHLIGHTING: Part of the Hegelian Principle point 2: Find every story, anywhere, to promote your position, and plant it in the media daily. If you can't "find" any, make one up or twist something real to your needs. HYSTERICS AS GOVERNMENT: Whipping people into a frenzy to get them to give you permission to rip them off. (See Hegelian Principle points 1 and 2.) INCENTIVE: A necessary ingredient in the production of new wealth (profit). It is noticeably absent in a collective (forced altruist) society because when you take the profit away from the producer, he soon ceases to produce. And why should he continue to supply the "needs" of the parasites on society who say he owes them a gift of part of his earnings because they "need it?" INDIVIDUALIST: The antithesis (opposite) of the collectivist in that he (she) insists that he has the right to exist for his own sake and provide for himself. To earn the fruits of that production for himself and keep it unless he/she makes the decision to help someone. He does not accept the forced altruist's contention that he owes something to the collective because he is a producer of profit (new wealth). LIBERAL: These are good people who have been conned into believing in the unworkable premise of forced altruism. (See Altruists, Liberal Elite, Looter, moocher.) LIBERAL ELITE: People who have consistently promoted the unworkable premise of forced altruism (collectivism), usually being fully aware of its faulty nature, but who continue because this is what allows them to control what others may do. (See The Anointed, Power Seekers) LIBERALISM FULLY FUNDED: Probably the best illustration is Washington, D. C. in the 90s and beyond. It's in debt up to its ears, reelected a felon as mayor and its grafters sometimes manage to steal more than the Federal Government itself. Its infrastructure is in a mess and getting worse. Its murder rate is the highest in the nation while having some of the toughest gun laws. New Orleans is another example. They should, according to their lights, be a "perfect society," with no poverty, no race problems, and plenty of money for everybody, as well as NO unemployment, etc. But the hurricane showed graphically that is not true. LOOTERS: Looters are those in government who tax the earnings of those who can produce new wealth through their ideas and their work, for the benefit of those who don't (moochers), seeing "need" as a "demand" on those earnings. (See: Forced Altruists, Liberal Elite, Parasites, Moochers, Socialists, Communists, Serial Power-Grabbers, Power Seekers, etc.) MOOCHER: These are the people who think those who work and earn a living, those who produce new profit, somehow owe them something and need to "pay back" to society. Nobody needs to "pay back" to society unless it is their idea. This is a sub-category under "looter," with the main difference being that the moocher just waits for the looter to give him what he needs, in return for his vote to keep the looter in power. The looter is the one who actually steals it from the producer. OBJECTIVISM: The "essence" of the Objectivist philosophy is this: "(It) is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute." (Ayn Rand, from her masterwork, "Atlas Shrugged") In other words, an individual, working for him/herself, and not demanding gifts from others because of his/her "need," nor recognizing the need of others as a demand on his/her earnings. PARASITES: One who lives by his/her ability to convince "producers" to support them because their "need" is a "demand" on their earnings. (See Looters, Moochers, Power Seekers, and all sub-categories.) POWER-SEEKERS: These are the people who become looters, and steal the earnings of producers for the benefit of moochers, to gain the vote of those moochers to keep them in political office so as to keep the "goodies" coming. (See: "Serial Power Grabbers, looters.") PRODUCERS: Those who know, at some level, that they cannot consume more, in their lifetime, than they produce, and through their productivity produce new wealth (profit) for themselves and others as an "exchange of values." PROFIT: A profit is made whenever new wealth is created and both parties to a transaction benefit. PROFIT, FAUX: "Faux profit" is made whenever only one party to a transaction benefits, such as when a bureaucrat sells a permit (he should have no right to sell) to someone either through law, or as graft. (All graft is "faux profit.") PROTECTIVE STUPIDITY: In his classic book, "1984," George Orwell described what the "Thought Police" called "Crimestop." "Crimestop means the faculty of stopping short, as though by instinct, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. It includes the power of not grasping analogies, of failing to perceive logical errors, of misunderstanding the simplest arguments if they are inimical to Ingsoc, (English Socialism, or in our case, simple socialism) and of being bored or repelled by any train of thought which is capable of leading in a heretical direction. Crimestop, in short, means protective stupidity." It strikes me that today's liberal dupes are practicing Crimestop. PROBLEM: As used by the looters, it is a device they create as a means to condition people to allow them to usurp more rights as a means of solving the problem they created. (See: "Hegelian Principle" Step.1, and program) PROGRAM OR PLAN: As used by power seekers, the words "program" or "plan" are interchangeable and mean yet another way to separate you from your money and your right to make your own decisions in life. PULL PEDDLERS: These are the inevitable gangsters who take advantage of the looters' system and become rich by selling "pull," or influence. The pull peddler is the result when people are forced to get permission from faceless bureaucrats to be able to use their own property, or to do something that should be their right. REASON: "Man's only means of knowledge and his only standard of truth. It is the faculty that perceives, identifies, and integrates the material provided by his senses." (Ayn Rand) RIGHTS: Rights are those things to which you are entitled by right of birth, which do not have to be involuntarily supplied by others. It's not a right if, to give it to you, it must first be forcibly taken from someone else. There are certain rights to which each of us is entitled by right of birth, whether or not God is the source -- and they don't have to be "granted" by a government to be ours, though governments routinely take them away as they loot us. SERIAL POWER-GRABBERS: These are the people whose only reason for living is to have power over others and who work diligently all their lives to attain it. They're mostly found in government service, but can also be found in private bureaucracies. (See: Bureaucrat, Looter, Elite Liberal, The Anointed, Power Seeker, Forced Altruist, Parasites, Socialists, Communists, Collectivists) SOCIALISM: An invented philosophy that promotes the spread of forced altruism, in which you are not allowed to live for your own purposes, but must live for the betterment of others. Unfortunately, those others don't seem to want to live for your betterment. For them, taking is better than giving, from producers, at least. (See Collectivism, Forced Altruism, Communism, Fascism, and other "isms.") SUBJECTIVISM: This is a philosophy which, through its denial of the existence of "absolutes," seeks to absolve the practitioner of all responsibility for his or her actions and allows subjectivist bureaucrats (a redundancy, that) to make laws and regulations that they are able to "interpret" in whatever way they wish so they can "get" you any time they want you.. Unfortunately for them, their basic premise: "there are no absolutes," is a "statement of an absolute," and itself negates their philosophy. TANSTAAFL: "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." (Robert Heinlein in "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress") Meaning: if you get it for free, there's still a price you must pay, somewhere. It may not be obvious, but it's there. TRUE BELIEVERS: Those who know the truth about altruism and collectivism, but who work hard every day to convince people to be believers. These people are the "evil" in the world. (See The Anointed, Liberal Elite, Looters, Power Seekers) TRULY NEEDY: Those who, through no fault of their own, honestly need help. This includes crippled people, people who have become ill, the mentally ill and others who just cannot take care of themselves. These are the people we can make our own decisions about helping, and many of us do. Americans are the most "giving" of anybody in the world. TRUTH: The recognition of reality. WELFARE LEECHES: The people who abuse the system that (we thought) was set up for the truly needy. Many do need help, but only because of their own bad choices (drug and alcohol abuse, etc.) In pandering to their needs, the looters steal money better spent helping the truly needy. (See moochers) If you can think of any words that should be added to this list, please let me know.
  4. Michael: That's a good idea, and easy, since I ususally write most of what I write in Word, and the codes that would have to be canged are few. But would I have to replace the "HTML" code with "code?" RAY THOMA$
  5. Michael: Bb code is essentially the same as html except for the [ ] instead of < > enclosing the code. So when I write one than appeas here first, I'll use it. Or the clickable codes at the top. RAY THOMA$ Michael: Well, I guess since there isn't much chance of me ever being one, it doesn't matter much. I'll check out bb code. But my problem is that by the time it gets here, it has usually already been posted on raythomas101. That means html is alreadfy there. To reformat it here. I'd need to reformat the whole thing. Since I use a lot of italics, this might be a chore. Oh well. It's no big thing. By the way. When you made my URLs clickable in my previous post, you missed one. But that's okay. Anybody who uses a computer much knows how to do it. RAY THOMA$ :brr:
  6. Michael: Well, I guess since there isn't much chance of me ever being one, it doesn't matter much. I'll check out bb code. But my problem is that by the time it gets here, it has usually already been posted on raythomas101. That means html is alreadfy there. To reformat it here. I'd need to reformat the whole thing. Since I use a lot of italics, this might be a chore. Oh well. It's no big thing. By the way. When you made my URLs clickable in my previous post, you missed one. But that's okay. Anybody who uses a computer much knows how to do it. RAY THOMA$
  7. Michael: Thank you. I purposely made them non-functional because I wasn't sure they would be allowed if they were simply clickable on this forum. I'm still trying to figure out how to put my own html in as I post without having to do it again. This article, for instance, already had the html in it. I had to go back to my web site and cut & paste it without html because it came up with the code still showing in the section where I inspect the article before posting. When I did that, lost the italics and/or bold that was there and didn't want to take the time to return it through the symbols above. RAY THOMA$ :aww:
  8. Kat and all: I'm going to reply to all with one message. The THOMA$ REPORT is www.geocities.com/thomasreport and my personal site is www.geocities.com/raythomas101 I think this article has been read by more people than most, with the possible exception of "News Nuggets" on www.sierratimes.com but I intend to keep writing if NOBODY reads it. By the way, Jeff: I CAN'T run. I can hardly walk. RAY THOMA$ P. S.: If I did this reply wrong, somebody please tell me how it is done. I haven't figured out this site yet.
  9. You're certainly right about "feeling 18" even at an advanced age (I'm 69). But I think one way to keep your mind working is to use it as often as you can. Which is why I do a regular column for Sierra Times (News Nuggets), publish my own THOMA$ REPORT, and publish my own pwersonal web site (raythomas101). Keeping those venues as full as possible, even for a man who has suffered a stroke (TIA), a quadruple bypass (2005) and is still fighting occluded circulation in my legs. I can't do much in the way of exercise, but I can exercisze my mind. RAY THOMA$
  10. I'M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT Copyright © 2007 By Ray Thomas This is to announce that I am officially running for president on the "rational individualist" ticket. It's not a big party, since I'm it. Do I think I can win? Nope. But I figure everybody else who has no chance of winning is running, so why not me? By my own definition, I'm the only candidate who should be elected. I figure any candidate who wants the job should be barred from winning. So as far as I can see right now, I have more to offer than anybody else who is running so far with the possible exception of Tom Tancredo (If Ron Paul runs, I'll think carefully about dropping out). Hillary Clinton is a socialist and our erstwhile Republican Senator McCain, are both "front-runners. "McCain might as well be a liberal, too (socialist). Just about everything he's done promotes socialism and liberalism (both words meaning the same thing). My platform is simple individualism, which is the antithesis to socialism. I believe every individual should not, so long as he/she is able, ask for anybody else to support him/her in any way. If he/she is able, he/she should always do everything for him/herself. For those who cannot do for themselves, we will "band together" and help. But it will be each individual's decision whether or not to help. We will never "prop up" an able-bodied person who is just lazy. REDUCING TAXES I believe reducing taxes is the only way to solve our economic problems. Contrary to what the Democrats think, letting financiers (and everybody else) keep more of their money gives them more money to use in financing projects and buy more goods that create more jobs and make more money, not only for themselves, but for everybody involved. Thereby they create a bigger tax base. Thus, everybody who is making more money pays more taxes, which gives the government more money to fritter away. Reducing taxes has raised the "tax take" every time it has been tried. I can't see why the Democrats can't see this. It is as plain as the noses on their faces. Maybe that's why. They can't see beyond their noses, which are usually in the air. BIG BUSINESS AND BIG OIL I will do all I can to help "big business" and "big oil," because they are the very people who make our lives better. Wal-Mart, for instance, is one of the liberals' biggest targets, but they create more wealth, for more people, than anyone else (including, of course, themselves, and they're entitled) I've never been able to understand why the liberals, who are the biggest critics of presidents who don't preside over a growing economy, do everything in their power to destroy the economy. This alone would eliminate any Democrat from consideration for any office higher than dogcatcher, in my mind. If they're not smart enough to figure this out for themselves, I don't want them in any position of power where they can control such things. GUN CONTROL On gun control, I will ask a simple question: "What makes you think a criminal, whose very life is breaking the law, will obey a law that says he can't be armed?" That says it all. No liberal or anti-gun freak has ever been able to answer that question. They just call the asker names. That's their primary method for stopping criticism without answering the critic's charges or questions. They're experts at diverting their critics by "labeling" them, causing the critic to defend himself against the "label," rather than insist the liberal answer the question, which usually they can't. I once challenged a liberal (airline pilot) who pontificated the old liberal saw, "the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer:" by asking him how much he made in a year. He said, "What's that got to do with it?" My answer was, "If you make more than $75,000 a year (which most airline pilots do), you're rich, according to the liberals. To which he replied, "Where do you get your information? From Rush Limbaugh? (the label) I asked him where he got his, and he said CNN. I replied, "Nuff said." The argument was over and he stalked off in a huff. I was a cab driver at the time and his partner gave me a big tip, saying, "I've been trying to shut him up since Kansas City with his liberal crap. I was glad to see that." BORDER CONTROL On border security, the first thing I'd do is unhandcuff the Border Patrol. The way I understand it, they carry guns for show only. They've got orders NOT to use them under any circumstances, and not to chase illegal aliens, even if they're smugglers. That's why two Border Control agents are in prison for ten or more years for doing their jobs. One of the first things I would do as president, is to pardon these men and compensate them fully for what they've been through. They would never have to work again if they didn't want to. If they did, I'd promote them to the jobs of the men who let them down while firing those men (or women). ELIMINATE LOBBYISTS AND LOBBYING Next, I would make lobbying and "junkets " paid for by lobbyists illegal. All "gifts," of any kind, no matter how well hidden, would be prohibited. Politicians would no longer be able to make questionable land deals and receive "speaking fees" while in office (Or after leaving office, if the speeches are for those they "regulated" while in office). They would no longer be allowed to go right from a government job to highly paid employment in the very industries they "regulated" while in office. No longer would somebody be able to come to Washington a pauper and go home a millionaire. Bill Clinton couldn't even make as much as his wife until he went to Washington, and now he won't shut up about how rich he is. People would still be able to try to sway politicians to their way of thinking, but would no longer be able to make a politician rich if they did what they wanted. IRAQ On the Iraq war, I'd do what it takes to WIN in Iraq, whatever that is. If it means getting rid of Ahmadjinidad or the "head honcho" in any country that helps terrorists, so be it. He needs to be given the "Saddam treatment." We actually won that war in the first week, and had Saddam "on the run" to his "hole in the ground." Now we're dealing with the remnants of his supporters, financed and led by agents from Iran. (They couldn't beat him in a war, so now they're taking advantage of his misfortune). I would "take the handcuffs off our troops" and allow them to do what is necessary to "clean out" all the nests of terrorists. I would be VERY careful in punishing them for mistaken "collateral damage," since the terrorists are well known to put women and children in front of themselves in battle. EDUCATION I would also move immediately for the dissolution of the National Education Association. This organization is not a "teacher's union." It is a way for the liberals and socialists to be able to force teachers to teach, not academics, but politically correct collectivism . Teachers still claim to be "underpaid," but teachers now "earn" more per year than just about anybody else, considering their three-month vacation. I would make a law against teaching anything but academics, and outlaw teaching political opinion as "fact," no matter which side the teacher is on. I would do away with any organization at any level, that "passed" on the politics of a potential teacher before he/she can be considered for employment. In other words, I would do everything I can to stop the schools from being a "training ground for socialists," as they are today. GAY MATTERS I would make a law prohibiting gay activists from being able to teach (in our schools) that being gay is "normal and natural," as is now being taught in some schools, principally in Massachusetts (Teddy Kennedy's "owned and operated" state). I don't care what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms. If having sex with someone of your own sex seems good to you, I'm okay with that, and I'd never discriminate against you for it. But don't ever try and teach my children that being gay is "normal and natural." It isn't. Sex is for procreation (having babies, for those who don't know what that means), and gays cannot procreate without the participation and cooperation of a member of the opposite sex, in some fashion. If any same-sex couple ever (provably) has a baby without the participation of a member of the opposite sex, let me know. I might change my mind. But I doubt that is ever going to happen. I could go on and on because there are so many things the liberals, who ran as conservatives and lied from one end to the other to get elected, but I won't. If you can figure out what individualism is, you know what else I'll do. I don't subscribe to collectivism (socialism, communism, Nazism, etc.) in any form, under any name. If I were to be elected, you wouldn't be asked (ordered) to "share" what you've worked hard to earn with those who push each other out of the way to convince the politicians in charge of the largess that they are the "most needy." Being "needy" should never be a demand on someone else's earnings. If those who can't do for themselves are really "needy," it should be the individual's own decision whether or not to help them. Their money and property should never be taken from them for the benefit of another. I am not "forming an "exploratory committee" because I do not intend to hire anybody to help in my campaign. I do not intend to try and raise any money and I am not accepting any contributions. I am "running." If someone wants to write my name in on a ballot, so be it. I don't expect to win, in fact, I don't want to. But I intend to have a lot of fun with this, and I will.