Kevin "Flag" Robinson Doing a fractional right now

Pscychologists tell us that animals and humans will do more to avoid pain than they will to gain pleasure. In other words, even though we usually seek pleasure, we will do almost anything to stay out of pain.

Newsflash: If a person owns a medium sized, succesful business, they could easily earn over $500K per year.

Last night, the House of Representatives passed a healthcare bill that will add a premium tax of 5.4% on individual incomes over $500K.

Add it up: If the thing passes the Senate, individuals who make over $500K get to pay our government another $27,000 per year, at least.

These people already pay a huge portion of their income to the government. Some would say it is a ridiculous amount. Are they really going to pay more? I say no. Are they going to find a way to escape this new tax? I say yes.

Here are a few ways: Lower their income just enough to get under the $500K. Instead of paying the tax themselves, simply delete enough employees to save the $27K. Hire a crooked CPA and lie, lie, lie. Grab their money, and their stuff, and move out of the country.

Take a look at the results of each behavior. Think about it. They all equal bad news for the rest of us.

They will escape the pain. And I would like to submit that the numbers used to justify this healthcare fiasco will not add up. It is a sham and the lawmakers know it.

It it time. Time for all of us to act. Obviously we have enemies in our ranks and we are not going to get any help getting rid of them. We must be able to protect ourselves.

I am not suggesting that anyone do anything rash. But, if we all take a few simple steps towards protecting ourselves, we may be able to prevent more Americans from becoming a statistic.

Take a look at Frontsight.com. Simon first brought this one to my attention a few months ago, and my wife and I are planning to take a course there. They offer many courses including their most popular titled "2 Day Defensive Handgun". Frontsight courses are all taught by professionals, inlcuding many police officers. They will teach you the correct way to use a gun in a self-defense situation, and will help you apply for and qualify for your concealed weapons permit.

Join the NRA. I realize that many on the left have done everything that they can to make this group look like a bunch of nuts, but they do one basic thing real well. They fight for our right to own and carry guns. In addition, their ranks are filled with lots of Americans who would like to see this country learn to defend itself a bit better.

Finally, get a conceal and carry permit. After properly learning to handle a handgun, start carrying one. You may actually save a life with it someday.

Sometimes you have to hear someting a few times before it sinks in with you. The world is full of good ideas that no one utilized. One of the best ideas yet just occured to me. I am so slow to catch a clue sometimes that you need to keep hitting me until I get it.

My picture on AR is that of a flag. Many times I have considered changing it, like a lot of you do, to something fresher. Stick my picture on here so everyone can see what I look like. But, over the years, I have had many people tell me that they love my flag picture. So I have kept it, but something has always bothered me.

Today I finally hit upon what it was that was buggin me. There are a few on AR that hate my flag. They get all pissie about it and let me know that I am hiding behind it. They ask who I am and tell me to show myself. Call me a flag waver. The funny thing is I am not sure they realize that what I say and write is who I am. What I look like is of no importance.

As of today I am pleased to announce that if anyone wants to call me Flag, I will be Ok with it. It is representative of what I stand for. I consider the US flag to be one of the most beautiful things on this planet. I love what it stands for as do many others in this country and on this planet. I am truly a flag waver.

You can call me Flag. I will me more than honored and a bit humbled.

PS- I even changed my name in my profile to reflect the new name!

I have written about this very same theme before. It has resurfaced in my own business life lately. I guess this is my way of blowing off some steam. The whole thing is a sad commentary on how certain individuals conduct themselves.

We have all had it happen to us. Somebody tells us something that we later find out is not true. The person represents themselves as trained in this or certified on this, or an expert in that. We take them at face value. That is how we as humans are. We believe people. Trust, I think it is called. We trust people. Until they give us a reason not to.

The number one way to break someones trust is to tell them a lie. To psychologists, there are many different reasons that people tell lies, but to the person who believes them, it all comes down to the same thing. Dishonesty.

Once we know that someone is telling us a lie, the next thing we do, is to suspect everyting that they do and say. Even though they may have only told one little lie, we start wondering what else they are fibbing about. Was it just one lie, or is everything that comes our of their mouth made up? We just do not know.

If we question the person, they will get defensive. Instead of sinply admitting to the lie, they will usually make up more, in order to cover for the first. Thus the old phrase, "Oh what a wicked web we weave, when we practice to decieve". Some of us know people who have woven quite a web.

As we question more of their actions and statements, they (the liar) gets defensive and may attack the questioner, as if it is they who are doing something wrong. How dare you question my integrity" is the attitude they may use on you. The problem for them still remains though. They are a liar and more and more people realize it everyday.

In business, we represent ourselves to be who we say we are. We also represent our customers. Any little room for doubt is a bad mark on our possible business acumen. I used to be licensed as a contractor as well as a real estate agent. When I was licensed, if I told someone so, it had better be so, otherwise I would be in legal trouble. Both state boards that issued my license would make sure of that. Now, I act as a consultant, and I inform my clients of that. I am no longer licensed, but I still must tell the truth. Common decency demands that I do. Social decorum needs me to. My family, friends, and business associates, just plain expect me to. And that may be why we as humans get so damned offended when someone lies to us.

Lake Tahoe is absolutely beautiful. It is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. For anyone who has been there, the feeling of majesty is simply overwhelming. It is also one of the most fun places in the world. World class ski resorts, alpine hiking, towering peaks, 5 star resorts, glitzy casinos, and a huge lake in which to play. Sounds great eh?

Right now I am converting what will probably be my last fractional owership home in the Lake Tahoe area. Don't get me wrong. I will sell every last share in this thing, but I have had it. I won't even have to try to sell the shares, because of the location, the price, and the absolute beauty. It will be an easy sale. But, not as easy as a few years ago.

The problem is that this house is in California. Years ago, that would have been the sole reason to buy the place. California was the Golden State. Everone wanted to move or go there. when on vacation in another state or land, just mention that you are from CA, and watch them fall in love with you. Not anymore.

I get calls from potential share buyers of my home. "Oh, its on the California side", "Will you be doing one in Nevada sometime soon, we are not interested in that state", "California, no thanks", etc. You can see how it goes. Like I said before, I will sell the entire home, but it will take a bit more work this time.

California has become unaffordable. Tax and spend. A fee for everything. Everything in life is regulated and taxed. "Sir before you can do that, you must fill this form out in triplicate and then pay a $35 filing fee". Government abounds. The entire state has been run into the ground by liberals. Well meaning liberals, but libs just the same. They want to control you and tax you. Basic Lib 101.

Over the last few years I have read where more people have actually left the state than have entered it. In our grandparents day that would have been surprising. Everyone wanted to live there. Now the only folks who want to live there, are illegals from Mexico, and even they end up moving on to other states, once they see how bad it is.

If we as Americans continue down the same road that California has over the last few decades, we will all want to leave our once great country.