11/25/2010

The Real Story of Thanksgiving

"The story of the Pilgrims begins in the early part of the seventeenth century (that's the 1600s for those of you in Rio Linda, California). The Church of England under King James I was persecuting anyone and everyone who did not recognize its absolute civil and spiritual authority. Those who challenged ecclesiastical authority and those who believed strongly in freedom of worship were hunted down, imprisoned, and sometimes executed for their beliefs. A group of separatists first fled to Holland and established a community.

"After eleven years, about forty of them agreed to make a perilous journey to the New World, where they would certainly face hardships, but could live and worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. On August 1, 1620, the Mayflower set sail. It carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty Pilgrims led by William Bradford. On the journey, Bradford set up an agreement, a contract, that established just and equal laws for all members of the new community, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Where did the revolutionary ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact come from? From the Bible. The Pilgrims were a people completely steeped in the lessons of the Old and New Testaments. They looked to the ancient Israelites for their example.

"And, because of the biblical precedents set forth in Scripture, they never doubted that their experiment would work. But this was no pleasure cruise, friends. The journey to the New World was a long and arduous one. And when the Pilgrims landed in New England in November, they found, according to Bradford's detailed journal, a cold, barren, desolate wilderness. There were no friends to greet them, he wrote. There were no houses to shelter them. There were no inns where they could refresh themselves. And the sacrifice they had made for freedom was just beginning. During the first winter, half the Pilgrims – including Bradford's own wife – died of either starvation, sickness or exposure. When spring finally came, Indians taught the settlers how to plant corn, fish for cod and skin beavers for coats.

"Life improved for the Pilgrims, but they did not yet prosper! This is important to understand because this is where modern American history lessons often end. Thanksgiving is actually explained in some textbooks as a holiday for which the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Indians for saving their lives, rather than as a devout expression of gratitude grounded in the tradition of both the Old and New Testaments. Here is the part that has been omitted: The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belong to the community as well. They were going to distribute it equally. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belonged to the community as well.

"Nobody owned anything. They just had a share in it. It was a commune, folks. It was the forerunner to the communes we saw in the '60s and '70s out in California – and it was complete with organic vegetables, by the way. Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as that first harsh winter, which had taken so many lives. He decided to take bold action. Bradford assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace. That's right. Long before Karl Marx was even born, the Pilgrims had discovered and experimented with what could only be described as socialism. And what happened? It didn't work!

"It never has worked! What Bradford and his community found was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation! But while most of the rest of the world has been experimenting with socialism for well over a hundred years – trying to refine it, perfect it, and re-invent it – the Pilgrims decided early on to scrap it permanently. What Bradford wrote about this social experiment should be in every schoolchild's history lesson. If it were, we might prevent much needless suffering in the future. 'The experience that we had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years...that by taking away property, and bringing community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God,' Bradford wrote.

"'For this community [so far as it was] was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense ... that was thought injustice.' Why should you work for other people when you can't work for yourself? What's the point? Do you hear what he was saying, ladies and gentlemen? The Pilgrims found that people could not be expected to do their best work without incentive. So what did Bradford's community try next? They unharnessed the power of good old free enterprise by invoking the undergirding capitalistic principle of private property.

"Every family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products. And what was the result? 'This had very good success,' wrote Bradford, 'for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.' Bradford doesn't sound like much of a Clintonite" I wrote then "does he? Is it possible that supply-side economics could have existed before the 1980s? Yes. Read the story of Joseph and Pharaoh in Genesis 41. Following Joseph's suggestion (Gen 41:34), Pharaoh reduced the tax on Egyptians to 20% during the 'seven years of plenty' and the 'Earth brought forth in heaps.' (Gen. 41:47) In no time, the Pilgrims found they had more food than they could eat themselves.

"Now, this is where it gets really good, folks, if you're laboring under the misconception that I was, as I was taught in school. So they set up trading posts and exchanged goods with the Indians. The profits allowed them to pay off their debts to the merchants in London. And the success and prosperity of the Plymouth settlement attracted more Europeans and began what came to be known as the 'Great Puritan Migration.'" But this story stops when the Indians taught the newly arrived suffering in socialism Pilgrims how to plant corn and fish for cod. That's where the story stops, and the story basically doesn't even begin there. The real story of Thanksgiving is William Bradford giving thanks to God for the guidance and the inspiration to set up a thriving colony. The bounty was shared with the Indians. They did sit down and they had dinner, and I think they had a turkey, but it was not the Indians who saved the day. It was capitalism and Scripture which saved the day."

Source

11/10/2010

Deficit Commission Proposal

What I think was a move to save face with the American people and to look like he was actually doing something or concerned with the National Debt, President Obama organized a bipartisan deficit commission to come up with ways of reducing this debt.

A couple of the proposals from the commission:
  • Reduce the annual cost-of-living increases in Social Security and curbing growth in Medicare
  • Eliminated popular tax breaks like the Mortgage or Child Tax Credit

Before looking more into these proposals let’s go back in time and look at some things that Barack Obama has said and what he has done in the first two years of his Presidency.



From January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009 the debt held by the public grew $3 trillion under Mr. Bush. By comparison, from the day Mr. Obama took office the debt held by the public will grow by $3.3 trillion. In 20 months, Mr. Obama will add as much debt as Mr. Bush ran up in eight years! WSJ

By eliminated popular tax breaks like the Mortgage Tax Credit would mean the single largest tax increase on every home owner across the nation that has a mortgage! This would not go over well with the American people and would break Obama's no tax increase promise, which has already been broken with ObamaCare.

I have a few proposals of myself on how to reduce the deficit, that I think are common sense and am in awe that these ideas aren't on the table that I can see.

  • First and foremost, government spending has to stop or drastically reduced. To think we can spend our way out of debt or out of a recession is ludicrous and makes NO sense on so many levels that it makes you wonder about the compentency level of this administration and its advisors.
  • Second, and almost just as important as the first, is that our government should be required to be on a balanced budget. They would only be allowed to spend on the estimated revenue it receives in any given year.
  • Third, Timothy Geitner and Ben Bernake need to be fired and appoint Dave Ramsey to take either place and Dave's choice of team members to run the Treasury and Federal Reserve. Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover needs to be applied to the government - common sense principles of getting out of debt! I would be willing to bet everything I own that Dave Ramsey could do more to reduce the deficit in four years than all the administrations combined in the last 200 hundred years!
  • Fourth, entitlement programs need to be drastically reformed, reduced, or eliminated.
  • Last, but not least, fifth, pork spending and earmarks need to be eliminated and leave it to the states.
It wouldn't hurt to eliminate the progressive income tax while we're at it and have a flat tax for everyone across the nation so no matter how much you make you pay the same percentage in tax. That alone would incentivise business owners to invest and expand their businesses creating more jobs thus increasing tax revenue for the government.

Our country is headed down a path that is literally unsustainable. Drastic changes need to happen and happen soon or we may be facing what Greece and Europe is facing.

The Blaze

11/09/2010

Being Prepared

All of my life I have been taught to be prepared both spiritually and temporally. I have always worked on my spirituality trying to live my Christian values and trying to be a better person. Temporally has always been on the back burner until recently.

I have been counseled all my life that I should have one-year of food storage available in cases of emergency. Not only food, but also getting my house in order, being out of debt, and have a reserve of cash as well. I have always known that I should work on it, but like I said have put it on the back burner.

Recently though, the past 1-2 years I have felt a sense of urgency of getting these temporal affairs in order. It is constantly on mind my mind every day and can't shake it off. Slowly, I have been stocking up on food and water and paying down our debt. My wife and I have made great progress and wish we could do more faster.

I don't know what the future holds or what emergencies will come where if I'm not prepared I'd be up a creek without a paddle, but I am listening to the still small voice that's giving me this sense of urgency and doing what I can to be prepared. Given the current state of our nation and economy I figure it's not a bad idea and would encourage any to do the same.

Here are some great websites I frequent that help with my getting prepared:

www.providentliving.com
www.beprepared.com
www.daveramsey.com (Common sense ideas to get out of debt)

11/08/2010

Lack of Communication or the Policies?

Election Day on November 2, 2010 made history when Republicans took over the House of Representatives in a landside not seen in over 70 years! In addition to this, Senate Republicans picked up several seats further reducing the Democratic super majority they have held the past couple of years. Most governor races throughout the nation also turned red.

You would think that this would send a message to President Obama that the American people are not happy with the direction the country has taken with his progressive agenda and policies. When asked about it during an interview on 60-Minutes yesterday they President responded by saying he didn't think it was his policies, but a lack of communication, deliverance, and explanation of those policies to the American people.
"...leadership isn’t just legislation. That it’s a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone. Making an argument that people can understand. I think that we haven’t always been successful at that. And I take personal responsibility for that. And it’s something that I’ve got to examine carefully...as I go forward.”
In other words, he thinks that we, the American people, are too stupid to understand. To me, this shows me just how out of touch our President and his administration is with the American people. We fully understand Mr. President! We understand that you have increased the size and scope of the government at levels not seen since Woodrow Wilson. We understand that you are trying to "fundamentally transform" our country. We understand.

Mr. President, it seems like you are the one that doesn't understand. We don't want the government running the auto industry, our banks, Wallstreet, and most importantly our health care! We don't want the government regulating every aspect of our lives. We don't want the government spending trillions of dollars and debting this country that will enslave us for generations. We want limited government and policies that will promote economic growth like less taxes and less government instrusion!

Are you understanding us? No. You will continue down your progressive path and agenda. That's fine. You will be a one-term President. We will get a President in the White House that doesn't want to bankrupt our country. We will take back the House and Senate and repeal or defund your policies. If you don't think this Election Day on November 2nd was a direct message that we don't like what you're doing, in two years you will.

11/06/2010

Economics 101: Supply & Demand

If there is not enough apples to meet the demand of the consumer the price or value of the apple goes up. If the supply of apples are greater than the demand the price or value goes down. Simple basic economics right? Same thing applies to the American dollar. If the supply of the dollar (more available in the system) the price or value goes down.

On November 3, 2010 the Federal Reserve headed up by Ben Bernanke announced that it will buy $600 billion of our own treasury bonds to "stimulate" the economy. Basically what this means is that the Fed in printing $600 billion to buy our own (America's) debt. This influx of available cash will cause the value of the dollar to go down. When this happens my hard earned money buys less than what it did before because of inflation...especially in commodities...expect prices to soar!

Businessweek.com published this article showing how this happening: Dollar Drops Most in Four Weeks as Federal Reserve to Buy Bonds

Please take a few minutes and read this article. It is very informative. Glenn Beck: Devaluing the Dollar

10/12/2010

Driving Them Out!

No, this isn't about illegal immigrants. In the past I've talked about entitlement programs and how I think they hurt people more than help. I found this great quote by Benjamin Franklin:
"I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer."
I don't see how anyone can read this and not have it make sense. It certainly doesn't make sense to Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives...



So the more people who are on food stamps and getting unemployment insurance benefits gets the biggest bang for the buck? This is insane! Nancy should be fired for incompetence! She just may in a few weeks when millions of Americans will go to the polls for mid-term election. FIRE NANCY PELOSI!!! GET OUT AND VOTE!!!

10/11/2010

Feeling the Effects of Health Care Reform

McDonalds recently came out and said that it would be dropping health care coverage for 30,000 of it's employees because of the health care reform (aka ObamaCare) legislation that was passed a few months ago. Not long after that announcement the federal government granted a "waiver" for the company not requiring the implementation of key provisions in the legislation for one year. Many other big companies and unions have also received a waiver.

I work for a big corporation. The name of this corporation I'll call "Bobble." I received an email from my company announcing that open enrollment for health care insurance is coming up next month and to give us information regarding upcoming changes. The following is an excerpt of the email:
"While Health Care Reform takes effect gradually over the next several years, Bobble Corporation will continue to monitor what it means for our long-term strategy. We'll keep you informed about anything that will affect you or your family. For 2011, two changes result directly from Health Care Reform. Dependents may now be covered under the medical plan up to age 26, regardless of student or marital status, as long as they don't have access to coverage through their employer. Also, over-the-counter drugs without a prescription (except for insulin), will no longer be reimbursed through your pre-tax Health Care Spending Account.

"Employee medical plan contributions will increase for 2011. This increase reflects both rising medical costs and the costs of covering more eligible dependents."
I was expecting an increase in premium due to rising health care costs like every year, but also, my cost is being increased due to the insurance company having to cover more people. The insurance company is in business to make money. If something happens to that company that is going to cost them more money, they have to raise their rates to make it worth while to remain in business and make a profit. In turn, Bobble Corporation is also in the business to make money and when their costs go up they pass it along to their employees and maybe even their customers in higher prices for their product/service. So this health care reform is directly effecting me, my family, and my take home pay each month.

What do you think is going to happen when insurance companies are required to cover pre-existing conditions? Companies will be faced with lowering coverage for certain benefits, raising rates, or not evening providing health care insurance because it will be too expensive. Rates will skyrocket!!! If companies stop providing this service, health insurance companies will lose money and eventually not be able to make a profit and have a reason to be in business. When companies drop their insurance where will the employees go? Ahhh, the federal goverment. This is what progressives, liberals, and the current Obama administration have wanted for a very, very, long time. The proof is in the pudding...



Say hello to the beginning of the end of health care insurance as we know it. This legislation NEEDS to be REPEALED and REPLACED with something that will actually work in bringing down health care costs, which will lower costs for Americans! GET OUT AND VOTE!!!

10/10/2010

Are Prophets of God on the Earth Today?

As I read the Bible and other sacred scriptures I cannot help but think about the role of prophets throughout all of history. From the time of Adam and Eve, God has called special witnesses of His son, Jesus Christ, to proclaim his gospel plan and His will to us. In the book of Amos, chapter 3, verse 7 it reads:
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
Prophets is plural for a reason...meaning more than one. When God declares His word and will it doesn't just come from one person. In the second book of Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 1 it reads:
"...In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."
If there was only one person declaring the will of God it would be easy to not hear it, but when multiple people are declaring it it's not so easy.

Think about it for a minute...throughout all of history God has called prophets like Noah and Moses...do you really think that God would leave us stranded today without somebody called of God to declare his will to the inhabitants of men? It doesn't seem likely. No loving God would leave his children without guidance.

I believe and know that our Heavenly Father continues to call special witnesses to testify of Him, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The prophets and apostles are alive and living today. As such, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a proclamation called "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles" in which they do as they were called and testify that He lives!

In 1995, the First Presidency of the LDS Church released "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" where they "solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."

Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has recently come under fire from gay rights activist groups within the past week for his talk/speech he gave during the Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There have been protests and petitions for Elder Packer to rescind his "hateful" and "anti-gay" remarks. Please read his remarks before reading more.

All done? Let me just say this, marriage between one man and one woman is one of the core doctrines and beliefs of the LDS church, and there is absolutely no way that will ever be rescinded in any shape or form. Does that make the Church and its members hateful and full of bigots. No. They are expressing what they believe to be right just as others can do the same. Love the person, hate the sin. Active members of the Church make a covenant to keep the Law of Chastity where the sacred procreative powers should only be used in the bonds of matrimony between a man and a woman. Anything outside of this is considered immoral and unatural and considered a sin against the commandments of God.

The LDS church is led by a prophet and a quorum of apostles. In answer to the title of this blog, Yes. I know for myself through the Holy Ghost that they are called of God and their words are the word and will of God.

Let me end with some remarks my brother left throughout a lengthy discussion to one of his Facebook friends who is actively gay and was raised a Mormon:
" For those in the gay and lesbian community: You owe your life to a man and a woman who chose to come together and create a child--you! If you desire to have a family, you have to adopt a child who was a result of a man and woman coming together to procreate.

A man and man together cannot create a child. Nieither can women. Legislation would create a token relationship between the couple, but you would never have the ability to create a family, which is what marriage is all about.

The ultimate harm and threat of homosexuality is the total disegration of the family unit which is the building block of any society. When the family unit is gone, so will be the society you live in.

Even though our beliefs differ on this subject, I have not been offended. I still consider you a friend and I have appreciated the opportunity to voice my personal opinion. I have said my peace, now I will be done."

10/05/2010

Can Abortion Be Kindness?

I am pro-life. I believe that life begins at conception and am totally and completely against abortion. I also believe that no matter what infirmities we have in this life are given for a reason. There are people and groups out there that we should "get rid" of anyone who has infirmities and handicaps. Hitler comes to mind wanting to create the perfect race by taking out all the bad genetics. So you can imagine that I was shocked when I saw/heard about the following video of a UK pundit said she'd have no problem killing children if they are suffering.



This woman has no clue!!! She thinks it is totally okay to do what she's suggesting...out of love. Check out the whole story on The Blaze.

10/04/2010

Into the Mind of Global Warming Freaks

*UPDATE* - check out this news article from The Blaze - Backlash: Graphic Climate Ad Under Fire

The following video clip is not for the faint of heart or children. The video is an ad produced by a guy in the United Kingdom. The goal of the ad is to motivate people to cut carbon emissions by 10% thus helping to save the planet from global warming. I for one think global warming is a bunch of crap and a way for progressives and special interest groups to redistribute the wealth. Decide for yourself if this video "motivates" you to cut your carbon emissions by 10%.



I was/am horrified and disgusted when I saw this ad. The message I got was help with global warming or we kill you. Welcome to the mind of global warming fanatic freaks!

9/29/2010

Government Entitlement Programs


On September 2, 2010 I posted a blog about how 1 in 6 Americans receive some sort of government aid and wanted to expand a little more on how these type of programs can be destructive to our nation and the individual/family who is receiving that aid. But first let me define the word "ENTITLEMENT/ENTITLED"

ENTITLEMENT
  1. (a)the state or condition of being entitled (b)a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract
  2. a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group
  3. belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges
The following is a story about Bob in relation to an entitlement program called Medicaid (state/federal health insurance for the poor):

Bob's family NEEDS health insurance because they have two children that have special needs that require a lot of medical assistance and other programs. Bob is a full-time student and has a part-time job. His wife stays at home with the kids. Because Bob's income is very low he and his family has been on Medicaid for the last 5-7 years until recently.

I got a call from Bob the other day because he remembered that I sold supplemental insurance. He explained to me that he and his family was kicked off Medicad because his income was $15 too much per month. He is now shopping around for health insurance for him and his family. Not only were they kicked off Medicad, their Food Stamps may be in jeopardy as well...another entitlement program.

Our telephone conversation went something like this:

Bob: Betsy and I lost our Medicaid.

Me: Why?

Bob: I made $15 a month too much.

Me: That's frustrating.

Bob: I know! Now I understand why people don't work, if you work you lose benefits. There is no incentive for working.

Me: I'm sure something will work out.

Bob: I'm sure it will too. I'm figuring out the options, but it's frustrating. I can't afford to pay the $300 of student insurance for my family just because I made $15 too much. We could lose food stamps too. Why work and try and provide for your family when it is going to be used against you?

That! my friends is why government assistance programs CAN BE destructive to our nation and family. Bob and Betsy are...what's the word...assimulated?...into the system and have gotten used to the entitlement and now have no incentive to work because in his words, "why work and try and provide for your family when it is going to be used against you?"

It is destructive to the family because they have no motivation to work more and better their condition because they will lose benefits and be more costly causing them to always be dependent on the government. It is destructive to the nation because more and more people are receiving government aid...with more people in the system the more it costs the government. The more it costs the government the more the actual working class will need to pay (i.e. higher taxes) to keep the entitlement afloat. It is mathmatically unstainable and could eventually collapse the system.

You know what I wanted to tell Bob? I wanted to tell him to take some personal responsibility for your self and get a better job! Where's your pride? Bob has no problem receiving "free" assistance and will milk it as long as he can. In fact, I predict that Bob will start working less so he can again qualify for Medicaid because the other option costs too much.

If it were me, and it was me there for a few months when I got laid off and inbetween jobs, I'd be totally embarrased to receive any type of welfare/assistance. It made me so uncomfortable that I did everything I could to get another job so I wouldn't have to be helped. I felt that it was wrong because I was raised to believe that nothing is free and you can't get something for nothing.

It's a broken system. Don't get me wrong, I believe that these entitlement programs are important and need to be in place for people who really need it. But if people do need it there should be a plan put in place with a short time period for them to get back on their feet so they don't have to rely on these programs. Or have them give something back. John F. Kennedy comes to mind when he said, "ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Other posts of interest:

Are We a Nation of Gullible Gulls?
1 in 6 Americans Receives Government Aid

9/24/2010

Cass Sunstein and the Devil


Cass Sunstein, co-author of the book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness, whom also was appointed by President Barack Obama as "Regulatory Czar."

First let me talk about the book Nudge. Amazon.com asked the authors what they mean by the title and why do people need nudged?
"By a nudge we mean anything that influences our choices. A school cafeteria might try to nudge kids toward good diets by putting the healthiest foods at front. We think that it's time for institutions, including government, to become much more user-friendly by enlisting the science of choice to make life easier for people and by gentling nudging them in directions that will make their lives better."
To make a lengthy discussion short, the major premise of the book is that people should be nudged to make a decision that will make them better off. On the outside it seems like good intentions and many people applaude and praise Cass Sunstein for his insight. Recent audio/video has been uncovered of Mr. Sunstein expressing how he feels about people.
"Once we know people are human and have some Homer Simpson in them, then there's a lot that can be done to manipulate them."
To break it down, we are too stupid to make our own decisions and need to be nudged into making better decisions. [SOURCE]

I was raised to believe that the agency of man (i.e. free will, choice) is a gift from God. We came to Earth to learn good from evil and to experience mortal life to experience opposites for ourselves. How can we know pain if we don't know pleasure? How can we love if we don't know hate? The point is, it is our choice. I don't need anyone nudging me into making a decision that they think is best. I will make a decision that I think is best, and if it doesn't turn out that it is the best decision, I will learn and grow from it and become a stronger and better person for it. If someone is making the decision for me that doesn't happen.

Now let me introduce you to Satan, the Devil, Lucifer. There are bits and pieces in the Bible where we learn how Satan became Satan. I personally believe that we lived with God before coming to Earth and there was a grand council in Heaven where God presented the Plan of Salvation...the pathway to be "saved"...and we "sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7). At the heart of this Plan of Salvation was the way to get back, and God asked for a volunteer on who should he send to redeem mankind. The firstborn of God, known as Jehovah, was the first to volunteer saying I do it and return the glory to thee. Lucifer also volunteered saying I will redeem all mankind that not one soul will be lost and give me thy glory. Lucifer wanted to destroy the agency of man to not give them a choice and would save every soul regardless. This is referred to as the War in Heaven as discussed in Revelations 12:7.

As we know God chose the first, in of which Lucifer then rebelled against God and took with him a third of the hosts of heaven and became Satan, the father of all lies to deceive and blind men and to lead them captive to his will.

What's the point of all of this? Well, isn't it obvious? Cass Sunstein is the Devil! Metaphorically speaking of course. Cass wants to "save" the Homer Simpsons of the world and direct/nudge them into making correct decisions that he thinks is best and not what Homer thinks is best. As "Regulatory Czar" Cass Sunstein is in a perfect position of power to regulate/nudge us into making decisions we may normally would not. For example, we go to a fast food restaurant wanting to get a burger and fries, but through regulation the restaurant industry is now requried to offer a fresh veggie or fruit on the menu instead of fries. Oh, it's happening...just read the story on The Blaze on your guide to a government regulated diet.

Because of his position of power, and the fact that he doesn't report to anyone but the President, is why Glenn Beck often refers to Cass Sunstein as the most dangerous person in America.

9/21/2010

Does This Make Sense?

March 31, 2010 the New York Times reports: "The Obama administration is proposing to open vast expanses of water along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska to oil and natural gas drilling, much of it for the first time...The proposal is to be announced by President Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland..."

April 20, 2010: "A methane bubble comes up from the well and explodes, killing 11 and injuring 17. The subsequent fire will burn for two days and ultimately sink the platform. The blow-out preventer, a device on the ocean floor engineered to stop the flow of oil in case of emergency, fails to engage, and crude oil gushes from the wellhead some 5,000 feet below the water’s surface." [SOURCE] Resulting in the infamous BP oil spill we've heard about over the last five months.

April 30, 2010: "Ten days after the initial explosion, the Obama administration issues a moratorium on deepwater drilling. The decision sparks controversy in Gulf communities dependent on oil drilling jobs. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will effectively overturn the ban on July 9." [SOURCE]

July 14, 2010: "Despite two federal court rejections of a drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico, President Obama has ordered a second round of deepwater suspensions while federal investigators examine the BP catastrophe. 'A pause on deepwater drilling," said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in an official announcement, "is essential and appropriate to protect communities, coasts, and wildlife from the risks that deepwater drilling currently pose.'" [SOURCE]

August 21, 2010: "Federal documents show the Interior Department estimated its six-month ban on deepwater oil-and-gas drilling would temporarily cost about 23,000 jobs..." [SOURCE]

September 12, 2010: "Despite President Obama’s moratorium on U.S. deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, with govt approval, intends to guarantee $1 billion in loans to PEMEX, the Mexican state oil company, to bolster the company’s oil drilling in the region... the Obama administration is happy to give a foreign country money to do what it prohibits by law its own country to do." [SOURCE]

So I ask you again, does this make sense? Obama bans oil drilling in the gulf and any future drilling, which has cost tens of thousands of jobs during a recession! The economic impact alone in the gulf region is getting worse because of it, not better. Now with government approval loans Mexico a billion dollars to exploratory drilling in the same area that' Obama banned! It doesn't make sense...unless you understand Obama and possible motives and plans of the Progressive agenda to redistribute the wealth from the rich to the poor...not just on a national level, but a global level.

More to come on this post...about global distribution of wealth. Actually, Glenn Beck explains it the best...please follow the link below and spend the 20 minutes watching the clip.

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/45715/

9/19/2010

What to Say?

Everyday there is so much in the news that it is difficult to keep up let alone blog about it. I find it overwhelming at times with all the craziness going on in the nation! The mainstream media continue to be biassed and ingnore the facts or even dig into credible stories that would have major impact on the minds of the American people. I just wanted to give my little tidbit on a few headlines over the past few days.

Defense/Amnesty: Not: two words you would normally couple in the same sentence let along a spending bill going through the Senate, but that hasn't stopped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tacking on an amnesty "ammendment" to a defense spending bill in hopes to lure in Republicans. I am so sick and tired of congress tacking on items to bills that have nothing to do with the actual bill just to get it passed because it wouldn't stand on it's own two feet and never pass by itself. We need some new rules, regulation, or ammendment to the Constitution (if that what it takes) that any bill that goes through the House or Senate only applies to the actual bill and anything unrelated is either ommitted or automatically vetoed or something! The insanity has to stop!

Our Creator: For two years of my life I served as a proselytizing missionary for my church and when I visited with people to teach and discuss about God we started on basics and how everyone believed in a Supreme Being, a Creator, even though we may call them by different names. Our President claims to believe in God and His son Jesus Christ, but he can't even bring himself to refer to the Creator as he recites a portion of the Declaration of Independence...



You can tell he is reading from his trusty teleprompter and he noticeably pauses and blinks several times debating in his mind if he should just read what is displayed or omit a certain phrase..."endowed by their Creator"...in the end he chose to omit the phrase leaving Diety out of the equation. This doesn't really surprise me because afterall, we are talking about a guy who believes in "collective salvation." Which basically means he doesn't get saved unless everyone else gets saves...



Like the Pope and Glenn Beck said that this so called doctrine of collective salvation is "demonic" and a "perversion of the gospel of Jesus Christ." It totally undermines the Plan of Salvation, which teaches that Christ died for our sins and we can be forgiven of them and be saved in and only through Him! Not dependent on others. I'll probably dedicate an entire post on this subject in the near future.

There is a lot more I would like to discuss, but just don't have the time right now. Come back soon for more updates!

9/02/2010

1 in 6 Americans Receive Government Aid

Stop being dependent on others and become financially independent within 12-24 months! Click here.

I was reading a USA Today article detailing that one is six Americans receive some sort of state or federal government assistance to meet their everyday needs. Here's a few of the highlights:

  • More than 50 million on Medicade, up 17% since December 2007
  • More than 40 million receive Food Stamps, up 50% from 3 years ago
  • Close to 10 million receive unemployment insurance, up four times
  • More than 4.4 million on welfare, up 18%

I will concede that due to the economic conditions of our nation have dramatically impacted these programs, which have caused most of the increase; and I also concede that there are some people in the nation that desperately need these programs. With that being said, there are some who abuse it intentionally. I'd like to focus on the Food Stamps and Unemployment Insurance programs.

Food Stamps - the program needs reform in a major way. I personally know a family who is on food stamps and have known other families/individuals to use the program. This family, we'll call them the Smith's, receive $500 a month in food stamps. When they first started on the program this amount was excessive and wasn't needed for their small family. Mrs. Smith only used $200-$300 that first month. The government told her that she needed to use all of the $500 each month or they wouldn't get any of it. So the Smith's now use $500 a month in food stamps and use the excess to build up food storage and have even bought food for others (illegal btw) because if they don't it's gone and they need it.

For me and my family, I work 40+ hours a week, my wife works 20 hours a week, and we budget $400 a month for food. Here I am working my butt off trying to keep myself afloat when there's this other family getting more than me a month who work less than 20 hours a week. I'm not condemning the Smith's, but how about evaluating each family/individual and giving them an amount they need...and only for necessities. Let's go a step further, let's put a limit on how long you can stay on the program. It goes back to the story of if you give a man a fish he eats for a day, but teach him how to fish he eats for a lifetime...or something like that. The more often one receives a handout the more they get used to it and expect it. Some will keep their poverty at a level to continue to receive the aid.

For me personally, and probably others, would do everything in my power NOT to receive government aid. Take personal responsibility and improve your situation...have a sense of pride!

Unemployment Insurance - originally this program was only 26 weeks and for individuals who have lost their job and receive compensastion while they find another job. This program and the benefits have been extended several times in Congress, and is now good for 99 weeks!

Again, I personally know a couple of individuals who use this benefit. "Bob" has told me he has no motivation to find a full-time job because the unemployment benefit he receives and the income from a part-time job is enough. He is not actively seeking for full-time employment because he will no longer get the unemployment benefit. This, in my opionion is wrong. By Congress extending these benefits, I think is making the economy worse. In most cases it prevents people from improving their life or finding a job because they like receiving a handout or are so used to it they look it as their paycheck or income. The following quote says it all:

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." - Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005), Former Pastor of the Bellvieu Baptist Church in Memphis, TN as quoted on
Also, don't forget about the GULLIBLE GULLS - a must read.

8/27/2010

Obama's Approval by Religious Groups

I found this poll by Gallup very interesting on President Obama's job approval rating among the different religious groups. From January 2009 through July 2010 Muslim Americans continue to give President Barack Obama the highest job approval rating of any major religious group in the U.S., while Mormons give the president the lowest ratings.


I find this interesting because I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormon). If you know anything about my faith and religion this poll and why Mormon's rate the President so low is self-evident. The majority of Mormons very conservative and Obama is the extremem opposite and is doing almost everything against what we believe. Out of control spending, big government, socialized medicine, you name it. Interesting. Not surprising. Interesting.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/142700/Muslims-Give-Obama-Highest-Job-Approval-Mormons-Lowest.aspx

8/23/2010

Spot On

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wusgcG4rfo


Click the link to watch a two-minute video clip of Ronald Reagan. He was spot on and his words applies probably even more today than it did then.

8/14/2010

Living Within Our Means

Need some more "means"? Click here.

The other day I was perusing around www.billoreilly.com in the store section and came across a bumper sticker/window decal that said, "We live within our means...please tell the President." I thought this was quite funny and SO TRUE! For the past couple of years my household has buckled down with our finances due to the country's economic condition. We started on a budget. We cut our spending. We cancelled our vacations. We attacked out debt. We started saving more. As such, for the first time we are finally living within our means...also known as spending less than the amount of income we receive. We are on Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover plan. Within three years we plan to be debt-free except for our house.

It is not just my household...all across the nation my fellow Americans are doing the exact same thing. Saving accounts across America actually have a positive balance now instead of negative and credit card balances have declined for the past 20+ months! I get it. Other people get it, so why doesn't Washington get it?

The opposite is happening in Washington. It seems almost every day that Congress approves some bill that contains billions of dollars worth of spending. I think it is ridiculous how our President tells us to be responsible in spending when he and Congress isn't...hypocrites. Hello? We are in a recession! The last thing you do in a recession is spend more and raise taxes and that's exactly what's been happening.

Our government needs to do what I've been doing. First they need to get on a budget. If the amount of expenditures are more than what's coming in you look at areas to cut spending/programs. You become an example to the nation by cutting back and not over spending yourselves and nobody wants to see you going on vacation every other weekend when millions of people still don't have jobs and are barely able to put food on the table. Last but not least the government needs to attack the national debt! Stop the insanity!

6/08/2010

Disclaimer: The United States Constitution

A & D Publishing (a.k.a. Wilder Publications) published the United States Constitution with a disclaimer/warning...


Unbelievable! I will be sending a letter to the publisher letting them know I don't appreciate them undermining the most important sacred document relating to the founding of this country. I encourage you to do the same. There address is as follows:

A & D Publishing
P.O. Box 3005
Radford, VA 24143-3005
www.wilderpublications.com

ISBN 10: 1-60459-268-0
ISBN 13: 978-1-160459-268-9

4/09/2010

Chaos in the Massachusetts Health Care Market

I just learned today that Massachusetts' health care market is in chaos and did a news search on Google to find out more to see wassup and found the follwing blog post:

"Want a preview of ObamaCare in action? Check out the Massachusetts insurance market—which earlier this week entered a state of "market chaos" after Governor Deval Patrick denied a host of health insurance rate increases.

"On Tuesday, the state's individual insurance market effectively shut down as insurers refused to comply with the state's rejection of 235 of 274 proposed health insurance rate increases.

"The dispute has already put the two sides in court. Insurance companies are now claiming that the rejected rate increases mean they won't be able to operate at a profit, and arguing that no actuary would approve the sort of rates that state insurance regulators say they expect. Actuary sign-off is not only important for fiscal stability—it's a legal requirement in the state.

"Is this just insurance company posturing? It's entirely possible. Industries, entirely understandably, are bound to put up a fight when told they can't set their own prices. That means making the toughest claims they think they can get away with. But it's not unbelievable that the combination of rate caps and increased regulatory burdens is imposing what amounts to an impossible strain on private insurers.

"A judge is expected to rule on the dispute by Monday. But given that the Affordable Care Act was sold in part based on the argument that it expands government authority to review insurance rates, I think it's safe to say that this fight is just beginning." Click here to go to the actual blog post.

If the insurance company loses they will have no choice but to shut down and go out of business, which will lead to a single payer health care system that is paid directly by the state government...in other words, universal health care. If this is happening in a state that already has it in effect, what do you think will happen to the rest of the nation when Obamacare is fully implemented? It is exactly what Obama wants and hasn't shyed about it in the past as I have shown numerous times on this blog.

3/26/2010

Proper Role of Government

Taken from the speech by Ezra Taft Benson titled "The Proper Role of Government." The speech is fantastic and opened my eyes on just how far off our government has become from what it was designed to do from our Founding Fathers.

  1. I believe that no people can maintain freedom unless their political institutions are founded upon faith in God and belief in the existence of moral law.
  2. I believe that God has endowed men with certain unalienable rights as set forth in the Declaratioth in the Declaration of Independence and that no legislature and no majority, however great, may morally limit or destroy these; that the sole function of government is to protect life, liberty, and property and anything more than this is usurpation and oppression.
  3. I believe that the Constitution of the United States was prepared and adopted by men acting under inspiration from Almighty God; that it is a solemn compact between the peoples of the States of this nation which all officers of government are under duty to obey; that the eternal moral laws expressed therein must be adhered to or individual liberty will perish.
  4. I believe it a violation of the Constitution for government to deprive the individual of either life, liberty, or property except for these purposes:
    • Punish crime and provide for the administration of justice
    • Protect the right and control of private property
    • Wage defensive war and provide for the nation's defense
    • Compel each one who enjoys the protection of government to bear his fair share of the burden of performing the above functions
  5. I hold that the Constitution denies government the power to take from the individual either his life, liberty, or property except in accordance with moral law; that the same moral law which governs the actions of men when acting alone is also applicable when they act in concert with others; that no citizen or group of citizens has any right to direct their agent, the government to perform any act which would be evil or offensive to the conscience if that citizen were performing the act himself outside the framework of government.
  6. I am hereby resolved that under no circumstances shall the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights be infringed. In particular I am opposed to any attempt on the part of the Federal Government to deny the people their right to bear arms, to worship and pray when and where they choose, or to own and control private property.
  7. I consider ourselves at war with international Communism which is committed to the destruction of our government, our right of property, and our freedom; that it is treason as defined by the Constitution to give aid and comfort to this implacable enemy.
  8. I am unalterable opposed to Socialism, either in whole or in part, and regard it as an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a denial of the right of private property for government to own or operate the means of producing and distributing goods and services in competition with private enterprise, or to regiment owners in the legitimate use of private property.
  9. I maintain that every person who enjoys the protection of his life, liberty, and property should bear his fair share of the cost of government in providing that protection; that the elementary priing that protection; that the elementary principles of justice set forth in the Constitution demand that all taxes imposed be uniform and that each person's property or income be taxed at the same rate.
  10. I believe in honest money, the gold and silver coinage of the Constitution, and a circulation medium convertible into such money without loss. I regard it as a flagrant violation of the explicit provisions of the Constitution for the Federal Government to make it a criminal offense to use gold or silver coin as legal tender or to use irredeemable paper money.
  11. I believe that each State is sovereign in performing those functions reserved to it by the Constitution and it is destructive of our federal system and the right of self-government guaranteed under the Constitution for the Federal Government to regulate or control the States in performing their functions or to engage in performing such functions itself.
  12. I consider it a violation of the Constitution for the Federal Government to levy taxes for the support of state or local government; that no State or local government can accept funds from the Federal and remain independent in performing its functions, nor can the citizens exercise their rights of self-government under such conditions.
  13. I deem it a violation of the right of private property guaranteed under the Constitution for the Federal Government to forcibly deprive the citizens of this nation of their nation of their property through taxation or otherwise, and make a gift thereof to foreign governments or their citizens.
  14. I believe that no treaty or agreement with other countries should deprive our citizens of rights guaranteed them by the Constitution.
  15. I consider it a direct violation of the obligation imposed upon it by the Constitution for the Federal Government to dismantle or weaken our military establishment below that point required for the protection of the States against invasion, or to surrender or commit our men, arms, or money to the control of foreign ore world organizations of governments. These things I believe to be the proper role of government.

3/22/2010

Freedom? What's That?

Sunday March 21, 2010 will go down in history and be recorded in the history books, which would mark the beginning of the end of the United States of America as we know it. The House of Representatives passed the Senate health care reform bill with a reconciliation package (219 to 216 majority vote), which President Obama is expected to sign into law tomorrow Tuesday March 23, 2010. This action will fundamentally transform the United States of America. This bill is completely partisan - not one single Republican voted yea.

Read this article from the Wall Street Journal - "What the Health Care Reform Bill Means for You" or you can read the same aritcle on FoxNews.com.

A couple of things this article points out make me very uneasy. The first being "...employers will have to disclose the cost of workers' health coverage on their W-2 tax forms starting in 2011..." Basically, employers are going to be taxed on the health insurance that they provide for their employees up to 40%! Employers will be forced to lower coverage or pass on the cost to their employers...premiums will skyrocket even more.

Another thing is the uninsured will be now insured. Pre-existing conditions will no longer apply and insurance companies will be required to insure you. That's good if you have pre-existing conditions, but bad for everyone else. Insurance companies will be forced to raise premiums because they know that they will have to pay out more benefits. Premiums will skyrocket even more.

I personally believe that these two items alone will lead our nation to have a universal/single payer health care system. Private insurance will be forced out of business because it will no longer be profitable. When this "crisis" happens the government will have "no choice" but to step in and take control. Even Vice-President's Biden's said last week, "you know we will control the insurance companies." When the government controls the insurance they control how we live our lives through regulation. One-sixth of my freedom and liberty just flew out the window and not too happy about it. More to come...

3/18/2010

T-Minus 72-hours

Within the past hour the House of Representatives released and posted online their reconciliation package of the health care reform bill. It's some 2,000+ pages and is scheduled to be debated on the House floor for in two days for only four hours. How in the heck our our representatives supposed to read and analyze the bill in 48 hours?

WHY THE RUSH?


I can only think of a one reasonable reason, which is one of the same reasons why the President wanted to get it passed before the August break last year. The congressional leaders and President Obama knows that if congress can go home to their respective states they will get an ear full from their constituents who are overwhelmingly opposed to this health care reform bill and how congress is going about trying to get it passed. Plus they are keeping them busy on the weekends for the same reason.

It looks like the House is going to use the "Slaughter Rule" which will "deem it passed" without even actually even voting on the bill. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, knows that they don't have the votes so they will do anything to get this passed. The funny thing is that all Republican are against the bill and will not be voting on it. Democrats have control in the House, but they can't seem to agree with one another and the in-party disputes has what's been holding up the vote!

On FoxNews' Live with Megan Kelly today she talked about a new poll that was just released showing now 85% of Americans are against the health care reform bill. 85%!!! Is Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the President ignorant that America is overwhelminly against it! No. They know and don't care. It's their kamikazi. They started on a path in which they cannot turn back and are in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. This weekend is the moment of truth and a vote that could fundamentally transform the United States of America.

3/17/2010

I Am a Conservative Because...

Paper #2 for my online class...

Before I knew anything about politics and when it came time to cast my first vote I had no clue on whom to vote for or why. I voted how my parents voted. I am now almost 33 years old and have finally developed my own ideas and beliefs within just the past couple of years. I define myself as a conservative because…

I believe in a fiscally conservative government. Government does not have the right to run up large amount of debts and then throw the burden on the taxpayer. Currently, our government is out of control in spending and expanding the scope and size of the U.S. government. President Obama’s spending budget is enough to make anyone cringe. In addition, taxpayer dollars continue to be wasted away on projects and programs that are not needed.

I believe in a strong national defense. I believe as former President Ronald Reagan believed where he said, “The United States does not start fights. We will never be an aggressor. We maintain our strength in order to deter and defend against aggression – to preserve freedom and peace.” (National Security Speech, March 23, 1981.) I would add to that – if you thrown the first punch, we return the punch a hundred fold. Attacking America would be the biggest mistake anyone would ever make and regret for the rest of their lives. Our national defenses need to be strong enough to intimidate any foreign enemy that wants to hurt us that will know the repercussions if attacked.

I believe in a free market and Capitalism. America became America because of the free market and the prosperity of Capitalism. An environment where there is no holds bar whether you make it or break it. Everyone has the same opportunity to succeed. This country was built on entrepreneurs and their small enterprises for almost all the economic growth in the United States. Today it seems like small business owners and entrepreneurs are under attack with new taxes that will significantly hurt their business, which will not allow them to grow and create more jobs. I am against using taxpayer dollars to bail out private companies. They are not too big to fail. Let the free market work. Let them fail. Let them restructure. Let them learn from their own mistakes instead of nursing them through their problems because when the next problem comes up guess what they’re going to do? Come back for more.

I believe in a sovereign nation. The power is in the people. The people govern the government. The people have the right to alter or abolish government. Synonyms for sovereignty include: independence, control, liberty, jurisdiction, supremacy, and dominion. We are free and have to right for the “pursuit of happiness.” The people have control and jurisdiction, but when the government decides to get more and more involved in the liberties of the people is when we lose those liberties and freedoms.

I believe in a limited government. The Constitution was designed for the government to be limited. Government does not need to be in every aspect of our lives – we can govern ourselves. We don’t need the government to tell us what to do or how to do it. Like Ronald Reagan said, “Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem.” It seems like when every government gets involved the messier it gets and more difficult to get it right. There are political movements and groups whose sole purpose is expanding the size and scope of the government and making all have things in common in the name of social justice like the Progressive movement. The Constitution stands in their way of their agenda and they know that well and continue to attack the Constitution and try get around it. The Founding Fathers intended the government to be limited with the majority of the power in the people with a system of checks and balances.

3/16/2010

The Best Form of Government Is...


I am taking an online class called American Government from a local state university and part of that class I have to write three separate papers on three different subjects on my person political views. The following is paper #1: The Best Form of Government Is...

In a diary entry of James McHenry he wrote, “Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powell of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, ‘Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?’ With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, ‘A republic, if you can keep it.’” This statement of America being a republic got me thinking because I grew up to believe that America was a democracy. I then also realized the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance where it says, “I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands…” also references that America is a republic and not a monarchy or democracy. It would seem that over time that the meanings have been skewed or the people do not know the difference between the two.

After my research, I believe a Republican form of government is the best form of government rather than a Monarchy or Democracy, which the Founding Fathers intended and set up.

A Democracy needs a full participation of all the people in the decision-making process of government. As discussed in one of our discussion assignments I don’t think that this would work because we, the people, get so busy and occupied with just our daily lives and things that we need to do will not take the time to study the issues or participate in hearings or debates before the vote is taken. Where it has been tried almost always ends in tyranny.

A Republic is a representative form of government where the people elect officials to represent them as a whole and vote on how the majority of the people would vote on the issues of the day. “[James] Madison point[ed] out how an expanding country like the United States could not possibly confine itself to the limitations of a democracy, but must rely upon a representative or republic form of government to protect the ever-expanding interests of its people.” (W. Cleon Skousen, The 5000 Year Leap, p. 154.)

Our government today and how it was originally was set up and design was that of a Republic. The Founding Fathers had hoped that the clear distinction between a Republic and Democracy would continue down through the generations to come, but during the early 19th century the seeds were planted, which I have no time or room to discuss, that later grew to be consistently identified in both the press and the text books as a democracy. This new way of looking at the United States as a democracy was actually designed as an attack on the Constitutional structure of government and the basic rights it was designed to protect.

A republic and the Constitution that was created is designed to protect these basic and “unalienable rights endowed by [our] creator,” which Progressives knew set up a limited government that got in their way of their radical agenda in the name of social justice. The republic and Constitution, I believe, are literally under attack. If lost, the republic and Constitution would fail. The result would be a fundamental transformation of the United States of America….just as Barack Obama said would happen five days before winning the presidential election.

The republic is the best way to protect the interests of the American people and keep government limited and not into every facet of our lives. We elect representatives to represent us and what the majority of the people want…not the other way around. Our elected officials need to set aside their own personal desires of what they believe and start adhering to what the people want and desire. If not, we have the power to elect them out of office and get someone in who will actually serve the people instead of their own selfish desires.

3/15/2010

Health Care Pushes On

House Panel Pushes Forward With Health Care Maneuver

Be sure to click the link above and read the FoxNews article that discusses how the House Panel plans to push through health care by using a simple majority vote (aka nuclear option, reconciliation, fifty plus one). The President and his fellow Democrats and Progressives do not care what type of health care reform bill gets passes...they just want it passed. They just need to get their foot in the door and then be able to feed and expand it to whatever they want once the structure is in place. They will do anything and everything they can, even if it means their own careers to pass it. "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" I hope and pray to God that it doesn't.

Maxine Sums It Up

Maxine sums it up on the health care issue...

Let me get this straight...we're trying to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president that also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke.


What could possibly go wrong?

3/14/2010

Progressivism

Inspired by Glenn Beck, I have taken it upon myself to study the history of our country and learn about specific political movements. The book I am reading is called American Progressivism edited by Ronald J. Pestritto and William J. Atto, which gives a history of how the progressive movement came to be over a century ago and what it means to be a progressive.

In the introduction of the book, page 3, under the section "The Principles of Progressivism" it reads:
"The Progressive Era was the first major period in American political development to feature, as a primary characteristic, the open and direct criticism of the Constitution...the Progressive Era was unique in that such criticism formed the backbone of the entire movement...[progressives] knew that the limits placed on the national government by the Constitution represented major obstacles to implementing the progressive policy agenda. Progressives had in mind a variety of legislative programs aimed at regulating significant portions of the American economy and society and at redistributing private property in the name of social justice. The Constitution, if interpreted and applied faithfully, stood in the way of this agenda."
That being said, does President Barack Obama consider himself a Progressive? Here's a montage of quotes from our Head Progressive, but you decide...

Center for American Progress Conference
7/12/2006

Barack Obama – “Those big ticket items like fixing our health care system, uh, one of the arguments sometimes I get with my fellow progressives – and some of these get flashed up in the blog communities on occasion - is this notion that we should function sort of like Karl Rove where we identify our core base, we throw them red meat, we get a fifty plus one victory…you see, Karl Rove doesn’t need a broad consensus because he doesn’t believe in government. If we want to transform the country though that requires a sizeable majority.” Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q9Zkq7XE8c

Joint Session of Congress on 9/9/2009: Barack Obama – “…to my progressive friends I would remind you that for decades the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage available for those without it. The public option…the public option is only a means to that end. We should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal. And to my republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have.”

Campaigning for Martha Coakley on 1/17/2010: Barack Obama – “You will carry on the best progressive forward looking values of this proud common wealth.”

On the Campaign Trail on 9/22/2008: Barack Obama - “Change has always come from places like Wisconsin. The state where the progressive movement was born.”

On the Campaign Trail in Wisconsin on 2/12/2008: Barack Obama – “Where better to affirm our ideals than here in Wisconsin. Where a century ago the progressive movement was born.”

If you want to hear the quotes and a little more details yourself please watch the following video:


And finally one of several quotes of Barack Obama on his view on the Constitution of the United States of America:


In summary, we have a progressive president who thinks the Constitution is flawed, and is surrounded by all of his progressive friends hell bent on "fundamentally transforming the United States of America." Hope. Change. I'm gonna bet it's not what America was expecting.

3/11/2010

545 vs. 300,000,000 People

I received an email yesterday from one of my eighty-three first cousins (no joke) that gave me a new and different perspective. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinal, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!

545 People
By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts – of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

3/10/2010

More Tidbits on Health Care


President Obama is determined that the House of Representatives pass the Health Care reform bill before congress breaks for Easter (end of March). President Obama is completely out-of-touch with the American people. In a recent poll conducted by AP-GFK between March 3-8, 2010 the top four issues Americans care about are...
  1. The Economy
  2. Unemployment
  3. Terrorism
  4. The Deficit
Health care didn't even break into the top four. Don't you think it's time for congress and the President to listen to us and the American people?

Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, is also hell-bent on getting this legislation passed as soon as possible. It's amazing what comes out of her mouth sometimes. She said, "...we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it." Are you kidding me? The future of America's economy isn't a grab bag that you buy for a $1 trillion and look in after the fact...surprise! NO! NO! NO! We need to know what is in the bill and how it will affect us completely BEFORE it is passed! What a freakin' joke.

If the House passes the bill it will go back to the Senate, in which Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leaders plans on using the "reconciliation" or "nuclear" option to pass it with a simple majority that President Obama recently came out in support of when he was against it in 2007 saying you can't govern like that.  Another flip flop from the master flopper flips his mind.

We have to ask the question why?  Why is President Obama so determined on getting this passed when the majority of American's are against it?  Why is he risking his office?  Why did Pelosi encourage fellow democrats to support the bill even if it means their careers?  Why force it down our throats?  WHY?!

3/09/2010

2010 United States Census

I received this letter in the mail today from the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau:

Dear Resident,

About one week from now, you will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. When you receive your form, please fill it out and mail it in promptly.

Your response is important. Results from the 2010 Census will be used to help each community get its fair share of government funds for highways, schools, health facilities, and many other programs you and your neighbors need. Without a complete, accurate census, your community may not receive its fair share.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves
Director, U.S. Census Bureau

Go to 2010census.gov for help completing your 2010 Census form when it arrives.

This will be the first time that I have personally participated in the official census mandated by the Constitution of the United States (Article I, Section II). To my initial understanding of the purpose of the census is to determine the population of the country. I decided to do some research and find out if there is anything more to it.

From 2010census.gov under the section Why It's Important it says, "...Census information affects the numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives...an accurate count of residents can [help you and] for your community. Better infrastructure. More services." From everything that I have researched the information the government needs is the total amount of people living in my home at a certain date. That sounds like a one question survey, but I learned that the census form is ten questions. "What could the other questions be?" I asked myself. I found them on the same website with a description of why they ask that particular question.
  1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?
  2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?
  3. Is this a house, apartment, or mobile home?
  4. What is your telephone number? We may call you if we don't understand your answer?
  5. Please provide information for each person living here. What is Person 1's name?
  6. What is Person 1's sex?
  7. What is Person 1's age and what is Person 1's date of birth?
  8. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
  9. What is Person 1's race?
  10. Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
The reasons why they ask these questions doesn't really convince me that they need to be asked in the first place. The government has my information already...all they need to do is punch in my social security number and wahla! it's there. I will be answering the first question and mail it in. If they call me because they "don't understand my answer" I will ask how did you get my phone number since I didn't include it on the form and followed by what part of 4 persons living in my house on April 1, 2010 don't you understand? If they proceed to press for answers on the remaining questions I will explain that there is no place in the constitution for me to give that information...only the number of people living in my house. Thanks, buh bye.

3/08/2010

Obama Won't Quit

I am not talking about President Obama's smoking addiction, but about Healthcare. I know I haven't posted for awhile, but have been following the news and the political arena closely. There has been SO MUCH going on I find it difficult to try and pick one area and talk about it with my limited free time.

America has spoken. 73% want this supposed healthcare reform bill scrapped. 52% are against reform altogether. Still, President Obama is doing all that he can to push this through and get it passed as soon as possible. He even came out recently and said he is in support of "reconciliation" also known as the nuclear option. This means that the Senate only needs a simple majority vote of 51 instead of 60 to pass a bill. I could spend a entire post about this, but am focusing on President Obama's support for reconciliation. In 2007, then Senator Barack Obama said:
"You've got to break out of what I call, sort of, the 50-plus-one pattern of presidential politics. Maybe you eke out a victory of 50-plus-one, then you can't govern. You know, you get Air Force One, I mean there are a lot of nice perks, but you can't deliver on health care. We're not going to pass universal health care with a 50-plus-one strategy."
All of the sudden the President is for 50-plus-one pattern of presidential politics? I shouldn't be surprised that Obama has conflicting statements, but how much more can we take of this America? He is now only considering this because he knows that he doesn't have the votes to get it passed...especially since Senator Scott Brown won a senate seat after 40+ years of Democratic Ted Kennedy's came open after his death.

President Obama doesn't care about healthcare reform. All he cares about is getting the structure for healthcare reform in place so it can expand and get into every area of our life and control one-sixth of the economy!

The following clip is a radio address given by former President Reagan speaking out against socialized medicine. It is just over ten minutes long, but please take the time to listen to it as it will open your eyes.



Today President Obama targeted health insurers again accusing they're directly responsible for rising health care costs and the constant rise of insurance premiums.

"Insurance companies, the president argued, have made a calculation. He cited a recent Goldman Sachs conference call in which an insurance broker told investors that insurers are willing to lose some customers through premium hikes because of an overall lack of competition in the industry." -CNN
President Obama's idea of competition is an "insurance exvhange" idealy with a "public option" that would be government funded. No matter what anyone says, YOU CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! It will drive the private insurance industry out of business...exactly what they want.

I agree that there is a lack of competition when it comes to choosing a health care provider. It does drive premium rates up...there's no doubt in my mind. Republicans have suggested to open up state lines where health insurance can be purchased from any state. This would immediately drive rates down because when there's more companies in the mix they have more to compete with. Competition is good...it what makes the free market work. Look at Wal-Mart for example. Last year they started a perscription pill program where for only $10 you could get a three month supply. Not long after, other companies followed suit because all their business was going somewhere else and to stay competitive they were forced to lower their rates, which is good for us.

Uh, President Obama? Shouldn't you be focusing on the millions of American that don't have a job instead of jamming healthcare down our mouth? We don't need another big government program that will cost taxpayers almost $1 trillion over the next decade...some estimate it'll cost over $2 trillion.

"What the American people would like us to do is not make this gargantuan mistake," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, told ABC's "This Week."
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