COWBOY WISDOM (By Montee Tucker)

[Jo McDonald]

 

What's Under My Hat
Monte Tucker
  May 27, 2008

Howdy friends and neighbors.  Come on first Tuesday in November!  I have already had about all of the Presidential election I can stand.  Surely, somewhere out there in this great nation is a "good ol' boy or gal," that is worth voting for.  You know, someone that has actually done something, not just talked about what they think they have done.  It's only the first quarter in the game between the R's and the D's.  Both sides keep talking about time for change.  Just what are they going to change?  They obviously haven't changed the game of politics.  Billary and Bama Lama Ding Dong boost the word "change" every time I see the media put their face on my boob tube.

The first place they could start changing things would be on the Senate floor that they're already on.  Just go and look at their voting records for the last several months and you will find they aren't showing up to vote.   You know, the job they campaigned so hard to get by promising "change," but they just don't have the time.  McCain isn't immune from this either.

Let's talk "change."  What in the world do these hot air compressors think they are going to change and why?  Again, I'm just a professional bovine relocation specialist (it's the 21st century, we used to call them cowboys).   But the way I see it from Sunny Point , Oklahoma , how are they going to change the greatest nation in the world?  All of the candidates are demanding we must change!  OK.  I wake up a free man every morning and I'm free to do anything that is morally right or I can do nothing.  If I choose to do something productive that day, well I can whistle at my dog, start up my ol' tan feed truck that I bought with the help of a free enterprising banking system I chose to use.  Plus, there's the fact that other free Americans assembled this truck, and the companies that bought, sold and hauled parts and supplies to make that pickup possible.  As I turn the key, ol' tans fires up on diesel fuel that a mean, nasty, big oil company conveniently made very accessible and affordable to me.  I turn out of my land that I can freely own, onto a county maintained road that leads to any point in North America I would choose to go to that day. Also, in this country, I am free to own livestock and free to care for them so that the livestock will return a profit so I can repay my bank, buy my feed and fuel, and provide for my family.  On Sunday Morning (or any other day that ends in "Y") my family is free to drive from our house on a ribbon of roads that lead to the Church of our choice and worship the real owner of all things we know, God.  We can give praise to Him for all and especially for Jesus.

Why can't these hopefuls for the highest-ranking governmental seat see that it is just that simple?  Provide me infrastructure and protect me from these knot-headed whack's that think they can take away our freedom. Billary, Bama Mama or McNobrain aren't going to change anything.  The foundations of this great country can't be changed by one person, no matter how much they think they can.  As Americans, we have the right to succeed or fail and try again as we please.  As a free man, I'm getting good at failing but I get smarter when I try again.

When presidential candidates tout change, the only thing I see in this country that needs changing is them.  Life in America is good and for those that don't think so, you're free to leave at any time, go to another country of your choice and try to change it.

I'm Monte Tucker, and that is what's under my professional bovine relocation specialist hat.  Wait, I'm not changing, that is what's under my COWBOY hat!

Remember our freedom is not free; try to wear a red shirt on Fridays to show support for our troops.

[pam]

[larryJ]

'nuff said.

[frawin]

Jo, that is great wisdom and considering the current presidential candidates and their campaign rhetoric, it is so vey true. As usual your philosyphy and wisdom is wise and very much in keeping with the conservative right American way.
Frank

[flo]

I said it before and I repeat - MONTE TUCKER FOR PRESIDENT

[Devyn-Leann]

I second that motion, Flo!!!

[Diane Amberg]

One of the things that has me concerned, speaking of "change," is the slow but sure slide of the huge middle class. There is a polarization occurring that has me worried. The really wealthy are making more money than ever and the really poor are getting poorer. Now the responsible, educated, middle class, that has always shored up the poor, bought the pizza, drunk the Starbucks, wore the nicer clothes, and supported the local merchants has to take a second look at how they spend ALL their money.  Unfortunately, burglaries and robberies are increasing too. 

[sixdogsmom]

What used to be called middle class would be considered quite poor these days. One vehicle and one bathroom per family if that. Folks rode the bus or streetcar, carried their lunch, and the kids wore hand me downs or made-overs. New cloth for special occasions only! Entertainment was homemade or a weekly movie and church. Radio changed that some, but not like television. Birthdays and Christmas was not the madness it is now with oceans of gifts that the parents can ill afford. But that was before the invention of the credit card. Debt is killing the middle class, both credit card debt, and over extension of home buying. There is no middle class family that needs a million dollar home that requires a mortgage that sucks two paychecks dry. Children no longer save anything, not even knowing what a piggy bank is. School taxes are incredibly high yet the children are always hawking some overpriced item to get something for the school. The only ones who gain is the companies who supply the items. Gonna get off the soapbox now!

[pam]

uh, I'm probably what you would consider "poor". Financially that is, but I am responsible, have had Starbucks a time or two and once we even bought pizza  I am also educated, self educated maybe but educated nontheless. My clothes may not have a fancy name in em but I have some nice ones. I'm real sorry some people can't afford four bathrooms now but don't think the fact they use to try to means they were shoring me up. The top 1% have been in charge with carte blanche for almost eight years now but the gravy train could be fixin to end, in a perfect world that is

[Lookatmeknow!!]

Well, I have to say that we are not rich.  I would have to say closer to poor!!  We do save, though.  We, if we get one, always try to put our tax refund, cattle checks, and whatever we is left over, in savings.  I don't ever think there is anything wrong with second hand close.  I have got my girls where they love to go to the Goodwill, Garage Sales, and such.  Also, my oldest daughter is in 4-H.  We make her pay for the animals that she buys and whatever other expenses the animals need, feed and such.  Then whatever is leftover, she has to put it in her savings account.  We also make the girls put the money they make from saling eggs into their savings accounts.  But I do know what you mean by they don't save.  My girls never want for food, but they waste a ton, at least it feels like it. 

As for the more then one vehicle, we are guilty of owning more than one.  But I have to say, the majority of the ones that are sitting around are for farm use.  We do have 4 pickups, 3 feed trucks, 1 truck to pull trailers, and 1/2 ton to run around the farm.  But they don't move to often, especially with the price of gas.  We are don't like having all the trucks, but husband thinks he needs them.  I would love another bathroom, but really can't afford to build on another one.  We only have one but at least we have it.

What has me worried some is the rising cost of EVERYTHING!!  My oldest is set to get braces June 11.  We have insurance, but of course braces are not covered.  Do we have the money in savings, yes!!  But it is a hard decision to make.  I mean we love her and want to take care of her teeth, but with the rising cost of gas and such, is it necessary to spend $5,000 that way???  I say yes, my husband says NO.

What I am getting at is, with so much change being talked about in government.  I think that we are, the working class and such, are having a harder time than ever!!  A year ago, I would not have even have thought twice about the different decisions that I am making.  Now, I am just having trouble buying a gallon of milk!!