StraightUpAmerican.com

Did you ever get that prickly feeling at the back of your neck and you just knew something was going to happen? When you were a kid playing around the railroad tracks did you ever put your ear to the track and you knew that something, not too far off, was coming? Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night with that uneasy, but not uncomfortable, feeling that things were about to change? Well, you weren’t wrong.

That prickle at the back of your neck is the feeling of imminent change; that uneasiness is the anticipation of a new direction; and yes, that almost imperceptible vibration you’re feeling is the train coming around the bend and bringing with it, the FairTax.

On Tuesday, March 17, 2009, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, Iowa Congressman Steve King will host a ‘Special Order‘ hour of non-legislative debate on the FairTax bill (HR 25, S 296). This event will be televised on C-Span.

If you are not yet familiar with the FairTax plan this will be an excellent opportunity to find out what’s the big deal. Tune in to this televised event to find out not only what the FairTax is about, but also to get an idea of the ignorant, self-serving, and political arguments against it. Should be fun for everyone.

To learn more about the FairTax bill visit www.FairTax.org

To get involved in supporting the FairTax visit FairTaxNation and/or ZapTheIRS.

The money you earn and pay in taxes determines the extent to which the government controls your life. Isn’t it time you had a say in how much that is? Become informed. Get involved. Be a citizen.

Regards,

Tim Couch

You talkin to me?

I hope your day is as sweet and rich and smooth as the finest hot chocolate.

Not all dogs are welcome here at the CowChows. Of course, well behaved dogs are always welcome but my bride has a thing about stepping in yard biscuits and I don’t blame her. I’m not too crazy about them myself. So, the other day when a big black pooch came sniffing around for a tree to leave a present under I was all too happy to oblige when she asked me to run him off.

When conversing with an animal in situations like this I usually try to speak to them in their own language. I flirt with the heifers across the fence and I taunt the bull; I chatter with the grouchy squirrels; I try to engage the neighborhood cat; and yes, I bark with the dogs. I have always thought that it was my tone of voice that mattered more than what I actually said.

So, I came out of the door at a run and headed straight for the dog. I went into my best imitation of a badass Rottweiler……WROOR, WROOR, WROOR, WROOR, WROOR. He took off running as I expected he would, and I stayed after him for a ways to make sure he got my meaning. I was about halfway across the yard, still making my point when I apparently said something about his Mother.

He stopped and turned around. He replied with some pretty nasty sounding language of his own, but I was determined to show him who was boss so I continued my tirade. He started towards me and then it was my turn to stop. We stood in the yard for several minutes arguing loudly in Caninian. We took turns advancing and retreating. It finally dawned on me that this was not an argument I was going to win and I was not prepared for a fight. Besides, he was arguing while I was only making noise. So, I gave him one last WOOF and went inside.

Funny thing was, after I quit making noise he left and hasn’t come back. Hope I didn’t make him mad.

Regards,

Tim Couch

I hope the pleasures of your day blend together like beans and cornbread.

I went for a walk around the place today and as I walked through the trees, taking in the cool winter air and feeling the sun on my face, I happened to notice a vine way up in the top of a walnut tree. It surprised me because while I knew the vine was growing there I wasn’t aware how high it had climbed. Either it was always obscured by the leaves of the tree, or perhaps I just never bothered to look up. The tree hasn’t suffered because of the vine, probably it isn’t even aware of it. But just by being there, by standing strong and tall and straight, this tree has enabled a spindly little vine to climb higher than it ever could have climbed on its own.

The tree was only doing what trees do, and the vine merely accepted the opportunity to climb the tree because that’s what vines do. Doing what comes naturally and accepting the opportunities that the Universe presents. Maybe, I thought, life isn’t supposed to be any more complicated than that.

Regards,

Tim Couch

I hope your day is sweet and satisfying………like a pumpkin-bread and Cool-Whip sandwich.

I imagine you are familiar with the 80 / 20 Rule. Many things in life somehow fall into this rule: 80 percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the people; 80 percent of wealth is owned by 20 percent of the people; 80 percent of society’s problems are caused by 20 percent of the people, etc, etc. I recently heard of a study conducted by a brilliant man of science that once again proved the 80 / 20 Rule.

This brilliant man of science, we’ll call him Billy as in Uncle Billy who taught me the science of trajectory with his BB gun when I was a kid, observed during his day to day life that very few people actually did what they said they would do. Not the big things that require a contract or a binding obligation but the little things like, “I’ll have it ready for you in an hour,” or “I’ll call you,” or I’ll be back at 2:00 to pick it up,” the little promises that people make every day. So, Billy decided to keep track. Every time someone would make one of these little promises to him he would write it down. He did this for several months and when he finally tallied up the score he found that 80 percent of people do not keep their word on a day to day basis.

Now, why am I telling you about this? Well, ever since Billy told me about it I haven’t been able to forget it. As a result, I have been making a determined effort to remain in the 20 percent of people that do keep their word. Now you know about it too, and I’m hoping you won’t be able to forget it either.

Regards,

Tim Couch

My best shovel at the ready

I have to admit I’m a bit of a news junkie, and I have been following recent events in Washington with considerable interest and curiosity. All the talk about spending and stimulus and pork and earmarks and recession and recovery and left and right and depression, and yadda yadda yadda can get more than a little confusing. I was actually beginning to think that most of it was just a bunch of talk by the politicians and the analysts to try and justify their continued employment when so many people are losing their jobs.

I was particularly confused by the spending bill because it just didn’t make sense to me. How was a two million dollar ferry boat in San Juan, PR going to stimulate the economy? And, why does the Historic Jazz Society in Kansas City, MO need federal assistance? And, what is “Sustainable Las Vegas” and what’s it going to do with a million bucks? I just didn’t get it.

But then, I came across this: $178,000 to determine the effects of daylight savings time on the average fifty year old caucasion male living in central U.S. in the James River basin, on an eastern sloping hillside, who has a receding hairline, walks slightly bowlegged, and speaks with a southern drawl. As soon as I read that I became very stimulated. I thought, “Hey, I could be that guy.” I dug deeper and finally found the full requirements for qualifying for this assistance. Turned out it was a shovel-ready project so I raced out to the shed and retrieved my best shovel.

I ran back inside and finally found the phone number to call and apply for this very important study. Unfortunately, I forgot to set my clocks forward last night and I missed the deadline by one hour. Oh well, back to the drawing board I suppose. Maybe there’s some money in there to help late blooming baby boomers build boats by the bay.

Sincerely (not),

Tim Couch