By a margin of two to one California voters said no to more taxes on Tuesday.  This message should be heard loud and clear.

Despite the Golden State's financial woes, the people of California do not want to bail Governor Schwarzenegger and the State Legislature out of the mess they created.  

Enough! It is time that Government cut back.  That plea has been said many times before. It is never taken seriously because the bureaucratic monster never cuts back, it is always growing.  And in sunny California, while many families have struggled with layoffs, shrinking home values and rising energy prices within the last year, local government has increased in size.

Last year, total state government increased by about five thousand jobs. At $60,000 per year, California has the highest average salary in the nation for state workers.  That figure does not include individual benefits.  Of course, we do not know how much of those positions were part time, or where the new hires started on the pay scale.  The point, which needs to be told until the politicians grasp it, no matter how blatantly obvious it is, while the average Californian was asked to cut back, state government did not.

We are tired of being asked to sacrifice in the name of the state. We must ask and demand that government cut back, like we have done.   

President Barack Obama gave the commencement speech at Arizona State University last Tuesday.  The new chief executive called upon the new graduates to  " . . .question conventional wisdom and rethink the old dogmas. A lack of regard for all the traditional markers of status and prestige - and a commitment instead to doing what is meaningful to you, what helps others, what makes a difference in this world."

The president does not believe the ASU graduates should seek personal gain in their future careers.  Why did they go to that fine instution in the first place?   I am sure if you asked those graduates: "Was your primary goal in seeking higher education at ASU helping others make a difference in the world?"  "No, dummy, it was to earn a living!"

Mr. Obama does not like it when people earn a lot of money so they can be happy in their lives.  Even though our president has earned millions with his book sales and has made a decent living for him and his family, he almost scholds the graduates for doing the same:  "Many of you have been taught to chase after the usual brass rings: being on this "who's who" list or that top 100 list; how much money you make and how big your corner office is; whether you have a fancy enough title or a nice enough car."

How about that nice title of "President of the United States?"

And, how about those nice clothes the first lady wears?

On Saturday, Michelle Obama also gave an commencement address.  Her speech was at the Univerisity of California at Merced. She echoed the socailst philosophy of her husband, quoting Marian Wright Edelman: "Service is the rent we pay for living...it is the true measure, the only measure of our success."  She went on to say: "Now, let me tell you, careers focused on lifting up our communities -- whether it's helping transform troubled schools or creating after-school programs or training workers for green jobs -- these careers are not always obvious, but today they are necessary."  

Again, go to school for someone else. That is nice, but if I am not going to make that much money, how the hell am I going to pay off my student loans?

The First Lady revealed one of the underlying tennets of the Obama administration in the following sentence: "Solutions to our nation's most challenging social problems are not going to come from Washington alone."   There is no no question that our president believes that most (if not all) of the solutions should come from Washington, and he is the messiah to deliver them.

I am hoping that most of  graduates are not going to take the first family's advice. They should pursue their dreams, that includes making as much money as they want to.  Do not be afraid of competition.  Be the best you can be.  That will help society more that 'working and living for someone else.'

To make friends and meet people among the wonderful citizens in the Republic of Korea it is customary to introduce yourself. In fact, people will not talk to you here if you do not. I want people to talk to me!

Yes, I have have escaped the clutches of the liberal loonies that have swept to power in the United States by taking the position of English Teacher in the South Korean Public School System. 

The current American political scene was not the driving reason for me to choose to venture out of the country for a year.  Number one, of course, is that I needed steady employment.  After that, it was the word 'adventure'   After years as a retail manager and then venturing into the teaching profession, and a few lost business opportunities, I was at a point in my life where I believe a change was needed. "Why not?"  I am happy I made this decision.

It did occur to me that I would be escaping Obamamania, and that made my decision much more easier.  In truth, I had been kicking around this idea for about a year, and probably would have decided to go even if John McCain won.

After one hundred days of our president trying to reshape our country into his vision of a socialist pipe dream, I have mixed emotions. For at least a year, and probably longer, happily, I am not directly subjected to the liberal wrath.  On the other hand, there are times I wish I was there to join the fight.  To be right next to you in those tea parties across the country.  Honestly, I do not know how long I will stay out of the good ole USA and teach English. When people ask me, I now answer, "at least four years."   

As a conservative, I freely profess the love of my country, and care for it deeply.  After two months, I miss it.

We conservatives are outraged about the changes in America speeding down the road in the near future. The hole in the pocket that holds out freedoms and liberties is tearing even wider, and were are losing them.  I do not believe our county has been more liberal as it is today, and our media has never been a much as a cheerleader for a government as it is today. 

 With tongue in cheek, as I write in exile from South Korea, I name my blog Escape from Obamamania.