In The Real World Poor Performance Means a Pink Slip

Harlingen, Texas, July 30, 2009:  During the 26 years I was on active duty individual Marines were regularly rated on their performance, plus a wide variety of standards such as leadership ability, how much supervision they required, conduct, attention to detail, etc.  Those individuals, either enlisted or officer, who failed to gain satisfactory grades were invited to leave the military service.  Those who were sub-standard in performance could never expect to be promoted or otherwise advanced to any significant position of responsibility.

In careers that followed my military service, I was charged with hiring dozens and dozens of people.  The good ones we kept employed and over time advanced them to labors of greater responsibility.  The poor ones were invited to seek different employment options.

What is recounted here is the standard throughout the working world.  Solid performance is rewarded.  Poor performing individuals are banished from the ranks of the employed. With such standards being accepted as righteous and warranted in the world where we all labor, how can it be that we fail to use the same system of measurement on our elected officials?

It was only in October of last year, just one month before the election, that the American public was polled on congressional work performance.  A full 75% of those responding said Congress was doing a poor job.  The election should have corrected that problem, but a USA/Today poll taken recently shows us that 69% of Americans still feel Congress is failing in its performance of duty.  Even CNN, which is far from being unfriendly to the liberal left, say 61% of the public rates Congress and its labors as poor.

The combined ratings of the Real Clear Politics, NBC/Wall Street Journal, CBS/New York Times, Time, Pew Research, NPR, Rasmussen, Daily Kos, GWU/Battleground and Fox News polls show that 60.8% of Americans believe we have a failed Congress.  Fifty three percent of the same citizens believe America is on the wrong track.

A failed representative or senator “bringing home the bacon” does not qualify him or her for continued employment.  In the real world poor performance always means a pink slip.  No employer would keep paying a sub-standard employee for very long even if that employee was a relative or brought the boss a six-pack every Friday night.  So, why, why, why do we as voting citizens still keep returning people to Congress who evidently can’t read, can’t write, can’t add, can’t subtract and can’t even manage to honor the promises they made to their constituents?  Isn’t it about time we abandoned playing the party politics game and started judging our elected officials by real world standards?

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The Phantom 46 Million

Harlingen, Texas, July 21, 2009:  Admittedly there are millions of us who subscribe to the age-old adage that if a politician’s lips are moving – he is lying.  So, with that thought in mind, we ask again, just who are these 46 million Americans the Obama Administration and the Democrats say do not have health care coverage?

According to various reports, a full seventy percent of that number claim they have access to the health care they need.  Almost half of that number are younger, healthy Americans who could purchase health insurance, but don’t see such purchases as being essential or desired.  So, lets give those wonderful and caring politicians a break and only count about 10 million people in that “need health care” category, much lower than the estimated 23 million who some researchers say fill those ranks.  Well, if we minus that 10 million, we are now down to 36 million people who don’t have health care coverage and really need it.

The government’s own figures tell us that when reviewing the State-Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicare and Medicaid, plus various government programs in place to care for indigent and illegal alien populations there are still about 11 million people who qualify for these programs, for a variety of reasons reject using them.  If that number is subtracted from the ballyhooed 46 million in need of care, we are now down to 25 million without coverage.

Nobody has considered the more than 2 million Americans in jail, being provided free health care or the working people who have company provided insurance for themselves, but refuse to pay those extra dollars to insure their families.  What about all those drug dealers and petty crooks who have yet to be caught.  There are dozens roaming our streets for every one person in jail.  Do we need a health insurance program for them?

So, if we do the math our phantom 46 million is now down to about 20 million people in need of medical assistance.  When you view the “health care crisis” from that vantage point and add in the fact that 89% of Americans with health insurance claim they are happy with their plans…. we don’t really have that much of a crisis.  There is no logical reason for the politicians of our country to rip up a nationwide system of care and substitute their quagmire of care for existing programs.  And we all know the more government programs, the more government mismanagement. 

If the politicos are really concerned with our citizens and the care they receive, how about full tax credits for those people and companies who purchase health insurance?  How about full deductions for out of pocket medical expenses?  How about tax-free medical savings accounts?  All of that would be far less expensive than the current attempt to control about one fifth of the country’s economy and give people something they never asked for and don’t want.

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Today's Wonderful World of Taxes

Harlingen, Texas, July 19, 2009:  If you are a person who enjoys taxation, you are living in a wonderful time.  First we have the Cap & Tax legislation that has already been passed by the Democrats in the House of Representatives.  If that convoluted bill, designed to raise prices on all fossil fuels becomes law, it will also place an additional tax burden on every American. 

The Congressional Budget Office estimates this bill, which is claimed to promote fuel efficiency, will actually increase the taxes of every American household by $680 a year.  That energy taxation is about to be followed by a universal health care bill that Democrats claim will only bring additional taxation to Americans making more than $350,000 a year.  Of course this action will impact 95% of the small business owners in the country.  Depending upon the size of that business the owner could be facing a tax rate of 52%, the highest of any country now offering socialized medicine.  On top of that, the CBO claims it will increase the cost of health care for everyone.

But, this is nothing new for the Democrat Party.  It has been in love with all forms of taxation since its inception.  We trace our income tax back to Democrat President Woodrow Wilson and his party’s vote to enact such legislation in 1913.  Even though this form of taxation was deemed unconstitutional in an earlier attempt, they decided to try again as a constitutional amendment.  The required number of 36 states did not ratify it, but the politicians decided they didn’t need ratification anyway, and opted the tax into law.  It has grown into such a twisted and complex system that today corporations spend more time and money on tax preparation than they do on any other expense, excluding raw materials and labor.  Our income tax law, which started out as only 11,000 words has grown to more than 7 million words, ten times the size of the Holy Bible.

In addition to the Federal Income Tax, Americans today have almost half of their income eaten up by a laundry list of taxes and licenses, which are in reality just another name, thus allowing politicians to claim they are not really additional taxes.

Today we have accounts receivable taxes, building permit taxes, capital gains taxes, cigarette taxes, corporate income taxes, Federal Income Tax, Federal Unemployment Tax, fuel taxes, gasoline taxes, inheritance taxes, inventory taxes, liquor taxes, local income taxes, luxury taxes, Medicare tax, property taxes, real estate taxes, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Tax and Sales Tax.

There are recreational vehicle taxes, road toll taxes, school taxes, state income taxes, telephone federal excise taxes, telephone universal service fee taxes, telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes, telephone minimum usage taxes, telephone recurring and non-recurring charges taxes, telephone state and local taxes, telephone usage charge taxes, toll bridge taxes, trailer registration taxes, utility taxes, vehicle registration taxes, watercraft registration taxes, and Workers Compensation Tax.

Along with these, we cannot forget that we have septic tank permits, service charges, toll roads, traffic fines, court fines, dog licenses, fishing licenses, hunting licenses, marriage licenses, IRS penalties, well permits and the always unpopular death tax.  Though these may be cloaked in different names, they are still additional forms of taxation.

Of course, at least forty percent of the population in the United States does not even pay an income tax and in various states some of these taxes are not applicable.  However, it should be noted that 100 years ago not one of these taxes or licenses or fees existed in the United States of America.  In 1909 we were the most prosperous nation in the world.  We had the largest middle class in the world and mothers did not need to enter the work force for the family to prosper.  Oh Yes…We also had no national debt.  Isn’t there something completely out of whack with our system, if the Democrat Party in power can’t make a move without attempting to level even more taxes on an overburdened public?

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Loaves and Fishes Struggles To Aid Homeless and Poor

Harlingen, Texas, July 16, 2009:  Those who believe the recession is not striking everywhere, including the Rio Grande Valley should pay a visit to the Loaves and Fishes complex at 514 South “E” Street in Harlingen.  If they arrived during the breakfast or dinner hours, one of the first things they would observe would be the large group of people assembling to enter the dining hall.  Over the past several months more and more people are finding their way to this multi-service establishment that was created by the Ministerial Alliance to offer help and comfort to people in need.  All who were in need are welcomed .No residential boundaries are erected

Historically everyone seeking hot meals could be accommodated in a single setting.  During recent months many hungry people have been required to wait until a second sitting in the dining hall was ready.  During the first six months of 2009, a total of 53, 453 hot meals were provided.

Where once, the vat majority of sleeping accommodations were offered to homeless men, the shelter is now seeing women in need of a safe night’s lodging.  Even mothers with children are now being evicted from their homes and come to Loaves and Fishes.  So far this year 2, 865 bed nights have been provided to men, 1,182 bed nights were given to women and 1,190 bed nights to children.

Another indicator of how severe this recession has become can be seen when viewing the number of people who have come to Loaves and Fishes for job training and placement.  This year the organization has seen more than 400 job seekers utilizing its service each month.  During June 436 people received services.  It should be noted however, that only six (6) were fortunate enough to have been offered jobs.  This is another of the many recession indicators.

There has also been a significant increase in the number of families seeking emergency assistance.  Thirty-Five families asked for rent assistance aid during all of 2008.  A total of $6,500 in assistance money was provided.  This year, to date, 41 families have sought assistance with their rent.  Loaves and Fishes has provided $15,000 in that emergency assistance, but has now spent all available funds for that project, with almost six months still remaining in this calendar year.

Utility assistance is always being requested.  This is particularly a concern for the organization during extremely hot or cold weather. Loaves and Fishes is very mindful of the need to keep utilities operating when clients are in poor health, elderly or have tiny children.  During 2008 forty-one families requested utility assistance totaling $5,800.  This year, to date, 118 families have requested this assistance.  A total of $18,500 has been spent on these services and all funds are exhausted. Says Executive Director Dean Hall, “The reality…we’re out of money for rent and utility assistance during the hottest time of the year.”

Increased numbers of people in need of services is a major reason for the financial shortfall.  However, business losses, foundations seeing a decline in their investments and individuals unsure of the future have all found they cannot assist charities or must reduce their giving levels.  All of this has impacted the financial picture for Loaves and Fishes.

The charity operates on an annual budget of less than $900,000.  Much of this support comes from foundation and government grants.  Churches are also strong supporters of the Loves and Fishes multiple programs.  Local donations from businesses totaled $19,442 during 2008.  This year business gifts have declined to $13,133.  Valley-wide, individual donors gave $58,148 during 2008.  This year the amount of individual gifts donated to this ministry has been $23, 767.

Sometimes the words of children’s stories explain things best.  According to that famous writer of rhymes, Dr. Seuss – “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It’s not.”

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Loaves and Fishes Struggles To Aid Homeless and Poor

Harlingen, Texas, July 16, 2009:  Those who believe the recession is not striking everywhere, including the Rio Grande Valley should pay a visit to the Loaves and Fishes complex at 514 South “E” Street in Harlingen.  If they arrived during the breakfast or dinner hours, one of the first things they would observe would be the large group of people assembling to enter the dining hall.  Over the past several months more and more people are finding their way to this multi-service establishment that was created by the Ministerial Alliance to offer help and comfort to people in need.  All who were in need are welcomed .No residential boundaries are erected

Historically everyone seeking hot meals could be accommodated in a single setting.  During recent months many hungry people have been required to wait until a second sitting in the dining hall was ready.  During the first six months of 2009, a total of 53, 453 hot meals were provided.

Where once, the vat majority of sleeping accommodations were offered to homeless men, the shelter is now seeing women in need of a safe night’s lodging.  Even mothers with children are now being evicted from their homes and come to Loaves and Fishes.  So far this year 2, 865 bed nights have been provided to men, 1,182 bed nights were given to women and 1,190 bed nights to children.

Another indicator of how severe this recession has become can be seen when viewing the number of people who have come to Loaves and Fishes for job training and placement.  This year the organization has seen more than 400 job seekers utilizing its service each month.  During June 436 people received services.  It should be noted however, that only six (6) were fortunate enough to have been offered jobs.  This is another of the many recession indicators.

There has also been a significant increase in the number of families seeking emergency assistance.  Thirty-Five families asked for rent assistance aid during all of 2008.  A total of $6,500 in assistance money was provided.  This year, to date, 41 families have sought assistance with their rent.  Loaves and Fishes has provided $15,000 in that emergency assistance, but has now spent all available funds for that project, with almost six months still remaining in this calendar year.

Utility assistance is always being requested.  This is particularly a concern for the organization during extremely hot or cold weather. Loaves and Fishes is very mindful of the need to keep utilities operating when clients are in poor health, elderly or have tiny children.  During 2008 forty-one families requested utility assistance totaling $5,800.  This year, to date, 118 families have requested this assistance.  A total of $18,500 has been spent on these services and all funds are exhausted. Says Executive Director Dean Hall, “The reality…we’re out of money for rent and utility assistance during the hottest time of the year.”

Increased numbers of people in need of services is a major reason for the financial shortfall.  However, business losses, foundations seeing a decline in their investments and individuals unsure of the future have all found they cannot assist charities or must reduce their giving levels.  All of this has impacted the financial picture for Loaves and Fishes.

The charity operates on an annual budget of less than $900,000.  Much of this support comes from foundation and government grants.  Churches are also strong supporters of the Loves and Fishes multiple programs.  Local donations from businesses totaled $19,442 during 2008.  This year business gifts have declined to $13,133.  Valley-wide, individual donors gave $58,148 during 2008.  This year the amount of individual gifts donated to this ministry has been $23, 767.

Sometimes the words of children’s stories explain things best.  According to that famous writer of rhymes, Dr. Seuss – “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It’s not.”

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How To Fail A Child The American Foster Care Way

Harlingen, Texas, July 13, 2009:  For the more than one half million children in foster care across the United States, the number “18” is forever on their minds.  For some that number means the birthday they must reach to be “aged out” of a system they find restrictive and abusive.  For many others it means the birthday they will reach and find themselves cast out of a home environment into a world they are ill prepared to face alone.

“Aging Out” of the foster care system is as mixed up and convoluted as the entire government operated foster care program in general.  Some states continue to take care of the child through training programs, free college tuition, healthcare and other options until they are prepared to function independently.  Many states end all support and payments the day the child turns 18. 

Girls who reach 18 find themselves homeless and without finances unless they are pregnant or have already given birth to a child.  Motherhood means they will continue to receive welfare support.  Perhaps that is why almost 40% of the girls raised in foster care find themselves pregnant before the age of 18.

At age 18 most boys find themselves alone, homeless and undereducated.  It is estimated 25% of these boys will remain homeless.  Many become engaged in criminal activity or male prostitution.  Few find themselves with positive prospects for the future.

A recent survey of foster care alumni reported that only 20% of the children who have been placed in foster care do well in society once they reach adulthood.

It is the foster care system itself that completely fails the children.  Some states operate these programs better than others.  Some states have horrible systems.  None could be called exemplary.

Illinois can be spotlighted as one of the states having a failed foster care system.  Reports on the program are never up to date, but four years ago, with close to 19,000 children in foster care the state had wracked up a significant record of irresponsibility.  In its mandate to protect and care for children who were wards of the state, Illinois had 100 children who had been relocated 50 times or more.  There were 1,000 children who had been moved to at least 23 different places.  There were 750 children who had been placed in ten or more different foster homes.  It was among 13 states across the country considered the worst for multiple relocations of children.

Added to its list of failed policies is the Illinois system of sub contracting the foster care of children to private agencies?  These agencies vary in quality from strong church operated programs to for-profit groups whose only incentive is the money they receive from the state.  To make sure the “wealth” is spread around, the state has a rotation system of passing foster children out to various providers care.  The next one in line receives the next child to be placed.  No thought is given to how many foster families a particular private contractor has in its system or if the correct foster home is available for the child to be placed.  Thus a child could end up in a group home with perhaps a half dozen children of varying ages and emotional problems.  At the same time another private agency might have an opening for a single child to go to a family with no other responsibilities.  However, that agency was not at the top of the rotation list.

But, Illinois is not alone in its multiple failures.  In the rich Napa Valley of California federal standards for foster care have been continuously ignored.  Not too long ago Napa was found to be in violation of seven out of the twelve federal standards.

In point of fact, all 50 states have failed to comply with federal child-welfare standards developed to protect children from abuse and neglect.  The most frequently ignored standard is to assure there is permanency in the child’s living arrangements.

The Florida system is what many call “The take the child and run program”.
Because of national abuse cases that have been highlighted by news media, case workers in Florida worry they will be blamed if anything happens to a child.  The answer for these employees is to remove a child from his or her family when there are allegations of neglect or abuse, even if such charges are not confirmed.  Florida now has a child removal from the family record 35 times higher than the national average.  Though, in theory, such removal practices may be justified, the reality is these children are separated from everyone they love and who love them in return.

The subject of child protection caseworkers, or social workers is one that really needs to be explored in depth.  In many states they are poorly evaluated as to their capabilities.  Often there is little to no training.  They are all under staffed and under paid. 

Children in foster care usually are visited by multiple caseworkers during those months or years they are wards of the state.  Some have reported that a single child could have, over a period of time, thirty or more different caseworkers.

Not too long ago a case in Texas made national headlines.  Three small children were killed and beheaded by their parents.  Police found the home and living conditions to be complete squalor.  The parents were deeply involved in drugs.  Also, among their findings the police learned there had been a variety of complaints filed against the parents, but no caseworker had visited them in months.

Records reveal that 11 children have died in the state due to abuse and neglect while in foster care.  Though this may not be an accurate total and it doesn’t seem to be a large number when viewing the size of the state and its population, it is still ten times the child abuse death rate found in the general Texas population.

According to USA Today, “All 50 states have failed to comply fully with federal child-welfare standards designed to protect kids from abuse and neglect, according to reviews (held) since 2002 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.”

That report further revealed not a single state met the very important requirement that all children should have “permanency and stability in their living conditions.”

There is a strange paradox to the nationwide foster care debacle.  Across the United States voters not only support a strong foster care system, but demand it.  When this message is transmitted to those who provide the legislation or governance for the states, there is never enough money, time, talent or training put into developing positive, productive and protective programs.

Extensive investigation needs to be the rule, rather than the exception into all families where children are to be removed for cause.  These same investigations need to be the rule for all families seeking to be foster parents.

Foster parents, caseworkers…and yes, the families who have lost their children to the foster care system, need to undergo psychological testing and evaluation.  They need to receive strong training in childcare and development.  They need a regular system of inspection and evaluation of performance …and above all they need the dollars to keep a quality system in place. 

Pearl S. Buck once said it best…”If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all.”

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Who Will Suffer The Little Children?

Harlingen, Texas, July 9, 2009:  Try to find out how many orphaned children there are in the United States or across the globe and you are in for an impossible task.  For some strange reason, the bean counters to this world have never thought that counting these children in need was a very worthwhile endeavor.

There is an ancient proverb that says, “Children are the bridge to heaven.” Today untold millions of people are abandoning that bridge and disregarding those children in need.  There are far too many children in need relative to caring people who will reach out and touch their lives. 

Statistics are very unreliable and almost impossible to resolve into a fixed number. One international agency says the figure is 13 million orphans worldwide.  UNICEF places the number at 210 million. The reality is somewhere between these two numbers, but most authorities agree that today there are somewhere between 130 and 150 million orphaned children in the world.  Most of them are receiving little to no care.

The statistics out of Africa are the most appalling.  Every year more than 2 million children in Africa become orphans.  Much of this is due to the ravages of war, but AIDS alone produces an African orphan every 15 seconds.

Because of the sheer volume of orphans in that country, there are never enough people willing to adopt all of those seeking homes.  Only about one out of every nine children can expect they will be adopted, which means 14 to 15 million children in Africa will grow up outside a loving family.

In Russia today about 700,000-orphaned children are living without parental care.  The estimate is most of these children will age out of orphanages.  From this body of children 10% to 15% are expected to commit suicide before the age of 18.  Sixty percent of the girls will turn to prostitution.  Seventy percent of the boys will turn to crime.  Most of those remaining can expect to accept work offers that will lead to their being sold as slaves.

Obtaining information on orphans is extremely difficult in China.  There is no official number available.  Save The Children Foundation did reveal there are 573,000-orphaned children under the age of 18 living in China.  However, only 69,000 children are now in Chinese orphanages.  Children living with relatives total about 293,000 who receiving government support ranging from a low of $13 a year to a high of $500 a year per child.  This still leaves nearly 211,000-orphaned children unaccounted for in China.

The term “orphan” is rarely used in the United States.  Perhaps that is the reason why so little is known about the status of these children.  We do know there are more than 500,000 children in foster homes, with some of these households of suspect quality. We also know that about 120,000 of these children are considered to be “waiting’, which is code for being eligible for adoption.

As with orphaned children around the world, their futures are very bleak.  Criminal activity, prostitution, homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration and suicide will impact the lives of the vast majority of these children and they will never learn the comfort of a loving home.

National and international government agencies, along with the many resources of the United Nations seem to have no realistic idea of how to resolve the worldwide despair of all the orphaned children.  Perhaps it is time for service organizations such as Rotary International, Lions International or other similar organizations to take up the cause and suffer thee little children unto them.  They might even think about combining their resources in a united effort.  One thing is certain; they couldn’t be any less effective than the many governmental organizations that have been so ineptly involved for decades.

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Hot Dogs and Fireworks, or Unalienable Rights?

Harlingen, Texas, July 4, 2009:  Every year we celebrate “The 4th of July” across most of the United States.  Many of us celebrate more than the date. We celebrate the Declaration of Independence.  But, I wonder how many of us really reflect on what this day means to more than 300 million people…and the millions more who also aspire to the promise of America?

Talking to a Texas transplant the other day started me thinking along these lines.  He was saying how much he “loved” the 4th of July because he could kick back, eat lots of hot dogs, watch the fireworks, drink cold beer…and relax.  He also looked forward to that extra day he would have away from the job on Monday.  When asked if he ever thought about the Declaration of Independence and patriotism, his reply was…”What is more patriotic than hot dogs and fireworks?”

Far too many people in today’s mad, mad world have that attitude.  The “Me-More Generation” seems to be an ever-expanding national malady.  Few people seem to have learned anything from their classes in governance.  Even more have failed to read the most famous sentence in the English langue – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

If we really understood the birth of our nation, perhaps we wouldn’t be so eager to accept the government excesses of today.  It might be a good exercise for each of us to revisit and read the provisions of The Stamp Act, The Townshend Acts and the Coercive Acts.
These established law in the colonies that made life unbearable for the citizenry of our land.  The end result was revolution.

The Stamp Act was a law that required a government inspection and seal or stamp on every document in the colonies, as a method of placing more money into the treasury of King George III. It required the seals of Great Britain be placed on every paper, pamphlet, poster, document and flyer as a means of control and expanded revenue. 

One could argue the pending Cap and Trade or Energy Bill has provisions much like the Stamp Act.  Everyone planning to sell his or her home or construct a new building will be required to have a government seal.  An inspector will check the insulation, size and strength of light bulbs, the energy efficiency of refrigeration, washers, dryers, air conditioning, thermal windows etc.  If everything doesn’t meet the coercive government standards and pass inspection, you will have no official seal to build or sell.  Isn’t this much like passing government inspection for your next published document and obtaining a seal under the Stamp Act?

What were the Townshend Acts?  They were a series of laws taxing paint, paper, lead, tea and just about any product the colonies imported from England.  They were so far reaching in non-representative taxation that they were the driving force behind the Boston Tea Party.

Again, it could be easily argued that the excessive taxation being advanced by this pending Cap and Trade legislation is a mirror image of the Townshend Acts.  All forms of energy from oil to coal and the products created by these energy sources will be subject to increased taxation.  Further, it mirrors those acts of yesteryear because this planned taxation is not representative of the people’s will.

So, what do we have in the Coercive Acts passed by Parliament?  These were a series of laws that punished Boston and Province of Massachusetts for participation in the Boston Tea Party. They closed Boston Harbor to all incoming and outgoing traffic, named British appointed government officials without any election or colony approval to be in charge of Massachusetts, allowed the government to move trials to another colony or even to Great Britain, and other intolerable acts.

We can see shades of the Coercive Acts in the current administration’s appointment of numerous Czars to head up multiple government functions.  We can see shades of these acts in provisions written into new legislation to punish states that fail to comply with mandates from Washington D. C.  We can see similarities to the Coercive Acts in pending legislation that shuts down coal fueled energy plants, denies oil exploration, and even stops contractors from building structures not having federal approval, or insisting that the federal rules supercede any contrary state laws.

But, that is only the view from here.  We think that America should pay attention to the Declaration of Independence and in particular the passage about unalienable rights.  They seem to be under as much assault today as they were in the years leading up to July 4, 1776.  You can revisit that grand old document and re-educate yourself…or you can just sit back and enjoy your hot dogs and fireworks.

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