Grandma's Knee

sIGNS

2010-01-16T21:17:00.000-08:00

One of the latest apps for mobile phone users is QR. These are 2D barcodes for real people. It works like this. Let’s say you’re walking along a sidewalk and someone hands you a flyer. Glancing down you notice a square logo type barcode placed neatly within the design. Immediately you take a photograph of the bar code with your mobile phone set to Beetag and the photo becomes a link to a website, or contact information. Your mobile browser takes you directly to the linked content — jumping you from printed content to online content.

You might be asking yourself, who would bother to do that? Well the short answer is – people already do, lots of them in fact. In Japan, for example, QR codes have become part of everyday life, available on everything from business cards, id cards, magazines, newspapers, flyers, posters, stickers, food products,puzzles, web sites, billboards, more billboards, CDs, confectionary delights, calling a cab, vending machines, coffee cups, advertisements, and tickets. All these little codes eagerly await — ready to link people to content that matters to them — mobile sites, profiles, videos, podcasts, products and other little pieces of content (think ringtones and wallpapers). Individuals also have joined in on the opportunity as publishers themselves — printing codes on stickers, placing them on their web sites or blogs, even walking around with cute little stampers to easily affix codes practically anywhere for any reason. As such, QR Codes have become the door to the mobile Internet for the average mobile user.

Much like other mobile technology, such as SMS, it typically takes a while for the US market to embrace new mobile technology, but once it does we quickly match the usage seen in other parts of the world. I believe that will happen with bar codes as well. Already I see the signs…

See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky?

Here the not so subtle placement in a print ad.

Did you scan the first barcode in the story? I might have t-shirts or mugs done up...oooooh, maybe a tattoo.

California Education Reform - blast from the past

2009-08-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for like minded people who are willing to take a step back and EVALUATE the history of education in California, before we spend another nickle on school reform or increased wages, etc. I'm a product of California schools in a different era and I'm apalled at how little we get now for how much we spend. Can anyone else relate to my own school experience?

I went to school in California in the 50's - 60's. I was a first generation immigrant and may have been considered ESL today, but in kindergarden we're all pretty equal. I had been in the country a year and got embarrased enough by minor grammar mistakes that I always took spelling and English more seriously than native English peers. My cousins who immigrated later sometimes were put back into Kindergarden to help with their English or just suffered through until they had it mastered. Half of us are still bi-lingual, but all of us acclimated to our new home within a single generation.

I found school fun and challenging, but not especially difficult through high school and skated through with a commendable GPA on a college bound track. Yes, there was tracking in those days whether anyone admits it or not. It seemed a natural tracking process. If you chose your classes based on College or University requirements then your class schedule didn't have much room for electives.

It was in those elective classes however that I learned about alternative tracks, and the real depth of opportunities available in high school. There were Business classes that had the same depth as my college prep classes. I only touched the tip of the iceberg with Typing I, but there was Steno, Business Machines and most enviable, Work Experience. Students in the Business track were pulled to help out in the office doing clerical and administrative work. What a concept, kind of like an apprenticeship.

It wasn't only Business options though. My high school had an Art Department that was enviable. Art I,II, III, IV; Sculpting, Painting, Drawing, Graphic Arts, Printing (yes we had a full print shop on campus) in the Industrial Arts dept. As a matter of fact the school took on all the tasks of a small city. When the Drama Department needed sets for their productions, the Art Department handled it. When the prom committee needed programs and tickets printed, you guessed it, the job was handled in house, on campus. I remember having to order the Jr. Prom program and the Print Shop was run similar to Kinkos. I had to fill out a work order, approve sketches and sign off on the proofs to get my program printed on time. We had an Olympic swimming and diving pool. We hosted Olympic trials. Our gym and school sports were a major part of our morale and pride. We were the flagship school in the area and our teams proved it week after week.

The school had an auto shop that rebuilt cars, metal shop, wood shop, even furniture upholstery. They built all of the props for the Drama group. Industrial Arts offered drafting and engineering classes and provided the Home Economics department with floor plans that the Interior Design class could work off of. We had cooking, sewing, Child Development, Marriage and Family, fashion design, nutrition, weaving, textiles... I mean each department had a depth of coursework equal to my own college prepatory classes.

I was almost jealous that I didn't have time to explore even more, because my own workload was already heavy. I had time for one elective as a freshman, maybe 2 as a soph & junior. I was done 1/2 way through my Senior year, but then voila, in 1970 at a new school in the same district, I had very few options. I saved up all of my electives for my senior year and poof the choices were gone. Where was the football stadium, the theatre, the Olympic swimming and diving pools?

I had a few options in English that deviated from Eng I,II, III, IV; like comparative religious course, logic in literature, and other funky class titles, but I didn't have the depth of my older school which offered Journalism (with work on the school paper), Yearbook with basic photography classes & a darkroom, prose composition, classic literature, ancient myth, etc.

Another thing that was obvious in 1970, at the new school in the same district, Dress codes were relaxed, attendance was relaxed, tracks went away, extra curricular activities were minimal. Dress Codes were hated, but the argument was always that dress codes were to train us in proper business attire, and it did. Regardless of how much we balked, there was a 'business' or professional atmosphere to the classes depending on the department. If you were in the art or science building it wasn't unusual for them to be wearing lab coats over their school clothes. Shop classes had overalls to protect your clothing. Grooming and Dress was a part of going to school.

True enough, this was a new school and didn't have the stadium & auditorium, the physical amenities of a school built in 1904. This school was what we called a "cookie cutter" school. I guess if you pick one of the state school designs you get a break on the construction funding, so this school was IDENTICAL to another new school across town. It was my senior year, so I wasn't paying attention much to what happened. Changing schools as a senior was enough of a heartache and I didn't think much of my new digs. Looking back however, the changes were real and soon undermined my alma mater as well.

The "Industrial Arts" building that housed the printers, the drafting, the graphic arts groups were shut down permanently. The metal and wood shops were closed and within a single generation the course offerings found the lowest common denominator for both schools. I didn't realize the significance of the changes until my own children entered high school. I was excited for them, I couldn't wait to see their course lists, only to find all of the "alternate" tracks were missing. They still had sports and some art classes. Journalism and Yearbook were there. There was still an auto shop, but no more metal and wood shops and the auto class was limited to one or two project cars for the whole year.

I understand that as a society we were moving into a new computer age, but why not transform Industrial Arts to add computers & Graphic Design using CAD or the new technologies. I know that Home Ec had to add microwaves. Of course we were an evolving society where more advanced technology skills were going to be required, but shutting down whole departments as if all welding was going away?

I didn't realize until more recently, and after reading Charlotte Iserbyt's book on the dumbing down of American Schools that we were destroying our young people. If you looked at schools as a business, what do we produce right now? I say, a handful of college freshman. We've eliminated all but college prep and basic general education with some schools still active in sports. Most schools may offer sports & arts but they don't have the facilities that the older schools had. So, what are the other students who aren't focused on college doing during those critical ages of 14 - 18? Are they in apprentice ship programs; are they learning new business technologies with computers; are they into CAD design and robotics, computer programming or the other skills needed to compete in the new technologies? NO. They have some of those classes in community colleges or private "trade" schools, but they offer few or none on high school campuses.

What happens to the kids of this generation who would not have chosen track one university prep? We bore them out of existence. Less than 70% of our high school students graduate and those who have interests in other things we suppress them, literally hold them hostage, until they finish high school. Some very determined students will leave at 16 and take the GED to pursue their education at a trade school or technical school. My own nephew knew he was an artist at 10. High school became such a burden to him that we allowed him to leave at 17 and take the GED. We searched for art schools for him, but had to settle for a correspondence course on DVD. It was pricey but equivalent to any of the best Art schools around. He worked at a Pizza place for two years, worked on the DVD courses, built his portfolio. He was still young and got a job at a local sign shop for some experience. He really wanted on the computer, but he was stuck sweeping and weeding vinyl signs. By 21 he had a full portfolio from pencil sketches to multi-media gaming and got his first adult job with a probation clause and a starting salary of $40K. His friends are just getting out of college now.

We need to rescue not only our state budget, our school system, that was once enviable, but we need to rescue these kids. They are being bored out of the minds, labeled failures and are blowing in the wind. If nothing else they are wasting valuable learning time. I figure between 12 and 18 there are passions that can and should be tapped into. If you have any recollection of a better system than what we have now... please email me and we can assemble a team to do the research and start fighting back for our kids. My grandkids now.

Open Letter to Chicago Mobsters - A lesson from the past

2009-08-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

TWO Stories BOTH TRUE - and worth reading!!!!

STORY NUMBER ONE

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago . Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.

Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.

And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.

Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done..

He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.

Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street . But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.

The poem read:

"The clock of life is wound but once,
and no man has the power
to tell just when the hands will stop,
at late or early hour.

Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time.
For the clock may soon be still."

STORY NUMBER TWO

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare.

He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.

He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship.

His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.

As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.

The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.

Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.

Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.

Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.

Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft

This took place on February 20, 1942 , and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Medal of Honor.

A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.

-----------------------
Now, for those of you with a bit of skepticism, it is only fair to point out that these two stories have been embellished for the telling. If you'd like to view the truth of the matter, click on the link below.

SNOPES

found the story in my local Integrity business journal - because I'm lazy, I was hoping there would be a version online... there was. I found this at Chucks

.

The Dutch East Indies - A Country Lost

2009-08-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

The Americans remember Pearl Harbor & the attack that brought them into World War II. I think of Pearl Harbor also, and how the war destroyed a country & a way of life that the world has chosen to not remember. Is Indonesia a better place than the Dutch East Indies? I don't know, Indonesians are taught that they "won" their independence, which is true, but we were Indonesians too, and bands of cut-throat rebels, not a revolution, destroyed the homes and heritage of my family.

World War II finally ended with Japan's capitulation on 15 August 1945. For those who had suffered in Japanese camps, the war ended not a second too soon. Some of these sufferings have been well-documented and are known across the world but there are thousands of victims of cruelty at the hands of the Japanese army whose stories remain relatively unknown.

These include the fates of the Dutch and Indonesians who were living in what was then called the Dutch East Indies, and is now known as Indonesia. When Japan occupied the country, the military had orders to humiliate, starve and kill the Dutch colonisers. The Japanese used Sukarno and his dislike for the Dutch to organise and pacify the Indonesians. This is their leader, a man who helped the Japanese against the allies in the pacific. How could the world or even the people of Indonesia consider a man who betrayed his own people to gain what he professed to be "independence" for Indonesia. His "reign" as a very corrupt first president tells you he was no hero. How could he justify the internment and labor camps? He was a hero in Japan and the Indonesian history books call him a hero to Indonesia.

It's true that it's hard to justify colonialism if it oppresses the Indigenous peoples, but what does that mean anyway by 1600 standards? The missionaries to Californa didn't massacre Indians, but their records are exactly what the tribes use now as part of their written history to determine tribal connections. Weren't the indigenous peoples from somewhere else too? I don't think you can judge the explorations and settlements of 'new worlds' by today's standards.

Post WWII Indonesia was not exactly suffering under Dutch Imperial oppression. Both Dutch and Indonesians fought to protect the islands. The Dutch were also fighting a war on the European front. Would they have honored Sukarno had he sided with Hitler to purge Indonesia of the Dutch oppressors?

Wasn't there a way for Dutch Indonesians who had as much invested in the defense of Indonesia, in defense of their property, their way of life, to still have a place to call home after the war? My father came back to a very different Indonesia and he didn't deserve the betrayals and the dangers that followed. His attempt at returning to a normal life was dashed by new violence and atrocities led by Sukarno.

Sukarno's fragile balance of power between the military, political Islam, communists, and nationalists that underlay his "Guided Democracy" was to last less than 20 years. I think he was misguided from the beginning perhaps by a learned hatred of the Dutch, perhaps because he wanted a return to the aristocracy he believed he was entitled to. He went to Dutch schools and never did Indonesia suffer the apartheid that plagued South African Dutch colonization. The Dutch and Indonesian people intermarried for over 200 years. What independence was Sukarno seeking that tolerated a betrayal of his country?

http://www.dutch-east-indies.com/story/index.htm

2009-07-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

We are now far into the 6th month of a domestic coup d'etat that has taken over America.

Under the operation of an illigitimate administration, the agitation has not only, not ceased, but has constantly augmented.

In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand."

I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.

I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided.

It will become all one thing or all the other.

Either the opponents of fascism, socialism, slavery & entitlements, will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new -- North as well as South.

Have we no tendency for self reliance and freedom?

Let any one who doubts, carefully contemplate that now almost complete legal combination -- piece of machinery so to speak -- compounded by the Chicago Czar regime, new powers & authorizations given to the Federal Reserve, the previous TARP reaction to bank failures. Let him consider not only what work the machinery is adapted to do, and how well adapted; but also, let him study the history of its construction, and trace, if he can, or rather fail, if he can, to trace the evidence of design and concert of action, among its chief architects, from the beginning.

Make note of the 10 planks of communism:
1. Application of property taxes and rents for the public purpose
2. Progressive income tax
3. Confiscation of inheritance
4. Confiscation of property of non-conformists
5. Establishment of a Central Bank credit monopoly
6. Federal regulation of communication and major transportation
7. Government purchase/ownership of the means of production
8. Distribution of wealth and liability attributable to labor
9. Government zoning of Agriculture and Industry
10. Free education in government schools

Have we so buried the constitution in a web of unnecessary legislation & judicial precedence that we can't realize or remember that the U.S. Constitution, as originally written, prohibits all 10 at the Federal level.

Who but the oligarchy of banks & big business corrupting & perverting the men & women of the administrative, legislative & judicial branches, sent to Washington to protect the states and the people of those states from just such an enemy.

Perhaps the term, "sacred right of self government," was misused in our past to enslave other men, but now these same types of men would have you believe that their "affirmative actions", their "social justice", "economic justice" would enslave the same men & women set free in that era. We in fact do have a sacred right of self government, and it has never extended us the right to control or govern others. Not a man, woman, child and not a people or state.

We teach our children enterprise with a lemonade stand, but fail to see how our lack of constitutional resolve has crippled our ability to take on the same enterprise as adults. The local & federal regulators, licensing bureaus, taxes & insurance mandates would take 9 cents out of every 10 before you mixed up the first pitcher.

In September 2008, a massive run on the federal bank was experienced to the tune of over $500B and a decision to stop the run was made by the Bush administration. The players at the Fed & the treasury encouraged a decision to redirect another $700B into the banking system. This was the first point won, to create an international crisis that allowed an Oligarchy to manipulate public money at the highest levels.

We teach our children democracy and send them to foriegn shores to spread & defend it, but we allow a candidate to remain unvetted through to inauguration and marginalize any outcries through the media.

Before the last Presidential election, a law case came to, and was NOT argued in, the Supreme Court of the United States; but the decision of it was deferred until -- after the election? Indefinitely? Still, before the election, Senator Obama, admitted his dual citizenship assuming that the common man would not realize the violation of eligibility as defined by the constitution. He denied his association with the communist agenda and marginalized those who wanted the honest debate between Socialism & Self Soverignty. He's sealed up all of his personal history that might allow his eligibility case to be heard by the Supreme Court. His personal actions have created an army of unsuspecting to become culpable in the conspiracy.

The election came. Mr. Obama was elected, and the presidency, such as it was, secured. That was the second point gained. The indorsement, however, fell short of a clear popular majority by rumors & accusations of voter fraud at all levels by hired foot soldiers in the form of Acorn & SEIU as well as unsuspecting paid workers, and so, perhaps, was not overwhelmingly reliable and satisfactory.

The Supreme Court has still not met nor able to review the eligiblity, but continues to waffle and refuses to call for the evidence of eligibility and force an argument.

The new President, seizes the early occasion of the TARP decision, the international banking crisis, and his overwhelming popularity to endorse financial paybacks as an economic solution and redirects an additional $700B of public money & debt. Pre-planned legislation is quickly pushed through to strengthen his committment to the 10 planks of communism and he doesn't stop until his energy tax gets stalled in Senate committee & his Public health speeches start falling on deaf ears.

Auxiliary to all this, and working hand in hand with it, the ongoing distortion of equality & civil rights that mandates we care more for others than we do for ourselves, is to educate and mold public opinion, at least Socialist public opinion, not to care whether individual rights are protected or ensured, but that the individual is subject to the will & desires & needs of the "public". This shows exactly where we now are; and partially, also, whither we are tending.

It will throw additional light on the latter, to go back, and run the mind over the string of historical facts already stated. Several things will now appear less dark and mysterious than they did when they were transpiring. The people were to be left "perfectly free," subject only to the Constitution. What the Constitution had to do with it, outsiders could not then see. Plainly enough now, it was an exactly fitted niche, for the Health Care & Cap and Trade decisions to come in, and declare the perfect free freedom of the people to be just no freedom at all.

We cannot absolutely know that all these exact adaptations are the result of preconcert. But when we see a lot of framed timbers, different portions of which we know have been gotten out at different times and places, and by different workmen- Wilson, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Carter, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama, for instance-and when we see these timbers joined together, and see they exactly matte the frame of a house with pieces exactly fitting, and all the lengths and proportions of the different pieces adapted to their respective places, and we see the frame prepared yet to lay another such piece in such a case we find it impossible not to believe that since Wilson at least, and incentives & reasons given to all who followed, there is an understanding passed one to the other and all have worked upon a common plan or draft drawn up before the first blow was struck. Is this a conspiracy theory or a nation watching a new house being built in the ashes of what once stood?

Obama holds, we know, that a man may rightfully be wiser today than he was yesterday-that he may rightfully change when he finds himself wrong. But can we, for that reason, run ahead, and infer that he will make any particular change, of which he, himself, has given no intimation? Can we safely base our action upon any such vague inference? Now, as ever, I wish not to misrepresent Obama's position, albeit I believe ill gained, but clearly, he is not now with us-he does not pretend to be-he does not promise ever to be. Should we not maintain that we the people of a given State, as well as a Territory, were to be left "perfectly free," "subject only to the Constitution?"

Our cause, then, must be intrusted to, and conducted by, its own undoubted friends-those whose hands are free, whose hearts are in the work-who do care for the result. Ten years ago the Republicans of the nation mustered as a party and pushed back the advance of the Clinton administration to a similar end. We did this under the single impulse of resistance to a common danger, with every external circumstance against us. Of strange, discordant, and even hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds, and formed and fought the battle through, under the constant hot fire of a disciplined, proud, and pampered enemy. Did we brave all them to falter now?-now, when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered, and belligerent? The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail-if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise counsels may accelerate, or mistakes delay it, but, sooner or later, the victory is sure to come.

Can we count on the Republican party or have they moved too progressively or passively into the same frame of Communism that the Democratic party has begun, so many administrations before? I don't know the answer, I don't know if the party politic is up to this battle. Is there time in this administration to take a stand? Will the Supreme Court assist in the fight to restore the authority of the constitution or have they been given a porch to build onto this new house? Will rule of law prevail, or has corruption rotted the very foundation of our house? There is only one question with our new wisdom that we, as an American people should ask.

Do we have a soviergn right to self governement as individuals that trumps the desires of the public, if the individual does not infringe upon another, or behave as a burden or a nuisance to the public? Does the collective desire of the majority trump and trample the rights of the individual? You must answer the question and if answered in the positive, you can not remain nuetral or idle.

Taken from Lincoln's House Divided Speech. The manifesto was seen on my buddies web site who said he first saw it at FDR all over again blog - http://fdralloveragain.blogspot.com/2009/03/lets-start-with-communism.html

July 2009

2009-07-27T15:48:00.001-07:00

Bizarre news around the blogosphere today.

Jeff Sessions, a Republican Senator from Alabama says of the Sotomayor appointment, "I don't believe that Judge Sotomayor has the deep-rooted convictions necessary to resist the siren call of judicial activism. She has evoked its mantra too often." Unless these appointees can be held accountable for the perjury they commit during Senatorial hearings, there's no point in having the hearings.

Seems the WH and Pelosi are the only two factions confident about the health care bill, so confident that she may bypass several committees and call for a vote. "When I take this bill to the floor, it will win," she said Sunday. "We will move forward, it will happen."

Homeland Security Revises Immigration Plan, Limits Officers' Power to Arrest Illegals. Opponents said the program, known as 287G, was intended to identify criminal aliens but instead has led to racial profiling; it allowed local police to identify and arrest illegal immigrants for such minor infractions as

a broken tail light

. Program supporters said it has been an effective tool for combating illegal immigration. Excuse me, but minor or not, if you have outstanding warrents, or suspended license, a taillight is all they need to stop you.. should I expect to walk away from those crimes? A'int gonna happen. But we want law enforcement to IGNORE illegal alien status? Let's get this all in perspective. Can you imagine going to another country and getting pulled over for anything... and they don't want to also SEE YOUR PASSPORT? This is laughable at best.

So how can we work to take back our country? I would really like to see the States get behind the people's grassroots attempts to take their country back. The state needs to re-assert it's right of soveriegnty as a member of the United States, and protect the people as they start taking back their taxes and their rights. You have to starve the beast.

Did no one hear what Palin said?

2009-07-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

She said:
1. She wants more time campaigning for other candidates.
2. We are in a FULL COURT PRESS from Washington.
3. She didn't want to put Alaskans through a year of a lame-duck governorship since she'd already decided to not run for re-election. The personal attacks on her has made it expensive for Alaskans to have her as Governor. It will be more efficient for Alaska, and it will insure an incumbant for the 2010 election.

I think that's brilliant. I also think it's brilliant that by NOT being governor she can use her star power to help win GOP elections all over the country in 2010 and in 2012. She'll stay in the limelight and she'll be poised to do whatever she wants, after she secures more financial freedom for her family. She can take the target off of her back, finish her book, and take on speaking engagments without the scrutny and restraints of public office. She's one who believes in a servant's heart.. no one even knows what that means in politics.

4. The cost to the state $2 million to investigate the frivolous ethics complaints, all of which so far have been thrown out, plus she took on personal legal bills to save the state $500,000 in defending against this stuff. She's in debt because of this.

This is really hurting the state. It costs nothing to fie a complaint, and the stalkers who do this do it every time she leaves the house. The complaints are complete bs, but have to be investigated nevertheless. She's going to do something about that. Bull to the lawyers who legislate this kind of crap...how can this be legal?

This is not ok. This is thuggish individuals abusing the system and victimizing an entire state. She believes in fiscal responsibility and efficiency. This is no longer efficient.

5. She's giving BHO a heads up on how to leave office with grace, instead of at gunpoint and in your pajamas.

Think, don't panic

2009-04-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

The term "influenza" refers to illness caused by influenza virus. This is commonly also called "flu", but many different illnesses cause "flu-like" systemic and respiratory symptoms such as fever, chills, aches and pains, cough, and sore throat. In addition, influenza itself can cause many different illness patterns, ranging from mild common cold symptoms to typical "flu" to life-threatening pneumonia and other complications, including secondary bacterial infections.

Uncomplicated influenza gets better with or without treatment, but may cause substantial discomfort and limitation of activity before getting better. Complications of influenza can include bacterial infections, viral pneumonia, and cardiac and other organ system abnormalities.

Use of antiviral drugs does not eliminate the risk of complications, and some complications can be life-threatening. In addition, influenza viruses can become resistant to specific anti-influenza antiviral drugs, and all of the drugs have side effects. My son, Karel caught a virus when he was a year old, it was hemophalus influenza, that caused a bacterial meningitis. During the illness his life was in danger, but the drugs used to cure him, caused lasting neural deafness and epilepsy.

I think we should take normal precautions, but review the panic response of the 1976 epidemic and the rush to vaccinate. More people died and suffered paralysis from the vaccine, then from the virus. Only 1 person at Ft. Dix actually died from the 1976 swine flu epidemic. Check out the Natural Remedies as well, and the stuff your Grandma used to tell you about washing your hands, sharing utensils, plenty of fluids.

Common Sense

2009-04-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing that Audacity lacks, it's common sense. Who schedules a photo op of a jetliner escorted by fighter jets over Manhattan, post 9/11? Who keeps floundering banks and companies afloat with money borrowed from taxpayers who are facing foreclosure and layoffs themselves? Who starts a policy investigation on torture when you still have soldiers in harms way? Who passes massive new entitlement programs during the beginning of a depression? Who refuses to answer basic questions of identity, eligibility, college and service background when running for the highest office in the land? What have we, the People gained by the TARP and stimulus money being spent? What have we, the People gained by investing public money into GM and Chrysler? Shares have dropped 93% of it's value, brands and plants are discontinued, layoffs are happening, and they may still file for bankruptcy and not pay any of it back. What kind of idiot economists are supporting this? How can we undermine the current intelligence agencies or focus security forces on policy skeptics?

Won't it be fun to watch how Merrill Lynch, BofA and treasury conspired to defraud the shareholders and the taxpayers by misrepresenting values and transaction details?

What is wrong with these people, that they aren't accountable to anyone? This unholy alliance between the banks, wall street, unions, fringe left groups and elected officials has got to STOP!! This is criminal, fraudulent behavior, and it's being perpetrated by those who've been given our trust. This has to be investigated, criminal charges need to be filed, and they need to be put out of office!

Had we been more protective of the free market, there would be no talk of bailouts. So, really... what's the worst thing that could happen if we would have let the banks fail? People would be losing money; international banks would be hurt; foreign countries would be angry at us. Did $700B stop any of that? Wait, which people lost money? Were they protecting a specific GROUP of people? Didn't George Soros say this was great for him personally? Who else has benefited? Let's follow the money in and out of the war chests of our elected officials. I would like some heads to roll.

H.R.1586 - A Blatant Abuse of Power

2009-04-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

I'm upset with all the bailouts. It's obvious to me that Washington politicians, banks and wall street have a special relationship that is being preserved through these bailouts to banks. I'm convinced that international bankers needed to cut their losses and pressured Washington to underwrite the bailout. There is no reason for Americans to put up with this. Free markets are free to succeed and fail. The regulations that needed to be in place to protect individuals from fraud didn't exist, so Main Street is left to take their losses and start over, but Banks who perpetrated the outrageous risky paper gets a pass... that is unacceptable.

It's also obvious in the latest AIG fallout, regarding bonuses, that they were allowed in the original legislation. That's a shame, but further proof that unholy alliances exist in Washington. Senator Dodd should be recalled for changing the wording in the legislation that allowed it. However, in typical response to getting caught cheating, congress now wants to publicly fix this, and they come up with a new TAX.

H.R.1586: To impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain TARP recipients.

This to me is worse than the first mistake and is a blatant abuse of congressional power, to change the tax code to go after AIG bonuses. Regardless of the fact that Senator Dodd changed the legislation to ALLOW these bonuses; regardless of the fact that public sentiment is outrage over the AIG bonuses. What I don't get is that these REPUBLICANS in the house FAILED to see the unconstitutionality and the blatant misuse of power... they voted in favor of the bill. It's obvious we can't trust either party to uphold the constitution. Maybe we need to send them all pocket constitutions.

I recognize a few people here, and I thought they were conservatives. I guess that's not enough to ensure that they might also be defenders of the constitution. I'm convinced that I may never vote a major party player again. IF they represent you, you may want to ask them what LAW did the AIG executives break? and, what part of the constitution gives them the authority to go after a specific group of people using the TAX CODE.

Rep. Robert Aderholt [R, AL-4]
Rep. Rodney Alexander [R, LA-5]
Rep. Joe Barton [R, TX-6]
Rep. Judy Biggert [R, IL-13]
Rep. Brian Bilbray [R, CA-50]
Rep. Gus Bilirakis [R, FL-9]
Rep. Roy Blunt [R, MO-7]
Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45]
Rep. John Boozman [R, AR-3]
Rep. Charles Boustany [R, LA-7] - abstain
Rep. Henry Brown [R, SC-1]
Rep. Virginia Brown-Waite [R, FL-5]
Rep. Vern Buchanan [R, FL-13]
Rep. Ken Calvert [R, CA-44]
Rep. David Camp [R, MI-4]
Rep. Eric Cantor [R, VA-7]
Rep. Anh Cao [R, LA-2]
Rep. Shelley Capito [R, WV-2]
Rep. Bill Cassidy [R, LA-6]
Rep. Michael Castle [R, DE-0]
Rep. Ander Crenshaw [R, FL-4]
Rep. John Culberson [R, TX-7] - abstain
Rep. Geoff Davis [R, KY-4]
Rep. Charles Dent [R, PA-15]
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart [R, FL-21]
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart [R, FL-25]
Rep. John Duncan [R, TN-2]
Rep. Vernon Ehlers [R, MI-3]
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R, MO-8]
Rep. John Fleming [R, LA-4]
Rep. James Forbes [R, VA-4]
Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R, NE-1]
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R, NJ-11]
Rep. Elton Gallegly [R, CA-24]
Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6]
Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R, VA-6]
Rep. Brett Guthrie [R, KY-2]
Rep. Dean Heller [R, NV-2]
Rep. Walter Herger [R, CA-2]
Rep. Timothy Johnson [R, IL-15]
Rep. Walter Jones [R, NC-3]
Rep. Mark Kirk [R, IL-10]
Rep. Leonard Lance [R, NJ-7]
Rep. Thomas Latham [R, IA-4]
Rep. Christopher Lee [R, NY-26]
Rep. Jerry Lewis [R, CA-41]
Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R, NJ-2]
Rep. Donald Manzullo [R, IL-16]
Rep. Michael McCaul [R, TX-10]
Rep. Tom McClintock [R, CA-4]
Rep. John McHugh [R, NY-23]
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R, WA-5]
Rep. John Mica [R, FL-7]
Rep. Gary Miller [R, CA-42] - abstain
Rep. Candice Miller [R, MI-10]
Rep. Jerry Moran [R, KS-1]
Rep. Pete Olson [R, TX-22] - abstain
Rep. Thomas Petri [R, WI-6]
Rep. Adam Putnam [R, FL-12]
Rep. George Radanovich [R, CA-19] - abstain
Rep. Dennis Rehberg [R, MT-0] Aye
Rep. Dave Reichert [R, WA-8] Aye
Rep. David Roe [R, TN-1] Aye
Rep. Michael Rogers [R, AL-3] Aye
Rep. Harold Rogers [R, KY-5] Aye
Rep. Michael Rogers [R, MI-8] Aye
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [R, CA-46] Aye
Rep. Thomas Rooney [R, FL-16] Aye
Rep. Peter Roskam [R, IL-6] Aye
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R, FL-18] Aye
Rep. Edward Royce [R, CA-40] Aye
Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI-1] Aye
Rep. Jean Schmidt [R, OH-2] Aye
Rep. Aaron Schock [R, IL-18] Aye
Rep. John Shimkus [R, IL-19] Aye
Rep. Christopher Smith [R, NJ-4] Aye
Rep. Lamar Smith [R, TX-21] Aye
Rep. Mark Souder [R, IN-3] Abstain
Rep. Clifford Stearns [R, FL-6] Aye
Rep. Patrick Tiberi [R, OH-12] Aye
Rep. Michael Turner [R, OH-3] Aye
Rep. Frederick Upton [R, MI-6] Aye
Rep. Greg Walden [R, OR-2] Aye
Rep. Zach Wamp [R, TN-3] Aye
Rep. Rob Wittman [R, VA-1] Aye
Rep. Frank Wolf [R, VA-10] Aye
Rep. Donald Young [R, AK-0] Aye
Rep. C. W. Young [R, FL-10] Aye

Tax Day Tea Parties

2009-04-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

I wholly support the tea parties that are being organized all over the country this year. The next biggest tea party day will be tax day of course, and I assume there will be more civil protests near the 4th of July.

Although these are grass roots protests, the first, following the chatter inspired by Rick Santelli’s magnificent rant and the support it inspired. Most of the organizers are being cautious about being partisan and some aren't allowing any politicians to speak or use the occasion as a forum. I think the goal is to find the core of what we believe, and none have done it better than Glenn Beck and Fox News. They'll be attending 4 tax day tea parties in Sacramento, the Alamo, Atlanta and Washington DC. I'm hoping also that we can have some real discussions about our 'core' principles that can beyond the tea parties and lead to some real reform.

What would real reform mean, and can people be as united on the basics? For me real reform isn't just band-aids on the status quo. We the people, really need to form a more perfect union. Did you know that one president tried. President Reagan's effort to re-establish the proper role of the federal government through this Executive Order on Federalism was revoked in 1998 by Bill Clinton's new EO 13083, which largely re-justified the excessive unconstitutional role the federal government has assumed since the time of Franklin Roosevelt.

Can we, after this massive outpouring of patriotism, really rally behind..individual liberty, the restoration of constitutional limits on government and the judiciary, and the promotion of free enterprise, national defense and traditional American values? If we can, we may not be happy with any of the two party candidates.

What next? I think it's important that if we can find solidarity on individual liberty, the restoration of constitutional limits on government and the judiciary, and the promotion of free enterprise, national defense and traditional American values then we have a chance to impact the direction of our government in the next election cycle. The problem, finding candidates. The GOP and the Libertarian Party has attached itself to many of the tea parties. Will we find enough candidates to replace congress and make change?

Reason & Religion

2009-04-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

I love Ayn Rand. As a witness to communism and a defender of Democracy and Capitalism, there is no greater voice. Christians may not understand her objectivism, and her foundation tries to argue religion vs reason with Reason winning, and religion being an evil. I don't really argue with that either, since I'm not a very religious person. Consider this, a writing about Objectivity.

Objectivity is both a metaphysical and an epistemological concept. It pertains to the relationship of consciousness to existence. Metaphysically, it is the recognition of the fact that reality exists independent of any perceiver’s consciousness. Epistemologically, it is the recognition of the fact that a perceiver’s (man’s) consciousness must acquire knowledge of reality by certain means (reason) in accordance with certain rules (logic).

This class of theories holds that the truth or the falsity of a representation is determined solely by how it relates to a reality; that is, by whether it accurately describes that reality. As Aristotle claims in his Metaphysics:

"To say that [either] that which is is not or that which is not is, is a falsehood; and to say that that which is is and that which is not is not, is true"

I still don't disagree with that, and wish that secular scientists would remind themselves of it a little more often. I often tell my grandchildren that what they believe doesn't matter, there is a truth that is true whether you believe it or not. Belief in something doesn't make truth more true, nor can it make a falsehood the truth.

To me, reason was how I determined what was true, faith is my belief in what is true, and religion is how I choose to live out my faith. (again, I'm not a very religious person...so I don't live out as close to my faith as I would like, but that's not to be confused with double-mindedness.) To do less would be living a lie. (yes, yes, I'm often guilty of that, too, but it in no way is a reflection of what I believe.)

That brings me, however to the objectivist. A reasonable case for atheism in that the ONLY basis to determine TRUTH is observation and reason.

This means that although reality is immutable and, in any given context, only one answer is true, the truth is not automatically available to a human consciousness and can be obtained only by a certain mental process which is required of every man who seeks knowledge—that there is no substitute for this process, no escape from the responsibility for it, no shortcuts, no special revelations to privileged observers—and that there can be no such thing as a final “authority” in matters pertaining to human knowledge. Metaphysically, the only authority is reality; epistemologically—one’s own mind. The first is the ultimate arbiter of the second.

By their own admission there are shortcomings to this. By definition they build a box of rules that won't allow for "special revelation" and they claim that the only authority is "reality", but what they mean is man's perception of reality, because let's face it if you don't have all the facts, then it's logical to think that you may not stumble upon the truth, let alone the whole truth. By their own definition of reality, they limit truth to their perception of reality.

I find it almost amusing and in direct conflict with Aristotle's simple statement. If you want to be bound by the limitations of the human condition and put yourself in a dark box, it would be easy to see why they'll never be illuminated. Their reality will remain dark and box like. I don't choose to limit my understanding of things to the human condition.

Truth is truth whether you believe it or not, on that we can agree.

Support Geert Wilders

2009-03-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

Support Geert Wilders!

From the Freedom Party:

The Freedom Party (PVV) and Geert Wilders are faced with an all-out assault. Exploding legal expenses might cripple the continuation of the battle for our liberties. The survival of the Freedom Party and Geert Wilders’s struggle for the defense of the West are now in jeopardy.

Therefore, we need your financial support urgently.

There are three ways you can donate money.

1. Via Paypal. More information on www.geertwilders.nl.

2. Support our Foundation. Stichting Vrienden van de PVV,

bank account : 67.04.72.344

Internationals donators add: IBAN: NL98 INGB 0670 4723 44

BIC: INGBNL2A

3. Send a cheque to: Stichting Vrienden van de PVV, PO Box 20018, zip code: 2500 EA The Hague, The Netherlands.

www.geertwilders.nl

Why does Geert Wilders need support, and why should you support him? See here.

2009-03-25T05:17:00.000-07:00

HR1388, S3577, S277 Updated - DO NOT STOP CALLING!

There are reports floating around the Internet that the GIVE ACT (HR1388)/National Service Reauthorization Act (S3577)/Serve America Act (S277) has been passed by the Senate in a 74-14 vote according to Kate Phillips of The Obama NY Times.

S277 - Serve America Act HAS NOT BEEN VOTED ON YET.

The House passed HR1388 last week, S3577 was voted cloture [where they stop debate and avoid a filibuster] on the 19th, and now has been bundled into S277 and is expected to be voted on “later this week”.

It almost seems like they want to confuse you, huh?

The NY Times wants you to believe that this is a done deal and everything is over. But really the article said, “…the Senate tonight voted 74 to 14 on a procedural move“…. The cloture motion to stop debate and filibustering.

These are BAD BILLS

HR 1388 specifically targets Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). From school-based service learning programs to focusing on severely economically depressed communities, the GIVE act sounds good until you get to part about the mandatory service requirement for youth. How can volunteerism be mandatory?

Section 6104 of The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act requires that a commission be established to investigate,

“Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.”

Of course I imagine armies of youth planting trees and working on community service projects; however, I can’t get on board with the involuntary servitude. It’s even scarier when you consider Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emanuel coauthored The Plan: Big Ideas for America that calls for compulsory service for Americans ages 18 to 25:

Here’s how it would work. Young people will know that between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, the nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service. They’ll be asked to report for three months of basic civil defense training in their state or community, where they will learn what to do in the event of biochemical, nuclear or conventional attack; how to assist others in an evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we’re hit by a natural disaster. These young people will be available to address their communities’ most pressing needs.

Doesn't sound like much more than a long summer camp, until you hear what the architect really wants.

From your Black Grandma

2009-02-27T11:21:00.000-08:00

I came across this site because of a political cartoon I liked, and I'm a little appalled by some of the articles. The site is called Black Commentator and you can check it out for yourself. The link will take you to an article called "Republicans Refuse Stimulus for Citizens Deep in Poverty". They were referring to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. I don't know him and can't speak to his objections, but this stimulus isn't the end all be all to everyone.

What struck me MORE though about the article was how the Black Commentator described the poor in this community.

For example, in Lambert, a community of 1,700, we found many people experiencing grinding poverty - living in ramshackle houses built nearly a century ago, with rampant unemployment, scores of young people with nothing to do but make babies, trash and stripped cars all over the place, people with serious health needs, cut off from mainstream services for the lack of public transportation.

Although the local mayor said the “people wanted to live that way,” in a dramatic moment of repudiation at the food pantry, people were asked what they wanted. They launched into a chorus of, “jobs, jobs, library, decent houses, food, transportation, health services!” In other words, people had gross needs that were not being served by state, county and local leaders.

I have to stop here to make a point, although there is plenty more to say about the article. Right here, I see blatant untruths and contradictory logic. I've never been to Lambert, Mississippi, but let's take inventory, I can see the town in my mind's eye. I understand the depression that comes from poverty or needing a helping hand to jump start a new direction.

1. Ramshackle houses
2. Trash
3. Stripped Cars
4. Unemployment
5. Young people
6. Sick people
7. Lack of Transportation

Knowing only that much about Lambert, I know that if I dropped my 2 sons off in Lambert, I would bet my life that they wouldn't be "stuck" in poverty for very long. They would find the owners of the ramshackle houses and fix them up for money or barter. They would force a contract with the city of Lambert to pick up the trash if the city doesn't know how to get that done. They would take the parts of the stripped cars and barter til they had a few working. I could even see them grow big enough to hire the lazy young people who only have time for sex. I could see them open a grocery store or bus service to towns that have free clinics or other services.

Of course the article doesn't recognize the description of Lambert as having any opportunity per se, they continue to argue that the residents couldn't possibly turn it around themselves.

Their poverty is not merely that shaped by the lack of money, but a poverty of the spirit shaped by the oppressive forces that have robbed them of hope, such that many cannot conceive of leaving or don’t know how to manage the transition to a new reality of living. They do not fit the model of Harriet Tubman, they fit her model of those who do not yet fully know they are free.

Stay with me here, cause it gets better. I want to remind you also that this is a Black Commentator talking about a black community with a black mayor. What is his answer to the problems of Lambert?

There needs to be a new Poor Peoples’ March today while the attention of the nation is being socialized to the damages that can result from an unregulated economy. But this time, it should deal with those who have been ravaged for decades with no one coming to their aid because those in power were allied with their oppressors.

Does the Black Commentator really believe that Governor Barbour (white) benefits somehow from continued poverty for the people of Lambert? It's possible I suppose, but doesn't the Governor benefit more by having communities thrive? Does he have give no blame to the mayor (black) who so arrogantly said “people wanted to live that way.” Who exactly are the oppressors here if not the black leaders and commentators?

Well just pretend I'm a Black Grandma, with slave roots and sleeves rolled up.

Shame on you Black Commentator! Shame on the mayor of Lambert and the black leaders and the black preachers of Lambert.

Don't listen to your leaders and your brothers who want to keep you in poverty. Don't believe them when they say you need to wait for the "Massa's crumbs." Don't listen to the anger they spew and the lies they tell. Keeping you down apparantly makes them look taller. Not only are you free, but you have been given the greatest gift of all. Like Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his own brothers, he trusted God in all things, and God turned what men had intended for evil to save his family, even those same brothers, in their time of need.

Don't settle for the Lambert that exists today. Mothers of Lambert, get those kids back in control. You teach them how to clean up their town, paint their homes, and take responsibility for their actions. You take a switch to them if you have to, and you remind them of their rich heritage and how your grandparents didn't have the choices and the opportunities that they have. Don't allow the leaders to go to Washington and let you settle for crumbs...take control of your kids and you teach them how to bake their own bread.

Teach them to NEVER take a handout, just a helping hand. Teach them with a broom and paint brush and get your homes in order. The enemy of poverty isn't the white man or the rich man...the enemy is anyone who tells you that you need a handout. Anyone that tells you that you can't make it on your own, the scars are too deep, those are the real oppressors, the liars and the snakes in the garden.

Get rid of the leaders around you who are not working on your behalf. Don't wait for the jobs to come to you...create the jobs, give businesses a reason to come to Lambert. Force your local mayor to provide the transportation service that your town needs or get another mayor who will. Advertise for what you need by showing off the pride you have in yourself and your community. Remember that

"all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Bipartisan change you can believe in

2009-02-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

I think this says it all.

Take Back Our Children

2009-02-25T09:56:00.000-08:00

It was very hard for me to watch the President's address last night. It's never really what he says that worries me, it's what he really means that shows through.

An increase in the Federal standardization of our children's education is not what we need right now. Pouring more federal money and mandates into our educational system be it through grants or civil service or any way you cut it...we need to be afraid and we need to take a stand. We currently have the state as the biggest partner in public school, but the Feds want a bigger influence.

Charles Stickley wrote, "Ever wonder why many Americans react to important information with a blank stare? If psychopolitics succeeds in its mission throughout the Capitalistic nations of the world, there will never be an atomic war, for our enemy will have SUBJUGATED ALL OF HER ENEMIES. Communism has already spread across one sixth of the inhabited world . Marxist Doctrines have already penetrated the remainder . An extension of the Communist social order is everywhere victorious . The spread of Communism has never been by force of battle, but by conquest OF THE MIND. IN PSYCHOPOLITICS WE HAVE REFINED THIS CONQUEST TO ITS LAST DEGREE."

Parents are barely hanging on to any control as witnessed in last years California case against a home school. Parents almost lost their right to teach their own children, if they didn't have the "appropriate teaching credentials." The price of those credentials is teachers who no longer teach facts, but behavior modification. The drop out rate of our high school youth isn't a reflection of poor parenting, it's a reflection that the SYSTEM isn't doing enough. Our young people still have a sense of survival and freedom at their core. By 16 they realize that they may not be one of the handful of new college freshman being produced by the SYSTEM. Either they already know what they want and prefer to pursue their education elsewhere, or they don't know what they want, but aren't challenged enough or encouraged enough in the SYSTEM to find it.

It was clear from last nights address that "Dropping out of school will no longer be an option". That the Feds want control "from cradle to the start of their career." Does that mean there will be reform in our schools to re-engage those not tracked for college, or will they take those "rejects; the incorrigible; the trouble makers; the lazy; the washouts" and put them into public service? The new civil soldiers. How will they stop these children from finding their own path? They've already labeled them as failures because they couldn't conform to the core of the SYSTEM. They weren't willing to become "standardized", pegged and put on track for more of the same.

I propose that these "drop outs" are not failures. The Public School system has only one product K-12, and that's to create a handful of college freshman for future indoctrination. These young people who have other interests are the future innovators; plumbers; electricians; artists; CEOs and patriots. Will some of them use those talents in gangs...absolutely. But a majority will take that self-reliance; determination; resiliency and intuition and they be fine. But what have we done to those that we didn't squash? We wasted their time and tried to break their spirit.

Governor Jindal was able to create emergency legislation due to Hurricane Katrina that allowed the school funding to assist faith based and private schools who were picking up the slack when the Public School system in New Orleans was failing. As Rahm Emmanuel so clearly states..."let's not waste a good crisis". While our public schools are struggling with state and federal mandates, and not enough money to implement those mandates...this is a great opportunity to regain control of our children and their school funds.

If we can enact similar legislation that allows 60% - 75% of the money currently allocated by ADA for each student, and allow the money to follow the child; directed and managed by the parents; regardless of the religious affiliation; regardless of the grade by grade standardization policies; regardless of the accreditation of the campus or instructors, then we can save our children and the future of America. They take our money, but the money does NOT follow the children. The money goes directly to the institutions that comply or propagate the anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-family dogma of the far left. We need to stop that.

We need to REFORM the educational system and take back our children.

God is in control

2009-02-20T06:25:00.000-08:00

by Twila Paris

God is in control

This is no time for fear
This is a time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here
Carried away by emotion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together

God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control

History marches on
There is a bottom line drawn across the ages
Culture can make its plan
Oh, but the line never changes
No matter how the deception may fly
There is one thing that has always been true
It will be true forever

He has never let you down
Why start to worry now?
He is still the Lord of all we see
And He is still the loving Father
Watching over you and me

watching over you...watching over me..
watching over every things..
watching over you..watching over me..
every little sparrow..every little things...

And you thought Civil War was out of the Question?

2009-02-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

Their goal is to revitalize the union within the confines of the Constitution.
Many of the words were taken directly from the words of Madison and Jefferson. Though none of the recent state legislation infers that they wish to secede from the Union, there are now 21 states that have joined New Hampshire and Oklahoma in drawing a line in the sand. Considering the Martial Law, the involuntary youth brigade, the threat of an offshore banking takeover, the ratification of the UN Sea Treaty, the danger of the North American Union...etc., etc., etc.

WOW!!! Don't wake sleeping dogs, eh?

HCR 6 – AS INTRODUCED

2009 SESSION

09-0274

09/01

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 6

A RESOLUTION affirming States’ rights based on Jeffersonian principles.

SPONSORS: Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Rep. Ingbretson, Graf 5; Rep. Comerford, Rock 9; Sen. Denley, Dist 3

COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

ANALYSIS

This house concurrent resolution affirms States’ rights based on Jeffersonian principles.

09-0274

09/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

A RESOLUTION affirming States’ rights based on Jeffersonian principles.

Whereas the Constitution of the State of New Hampshire, Part 1, Article 7 declares that the people of this State have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent State; and do, and forever hereafter shall, exercise and enjoy every power, jurisdiction, and right, pertaining thereto, which is not, or may not hereafter be, by them expressly delegated to the United States of America in congress assembled; and

Whereas the Constitution of the State of New Hampshire, Part 2, Article 1 declares that the people inhabiting the territory formerly called the province of New Hampshire, do hereby solemnly and mutually agree with each other, to form themselves into a free, sovereign and independent body-politic, or State, by the name of The State of New Hampshire; and

Whereas the State of New Hampshire when ratifying the Constitution for the United States of America recommended as a change, “First That it be Explicitly declared that all Powers not expressly & particularly Delegated by the aforesaid are reserved to the several States to be, by them Exercised;” and

Whereas the other States that included recommendations, to wit Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia, included an identical or similar recommended change; and

Whereas these recommended changes were incorporated as the ninth amendment, the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people, and the tenth amendment, the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people, to the Constitution for the United States of America; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the several States composing the United States of America, are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their General Government; but that, by a compact under the style and title of a Constitution for the United States, and of amendments thereto, they constituted a General Government for special purposes, -- delegated to that government certain definite powers, reserving, each State to itself, the residuary mass of right to their own self-government; and that whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force; that to this compact each State acceded as a State, and is an integral party, its co-States forming, as to itself, the other party: that the government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself; since that would have made its discretion, and not the Constitution, the measure of its powers; but that, as in all other cases of compact among powers having no common judge, each party has an equal right to judge for itself, as well of infractions as of the mode and measure of redress; and

That the Constitution of the United States, having delegated to Congress a power to punish treason, counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States, piracies, and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations, slavery, and no other crimes whatsoever; and it being true as a general principle, and one of the amendments to the Constitution having also declared, that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people,” therefore all acts of Congress which assume to create, define, or punish crimes, other than those so enumerated in the Constitution are altogether void, and of no force; and that the power to create, define, and punish such other crimes is reserved, and, of right, appertains solely and exclusively to the respective States, each within its own territory; and

That it is true as a general principle, and is also expressly declared by one of the amendments to the Constitution, that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people;” and that no power over the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, or freedom of the press being delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, all lawful powers respecting the same did of right remain, and were reserved to the States or the people: that thus was manifested their determination to retain to themselves the right of judging how far the licentiousness of speech and of the press may be abridged without lessening their useful freedom, and how far those abuses which cannot be separated from their use should be tolerated, rather than the use be destroyed. And thus also they guarded against all abridgment by the United States of the freedom of religious opinions and exercises, and retained to themselves the right of protecting the same. And that in addition to this general principle and express declaration, another and more special provision has been made by one of the amendments to the Constitution, which expressly declares, that “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:” thereby guarding in the same sentence, and under the same words, the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press: insomuch, that whatever violated either, throws down the sanctuary which covers the others, and that libels, falsehood, and defamation, equally with heresy and false religion, are withheld from the cognizance of federal tribunals. That, therefore, all acts of Congress of the United States which do abridge the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, are not law, but are altogether void, and of no force; and

That the construction applied by the General Government (as is evidenced by sundry of their proceedings) to those parts of the Constitution of the United States which delegate to Congress a power “to lay and collect taxes, duties, imports, and excises, to pay the debts, and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States,” and “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the powers vested by the Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof,” goes to the destruction of all limits prescribed to their power by the Constitution: that words meant by the instrument to be subsidiary only to the execution of limited powers, ought not to be so construed as themselves to give unlimited powers, nor a part to be so taken as to destroy the whole residue of that instrument: that the proceedings of the General Government under color of these articles, will be a fit and necessary subject of revisal and correction; and

That a committee of conference and correspondence be appointed, which shall have as its charge to communicate the preceding resolutions to the Legislatures of the several States; to assure them that this State continues in the same esteem of their friendship and union which it has manifested from that moment at which a common danger first suggested a common union: that it considers union, for specified national purposes, and particularly to those specified in their federal compact, to be friendly to the peace, happiness and prosperity of all the States: that faithful to that compact, according to the plain intent and meaning in which it was understood and acceded to by the several parties, it is sincerely anxious for its preservation: that it does also believe, that to take from the States all the powers of self-government and transfer them to a general and consolidated government, without regard to the special delegations and reservations solemnly agreed to in that compact, is not for the peace, happiness or prosperity of these States; and that therefore this State is determined, as it doubts not its co-States are, to submit to undelegated, and consequently unlimited powers in no man, or body of men on earth: that in cases of an abuse of the delegated powers, the members of the General Government, being chosen by the people, a change by the people would be the constitutional remedy; but, where powers are assumed which have not been delegated, a nullification of the act is the rightful remedy: that every State has a natural right in cases not within the compact, (casus non foederis), to nullify of their own authority all assumptions of power by others within their limits: that without this right, they would be under the dominion, absolute and unlimited, of whosoever might exercise this right of judgment for them: that nevertheless, this State, from motives of regard and respect for its co-States, has wished to communicate with them on the subject: that with them alone it is proper to communicate, they alone being parties to the compact, and solely authorized to judge in the last resort of the powers exercised under it, Congress being not a party, but merely the creature of the compact, and subject as to its assumptions of power to the final judgment of those by whom, and for whose use itself and its powers were all created and modified: that if the acts before specified should stand, these conclusions would flow from them: that it would be a dangerous delusion were a confidence in the men of our choice to silence our fears for the safety of our rights: that confidence is everywhere the parent of despotism -- free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy and not confidence which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those whom we are obliged to trust with power: that our Constitution has accordingly fixed the limits to which, and no further, our confidence may go. In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution. That this State does therefore call on its co-States for an expression of their sentiments on acts not authorized by the federal compact. And it doubts not that their sense will be so announced as to prove their attachment unaltered to limited government, whether general or particular. And that the rights and liberties of their co-States will be exposed to no dangers by remaining embarked in a common bottom with their own. That they will concur with this State in considering acts as so palpably against the Constitution as to amount to an undisguised declaration that that compact is not meant to be the measure of the powers of the General Government, but that it will proceed in the exercise over these States, of all powers whatsoever: that they will view this as seizing the rights of the States, and consolidating them in the hands of the General Government, with a power assumed to bind the States, not merely as the cases made federal, (casus foederis,) but in all cases whatsoever, by laws made, not with their consent, but by others against their consent: that this would be to surrender the form of government we have chosen, and live under one deriving its powers from its own will, and not from our authority; and that the co-States, recurring to their natural right in cases not made federal, will concur in declaring these acts void, and of no force, and will each take measures of its own for providing that neither these acts, nor any others of the General Government not plainly and intentionally authorized by the Constitution, shall be exercised within their respective territories; and

That the said committee be authorized to communicate by writing or personal conferences, at any times or places whatever, with any person or person who may be appointed by any one or more co-States to correspond or confer with them; and that they lay their proceedings before the next session of the General Court; and

That any Act by the Congress of the United States, Executive Order of the President of the United States of America or Judicial Order by the Judicatories of the United States of America which assumes a power not delegated to the government of United States of America by the Constitution for the United States of America and which serves to diminish the liberty of the any of the several States or their citizens shall constitute a nullification of the Constitution for the United States of America by the government of the United States of America. Acts which would cause such a nullification include, but are not limited to:

I. Establishing martial law or a state of emergency within one of the States comprising the United States of America without the consent of the legislature of that State.

II. Requiring involuntary servitude, or governmental service other than a draft during a declared war, or pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.

III. Requiring involuntary servitude or governmental service of persons under the age of 18 other than pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.

IV. Surrendering any power delegated or not delegated to any corporation or foreign government.

V. Any act regarding religion; further limitations on freedom of political speech; or further limitations on freedom of the press.

VI. Further infringements on the right to keep and bear arms including prohibitions of type or quantity of arms or ammunition; and

That should any such act of Congress become law or Executive Order or Judicial Order be put into force, all powers previously delegated to the United States of America by the Constitution for the United States shall revert to the several States individually. Any future government of the United States of America shall require ratification of three quarters of the States seeking to form a government of the United States of America and shall not be binding upon any State not seeking to form such a government; and

That copies of this resolution be transmitted by the house clerk to the President of the United States, each member of the United States Congress, and the presiding officers of each State’s legislature.

We're Toast

2009-02-12T09:05:00.000-08:00

It's obvious that there is NO difference between the Parties. This gal has been blowing the whistle for 40 years. We've sold out our children and now our country. These aren't NEW videos...I can't imagine what she thinks about our new Administration.

View the rest of this interview on YouTube

As a Christian, it was easy to stay responsible for my own kids education even though they were in the public school system. I attended CHEA conferences and knew that my husband and I were responsible to train up our kids. It didn't bother me that they had no real interest in a college degree. They were antsy to live life and they took what ever college course work was necessary to supplement the lack of skills attained in High School. They aren't rocket scientists, but they have good jobs and excel in their chosen fields. That's enough to make me proud.

Their dad and I took parenting seriously and knew that a fear of God was at the top of the list. We also helped them find their God given gifts and talents and helped them develop life skills, gave them a moral compass and demanded integrity. My youngest son however is the only college graduate and he's also the only one that requires great debate to win over on social and political issues. Funny how that proves her point. He's had the most trouble reconciling with God, but has enough respect for us as parents and a healthy fear of God, that he's mostly just confused.

These videos depress me in that we may be too late. Perhaps we've had our chance and this is just the last dance.

Have we entered the fog of the twilight zone?

2009-02-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

16 illegals sue Arizona rancher
Claim violation of rights as they crossed his land

An Arizona man who has waged a 10-year campaign to stop a flood of illegal immigrants from crossing his property is being sued by 16 Mexican nationals who accuse him of conspiring to violate their civil rights when he stopped them at gunpoint on his ranch on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Read the whole story here.

The courts can't hear any of the BigO eligibility cases because Americans have no standing to ask for the credentials of a presidential candidate.... but illegal aliens held by a private American citizen at gunpoint have some kind of standing in our courts? Why don't they sue him in a Mexican court. These folks should be put in jail first for entering the country illegally and trespassing. After those cases are heard, and they've resolved their illegal status...maybe then we can give them standing to sue a man for protecting his property.

A friendly experiment

2009-02-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

Taken from a friends' email to me prior to the election.

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on an "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference-just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need - the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

Thy Kingdom Come

2009-02-05T07:17:00.000-08:00

Father, God...have mercy on us. You were with her at the signing of the declaration of Independence. You whispered to her founders and stood by them as they crafted the pillars that built this great nation. You called the weary, the tired and the poor to her shores to build her up as a beacon on a hill. You gave hope to the world through her bravery, generosity and even naivety. We have forsaken you. Like the prodigal son, we have stripped all that was good and prostituted ourselves with our greed and carnality. We've been in lukewarm water for over 30 years and the heat is getting turned up.

I listened to a sermon online that my brother recommended.

Although it was mostly bad news...

I should preface this with the fact that, no where in scripture, when you study the time before Christs return will you recognize a super power that could be America. This bothered me as a teenager, but not as much as I believed it might play out just as the bible foretold. I believe we are at the beginning of that time now. I know what you are thinking, but these weren't only my observations.

7 things that will happen... so that you might believe

America...like the prodigal son.

1. there will be no economic recovery. We have traded an economic system that worked --- for one that never has. We have traded freedom for something else.... All of the answers coming from govt. are insane... there is a reason why communist and socialist regimes have fences around them.
2. we will see a time of extreme need and want like we've never seen before
the hedges that protected America are trampled down.
the insanity of Al Gore - environmental terror talk with no regard for our sin against the creator
more natural disasters will come
3. Breaches of our national security - nations will come against us
4. Internal conflict - a very divided nation .... greater than the civil war.
5. a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party, cause
6. REVIVAL ------ greater opportunity to come to Christ
7. RAPTURE ------ evacuation

School Options from my Home Country

2009-02-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

After posting my suggestion for California schools... I started researching a little and found some interesting models from none other than the Netherlands. Being from the Netherlands, and having some first hand knowledge of the system, I was curious to see how it was viewed.

Go to Open Education site for the full articles.

We left the Netherlands in 1956, and just 10 years later as we embarked on high school, my father, had some regrets about our immigration to America. So much so, that he sent my brothers and I back to summer in the Netherlands for the next 3 summers. I think he was appalled at the lack of core knowledge and memorization that was required of us in High School. Things like naming the continents and world leaders. World History and basic math and science facts. He didn't understand that in America they would allow the least experienced teachers to teach at the elementary level where the children were the most vulnerable. He thought the concept was upside down. There are tried and true formulas for teaching basics and you shouldn't experiment with the minds of the young and impressionable. He thought new ideas and theories should stay in the University where students and professors could debate as equals.

At the heart of the Dutch School system is their secondary program. I think this diagram from the article shows it best.

The model shows three separate paths from school to the workplace while still allowing for an individual student to transfer between the paths if they are willing or unwilling to do the work. I do believe also in compulsory education for youth under 16, but I don't believe the California Elementary school system is doing a good job for the money we are spending...and I really think we are FAILING, and have been FAILING our secondary and post secondary students for the past 30 years. What's appalling about that is the costs keep going up, the standards and the expectations keep going down and the dropout rate keeps going up.

Until we have real REFORM in our schools, outside of the current monopoly hold that the school system has on our educational options...we are never going to get it right.

Grandma's Plan for California's Budget

2009-02-03T09:09:00.000-08:00

California is looking at a school line item of $50B in their budget with about $14B in cuts for 2009/10, and IOU's to taxpayers who are entitled to a refund of overpayment of taxes for 2008. Times are tough for everyone and we need to move to some drastic measures that are SMART, sound and lead the way for a better tomorrow.

#1. Admit that all the money in the world won't fix the California educational system as is, and that REFORM is needed.

I propose that all pre-K and K-5 programs are terminated effective 2009/10 school year. Turn elementary school education back in to the hands of who? PARENTS and churches...(what a concept). Maintain your basic skills testing for 5th graders, but make that the entry exam for Public Subsidized education which is offered only to those students who pass. Consolidate Middle school curriculum with advanced aptitude and placement preparation with the focus on preparation for either:

- a 2 year general education program (9-10)
- a 5 year university preparation program (9-12+ AA or transfer to University)
- a 4 year specialty program (9-12 w/special skills actually needed in the workplace)

The specialty programs could/would include:
- Arts and Science (music, art, performing art, film, video, sound, graphics, and all the technology that those industries need skilled workers for)
- Science and Technology
- Business and Technology

Any of the specialty schools could easily lead to university or the workplace, but all would have practical applications.

Saving all of the money from PreK-5 schooling and transferring half to support the new public education system would be enough to keep the state solvent and I believe prove to be a better model for our future. Take all of that money spent doing what parents should be doing, and invest it only in the children who develop a desire to succeed. Those who fail in this program will have their parents support in finding alternatives to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I found a candidate for 2010

2009-02-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

After an interesting BlogTalkRadio show last night, a guest recommended Peter Schiff as someone to watch. I had to google him and OMG...I found a man who HAD IT RIGHT!!! He not only tried to warn economists for the last 4 years...but he's protected his own clients, and is taking a stand by running against DODD as a Senator from Connecticut.

His candidacy is being supported and explored by Political Exploration and Awareness Committee PAC (PEAC), an Independent Expenditures Committee. I have no idea what his affiliations are...but Dodd needs to be removed and possibly brought up on charges.

Re-Group to WIN

2009-02-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

The Republican Party, Independents and perhaps the new groundswell of Patriots that are cropping up online need the kind of solutions that the 'Obots' had. From social networking tools, ground troops like get out the vote and Acorn, the Obots have maintained a steady stream of lies designed to hi-jack even the best intentions of the people of America.

The Obama campaign used the Blue State Digital (BSD) Online Tools to generate more than $500 million from well over three million online donors. I'm personally apalled at their decision to turn off all Credit Card authorization tools normally in place for online transactions, but "validity" is a small price to pay for CASH. Who cares if the transactions were legal, right? I'm not suggesting illegal, unethical or treasonous practices...but I am suggesting we WAKE up and get organized.

Senator Barack Obama retained BSD to manage the online fundraising, constituency-building, issue advocacy, and peer-to-peer online networking aspects of his 2008 Presidential primary campaign. To date, the campaign has used the BSD Online Tools to mobilize well over a million donors to contribute over $500 million online, to motivate over 2 million social networking participants, and to create and promote more than 200,000 events across the country.

Surely opponents need to learn from this. I'm not sure where the "say one thing and do another" comes from....but it is a bit Alinsky-ish, don't you think? If you keep insisting that you are bi-partisan and keep holding meetings with the other side, maybe no one will notice that you NEVER listen or change anything. Maybe if you keep saying transparent, while your stuff is under lock and key, no one will notice that we've seen NOTHING. It's half amusing, like watching a magician in training. you can see the sleight of hand, but folks still applaud the outcome.

The whole of the campaign comes from ideas presented in Rules for Radicals. Alinsky outlines his strategy in organizing, writing in the prologue,

"There's another reason for working inside the system. Dostoevski said that taking a new step is what people fear most. Any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and change the future. This acceptance is the reformation essential to any revolution. To bring on this reformation requires that the organizer work inside the system, among not only the middle class but the 40 per cent of American families - more than seventy million people - whose income range from $5,000 to $10,000 a year [in 1971]. They cannot be dismissed by labeling them blue collar or hard hat. They will not continue to be relatively passive and slightly challenging. If we fail to communicate with them, if we don't encourage them to form alliances with us, they will move to the right. Maybe they will anyway, but let's not let it happen by default."[4]

Maybe honorable folks can't follow alinsky in good conscience...but it seems to me, we certainly need to pay attention.

Almost Duped

2009-01-31T00:51:00.000-08:00

I'm fretful tonight, I think because I was almost duped. I have a gift of discernment that God has been faithful of since my youth. My mother dabbled in the occult and had mystics around, and I was so afraid of spiritual deception, even as a teen, that it was a gift I prayed for in those days. The gift manifests by declarations and words sounding 'out of tune' to me. I fret. Somethings out of tune here.

Let me know how long it takes you to pick up on this.

Here are the lyrics:
Just a workin’ man without a job
It got shipped off to China via Washington, D.C.
And I know I’m nothin’ special, there are plenty more like me
Just the same
I thought I knew the rules of the game

I stood up for this country that I love
I came back from the desert to a wife and kids to feed
I’m not sayin’ Uncle Sam should give me what I need
My offer stands
I’ll pull my weight you give me half a chance

I went up to a congressman and said to him “you know
Our government is letting people down”
He said he’d need a lot of help to buck the status-quo
I said there was a bunch of us around

I’m a Born Again American, conceived in Liberty
My Bible is the Bill of Rights, my creed’s equality
I’m a Born Again American, my country ‘tis of me
And everyone who shares the dream from sea to shining sea

My brother’s welding chassis at the plant
He’s earning what our granddad did in 1948
While CEOs count bonuses behind the castle gates
How can they see
When all they care about’s the do re mi

It’s getting where there’s nowhere left to turn
Not since the crash of twenty-nine have things been so unfair
So many of our citizens are living in despair
The time has come
To reaffirm that hope’s not just for some

The promise of America’s surrendering to greed
The rule is just look out for number one
But brace yourself ‘cause some of us have sown a different seed
A harvest of the spirit has begun

I’m a Born Again American conceived in liberty
My Bible is The Bill Of Rights
My creed’s equality
A Born Again American, my country ‘tis of me
And everyone who shares the dream from sea to shining sea

It’s clear my country’s soul is on the line
She’s hungering for something that she lost along the way
The principle the framers called upon us to obey
That in this land
The people’s will must have the upper hand

I felt the calling once before and took a sacred vow
And faithful to that vow I have remained
I hear the calling once again, my country needs me now
And to her cause I have been re-ordained

I’m a Born Again American conceived in liberty
My Bible is the Bill Of Rights, all people living free
A Born Again American, my country ‘tis of me
And everyone who shares the dream
From sea to shining sea
And everyone who shares the dream
From sea to shining sea
A M E R I C A

Such great melody and the making of a great song. I didn't notice it on the first verse and chorus, though it sounded 'out of tune'. By the 2nd verse I knew it was off and I cried before the end.

This collective whining and complaining about what these people think is wrong with America has it's roots at the tower of Babel. Babel is the ancient origin of the modern notion that human collective bodies are more important than their individual members. Thus, it has generally been thought since the time of Babel that an individual's nation, his or her king as representative of the nation, and his or her racial, religious or ethnic group are more important than the individual. Therefore, the individual must be sacrificed to serve the self-defined interests of these groups, if need be. It is the OPPOSITE of what our founding fathers believed. They argued about the size of government too, but what won out was the value of individual liberty and self-reliance. We as INDIVIDUALS pursuing our own self interest, albeit common, we align as our self-interest aligns us.

Self interest, self reliance will be tomorrows sin in this new world order. What does that remind you of? We know what God thinks of this.

Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. Yahweh said,

"Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do. Come, let's go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth...

This new collective Kumbaya is directed to draw in the Christian right, no doubt. Country music, Patriotism, and hi-jacking an evangelical Christian term. Notice how it's "my country tis of ME and not THEE", as if taking responsibility is somehow more important than giving honor to the blessings of God. Or...my bible is the Bill of Rights, supplanting the Bible of course, as if our founding fathers didn't rely on God and prayer throughout the drafting of the bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights themselves are an affirmation of the inalienable rights given us by the Creator.

There is no limit to the size of the lie...as long as you can sell it.

The closing of Gitmo - how to lose the war on terror

2009-01-25T09:23:00.000-08:00

Mr. Barry Soetoro AKA Barrack Hussein Obama has signed an executive order to close the Guantanamo POW camp and to restrict treatment of prisoners to the Army field manual. (I hate when people with no military background, think they know better than the military commanders) In my personal life, I always judge a man by whether I'd be willing to follow him into battle or not. Can I trust him to make the decisions necessary to win the battle, survive, and protect those he's in command of? We're in deep trouble if you think even his supporters would blindly follow this man into battle. Let's make a list, supporters first!!

I don't remember WWII first hand, but my father spent the war in a Japanese POW camp, my mother in an Indonesian Internment camp and I've met with Japanese families in California who spent the war in Internment camps. I'm not pro-war, or prison for civilians, but I know that all of it was necessary for America to win the war!! My parents and the Japanese families who experienced internment during the war, know that as unfair as it was, it was part of the nature of war.

Do we now think that war is fought only by soldiers in uniform... and with guns? When did America get sooooooo stupid? (I think it's too much influence from the UN...an organization that needs to be disbanded). What precedence is there for that kind of strategy? I just saw a YOUTUBE video of Cynthia McKinney as she SLAMS Israeli Navy, screaming foul about being rammed and stopped by an Israeli patrol boat for trying to bring aid to the enemies of Israel. She called it "humanitarian aid"... and wants Obama to immediately look into the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians...citing MLK quote that America is the root of these problems around the world. Shouldn't she have been shot for aiding and abedding the enemy of Israel? Wouldn't that have been justified in WWII... a war we finally won?

War is won and lost in the hearts and minds of a people. When their fight is no longer worth it, they will give it up. When the cost is too high!!!! Isn't that why we lost in Vietnam? Because of the television coverage of the war, the American people learned first hand the cost of war, and they protested to end the war...even if it meant defeat. Even if we lost face. Americans think that losing face is a 'silly, outdated and chauvinist' pretense of bravado that isn't worth considering in civilized society. Well...when it matters to your enemies, it needs to matter to you. When they see your weak actions, it gives them the courage and morale to think they can win. Ask any athlete or soldier.

Americans can be soooo naive it won't last through the new warfare tactics of our enemies. We don't have a problem, "losing face". We don't care if the world thinks we are too cowardly or humane to actually stay in battle to victory. If they can't win the war on the battleground, they can win the war in the hearts and minds of Americans who cry over collateral damage; In the US courts, which give their soldiers more rights than Sharia Law would; in the United Nations where every little dictator gets to break bread and spout deceit with real world leaders.

You may yet see Sharia Law in the midst of our war with mideastern cultures because war on terror is already a cop out. We should be comfortable to say that we are at war with Afghanistan and Iraq and when we weed out the terrorists harbored there, we may be able to provide the same aid and support to those countries that we did with Iran and Germany after WWII... but anything short of that is too soft to win. We didn't set up internment camps, but should have. We can start with mid-eastern males between the ages of 18 and 29. Will it turn them all against us, or will it weed out the chaff from the wheat? Consider for a moment Mosab Hassan Yousef. He was the son of a Hamas leader and detained by the Israeli's in a camp reserved for Hamas. He saw first hand the coercion and brutality of Hamas against their own. He's now a Christian, living in Newport Beach.

Peace in the holy land

2009-01-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

I'm convinced that we will never see peace in the holy land until either Muslims’ convert to Christianity on their own, or Christ comes to ensure it. I've been listening to Aljazeera radio in English via their website. I wanted more detailed information from a source closer to the situation. Between their newscasts and British press you can get a sense of what is going on in the Gaza strip.

The world condemns Israel, not because they are wrong, but because they have the means and the resolve to protect themselves. It doesn't seem to matter how hateful the Palestinians are toward the Israeli people, or that the rocket fire has not yet ceased, there seems to be pressure from all over the world that Israel should be more tempered in their response.

Consider Oceanside, CA. Let's just say that Republicans in Oceanside started hurling rocket fire, randomly into San Diego, and it's outlying suburbs. They aren't very powerful rockets and not all citizens of Oceanside are republican. However, they were disappointed in the election results, they don't think they have enough representation in the state or federal system and they have vowed to not rest until San Diego is wiped off the face of the map.

The republicans in Oceanside don't speak a different language or dialect. They live amongst democrats and at the schools or grocery stores, you can't tell what political party they embrace. But every night, from their homes or local schools or churches, Republicans are firing rockets into the midst of San Diego.

Does the government have a right to invade Oceanside, until the rocket fire stops? Do the 'innocent citizens' of Oceanside have a responsibility to help flush out these republicans? Can you think of one reason why they wouldn't? Would they just cry into the camera over the unnecessary hostilities of San Diego and Camp Pendelton against their fair city...?? For this reason, I don't believe there are innocent civilians in Gaza. Are they organizing and reporting rocket movement by republicans? Are they giving up positions and intelligence? Are they resisting the republican influence in the city?

The Nature of Government

2008-12-14T00:52:00.000-08:00

" A government is an institution that holds the exclusive power to enforce certain rules of social conduct in a given geographical area.
Do men need such an institution -- and why?"

Ayn Rand The Virtue of Selfishness

I'm not a Bible scholar, but remember in Samuel how the people of Israel had decided that they must have a king. The logic behind their decision was: "All our neighbors have kings." Never mind that God had been their King all along, but God didn't say no, and he called on Samuel to annoint Saul for the people insist on having a king.

Samuel, and every prophet who came after him, held a very low opinion of human kings. Samuel resisted the very idea on the ground that the people of God were under the care and keeping of their heavenly king. Their king was the God who had created them, the God who had set them apart to be the People of God. A human king would be redundant. Copyright © 2008 The Episcopal Church - Sermons that work

But, in the end, the people prevailed. Samuel anointed a man named Saul whom the people chose to lead them. Samuel had been told by God to choose Saul, but Samuel had them cast lots anyway, believing that God would sovereignly control the lot. The lot finally fell on Saul. Saul's first qualification from the voters' perspective was that he was tall; he stood head and shoulders taller than everyone else, he had been successful in battle. No mention was made of his governing skills, except by Samuel; and no one was listening to Samuel. Saul was, quite simply, the man of the moment.

Yet in a few years he had lost his contact with God, lost the anointing of the Spirit, lost his humility, lost his character, lost his kingdom and lost everything. We can follow all the human kings, some good, some great, some with tragic results. The folly of man being governed by man however, is still with us today, and I'm not suggesting we could live well without government.

I'm not an anarchist suggesting we try to rule ourselves and expect that everyone will just stay out of each others way. No, we are social creatures who benefit by living in cooperation with one another, and in a world of irrational and godless men, we may be wise to rely not only on our "man of the moment", but on our God and King.

Our founding fathers were not anarchists either. They were however, revolutionary traitors to a government that sought to control the people of the land, not only in social matters, but in their private and religious matters as well. The first settlers weren't revolutionaries. Remember, they came to put some distance between themselves and their Government. The new world offered space to create new societies in which they could worship without interference—like the Pilgrims and Puritans who founded New England.

Some who were considered troublemakers and radicals in their homelands, like the liberals fleeing the failed European revolutions of 1848, America offered the opportunity to make a new life in a land that valued liberty. To others, like Cuban revolutionary José Martí, the United States provided a temporary refuge while they worked to free their homelands from colonial rule or tyrannical governments.
Source: Destination America by Charles A. Wills

The point is we are a country that was built on the promise, on the dream, on the hope that we are a people who control our own government, and our government was designed to serve the people. Not to feed them and clothe them and tell them how to live their lives. Not to protect them from themselves or tax them out of fairness [welfare] or punishment [vice tax]. Taxes should be collected only to fund the basics of the government and the areas that we've contracted the government to handle. [a standing army, safe air traffic]. If I want to opt out of the SS system, I should be able to do so...this is really quite laughable if you start to make a list.

I fear very much that we as a nation, as a people have allowed the government to become something of a behemoth that needs to be restricted and tamed back into submission. I don't know what, short of a revolution, will bring people back to their senses. I know that most immigrants know what America is and was...and they didn't come here looking for welfare... we taught them that. Remember Tito, the builder on the campaign trail. I loved how he said..."we don't want crumbs, we want opportunity". I love that line...cause those congressmen won't be inviting you on their yachts or their backyard bbq's. You will be getting crumbs that they funded off the backs of the men and women who used to be a free people.

Chicago, Chicago....

2008-12-09T07:20:00.000-08:00

A press release from the Attorney General's office today confirmed an early morning breaking story.

Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions – both historically and now in a push before a new state ethics law takes effect January 1, 2009.

I wonder how much of this Chicago politics as usual we can expect or anticipate in Washington? I'm not sure how shocked we should be since the Attorney General's office has been investigating the governor for years... YEARS!! Oh, and this isn't unique in Illinois politics.

Former Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan, Sr., was indicted in 2003 by a federal grand jury on racketeering conspiracy, mail and tax fraud and false statements charges alleging public corruption during his terms as Illinois Secretary of State from 1991 to 1999 and as Governor from 1999 to 2003. Ryan and certain of his associates allegedly engaged in a pattern of corruption that included performing official government acts, awarding lucrative government contracts and leases, and using the resources of the State of Illinois for the personal and financial benefit of Ryan, members of his family, his campaign organization and certain associates.

What is it about Illinois? Is it just Chicago politics, the finely honed machine that may have coined the phrase, "vote early, vote often". I wondered why Chicago was part of BHO's political history. How a young man with a multi-cultural and international background, from Hawaii, Indonesia, and Occidental in LA, end up in some east coast liberal college, then Harvard Law and then chooses to settle and learn in Chicago. It was one of those 'missing links' that seemed out of place in an already interesting bio. I know the public bio aired during the campaign questioned why a Harvard Law graduate, who could have commanded a 6 figure income after graduation, chose to be a community organizer...and chose Chicago to learn. Didn't Hawaii or California have communities that needed organizing? Makes more sense for an islander to choose Los Angeles over Chicago. I guess Chicago gives one the kind of education that requires boots on the ground.

The Freedom to Fail

2008-11-21T11:49:00.001-08:00

As a first generation immigrant, refugee at that, I was taught that the greatest thing about America was that we had the freedom to try and if we failed, we could try again. I know that some of my parent's friends who came at the same era couldn't make it. Most did, but a few went back to Europe where the country would subsidize their housing and intervene in their daily lives. Most were older, widowed and we understood if the concept of "America" was too hard.

Maybe America is only for the young and the brave who value freedom more than security. For the old men who remember a simpler time. Maybe America is only for those who value life and liberty and have enough rational selfishness to understand how to pursue happiness, and are willing to die to protect it. America wasn't just a place, a country, a land that stretches beyond what you can see or traverse in a lifetime. America was a hope, an ideal, a city on a hill.

My father spent his youth as a Dutch POW in Japan. From the age of 19 to 24 he survived the trials of war in a prison camp. There was a democracy in the camp among prisoners and a pecking order. There was hard work, hunger, sickness and death at the hands of a people he barely knew. He became enamored with the American soldiers there. Some were his age, away from home and knew even less about the enemy than he did. He often feared for them more than for himself, for he thought they were naive, arrogant and brazen sometimes. They had a courage and a hope and a sense of freedom that walls of prison couldn't take away from them.

I'm convinced that what my father witnessed in those young American POW's might have been a naivete of men who only knew freedom, who didn't cower to authority, who knew the strength and resolve of their military. Maybe that naivete is why we don't really see how much is being chipped away and eroding from the hillside. Americans have moved from the country and the cities to suburbia. I can still see the patchwork quilt when I visit small towns, and I believe it's still the majority of America, but somewhere in the malls and metropolis, in television and movies, music and culture there is a grayness that's unbecoming. It's the pallor of death I think. The way death slowly creeps from the extremities to the soul. A coldness that's removed from the real heart and soul of America.

I don't know when it started. Maybe it was the war and how little America gave back to their soldiers. I've only known Vietnam, really and I think the crime of the war was television, and what the protesters did to our veterans. When protesters like William Ayers, Jane Fonda, Tom Hayden and their like are raised above soldiers who gave them those freedoms, then where is the solidarity and pride in freedom and justice. When public opinion matters more than doing what's right, when we allow domestic terrorists in the name of protest, ignorance or cowardice to have a voice in politics, education and our culture, then what is America become?

I know that we have over 300 million people in the US and over 200 million are over the age of 18 and could be eligible to vote. Only 61% did. I want to appeal to the 40% who didn't vote. The rational, the reasonable, the citizens both natural and naturalized who didn't vote. I believe they are part of the backbone of America. They are the independent souls who never asked the government for anything, who expect only freedom and don't complain about their situation. They are working hard and raising their families, happy to be free and never look to the government for anything. They may not have joined protests or movements, they just want to be left alone. The folks in rural towns and communities who don't need the media or polls to tell them how to vote or think or justify new rights from wrongs. I'm sure if you are reading this, you know many of those people.

They won't join a movement, they won't attend a rally. They might be like Joe Wurzelbacher, who was minding his own business when a candidate came to his neighborhood. I see Joe as the John Doe of Meet John Doe from the 1941 Gary Cooper film. He does speak for every man and I do know so many who like Joe, have a little of that naivete that my father saw in Americans. Joe too is a veteran. Joe assumed that he was free, that his country was worth fighting for, and that no one could take that freedom from him, not really. He knew by instinct that Americans don't spread their wealth. Any American can be wealthy if you work hard and work smart. It's in every American's grasp, isn't it?

Well, Joe, Dad, look what they're trying to do to our song. A group of radical and liberal professors, activists, community organizers, civil rights peddlers have started to eat away at the fabric of this great land. They teach entitlement instead of self reliance; they create mandates instead of charity and teaching common sense; they kill their unborn and toss away their young. They believe that a good job, health care and a living wage is a right, not a responsibility. These are men, not without reason, but without merit. It's a plague that will spread if it's not contained. America won't fail by force or by reason, but by a failure to act. We have a right to fail in America, but we have no right to let America fail. I owe it to my dad, we owe it to our fathers, we owe it to the soldiers and their sons and widows.

Don't Blame Homebuyers and Homeowners!!

2008-11-14T07:41:00.000-08:00

In reflection on the events of last week; the election; the government bailouts; and my own employers announcement that to remain fiscally responsible they too will have to consider a reduction in workforce as part of an overall plan for 2009. I understood over a year ago that we were in a recession, but with credit rates lower than savings rates it's hard for 'regular Joes' to see the danger. The fact is our government has failed us. It is their job to protect individual rights from violation by force or fraud. Many American's who are facing foreclosure were defrauded, and now that they have woken up and walked away from what I think should have been 'illegal' loan terms, they are being blamed as the deadbeats who didn't make their mortgage payments on time.

I understand the rationale of that because most people who have average credit scores buy a home for 20% down over a 30 year fixed rate and don't understand what's been happening over the last decade. I've been in real estate about 5 years now, and it was clear that things were different from when I bought my first house, almost 35 years ago. Loan instruments were being created and marketed to home buyers, home owners and investors at a frenzy. These weren't mortgages. The lender never had any intention of lending you money to buy a home, ala the Bailey or Potter model. These were instruments being created in the minds of pirates and thieves who had every intention of wrapping them in with real mortgages and bundling them as 'financial instruments'. They were duping both the home buyer and the investment banks. [The loan market itself is interesting and I'll post about that another time.] Let me share this quote from By Yaron Brook and Don Watkins of the Ayn Rand center, who believe it is absolutely false to blame capitalism for today's economic troubles.

"The causes are complex, but the driving force is clearly government intervention: the Fed keeping interest rates below the rate of inflation, [as well as the rate on savings], thus encouraging people to borrow and providing the impetus for a housing bubble; the Community Reinvestment Act, which forces banks to lend money to low-income and poor-credit households; the creation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with government-guaranteed debt leading to artificially low mortgage rates and the illusion that the financial instruments created by bundling them are low risk; government-licensed rating agencies, which gave AAA ratings to mortgage-backed securities, creating a false sense of confidence; deposit insurance and the “too big to fail” doctrine, whose bailout promises have created huge distortions in incentives and risk-taking throughout the financial system; and so on."

I can't agree more with the sentiments of these gentlemen. I know first hand as a Realtor in a booming community in southern California that there were a ton of people making money along the way. Not even Realtors or loan officers could stay on top of all the different lending products. Was anyone responsible, other than the geniuses and their lawyers who created these loan products? I say, yes. The government is in place to protect individuals from theft and fraud, and these instruments were exactly that. Adjustable rate mortgages have been around a long time, but have you ever heard of rates adjusting for absolutely NO REASON!!! save the greed of the note holder? Check your Credit Card contracts and you'll see what these new homeowners had to deal with. They wrote home loans that could adjust the way your credit card adjusts. They get to change the deal whenever they feel like it, and when borrowers realized what was happening, they either defaulted or were forced out of their homes. We've seen mortgage payments go from 2K to 4K over 2 years. I don't really know who could have anticipated that type of aggressive acceleration on any kind of home loan.

The crisis occurred because they weren't able to steal any more equity from defaulting homeowners. Do you really think that if the real estate market hadn't begun to drop in value that the banks would be crying right now. If they can force a foreclosure on balance due of 150K and sell at auction for 200K we wouldn't have a crisis. In fact all of last year they were doing just that. This year that same 150K note is only worth 75K and now they are crying foul. Shame on them.

Wake up America and do what you know in your gut is right. Get your own house in order, save more, spend less and pay down your debt. Guess what will happen, the economy will still go into recession...deep, deep recession. The bailout can't work because it assumes everyone wants to maintain the status quo. We don't. We're done. The government and wall street should take a lesson from the American people and get off the credit kick. It's my hope that prices will drop so low, you'll be able to buy that home or car or business for cash...at just the right price. Credit is how they defraud us....and all we need to do is stop playing the game.

Will the Supreme Court Defend the Constitution

2008-11-13T10:38:00.000-08:00

Will We Soon Be Facing the Death of America

Under the United States Constitution a candidate must meet three basic requirements to be eligible to be POTUS. Barack Hussein Obama failed to prove his eligibility on one of the tree requirements. This failure on BO places America in the gravest danger since 1776. The idea Obama has been elected to POTUS without first establishing his eligibility to be so is an affront to the American people.

Obama glibly participates in the procedural process to assume the role of the POTUS with all the confidence of a man who has no doubt he will take the oath of office with out challenge. President Bush and all involved with the process casually mirror Obama’s attitude. Every one involved with this farce acts as if there are ‘no millions of people’ intensely questioning Obama’s citizenship. They totally ignore the probability of Barry’s most ruthless violation of America’s sacred document is being perpetrated as they so casually welcome the Obama’s to the White House. Is it possible BO is the supreme imposter?

A large cloud of contradictions, rumors and theories have been swarming about Obama’s place of birth, his actual citizenship be it dual or American. The theories are running wild as to who truly sired Obama. Through it all the only response the public ever got from Obama is a proven forged document claiming he was born in Hawaii and the GREAT SILENCE. THE GREAT SILENCE didn’t end with Obama. MSM and hundreds of others who conspired in keeping this vital information out of MSM.

What about the two law suits sitting in USSC right now challenging Obama’s eligibility to be POTUS? What about the one law suit in Hawaii by Andy Martin? To this date Obama has not produced one acceptable document to prove where he was born. He has also failed to produce any other vital document about himself. Obama has never been held accountable for his refusal to produce required documents. Does he know something we don’t? Is he certain nothing will come of the many law suits against him? Since when does popularity excuse accountability?

Is it possible he greatest conspiracy ever enacted against America has happened before America’s blind eyes. The conspirators are Obama, the Democratic Party, MSM, 64,000,000 million voters and potentially the USSC. Had this controversial cloud been loudly proclaimed to the voter’s months ago—as it should have been—would Obama really have gotten 64,000,000 votes?

In between fact and fiction about Obama’s actual place of birth, his father, and his dual citizenship, is compelling evidence that he was not born in Hawaii and he is not an American citizen, and therefore is not eligible to be POTUS. API has written about a man covertly brought in to the UK from Kenya, November 9, 2008. This man has risked his life obtaining documents that allegedly prove beyond a shadow of a doubt Obama was born in Kenya. This issue and only this issue is why it is the duty of the Supreme Court and possibly the USDOJ to have the courage to establish beyond a shadow of a doubt the reality and facts regarding Barack Hussein Mohamed Obama Barry Sotoero. This means under no circumstances must the judges be allowed to distort, convolute, manipulate, contort or in any other manner ignore facts prove Obama is not eligible to be POTUS either because of place of birth, dual citizenship, or other vital facts. Under no circumstances must they find a way to legitimize, or validate Obama’s right to be President if he fails to prove his citizenship.

The argument that 64,000,000 Americans voted for him is moot because if it is so proven Obama is not eligible, then he ran fraudulently and all who voted for him voted fraudulently. I am sorry for those voters who were so cruelly deceived by Obama.

This is the single most important issue America and the world is facing. This issue is greater than the economic crisis, world wars, or energy crisis. Now America is facing its last showdown between the American public and the USSC. If Obama is not eligible and the day the Supreme Court fails to acknowledge that fact, is the day the world discovers the Supreme Court became a coconspirator in the same guilty conspiracy. (This is perhaps, what Obama knows, America is not yet ready to believe or accept.) This day will end of all hope for justice in the world. By so failing to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, America’s death will have been declared. Hence forward the American people will be at the mercy of lawless politicians. This is the final betrayal of America by the people we trusted. America, no matter how unpopular at times and in some countries, will no longer be the hope and inspiration of the world. Oh shame, shame. Pisper shame!

API is organizing a protest march to be held on November 29, 2008. If it were possible for me to be there to join the march, I would. Maybe we could have a sympathy march here in California. It is my hope this march will compel MSM to give this issue the exposure necessary so the public may be aware there may a usurper in office. For more information go to

http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/join-a-nation-wide-protest-march-at-the-end-of-the-month

“JOIN A NATION-WIDE PROTEST MARCH IN WASHINGTON DC, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29TH STARTING 10 AM, CAPITAL HILL, TO STOP BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA FROM ASCENDING TO THE PRESIDENCY”
THE MARCH WILL START AT CAPITAL HILL AND WILL END OUTSIDE THE SUPREME COURT! We will come back with more information on THE ROUTE OF THE MARCH. This is a very important march. Do not fail to join or help inform others if you are PATRIOTIC AND LOVE YOUR COUNTRY AND ABLE TO PUT THE COUNTRY FIRST.

WORK HARD WHEREVER YOU ARE; ORGANIZE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THROUGH SMS, INTERNET AND LEAFLETS. GO TO CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE MARCH. IT WILL BE A PEACEFUL MARCH.” API

by Therese Daniels

The night before election 2008

2008-11-03T06:27:00.000-08:00

My favorite quote this cycle has to be from Lawrence Eagleburger on the Huckabee show. He referred to Obama as a charlatan. Amen Mr. Secretary. Between the 'vote twice' acorn and get out the vote fiasco as well as the dubious campaign contributions which are conveniently untraceable...this would be such a black spot on our democracy if he's allowed to get away with this. It's too convenient to think that the ONE had no hand in the stealing of an election. We'll just pray that the people of America wake up and vote against the ONE who would taint our country with such shenanigans.

Must SEE links:
http://www.hotair.com/
http://www.thenoseonyourface.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt0FrgAA0cw

New support for the ONE came from the most likely sources of course:
Venezuelan president voices support for Obama at a ceremony to inaugurate the construction of the Barinas international airport in his hometown of Sabaneta, 520 km southwest of Caracas.

"We don't ask him (Obama) to be a revolutionary, but to adapt himself to what is happening, to peace," Chavez said that a lifting of the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba and a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, could be a good beginning in case Obama wins the elections.

"The United States has everything to be a world power," Chavez said, but it should never infringe on the sovereignty of poor countries.

I wonder if the Obama campaign will embrace this endorsement as validation of his foreign policy.

As secretary Eagleburger lamented if Obama is elected..."God help us"

A week before the election

2008-10-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

I'm going to have to predict a McCain win next Tuesday. Be ready for riots in the street and destruction of public property. I find such irony in this election season. The marxist links that Obama has been denying for months become so apparent now that people are choosing sides in the culture/class civil war. That's all part of the Marxist teaching. The Marx connection is important when discussing socialism and capitalism and communism, because Marx made some key observations and offers instruction on how a society moves from capitalism to communism. That move REQUIRES a class war. The gap between the rich and poor must be grave, and a middle class that's comfortable makes it hard to sell socialism, let alone communism.

I want to preface this be saying that I'm not rich or poor, black or white. I'm a grandmother who was herself a first generation immigrant. My grandchildren are representative of the best of multi-cultural infusion, and this blog is for them. I don't want there to be conflict among the cultures and classes in our great country. There will be poor always, Christ teaches us that. There will be rich always, life teaches us that. But there will only be a middle class if capitalism and democracy are healthy and protected ideologies. Do the poor need help with basic needs...you betcha! Should those who have more give help to those who have little...you betcha! Should a government or a society mandate to bring about "economic justice or equality"?

Think for a minute... justice and equality sound like GOOD THINGS. Economic justice... what does that look like? Equal pay for equal work...okay, I can buy some of that. Should it be 'mandated'? Hmmm... how. An employees value to an employer isn't always objective. If we were working an assembly line and were paid by the piece...I suppose you could argue and mandate equal pay for equal work. Other kinds of jobs and industries include lots of other variables and other factors come into play. Is there some prejudice that should be overcome regarding women, youth, age, race? Sure there is... but this is an age old struggle and the best way to overcome that kind of prejudice is for women, youth, seniors and minorities to start their own businesses and lead the way in becoming the best place to work. Let the culprits be defeated by their own greed and prejudice, with enough campaigning to show the world how and why you do things differently!!! Success is great revenge.

Economic Equality is a completely different creature. What does that mean? Tito the Builder said it best this morning in an interview with Fox News when asked if he wouldn't benefit more from Obama's liberal tax plan than McCains. With a heavy latino accent he said..."I don't want crumbs, I want the opportunity to succeed the same as any other American" Now that's what I call Economic Equality at it's best. Only in America can an immigrant or child of an immigrant start their own business, make their own success, build on their own talents!!!!

I've written before about my father's love of America, but I didn't mention what he didn't like about the socialism in the Netherlands. (In that respect, colonial Indonesia was much more similar to America than the Netherlands). My father was a new graduate of Bandung's Technical School. It's kind of like a vocational college for engineers and the like. I don't know if it's equal to our university education or if it's like a deVry, but it had(s) a great reputation, still. He then spent some formative years as an engineer and then army engineer and then POW. After the war he worked for the Dutch railroad in Indonesia. He transferred to Amsterdam and worked for 'Werkspoor' (railroad) there also. His ability to be a young maverick engineer with great ideas and equal opportunities was thwarted by the realities of socialism. Only senior fellows could work on certain projects. Raises and promotions were based on tenure not accomplishment and innovation. What does that sound like to you? Our school system, the world of Academia, that produces these socialist tendencies is set up very similar. If you don't have the right degrees, or haven't put your time in following their path, you can't have a voice in planning. Degrees are worn like ranks and nothing good or innovative could possibly come from students or parents...who often don't have those degrees.

My father summed it up in one sentence. "In America you are free to succeed or fail and if you fail, you can get up and try it again". Many of my fathers contemporaries who immigrated when we did, couldn't do that. Many took jobs and passed their tenure and retired, or went back to the Netherlands for their social system. 5 years after arriving in the US my father owned a house, a car and we were celebrating American citizenship. 10 years after arriving, we owned a 2nd house, several cars and two businesses. Did my father succeed? He succeeded and failed and succeeded again. He died in 1977, just 20 years after immigrating here. I know he worried about our education and the affect of affluence on youth. There were times that I know he may have regretted his decision. But what he accomplished in those 21 years, I'll remember with pride.

What would he think of this election?
Young Arrogant professor and lawyer who teaches and preaches but has no accomplishments under his belt vs Mature humble war hero, pilot and business man who preaches free market and lower taxes. Hmmmm... this is not a hard choice.

What happened to a healthy dose of cynicism?

2008-10-25T03:31:00.000-07:00

There is nothing new about rhetoric during presidential campaigns but where is the cynicism that's so natural in young people? When I was a kid in the 60's it seemed natural for young people to be cynical about their leaders. Nothing like anarchy, although that was prevalent in young people too, but just a healthy dose of cynicism. When a democrat says they will reduce taxes for 95% of the viewers, don't you immediately want to do the math? 95% of all viewers, really?

It was later restated to claim that "95 percent of families with children would get a tax break," the Media Research Center's Brent Baker ran the numbers and found such claims "impossible," so it was again refined to mean working families, which is still "impossible".

That 95 percent is impossible since one-third of those who file with the IRS are "non-payers," people who end up paying no tax or get money back which exceeds their payments. Obama plans to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and create other credits. For those for whom the credits surpass their tax obligation, those are not tax cuts, but spending hikes or federal giveaways akin to welfare.

You can check the new tax proposal analysis at http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?DocID=1975. I think we don't teach isms much anymore, but if you are only going to study a few I think you should start with cynicism and add these on as you get a chance.

capitalism: An economic and political system characterized by a free market for goods and services and private control of production and consumption.

socialism: Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.

marxism: The economic and political theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that hold that human actions and institutions are economically determined and that class struggle is needed to create historical change and that capitalism will ultimately be superseded by communism.

communism: A form of socialism that abolishes private ownership.
1. A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
2. Communism
1. A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
2. The Marxist-Leninist version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.

If you still aren't sure which is best for America, read your history books and then go to the library or hit the internet and start talking to people in socialist countries. You probably won't be able to talk to folks under marxist or communist rule, so don't get sappy on the commune thing. It only sounds good on paper. History has proven them wrong.

The Great American Experiment

2008-10-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

My parents were raised in country that their ancestors settled in the late 1790s. A couple of Dutch brothers, one a physician, sailed to Indonesia to become a governor and statesmen of a new Dutch Colony. I suppose they could have sailed to the Americas for the same amount of money, but they dreamed of their fortune and opportunity in Indonesia, as your ancestors dreamed of their own land and new freedoms as they were settling here in the Americas. A hundred years later a statesmen here was tested and responded to the Civil War that, “We are now testing whether this nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.” I'll let you guess on that one.

Well, another 150 years and are we again testing whether this nation can endure?. Our enemies say no. Our lifestyle is our demise. Too much freedom, idleness and wickedness and we too will fall. It's only a matter of time.

My parent's country, their heritage, their lifestyle fell in their lifetime. Just after the war, an uprising sent all the Dutch packing. Never mind that the lifestyle of the Indonesians had been created by Colonial powers, both English and Dutch. Never mind that generations of families who happened to still have Christian faith and Dutch surnames were ousted from their homes and businesses, often separating families who couldn't read the political climate around them.

As you know, we emigrated to America then, just as Indonesia was demanding their independence from the Netherlands. I would explain it as similar to the American Indians reclaiming America for themselves and ousting all Europeans who didn't share their religion or naming conventions. I'm sure the Cherokee nation could get an audience with the United Nations and maybe get their country back. Maybe the experiment is over, if socialism or marxism takes over America, then we will have failed our test. I'd prefer giving it back to the Indians. What say you?

Economics 101

2008-10-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

According to Webster, E`co*nom"ics\, n. 1. The science of household affairs, or of domestic management. Keep this in mind the next time you hear newscasters and politicians discussing our ‘National Economy’. Let’s face it, we, as a nation, as a culture have been busted. We are a selfish, give it to me now, society that is now lost between entitlements and easy credit. Well, if you’re like me you already know the answer to our problems! I think it’s showing at the retail stores, the gas pumps and in the stock market.

It’s funny how no one wants you to change your ways. They want to keep giving you incentives, ‘stimulus checks’ and advice on how to not change your habits….to keep on spending and keep on charging, but congratulations, you already know the answer.

Our economy in the hands of the people who have benefited from trading securities based on our credit and spending habits is messed up and in my opinion, should fail. Like Joe the Plumber, when you hear something that’s not quite right, something that goes against the core of your beliefs, you ought to just pass. Well, we need to take a step back and do an inventory of our core beliefs right now. Let Americans be American, let the free market be a free market and we’ll be just fine.

My rebellious streak wants the government and banks to feel the pain though, along with the rest of us, so I’m going to continue the message of LESS CREDIT, LESS SPENDING, MORE WORK, MORE SAVING. I think it will drive em nuts. I’m going to rent til prices drop, keep my old car running, become a coupon diva and stop buying retail. I may even stop buying new…I think that could work on many levels. My new mantra…how little can we live on.

For some visionaries, and my parents and grandparents, this isn’t new of course. This is what we were taught, what they lived, and what we’ve somehow forgotten. Well it’s time to get real with ourselves and our own economies. Take a look at what debt free guru Dave Ramsey says on how NOT to buy a car, then join me in the junkycarclub, I’ll honk if I see your sticker!

DRIVE FREE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

JUNKY CAR CLUB

We can trust Joe's core instincts

2008-10-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

Well, the Media Machine has attempted to attack the man most likely to help McCain win the election. Obama let it slip, while answering a plumber's question, that he wanted to 'spread the wealth'. He did so on Bill O'Reilly also, but it didn't get the media attention that poor Joe is getting. Remember the O'Reilly quip where he used the analogy of the waitress and being 'neighborly'! What NObama fails to get is, the wealthy in America do just fine paying more on our indexed tax system, and with charitable giving. We don't need the government to level the playing field.

Now when NObama talks about INCREASING THE MIDDLE CLASS we know he means by taking a few extra thousand from Joe and giving it to the waitress. AAAAARGGGGGHHHHHH! Why do people not react like JOE. It goes against the core of our American value system of rewards for hard work. If you work as a waitress for minimum wage and tips you get a wage that you may or may not be able to live on, tips that they tax whether you received them or not and Joe works 10 and 12 hour days as an independent for a small plumbing firm and hopes to provide MORE for his family. If he gets his plumbing license and successfully takes over his firm, or starts his own plumbing company with a couple of like minded buddies... will he be penalized just to help the waitress keep up? By the way, I hate that tax on tips...that's just un American too. A tip is a tip. And I hate minimum wage...that's like SSI, a slap in the face. There would be a lot more jobs out there for nominal tasks if the government stopped trying to intervene with the free market system.

The Audacity of Entitlement

2008-10-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Obama book title should have been a red flag.

Au*dac"i*ty\, n. 1. Daring spirit, resolution, or confidence; venturesomeness.

2. Reckless daring; presumptuous impudence; -- implying a contempt of law or moral restraints.

I think it is part naivety and part apathy that draws poll respondents to Obama. The ignorance of some and the apathy of others is irritating at best, but I can only pray that the apathetic just remain apathetic and home, and the ignorant become arrogant in their victory and stay away from the polls. I can’t bring myself to believe that this is the undoing of America. I saw some clues during Katrina and the rants and fists of those victims. Yes it was a tragedy, yes we as Americans should pour out our hearts and jump in, but the audacity of raising your fist to America and demanding our president, our people, our country to do something. What a difference from the floods in Iowa or the Tsunami in Indonesia. How can there be ‘fist raising’ after a natural disaster, or worse, in New Orleans, the failure of the local government to spend the money to shore up the levees. Fist Raising shows their audacity!

I was embarrassed for President Bush and everyone down the chain of command as they fell over themselves to get aid to the area. They admitted guilt in their actions rather than demand an investigation into the levees and the local money trail that put the town at risk. The clouds hadn’t even retreated and the government is passing out ATM cards to anyone that asked. It’s really quite amazing. I was trying to think of the Americans that impressed me as a child, and I can’t imagine they would ever have stood in line for those cards, let alone raise a fist at the government.

Our American sponsor families weren’t overly fond of the government either, but they wanted less of government, not handouts, and they surely wouldn’t have blamed the ‘government’ for their misfortune. Where does that mentality come from? It’s not a black thing, or a southern thing and it’s not a poor thing. This is an entitlement thing, an audacious thing! That’s ‘audacity’ at its worst isn’t it? Raising your fist and shouting that help didn’t arrive fast enough. I didn’t see the good people of the Midwest or Galveston raising their fists when they were flooded out. I didn’t see the earthquake or tsunami survivors raising fists at the government after their tragedies? What makes Katrina victims different…audacity!

Civil Union vs Marriage for secular folks

2008-10-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

I believe, as stated in the Christian Courier, that the Biblical teaching regarding marriage is unequivocal. Jehovah created man, and from his side – in earth’s initial surgical procedure – fashioned his wife. The two were designed to “cleave” to one another (Gen. 2:21-25). In a discussion with the Pharisees, Jesus cited this Old Testament evidence, and declared: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mt. 19:6).

Here is a crucial point. If it is the case that marriage was designed and inaugurated by the Creator, then he has the authority to set the rules. Men and women do not have the right to treat this sacred human relationship in a cavalier, self-directed manner.

I differ with the secular belief that everyone has a right to marry, even in homosexual relationships. If they truly want the same legal rights, then a civil union, legal and binding, is all they would need. Why infringe upon a Judeo-Christian concept. Marriage between one man and one woman is what God intended. It doesn't matter that polygamy was a practice in early unions, that was tolerated, but not part of the plan. There are inherent problems with the practice and we as Christians should stand up for our rights to keep our religious practices separate. It doesn't matter that the world wants to distort the meaning of the union to mean something fluffy and sweet and legal. They have all the legal recourse they need to form a civil union.

What's up with our economy? or should I say down?

2008-10-06T02:19:00.000-07:00

What is economics

According to Webster, E`co*nom"ics\, n. 1. The science of household affairs, or of domestic management.

I was a little surprised by the definition, considering all of the news lately, so let’s put this into perspective. The Economy that’s in the news today isn’t so far removed from this simple definition, however they are talking about the National Economy, Political Economy and World Economies all being tied together. So, how are the household affairs or domestic management of our nation doing?

I’d like to take you back to the early days of our National household, the days following the American Revolution. As a result of the revolution, the federal government had acquired a huge debt: $54 million including interest. The states owed another $25 million. Paper money issued under the Continental Congresses and Articles of Confederation was worthless. Foreign credit was unavailable. By demonstrating Americans' willingness to repay their debts, he made the United States attractive to foreign investors. European investment capital poured into the new nation in large amounts.

I don’t want you to miss the KEY sentence here, because I believe this is KEY to what happened in our bailout last week. Our National Economy is mostly based on Capitalism with oversight to prevent blatant greed and fraud. I believe in Capitalism, a free market – with oversight. Capitalism’s strength understands that money motivates and the purpose of oversight understands that money also corrupts. With men of integrity at the helm then Capitalism – a free market system – with oversight works very well. Our National Economic system failed last week, not because the concept doesn’t work, or because we needed more regulation… it failed for one reason only. Our legislators on the hill failed to provide prudent oversight, because they had been corrupted by the very industries they were charged to regulate. Pay attention to the end, because I’m going to name names…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) carries the oversight responsibilities for the housing mission of the government sponsored enterprises or GSEs. Effective January 1, 2005, HUD established new and increasing affordable housing goal levels for the GSEs for the years 2005 through 2008. These goals require that a certain percentage of the mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac support financing for housing low – and moderate – income families. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight or OFHEO published the following mission: OFHEO's mission is to promote housing and a strong national housing finance system by ensuring the safety and soundness of Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation).

The goals themselves were not even at fault. It was the failure of oversight and fundamental economic integrity that caused the crisis.
OFHEO's oversight responsibilities include:
• Conducting broad based examinations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
• Developing a risk-based capital standard, using a "stress test" that simulates stressful interest rate and credit risk scenarios
• Making quarterly findings of capital adequacy based on minimum capital standards and a risk-based standard
• Prohibiting excessive executive compensation
• Issuing regulations concerning capital and enforcement standards
• Taking necessary enforcement actions
I’ve been racking my brain to understand how my president, as fiscally conservative as George W Bush is, personally, could agree to this kind of a bailout, until I understood the foundation of our INTERNATIONAL Economy. “. By demonstrating Americans' willingness to repay their debts. The world had invested in America’s reputation for honor and integrity and their willingness to repay their debts…that is the reputation and the crisis that had to be defended. It was a matter of National Security and International Integrity.

So, how are we doing?
I happen to be among the generation that has never had to struggle too much financially. I’ve had my ups and downs, but most of it was of my own making. I’ve had my health and a fairly stable economy around me that I could find a way to stay in the middle. I’ve never had to be the kind of steward that could make or break a household. Consequently, I don’t have the kind of honor and respect for money that my parents had. I’ve been lackadaisical at my best and downright irresponsible at my worst.

It’s not like I don’t know how to stretch a dollar, I can make it pretty elastic, but I’ve never had to for any length of time. I learned it from my mother, but was glad I didn’t have to practice it very often. The 80’s were a bit tough under President Carter and even with Reagan’s election, our household went through job changes and gas prices, utilities and inflation had us pretty strained. It was relative to the affluent lifestyle we had become accustomed to, not to our basic needs not being met. I can honestly say, other than those few years of being an immigrant child in the 50’s, and maybe again as a newlywed, not understanding economics, I’ve never really known poverty, and I’ve never thought to ask the government for assistance.

The beginning of the article defined economics as “the science of household affairs, or of domestic management”, so in all honesty, I’d have to say I am personally failing. Perhaps my neighbors could be polled, house by house, family by family to see how economically prudent they are. I’m going to guess that they each carry a fair share of debt. Many are upside down in their biggest investment, their house and carry auto, home and consumer loans. What each of us has to ask themselves is, “Am I practicing economic prudence and responsibility or am I living outside of my means?”

We know what the government is doing, living trillions of dollars in debt. It’s that debt that made our president consider this bailout. Fighting fire with fire? I think that only works for fires. I don’t see how adding debt can fix your economy unless some of those bill collectors are threatening what? Their friendship, their support, their alliances? Have you ever borrowed from Peter to pay Paul?

I heard a newscaster say that our economy is built on credit, and when credit freezes up, then our economy comes to a screeching halt. Friends, I believe our economy is coming to a screeching halt. We can’t use the governments’ plan of more debt to combat this. Our states and some municipalities will certainly try. We are already seeing the lines forming at the US Treasury for their bailouts. California is at the top of the list requesting 7 billion to meet payroll for October. Seems we were more attentive to our Uncle Sam then we were to our parents.

I know what I personally have to do, assuming I can keep my job and my company can stay in business. I can’t utilize credit without a AAA credit ranking or a FICO score over 750, and if that’s you, then don’t expect the same great interest rates of the past. It doesn’t matter what the wholesale or prime rates are….. that will not trickle down to you and me. Then it was greed, now it’s survival that will set the new rates. What I can do is take a look at my budget. What can be trimmed? What are the needs in my life that need to be protected and what can I live without?

Expect:
• Tighter credit terms
• Higher interest rates
• Unstable employment
• Higher utilities (gas, water, elec)
• Higher transportation costs
• Higher Food prices
• Less buying power

The only difference between a recession and a depression is that your bank deposits are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit and Insurance Corporation, or FDIC. If you want take all of your money out of the bank, then you have a right to do that…but when a lot of people do it at the same time, it’s called a “run on the bank”, and considering the bank exists on margins, that bank will run out of money before they pay back all of the depositors. Remember “It’s a Wonderful Life” when George and his neighbors worked out the run by convincing clients that it wouldn’t really help them if they took all of his honeymoon money. Today, if that happens, the FDIC steps in, seizes the banks assets and continues business on behalf of the depositors, or sells the assets and operation to a willing buyer. Remember how Mr. Potter kept the money he knew belonged to George Bailey’s uncle (stole), and waited for the bank to fail?

The FDIC can not and will not run out of money. Why am I so sure? Because, like all federal trust funds, the FDIC's insurance "trust fund" does not exist. The fund is simply an accounting entry with the US Treasury. There is no separate fund. The reserves shown in the fund simply represent the amount of money contributed by the banking industry into the fund. The cash raised by FDIC insurance premiums goes into the Treasury's general fund. When the agency needs cash, then the Treasury makes the money available. When the positive balance shown in the FDIC insurance fund is depleted, the FDIC simply runs a negative balance with the Treasury, kind of an automatic overdraft protection.

So, we may not see the Great Depression of the past, assuming we let the FDIC continue to authorize money out of air, but what we can be sure of, is the value of the dollar is being diluted with the printing of more and more dollars, so each dollar you have will buy you less and less. Whenever I say that, I think of a verse in a song I heard as a kid, “ …a piece of bread could buy a bag of gold, I wish we’d all been ready.”

I wish I had been more ready, not for what that song implies, but to face economic REALITY. We all need to be more prudent. Let’s not change the meaning of the word economic, which Webster also defines as:
E`co*nom"ic a. 3. Managing with frugality; guarding against waste or unnecessary expense; careful and frugal in management and in expenditure; -- said of character or habits.

If our economy is based on credit, as the newscaster reported, then we have a chance to change that, one person, one family, one household at a time. We can rely on our family, friends and neighbors, and make sure that credibility and integrity and our willingness to repay our debts is what determines our credit line, not an arbitrary rating or FICO score. We can carpool and co-op; barter and trade for goods and services until we have our savings accounts back on track. We can ignore the traditional credit markets and have the merriest of Christmases this year; And, we can promise ourselves and our children and our children’s children, that never, never, never again…will we be put in this situation. Not by crooks and swindlers in congress or the banking industry, they played on our own weaknesses after all. We let them swindle us. Easy credit was not a temptation for the generation that had lived through the first great depression. It was not a temptation for those who had their P’s and Q’s in order and in perspective. We can call for REFORM, not more regulation; we can call for the heads of the corrupt politicians who had their hand in the till; we can call for more free market and less public entitlements; we can DEMAND more from the men and women we send to congress.

Grandma's Knee

2008-08-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Grandma's knees were bent this morning,
not sure what the problem was.
Maybe too much golf or hiking,
she's not the type to knit or spin.
Maybe just too busy buzzing,
cause she's spreading way too thin.
She wants to know just everything,
about my life, my loves.
"Grandma, what you doing on the floor?"
"Son, God likes us to check in."