Texas State Proposals 2, 3, & 5 Are Not New Taxes
>> October 14, 2009
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History of Constitutional Decline
Image via WikipediaIn chronological order...
- Early 1900's - Karl Marx's "Capital" taught in college in lieu of Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" - The only one on the list that doesn't involve government. It is on the list to mark a beginning of a train of thought.
- 4/8/1913 - Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote, States lose representation
- 1917 - Wilson creates Food Administration, Grain Corporation, War Trade Board & Committee on Public Information by Executive Order begins World War 1 phase of extending government into virtually every phase of American life
- 1933 - US ends Gold Standard
- 1933 - FDR Launches New Deal - collectivism in full swing (One Generation)
- 1934 - National Firearms Act
- 1935 - Social Security enacted (Wrongly upheld by Supreme Court in 1937 misinterpreting "General Welfare")
- 1938 - Federal Firearms Act greatly expands firearms restrictions.
- 1965 - Social Security Act of 1935 amended to create Medicare
- 1973 - Abortion legalized - giving way to more Social engineering
- 1991 - Civil Rights Act of 1991 further expanding affirmative action
- 1994 - Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (Assault Weapons Ban)
- 2001 - Patriot Act - encroaching on privacy issues galore
- 2006 - AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon / National Security Agency - possible illegal wiretapping scandal - still no investigation
- 2007 - The official number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. reaches 11 million
- 2008 - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship for $300 billion taxpayer dollars.
- 2008 - ACORN - politically biased community activist organization given $500 million in earmarks with FNMA bailout
- 2008 - Bush signs TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) $700 billion bank bailout bill
- 2008 - General Motors becomes Government Motors for $40 billion taxpayer dollars
- 2008 - Chrysler bailout costs $30 billion taxpayer dollars
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More Tricksters Than Treats
>> October 11, 2009
I like the term "locust horde".
I dare you to look in the basement.
HT to Keith
Here's a little music while you read. (dedicated to number one on the list, although I'm not sure who's the most frightening)
A Critique on Conservatives
>> October 10, 2009
I've been exposed to a few blogs and articles lately critical of Conservatives for perceived inaction regarding the health care debate or any debate for that matter. I would like to discuss some of these and offer some constructive critique of my own. (Can't let everyone else have all the fun.) *disclaimer* I don't speak for all conservatives obviously but I think I can make a few observations. Hey, I gotta get this stuff out now or someone in a beer joint somewhere is going to hear it. We wouldn't want that to happen now would we?
Here is one quote from "The Thinker" and "South Bend Seven" ~
Dictionary.com defines conservative as: "disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change."
Pretty accurate I'd say, Who am I to argue with Webster? Although it doesn't say anything about policy, it does describe what I imagine a conservative person to be.
The Progressives count on this slow methodical approach. They paint it as either in-decisive or downright evil, turning it on Conservatives and using it like a bullhorn, driving through the streets of cities and towns with the mantra of "Conservatives aren't doing anything about -topic de jour- They must want all people to die because of it." blaring from the roof speakers. Once the argument has reached this stage, the debate has been transformed from a debate to a schoolyard name calling contest with the Conservative on the perpetual defense, trying to prove that they really do care about the problem enough to think about it thoroughly. Oh YEAH!? OH YEAH!?
More from SBS:
"This turns into the prototypical conservative/liberal argument:
L: At least I care about the problem!
C: But your solution is wrong!
L: But at least I care!
C: But you're wrong!
L: But I care!"
This is the perception of Conservative Thought. It has to change.
I think the engine of debate has been hijacked by Progressives. Our schools and institutions have indoctrinated J.Q. Public for a hundred+ years on the virtues
and former US Representative for Illinois. If there isn't a crisis, they will invent one to force a discussion which they can immediately turn on any person (Racist!) (You don't care!)who tries grab the reins and cries "Whoa there! Let's not rush into anything!" (How's that stimulus working out for ya?)
As Sheldon Richman, editor of "The Freeman" and a contributor to "The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics" writes in his article "Are We Really all Healthcare Collectivists Now?"
quote: "“We have to do something about health care.”
The scariest word in that sentence is not something. It’s we. The first-person plural form is not merely a convenience, as in “We’re in for a cold winter.” It indicates that decisions about “the healthcare system” should be made collectively, with one decision binding everyone.
That’s collectivism.
So why is virtually everyone a collectivist when it comes to health care? I do not exaggerate. Every prominent participant in the current debate over how to "reform" the medical industry approaches the issue in collectivist terms. They have differences at the margin-tax increases versus tax credits, a government-run "public option" versus subsidized nonprofit cooperatives-but there is no disagreement that "we" must have a policy.
But why must we do anything about health care? Why can’t you do what you want, I do what I want, and he and she do what they want? Isn’t that what’s supposed to happen in a free society? Reformers would say that costs are rising too much and some people can’t afford insurance. But that is no answer. It tells us only that possibly ameliorable conditions exist, not that collectivism is a good approach.
When we see problems in other important markets, most of us don’t expect televised presidential town-hall meetings, congressional committees, and omnibus legislation to give us the answer. We individually adjust our behavior in the marketplace and anticipate that entrepreneurs will cater to us. Solutions, with inevitable tradeoffs, are micro, marginal, and tailored to individual needs, not macro, holistic, and procrustean. Out of this arises an orderly marketplace–without a conscious overall plan. No one has found a better way to make masses of people better off.
Why is health care different? Must we collectively reinvent the industry? The social knowledge problem that F. A. Hayek spelled out should make us wary of any collective response.
The reformers’ stock answer is that this is something only we, acting through the "democratic process," can handle. That’s an assertion. Where’s the proof? What if earlier collectivist decisions gave us rising medical and insurance costs?
In fact they did. Nearly every aspect of medicine and health insurance that the politicians say needs fixing is the result of “our”–that is, politicians’–previous attempts to fix something."
read the rest at The FreemanAt the founding of our country, there were a myriad of problems to be faced by the new republic. It would be wise to reflect on what a couple of old geezers had to say about the federal government in that day.
Madison wrote: "The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal government are few and defined."(If only that were still true Mr. Madison.)
I think Thomas Jefferson was the ultimate conservative voice. As President, he said: "The path we have to pursue is so quiet that we have nothing scarcely to propose [to Congress]. A noiseless course, not meddling with the affairs of others, unattractive of notice, is the mark that society is going on in happiness." ~ both quotes taken from W. Cleon Skousen’s, The Making of America, p. 247
I think that as conservatives, we should take the lead when we regain control of the House and Senate. I'm working on my wish list of agenda items. I will post those later. But for now the point is that we should be the ones pushing debate. We should be thoughtfully educating J.Q. Public that big government IS the problem and we need less of it. Repeal the laws that don't work. Enforce the ones that do. Stress self reliance as the only path to personal pride and liberty. We need to be true conservatives instead of trying to appease the left.
If we allow this country to be "fundamentally transformed"(Obama) into a socialist society, we won't be able to change it back. "Liberties lost are rarely found again." ~ me
To the Socialists/Liberals/Communists:
This is a Democratic Republic and if you people want to live in a Socialist or Communist country, you are free to leave. Just keep in mind, that the country you defect to may not let you come back, comrade.
That's it. I'm done for the day.
Time for lunch and a beer. Cheers!
Read more...
Friday Fun - Hepcat!
>> October 9, 2009
One can't be political all the time ;-)
Peace out.
UPDATE: Tea Party Express: 3 Weeks to Launch!
>> October 8, 2009
So, I'm having a beer at my aunts bar and I'm blogging. What about you ask? Welllll...
Here's why!
From Newsblaze
"37 Cities - 18 Days - More than 7,000 Miles
The Tea Party Express - which recently completed a historic national tour, now prepares to hit the road again in support of conservative Americans everywhere.
http://www.TeaPartyExpress.org
Launching on October 25th, the latest venture is called, "Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day" in reference to the one-year mark before the 2010 congressional elections.."
"Our message hasn't changed, and this movement continues to grow," said Joe Wierzbicki, coordinator of the Tea Party Express. "We're still out there promoting five distinct principles:
*End the bailouts
*Stop cap & trade
*Stop out-of-control deficit spending
*End the government takeover of healthcare, and
*Stop raising our taxes.Any activist or politician that supports these points is in agreement with the message of the Tea Party Express."
I missed the first one damn it. I won't be missing out this time around!
Go to Newsblaze to vote in the poll - are you attending? supporting? Will you take part in this Tea Party Express
8th Annual Blogger Boobie-Thon Breaks $13K!
>> October 7, 2009
8th Annual Blogger Boobie-Thon Breaks $13K!
Can I just say, speechless. Totally speechless and blown away and I would say that I was about ready to pass out around 9pm tonight, but now I am so pumped up I couldn’t sleep if I tried. Our final numbers are in and they are truly amazing, more than I ever dreamed. We would have been thrilled to see $10,000—and then $11,000 came and there was JOY! Simple Bliss! But this…this is crazy.Ta Daa!
Nice. Read more...
Your Government Wants To Eat You
And just in time for Halloween!
How did we get here?
The government of The United States Of America has been expanding since its creation. By slow encroachments and itty bitty usurpations we are losing our ability and capacity to govern ourselves. What really makes me angry is the fact that the population is slitting its own throat!
Shouldn't we be more vigilant in our political education?
The founders warned of this very day when George Mason said "From the nature of man, we may be sure that those who have power in their hands will not give it up while they can retain it. On the contrary, we know that they will always, when they can, rather increase it." as quoted in W. Cleon Skousen’s, The Making of America, p. 247
Our government should not be in the welfare or healthcare business!
Jeffrey Ellis asks on his site The Thinker "[Are We] Robbing Peter To Pay Paul?" and then abruptly answers with this astute observation ~ “A government with the policy to rob Peter to pay Paul can be assured of the support of Paul.” — George Bernard Shaw
He then goes on to a thought provoking analysis into the question. I highly recommend the read.
And in an earlier post he questions the "The Economic Impact of the Size of Government"
Says Jeffery:
"The issue of size of government versus economic growth is a “goose that lays the golden eggs” type of problem. It takes prosperity to fund various social programs — welfare, Medicare, and any other entitlement program you would care to add to the list. The fundamental conflict is that the more of these programs that government institutes, the less prosperity the nation has to fund them. But to be fair, on the other hand, the more prosperity we have, the more income inequality we also tend to have (although in general almost everyone is better off)..."
To the question of wealth and entitlements, I would respond with a quote or two from Lincoln.
Lincoln said: "That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well."
I think this was the original intent of the founders: We have the freedom to succeed, and the freedom to fail.
Lincoln again on the subject of self reliance: "Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."
Lincoln seems to be hinting at anarchy stemming from an entitlement mentality here.
I understand that Jeffrey is coming at the problem from a purely logic based, Critical Thinking point of view, and I agree that we should be compassionate, but I cannot say that it is the role of government to provide these entitlements. Besides, I think the research he has done proves the point I am trying to make here.
Suffice to say that I believe this system is growing to be the world's largest pyramid scheme. Some will say that I am over simplifying, but there has to be a point of toppling the pyramid. Not everyone can be recipients of a government job or handout. The money to fund this monster comes from the working class.
Your government wants to eat you!
Contract From America: A Tea-Party Fueled Attempt To Be Heard
>> October 6, 2009
A Houston lawyer looks to turn legislation back into a bottom-up process.
By Andrew Ian Dodge at Pajamas Media:
"Last month, a new effort to reconnect the populace with its public servants was launched: Contract From America.
This consultation exercise aims to gather ideas from the public on laws they would like to see passed or eliminated. The ideas will be boiled down to three in each policy area by a panel of tea party activists from all over the nation and then submitted to political leaders.
Considering the arrogance displayed by many members of Congress towards their constituents and their wishes, this project intends to make them aware of just how driven people are to see a change in governmental behavior.
An interview with Ryan Hecker, the head of Contract From America:
AD: What prompted you to create this project?
RH: In the past, public policy has been entirely a top-down affair. Politicians work with consultants and others to create public policy initiatives, for which the electorate either show support by re-electing the politician or reject by choosing his opponent. However, we have seen over the past decade that politicians have largely been bereft of economically conservative ideas. I created this website because I strongly believe that the citizenry has a lot of ideas to offer to politicians if given the chance to speak and make an impact. We no longer have to sit passively as politicians present their ideas to us. We can all help in creating a Contract From America that we can use to direct public policy in 2010 and beyond."
Read on here.
I like it a lot!
America Must Be An Example To The World
>> October 3, 2009
Image via WikipediaI thought I would share this from recent readings...
"We owe every other sacrifice to ourselves, to our federal brethren, and to the world at large to pursue with temper and perseverance the great experiment which shall prove that man is capable of living in [a] society governing itself by laws self-imposed, and securing to its members the enjoyment of life, liberty, property, and peace; and further, to show that even when the government of its choice shall manifest a tendency to degeneracy, we are not at once to despair, but that the will and the watchfulness of its sounder parts will reform its aberrations, recall it to original and legitimate principles, and restrain it within the rightful limits of self government"
~ Thomas Jefferson, as quoted in W. Cleon Skousen’s, The Making of America, pp.238-239
Read more...
American Journalist Accused by Canadian Court - Wait ~ What? CANADA?
Dr. Paul Williams and Hamid Mir
AMERICAN JOURNALIST STRIPPED OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Next week, investigative journalist and author Dr. Paul L. Williams will be tried in a foreign court for his investigative work on reports of al Qaeda terrorists at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
But he broke no American statute and his alleged violation of Canadian law took place not in Canada, but at his home in Pennsylvania.
Williams got into a legal jam with the Canadians while discussing his book The Dunces of Doomsday on the nationally syndicated “Coast-to-Coast AM” radio program with George Noory.
To make matters more bizarre, Williams had been advised by the Ontario Provincial Police to issue warnings to his fellow Americans about terrorist activity at the Canadian university that placed the lives of countless millions of Americans in jeopardy.
The case is significant since it represents the first time an American journalist is being forced to submit to Canadian law.
Williams has been stripped of his Constitutional rights and forced to deplete his financial savings to pay for his Canadian lawyers.
“The matter would have gone away if I simply signed an apology,” Williams said, “but what kind of journalist would I be if I apologized for telling the truth?”
He estimates that the cost of the lawsuit already has topped $500,000.
Read more...
Preserve, Protect and Defend:
I've been getting schooled today on the subject of Protectionism by my new friend Jeffrey Ellis at The Thinker.
If you'd like to see his post and our discussion you can do so here.
On the news front,
In case you haven't heard, Obama and Oprah may be sellin', but the IOC ain't buyin'. There is some common sense in the world.
Here is a telling videos from the State Run Media:
CNN Anchor in Disbelief:
Via Hot Air
So Sad
Move Over Darwin...
From National Geographic:
Oldest "Human" Skeleton Found--Disproves "Missing Link"
"The fossil puts to rest the notion, popular since Darwin's time, that a chimpanzee-like missing link—resembling something between humans and today's apes—would eventually be found at the root of the human family tree. Indeed, the new evidence suggests that the study of chimpanzee anatomy and behavior—long used to infer the nature of the earliest human ancestors—is largely irrelevant to understanding our beginnings."
Guess I'll have to redraw my family tree.
Hat Tip - Hot Air
Cover to Palin's Top Seller "Going Rogue" Released
The Politico reported that the sales were unprecedented!
Go Sarah Palin! Read more...
Can the County Sheriff Save the Constitution?
>> October 1, 2009
In 1993, Congress passed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (commonly referred to as the Brady Bill), which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton and went into effect on February 28, 1994. A provision of the Brady Bill compelled state and local law-enforcement officials to perform mandatory background checks. Mack, then a Graham County sheriff, was outraged. In response, Mack gained distinction by being the first sheriff in the nation to file a lawsuit against the Brady Bill. The lawsuit made it all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled that the provision was indeed unconstitutional as a violation of the Tenth Amendment principles of federalism."
Read the rest of the article here
More about Sheriff Mack at http://www.sheriffmack.com/ Read more...
Rush Gives Platform to ‘Susan From Glendale’ in Epic 21-Minute Call
Thanks to Breitbart.tv watch all three clips.
Go Susan!
Second Amendment Under Fire:
>> September 30, 2009
From David G. Savage:
"The Supreme Court set the stage for a historic ruling on gun rights and the 2nd Amendment by agreeing today to hear a challenge to Chicago's ban on handguns.
At issue is whether state and local gun-control ordinances can be struck down as violating the "right to keep and bear arms" in the 2nd Amendment.
A ruling on the issue, due by next summer, could open the door to legal challenges to various gun control measures in cities and states across the nation.
The case also will decide whether the 2nd Amendment protects a broad constitutional right, similar to the 1st Amendment's right to free speech or the 4th Amendment's right against unreasonable searches and seizures.
In the past, the Supreme Court had given short shrift to the 2nd Amendment by saying it applied only to national laws and that its aim was to preserve "well-regulated militias."
This quite narrow view of the amendment conflicted with the views of most Americans, according to opinion polls."
The entire piece at The Swamp.
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