It's Putting Indexes and Nonpaper into Perspective for the Ages Thing

Dear America,

sinking to the lowest common denominator is not my idea of a good time.

but here we are,
sinking.

and rapidly.

When Barack Hussein Obama became president of these fine United States, we ranked sixth in this index -- today, down six, and coming in at #12.   Now granted, it would be of my belief that America dominates numero uno, year in and year out, without even thinking about it, with both hands tied behind it's back [stealing the popular phrase from the EIB Network, the place where Excellence in Broadcasting never disappoints...].

Which reminds me --
continuing on a theme from yesterday (yes, the same yesterday tragically cut short by an opportunity knocking at my door) --  we were last discussing our God given talents and our freedom to make something wonderful with whatever that may be, there isn't a day that goes by without el Rushbo reminding his listeners of how lucky he is to be doing what he was born to do. 


Amen to that, Rush.  Amen.

The thing is, he affirms his blessings while he affirms his raw, rogue, educated, knowledgeable, seasoned, wit and wisdom of America's fundamentals, both past and present, and painstakingly alongside all of her highs and lows.

He affirms his worth!  He doubles down on his value, to his listeners and beyond, every single day without hesitation, without feeling uncomfortable, and more important, while striking the perfect balance of humility and grace in between breaths.  No matter what your political ideology, it is brilliance in broadcasting and citizenship rolled into one.

And don't balk now, but his operations seem stronger than ever.

How can that be at a time when liberal think tanks and media corner the market -- manufacturing propaganda, spewing left wing ideology, and promoting the countless reprehensible and regressive regulations being pumped out of this administration as all the rage?   Marginalizing America's worth, taking her down a notch (or six) world wide, is settling the score.  And -- don't even think about it --  calling ourselves "exceptional" in any way, shape or form, that is totally out of the equation.

So, how can that be?  It BE because we are craving something he is dishing out on a daily basis, rain or shine.

But let's get back to "the index."

The United States and the United Kingdom have both fallen in decline, and dramatically.

Oh, what index, what list, pray tell?

Oh it's just some little thing called the 2014 Index of Economic Freedom.

These days, Free Enterprise doesn't seem to be raging like it used to be here at the birthplace of The Declaration of Independence and hence immediately, and unapologetically, monopolizing on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness as if our lives depended on it.

Here's some quick perspective for you --
ESTONIA ranks higher than the U.S.!


Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Chile, Mauritius, Ireland, Denmark, Estonia all come before America.


If this is not a wake up call at the start of 2014, not sure what else is, hello?

Oops.
Correction.  
Spoke too soon.
Must sound the alarm for that little "nonpaper" agreement made with Iran.

Yeah, like what the world needs now is exactly this: some kind of secret agreement made with crazy people who revel in generating nuclear weapons in the dark of night and are not afraid to use them.

And our president has Iran's full support:

"My preference is for peace and diplomacy, and this is one of the reasons why I've sent the message to Congress that now is not the time for us to impose new sanctions; now is the time for us to allow the diplomats and technical experts to do their work,” Obama said. "What we want to do is give diplomacy a chance and give peace a chance."

How about we return to giving economic freedom a try, huh, Mr. President?
But thank you, LA TIMES, for bringing this breaking world news that makes me want to pull my hair and poke my eyes without ceasing!

Ah, but be not afraid my little friends, for as the press points out -- NO NEW RESEARCH can be done, no NEW reactors can be built.   The "nonpaper" affirms only what is already in the pipeline to keep on keepin' on.   Let's give peace a chance, shall we?   [And, if you could see me now,  something called the G reactor-index  is justifiably choking on the second best news on the day.]


But about that Economic Freedom Index above, there might be some comfort recognizing that Iran falls in @173.

And the countries not even ranked:

Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, Lichtenstein, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria. [hmmm, wonder what they have in common...pirates, terrorists, and free radicals, oh my]

And with that I will abruptly close in a plume of nuclear dimensions.

Make it a Good Day, G