POLITICAL: Peaceful “Secession” — an idea who’s time has come

Saturday, February 18, 2017

http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2017/02/13/california-secession/

California Secession? How it Could Happen in Practice

*** begin quote ***

The following article was written by James R. Rogers and originally published on the Library of Law and Liberty website.

Rumblings of secession talk in California, as in Texas a few years back, raises the question of how, if ever, a state might secede from the Union without war.
The legal issue surrounding secession in the Civil War era concerned whether states might unilaterally secede from the Union under the Constitution. The answer, underscored by force of arms and the U.S. Supreme Court, was a definitive “no.”

That states may not unilaterally secede from the Union, however, does not mean there is no route by which a state might secede peacefully, and even legally. Indeed, the U.S. Supreme Court has said there is, albeit, saying it in dictum. In holding in Texas v. White (1869) that Texas did not truly secede from the Union, Chief Justice Chase, writing for the majority, nonetheless identified two routes by which U.S. states could peacefully secede: “There was no place for reconsideration or revocation [of Texas’s entry in the Union], except through revolution or through consent of the States.”

*** and ***

Much of the commentary related to California’s budding secession movement suggests that a constitutional amendment would be necessary for the peaceful, lawful secession of a state from the union. I don’t think so. Chase’s dictum regarding the “consent of the states” does not suggest the need for constitutional amendment to authorize a state’s secession.

Rather, to implement this route for the legal secession of a state, Congress would need only to adopt enabling legislation spelling out the process by which consent of the states would be obtained. Congress could stipulate the states’ consent would be provided by some proportion of state legislatures – half of them, or two-thirds – adopting a “secession consent” resolution or something. Or Congress could authorize states to consent to a state’s request to secede through special state-level conventions or by direct vote in state-level referenda. Or perhaps Congress could provide state consent through a vote of the Senate, or a vote of the Senate and the House, or some combination of the above.

Whatever process Congress might adopt for secession need not be as onerous as the process required to adopt constitutional amendments: Adoption of enabling legislation need not require a supermajority vote in Congress (as constitutional amendments require). And, at congressional determination, the proportion of states sufficient to provide the “consent of the states” could be fewer than the three-fourths majority required to ratify constitutional amendments.

*** end quote ***

Very interesting.

Now that the Liberal Left in California has learned what “executive power” in the “wrong hands” means, they have become interested in secession.

I’m reminded of a quote: “Would you tell me please, Mr. Howard, why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away? An elected legislature can trample a man’s rights as easily as a king can.” Mel Gibson as the character Benjamin Martin in the movie The Patriot http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187393/quotes

We’ve seen that the Congress has become corrupt and doesn’t faithfully execute its duties by creating the new Fourth Branch of Gooferment — the REGULATORS!

So perhaps, like the old Soviet Union it’s time to dissolve the Union and let partisans go their own way in peace. If the “blue states” want reform around welfare for all — fine. If the “red states” want to reform around “traditional values”— fine. California should be allowed to go its own way in peace.

Hopefully, it would NOT be like what happened in India and Pakistan initially, but things seem peaceful now. 

So too, can the RED USA and the BLUE USA live in peace together … …  finally.

Dona Nobis Pacem

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Bryan Lowman got screwed by the Army

Friday, February 17, 2017

<broken link>

In this link <broken link>, American Legion National Commander Schmidt has made me aware of the plight of Bryan Lowman.

This is unacceptable to me as a vet and an AL member.

I’ve asked my two US Senators and my Congresswomen—

Jeanne Shaheen @SenatorShaheen

Margaret “Maggie” Hassan  @senatorhassan

Ann McLane Kuster @RepAnnieKuster

 

——

— to respond: “Please advise what you plan to do to correct this inequity. FYI I am a registered NH voter and vote religiously. I will be posting this and any response from you on my blog and at any post I visit.”

I’d urge everyone to do the same and let’s see if “We, The Sheeple”can protect this vet.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Gooferment “licenses” are unnecessary; some are really absurd

Thursday, February 16, 2017

http://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2017/02/09/nebraska-may-soon-cut-regulations-for-barbers-military-spouses-even-potato-shippers/#3326443a55d7

FEB 9, 2017 @ 05:10 PM

Nebraska May Soon Cut Regulations For Barbers, Military Spouses, Even Potato Shippers
Institute For Justice (We are the national law firm for liberty.)
Nick Sibilla, Contributor

*** begin quote ***

Now more than a dozen licenses are in reformers’ crosshairs. Proposed legislation would lower the number of hours needed to become a licensed barber or cosmetologist from 2,100 hours of training to 1,500. That bill would also halve the required hours for massage therapists, and reduce coursework requirements for nail technicians by at least a third. The one-year experience requirement for title examiners would also be repealed. And separate legislation would allow military spouses with active, out-of-state nursing licenses to apply to practice in Nebraska.

One of the more unusual laws that may be on the chopping block is Nebraska’s license for potato shipping. Since 1945, anyone involved in shipping at least 180,000 pounds of Nebraska-grown potatoes has to obtain a license from the state’s Department of Agriculture. Potato shippers then must pay a tax (no more than two cents) for every 100 pounds of potatoes they transport, raising $75,000 in revenue each year. Only 12 licenses are currently active, according to the Department, and—thankfully—the state hasn’t had to discipline any sinister spud shippers.

Licensing is now one of the biggest issues for Nebraska’s labor markets. Today, one-third of the state’s workforce needs either a license or certificate from the government before they can legally work. All that red tape adds up: the Heritage Foundation found that occupational licensing costs the average Nebraska household over $940 each year.

*** end quote ***

The free market will provide better protection. 

Ever heard of “Underwriters Laboratory”? Try and buy an appliance at Walmart that doesn’t have a UL label. You don’t even have to think about electrical safety. And all without the Gooferment!’

I have a litany of Gooferment bureaucrat stupidity — like the electrical inspector who had failed the state’s own test for electricians, but he was qualified to inspect other licensed electrician’s work. 

When will “We, The Sheeple” recognize that Gooferment “licensing” is Crony Capitalism at work.

Argh!

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NOTRECOMMENDED: DYMO label makers

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

http://www.dymo.com/en-US

My LabelManager® Rechargeable Battery – 500TS, WPnP, XTL 300, MobileLabeler— died.

I suspect that the Lithium battery went bad. 

It was an expensive purchase. And the battery is “out of stock”.

Hence I don’t recommend this COMPANY.

This is the same company that dumped the CARDSCAN product, its software, and databases on short notice after acquisition.

Fool me once … … 

So the next one I buy, won’t be from them. 

Argh!

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NOTRECOMMENDED: Logitech Webcam c615 on MAC OSX

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Despite what the fine print says, it doesn’t work.

MAC OS X 10.12.6 (16D32) doesn’t recognize the camera. 

I have it docked and it’s a bust.

I’ve had ticket #0465 9146 open since the end of January.

Argh!

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2017-Feb-17

After numerous email, I finally got some specific help. 

*** begin quote ***


 
 
 
 

Dear Ferdinand,

Good day!

To further isolate the issue, please try to do the following:
1. Re-seat to another USB port. Bypass the use of KVM switch boxes, port replicators, docking stations, and USB hubs if any
2. Prefer using USB 2.0 rather than USB 3.0 ports. For additional reference, refer to https://support.logitech.com/en_us/article/38032
3. Download and install the Logitech Webcam Software. 
https://download01.logi.com/web/ftp/pub/video/quickcam/lws220.dmg
4. Test it on a different computer.

Please let us know the result of these recommended steps.

For future reference your case reference number is 04659146. This will allow us to quickly find the contact history when you need additional help. If we do not receive a reply, your support request will eventually be closed and set to “solved”. A survey will be sent to you to gather your feedback.

To contact us by phone or obtain additional information (FAQ’s, Forum, Manuals, etc.) please visit support.logitech.com

Best regards,

Angelica
Logitech Customer Care
support.logitech.com

 

*** end quote ***

So fresh this morning, I took the cover off the big monitor.

I moved the Logitech camera usb directly to the computer. It worked. 

I reattached it to the same USB slot on my monitor. It worked.

Rebooted and it still works.

Explanation?

“Magic”?

Argh!

So ends a 20 day outage?

# – # – # – # – #  2017-Feb-17 @ 09:39  


 
 
 
  Dear Ferdinand,

Good day!

Its good to hear that the webcam is now working.

There may be several reasons (or no reason) for USB ports ceasing to function with no cause. There might be a chance that the webcam was not plugged in properly before. But the good thing is, the device is now working again.

For future reference your case reference number is 04659146. This will allow us to quickly find the contact history when you need additional help. If we do not receive a reply, your support request will eventually be closed and set to “solved”. A survey will be sent to you to gather your feedback.

To contact us by phone or obtain additional information (FAQ’s, Forum, Manuals, etc.) please visit support.logitech.com

Best regards,

Angelica
Logitech Customer Care
support.logitech.com

 

# – # – # – # – #  2017-Feb-17 @ 11:02  


JOBSEARCH: Tales of unemployment

Monday, February 13, 2017

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2017-new-unemployment/

At 55, a ‘Rainy Day’ Turns Into a Year
By Jeanna Smialek

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“It’s very discriminatory, if you ask me,” Schlager said, explaining that interviewers avoid asking his age or mentioning it, because such discrimination is illegal. He has nothing on his resume that marks his age. “It’s a vicious game, and they do it legally, but there’s that undertow.”

Schlager was making $53 an hour working 35 to 40 hours a week in his last position, but he’s applying to lower-skill, lower-pay positions in logistics as he broadens his job search. There’s a limit as to how far down the ladder he’ll drop, though, because he wants to make sure that he has employer-provided health-care coverage.

Not finding employment isn’t an option. While he has relatively low living expenses, Schlager is dipping into his 401(k), so he’ll need to replace what he’s withdrawn. And, beyond financial motivation, he wants a job for its own sake.

“It just kills me to sit here, and not work, and have the abilities that I do,” he said. “I call it a rainy day that turned into a rainy month that turned into a rainy year.”

*** end quote ***

I have been saying for a long time that there is “age discrimination” out there.

Once you turn 50!!!, you must plan that, if you lose “your job”, then you may never NEVER “work” again.

In self-defense, you must have your Plan B, C, and D ready.

Success for the younger generation is: (1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt; (2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you; (3) a NON-OFFSHORABLE white collar job in order to save big bux; (4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber; (5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open; (6) a free time hobby that generates income; and (7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you.

Success for the “older” generation is somewhat similar: (1) financial house in order; (2) develop “streams of income” — can’t depend on “one job”; (3) a blue collar skill — plumbers are ALWAYS in demand; (4) an internet business; (5) An income generating hobby; (6) a network of people; AND (7) most importantly a hunter gather mentality. While you may not be one paycheck from financial disaster, you should be always looking for “opportunities”. They may not seem to be “paying ones”, but you might have a pleasant surprise.

Argh!

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RANT: Unlock what we bought

Sunday, February 12, 2017

http://freeradioonmyphone.org/take-action/

Apparently, the hardware and service providers have chosen to keep the FM chip disabled in the cell phones they sell and support. 

Argh!

Wonder why?

To sell us over priced “music subscriptions”?

Anyone wonder why the Gooferment hasn’t “discovered” this anti-trust action?

$!

Argh!

While I don’t necessarily agree with eh suggested tweet:

*** begin quote ***

@USAgov I want my FM radio! Encourage FM chip activation on all smartphones so I can get lifesaving info for free! #publicsafety #freeradio

*** end quote ***

I do think that ALL “smartphone FM chips should be activated”!

It is a matter of “public safety” and what about that “first sale doctrine”?

After all the manufacturers put it in there. No one forced them too. But since they did, why is it turned off?

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CLOUD: Amazon Prime Videos broken?

Saturday, February 11, 2017

2017-Feb-11 1221 

 

Amazon
Your Account Amazon.com
Message From Customer Service
Hello Ferdinand,

I’m sorry to hear that you’re receiving geographical restrictions errors while trying to watch Amazon Videos.

Upon checking our resources, I found that there’s an ongoing issue with this error. Our technical team is working on this issue to fix this at the earliest.

A little patience is all we require from your side while we work on this issue.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Best regards,
Keerthi U
Thank you.
Amazon.com

 

 

# – # – # – # – #  2017-Feb-11 @ 12:21  


NOTRECOMMENDED: HP Instant Ink

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Who knew that this is another “trap”?

Bad enough when they try to use copyright and chips to keep you locked in.

Wonder if they will “turn off” my new printer?

Argh!

Everything is a hassle these days.

*** begin quote ***

 
Re:  Printer model: ENVY 5540 All-in-One Printer series
   Printer email: reinkefj@hpeprint.com
 

Dear Ferdinand,

We hope you are enjoying your HP Instant Ink service. Below is a billing summary for your HP Instant Ink service and should be referenced if you have any questions regarding your account billing.

Billing date: 02.07.2017

Billing Summary:
 

Item
Unit Price
Quantity
Price
HP Instant Ink Service 15 Page Plan $0.00 1 $0.00
Additional page sets of 10 pages $1.00 3 $3.00
Subtotal:  $3.00
Tax:  $0.21
Total Charged:  $3.21

To view and print your invoice:

*** end quote ***

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Payday firms serve to educate the individual?

Friday, February 10, 2017

https://mises.org/blog/new-front-war-payday-lenders

A New Front in the War on Payday Lenders
02/03/2017
Alice Salles

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By ignoring the need for firms willing to take the a risk on low-income borrowers, regulators — and Google — ignore the payday lenders’ importance. Not only because the low-income community has no standing with big banks, but because the payday firms serve to educate the individual. 

For those who have been in a low-income situation, however, the need for quick, easy loans is apparent.

When I needed access to a loan quickly, I am glad I had a payday loan in my neighborhood. I needed the money then and there and I got it, but most importantly, I was truly happy the lenders imposed incentives to pay it all back. Which is what happened.

Life can be hard at times. And many people need any help they can get. And, they often need help fast. Conventional banks simply don’t offer these services.

Google is a private company and is entitled to decide for themselves who can work with them as advertisers. However, by working with regulators to attempt to put payday lenders out of business, Google is only working to further limit access to loans for low-income households, and making life even harder than it needs to be. 

*** end quote ***

It’s easy to imagine the Gooferment politicians and bureaucrats sitting in their ivory tower offices “knowing what’s best for the poor slobs”.

In actuality, if the Gooferment hadn’t prevented Walmart from entering the “banking industry”, then maybe Pay Day loans wouldn’t be needed. 

The Gooferment Skrules don’t teach “home economics” — or any other kind of economics — so where are folks supposed to learn about money and interest.

Argh!

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