I'm Sick Of It

I try to keep politics out of this blog and, for the most part, keep my political opinions to myself. But I can't believe any American, liberal or conservative, should tolerate the financial irresponsibility practiced by the Congress of the United States year after year.

The "Continuing Resolution" is the vehicle to keep from shutting down the government while Congress fails to act. While the government does not shut down, it must perform foolish and expensive actions to continue to operate without proper spending authority.

My experience is in the Defense Department, but I'm sure it is similar in other departments. Here is a simplified example.

Based on Congressional approval, as a government contracting officer, I have signed a contract with ABC Airplane Company to develop, build, and deliver 150 F-XX fighter aircraft. The contract is laid out to run for ten years with payments to be made monthly based on invoices presented to the US Treasury Dept. Congress has approved this program and I am obligated to execute it. Now Congress decides to give me only enough money to operate for a week. When ABC Airplane Company presents invoices to the Treasury for a month's worth of work, the Treasury can only pay for one week.

Here is an even simpler hypothetical: "You are directed to operate your household on a monthly basis and to buy groceries accordingly in the most efficient manner possible." My job is to provide the funds for you to do so. Oh, by the way, I'm only going to give you enough money for one week.

This absurdity happens every year in every government department. Once during my time in the Air Force, it got so bad they moved the fiscal year start from 01 July to 01 Oct to try to recover.

Unfortunately, CRs aren’t uncommon. The last time Congress passed all of its annual appropriations bills in time was almost 20 years ago with the FY 1997 budget. CRs can last for as little as a day or as long as an entire fiscal year. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work recently lamented, “There is no organization on this earth that would be able to remain in business, operating under these conditions.”

Read this article. If you are one who communicates with your elected official, please ask him/her to earn their pay by doing their job. That would be refreshing.

Commemorating 11 Sep 2001

Strategic Air Command Museum
28210 W. Park Hwy
Ashland, NE 68003
GPS: 41.015450, -96.318925

Two items I saw that are worth reflection on 9/11. I have reproduced the words in case the pictures are not readable.

We must never forget that freedom is never really free.
It is the most costly thing in the world.
Freedom is never paid in a lump sum.
Installments come due in every generation.
All any of us can do is offer the generations that follow a chance for freedom.

The War on Terror ...

REMBERING OUR FALLEN

The warriors of the 21st Century, professionals who volunteered to join the United States Armed Forces, grew up in the shadow of September 11, 2001, a defining moment for most of them. They come from all walks of life and every corner of our country, daring to go where so many never would. They retain the face of freedom and build upon the legacies of those who went before them in a cause greater than themselves.

We cannot all pick up the sword -- nor should we -- but we owe our support and gratitude to those who do, and to their families. Each Fallen Hero, shown here, left behind family and friends who will never forget them and we must be there to support them. Remember their loved ones, continue to pray for them and speak their names ... most importantly, speak their names.

Relish the freedom consecrated by that last full measure of devotion and paid for, on your behalf, by these Heroes and their Fallen Comrades.

STAND DOWN YOUNG WARRIOR

YOUR MISSION IS COMPLETE

Written and published by The Omaha World Herald

On the Road, Headed East

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Recreation Area RV Park
2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Rd
North Platte, NE 69101
GPS: 41.169906, -100.789976

Rocky Mountains behind us and morning sun in our eyes. We are on the road headed east.

This morning we ended our stay with Adam, Amy, and the boys in Highlands Ranch, CO and resumed our summer 2015 journey. We helped them get through a difficult housing relocation and enjoyed an extended visit getting to spend a lot of time with our three grandsons Andrew (10), Joshua (8), and Benjamin (6). Besides packing and unpacking a lot of boxes, we attended many soccer games, Michelle played uncountable games of Uno, and I "helped" Joshua write a story. This was the first time we were there to celebrate all three birthdays.

Today's journey was an easy (read "flat") 285 miles northeast on I - 76 then east on I - 80 to North Platte, NE. Travel time was about six hours and we lost an hour going from Mountain Time to Central Time.

Travel Day 13 – Denver, CO to North Platte, NE

Eastern Colorado was uneventful with only a few cows to keep us company.

In Nebraska, the scenery changed dramatically as we entered Cornhusker territory.

The landscape is endless fields of corn punctuated by silos.

Small towns (very small) focus around giant Grain Elevators.

Out here, trains seem to be a million miles long and you can see every inch of them.

Our destination today was North Platte, NE.

We got there about 4:30 PM; too late to visit the museum ... maybe tomorrow.

Instead we checked out this very small but nice RV Park ...

... and enjoyed our new chairs – a gift from Adam and Amy. Thanks.

North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers forming the Platte River. The population was 24,733 at the 2010 census.

North Platte was established in 1868 when the Union Pacific Railroad was extended to that point. It was named from the North Platte River.

North Platte is a railroad town; Union Pacific Railroad's large Bailey Yard is located within the city. Today, North Platte is served only by freight trains, but during World War II the city was famous for the North Platte Canteen. Several thousand volunteers from North Platte and surrounding towns met the troop trains passing through North Platte, offering coffee, sandwiches and hospitality.

North Platte is home to the world's largest rail yard, Bailey Yard. The Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center is an eight-story building which overlooks the expansive railroad staging area. The tower and visitor center are open to the public year-round.

North Platte was the Union Pacific Railway's western terminus from the summer of 1867 until the next section to Laramie, Wyoming, was opened the following summer. Even though Congress had authorized building the Transcontinental Railroad in 1862, it was only extended as far as Nebraska City by early summer of 1867. The 275-mile section from Nebraska City to North Platte was completed in less than six weeks.

Lincoln County Historical Museum contains a display detailing the history of the North Platte Canteen, which greeted 6.5 million service personnel from Christmas Day 1941 through April 1, 1946. It also contains a Prairie Village with local landmark homes and other buildings, including a Pony Express station and pioneer church among many others.

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park is located near North Platte, a Nebraska living history park about Buffalo Bill Cody. The park includes his actual house known as Scout's Rest Ranch. The park is two miles west of U.S. Highway 83 along U.S. Highway 30. Wikipedia

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Recreation Area is located next door to the Historical Park, which makes it easy to tour the ranch house and barn that Col. William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody built for his home in North Platte during the heyday of his famous Wild West Show. Cody owned some 4,000 acres here, which were appropriately named Scout's Rest Ranch. The park encompasses 25 acres of the original ranch, including the house and barn. Part of Buffalo Bill State Historical Park, this state recreation area offers camping pads with electricity, primitive sites and a group picnic shelter. NO WATER, NO SEWER.

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Recreation Area is a convenient stop off I-80 at the North Platte Interchange. The recreation area offers fishing, picnic tables, fire rings, and hiking trails.

When I told Joshua (the eight year old) we were staying at Buffalo Bill Ranch, his response was "The Buffalo Bills have a ranch??". Like beauty, I guess history is in the eye of the beholder.

Testament of a Fisherman

Testament of a Fisherman

I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly; because of all the television commercials, cocktail parties, and assorted social posturing I thus escape; because, in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed by power, but respond only to quietude and humility and endless patience; because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I for one don't want to waste the trip; because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters; because only in the woods can I find solitude without loneliness; because bourbon out of an old tin cup always tastes better out there; because maybe one day I will catch a mermaid; and, finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant - and not nearly so much fun.

-John Voelker (Robert Traver)