THE AFTERMATH - Chapter One

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. “

George Washington

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It does not seem to matter that the progressive agenda was rejected by the American people last Tuesday. They are doubling down and will try to ram more of their transformational legislation thru in a lame duck Congress. They have also announced that they will print $600 Billion more dollars, ostensibly in an attempt to jump start the economy. Haven’t we seen this movie before? What the heck was the stimulus supposedly about? Should we brace ourselves for higher inflation? There is more evidence every day that we are still in dire trouble and need to stay informed, active and engaged as never before.

Where to start this post? Well first off let us look at what the election results really mean. Our dear leader and his cronies are either 1) misreading the election results, 2) are stubborn and/or dense, or 3) just do not care about the wishes of the majority of Americans. I vote for the last choice

dailycaller.com/2010/11/03/obama-admits-he-got-a-shellacking-but-shows-no-sign-of-budging-on-core-agenda/

www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Obama-election-address-FoxNews/2010/11/03/id/375965

www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/11/03/its_time_for_washington_to_listen_up_107827.html

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/03/AR2010110303844.html

www.nypost.com/p/news/national/power_to_the_people_ZFhBUmh922iIp9Crxln8cO

Next here is some news about higher education that broke recently. If you doubt that our education system has been hijacked by our domestic enemies, is being used to destroy the foundations of the republic and indoctrinating our youth consider this; a 2009 poll found that 30% of respondents thought socialism was a better system than free-market capitalism. First up are two versions of a nifty story about a professor named Blake ratting out fellow historians because of their leftist bias and revisionist tendencies at a recent taxpayer funded conference. In these articles, there is $161 million of government waste identified the Republicans should cut in the first 30 days after the 112th Congress is sworn in. By the way, one of the conference’s organizers of this conference also said that revising WWII history “will be more easily accomplished once the WWII generation has passed away”. I really get tired of progressive's rewriting our history and indoctrinating our kids, don’t you?

www.theblaze.com/stories/professor-exposes-federally-funded-revisionist-history-conference/

www.americanthinker.com/2010/11/ripping_the_usa_revising_histo.html

Next is a video that demonstrates some of the “group think” that is passed off as an education in some of our Ivy League institutions. The clip also clearly illustrates two things about progressives; first off how they have been brainwashed and secondly their dishonesty. To the first point Mathews says starting at the 0:55 point in the clip that Obama should have explained to the American people why he spent a lot of money on stimulus because most Americans weren’t taught economics the way he was taught it. Quote “we were all taught in graduate school you have to run big deficits during a grand recession, how about explaining that, everybody didn’t go to grad school.” Keynesian Economics has never been proven to be successful, but the left just keeps pushing it as a solution to our problems. Then Mathews demonstrates the left’s dishonesty by saying (at the 1:26 mark) “he never sold it as an economic tool a catalyst to greater growth down the road. Maybe it isn’t but he ought to sell it that way at least”. During the clip he also says that now we can base our lives around guaranteed healthcare. Isn’t that wonderful? It is no wonder that MSNBC’s ratings continue to slip…

www.theblaze.com/stories/election-reality-check-chris-matthews-criticizes-elitist-obama/

Speaking of monetary policy, the good news is Ron Paul will probably chair the House Sub-Committee that oversees it. His “Audit the Fed” bill failed in the 111th Congress. Hopefully it will be enacted in the 112th. Actually, we need to repeal the Federal Reserve and put our economy back on a precious metal standard so the political class can no longer use inflation as an attempted method to pay of our national debt… sounds like a plan to me!

www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A35QB20101104

Last post I discussed George Soros. More good news from this election is he wasted a lot of money. But then he can afford it. His Secretary of State’s program was not as successful as he hoped and now Republicans will occupy 26 of these offices versus the Democrats 22. His pot legalization proposal also failed in California. The bad news is this guy is still a big winner when it comes to our looney monetary policy.

www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/you-know-who-was-a-big-loser-in-this-election-george-soros-106640398.html

This article below was actually released before the election, on Halloween to be exact. But it deals with one of the main issues of the campaigns that the majority of Americans cared about, the Republicans promised to repeal and the Democrats ran away from: Obama Care. Do you know that a convicted bank robber wrote the basis for that legislation while serving prison time? If you get your information from what passes for main stream news in this country, you probably never heard about this…

www.americanthinker.com/2010/10/why_doesnt_everyone_know_jan_s.html

And while we are on the subject of Obama Care, this piece is sooooo sweet! AARP sticks it to its own employees with an 8 to 13% premium increase on their health insurance, plus higher co-pays. Ooops! And I would not be surprised to learn that most of their employees voted for Obama and supported his reform plan. Of course there is the typically progressive spin put on this news: "AARP officials said medical inflation is the main reason employee costs will be going up. The health care law is "a small part," said David Certner, legislative affairs director." Sure. How’s that hope and change working out for you?

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101104/ap_on_bi_ge/us_aarp_health_plan_2

Obama Care also poses a real danger to our privacy and therefore a danger to our liberty, in addition to our health. Concerns have surfaced over plans by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to build a new database of the medial claims information of millions of American citizens. The OPM has provided few details about the new database and because the data collected will be shared with law enforcement, third-party researchers and others privacy advocates are worried about abuse. We all should be. And a related story is also posted below about more intrusion, this time requiring social security numbers for all of your dependents. Who wants this information? While HHS of course! Please repeat after me: REPEAL, REPEAL, and REPEAL!!

www.computerworld.com/s/article/9194723/Privacy_advocates_fear_massive_fed_health_database_?taxonomyId=152

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/11/what_does_the_department_of_he.html

Now that the Republicans will be in charge of the House and have the power of the purse and the subpoena, will they be able to bring this renegade Administration and his progressive Democrat minions to heel? Will the Republicans investigate important subjects like what do the Obama Czars actually do, how much and from where do they paid and have any laws been broken that someone needs to answer for? Where did all of the Stimulus money really go? The list is endless with this Administration. I hope so and like the initial tone set by Daryl Issa.

dailycaller.com/2010/11/03/issa-my-job-is-to-make-the-president-a-success/

www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44709.html

On an election rated topic, here are two articles for you. One, is their voter fraud going on in Connecticut? And the second article is about the progressive moves to have non-citizens vote. At first they are targeting local elections but you know what is next on this agenda. This activity coincides very nicely with their plans to destroy the Electoral College as well as to get “comprehensive immigration reform”, aka amnesty for illegal aliens. Like I said, the progressives are doubling down and tireless in their work to “undo” America.

www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/elections/2010/races/race-2/Bag-of-Uncounted-Ballots-Found-in-Bridgeport-106727208.html

www.americanthinker.com/2010/10/the_demise_of_one_man_one_vote.html

There is some hope that if a lame-duck session is held, the progressives will not be able to accomplish much. If I were a Democrat that was thrown under the bus by the current Troika, I certainly would try to thwart their plans. Especially if I was a fiscally conservative Blue Dog, a now endangered species of career politician. I hope this is the way it works out and the democrats just leave town peacefully.

www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/10/will_blue_dog_anger_thwart_lam.html

Here is an interesting op-ed about stopping the conflict of interest that is public sector union members making political donations. I think this is another necessary step in fixing America. But we should go even further and just simply make the public sector unions extinct. After all it was a Presidential Executive Order published by JFK that allowed this to happen. Even FDR opposed allowing federal employees to unionize.

www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Stop-campaign-funds-from-public-sector-unions-1457421-106721093.html

As governments grow, they invariably become more oppressive. This is a fact that has been historically proven time after time. We already owe San Francisco a debt of ingratitude for 4 years of the Pelosi House, thru which she helped to increase the size, power and scope of the Federal Government. Now we may be in for a nationwide sweep from the Fat Police that has been introduced into her home city. After all, California is supposedly the start of all fads… not that I could not afford to lose a few pounds, but being compelled by government to do so?

www.americanthinker.com/2010/11/get_ready_for_the_fat_police.html

I will leave you with this: an analysis of election night coverage which points to Fox News as the most fair and balanced. That is no surprise.

dailycaller.com/2010/11/04/thedc-analysis-unlike-msnbcs-foxs-election-night-coverage-was-fair-and-balanced-and-watchable/

Any reasonable America should be outraged about the progressive ideology using the government as a club to mold our behavior to the way they think it should be. With political correctness they stifle free speech and opposing views. They want to tell us what we can eat, how much exercise to do and what to think. They want us to reduce our standard of living to “save the planet”. They do not think our freedoms are worth fighting for and are soft on national security. Tuesday’s election was the first step in the process of telling them to stuff it! Please stay engaged. Let your elected Congress Critters know what you think. Offer them you guidance and direction. Otherwise, they will revert to business as usual.

TIME FOR REAL HOPE & CHANGE?

In just a 10 days we face the most important election of out lifetimes, maybe in the history of the Republic. No matter what happens on that day, those of us who want to restore America will have to face the fact that we can no longer remain on the sidelines in the struggle for liberty. A lot of damage to our traditions and institutions have been done by the progressives since the days of Teddy Roosevelt. It will take many years to undo. We, and more importantly our children, have been under assault by the left who have gladly indoctrinated us to accept less freedom and more government control of our lives. Maybe most of us are awake now and will stand up and say "no more". Here is some of the news & opinion over the past few weeks:

* Labor Unions may be this country's undoing. No surprise there. Will there be more economic chaos caused by a new accounting standard?

Armageddon: What Democrats Are Hiding & Why They Are Really Scared
http://www.redstate.com/laborunionreport/2010/10/19/armageddon-what-democrats-are-hiding-why-they-are-really-scared/

* Walter E Williams is one of the people that I admire for clear-headed explanations of economics. He also tackles other issues. Here is a piece reminding us that the left uses confusion and deception to perpetrate it's plans which are not always compatible with the American way of life.

Leftists, Progressives and Socialists
www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39497

* If they gain enough power in Congress, will the Republicans do what the majority of the people in America want them to do? That is, those that are the PRODUCERS of wealth in our society? One of our agenda items is to repeal the hideous Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? Well, probably not unless we the people hold them accountable. The name of that legislation is a joke...

Sen. Bob Corker Denies Obamacare Reports
www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39500&page=1#c1

* I don't know about you but I am really tired of the hypocrisy of the left. Obama, fellow democrats and their media allies are attacking the Chamber of Commerce over alleged foreign campaign contributions to Republicans with absolutely no evidence. Oh my! Our "democracy" is being stolen by shady outside forces! The evil empire strikes back! But notice when it is an outside source that the left likes they do not talk about it in the same terms. Obama received millions in 2008 and we do not know where it came from. Other countries involved? Who knows but I bet it is likely. Then there is George Soros. More on that below. Now, don't get me wrong as the COC has often taken positions on the issues that I do not agree with, for example they are not calling for the ObamaCare's repeal. Rather they want to "Continue to work on favorable implementation of the health care law—the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)—and ameliorate regulations to provide flexibility and best serve business needs." But all in all they are the voice of smaller businesses. Now back to Georgie boy. Soros has a history of trying to influence our elections. While he is a naturalized U.S. citizen (since 1961), his goals to have a one world government are very questionable and dangerous to our Republic.

Soros Donates $1 Million to Media Matters
thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/soros-donates-1-million-to-media-matters/

* I just mentioned that Soros is dangerous to our Republic. One example of his negative influence is his financial support of leftist organizations. These organizations in turn work behind the scenes to "transform" America into something other than a free society. Remember, Georgie boy was one of the people behind the McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Bill. This bill actually violated our Constitution and I was aghast when "W" signed it. But of course history has shown that Bush the younger was a progressive in many ways. Some of the provisions of this freedom stifling legislation have been struck down by the courts which is the good news. The bad news is that Soros's, along with people like Progressive Insurance's Peter Lewis, influence is damaging our country. Here is an example where one of the cast of characters is Russ Feingold, the very same whose name appears above. Hopefully Feingold will be taken out on "trash day".

The Senator From Soros
spectator.org/archives/2010/10/19/the-senator-from-soros

* Will the left steal November's election? They have a history of trying to do so and more importantly are getting good at it. Just this week we saw a lawsuit filed in court in Cincinnati about public schools allegedly busing students to vote while showing them only the democrat ballot. Then there is ACORN, or whatever they call themselves these days. And remember Minnesota in 2008? The George Soros sponsored Secretary of States Program, which he started after the close election of "W" and Al Gore, was responsible for putting Al Franken in the Senate. Count the votes enough times using malleable rules with leftists supervising the process and you can get the results you desire. I hope that we all have noticed that in the bluest of the blue states, New York and Illinois to name two of them, it appears that there is a well orchestrated effort to disenfranchise the votes of overseas military personnel. And I thought it was the "radical right wing conspiracy" that did that kind of horrible thing? Along these lines here is more food for thought:

The Democrats Will Steal the Election if We Let Them
www.americanthinker.com/2010/10/the_democrats_will_steal_the_e.html

* And now for some great news about how your hard-earned tax dollars have been used via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. We can be sure that spending close to a trillion dollars, which we do not have, saved the economy from another great depression. If you believe that nonsense, no comment...

A Federal Stimulus Dirty Dozen
www.newsmax.com/Slideshows/A-Federal-Stimulus-Dirty-Dozen/106918/Fat,-Drunk,-and-Stupid%E2%80%A6/5

* Here are ten reasons why we need to defeat democrat candidates and elect Republicans this time around. Of course, the heavy lifting will have to be done after the election to make sure that the Republicans know that we will not stand for "business as usual".

Arthur Brooks: Top 10 ways government kills jobs in America
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/OpEd-Contributor/Arthur-Brooks-Top-10-ways-government-kills-jobs-in-America-105302968.html

* Here are some other interesting pieces for you to review including: 1) several comparisons of the two philosophies that are in competition for the soul of America, 2) possible crimes related to using tax dollars to promote health care, 3) how our lack of controls at the southern boarder may be leading up to another terrorist attack, 4) controlling you with the food you eat and 5) how to quickly balance the federal budget:

Allen West: Midterms 'Tipping Point' Election to Stop Socialism
www.newsmax.com/Headline/allen-west-house-ron/2010/10/19/id/374219

The Texas Model
www.nationalreview.com/articles/249868/texas-model-rich-lowry

Taxi? $800,000!
stossel.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2010/10/15/taxi-800000/

Zero Tolerance = Zero Common Sense
www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39438

Ads touting health care reform may break the law
www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/10/ads_touting_health_care_reform.html

Two Videos About How Terrorists May Be Crossing the Mexican Border
www.wsbtv.com/video/23438021/index.html

www.wsbtv.com/video/23438712/index.html

Obama's bribe-a-thon
www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/10/obamas_bribeathon.html

Year after year, our culture of dependence grows
blogs.ajc.com/kyle-wingfield/2010/10/21/year-after-year-our-culture-of-dependence-grows/?cxntfid=blogs_kyle_wingfield

In throes of recession, D.C. stands apart
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/oct/17/in-throes-of-recession-capital-stands-apart/

FoodPolitik: Controlling Your Food, the Trojan Horse of ‘public health’
dailycaller.com/2010/10/17/foodpolitik-controlling-your-food-the-trojan-horse-of-public-health/

Yes, Folks, We All Would Legislate Morality (Psst, Even You Libertarians)
www.americanthinker.com/2010/10/yes_folks_we_all_would_legisla.html

Here’s How to Balance the Budget
www.cato-at-liberty.org/heres-how-to-balance-the-budget/

FALL 2010 – LOOKING FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 2ND

This post will be quick, simply some news items from the last few weeks. No theme, just information.

Is this piece from the Associated Press a sneak peek into one possible future for America? Just substitute “Obama” for “Chavez” and yes, I think it is if the democrat party maintains control of Congress in 2011. In Venezuela they have tried Socialism for a decade. It does not look like a system that works for the many as it is advertised. Capitalism and free markets are the solution.

townhall.com/news/world/2010/09/25/chavez_fights_to_keep_control_in_legislative_vote/page/full/

By now we know the full story of why the housing bubble burst. At least you should if you have conducted your own research and gotten past the democrat and parroted media line of “it was Bush’s fault!” Yes, the Bush Administration and the republicans shoulder some of the blame. But simply put, the collapse was really the result of the progressive ideology run wild; to bring “affordable housing” to those people most unable to afford to own a home. This piece from The American lays out the background and an argument with the left’s Paul Krugman, who is supposedly an economist…

american.com/archive/2010/september/many-are-the-errors

Here is an op-ed that may relate to the Chavez story. Moral: it’s not the President or the governments purpose to “create jobs”.

www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-20/mr-president-here-s-my-resume-where-s-my-job-caroline-baum.html

I really hope that the next op-ed turns out to be true.

www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/09/21/democrats_chose_wrong_moment_for_big_government_107242.html

Interesting videos for you this week. 1) Michael Moore and Bill Marr continue to act like the fools they are. This is what, a comedy or a news show? A frightening aspect of this video is to hear the applause after some of Moore’s comments, assuming it is not canned. 2) Remember, all of the anger, insensitivity and violence is on the Right, not the peace loving left? We know that is a lie and this video is just the latest evidence. 3) One of Obama’s Zombies at a recent meeting with Dear Leader. Obama cannot even fill a hall with his fans any longer; they are all “too exhausted”. Of course the answer to her question, “it this my new reality?” is yes, if the democrats maintain power. 4) A revealing video of Howard Dean outlining how to use the “pivot” to change the subject and stay away from truth when speaking. Don’t answer questions, just change the subject and propagandize. Yea, that’s the answer to our country’s problems…

www.thefoxnation.com/michael-moore/2010/09/20/watch-moore-makes-light-911-deaths

www.thefoxnation.com/breibart/2010/09/20/watch-leftist-mob-slurs-spits-breitbart

www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/09/20/cnbc_town_hall_questioner_to_obama_im_exhausted_of_defending_you.html

www.thefoxnation.com/howard-dean/2010/09/20/dean-reveals-how-democrats-evade-tough-questions

And I offer this to you for what it is worth:

www.upi.com/News_Photos/gallery/Obama-as-seen-in-China/3799/

They call themselves “non-partisan” but I doubt it. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research the recession actually ended June 2009. Tell that to the millions of those citizens who are either underemployed or unemployed. The unemployment rate is estimated to be 18%, if people that gave up looking are included in the tally. The democrat machine continues to wreak havoc on private sector job growth and looks to continue this trend into the near future.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39269753/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/?GT1=43001

On a more positive note I provide this New York Post column. After Thursday, the republicans are no longer just the “party of no”. If you have not seen it, check out the Pledge to America. Not a perfect document by a long shot, but a decent starting point. And if the democrats say it is not specific enough, a reminder of what the deranged Nancy Pelosi said concerning ObamaCare (and I paraphrase), “We will have to pass the bill to find out what is in it”, or some such nonsense.

www.nypost.com/p/news/local/welcome_right_turn_NQeAIQfzbHJg6WZOhBtOdP

While “climategate” and other recent revelations of leftist bias revealed the hypocrisy and political agenda behind climate change dogma, some ask if it is possible to study the subject in an objective manner.

www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2010/09/20/rescuing_climate_science_from_agenda-driven_politics_98675.html

This last article is a long piece, but I highly recommend it if you wish to gain a better historical understanding of how and why the Constitution has been successfully watered down and ignored by the progressives.

www.nationalreview.com/articles/246543/comes-horseman-timothy-sandefur

Well, that’s all for now; signing off for this post. Take care.

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER ELEVEN AND LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE FUTURE

Nine years ago today an event happened that changed history. The United States was brutally attacked by radical Islamic fanatics that killed thousands of our citizens. Let us remember them in our hearts and prayers.

Today there is still a big hole in the earth where the twin towers stood. Why haven’t they been rebuilt to demonstrate the strength and resiliency of the America Republic? I don’t know the answer to that question. Today instead there is controversy over the building of an new Islamic “worship center” near the ground zero site.

Despite fighting two wars against radical Islamists, this "religion of peace" has grown in numbers, stature and influence here in America and globally. The stated goal of many Muslims is to advance Islam and its laws to the point of world domination. Islam is already the largest religion in the world. But is it as peaceful and benign as many would have us believe? Can there be “moderate” Muslims?

As we remember the 9/11 event, we need to also look forward. What is America’s relationship with Islam? Are the two, Islam’s goals and America’s dream of liberty, even compatible?

There are many sects of Islam, some more fundamentalist than others. Here is a definition of Islam: n Arabic, Islām means "submission" and is described as a Dīn, meaning "way of life" and/or "religion." Muslims in Islamic societies have traditionally viewed Islamic law as essential to their religious outlook. In contrast America was originally set up as a Constitutional Republic. (A government that is of the people, and limited by a constitution). Islam is concerned with an individual’s submission to the state, while America‘s foundations are geared towards an individual’s freedom from the state.

Sharia is the name for traditional Islamic law. Sharia covers not only religious rituals, but many aspects of day-to-day life. Sharia dictates includes what one can eat with under “dietary laws”. When eating meat for example, sharia dictates that Muslims may only eat from meat that has been slaughtered in the name of God, and meets stringent dietary requirements.

Islam does not prohibit women from working, but emphasizes the importance of caring for house and family for both parents. In addition, women are generally not allowed to be clergy or religious scholars. Many interpretations of Islamic law hold that women may not have prominent jobs, and thus are forbidden from working in the government. This has been a mainstream view in many Muslim nations in the last century. A Muslim may not marry or remain married to an unbeliever of either sex.

The Qur'an also places a dress code upon its followers. For women, it emphasizes modesty. In practice, men dictate what women are allowed to wear in many culturally Islamic countries. Infringement of these rules in some "Muslim" nations may result in beatings.

According to most interpretations, authorization for the husband to physically beat disobedient wives is given in the Qur'an.

Sharia law in its most vigorous interpretations does not allow freedom of speech on such matters as criticism of the prophet Muhammad.

The banking system in Muslim countries is also based on principles of Islamic law and guided by Islamic economics. Two basic principles behind Islamic banking are the sharing of profit and loss and, significantly, the prohibition of the collection and payment of interest. Collecting interest is not permitted under Islamic law.

IN CONCLUSION:

A quick review suggests that Islam may not be compatible with our traditional American values. Rather, from many perspectives Islam appears to be diametrically opposed to the American way of life. Ironically, “liberals” in this country no longer believe in individual liberty but prefer the state to control and manage your life. However, “liberals” in some Islamic nations seek to moderate the excesses of Sharia law to benefit of their citizens.

We need to be aware of the creeping implementation of Sharia law in this country that will eventually supplant our traditional laws if we allow it to. In some states, Michigan and Minnesota to name two examples, Sharia law is already supplanting our traditional jurisprudence. Please notice that these are two of the most left leaning states in the country. Is this a coincidence?

The objective of the radical Islamists jihad is not merely the conversion of individuals to Islam, but rather the gaining of political control over the collective affairs of societies to run them in accordance with the principles of Islam. One good way to gain political control is to take over the judiciary and infiltrate other institutions of the country as well. This is happening to us right now.

I certainly do not want a United States of Islam to be the future for my grandchildren. The current ruling class is supportive of Islam to the point of it being dangerous to America. November’s mid-terms represent the start of a new revolution. Hopefully it will be a truly an American one that begins to roll back those forces that threaten to overwhelm our country.

www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Obamagroundzeromosque/2010/09/10/id/369868

www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38809

abcnews.go.com/US/ground-mosque-imam-project-ahead-interest-national-security/story?id=11589316

www.associatedcontent.com/article/285123/christians_in_gaza_fear_for_their_lives.html?cat=9

www.news8austin.com/content/fort_hood_shooting/through_their_eyes/258434/fort-hood-soldier-injured-in-mass-shootings-tells-his-story

www.newsmax.com/Headline/911anniversaryal-qaidafbi/2010/09/10/id/369917

www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Co-Worker-Calls-Alleged-Shooter-Very-Spiritual-102624529.html

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100911/ap_on_re_us/sept11_anniversary;_ylt=Anjr066trvbXl0DI3vjdIRSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNpcDRvZjFtBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwOTExL3NlcHQxMV9hbm5pdmVyc2FyeQRjY29kZQNtb3N0cG9wdWxhcgRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzIEcHQDaG9tZV9jb2tlBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA2lzbGFtY29udHJvdg--

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article3653800.ece

LABOR DAY

As we celebrate the 2010 Labor Day Holiday here are some thoughts on the subject of labor.

SOME HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The Labor Day Holiday was a creation of the labor movement. The true founder of this holiday has never been identified. Some historians credit Peter J McGuire (co-founder of the AFL) and others give the nod to Mathew Maguire, a secretary of the Central Labor Union. Whomever founded the holiday, the first actual Labor Day Parade occurred when an estimated 10,000 employees took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City on September 5, 1882, creating a “workingman’s holiday". Twelve years after that first parade, Congress passed legislation making Labor Day a legal holiday.

To hear the left tell the tale, the need for Labor Unions during the latter 19th and early 20th century was based on and justified by poor working conditions. Wages were low, hours were long, job conditions in many cases dangerous and there were neither benefits nor protection for an employee that was injured on the job. If you were hurt on the job you may very well be ruined financially. Young children worked in “sweat shops” and performed unsafe tasks. Riots over working conditions and wages were not uncommon.

But is this true? An alternate view is: “This oft-heard tale is, however, almost entirely false, and those parts of it that are true (the low standard of living that people enjoyed in the nineteenth century, for example) are true for reasons other than those alleged by pro-union historians, who see in them only confirmation of their prejudices against the market economy” (1)

“In order to fulfill their stated purpose of increasing the wages of their members, labor unions must restrict an employer's access to alternative sources of labor. That is to say, nonunion workers who wish to seek employment on the terms offered by an employer whose firm is unionized must be prevented from doing so. Harvard University's Edward Chamberlin once described the unique legal status that labor unions had been granted:

If A is bargaining with B over the sale of his house, and if A were given the privileges of a modern labor union, he would be able (1) to conspire with all other owners of houses not to make any alternative offer to B, using violence or the threat of violence if necessary to prevent them, (2) to deprive B himself of access to any alternative offers, (3) to surround the house of B and cut off all deliveries, including food (except by parcel post), (4) to stop all movement from B's house, so that if he were for instance a doctor he could not sell his services and make a living, and (5) to institute a boycott of B's business. All of these privileges, if he were capable of carrying them out, would no doubt strengthen A's position. But they would not be regarded by anyone as part of "bargaining" – unless A were a labor union.” (1)

What some historians consider the first modern union in this country, The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was founded in 1886 by English immigrant Samuel Gompers. This was four years after the first Labor Day parade and the same year as the infamous Haymarket Riot which left several people dead. Gompers’s father had been a cigar maker in the old country and young Samuel became “enamored of union organization, seeing it as a locus of social interaction and security. Indeed, even before he left for America, Samuel Gompers treated the union as a creed or a religion” (2).

Government intervention into the labor market over the past century has evolved today’s minimum wage laws, protections against age discrimination, and worker’s compensation laws at the state level as well as OSHA at the federal level, to compensate for injuries and prevent accidents when possible. We can thank the Labor Movement and Progressives for some of these changes, at least in part. Not all of these changes are completely beneficial or work as intended. But a larger reason for the improvement in working environments was capitalism itself. By creating more wealth than the world has ever seen, this nation increased the amount of leisure time that was available to the average American. That time was the seasoning that allowed us to become more interested about the human condition. This would not have been possible without relatively free markets.

WHO BELONGS TO A UNION TODAY?
In the modern world, how have unions changed and exactly what function do they serve today? For one thing, today’s unions are politically active and are further entrenched in the public sector. This latter condition is most likely due to the problem unions have convincing the vast majority of Americans that they need a union to protect them. But unions have become victims of their own success. They are largely unnecessary now due to government intervention.

Many unions today are associated with the socialist movement both here and around the world. It was not always so. Samuel Gompers “came to reject the radical ideologies of the socialists. On one occasion he grew so agitated by a socialist diatribe that he grabbed the speaker by the throat with the intent to kill him only to be dragged off by other patrons” (3).

How many union members are there are? Here are some 2009 statistics from the Bureau of Labor’s Annual Report on Union Membership Summary:

- Union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of a union--was 12.3 percent, essentially unchanged from 12.4 percent a year earlier.

- More public sector employees (7.9 million) belonged to a union than did private sector employees (7.4 million), despite there being 5 times more wage and salary workers in the private sector. The union membership rate for public sector workers (37.4 percent) was substantially higher than the rate for private industry workers (7.2 percent).

- Within the public sector, local government workers had the highest union membership rate, 43.3 percent. This group includes workers in heavily unionized occupations, such as teachers, police officers, and fire fighters. Workers in education, training, and library occupations had the highest unionization rate at 38.1 percent.

- Black workers were more likely to be union members than were white, Asian, or Hispanic workers.

- Among states, New York had the highest union membership rate (25.2 percent) and North Carolina had the lowest rate (3.1 percent).

According to a NY Times article dated January 10, 2010 the report referenced above “found that membership fell so fast in the private sector in 2009 that the 7.9 million unionized public-sector workers easily outnumbered those in the private sector, where labor’s ranks shrank to 7.4 million, from 8.2 million in 2008”. And the next paragraph said this: “There has been steady growth among union members in the public sector, but I’m a little bit shocked to see that the lines have actually crossed,” said Randel K. Johnson, senior vice president for labor at the United States Chamber of Commerce.

www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm

www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/business/23labor.html?_r=1&ref=bureau_of_labor_statistics

Since the 2009 Presidential inauguration there has been an explosion in the number of federal employees. According to Senator Orin Hatch, in 2008, there were 1.2 million civilian workers. In 2010, that number jumped to 1.43 million federal workers. FDR can be credited with the belief that it was folly to allow federal employees to unionize. Three decades later, John F. Kennedy signed the Executive Order that allowed them to do so. Given the deep recession and its affect on private payrolls, this increase of 230,000 public sector employees is instructive about this administration’s plans for the country. Senator Hatch recently introduced legislation to reduce the federal workforce. While not all public sector employees are unionized, there are more union employees in the public sector than private. Also, of all types of government employees, teachers lead the way as the most highly unionized workforce in America.

hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=4415a1f0-1b78-be3e-e0fa-fbe5e6b03e71&Month=8&Year=2010

UNION EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AND CORRUPTION:
Consider a comparison of private versus public sector compensation. Today a job with the county, state or federal government can be more lucrative than a private sector job when all wages, health insurance benefits and pensions are considered. Due to union work rules and civil service protections, government jobs are more secure as long as government is growing. Of course the Left claims this is not the case if “educational and other qualifications” are taken into account. However, a recent Cato Institute study of state and local employee’s compensation shows that on average, government employees make more on a total compensation basis than their private sector counterparts. There is no reason to believe this is any different at the federal level. Individual accountability and levels of performance are not as important in the public sector; it is very difficult to terminate a poorly performing government employee. Take teacher tenure as an example. We have all heard the stories of the New York City “Rubber Rooms” where some teachers that could not be fired for cause are still collecting their pay and benefits without any work in return. And this can go on for years. As the old saying “it’s good enough for government work”.

www.cato.org/pubs/tbb/tbb-59.pdf

www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2009-04-09-compensation_N.htm

Think about the relationship of unions to government. Does having employees, whose wages and benefits are paid by taxpayers, negotiating with other government employees, who are also paid and benefited by taxes, make sense? In a normal private sector union negotiation, on one side of the table is the union and the other side is management. There are natural checks and balances in these negotiations. If the union wages, benefits and work rules are too excessive as a result of collective bargaining, the operations of the company may be negatively impacted. This in turn can cause the company to downsize and eliminate jobs or even cease to exist as an employer. Do you remember Eastern Airlines? On the other hand, if the company does not offer competitive wages and benefits, they may not be able to attract and retain quality employees and thus also suffer economically. But what incentives are there for public sector unions to hold back in their negotiations, or the government to tightly control their wages and benefits when they are on the essentially on the same team? In addition, due to this unholy alliance of government and unions we are facing a solvency crisis of underfunded public pensions. The pension problem is not only affecting public sector unions. Private sector unions are also going to be a potential problem for taxpayers.

www.ocregister.com/opinion/county-262076-pension-new.html

biggovernment.com/jwilliams/2010/02/15/public-employee-benefit-plans-up-to-1-trillion-in-unfunded-liabilities/

www.nationalreview.com/exchequer/243893/bobby-bailout-casey-put-taxpayers-hook-teamsters-shenanigans

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703960004575427402731178736.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/03/public_sector_unions_and_their.html

Consider the recent “teacher bailout” bill signed into law by Obama. That law will spend $26 billion in taxpayer money and gives it to the states, which in turn will use it ostensibly to keep teachers and other state employees on the public payrolls. The teachers pay dues out of their salary to the unions. Keep in mind those salaries are paid with tax receipts. Therefore, a portion on your tax dollars are being given to the union bosses to spend as they see fit. The NEA spent roughly $50 million last year, in a non-election year, on “political activities”. During the same year the NEA collected approximately $350 million in dues from its members. Yet we are now bailing them out to save their jobs and reinforce their pension funds? I did not realize it, not being a NEA member, affiliate or even a union supporter, yet I am paying “dues” to them thanks to the redistributionist policies of this administration. Ironic isn’t it, our money going for a political cause that many of us strongly oppose?

www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/10/house-approves-billion-teacher-bailout/

GOVERNMENT ACTIVISM AND SUPPORT OF UNIONS:
Another form of corruption is the pushing of the union agenda in all possible areas of the federal government. Union leaders have been emboldened by the election of Barrack Obama and many of his actions since then, such as the GM and Chrysler takeovers, the easing of rules to make it easier for airlines to unionize and so forth. So far the union bosses have not received all they wished for, especially their ultimate dream item: card check. We know they will keep pushing. And unions are also big supporters of global governance. Andy Stern is one of the bosses pushing for more government on a worldwide scale. What are they trying to do, make the United States and the rest of the world look like Greece?

sayanythingblog.com/entry/union_boss_appointed_to_obamas_deficit_panel_loves_wealth_redistribution_gl/

www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/05/07/athens_or_washington_its_the_size_of_government_105484.html

www.theblaze.com/stories/key-obama-ally-works-with-socialists-for-global-tax/

Unions are a home of the socialist movement. The Federal Government is heavily unionized. Therefore it is a natural, although unethical and immoral, tendency to use public resources to further their mutual interests. The current administration is using the Department of Labor in exactly this manner, to indoctrinate youngsters about the evils of capitalism and the joys of socialism. The U.S. Department of Education is also involved in this process and supporting outright political activity. The federal government has chosen sides, and it is not on the side of the average citizen. Here is some of the evidence of this activity for you.

www.thefoxnation.com/glenn-beck/2010/09/01/beck-exposes-socialist-working-pres-obama

www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Education-secretary-urged-his-employees-to-go-to-Sharpton_s-rally-651280-101839293.html

ARE UNIONS REALLY ABOUT HELPING THE COMMON MAN?
The left has historically used lies and distortion to further their aims. This is nothing new. The left and unions are inexorably intertwined and so is their hypocrisy. The labor movement has a history of hurting the very people they claim to defend when attempting to sell their message. Here is some evidence of this.

michellemalkin.com/2010/08/31/caution-big-labor-hypocrisy-at-work/

michellemalkin.com/2009/03/27/hypocrisy-thy-name-is-seiu/

Along the road to the union objective of global government, there are thankfully some speed bumps. Recently the UAW International ran afoul of one of their locals. This news was not widely broadcast but could be found on the World Socialists website. Here are 3 links that tell that story. Now elements of UAW leadership are looked upon as the enemy by the very union members they are supposed to be serving. This is a major shift in the historical union versus management paradigm and ironically the Obama Administration caused it in this case. I think this is good news that some elements of the left are starting to run afoul of each other.

www.wsws.org/articles/2010/aug2010/inds-a17.shtml

www.youtube.com/watch?v=owUjzuVLY-s

www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_081710/content/01125112.guest.html

Union activism has a long history of violence. It is true that much of the past violence was caused by company management calling in police and military forces to break up strikes. But unions themselves have also used violence and intimidation to achieve their ends. Below is an example of violence that was perpetrated by the labor movement. Ironically a person who was involved with this incident is meeting with President Obama this today.

www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38862

IN CONCLUSION:
I submit to you that the unions today undermine our Republic due to the corruption they create. They are unnecessary today. Over the years, unions have been co-opted by forces that are unfriendly to individual economic freedom. Union goals involve obtaining and maintaining power over the average citizens, not in aiding the “little people”. Big government and big business help them to accomplish this end. In essence, a relatively small special interest group is negatively impacting our entire society. You know that if unchecked, this trend will ruin our country.

This corruption must be ended and punished. We must hold the union bosses, elected officials and government employees with oversight responsibility accountable. That is why we must elect Republicans to all levels of government this November. The Republican Party is far from perfect. But it is traditionally the party of smaller, more limited government. I do not think they would join with the union bosses to change this country into just another socialist state. Electing a Republican majority will just be the beginning of a long fight to route the forces that are tearing the fabric of our nation apart. The American people can no longer afford to remain asleep. The enemies of freedom, both foreign and domestic, will always keep pushing their agenda.

I close this post on a more positive note with a piece by someone that has faith in the American voter. I hope she is right.

townhall.com/columnists/LindaChavez/2010/09/03/bad_news_for_labor_this_labor_day/page/full/

Have a happy and safe Labor Day holiday.

Notes:
1. Thomas E Woods, Jr. Forgotten Facts of American Labor History (website)
2. Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen. A Patriots History Of The United States page 439
3. Martin Gilbert. A History of the Twentieth Century 1900-1933 vol. 1

RANDOM TOPICS & CURRENT EVENTS - AUGUST 2010

How does time fly! My last post was in February and a lot has transpired since then. Unfortunately the healthcare deform bill passed, as well financial deform legislation and a lot more federal spending that we cannot afford. Today I am returning to the orginal "news and digest " format for my post. There is no central theme to today’s update, just my ramblings on random topics and on current events.

MEDICARE
Once again this Administration is trying to mislead the public through their propagandists. This time it is about the financial health of Medicare. I have linked to NYT and Washington Post stories that, if you just read the headlines as many people do, would think that Medicare has been given a new lease on life. I have also linked to a National Review piece that sheds light on the attempted falsehood and the actual Trustee Report itself. See paragraph two of page 282 of the report which is the “Statement of Actuarial Opinion”. Here is what it says:

"For these reasons, the financial projections shown in this report for Medicare do not represent a reasonable expectation for actual program operations in either the short range (as a result of the unsustainable reductions in physician payment rates) or the long range (because of the strong likelihood that the statutory reductions in price updates for most categories of Medicare provider services will not be viable). I encourage readers to review the “illustrative alternative” projections that are based on more sustainable assumptions for physician and other Medicare price updates. These projections are available at http://www.cms.gov/ActuarialStudies/Downloads/2010TRAlternativeScenario.pdf."

In fairness, the Washington Post story was pretty well balanced for a liberally biased organ as it also discussed the skepticism of the chief actuary, although you do not get to that fact until the 4th paragraph, while the NYT story did not even mention it.

www.nytimes.com/2010/08/06/health/policy/06medicare.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=Medicare%20Trustee%20Report&st=cse

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/05/AR2010080500643.html

http://www.nationalreview.com/critical-condition/242932/fraud-exposed-and-ignored-james-c-capretta

http://www.cms.gov/ReportsTrustFunds/downloads/tr2010.pdf

CLIMATE
Speaking of misleading, even after “Climate Gate” painted a clear picture of the dishonesty of the AGW global warming crowd, the progressives are still pushing for a climate bill. Carol Browner recently said that the Administration may try to ram a version of cap and trade through during the lame duck session after the November mid-terms. Their idiotic theory that CO2 is a pollutant has been discredited and most people do not believe it. So why are they doing this? I think you are smart enough to reach your own conclusion even though the elites do not.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/113197-browner-energy-bill-still-possible-in-lame-duck-session

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/08/global_warming_rip.html

EVIL INTENTIONS?
Since we have mentioned lame ducks, here is something that is frightening to contemplate; the democrats get routed in November and then return to Washington and pass Card Check, Cap and Trade, Amnesty for Illegal Aliens, further unemployment extensions, more “stimulus”, etc. Consider this also; Congress has yet to create a budget, let alone pass one for fiscal 2010. They are spending us into oblivion and we have really no idea where all of the money is going. If the Republicans do not win enough seats to override a Presidential veto when they seat the 112th Congress, America will face very dark times ahead. We have already seen massive numbers lining up for Section 8 Housing assistance in Atlanta and “99ners” demonstrating for more unemployment assistance on Wall Street last week. Is this the Cloward & Piven Strategy in action? See the link immediately below for more information on that topic.

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/Articles/theclowardpivenstrategypoe.html

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38413

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/08/14/heed_the_will_of_the_people_106746.html

THE FUTURE
Many people are starting to become concerned about the quality of education in our government run schools. They are waking up to the fact that our children are not learning the truth about American history, or are really studying math, science and economics. The fact of the matter is the children of America are being indoctrinated to be good Socialists. Young adults graduate from college and in many cases are functionally illiterate but are solidly progressive. They have no clue that America is NOT a Democracy. They do not have any understanding about market capitalism, which has given us the highest standard of living in world history. To make matters worse, Pop culture is pervasive and is how many young people get their news and information today, often from Comedy Central. Then there is technology, which is shortening our attention spans and increasing the physical distance between people. The intersection of education, pop culture and technology, which is increasingly the province of the hard left, will be central to the battle for freedom.

http://spectator.org/archives/2010/08/13/ignorance-is-this

http://www.nrbookservice.com/products/BookPage.asp?prod_cd=C7581

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/08/manufacturing_liberals.html

INTENTIONS PLEASE?
Even though I am an Independent, I must align myself with a Republican Party that I deeply mistrust in these dire times. The ruling class of elites in Washington is comprised of both Democrats and Republicans. These people feel they have a natural right to rule over us. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is a good example of a Republican who is out of touch with Republicanism. Today, Republican Strategists are telling their political clients not to rock the boat, do not take principled stands on issues, don’t tell the folks what you really intend to do if elected. If you do the democrats will use it against you! I disagree vehemently with this strategy and have stated so many times. Principles, morality and character matter to the average American. Why doesn't the Republican “leadership” get it? The editorial below predicts that this election's success for Republicans could also spell the doom of that party...

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/08/how_a_gop_november_victory_cou.html

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
I sent out an email some time ago about recommended reading selections straight from the NEA website. Some of the books the NEA recommend are disturbing and in my view further evidence that this organization is nothing less than a domestic enemy of America. Since Barrack Hussein Obama has been in the spotlight, the name Saul Alinsky has gained more widespread recognition. The NEA website describes Alinsky in almost glowing terms. They fail to mention that he was a hard-core Communist or that he dedicated his book "Rules for Radicals" to none other than Lucifer. And our current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and possible future democratic candidate for President, wrote her college senior thesis on Alinsky. This is why we all need to get more involved in the education system, if nothing more than to attend a school board meeting in your community to see what is going on. You don’t have to have kids of school age to be concerned about kids. After all the younger generations will assume control of the levers of power in this country over time and impact you. How they impact you is something you can try to shape or just let happen…

http://www.nea.org/tools/17231.htm

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/hillary-clintons-idol-saul-alinsky-and-satan

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/11958

RADICAL ISLAM
There is no doubt in my mind that the radical Islamists are still seeking to find a way to kill large numbers of Americans and defeat our country. They are working both sides of the street, planning terrorist attacks such as the destruction of the Twin Towers on 9/11/2001 as well as attempting to rot our traditional culture from within. Many Muslims are very open about their intentions to infiltrate Sharia law into our courts and then use the courts to dominate our culture.It has been happening in western Europe for decades and they have almost accomplished that goal there. It is happening right before us every day. The Progressives are okay with this as it helps destroy our Christian-Judeo foundations, thus another strong reason NOT to vote for a Democrat in the upcoming mid-terms. That party has been completley co-opted by the Progressives. The attempt to build a Mosque near Ground Zero in New York City is helping bring this issue into sharper focus for more and more Americans. It is interesting that President Barrack Hussein Obama continually ignores important Christian occasions such as the National Day of Prayer and blows off the Boy Scouts 100th Anniversary celebration, but seems very interested in having an Iftar at the White House during the Ramadan Holiday. Former President Bush also held Iftars, but did not ignore important Christian days as this President does. I guess the good news here is when Obama takes a position on this Mosque he highlights the clear differences between democrats and their opposition in the Republican Party. Muslims have the right to build a Mosque in that location. But they should refrain from doing so if it is meant as a symbol of victory over the United States. That will be intentionally sticking their thumb into American eyes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/beliefs/sharia_1.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iftar

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41069.html

MONETIZING OUR DEBT
The Fed’s Ben Bernanke, after promising NOT to monetize our debt back in 2009, now announces the Fed will do so. This is not good news as monetization is a root cause of inflation and its first cousin hyper-inflation. Obama and his Keynesian allies on the Hill have been passing spending bills like there is no tomorrow. The Federal Reserve is printing new fiat notes 24 hours a day to increase the money supply. If you do not know what this can mean, check out the history of the Weimar Republic’s last days. That is the period that set the stage for the rise of Hitler and the Nazis in Germany. There are parallels with current events in the United States today. What is interesting to me is some are talking about the risks of deflation at this time. I think that is just a smoke screen to give political cover for the Federal Reserve and Congress’s irresponsible actions over the past 3 years and not what is really coming… I do not know if the average citizen can protect their hard-earned wealth at a time like this besides buying precious metals and stones.

http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/josheboch/government-promises-not-worth-the-paper-theyre-pri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monetization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_in_the_Weimar_Republic

http://wallstreet.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/08/13/hoenig-doubts-deflation-diagnosis/

http://www.moneynews.com/StreetTalk/Keith-McCullough-US-Economy/2010/08/13/id/367409?s=al&promo_code=A7EB-1

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/08/deflation-buffett-isnt-betting-on-it/61414/

RACE RELATIONS
It certainly is wonderful to live in a “post racial” society now that we have a black President, isn’t it? Well, sort of. I think we can all agree It would be better if when someone differs with Obama’s policies that person was not labeled a “racist” and then tarred and feathered by the majority of the media, the ACLU, NAACP and/or the CBC. Or if a person of color in an important leadership position is charged with corruption, race wasn’t used as a shield to deflect the charges or as a distraction from the main issues involved ala Charlie Rangel. It would really be nice if facts, not skin color, were debated in these cases. Then we could truthfully say we were in a “post racial” society. After all a crime is a crime no matter who commits it. When our leaders believe they are above the law, it is time to fire them and elect people of character, morality and ethics who will uphold the Constitution. Martin Luther King, Jr. said and I quote: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. “ Amen brothers and sisters.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38557

http://townhall.com/columnists/JonahGoldberg/2010/08/13/race-card_payment_coming_due/page/full

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OneUnited_Bank

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/13/rep-waters-violated-house-rules/?test=latestnews

FINAL THOUGHT FOR THIS POST
Finally, a politician with the courage to speak his mind, and say what millions of us have been thinking, if not saying privately to our friends. Obama is the “worst President in history”. I will say another Amen to that statement because it is true. Good luck to Ben Qualye on his run for the House in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District.

http://www.quayleforcongress.com/

THE DESTRUCTION OF TRUTH AND TRUST

The FOUNDING FATHERS attempted to set up a system of government that had built in checks and balances to protect WE THE PEOPLE from tyranny. But over the years we have been woefully inattentive to the changes in our major institutions that have been incrementally wrought by the Progressive Movement. The results of this ignorance is that today we have a government that is out of control, takes wealth away from the productive and gives it to the slothful, lies to us on a daily basis, rewards those that are friendly with its aims and bullies those that stand in its way. We no longer seem to be a country ruled by law, but ruled by men. How did this happen? I submit to you that the dumbing down of our children, the creation of a media that is no longer objective but vigorously supports a leftist agenda and entrenched politicians that seem to be clueless about our rights did not happen by accident. It was a slow, deliberate process that began many years ago and now threatens the very existence of our free republic. Progressives have infiltrated our Education system and our News media and now hold the levers of governmental power.

If you doubt that our government (aka “public”) schools are, and have been nothing more than progressive indoctrination camps for years, here some evidence for you.

Gallup Poll: Most Democrats Like Socialism
gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/02/gallup-poll-shocker-most-democrats-like-socialism/

Obama Using Public Schools To Recruit Agenda Advancing Interns
newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/01/31/obamas-recruiting-students-further-agenda-and-reelection#ixzz0fKAGjFpx

GLENN COOK: Politically correct mumbo-jumbo in our schools
www.lvrj.com/opinion/56171952.html

We are past a point today where many, if not most Americans are wise to the spin, distortion and outright lies of the likes of Obama, Reid, Pelosi , the elite’s of academia and their media allies. That is unless you are a Progressive. And because many of us are aware of these facts we do not trust our elected officials and their minions any longer. A great example of the lies we hear daily is in the healthcare debate. After the Massachusetts Massacre one would think that Progressive politicians would get the message that if they are going to do anything, it should be to start over. They can meet with their conservative opposition, develop a new set of premises about the problems that need solving and then build the legislation based on liberty and free-market principles. Only 20-25% of Americans describe themselves as “liberals”; therefore far-left loonies are a minority of the country’s population. Yet the Progressives in Congress have stamped the current legislation with this tyrannical governing philosophy. And despite the overwhelming public opposition to their plans, the progressives still doggedly pursue their anti-freedom, big government agenda anyway. We hear all about transparency and bipartisanship from the talking heads, and Obama demands a summit to include the opposition party to “jumpstart the process again”. But is this meeting is nothing more than a trap to make the conservatives look like obstructionists, which they indeed should be against this proposed growth of government?

Pelosi aide says Democratic congressional leaders have settled on legislative "trick" to pass Obamacare; So why have a summit? UPDATED
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Pelosi-aide-says-health-care-summit-is-part-of-legislative-trick-to-pass-Obamacare-84025262.html#ixzz0fcEE5yPF

Obama Keeps All-Democratic Health Care Option Open
newsmax.com/InsideCover/US-Health-Care-Overhaul/2010/02/18/id/350264

The Summit of Folly
weeklystandard.com/articles/summit-folly

ZombieCare
www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-zombiecare-20100219,0,6638835.story

Up Next! On Live TV! A Battle Over ... Health Care?
www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/health/policy/21summit.html

Does this make this make the Progressive arguments about why we need healthcare reform any more persuasive or believable? To the contrary, Americans do seem to understand what is at stake and do not want what the Progressives are peddling.

What Americans Don't Understand about Obamacare
www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/what_americans_dont_understand.html

Then there is the constant mantra by the Progressives that the economic problems are all Bush’s fault. Certainly W deserves blame for some of the economic problems, but where is the truth being told that years of government intervention in the economy was a big part of the problem? Do we hear about the federal Governments role in today’s “crisis”? What about the Community reinvestment Act of 1977 (strengthened and amended over the years) , Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the willing Progressive Congressional Republicans and ACORN to name a few that played no small part in our current economic situation, not just greedy bankers and investors as the main stream media would have you believe. Here is another look at the Clinton and Bush years that paint a different picture of Progressive claims that W squandered the largess left to him by his predecessor.

Deception as a Principle of Governance
www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/deception_as_a_principle_of_go.html

If we believe that the government is the problem, or at least a big slice of it, why do we want it to get bigger? We don’t and here’s why…

Increasing Government Power Threatens Freedom
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/02/10/governments_increasing_power_threatens_freedom.html

Politicians Taking Away Your Freedom
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/02/16/playing_freedom_cheap_104414.html

Of course as we all know part of the problem is that the media are willing accomplices in the spreading of lies. But for those of you that don’t believe there is a progressive bias please examine the media’s treatment of two stories that are essentially about the same thing, violence and murder. But one of the stories does not fit the media’s anti-conservative propaganda template and the other does. Therefore, it seems that one story is getting a lot of national coverage and the other is not… I base this last statement on two pieces of anecdotal evidence. 1) A person I spoke to about Austin incident remarked that they wondered which Tea Party organization the perpetrator had belonged to. 2) Another person that I know was not even aware of the Huntsville tragedy. This latter person is exposed to primarily liberal news sources.

Killing for Tenure
www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/killing_for_tenure.html

Media Use Austin IRS Terror Attack to Slam Tea Party Movement
newsmax.com/Headline/austin-attack-media-tea/2010/02/18/id/350266

Another good example of media bias is the 2008 election itself. Who was and is Barrack Hussein Obama? There was plenty of evidence that he was a real Marxist radical but for some reason those that tried to inform the people of this were ridiculed, belittled and sidelined. BO’s past associations did not matter we were told. But now, a year into his Presidency (if you can call it that, maybe wannabe dictatorship describes it better); we are learning more and more about this. For example:

College Acquaintance: Obama Was 'Pure Marxist Socialist'
www.thefoxnation.com/culture/2010/02/17/college-acquaintance-obama-was-pure-marxist-socialist

Of course this is just hearsay evidence from one source. But there was overwhelming evidence of his philosophy during the election; it was just pretty much covered up so that “hope and change” prevailed. And futhermore, we have had the actual experience of witnessing BO in office: for about a year now.

The Real Obama
www.weeklystandard.com/articles/real-obama

Barack Obama Admits That “By Design” You Remain Unemployed
www.redstate.com/erick/2010/02/02/barack-obama-admits-that-by-design-you-remain-unemployed/

To earn back the trust of the people, what is needed is a large dose of good old-fashioned common sense. Progressives say that society must progress and evolve to improve. The Constitution is old-fashioned and obsolete. But there is nothing wrong in wanting to turn the clock back if what used to be will work now, and it will.

The Wisdom of Conservatism
www.americanthinker.com/2010/02
/the_wisdom_of_conservatism.html

Progressivism has been tried under many names throughout history. It has always succeeded in oppressing people and ending in disaster. This philosophy that promises to create a human utopia on earth has always been a dismal failure. Where Progressivism has been the dominant rule misery has followed. For example, just look at many of the major big cities in this country. Most of these places are, and have been for decades, controlled by Progressives in mayoral and city council positions. Most of these cities are corrupt and on the verge of bankruptcy. The poor are still poor, the illiterate still cannot read and write and crime is still rampant. The city elites are still smug and comfortable even though they cause and continue these problems with their compassionate ideas and wasteful spending. Why does anyone think that adopting more progressive policies will improve our current situation at any level, city, state or federal? The truth is it won’t improve anything except for the politically connected. The truth also is this: Progressive ideas and policies are exactly what got us in this mess in the first place.

In closing, the problem with the Progressive Movement is they cannot be truthful about their ultimate ends. Thus they have to continually lie to THE PEOPLE. This occurs on a daily basis. We witness it from President Obama and his Administration, the Congressional leadership and the legion of talking heads in the Media. Lies such as you can keep your doctor if you like him or her. Cap and Trade is necessary if we are to avert planetary disaster. We must spend our way out of recession. We must tax the wealthy so they pay their fair share. Capitalism is evil and only for people that are greedy. Freedom is overrated. These and other blatant lies have over time destroyed the trust that Americans used to place in their government and traditional institutions, such as education and the press. Progressives used to be able to repeat their lies enough to make them the truth. But in today’s world they cannot completely control the message, and truth can still be found, no matter how hard they try to prevent it. That is the good news. For now...

To make sure freedom,of speech and otherwise remains a part of our society, we need to vote Progressive incumbents out and replace them with principled candidates of character who will actually uphold the Constitution, slash taxes and spending with a meat cleaver, repeal all bad legislation, scale back the number of civil service union employees and thereby shrink the overall scope and power of the federal government. Then real hope and change in America can begin.

THE PROGRESSIVE HEALTHCARE PLAN - PUTTING LIPSTICK ON THE PIG

True or false:
The Democrat healthcare plan:

1) is really about healthcare.
2) is Constitutional.
3) will not raise health insurance premiums.
4) willl be revenue neutral.
5) will control medical costs.
6) will not lead to medical service rationing.
7) will not benefit special interests.
8) will not cause you to change doctors or coverage.
9) will improve coverage and medical services.
10) will not increase the federal government’s power.

The answers to all of the above are pretty much common sense. FALSE! The healthcare plan in its current form is plainly a disaster. The fact of the matter is if they pass this monstrosity we will have the IRS more involved in our lives than ever before. I think many, many folks are getting the picture. This proposed takeover of one sixth of the economy is not at all popular. For eveidence, just look at what happened in Massachusetts last Tuesday.

While the mainstream Democrats may not, the PROGRESSIVES do get it… and that is why they will work even harder to get as much of their agenda passed as possible somehow before November. How will they try to accomplish this? Well, marketing of course. They will put lipstick on a pig. This process has already started.

Dick Morris: Pelosi and Reid Plot Secret Plan for Obamacare newsmax.com/Headline/pelosi-reid-healthcare-obama/2010/01/24/id/347820
First, there is the underhanded way to do this by making a travesty of the legislative process. Will the progressives in power risk the wrath of the voters who plainly do not want this bill? You bet, if the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Troika can whip their memberships into line. Is Dick Morris right on this? Well, he is a fairly savvy political operative and has a pretty good track record on predictions. The lesson here is if you reside in a state with a vulnerable House member and if you do not support this legislation, make your displeasure known to them.

37 vulnerable House Dems we need to target on health care
hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2010/01/07/37-vulnerable-house-dems-we-need-to-target-on-health-care/
To help you do this, please click on the above link and review this blog. At the bottom there is a list of the “vulnerable” complied by Eric Cantor, Republican House Whip along with their contact information. If your Congressman is not on this list but you see one where a relative or a friend lives that shares your love of freedom, ring them up and enlist them to contact their representative.

Obama: I will continue to fight for you by trying to pass a bill you despise
hotair.com/archives/2010/01/22/obama-i-will-continue-to-fight-for-you-by-trying-to-pass-a-bill-you-despise/
If you will click on the video box you will be taken to Real Clear Politics and can view BO spouting “it is not all about me” to an adoring crowd in Ohio. Where do these audiences come from? Are they from another planet? Or are they recruited and paid with taxpayer’s dollars to show up? Are there still this many people that think that BO is here to help them? Just curious…

Democrats: We Will Push Ahead with Healthcare
newsmax.com/InsideCover/democrats-obama-healthcare-reform/2010/01/23/id/347772
The above article is just more evidence that they get it but won’t give up. After all, the Progressives have been dreaming of controlling the healthcare system for decades.

'Factor' Exclusive: Liberals Melt Down Over Brown Win
www.thefoxnation.com/massachusetts-senate-race/2010/01/22/factor-exclusive-liberals-melt-down-over-brown-win
While I hope that O’Reilly is right, I still do not believe that the Progressives will give up their long term dream of controlling your healthcare, and thus everything about you, at this time with the goal in sight. Note what Progressives think of American voters…

Obama Moves to Centralize Control Over Party Strategy
www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/us/politics/24union.html
Once a Marxist always a Marxist? In a Soviet style move the BO administration is going to try to control every aspect of the mid-term campaign as they believe that their message is not clear. What part of “we don’t want socialism” don’t they understand?

Obama's State of the Union Agenda: Yes, I Get It
newsmax.com/Newsfront/Obama-State-of-the/2010/01/23/id/347787
I think the really important message to take away from this piece is found in the 15th paragraph. I quote: “Expect plenty of looking back, too. Obama wants people who may tune in only occasionally to what happens in Washington to know, as he sees it, that he got some things done this year, particularly on the economy.” I have italicized the important statement. This is just more marketing; putting the lipstick on a pig (of an agenda)…. And the uninformed and gullible folks out there are the target; this is a repeat of how “the one” got elected.

A Year's Worth of Obama Health Care Predictions
www.thefoxnation.com/health-care/2010/01/22/years-worth-obama-health-care-predictions
Practice makes perfect. BO has promised many times that we will have government run healthcare plan whether we like it or not. I DO believe him on this promise. If there is any way possible he will tranorm America into something we will not recognize.

I will close with this, another summary of HR 3200. While this will not be the final bill the major elements that the American people object to will still look similar. Take 10 minutes to view and stay charged up to vote against “change we can believe in”
Know the TRUTH about the Government Health Care Bill H.R.3200 - Key Points
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcBaSP31Be8

The founders were right. The American people must always stay vigilant or our freedoms will be taken from us. There is no question that this has been happening over the past 100 years or so. It must be stopped now or our children and grandchildren will pay the price, and not just economically. Please stay engaged and PASS IT ON!