Michael A. Voigt

Looks like it is going to rain a little / on Instagram...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:00:47 -0500

Looks like it is going to rain a little / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/LWNeijRSdG/

The garden is planted. I have a perimeter of peas, two rows of...

Mon, 28 May 2012 15:54:49 -0500

The garden is planted. I have a perimeter of peas, two rows of green beans, zucchini, cucumbers, seven tomato plants, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and bell peppers. All under the shade of my FirstUp awning. / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/LLyIslRSUW/

Imagine there's no country. It's easy if you try.

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:53:26 -0500

[shared via Google Reader from Doug Ross @ Journal]

Imagine that FDR’s New Deal had ended the Great Depression prior to World War II.

Imagine that all of the money contributed by Americans to FDR’s Social Security system over the decades hadn’t been stolen by Congress, leaving the system now underfunded by tens of trillions of dollars.

Imagine that LBJ’s “Great Society” program — consisting of endless housing projects and massive wealth transfers — had propelled poor inner-city residents to prosperity.

Imagine that Democrats’ efforts to legalize ‘Chain Migration’ had not dramatically increased illegal immigration and hadn’t resulted in the the Balkanization of large swaths of the United States.

Imagine that LBJ’s Medicare program had been designed for competition, efficiency and cost-effectiveness; and it had not resulted in $100 billion a year in fraudulent payments; and its trust fund had not been stolen by Congress and spent with no regard for future needs.

Imagine that the Democrats’ multi-decade push for welfare benefits hadn’t resulted in an endemic culture of dependency; hadn’t increased urban blight and poverty; hadn’t encouraged more single-parent families; and hadn’t resulted in more inner-city violence, crime and imprisonment.

Imagine that the United States Post Office is a paragon of efficiency, generating profits for taxpayers year after year.

Imagine that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hadn’t gone bankrupt, and hadn’t touched off one of the most catastrophic financial crises in American history; that it hadn’t been a “job shop for connected Democrats”; that it hadn’t been protected from audits by Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, and other Democrat politicians; and that it hadn’t been mercilessly abused by Clinton administration cronies including Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelick and Jim Johnson.

Imagine that the SEC and other financial regulators had discovered Bernard Madoff’s fraud before it imploded; that it hadn’t somehow ignored the impending derivatives meltdown; and that it had adequately policed AIG, Goldman Sachs and other “too-big-to-fail” companies that were backstopped by the taxpayers.

* * * * * * * * *
Can you imagine a United States of America where all of these big government, social engineering programs were successful?

I can’t. In fact, none of them have been successful. Not one. That’s a .000 batting average.

Nor can they ever be successful. Central planning fails every time when you compare it to free markets, private property, individual liberty and the magnificent system of government our country’s founders created.

We know central planning fails. We need only look at the “five-year plans” issued endlessly by the Soviet Union, by Cuba, by Venezuela, by North Korea, by Zimbabwe, and by Democrats in this country, that have failed, utterly and completely.

So how could anyone support the trillion-dollar “Stimulus” program, Cap-and-Trade, the EPA’s out-of-control bureaucracy, Obamacare’s socialized medicine, a 2,200-page “financial overhaul”, and “comprehensive immigration reform” when Democrats rely upon big government to make things right?

We know with absolute certainty how all of these ill-fated programs will end up. They will be bankrupt, fraud-prone, maddeningly inefficient and reminiscent of the DMV at the end of the month. They will be used as political weapons, to reward and punish. To centralize ever more power in the hands of a few connected bureaucrats.

It’s November or never to unwind them. Our children and grandchildren are depending upon us.

Inspired by: Mark Levin.

It is time for the bucket to go. The 12 year quest for the...

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:46:00 -0500

It is time for the bucket to go. The 12 year quest for the perfect tool bag continues. / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/LEQM9jRSck/

My little boy gets a brother! / on Instagram...

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:10:35 -0500

My little boy gets a brother! / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/LAwleFRSZw/

Best I can tell, if you're a gun-owner, Bank of America would prefer you move your business to another bank. Immediately.

Thu, 24 May 2012 06:38:32 -0500

[shared via Google Reader from Doug Ross @ Journal]

Papa B writes, “If you are not familiar with McMillan manufacturing, they are a large manufacturer of firearms stocks and components located in Phoenix, Arizona.”

McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, McMillan Firearms Manufacturing, McMillan Group International have been collectively banking with Bank of America for 12 years.

Today Mr. Ray Fox, Senior Vice President, Market Manager, Business Banking, Global Commercial Banking (Bank of America) came to my office. He scheduled the meeting as an “account analysis” meeting in order to evaluate the two lines of credit we have with them… He spent five minutes talking about how McMillan has changed in the last five years and have become more of a firearms manufacturer than a supplier of accessories.

At this point I interrupted him and asked “Can I possibly save you some time so that you don’t waste your breath? What you are going to tell me is that because we are in the firearms manufacturing business you no longer want my business.”

“That is correct”, he says.

I replied, “That is okay, we will move our accounts as soon as possible. We can find a Second Amendment-friendly bank that will be glad to have our business. You won’t mind if I tell the NRA, SCI and everyone one I know that BofA is not firearms industry friendly?”

“You have to do what you must,” he said.

“So you are telling me this is a politically motivated decision, is that right?”

Mr. Fox confirmed that it was. At which point I told him that the meeting was over and there was nothing left for him to say.

I think it is important for all Americans who believe in and support our Second amendment rights to keep and bear arms should know when a business does not support these rights. What you do with that knowledge is up to you.

When I don’t agree with a business’ political position I can not in good conscience support them. We will soon no longer be accepting Bank of America credit cards as payment for our products.

Kelly D. McMillan
Director of Operations
McMillan Group International, LLC
1638 W Knudsen Dr
Phoenix, Arizona 85027
McMillan Integrity-Global Vision

I later discovered that William Jacobson wrote about this incident a few weeks ago. You can confirm the letter’s content on McMillan’s Facebook page.

Wife took the truck with the car seats. There is always the bike...

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:11:44 -0500

Wife took the truck with the car seats. There is always the bike trailer to take the kids fishing off the new docks on the river. / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/K_lxp-RSVw/

The menu for today at Connections Cafe. Mike Voigt latte, lol. I...

Sun, 20 May 2012 09:30:45 -0500

The menu for today at Connections Cafe. Mike Voigt latte, lol. I should be known for awesome plain cappuchinos / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/K2gLIsRSbw/

New Glarus Cherry Stout @beckets in Oshkosh #beerinhand / on...

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:23:56 -0500

New Glarus Cherry Stout @beckets in Oshkosh #beerinhand / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/K04mXqxSSf/

$3 at a rummage sale. Rusted solid and non-functioning. About 30...

Sat, 19 May 2012 14:20:13 -0500

$3 at a rummage sale. Rusted solid and non-functioning. About 30 minutes to tear it down, clean, lubricate, re-assemble, and this 1952 Coleman lantern burns brighter than anything on the shelf today / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/K0dOSixSf5/

Blender bikes! @ the Jefferson Elementary Bicycle Rodeo / on...

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:01:07 -0500

Blender bikes! @ the Jefferson Elementary Bicycle Rodeo / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/KvsOWVRSdh/

Kids' Reenactment of "Sabotage" Is a Fantastic Tribute To MCA [Video]

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:38:31 -0500

[shared via Google Reader from Gizmodo]

Everything about this clip is wonderful. As we mourn the loss of Adam “MCA” Yauch, Portland dad James Winters gathered his kids and his nephew to pay tribute to the late Beastie Boy with this recreation of the music video for “Sabotage.” More »

Why Apple's OS X Naming System Is Doomed [Humor]

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:23:43 -0500

[shared via Google Reader from Gizmodo]

There is one big problem with themed naming schemes, and that’s running out of good words. While OS X has had a good run, evolving from Cheetah, through Jaguar, Tiger, Leopards and—most recently—Lions, the future looks bleak. More »

WIN!: Takedown WIN

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:23:30 -0500

[shared via Google Reader from EPIC FAIL Funny Videos and Epic Fail Funny Pictures]

Throw down with more animations over at Senor GIF!

Waiting for the stars. #camping / on Instagram...

Sat, 12 May 2012 20:31:53 -0500

Waiting for the stars. #camping / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/KjFTIdxScj/

Dish washing station. Hat tip to @elightbo for the solar shower...

Sat, 12 May 2012 16:45:46 -0500

Dish washing station. Hat tip to @elightbo for the solar shower rinse idea. the mesh bag drying rack might be his idea, too #camping / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/KirpQtRScr/

How to build a campfire/ blast furnace #camping / on Instagram...

Sat, 12 May 2012 15:15:47 -0500

How to build a campfire/ blast furnace #camping / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/KihM0rRSWj/

Can’t find my level. #camping / on Instagram...

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:01:27 -0500

Can’t find my level. #camping / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/KgXUi4xSb5/

Beer made without water! Mapils is made with maple sap....

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:15:34 -0500

Beer made without water! Mapils is made with maple sap. #beerinhand / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/KdXJ6ExSfx/

Beauty and the beast. / on Instagram...

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:31:18 -0500

Beauty and the beast. / on Instagram http://instagr.am/p/KWHQhAxSeX/