GEORGE WASHINGTON STATED

Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty teeth.



First Inaugural Address of George Washington...April 30, 1789

The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.

The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Abraham Lincoln said:

"In this age, and in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it nothing can suceed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions."

James Madison Declared

The adversaries of the Constitution seem to have lost sight of the PEOPLE altogether in their reasonings on this subject; and to have viewed these different establishments not only as mutual rivals and enemies, but as uncontrolled by any common superior in their efforts to usurp the authorities of each other. These gentlemen must be reminded of their error. They must be told that the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY, wherever the derivative may be found, RESIDES IN THE PEOPLE ALONE. (Federalist Papers, No. 46, p.294; emphasis added.)

Friday, May 23, 2014

What kind of person?

What type of individual would make such a statement?

"I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I'm not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It's not even close."

This was said by former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, announcing the replacement of Mayors Against Illegal Guns with  Everytown For Gun Safety.

What gall and ego! Stay out of politics Mr. Bloomberg much less just walking into heaven without being invited...by a God that you may not even believe in...

How can you deal with a person who thinks this way?
You decide for yourself!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

From Moses in the Book of Numbers

Numbers, Chapter 10 verses 35 & 36: from the Torah (the 1st five books of the Bible)

35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,
"Arise, O Lord, that your enemies may be scattered,
and those who hate you will flee before you."

36 And when it came to rest, he would say,
      "Return, O  Lord, you who ride upon the clouds, to the
        troops of Israel."

Something to consider by those who want to extinguish the Jewish State and people.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Third World War?

I believe we are in the early stages of a developing conflict between radical Islamists and Judeo/Christian values and Western Civilization. If you have listened to the radical Islamists they have two objectives; to liquidate the Jewish people and State of Israel and to either convert the remaining infidels to their brand of Islam or to kill them should they not convert. They have already declared war on all Jews and infidels (all those who are not of the Muslim religion). They believe they are doing this in the name of their God, the same God we have, that of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

How can a government negotiate with a group that gives you no room to negotiate; convert or die. When you are given this ultimatum...convert or die we have to push back against this evil and not worry about hurting someones sensitivities; they have none. I believe that unless there is a change of heart in the radical Islamist community there will be a world wide conflagration between the people of light and life and the forces of evil and subjugation. This is a war that the people of light and life cannot loose.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Shame of Roe v. Wade Decision

41 st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
 
 
Today is a sad day in our country's history; it is a day of infamy, one of national shame. Since that Supreme Court Decision (a decision not based on biologic facts) and one that created a right to this particular brand of privacy (not to be found anywhere in the Constitution) over 55 million human lives have been terminated by the abortion industry. Until this genocide is stopped this country will continue on its road to a culture of death eventually destroying itself by the inevitable consequences of going down this self terminating direction...the death of this once great nation for which millions of men and women laid down their lives to protect in the many wars which this nation has fought...it never fought for death of the pre-born, the sick, the elderly or the mentally or physically challenged. They fought and died for "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." These are "unalienable Rights" given to us by our Creator and are intrinsic to our very being. Say a prayer "to life" today and everyday until this malignancy is removed from our nation. 

Friday, March 15, 2013

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Kill That Baby Abortion Game : Political Outcast

Kill That Baby Abortion Game : Political Outcast

After viewing this how can you not understand why life is so cheap and murder and killing of innocent beings is becoming almost an accepted activity.... we have become a society of DEATH. The gift of life is no longer considered precious.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Firearms...liberty teeth

 
 
George Washington, the father of our country, Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces and first President of our country, said "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance. They are the peoples' liberty teeth."
 
To use the word "firearms" as second only in importance to the Constitution was a deliberate inclusion...it meant that just like you can use your hands and legs to defend your God given liberty and life, the firearm is of utmost importance in safeguarding our country and ourselves from threats both from within and outside its borders. The use of the word "teeth" was also used intentionally because as we all know we do have canine teeth. uppers and lowers, and they are used in tearing and ripping not only to eat but in a last case scenario, to inflict injury or kill an enemy, ( I know it sounds barbaric but its true).
 
It may sound a little strange but when you have nothing left to fight with you use what God gave you to protect yourself and your liberty. No fancy legal talk or semantics here...just common sense. If it were not for firearms we would probably be speaking German or Japanese today or we might not even exist.
 
The 2nd Amendment is yours, personally, and not the government's to dispense if it wishes.

City Proposes Disarming Citizens In The Event Of A Disaster : Political Outcast

City Proposes Disarming Citizens In The Event Of A Disaster : Political Outcast

Progressive liberals starting the "disarm snowball" rolling, bye-bye 2nd Amendment.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Are You a Libertarian?

In my dictionary "liberty" is defined as "the condition of being free to choose, esp. as between ways of acting or living, with an implication of wisdom and voluntary restraint."
 
In the Preamble of the Libertarian Party Platform as adopted in Convention, May 2012, Las Vegas, Nevada it states:
 
As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.
 
In a world where all men and women were perfectly "angelic" this Utopian view would suffice. Unfortunately we are not "angels" and evil does exit which makes it necessary for a society (a community) to create a compact that most of us can agree to live and act under. There will always be outliers that will not agree with the entire compact or parts of it. Hopefully within the compact there will be language and tools included to settle these differences peacefully and enable the outliers to still remain in the compact granting them some type of licence or exemption to the part that they cannot in good conscience agree with. Unless we can achieve this using the tools we have been given, the Constitution and Bill of Rights this House, will not stand and the experiment started by our Founding Fathers will fail...never to return to the face of this Earth.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Friday, December 21, 2012

McHenry County College Board of Trustees...out of it's mind!!

In these dire financial times with the Country itself not knowing how to meet it's obligations the McHenry County Board of Trustees approved a 9.9 percent increase in its levy. Most individuals, families and small businesses are trying how to just survive over the next three to four years.

Trustees Cynthia Kisser, Carol Larson, Linda Liddell and Mary Miller supported the increase; Ronald Parrish and Barbara Walters voted against it.

What this means is that MCC wants about $30,000,000. million (yes that is with an M for million) in added residential taxes for next year; I think that is totally insane. Now is the time to sit tight and not go about and build a monument to county insolvency.

If this continues people and businesses will move out of McHenry County...to expensive to live here not to mention the State of Illinois which is going down the dumper.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Where are we going?

Having reached the age of 69 years one would think that by now I would have a clearer view and more focused image of where the United States would be at the end of this century; I don't even have a vague idea of where we will be at the end of this decade...confusing and frightful.

I was born during the Second World War and brought up during the "Cold War" with the then existent Soviet Union as a constant threat. I spent 21 years being educated in parochial schools and several years developing skills as an orthopedic surgeon while serving with the Navy during the Viet Nam War. After being discharged I worked alone in a private orthopedic practice...then retired.

I am married to the same wife of 47 years, have six grown children (in their 30s and 40s) and seven grand children.

So now you ask...where is the problem... the problem, at least from my perspective, is that the World seems to be more confused, less focused, less moral, less compassionate and the individual completely self-centered on him/herself. It appears to me that darkness (evil) may have the upper hand over light (truth/goodness/love) at least on an interim basis at this time in our history. It worries me because I don't, with my inner eye, see us taking a direction toward the light.

I know, through faith, that there is a Triune God and He will be victorious over darkness and completely remove it from existence...but when and for how long must the innocent in the World suffer? That is how far I have come on my 69 year journey...and that is confusing and frightful to me.

I am left with the words of the late Blessed Pope John Paul II, "Do not be afraid."

Obama Re-Elected by Illiterate Society Says Russian Newspaper

Obama Re-Elected by Illiterate Society Says Russian Newspaper

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Thanks

"Thank you" to all the veterans alive and dead who have fought for this country from the Revolutionary War to the current Worldwide War on Terror; and thanks to the families of these veterans who gave so much...some gave all.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

GET RID OF GOD AND RELIGION

 
The pathway to world domination, serfdom, slavery or whatever name you want to call it is the removal of the knowledge that there is a Creator, and a set of natural and created laws given to us by this higher power (God, Creator, First Mover...etc.). Before you can achieve a completely secular world you must extract from mankind his soul which was imprinted with these certain rights that no one can take away from him...Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and the greatest gift of all, the ability of man to know this through natural reason and the world around him...or in other words no matter what lies or propaganda he is force fed he will forever know these "GOD" given rights are his, and these are intrinsic to his nature or in other words imprinted within him when he came into "being".
 
I am confident that as the soul lives for eternity so will the principles that are imprinted in it. They will never end and will always triumph; good (truth) will always win over evil (lies).


Sunday, October 28, 2012

On Election Day consider the following

 
  • Obama was a member of the Board of Directors of the Joyce Foundation, the leading source of funds for anti-gun organizations and "research."
  • Obama opposed all Right to Carry laws.
  • Obama endorsed a complete ban on handgun ownership.
  • Obama voted to uphold criminal prosecutions of people who use firearms in self-defense.
  • Obama voted for a ban on standard-capacity magazines.
  • Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.
  • Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearms industry.
  • Obama's State Department reversed U.S. policy and participated in negotiations on a U.N. anti-gun treaty.
  • Obama wants to re-impose the failed and discredited Clinton gun ban on millions of common rifles, pistols and shotguns.
  • Obama appointed two anti-gun Supreme Court justices.
THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6, 2012. Your future and that of the United States of America may depend on it.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Pres. Obama...take this prayer to heart

"God grant that this religious liberty may be preserved in these states until the end of time, and that all believing in the religion of Christ may practice the leading principle of charity, the basis of every virtue."
 
Charles Carroll
Catholic &
Signer of the
Declaration of Independence


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Vote Obama for ...RADICAL...social engineering?

 
"The people of the United States do not wish to curtail the activities of this Government ; they wish, rather, to enlarge them; and with every enlargement, with the mere growth, indeed, of the country itself there must come, of course, the inevitable increase of expense...   It is not expenditure but extravagance that we should fear being criticized for."

These words sound like they could be taken out of the "playbook" of President B. Obama but they were taken from the 1914 State of the Union Address of the father of modern Progressivism President Woodrow Wilson. Do we really want to swing backward to a time in our history which has proved to be unsuccessful and degrading for most Americans and a period in which individual personal liberty was degraded. This Progressivism is not progressive it is suicidal for our nation. Remember there are no free lunches that last forever; most end shortly after the person promising them gets re-elected.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Concealed Carry....Illinois...Don't Need It...JOKE

We live in the land of Eden, a paradise of peace and tranquility.

Here are some statistics from the FBI.

Violet Crime:
                      Murder
                      Nonnegligent Homicide
                      Forcible Rape
                      Robery
                      Aggravated Assault

Property Crime:
                          Burglary
                          Larceny - theft
                          Motor vehicle theft
                          Arson

Crime Rates          NY,NY          CHICAGO, IL          U.S.A.

Violent Crimes          6                          9                          4

Property Crimes       3                          6                          4


As the numbers increase so does the rate of crime. So tonight when you go out to have a little fun and when you come back to hit the sack you can feel a lot better knowing you live in a really safe state that the politicians believe does not need a concealed carry provision so law abiding citizens can protect themselves and their families. Now don't you feel better knowing the facts from the FBI?....and the fact that many of our legislators just don't give a damn about your personal safety and your 2nd Amendment Rights.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Don't take a knife to a gun fight Pres. Obama

If the current administration in Washington has not learned by now it never will. Many in the middle east, some militant islamists, some regular citizens, some members of the "Brotherhood" and some just members of groups still fighting the "crusades of the middle ages" understand only one thing...POWER. If we can't defend an embassy in a hostile area we should not be there.

Until the governments and people in the hostile area realize that we would rather be respected than loved it will never change. Until they realize that whatever damage or death they inflict on us will be one thousand times greater on the perpetrators of the hostile act against us they will not understand. Power is the mainstay of diplomacy in the middle east followed very closely thereafter by money both above and under the table. Stop taking a knife to a gun fight and don't put our Marines in undefendable situations and if they still inflict damage and death make sure they understand the consequences to them will be a thousand times worse.

Stand with Israel, they are the only nation in that area that understands existential threat and probably the only one we can really count on in all of Europe...and I do understand what I am saying.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

What and who really runs this country (U.S.A.)?

MONEY controls this democratic republic; not the people, not the Constitution, not the three branches of government not any thing but MONEY. It sets the direction that this country is going. The political parties may have a minor influence but I trully believe it is only a minor one. What or who then controls, really controls this country; the answer is twofold 1) National monetary policy and 2) and reported in the Chicago Tribune (Sept. 4, 2012) the Bank of Bernanke. He, who works at the pleasure of the President is in reality probably the most powerful and influencial man in this country and maybe (at this time in our history) globaly. The institution he leads, the Federal Reserve, is in reality not a legitimate part of the governemt. It was  created around 1914 to conduct a central banking business but in truth it has evolved or some think devolved into a non-governmental central planning committee to eventually control a socialist state that will control every aspect of your life...freedom as we know it today will have evaporated and only a virtul perception of it will still remain in some minor form to control the masses (units) of people. The freemarket will be a defunct entitiy...lost in some volume of American history on some dusty shelf or floating somewhere in cyberspace.

As F.A Hayak said in his book,The Road to Serfdom we must do away with a all encompassing central planning governement because as history has testified over the centuries one that does will eventually degrade into totalitarianism, loss of individual freedom and often the death of millions of people in order to maintain its agenda. I worry that if we go down the road of a single central system we will extinguish the flame of freedom and free markets and eventually the United States of America...and we will have done it to ourselves...no foreign invader needed.

Monday, June 11, 2012

To Save the U.S......do this

In order to save this country we must:
  1. Elect Mitt Romney
  2. Enact term limits for all elected offices, local, state, national.
  3. End the Federal Reserve
  4. Return to a gold standard
  5. End the IRS and incorporate a consumption tax instead of an income tax
  6. Decrease the size of the Federal Government
  7. Empower States with more power and with less federal mandates
  8. Return to having the members of the Federal Senate chosen by the state legislatures
Enacting the above would be a great start in getting our country back to being a Democratic Republic and it back in the hands of "the people".

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

McHenry County Board...hint..vote for us

The timing is very interesting. In today's Northwest Herald we are being told about how the County Board is maybe going to consider reducing or holding the real estate taxes at the current level for the 2012 tax year. Well that is a year late a couple of thousand dollars too late. Remember that at election time and vote them all out...bye-bye.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day...2012

I was born in September 1943; the war in Europe and the Pacific was still going on and as a newborn I was sparred the horror of the carnage and death that war brings. My father, Ted and my uncle John both served in the south pacific. My father in the Navy on a LST (landing ship transport) and my uncle with the Marines. Thank God both returned home after the war ended without any physical injuries. Neither of them talked much about the war but carried their experiences within them. Both, now, have passed away but are not forgotten. My wife, a year younger than I, lost an uncle who was in the Army fighting in the south pacific...where his final resting place is no one knows...his name was Lawrence (Larry) Spillan, a young man just starting his life. Where his life may have taken him, if he had survived, no one knows.

Many years latter I served in the Navy as a physician and orthopedic surgeon; this was for several years during the Viet Nam War. During this period I was married to Kristina (Tina) and we had four children. I never was sent in "harms way' but I did see the carnage and at times the death that war brings. I cared for the wounded young marines and navy personnel who were returned to the States via Medivac flights. I don't remember names but remember the many devastated bodies and lives that would be forever changed. These are some of the memories that I carry today.

Thank you to all who served our country, in the past, and to all currently serving in any capacity today. God bless the United States of American and all the individuals who have protected her over the decades.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Has Congress Failed Us

Has the Congress and the Obama Administration failed us and brought us to a scenario described by F. A. Hayek in Chapter 5, page 107, paragraph 2 of The Road to Serfdom.

The delegation of particular technical tasks to separate bodies, while a regular feature, is yet only the first step in the process whereby a democracy which embarks on planning progressively relinquishes its powers. The expedient of delegation cannot really remove the causes which make all the advocates of comprehensive planning so impatient with the impotence of democracy. The delegation of particular powers to separate agencies creates a new obstacle to the achievement of a single coordinated plan. Even if, by this expedient, a democracy should succeed in planning every sector of economic activity, it would still have to face the problem of integrating these separate plans into a unitary whole. Many separate plans do not make a planned whole - in fact, as the planners ought to be first to admit, they may be worse than no plan."

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Advice to Pres. Obama...from the past

"The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals, would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted to no council and senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it." - Adam Smith

From (Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, ed R. H. Campbell and A. S. Skinner, vol. 1 of The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith, op. cit., book 4, chapter 2, p. 456. - Ed.)

Friday, March 30, 2012

Pres. Obama read F.A. Hayek

President Obama read F. A. Hayek's The Road To Serfdom and you will understand why the European Union and now we, the United States, are going down the failed road of centralized planning. No country that has ever embarked on a complete centralized planning process has ever sustained itself in the long run. The problem is in our society, which is now becoming even more complex and large (global in nature), that it cannot master the various complexities and constantly changing local, national and global nuances. According to Hayek, a centralized government that tries control all the aspects of that society cannot do so efficiently and eventually grinds itself into the ground as a failed state.

F. A. Hayek, a Nobel laureate in economics is still a strong and reasoned voice to listen too...now 20 years after his death.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

A Major Win for Religious Freedom

On January 11, 2012 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision that affirmed a religious group to choose their own ministers. This decision followed a lawsuit, Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC which was brought by an employee against a church-operated school.

The underlying question in this case was "whether the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment bar such an action when the employer is a religious group and the employee is one of the group's ministers."

It is my understanding that ministers of a particular religion are hired to teach the accepted dogmas of that particular religion...that should stand by itself. Now the primary job of a minister of a particular religion is to teach the dogmas of that particular religion for which that minister was hired. The opinion authored by Chief Justice Roberts for the Court was "that both  Religion Clauses bar the government  from interfering with the decision of a religious group to fire one of its ministers."

Now common sense should tell us that if a religious group can fire one of it's ministers for not teaching it's dogmas it should also be protected under the Religion Clauses from HHS (the federal government) telling them which dogmas they must abide by or they will incur a monetary penalty; the federal government fully understanding that this dogma has been promulgated for almost two thousand years. The sanctity of life must be protected from conception until natural death.

Reminder to the U.S. Supreme Court

The Federalist No. 78

"The courts must declare the sense of the law; and if they should be disposed to exercise WILL instead of JUDGMENT, the consequence would equally be the substitution of their pleasure to that of the legislative body."

Thursday, March 22, 2012

STAND UP for FREEDOM

The Obama administration through Health and Human Services on Jan. 20 mandated employers to provide free abortifacients, sterilizations and contraceptives through their insurance plans to their employees. This caused many religious and faith based employers to provide a service or product that was totally contrary to their religious and moral convictions.

This, I believe, is only the first in probably many steps that the Obama administration will continue to promulgate in removing from the U.S. Constitution and it's Bill of Rights most if not all the rights we have currently. If President Obama and his administration has another four years to act in this manner we will not recognize this country and I will not be able to write a blog such as this one. Beware!

Friday, March 16, 2012

America's Greatest Danger

America's greatest danger is not a country but the advancement of an evil principle by certain members of our citizenry. It has become obvious over the last few years that certain factions in this country want to do away with the principles which are inculcated in the founding documents of our country. They want to erase the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution with the "new state religion of secular humanism". They want us to take up and incorporate this "new state religion" into the inner recesses of our souls. By doing this they will be able to abolish even the memories of the fact that this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles which are unchanging moral truths which are inculcated in the very fabric of our being by nature and nature's Creator. Beware any individual or group who proposes this new modern progressive way of thinking about this "new progressive state religion" because in accepting it's so called modern dogmas you will loose your soul and eventually your country...beware of those who offer you that which they know they cannot deliver...they are deceivers.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Why now President Obama?

The force and coercion of Pres. Obama through his use of the HHS mandate to religious organizations to violate their religious principles by providing sterilizations, contraceptives and abortifacients is a very strange battle for the Obama administration to want to tackle at this time.

In the first place it violates our First Amendment Rights and secondly it is placing another debt on future generations that they may not be able to pay. The magic number known as the "replacement level" is 2.1 children for every couple. The only thing that is keeping this number from dipping below this level is illegal immigration. I suspect that to keep the U.S. at the needed "replacement level" that this will be used to justify softer immigration policies in regards to "illegal immigration". By somehow, socially engineering this segment of our society they may be able to control the future economy, deficits, taxes and various social segments of our nation.

This type of "central control" will only lead to a totalitarian state with bigger government and more control via coercive forces of this centralized big government. We all know what has happened in countries that have sought to use central planning to "control" all aspects of society....it resulted in slavery, gulags and the death of millions.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

Middle East Chaos...Ottoman Empire...Turkey...The Caliphate

The Islamic Empire once stretched from Morocco in northeastern Africa to the Caspian Sea near the mouth of the Volga river. It not only controlled a vast land mass but also a period of time from about 1280 AD to the end of World War I. During these centuries the boundaries changed, the leaders changed and many battles took place. The history and events are very complicated and some not fully understood. Different ethnicities, religions and regions were affected in very ways. I believe that still after all the centuries that have passed the militant islamists dream and plan to return to the control and power that they once had under the Caliphate. From watching and observing Turkey, supposedly pro-west, secular, and a member of NATO I suspect that the major initiative to fulfill this will take place with the full cooperation and aid from Turkey. Watch and wait...I think I will be "right on" this prediction.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Loss of Constitutional Rights for More Security

Woodstock - According to the Northwest Herald, February 15, 2012, "The McHenry County State's Attorney's Office has filed a civil lawsuit against the Latin Kings in an effort to target the gang's presence in Harvard."

"The suit falls under the Illinois Street Gang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act and aims at the infrastructure of the gang rather than just individual members."

Ever since the Islamist terrorist act that destroyed the twin towers and murdered over three thousand innocent individuals we have seen new laws passed that nibble away at our constitutional rights under the belief that if we do this we will be safer from terrorist strikes. When will this erosion of God given rights stop...if citizens are willing to give up their God given rights for the promise of more safety than they don't deserve either.

Today it is the Latin Kings in Harvard; tomorrow might it be the Catholic Church or the Mormons who are deemed "gangs" and a threat to the stability of the United States and the Obama Administration...I don't know...I just know this is a very slippery slope to eventual tyranny.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Corruption of traditional accounting principles

Over the last decade or two there has been a gradual corruption both on the American and European continents of the traditional principles of accounting as practiced for centuries. In many countries the (IAS), International Accounting Standards have abandoned the traditional principle of prudence and replaced it with the principle of fair value. This was a particularly positive principle, in good economic times, because it highly inflated the bottom line of the financial assets of brokerages, investment houses and in general in all that wanted to see "inflating" book values. Eventually the "bubble" that this practice created because of greed burst and we, economic sector and countries and individuals who bought into this artificial position found themselves holding worthless, non-liquid toxic investments. So instead of bitting the bullet and saying they made a greedy mistakes they, the central banks, the Fed, and semi-governmental institutions bought back this worthless "stuff" through various means including bailouts and creating more and more fiat money. The time now has come to stop the fiat money and create and monetary system not based on "wishing it so" but on one backed by hard assets worth something "in themselves". Will the governments of the world do this or will the "can" be kicked down the road to another generation which will only make the problem more difficult to solve because the hole we find ourselves in will only be much, much deeper?

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Central Economic Planning...the end of the Soviet Union

Over the last half century honest rigorous economic analysis and a balanced approach too centralized financial planning has shown that the centralized approach cannot succeed in defining the most advantageous monetary policy for every moment. This policy of centralized monetary planning and policy is one of the primary reasons the Soviet Union is now extinct. If one views the theory of socialism and centralized economic planning and policy making through this lens, which the Austrian economist did, one must come to the conclusion that it is self terminating. Ludwig von Mises and Friedrick A. Hayek discovered this and it can be applied to central banks here and abroad and too the Federal Reserve and to Ben Bernanke in particular. It is impossible organize a complex society by central planning and coercive commands of government; there are too many variables that cannot be know or understood. The free market must be left alone since it alone is usually ahead of the curve of the knowledge that any government can trully understand and plan for in it's rules and regulations which it believes will "control" the economy. Europe will do what it will do but in this country we must END THE FED.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Concealed Carry...saves lives?

Those who say there's no way an armed citizen could stop a potential mass shooting - and may even exacerbate the carnage - should take the following tale to heart. Customers at a Houston, Texas, Denny's restaurant were eating breakfast one morning when two armed robbers brandishing guns burst into the store and demanded money. One of the diners stood up, drew a handgun and opened fire on the men. The robbers fled the scene. No one was injured. (Associated Press, 11/26/11)

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Who do you trust?

Well who do you trust? As I get older I trust fewer and fewer people and entities. Call me jaded, call me paranoid or whatever you want....but I trully believe I may have attained the "wisdom" that comes with age and being lied to and screwed by individuals, businesses, politicians and govenments...local, state and national. Does anyone tell the truth or does everyone have their own agenda. So this coming election year I am going to judge a candidate by not only what they say they will try and do but by their past actions, promises and what they have accomplished. I suspect that I will be voting a majority of incombents out of office on local, state and national levels. Can new individuals with firm commitments do any worse that their forebearers...think not. So I think I am going to try and change the entire sltate and trust in providence and the zeal of neophytes to change the way government operates...hoping they will work for the people and not for themselves and their party. Wish me luck...I believe the future of our country depends on the results of this coming national election. Don't vote just for party but vote for the person who understands that they are there to serve you and the best interests of this country.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

George Washington's Principles of Leadership

When choosing someone you may vote for in the next presidential election reflect on Washington's Principles of Leadership:
  • Principle #1: Smaller Groups When Well Led Will Reflect The Unity Of The "Great Whole."
  • Principle #2: Governance Requires The Best Men//Women So That "The Great Whole" Is Not Mismanaged.
  • Principle #3: You Can't Please Everyone, So Seek The Good Of "The Great Whole."
  • Principle #4: Jealous Parties Must Be Urged To Exercise The Wisdom Of Being Part Of "The Great Whole."
  • Principle #5: Withering Criticism Can Be Weathered By A Consistent Policy Of Never Seeking Merely Local Or Partial Considerations, But By Always Seeking "The Great Whole's" Substantial And Permanent Interests.
  • Principle #6: Pursue the true interests of the Country rather than popularity.
Good advice from the Father of our Country then and today.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Liar liar pants on fire!

Now let me understand this: French President Nicolas Sarkozy was over hood saying "I can't stand him. He's a liar."...about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama stated "You're tired of him; what about me? I have to deal with him every day." Now those two pots (politicians) are calling the kettle black (Netanyahu)... what a joke...LOL. All politicians lie when they have too or even when they don't; it is a pre-requisite for office in today's world...isn't it? These are world leaders....LOL again. We all have to do better come election time.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Jacksonville NC Police Ban Pro-Lifers from City Sidewalk ‘In Case Car Jumps Curb’ | Godfather Politics

Jacksonville NC Police Ban Pro-Lifers from City Sidewalk ‘In Case Car Jumps Curb’ Godfather Politics

This is an attack on our First Amendment rights of free speech...soon we may need a "permit" from "big brother government" just to walk on a sidewalk all alone. Slowly but surely our rights are being eroded under the guise of protecting our health, well being or person. Don't you see the pattern.

Monday, October 24, 2011

The road to dictatorship?

Recently President Obama directed his staff at the White House to look and see if they could circumvent the Congress in order to get what he wants in his agenda accomplished and placed into law. It sounds like he wants to dictate his policy agenda into law without the input of the Congress and the people who gave him his power and the Congress it's powers. Does it not sound like a violation of his oath of office to defend the Constitution of the United States of America? Wonder what the Supreme Court of the United States of America might have to say about this circumventional action?

Saturday, October 22, 2011

The check is in the mail...?

The check is in the mail; how many times have you heard that line.

The meeting of the Woodstock Police Pension Board was called out of Closed Session and into Open Session at 7:56 PM on September 22, 2011 by Chairman Bittig and Mr. Fink moved to award Steven Gorski a non-duty disability pension dating back to November 29th of 2007. Ms Abrams seconded the motion. Chairman Bittig then took a roll call vote of the pension board members.
  • Mr. Knapp....Aye.
  • Ms. Abrams...Aye
  • Mr. Fink...Yes
  • Mr. Leard...Yes
Chairman Bittig then then stated the motion passed.

The hearing officer Mr. Kelly then stated that the Board will follow this oral decision with a written decision within 21 days of today. (Sept. 22, 2011) Mr. Kelly then stated that the written " will be served upon both parties and we'll address all the concerns raised in Mr. Duda's brief relative to due process and things in that findings and decision.

Chairman Bittig then called for a motion to adjourn and the members of the board all voted in the affirmative. Before the meeting was officially closed by Chairman Bittig Mr. Duda asked the following question of Mr. Kelly, "is the Board going to make payment before the 21 days? Mr. Duda stating that usually it's paid after the vote's taken, not from the decision.

Mr. Kelly then stated "They will start the processing. We have to verify the salary, what the salary was at the time. It was 2007. So we'll verify the salary and begin processing the check. Whether it comes prior to or at the time of the 21 days, I don't think we're going to hold it up."

Following this verbal understanding between Mr. Duda and Mr. Kelly, the hearing officer, the meeting was adjourned.

Today is Saturday, October 22, 2011, 30 days since the verbal decision was made and still no check and no written decision has been received. If one goes by the written letter of the written report of the proceedings Steven R. Gorski should have received his check on Sept. 13, 2011, exactly 21 days from the verbal decision.

Note: Nowhere in the official Report of Proceedings (which can be found on the City of Woodstock's Web page) for that Sept. 22, 2011 meeting does it refer anywhere to "working" days....only states "21 days". It also has been 21 working days since the verbal decision.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Universe...may have no set speed limit...maybe all is relative

The egos and inflated self images of many physicists, cosmologists and astronomers have taken a blow to perhaps all that they think they know about the Universe of which they are a part. Over the last several weeks scientists have been shooting a beam of neutrinos to labs equipped to detect these strange particles which apparently react with little or nothing...they travel through our bodies and the earth and solid objects as if nothing was in their way. That in itself is interesting but they also seem to not obey Einstein's universal speed limit of 186,000 miles per second. It may be that all that we have taken for granted regarding Einstein's theory of relativity, the "standard theory" of subatomic particles and a myriad of so called "laws of nature" are do to expire and will have to be re-thought in the not so distant future. Good luck boys and girls!

Could it be that maybe we are not as smart as we thing we are and that nature and the cosmos is more than just one step ahead of us.

Friday, September 30, 2011

United Nations....GO AWAY!!!!

As far a I am concerned the United Nations has outlived its usefulness. It has only been a thorn in our side and has given rogue and terrorist groups and countries a platform to spew their vitriol and propaganda. Leave our shores and don't expect any more money to support your anti-American and socialist agenda. Adios, farewell and good bye! And while were at it lets bid adieu to the World Bank and it's IMF, International Monetary Fund. Besides being the world's policeman lets also stop being its financial savior. Let us see how the elite European sophisticates can do on their own.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Ten Hayekian Insights for Trying Economic Times

These insights were adapted from a Heritage First Principles Essay by Bruce Caldwell.
  1. Recessions are bound to happen.
  2. Central planning and excessive regulation sure don't work.
  3. Some regulation is necessary.
  4. A stimulus will only stimulate the deficit.
  5. The economy is too complex for precise forecasting.
  6. Remember the rule of unintended consequences.
  7. You won't believe how much you'll learn in Econ 101.
  8. Leave social justice out of it.
  9. Nothing beats the free market.
  10. As a rule of thumb, government cures are not only worse than the disease, but lead to further disease.
Taken from a Special Abridged Edition of Friedrich A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom, pages 45 to 48. This was produced from the Heritage Foundation.

Monday, September 19, 2011

09/19/11...the President's speech

Today President Obama gave a political/economic/re-election speech. I just have a few bullet points to make about it...you can make of them what you will.

  • He use "I" twenty-four (24) times in 20 minutes of talking
  • He stated that government "always has to do a little more"
  • He stated that physicians should be paid for good results obtained not for what they do. If you used this same standard for the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Federal Government they would very rarely be paid.
  • He stated that he is not promoting "class warfare" yet he fails to state that nearly half of the population of the United States pays no income tax.
  • He states that Warren Buffet's tax rate is less than the tax rate of those who work for him. That is because Mr. Buffet is paying Capital Gains Tax....15% and his employees are paying Income Tax of 25 to 35%. This was passed by Congress. In actual dollars Mr. Buffet pays a lot, lot, lot, lot.....more.
Digest the above and ask yourself if President Obama is trying to make points or votes for the coming election or if he is really leveling with you.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

9/11/2001

A moment of silence and prayer for those who were murdered in the Twin Towers, in the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania today and for all the military who have served in the War on Terror since then and those who will continue this pursuit.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

The Arab Spring.....LOL

Cairo, Friday, September 9, 2011 - Spring is supposed to be filled with the aroma of newly bloomed flowers and freshly turned earth for planting new life giving food. In Cairo, Egyptian mobs tore down the wall that surrounds the Israeli Embassy. Once inside they vandalized the offices which were empty because it is the weekend in Egypt.

Oh the glory of such a sight...destruction based on hatred and the smell of tear gas and gunpowder in the air. Added to the above aroma wafting in the air was the mantra calling for the ouster of Israel's ambassador. Now that is what I call a "real Arab Spring".

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Turkey...at geopolitical crossroad

Turkey's location is at the geographical crossroads of Europe and Asia. Now, with it's expelling of the Israeli ambassador it is venturing into a political arena that may, in the long run, not be in the best interests of Turkey. The Israeli ambassador was expelled because of Israel's refusal to apologize for last year's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. This was more than an aid flotilla, it was an act to break the embargo of arms that were  coming into Gaza. The majority religion of Turkey is Islam with small minorities of Judaism and Christianity. I suspect they, the government, is reacting to the pressure of the Islamic majority. In theory Turkey is a secular, democratic constitutional republic and as such has received significant U.S. economic and military assistance. In theory it remains linked with the West and has been friendly with Israel. It is a member of NATO, the Council of Europe, OECD, OSCE and the G-20 economies. In 2005 it began negotiations with the EEC (European Economic Community). It has also held close ties to many Islamic countries in the Middle East.

I pray that Turkey makes the prudent decision to continue it's pro-Western attitude and associations; going the other way would only foster infiltration of militant middle eastern elements into Turkey's secular democratic society.

Health Care Law

Health Care Law

Friday, August 19, 2011

Where but for God go we....near future?

SOMECITY, SOME STATE, U.S.A. - Looters were caught in SOMECITY stealing electronic goods from stores in SOME STATE, U.S.A. When asked to explain the reason for their actions they responded "we are on a shopping spree." One blamed the government saying that they are not getting enough entitlements and welfare to meet their ever increasing needs and wants. So here is another triumph for entitlement mentality...we need even bigger government and more spending for their ever increasing wants. They are justifying their actions so no one dare call them robbers, thieves and burglars, that would imply they did an illegal and immoral act...and we can't say such things in our politically correct society anymore.

These actions have taken place here in the U.S. and are leading us to the final destination of a national entitlement mentality and the nanny welfare state and eventually anarchy and fragmentation if not complete dissolution of the United States of America. Ever since FDR and his "new deal" and LBJ and his "war on poverty" this has been the trajectory that this nation has been on; it must change because it is not sustainable and will by the middle of this century if not sooner lead to the demise of this country...we will bury ourselves from within...no foreign enemy will need lift an arm against us...we will do it to ourselves. On our national tombstone it will read "Here rests the United States of America...cause of death...economic suicide".

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Data of attorneys should be on the Web also

Thanks to Hilary Gowins of Shawmedia for giving me the idea.

Imagine a website where consumers could type in the name of an attorney and learn everything they needed to know before making an appointment: an attorney's educational background, certification of specialties (there are only two recognized...patent law and admiralty law), any publications written, and in what States and courts they have privileges to practice their profession.

What if they also could view any disciplinary actions, including convictions of felony crimes or misdemeanors and judgements or settlements in malpractice cases?

Unfortunately Illinois residents don't have such a tool at their disposal.

I would hope that Governor Pat Quinn would sign legislation of a similar nature regarding the legal profession in the near future; but don't hold your breath since many of our legislators are attorneys.

Just think what an advantage this would be to a client and his/her family would have in selecting an attorney skilled in the area of law they are seeking.

I just have one question: if it is such a good idea to have such a list available for patients seeking physicians seeking specialty trained individuals why is it not just as good an idea to have a list of attorneys for clients seeking attorneys that have experience, if not specialty training, in certain areas of law. An individual would not go to see a dermatologist if they had a broken bone...would they?

Thanks again Ms. Hilary Gowins of Shawmedia for giving me the idea for this blog.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

A picture is worth a thousand words

Pick up Sunday, July 24th 2011 Chicago Tribune and go to page 25 in the NATION & WORLD section. There you will find a photograph of two men with sad and I believe perplexed looks on their faces...expressions that are beyond words to explain the fatigue and emotional distress expressed on their faces and body postures.

Read the article by Peter Nicholas and Lisa Mascaro if you want; but I don't think it can add much more than the expressions on both mens' faces. On the left, House Speaker John Boehner and on the right President Obama.

I looked at this photograph and saw two different views of the United States' projected trajectory; one directed toward bigger government, more taxes and a larger deficit and one toward smaller government, less taxes and a smaller deficit. The perplexing part is that each man thinks he is correct in his views and that his views are what the American people want.

I say a prayer every night for the politicians, given the power by "the people" to make the prudent and correct decisions that will be the best ones for all the people of the United States of America.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Is there a double standard Gov. Quinn?

Is there a double standard Governor Quinn between sex offenders who are physicians and those who are attorneys? According to an article written by Tribune reporter Megan Twohey in Friday's July 22, 2011 Chicago Tribune...in the TRIBUNE WATCHDOG UPDATES section titled Sex offenders will lose their medical licenses there must be a double standard.

The article states that "Doctors and other health care workers convicted of sex crimes, forcible felonies or battery of a patient (client) will be stripped of their medical licences in Illinois under a sweeping new law." emphasis (client) added

"Gov. Pat Quinn signed the measure Thursday in response to a Tribune investigation that found predatory doctors, even those convicted of crimes, often faced little or no punishment from state regulators, said his spokeswoman, Brooke Anderson." No mention of weather the Tribune investigated the legal profession in regards to predatory attorneys convicted of crimes and weather or not they often faced little or no punishment from state regulators...I wonder why that was not mentioned; I wonder if the trial lawyers could have donated significantly more to the Governor's political campaign.

According to the article in the Chicago Tribune "The governor wants patients (why not attorney clients) to feel safe and to be safe," she said. (emphasis attorney clients) added  "After the things that were brought to light in the tribune, he supported the bill." I wonder if the governor feels the same way about attorneys that commit crimes. I wonder if the Tribune has the "guts" to do an in debt investigation of attorneys that commit crimes and if they ever even come to the light of day for investigation much less prosecution and loosing their law licenses. I think that would be an interesting study and one that would be fair and balanced....don't you? Go ahead and do it Chicago Tribune...I dare you...I double dare you!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

U.S. becoming an oligarchy?

According to the U.S. Constitution, Article, IV, Section. 4; "The United States shall guarantee to every State in the Union a Republican Form of Government...".

According to the U.S. Constitution, Article. I., Section. 8., Paragraph 2., "The Congress shall have the power "To borrow Money on the credit of the United States,".

Nowhere in the Constitution does it give the authority to Congress to pass a bill giving the Executive Branch (the President) the authority to raise the debt ceiling. This is being proposed by a handful of legislators in the Congress (an oligarchy) in the hope that it will be approved by the Congress. It is the directed duty of Congress not the Executive to pass a bill to either increase, keep the same, or decrease the debt ceiling. They are mandated by the Constitution to do this; they cannot constitutionally pass this on to the President. The political theater must stop and the Congress, both Republicans, Democrats and Independents must meet their responsibilities and not posture for future elections. I believe that those who continue to play political theater wont be on the list of actors in the next Congress.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

The World Bank

Following World War II two significant politico-economic entities, the U.S. and the U.K. created the World Bank. Concurrent with the war, business entities either had their businesses (mortar and bricks) bombed to hell or left Europe with all the liquid assets they could carry or somehow transport to safe havens for their assets. Leftists, comprised of resistance leaders, communists, anarchists and socialists filled the void left by the business, well financed elite that had left for safer locations. In order to prevent these leftist groups from taking power by the void left by the vacated business elites the U.S. and the U.K. devised a way to get these business classes back into power. The U.S. and U.K. had to create an international system to champion and grow capitalist policies.

Thus the reason for the creation of the World Bank; this bank focused on making loans to governments for the rebuilding of the infrastructure of various countries devastated by the war...those parts of the economy that primarily improved the financial aspect of the governmental sector. Those parts of the economy that improved the private sector were left to the private companies and taxpayers. After western Europe and Japan were somewhat rehabbed the World Bank focused some of its lending towards third world countries.

The IMF (International Monetary Fund) portion of the World Bank would lend money to countries that the U.S. and the U.K. would choose so that commerce, trade and balance of payments could be smoothed out more so that this policy would benefit all nations but especially the U.S. and England...self interest was at work here and this was not at all done for humanitarian reasons alone. The IMF and World Banks' underlying mission was to bring together all the financial elites of all the countries and form a capitalistic system. This was in essence a Keynesian "pump-priming" that would especially benefit the U.S. and the U.K..

By adjusting their policies the World Bank and IMF could push certain economic and political policies which suited them more than the other countries in the system. This set up a type of "colonial control system" that would selectively allow some corporations to repatriate (bring back) profits, balance countries (governments) budgets and other internal matters of sovereign countries. In reality is was a system of control by the U.S. and England over many of the countries in Europe; one might say it was an indirect was of "colonizing" these countries via economic control policy.

Note" Materials and data from 50 Years Is Enough, edited by Kevin Danaher.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Bretton Woods Agreement

Following the end of World War II the allies where faced with the challenge of developing a postwar monetary system. In 1944 they meet in the Bretton Woods of New Hampshire. About two and one half years had gone into the planning of the postwar monetary  system that was to be used by the Treasuries of the U.K. and the U.S. and Forty four allied nations and neutral Argentina. A system was designed to legal binding obligations among these allied nations to form an international organization, the IMF, International Monetary Fund. Two rival plans were developed; one by the U.S. represented by Harry Dexter White and the other by the U.K. represented by John Maynard Keynes. Ultimately a compromise was agreed too that resembled the U.S. plan to a greater extent. In order to solve the monetary chaos that occurs during post and interwar periods their judgement was to form the Articles of Agreement of the IMF.

What emerged was the 'pegged rate' or also know as the 'adjustible peg' currency system which obligated members to declare a par value (a 'peg') for their national money and to intervene within maximum margins that were agreed upon.

They agreed on several items which resulted in what was the 'pegged rate' monetary regime which became known as the 'par value system'. They also agreed that if exchange rates did not float freely, countries would require adequate supplies of monetary reserves. If some countries could not supply this reserve a supplementary source would of these funds should be established. What eventually emerged was a system of subscriptions and quotas embedded in the IMF. The members of the IMF where then permitted to borrow monies in amounts regulated by the size of its quota.

Another point on which all the governments agreed upon was to end the economic warfare that occurred during the 1930s. A system of rule was created to ensure fairness in currency practices. The IMF was responsible to oversee these new rules of fairness governing currency transactions.

Most importantly they agreed that there was need for an institutional forum for international cooperation on monetary policy. The IMF in the postwar years did provide such a forum.

Putting all these agreements together essentially created and defined the Bretton Woods Agreement or System. The IMF which was at the center of this agreement was hoped to perform three important tasks:
  1. Regulatory administration of the rules governing currency
  2. Financial (supplying supplementary monies as needed)
  3. Consultative (a forum for cooperation among governments)
All however did not go as smoothly and as optimistically hope for right after the end of the war and even to this very day. The United States eventually became the leading economic contributor and responsible entity to carry on the tasks of the IMF. The U.S. managed to keep an open market, to continue the flow of money and grants first through the Marshall Plan and eventually through the finally reopened New York market. Also the U.S. continued a lending policy for the provision of short term funds in times of crisis.

Though a multinational agreement in formal design quickly became the U.S.'s Bretton Woods Agreement and the U.S. dollar the exchange standard and to this day remains so. For a period of time during the "cold war" the U.S. welcomed this control and the world did not mind having a source of liquid capital as needed in crises or perceived crises. The system eventually broke down in the early 1970s for many reasons.

I will share more with you about the demise of the Bretton Woods Agreement in future blogs. Promise!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

'Education is a basic civil right'...WHAT?

Gov. Pat Quinn just signed the education overhaul bill in an elementary school in Maywood. It takes effect immediately and largely has the support of unions and advocacy groups.

According to Senator Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, "this is not a bill to attack the teachers". She sponsored this bill. She goes on to state that "Education is a basic civil right." Here we go again with politicians making something a civil right when it is not. I guess if you say it enough people will believe you. Just to make sure I pulled out my copy of the U.S. Constitution and no where, I repeat no where is it stated that education is a basic civil right granted by it. So don't believe everything you read in the newspapers or everything a politician says...check it out for yourself.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

U.S. don't count on NATO in the future

Brussels, Friday, June 10, 2011 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke at the Biblioteque Solvay regarding security and defense. According to an article by Associate Press reporters Desmond Butler and Robert Burns, the Secretary warned that the "NATO military alliance is at risk." His reasons, "penny-pinching and the distaste for front-line combat." Well isn't that just too bad after we have hauled their hind ends out of two world wars. According too the reporters the Secretary stated that the United States "won't carry the alliance as a charity case" anymore.

The only NATO country that agreed and with gusto was Britain; so much for the rest of our so-called allies. I guess now we know who we can count on in the future...not many.

Gates warned the Europeans of the distaste of Americans towards Europe's priorities. He warned "the blunt reality is that there will be dwindling appetite and patience in the U.S. Congress, and in the American body politic at large, to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense."

In essence I believe that Gates was telling the Europeans that they need to start "carrying their fair share" of the load that the U.S. has been doing for "six decades".  Well it is about time someone in a high position in the government told the European "users" the truth of the situation and that we are sick and tired of constantly bailing them out of situations they got themselves into.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Martin Anderson's Policy Memorandum No.1

ECONOMIC POLICY
by Martin Anderson


The Plan

(1) We must speed up economic growth to increase the take-home pay of workers and to provide more jobs.

  • Reduce federal taxes
  • Index federal income tax brackets
  • Reduce and eliminate counterproductive federal government regulation of business, education, and the professions
(2) Federal spending must be controlled

  • Reduce and eliminate waste and extravagance in federal spending
  • Establish effective controls on federal spending
  • Give the President line-item veto power over the budget
  • Transfer certain federal programs, along with the tax resources that finance them, back to state and local governments
(3) Balance the federal budget
(4) Economic policy must be consistent, dependable, with no abrupt changes
(5) Propose an "Economic Bill of Rights"
    • Section 1.Limit the amount the federal government can spend
    • Section 2.Require the federal budget to be balanced
    • Section 3.Prohibit the imposition of wage and price controls
    • Section 4. Establish line-item veto power for the President
    • Section 5. Require a two-thirds vote of Congress on all major spending bills
This plan should show positive results within at most one to two years.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Two U.S. Senators on the Intelligence Committee...beware of the Patriot Act

Two Democratic U.S. Senators, Mark Udall of Colorado and Ron Wyden of Oregon have gone of record as warning the citizens of the U.S. that if they knew how and to what extent the Patriot Act is being used they would be alarmed at how the Act might and can and in some instances undermines our civil liberties under the premise that the government is using it just to protect us from terrorism. The documents that explain how the Obama administration implements the Patriot Act are classified. The two senators above are privy to this information and without telling the details (which they cannot do so legally) at least warned us to beware.

I believe that the government is obtaining "bulk information" from a very large cross sections of this country's citizens that has nothing to do with spying or terrorism and using it to have an electronic file on each and everyone of us...maybe "big brother" is already hear. Things that start off innocently ofter lead to "ends" not justified by the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. Beware of those who never loose an opportunity to use an "emergency" to further aggrandise power and centrally locate it in the Federal Government...big government leads to more control of the people and less control of the people who should be in control of their Government.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Pres. Obama...abusing War Powers Resolution?

According to U.S. Code, Title 50, Chapter 33, S 1541:

Purpose and policy

(a) Congressional declaration
It is the purpose of this chapter to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgement of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces in such situations.

(b) Congressional legislative power under necessary and proper clause
Under article I, section 8, of the Constitution, it is specifically provided that the Congress shall have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution, not only its own powers but also all other powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer hereof.

(c) Presidential executive power as Commander-in-Chief; limitation
The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to

  1. a declaration of war,
  2. specific statutory authorization, or
  3. a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.
According to Senator Richard Lugar who was the former chairman of and is currently the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee in a letter to Pres. Obama dated May 23; he contends that Obama's commitments to consult with Congress and act "consistent with" the War Powers Resolution  "have not been fulfilled." Since that letter the President has been stonewalling the Congress. Since the President is not fulfilling the requirements of the WPR the Congress should take further legal action in forcing him to meet his constitutional obligations or suffer the consequences thereof.