Santa Forced to Outsource!

North Pole – Kristofer Kringle, aka “Santa,” the CEO of the world’s largest toy distributor Santa Clause, Inc., announced Monday that Christmas has officially been canceled this year. “He just couldn’t compete this Christmas,”  The Wall Street Journal  “reported lower than average July numbers and the layoff of over 25,000 union elves after last year’s peak season as evidence of Santa’s decline. Advisors close to Santa have said that a main culprit for the decision was the federal tax system, which was killing his competitiveness and driving up consumer prices. Economists have shown that the current federal tax code places as high as a 22 percent price disadvantage on American products over their foreign competitors. This is because foreign products bear no federal tax burden when imported here, while exported American products bear both the costs of our federal taxes and foreign taxation.”   

 

I’ve desired to write about this new tax plan and post here for some time, and now, this appears to be the time.  It’s not really new.  Many of you real conservatives have already heard about it.  It’s been tossed about.  It’s been researched.  It’s been documented.  It’s been demonized.  It’s been written about in a hot seller at Amazon.  The nay Sayers has attacked it.  It’s been held up to scrutiny by the best and the brightest, the ‘experts’ at keeping taxes flowing.  It’s been hailed as the greatest new tax idea of all time.  It’s even been introduced as a bill in congress. 

The Fair Tax Plan.

Replaces the Income tax.  You get ALL of your paycheck, with no federal tax deductions paid by you, and your employer.  You figure how much more you would take home by looking at your latest paycheck and add back in the amount of federal tax, social security tax that was deducted from your check.  You take it home for you to decide how to spend, or save it.  Your employer is paying an additional 7.65% of your earnings as their share in the income tax.  In many cases you would probably get that as a raise in take home also, as the employer will not have to pay it to the government, he could give it to you.  Now, how much would you take home?

Eliminates the corporate income taxes and costs of compliance hidden in retail and wholesale prices.  Did you know that hidden income taxes and the cost of complying with them currently make up 20 percent or more percent of all retail prices?   You do know that only the consumer and worker pays all the taxes in this country, right?   Corporations incorporate all the taxes that they pay into the costs of goods and services they charge to customers, either on the wholesale or retail level.  It’s a hidden price component.    Do you think that when company A lowers their price 20%, that their competition, company B and C would not lower their price?  Word spreads quickly in this digital age.  Competition would force prices to drop an estimated 20 to 25%.

No more yearly tax returns to file.  The huge federal bureaucracy called the IRS is virtually eliminated.  No returns to send in.  And if you are self-employed, no need to send in those quarterly checks and tax estimates to the IRS.  No fear of your return coming back with an audit notice.  There would be no need to hire someone to figure out for you how to pay fewer taxes.  Even the IRS admits to a 25% non-compliance to tax codes, which in a nutshell, means that many who should be paying are not paying their share.  Who makes up that difference?  You and me with increased rates to cover the losses.

More work for Americans here in America.   The FairTax would put “U.S. products sold here on the same tax footing as foreign imports, but the dramatic lowering of compliance costs in comparison to other countries' value-added taxes also gives U.S. products a definitive pricing advantage which foreign tax systems cannot match”.   All goods imported would be subject to the same tax rates as American goods and services.  One rate for all.  The advantage to American made products is that of other countries having a value added tax before being exported to the US.  Thus, American made products would see a resurgence, and more jobs for Americans.

How would the feds get their taxes to support the government?  I’m glad you asked that question, but first, let me tell about a Prebate check you would get each and every month.

You would get a monthly prebate   “All valid Social Security cardholders who are U.S. residents receive a monthly rebate equivalent to the FairTax paid on essential goods and services, also known as the poverty level expenditures. The rebate is paid in advance, in equal installments each month. The size of the rebate is determined by the Department of Health & Human Services’ poverty level guideline multiplied by the tax rate. This is a well-accepted, long-used poverty-level calculation that includes food, clothing, shelter, transportation, medical care, etc.”

I’m married with no children: the rebate would be $376.   A family of 4 would get $506.  Alaska and Hawaii have different rates.  

Now, here’s a part that I specially like.  Notice the statement above “valid Social Security cardholders, US residents”.  That means the illegal aliens would NOT get a prebate check, and when they went to the store to buy things, then they would be contributing to our tax base like everyone else, only without a prebate to help pay for the basic necessities of life.  That’s a gotcha.

And now to answer your question. 

A national sales tax on all new goods and services.  All new goods and services would be subject to a 23% sales tax colleted at the retail level.  Collected only once.  Used goods are not subject to the tax.  Corporations buying materials from another corporation for the production of products do not pay the tax.  Only consumers pay the tax at the time of sale.  Everybody likes to pick on the very rich and their purchases of very expensive luxury items.  Well, they could not get out of this 23% sales tax on that $2 million yacht.  Taxes = $460,000 collected at the time of sale.  It’s a progressive tax meaning the more you buy the more taxes you pay.  If you only bought used clothing, you pay no taxes on those purchases.  When those filthy rich buy those fancy imported cars at $125,000, a sales tax of $28,750 is collected then and there.  The less you buy at retail, the less tax you pay.  Your choice.  Say that my wife and myself spend on average $250 week on food and dining out, a big expense because it’s what retired people do, right?   For the month we would pay $230 in sales taxes, leaving $146 of the prebate to cover the taxes for other retail purchases.  Sounds about even Steven.  More than likely, I’d be ahead of the game financially. 

Savings are not taxed.

The inheritance tax is abolished 

If you’re one of those accountants or lawyers specializing in tax compliance for corporations, you may have to find another job.

“The FairTax Plan is a nonpartisan national grassroots campaign to replace the federal income tax system with a progressive national retail sales tax. It provides a "prebate" to ensure no American pays federal taxes on spending up to the poverty level, dollar-for-dollar federal revenue replacement and, through companion legislation, repeal of the 16th Amendment.”

 

Check it out for yourself.  

Fair Tax Web Site  

National Retail Sales Tax Alliance

A thumbnail sketch

 

 

It’s As I See It Now.

 

The ISG report says we walk away and…. lose.

The media says we trot away and….. lose.

The Democrats say we run away and….. lose.

And they all call this “success”? What a twisted bunch to think that is success. This is nothing new though. It’s a battle for public opinion,  the next election. A battle for power.  And to prevent another 911.  Public opinion is more powerful than a sword in the enemies scheme.

Well, think again folks. A new report issued on Thursday says the President is not listening to all of these “cut and run” voices, but is still intent on taking them on. “Victory in Iraq is still possible at an acceptable level of effort. We must adopt a new approach to the war and implement it quickly and decisively.” “Retired General Jack Keane, the former vice chief of staff of the Army, gave him a thumbnail sketch of it during a meeting of five outside experts at the White House. The president's reaction, according to a senior adviser, was "very positive."

Summary by Fred Barnes of Weekly Standard.

The plan by Military expert Frederick W. Kagan

President Bush has said he intends to present his plans for “victory in Iraq” in early January ’07, and it is not expected to be anything at all along the lines of the ISG report. Contrary to the media way of thinking is that there IS good news coming out of Iraq. The media does not tell the American people that the people of most of southern Iraq, and the northern Kurdish part are quietly going about their lives feeling safer and rebuilding the infrastructure, schools and businesses to resume their lives of the new democratic freedoms. They “are close to being free of sectarian violence”. There is plenty of good news, of positive results happening everyday throughout Iraq, and it is not being told. The media is negligent. There is an old marine who is still making trips to Iraq to see for himself, embeds with the troops going on missions etc. His name: Oliver North (remember him) and his latest report is here "Winning the war part 3"

Just a few other reports stressing the “good news”. James Robbins NRO

Food supplies to Mosque in Ramadi while Marines provide security.

Baghdad. shops are beginning to open and people are starting to walk the streets.

Reconstruction Update

If you don’t have time to read all of these reports, then read just this one following, and Oliver North’s report above. Iraq behind the cameras: a different reality “Cameras are rolling, and 15 minutes later folks back home instead see another news clip of Baghdad's latest violence. It's a soda-straw view that frustrates soldiers, like those in Lindner's Civil Affairs unit, who are slowly trying to stitch together the peace while the final stages of the war play out on television.” “What Iraq looks like on TV, and what Iraq is like for the 130,000 troops living here, sometimes feels like two different realities.”

Do you think that our beloved mainstream media wants to report on these positive happenings in Iraq? No, it does not fit their agenda does it? No, it does not bad news make. No.

Folks you know how public opinion is made in this country don’t you? Here it is in a nutshell, a pecan shell, a walnut shell, and an easily peeled off thin covering of a salted Spanish peanut for everyone to see the ‘nuts’ behind the news. -While you are watching entertainment, a sporting event etc, (you’re just sitting there relaxing after the kids are in bed, and a long hard day of work, a tiring day of shuffling shopping trips with trips to school and ball games, visits to friends etc) then CNN, ABC, NBC, and your local station interrupts the program with this “Breaking News” story, a 30 second expose of a tragic roadside suicide bombing at a peaceful café in Baghdad where 23 civilians and 4 US marines were killed. Pictures and all. Then back to regularly scheduled programming. Tragic. Repeated day after day, month after month, endlessly showcasing these reports of the killings of civilians and our troops by the “insurgents”, “resistance forces”. They call them insurgents, not terrorists. If It’s all you hear, what do you think your opinion is going to be? Duh !

Public opinion has been made.

But let me tell you something, President Bush has not caved yet to the ‘cut and run” crowd, the war in Iraq cannot be won crowd, the bedwetters, the no war under any circumstances crowd, the peace at any price crowd, the negotiate with the bully (they are fathers and mothers too) crowd, and on and on.

No, it’s not over yet. I do not see President Bush caving.

These Islamic radical fascist terrorists wherever they are must be stopped. How many times do we have to hear them call the United States of America the “Great Satan” and believe that they believe what they say and intend on infiltrating and defeating their enemy? How many times does our media have to hear the Muslim leaders call for the total annihilation of Israel? For our media to believe it, another 911 may be necessary. And that is why another 911 has not happened. 

Just As I see It Now, and I hope you do too.

When the media is on your side, the advantage is overwhelming. Is there any doubt in your mind that the mainstream old media favors the Democratic Party about 94% of the time? I just invented that figure, but it sure appears that way to me.

Anyway, the latest news I happened across this morning was a story out of AP by Andrew Taylor. Dems to wipe out Pet Projects in Bills. The democrats “will start by removing billions of dollars in lawmakers' pet projects next month.” "There will be no congressional earmarks," Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said Monday in a statement announcing their plans, which were quickly endorsed by incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D- Nev. Remember those words.

Ok, so now the democrats want to appear to be the party of smaller, more fiscally responsible government. Over the past few years the republicans have certainly not been shown that desire, as they have inserted and allowed hundreds of special earmarks on spending bills to the detriment of the federal budget. They failed to boot the earmarks, and this was one of the main factors that lead to their demise. But now the boots belong to the democrats and they want you to know that they know how to use them. At least they understand how to get the best mileage of the strategy to show forth the ‘new direction’ for Washington. Time will tell.

Now, do you want to read the rest of the story? This business of blocking earmarks (the old boot kick) has been started by two Republican Senators, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Jim DeMint of South Carolina, who have been on this rampage for some time now even to the dismay of republican leadership. Nov 27 Better late than never and 10,000 pork projects denied. These two Senators alone have begun that campaign long before this ‘new’ Democratic Party responsibility theme became the rallying cry to boot the republicans out. The strategy worked.

But, did you also know that, because of the work of Coburn and DeMint (and I must confess that Barrack Obama also sponsored the bill) that the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (S. 2590) has become law as of September this year. In brief it’s been called the Sunlight bill. A good name. “The Sunlight Foundation was founded in 2006 with the goal of using technology to enable citizens to learn more about what their elected representatives are doing, to help reduce corruption, ensure greater transparency and accountability by government, and foster public trust in the vital institutions of democracy.” It goes into effect in January, and already there is a new Sunlight Website. On a side note: the bill expires in 2011. Why would a bill allowing public inspection of their doings expire? When will the IRS expire? Only when The Fair Tax is passed, but that is another story I’ll get to later.

But during the process of getting this legislation passed, guess who put a secret hold on it. None other than the same Senator named above, the honorable Robert Byrd. Why would he block a transparency bill, when he professes to be against earmarks? Now about 7/8 of the way down (how many of us read all of a news bulletin) in the above AP story was this quote from Byrd: “lawmakers could re-apply for home-state projects next year when Congress turns to the fiscal 2008 budget cycle after reforms of the earmarking process are put in place.” Did you notice that the honorable Byrd used some new words, “home-state projects”? A new definition for earmarks, or if you want to get Muslims upset, call it “pork”.

Summary. The Democrats are temporarily playing the fiscal responsibility game, but thanks to republicans Coburn and DeMint, and yes, democrat Obama also, there is in place a new tool that we folks out here can access and with just a few mouse clicks can track federal spending as never before. So, be on the look out for “home-state project” spending amendments to everything. But now, the Sunlight Foundation will shed light on both republican and democrat spending projects.

Three cheers for transparency.  Take a peak at the Sunlight Website.


As I See It Now.

Employment eligibility was one of the problems with the 1986 legislation, as employers did not have a way to determine if a person was legitimately legally eligible to work in the USA. Now there is a new system called the Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS) as part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006.  A brief analysis of the EEVS.  Even this new program is voluntary for employers. You know what voluntary means right? Some will, some won’t. Like, millions will cross illegally; some will wait their turn. It will not work in any way to stem the flow, to address the illegal alien problem. Period.

You know, it’s hard for me to understand how our government, as large as it is, with as many techno savvy people working there, can not come up with a simple to use, fool proof computerized system for an employer to verify the numbers and name an applicant supplies, as being accurate, and therefore the employer can put Joe Blow to work. Come on now, the Social Security Administration can keep track of every penny I’ve earned over the last 40 years from how many different employers, and how many different address I’ve had (13 of them). But, certain facts do not change; like that nine digit SSA assigned number, sex and date of birth. The IRS is able to recite to the penny how much I’ve earned and how much taxes I should pay based on those earnings. And when I submit the tax return with amended deductions I claim, they are able to adjust the records and send refund electronically in two weeks.

Reason with me now. Look at some current realities.

Let’s take a no small company like, Wal-Mart, and examine their computerized inventory database. I do not have direct knowledge of this, but can reasonably imagine the system they might be using to keep all that merchandise rolling into their thousands of stores, in thousands of markets, each market having somewhat different merchandise needs, each store different in size (Sam’s Wholesale, Super Duper, Neighborhood). At the point of sale, the item is scanned, the upc is recognized, and not only printed on my sales receipt as record of my purchase, but also is recorded in their sales register database for the store manger, the regional manager, and possibly the department buyer for sales figures broken down by item, by department, and as many ways as they wish. These product sales figures can then be used as a negotiating tool to be used for purchasing additional product at a lower cost, or deciding to cut item from inventory. Would you think that the many departmental buyers would know what items are selling, how many, where, and how fast, and that they do not have to wait 6 weeks for that information to reach their computer screen? How quick can you click a mouse? All of that information, just because of numbers on each and every product coming in and going out of the stores. The number, the UPC, not only provides the item name, but provides the size, the color, the ingredients if necessary for identification, the manufacturer and/or distributor, and when it was shipped, how many, retail price and item cost etc and etc. Tell me you techno people, if I’m close to it, simplified a bit for clarity.

And you tell me that our government cannot come up with a similar system. It’s just numbers folks. In this case a social security number, associated with names, date of birth, sex, addresses, and phone numbers. It’s already in the system. Hundreds of millions of names, numbers, dob, addresses etc. And probably confessed racial identity for affirmative action purposes.

Now, the government has to set up a web page where any employer in the country could use at their leisure, but mandatory before hiring anyone, just as it is mandatory to file tax returns, get licenses to do business. All an employer needs is access to a computer, their own or at the local library with www connection. Every employer is the country has already been assigned a unique ID number. Enter the employers ID number, the Social Security Number, Name, Date of Birth, Sex, Address, Phone Number as supplied to employer by the applicant. Four of the items must match the database for the person to be hirable: number, name, dob, sex.  The photo on drivers license satisfies visible identification. A confirmation letter is thus generated with supplied information that the employer can print, copy to applicant and save for paper trail. Could possibly be finished in a matter of minutes. The feds know who is working where. They know anyway, now it’s just now updated. You can start work tomorrow, see you later, or I’ll have to wait a few days and let you know. So, if and when someone tries to forge documentation by using a deceased identity, or the number does not match name dob, or sex, then a red flag goes out, the feds know the employer, the applicants provided address, and someone soon knocks on the door with arrest papers. If address provided is different to government records, it sends a signal for an update of the record. When a person dies, the number is flagged, the associated information is so noted, and the number is not used again for many many years. It’s already required to report name changes, as in marriage situations etc. Let’s see now, the SSN has *** ** **** nine digits, that covers one less than 1 billion people. 999,999,999. Our current population has a way to go yet. Hey, if that bothers them, add another digit or two.

These illegal aliens could not get work.

Now, don’t tell me it cannot be done so quickly. If I can go log into one of those credit reporting databases (Experian, Equifax or TransUnion), enter my personal information, and get a credit score within minutes then, this can be done too. How many millions of records do they keep up with? Do we consider them safe and secure? If Amazon can keep my personal information including my credit card number encrypted in their database, verify that information while the order is processed, and then physically pick the item from the warehouse, package it and have it shipped to arrive within 5 days, safe and secure, then this can be done too. Do we fear hackers would get the information? Mostly we fear dishonest government employees. If many hundreds of local SSA offices around the country currently have access to numbers, names, dob, sex, addresses and all the other data in my personal file at the clicks of a mouse then this can be done too. Privacy right concerns? Bull. Safety of information concerns? Bull. So what is it Washington? Why not? EEVS is just another bureaucratic nightmare about to happen. It’s more like protection for criminals and work for lawyers.

All right perhaps just a smidgen simplified, but you get the basics. The problem is that any committee of three can come up with excuses of why it won’t work, why it can’t be done, how many could possibly be harmed, and how many lawyers are needed to write the legislation in language that can be misconstrued by bureaucrats etc. First, they need a committee to study it. Then a conference to interpret the committee’s recommendations. Then a bipartisan group to study the recommendations. Then listen to the advocacy groups and lobbyists. Then debate. Then filibuster. Then muster for a vote, and if a quorum appears, they may have time for a vote. Then, write the legislation in a language only lawyers can understand and judges can misinterpret.

Go ahead and try to convince me that private industry is not better at providing the products and services needed in this country, including medical care, disaster relief, care for the poor, retirement benefits, and on and on, not leaving out the education of our children, and on and on.

I’m listening. Dag gone, why is it so quiet out there?

As I See It Now.

But why do I waste my time thinking of things like this?

As a child, I learned as a child, learning to walk one step, falling down crying, getting up, then another step and the process continued until I learned to walk.  Then I learned how to get something I really wanted,  I screamed and threw a hissy fit.  Sometimes, then it would be granted.  What a powerful force this screaming has become with adults.  Where is the nanny when you need her?

While this country is undergoing threats from forces within, and from outside forces, which are quickly moving within.   While this is happening, both political parties appear to have their heads buried in deep, deep sand. No one wants to call a spade a spade, a terrorist a Muslim, a late term live birth abortionist doctor a murderer, a truth spinner a liar, a cheater on spouse an adulterer, someone crossing our border without permission an illegal criminal alien. No, it’s not politically correct. No, they might be offended. No, it’s discrimination. No, we are a diverse society.

The borders are still open for new alien crossings, although some improvements have been made. The war on terror against Islamic fascism is making progress, but not much, as we witness a tactic here in the homeland to get special rights for only Muslims: the imams are getting special prayer rooms in airports (although most all airports already have a special room set aside for meditation etc), a newly elected senator wants to take the oath of office on the Koran, to name the most recent. Their tactic of appealing to our sense of fairness is working. We do not want to discriminate, now do we?

The tactic of Spanish illegal immigrants has been to emphasize their common humanity, so how can you deny medical care (free) when they get sick, and deny their children the right to free education, or deny them the opportunity to better themselves by finding work in America. As a diverse society, we can allow ‘Press 1 for English”. Right?

The goal of the atheist and secular progressives are to remove any mention of a divine being (God) from our public square. Christmas is replaced by “Holiday”. Church bells cannot ring because the noise level exceeds the maximum decibels allowed, as determined by bureaucrats. Children cannot sing Christmas carols in “Holiday Musicals”. A Chicago Christian festival cannot feature scenes of the Nativity. One at a time they are leaving.

Where is all this heading?

You know the drill, the method, and the modus operandi of these activist groups. It’s simply called one step at a time, and scream.  It takes patience to use this tactic, and these groups are willing to inclemently demand and wait, scream and get, and low and behold soon enough the battle has been won. Then, the majority becomes the one being discriminated against.

Have Americans (politicians included) lost the capacity to see things as they are? Have Americans (reporters included) forfeited the ability to see through these incremental tactics, and lose sight of the end result?  Where is the nanny?  What will the next generation allow?

I was impressed by a recent story from down under, Australia, where the prime minister, John Howard, urged immigrants from Islamic societies to fit in, learn English, treat women with respect, and shun extremism. "No matter what the culture of the country from which they came might have been, Australia requires women to be treated fairly and decently and in the same fashion as men." "If any migrants coming to this country have a different view, they'd better get rid of that view pretty quickly." Australia's successful integration of migrants was attributable to "the attitude that when you come to Australia, whatever arguments you might have had in the old country, we start again and we start again with a common set of values and a common language."

He sure got criticized for his remarks, but stood by them. Criticism about it being discriminatory brought this reply: "It is not. It is commonsense and, importantly, it is also a powerful symbol of a new migrant's willingness and enthusiasm about becoming an Australian." I’m impressed.

Outrage in Australia  The news after the story

Think about where all this is going. Do we have the ability to see the agenda behind the tactic?

If you have never read any articles by Walter Williams, an economics professor at George Mason University, he hits the nail on the head. What's Discrimination and Diversity Adulation. Every teacher in America should read these. Every politician in America should read these. And, not to leave out the reporters and the media, they should read it three times.

Is it more advantageous to be part of a minority? What’s the next step?


As I See It Now.

Hit the ball, go find it and hit it again.

It’s been called the greatest game ever invented.  It’s been more often called the stupidest game ever played.  It’s a four letter word.  Golf.  Originating in Scotland somewhere in the 15th century.  It was banned in 1457 because it was interfering with archery practice, sorely needed to defend the Scottish Realm against an invasion by the English. It’s history is another fascinating story, but today I’ll take you into the love hate relationship of playing the game.

You get up early (it’s still dark) to drive to a pristine park like, dew filled manicured setting of grass cut with scissors, sand, trees, water and cement, where a bunch of others intent on doing the same thing, unloading their gear while chatting about this is the day they’re going to break (100, 90, 80 or something else, like a club), because of the brand new, top of the line, scientifically tested by eager beavers like me, driver, putter, chipper, dual action, double sided, thick miracle like grip you know is going to take you to the next level.  The salesman said so.  Now it’s tee time.  Golfers, start your warm ups. 

But why?   It’s torture.  It’s camaraderie. It’s exhilarating.  It’s expensive.  It’s time consuming.  It’s frustrating.  It’s a challenge.

It’s a game to hate and a game to love on the same day.

It imitates all of the attributes of life, in a way that is more unbiased than any other experience.  The rules are clearly defined, though often misunderstood, complicated, but simple.  There is a starting point.  There is a target.  How you get there is up to you and your abilities mustered up for this particular time and date.  Your opponents, or comrades have the same target, and you desire to beat the pants off them, as they do you.  During the event, not only are the clubs used, but also the mind games of intimidation, humiliation, fear, as are ego inflationary remarks used for the slightest advantage.  Some comrades will use these games openly, and your best friends will think they don’t.  

The basics.  Hit the ball, find it, hit it again as you found it, hopefully going closer to the target, the bottom of just a 4 ½” “hole” somewhere up there.  Count all your hits.  Start over on the next “tee” and continue counting each “stroke” till all 18 “holes” have been navigated.  Add up the 18 scores and you have it.  You won, you lost, you broke even….till next time, or sell your clubs and stay home with the family.

Golf is so unbiased that you wish you had CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, and yes, even FOX along with every news reporter at your side to adjust the rules, or change the result of the stroke, to move the bunker, the hole and simple math.  You’re all alone, yet surrounded by friends.  There is also that hope, the anticipation that today is the day.  Golf has an element inherent in the game that will bring one back to the same setting more and more as the experience of just one stroke made that defiles your comrades and yourself.  That time when you took the driver out of the bag, gripped it and banged the ball straight down the middle of the fairway in perfect position for the next, and farther than you imagined Tiger would have.  You felt the club head make explosive contact and watched as the ball accelerated in a long high upward arch going, going, going and slowly descending to a beautiful bounce and roll coming to stop on the short grass.  In the background you hear “Wow”, “Nice shot”, “Way to go”, or “You’re the man”.  This game is a cinch.  That’s all it takes.  What time do we tee off next week? 

Inside though you wonder why can’t I do this all the time?  And then, there is that next hole to play.  You are absolutely certain that this drive will be the same, you’ve discovered the secret, you’ve learned something you were doing wrong and you can correct it forever and have the round of the century.  Now, you’re ready.  Tee up the ball, take your stance, sight the target, start the back swing and rip it.  Now, something else happens.  It goes like a sparrow, dead hooked left, over the fence, the swimming pool, the house, and you hear a crash somewhere on some front driveway you can’t see.  Or, the opposite: a convoluted slice right into the middle of the lake that was supposed to be aesthetic. Now there is silence in the background, or a sarcastic “nice shot”.  Then the club you admired so much, followed the ball, or you wanted to.  “I hate this game”.

It is these conquests over our personal frailties, our personal limitations that when you have one of those days, or a series of consecutive holes when you feel like you’re not feeling at all. Nothing matters. You are here, the past is nowhere, the future is the next present.  The goal is already achieved.  All you have to do is hit the ball.  “Grip it and rip it” as John Daly has said.  It’s that simple.  You don’t think about it, you just do it and it happens. This is remembered and wished for again.  This is when faith becomes reality.  The golfing gurus say this is being “in the zone”.   If it is just two or three shots in a row, a perfect hole played perfectly, a beautiful 5 holes with 3 “easy” birdies, or an entire round, it’s enough that you’ll be enthralled and captured as a golfing nut forever.  Either you have experienced it personally, or have heard others talk about it that keeps you coming back wanting more.  Just once.  And once more.

In a round of golf there are no biases.  The ball cares not what happens to it.  The club you paid so much money for does not favor your hand or another.  The berms, the grass (short or long), the beachy sand filled bunkers, the creeks, ponds and trees are just there to help, to hinder, to catch, to swallow, to repel and act the same to everyone, ready to accept whatever comes it’s way.  It’s pure mechanics.  It’s one person against these inanimate objects purposefully placed to get in the way of the target.  It’s one person fighting his/her own demons against the sense of control over ones abilities we like to win over.  To compete against oneself and win is one of the greatest feelings of all of life.  Just once more.  When faith in ability becomes reality.

And yet, whether the score is 105, 87, 75 or an even par, it only matters that you are enjoying the nature, the grass you wish you could have, the fellowship, the gamesmanship, the outing, and pledging that next time you’ll be at your best and beat the tar out of ‘em. 

Love it and hate it, it’s the greatest game ever.

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Go figure. The Cubs beat up on the Reds today 11 - 3.  In the first inning the Cubs batted around scoring 7 with 3 home runs.  Three more scarttered home runs brought the Cubs to 11 total runs with 17 hits.  Zambrano wins his 15th.   Derek Lee is out for the season because of mysterious illness to his 3 year old daughter.