POLITICAL: Is Delaware in play?

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Interesting. If the polling is right, she’s 8 points behind. Are the D’s afraid she can win? If so, then I’m for her. Who cares if she’s a wack-a-loon. In two years, it’ll be time to vote her out. My new bumper sticker is “Reelect Nobody”. Now if some one named “nobody” runs, then I’ll have to revisit that diktat. :-) fjohn

Begin forwarded message:

From: “League of American Voters” <newsmax@reply.newsmax.com>
Date: October 17, 2010 10:04:02 AM EDT
To: reinkefj
Subject: Rush Was Right: Obama Now Targeting O’Donnell
Reply-To: newsmax@reply.newsmax.com

An Urgent Message From Our Sponsor

Dear Member:

President Obama and Joe Biden are making a special effort to target Christine O’Donnell.

As Rush Limbaugh recently asked, if the Democrats think O’Donnell is so off-the-wall, why are they spending so much money and time attacking her?

The answer is clear.

With the latest move by Obama and Biden, we now know that Delaware is in play.

Please read our Sponsor Christine’s urgent message below!

League of American Voters

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POLITICAL: OBH44 draws on a different viewpoint; good for him. Kudos to her.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101015/pl_afp/uspoliticsdiplomacy_20101015222922

Obama, Condoleezza Rice chat about foreign policy, books
– Fri Oct 15, 6:29 pm ET

*** begin quote ***

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama met Friday at the White House with former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice for a chat on foreign policy and her new memoir, officials said.

Rice gave the president a “personalized copy” of “Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family,” in which Rice describes her childhood in racially segregated Birmingham, Alabama, a White House spokesman said.

The Oval Office meeting marked the first time Rice has been back to the White House since former president George W. Bush left office.

They discussed “a range of national security issues, and we’re going to leave it at that,” said Tommy Vietor, a White House spokesman.

*** and ***

Obama and Rice are both racial pioneers. He is America’s first African American president, and author of his own memoir “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance,” and she is the highest-ranking black woman in the history of the executive branch of the US government.

*** and ***

Asked to grade his foreign policy, she refused.

“I’ve said very many times that I may not agree with everything that the administration has done, but I also know that it’s a lot harder in there than it is out here,” she said.

“Nobody needs to have people who’ve been there chirping at you about what you’re not doing right, because you can’t possibly know the whole range of considerations on any given day unless you’re in.”

*** end quote ***

That’s showing some sign of maturity. The President is in a bubble. He needs to hear different opinions. Especially form someone who’s been in the soup pot.

He moves up a notch in my opinion. (Not that anyone much cares about that.)

And she’s one classy lady. It’s too easy to Monday morning Qback. Like that line from the movie, “American President”, … “How’s the view from the cheap seats?”.

While I may disagree with just about everything BHO44 has chosen to do, I always remember I’m in the “cheap seats”.

His values aren’t mine. His results are his. We can certainly judge on the results. Sadly, the results are worse than one would have expected. But then Socialists will always disappoint. It comes from their roots. The first principle of Gooferment is force. And, things go downhill from there.

Argh!

# # # # #


POLITICAL: Piñera’s brilliant handling of the mine crisis to BHO44 or Bush43

Monday, October 18, 2010

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/mine-rescue-crisis-shows-chiles-president-to-be-leader-that-america-desperately-needs/

Mine Rescue: Crisis Shows Chile’s President To Be the Kind of Leader That America Desperately Needs

Sebastián Piñera’s brilliant handling of the mine crisis showed the world his strong character while revealing weaknesses in the character of our own president.

October 15, 2010 – by Tim Daniel

*** begin quote ***

Look to Obama’s attack on BP as his administration, amidst crisis, floundered and flopped like an oil-soaked pelican. Or look to the ludicrous banana republic-esque saber rattling against the Chamber of Commerce as November 2 approaches. Or even the “public enemy number one” fixation on Fox News. Or worse and most damaging to us all, the slavish hostility directed at income earners and entrepreneurs across this nation.

In crisis and challenge, Piñera lifted up his entire nation as an example.

Obama has petulantly, willingly, and unflinchingly brought his down.

Character counts and so do ideas.

*** end quote ***

BHO44 has been a total disaster. Socialists usually are. In this case, he didn’t even make the trains run on time.

BUSH43 started off good in the case of the WTC911, but soon got off track. And, booted Katrina. But, Big Gooferment socialists are just as bad.

When will the Sheeple learn. All the politicians and bureaucrats are the same.

# # # # #


POLITICAL: Team Obama’s Media Helpers Hide Bad News

Saturday, October 16, 2010

http://www.mrc.org/realitycheck/realitycheck/2010/20101014092809.aspx

Worst of the Week: Team Obama’s Media Helpers Hide Bad News for Democrats
By: Tim Graham
October 14, 2010 09:21 ET

*** begin quote ***

While network correspondents complain about the unfairness of independent advertising, they might ponder the unfairness of their habitual tendency to omit or downplay bad news for Team Obama, especially in the crucial last weeks of a campaign. Consider some of the latest stories that would have drawn much more attention and media hostility if the shoe was on the Republican foot:

■ Oil spill incompetence or dishonesty.

■ Delayed Democrat ethics trials.

■ More John Edwards subpoenas.

■ Stimulus dollars for the dead.

■ Big setback in trying terror suspects.

*** end quote ***

Just business as usual in the District of Corruption.

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POLITICAL: Gay “rights”, no; “human rights”, yes

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

http://centraljersey.com/articles/2010/10/07/opinions/doc4cacf5a0ac4d1591549135.txt

DISPATCHES: We’re all complicit
Sexual intolerance helped lead R.U. student to suicide
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 6:37 PM EDT
By Hank Kalet, Managing Editor

*** begin quote ***

Our unwillingness to grant LGBTs full rights is a societal/cultural admission that we think of them as less worthy than the rest of us. It allows the stigma to remain in place and allows the hate to continue to flow.

*** end quote ***

Modern day Liberals, as opposed to the Classical Liberals of history, suffer from a language difficulty. Either deliberate or unintentional. The “Our unwillingness … to grant … rights” is a construction that is flawed.

We don’t “grant” rights. “We hold these truths as self-evident. That all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”. Rights are unalienable. It’s only when the Gooferment comes with their guns that the problems begin.

Why is the Gooferment involved in the “granting of rights”? Or the definition of “marriage”? Or encouraging “We, The People” to fight each other in the area that the Gooferment defines?

“Marriage” was originally a matter for a civil society to “consecrate” in its Churches. Secular Progressives could not permit that to continue because their values were in conflict. They “knew”, because of their elite status and education, what was good for everyone — Socialism of some flavor or another. Churches, Families, and Fraternal Organizations stood in the way. They gained control of the levers of Gooferment with its monopoly on using force and were i the “driver’s seat”. Can’t make an omelet without breaking a few legs. They used Gooferment to give “benefits” to marriage and thus began the war on that civil institution.

Personally, I am pro-choice on everything. I want a Voluntarist society.

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Personally, I think the whole LGBT is a dead end branch for the propagation of the species. But, since I want to be left alone with respect to my personal life, I am more than happy to ignore everyone else’s choices. As a little L libertarian, I think that “marriage”, its Gooferment benefits that accompany it, and “Gooferment Skrules” — all shouldn’t exist.

That would very quickly end the debate.

And, by the way, anyone beating up anyone should be forced to make restitution regardless of why they were doing the beating.

# # # # #


POLITICAL: Only real people pay taxes

Saturday, October 9, 2010

http://www.lewrockwell.com/williams-w/w-williams53.1.html

Politicians Exploit Economic Ignorance by Walter E. Williams

*** begin quote ***

What about the politician who tells us that he’s not going to raise taxes on the middle class; instead, he’s going to raise corporate income taxes as means to get rich corporations to pay their rightful share of government? If a tax is levied on a corporation, and if it is to survive, it will have one of three responses, or some combination thereof. One response is to raise the price of its product, so who bears the burden? Another response is to lower dividends; again, who bears the burden? Yet another response is to lay off workers. In each case, it is people, not some legal fiction called a corporation, who bear the burden of the tax.

*** end quote ***

So the corporate tax rate should ALWAYS be zero. Anything higher and it’s the politicians trying to sheer the sheeple!

Corporations don’t “pay” taxes; only real flesh and blood people do. Corporations provide politicians “cover” because the Sheeple don’t recognize the tax is buried in the price.

When the tax is put on a capital asset used in the production of other goods (like gasoline) the impact is magnified. So every UPS package that’s delivered has that gas “tax” factored in.

When UPS buys the trucks that GM paid tax on, that’s buried in the cost of every package delivered.

They taught us this in injineering school. No one can really know how much tax they are paying and the politicians and bureaucrats like that just fine. Argh!

# # # # #


POLITICAL: Abuse of “We, The People”!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

http://dumpdc.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/what-in-the-hell-is-wrong-with-you

What In The Hell Is Wrong With You?
by dumpdc on 9/30/10
by Daniel Miller, Texas Nationalist Movement

*** begin quote ***

For the 14 years since I arrived at that conclusion I have watched the people of Texas shoved around by a Federal Government drunk on power. They go through a succession of governmental functionaries from one of the two major parties only to wind up with more government, less freedom and more abuse. Unfortunately for me, although I know the truth and what the solution is, the rest of the people of Texas have not reached the mental and emotional place of safety where I reside.

This leaves me to watch the abuses pile up without the proper response. To get an idea of my daily anguish, let’s paint a mental picture together. Imagine for a moment that you are part of a large family. You and your siblings are sitting in the living room of the house and your Mother’s current husband, someone who is not your Father, comes in and begins to beat the crap out of your Mother. Your sister starts to cry so he turns his attention to her and starts beating her. Your brother tries to shield your sister and he gets smacked a few times. You speak up and try to shield them all and get pummeled more than all of them put together. After he beats you, thankfully, he takes the money that you all have been saving from the cookie jar, jumps in his car and heads off to the local watering hole to blow all of the money on booze and other women. Imagine that this happens every day.

*** and ***

Abused spouses go through four phases while in an abusive relationship. They are: denial, guilt, enlightenment and responsibility.

*** and ***

I plead one more time with my Mother, my brothers and sister. We are abused. It is not our fault. The Federal Government will not change. It will make promises that it will not keep. If it ever stops abusing us, the break will be brief and it will not last. While we have been faithful to the Constitutional marriage of which we are part, it has not. Mother, your children in the Texas Nationalist Movement have stood up for you. Brothers and sisters of Texas, the Texas Nationalist Movement, your blood, your siblings have stood up for you. We have told you that it is time to make a new life. We will survive this but only if we leave.

Mother, brothers, sisters, let us start this new life now. One free of abuse. We can make it together but first we have to make the decision. If not, then I will continue to ask you “what in the hell is wrong with you?”

*** end quote ***

An excellent analogy!

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POLITICAL: What rube believes in the Social Security Trust Fund?

Friday, October 1, 2010

http://dailyreckoning.com/whats-really-in-the-social-security-trust-fund/

*** begin quote ***

“Some in our country think that Social Security is a trust fund – in other words, there’s a pile of money being accumulated. That’s just simply not true. The money – payroll taxes going into the Social Security are spent. They’re spent on benefits and they’re spent on government programs. There is no trust.” —- President Bush 2005

*** end quote ***

Only certain people who vote for “hope and change”?

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POLITICAL: Massachusetts Sales Tax Roll Back initiative

Thursday, September 30, 2010

<Broken Link>

Energize Our Economy and Your Family’s Future
Reduce the Sales Tax to 3% — Vote YES on Question 3
by Charles C. Ormsby, Ph.D.

*** begin quote ***

New Hampshire’s Unemployment rate is 5.7%.

Massachusetts’ Unemployment rate is 8.8%.

54% higher!

Why?

Why have so many large retail stores fled the Merrimack Valley just to be resurrected in Salem, Plaistow or Nashua? Why are the businesses that remain focused mainly on food, clothing or automobiles?

The answers are obvious as: The Massachusetts Sales Tax.

The symptoms did not just arise when the state legislature and Governor Patrick increased the sales tax from 5% to 6.25%. These symptoms were evident before the increase, but this increase in the middle of a gut-wrenching economic downturn has seriously exacerbated the problem.

The effect of taxes on economic prosperity is not a mystery.

It is clearly visible when the economies of countries are compared. Countries that have historically low levels of taxation (if accompanied by a respect for property rights) are generally prosperous and have above average growth rates. Those with high tax rates (often accompanied by an onerous regulatory burden) typically are mired in poverty and despair with few prospects for a brighter future. When countries significantly alter tax levels, their economies respond rapidly: either expanding, if tax levies are reduced, or contracting if levies are raised.

The same effect is evident when comparing state economies. Just look at the dramatic differences in job creation when the highest tax states in the U.S. are compared to the lowest tax states. The nine states with the lowest taxes had over twice the job growth rate over the last decade as the nine states with the highest taxes.

Increasing taxes is not merely an indirect factor influencing some obscure economic statistic that somehow or other relates to the decisions of companies to close factories, to close retail outlets, or to lay off employees.

Higher taxes directly cause these results and directly impact our economic prosperity and security. Lowering taxes can reverse these effects.

Let’s just look at one, local example: The Methuen Mall (now The Loop).

Do you remember when there was a Sears at the Methuen Mall? And a Jordan Marsh? And Filene’s Basement? And more than 50 other retail outlets? Of course, the Mall took a nose dive after Sears moved (1991) to the expanded Rockingham Mall. The Mall’s final gasp high-lighted a “Sheds Unlimited” outlet; a fitting requiem for what was once a thriving retail complex.

But prosperity is a group activity. Success feeds on success. There is excitement in prosperity and commerce … just as dullness and fear accompany decline and failure. Taxes discourage commerce and block prosperity, engendering failure.

Customers shop where there is convenient access to a wide variety of goods and services. Salem, Plaistow and Nashua are thriving because they lack the extra burden of a sales tax. Our 6.25% sales tax is a huge advantage for New Hampshire businesses and a major deterrent to anyone considering locating or expanding their business in Massachusetts.

The herd has moved to where the grazing is profitable. They have left the dry hole in Massachusetts.

Yes, after more than a decade, the Methuen Mall (The Loop) came back. Now, nearly 20 years later, we are back to where we were before the sales tax induced competition from Salem emerged. Salem has exploded to ten times its size in 1990 while once-dominant Methuen has barely managed to tread water. All thanks to a 5% sales tax.

But The Loop is not what it was in 1990. It is now dominated by enterprises that sell tax-free items (groceries, clothing), or low-cost/convenience items (less than $100), or by businesses that are equivalently taxed in New Hampshire (e.g., restaurants). The Home Depot outlet in Methuen sells taxable items, but ask store management where people go for the high-ticket items – the Home Depot store in Salem.

Try to find a store on the Massachusetts side of the border that sells major appliances or 50″ High Definition TVs. There are very few. Did you see the new Ultimate Electronics Store in Salem? Too bad it couldn’t consider Methuen, Lowell, Haverhill, or Lawrence for its home.

You don’t miss what you don’t see. Not only are these stores gone, along with their jobs, but gone also is the secondary economy that supports them: construction, maintenance, insurance, accounting, and on and on. Not to mention all the resultant spending from those employed that in turn supports real estate development, barbers, lawn services, painters, auto repair. All gone to New Hampshire.

More jobs lost. More opportunity stolen from your family. More prosperity denied. More economic risk and despair to deal with.

Of course, with less tax revenue derived from a growing and prosperous business community, the government beast still wants to be fed; well fed in fact. Welcome to even higher property and income tax demands.

That is why our brilliant legislators, with an excess of law degrees but no business experience, thought it wise to increase the sales tax from 5% to 6.25% and further disadvantage Massachusetts businesses and degrade the Massachusetts economy.

Their philosophy must be: If shooting yourself in the foot slows you down, try shooting yourself in the groin. Hey, why not go all in and try a shot between the eyes?

Of course, they are not that stupid. We all know that their idiocy is driven by self interest.

Taxes are the pump that transfers wealth from the private sector to the public sector. Those in the public sector like the pump; in fact, they love it. They love it so much that they promise to do everything in their power to keep those who will protect and enlarge the pump in power.

The politicians and the special interests have a deal: The politicians will work tirelessly (lying when needed) to keep the pump working and the special interests will work tirelessly (lying when needed) to keep them in office and campaigning to avoid any reduction in pumping operations.

Of course, they also agree to divvy up the loot in the form of wages, benefits, pensions, and special favors. Just like the Hole in the Wall Gang after a bank robbery, except, this time, the hole is in your wallet!

The last ballot initiative that attempted to reduce taxes (eliminate the income tax) provided a classic example. The proponents were able to raise and spend approximately $493,000 in support of the ballot initiative (100% from individual private donations; most under $100). The opponents spent over $7.5 million (more than 15 times as much) to defeat the initiative (with 99.8% coming from special interest organizations; 60% of this from teachers’ unions and the remainder from other government unions such as AFSCME and the SEIU).

The special interests can only continue this racket if we let them. They will outspend those trying to reduce our taxes again; almost certainly by more than ten-to-one. They will tell us that reducing the sales tax will cause a plague. Children will go hungry. Teachers, police and firefighters will be laid off. Life will come to an end.

They are lying. The proof is only a few miles to your north. If New Hampshire can prosper with NO sales tax and NO income tax, why will a reduction in the sales tax to 3% be a problem?

Not only will it NOT be a problem, it will re-invigorate the economy.

It is projected to create 33,000 new jobs.

Families like yours will retain $500-$1000 in earnings every year instead of losing these earnings to the state’s bloated bureaucracy.

Businesses will have a fighting chance to compete and add jobs in the Merrimack Valley.

We can also emulate the successful New Hampshire strategy of attracting shoppers and businesses from contiguous states. With a 3% sales tax, shoppers will be attracted to Massachusetts businesses from Rhode Island (7%), Connecticut (6%), New York (7+ %), and Vermont (6%). That differential, if sustained over 5-10 years, will dramatically grow the Massachusetts economy.

State government merely needs to cut its out-of-control spending by a mere 5% with NO CUTS in local aid.

Don’t fall for the lies of the special interests … no matter how often they advertise.

Go to http://www.rollbacktaxes.com to help return Massachusetts to prosperity!

IN NOVEMBER, VOTE YES ON QUESTION 3.

Every tax cut is a pay increase … and a spur to economic prosperity!

##

Dr. Charles Ormsby is a former member of the North Andover School Committee.

*** end quote ***

# – # – #

In principle, same thing for New Jersey. Voters were fooled into passing the sales tax for property tax relief.

Fooled you!

In the theory, sales tax should be the ONLY tax.

But in practice, one must oppose every tax. Period. Every time. All the time.

The Dead Old White Guys must be rolling over. They revolted over a few percent. We can’t even calculate the Gooferment’s take.

# # # # #


POLITICAL: “Education is primarily the domain of state and local governments” HorseExcrement!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/092710_Obama_Money_alone_cant_help_schools.html

Obama: Money alone can’t help schools
Monday, September 27, 2010
LAST UPDATED: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2010, 10:08 AM
BY BEN FELLER THE RECORD ASSOCIATED PRESS

*** begin quote ***

Education is primarily the domain of state and local governments. But the federal government has leverage and uses it, for example, through the strings it attaches to poverty aid that thousands of schools depend upon to support their programming.

The president admitted that his own daughters, Malia and Sasha, couldn’t get the same quality education at a Washington, D.C. public school that they currently get at their private school. The Obama girls attend Sidwell Friends School, an elite private school in the Washington area.

“The DC public schools systems are struggling,” Obama said, though he added that the school district has, “made some important strides over the last several years to move in the direction of reform.” Public schools in Washington have long faced criticism for their low test scores and high dropout rates.

*** end quote ***

“Education is primarily the domain of state and local governments”

Gee, I thought that children were entrust to the parents by the Creator. They are NOT resources for or wards of the Gooferment. Education should be primarily the domain of the parents; not any level of Gooferment.

The way the current system has evolved is that rights come from the Creator and that Governments are formed by men to protect those rights. So “We, The People” recognize these rights. These rights belong to ALL our fellow human beings.

We currently have an active debate as to when a person can assert these rights and when we accord them (i.e., in the womb, born, viable infant, majority, or something inbetween).

We have inadvertently allowed Gooferment as various levels to insinuate itself in the realm of education. And, we are worse off for it.

Let’s remember, why the Gooferment got into education? Prussian King Frederick II made schooling compulsory for all children between ages five and 13. In 1843, Mann traveled to Germany to investigate how the educational process worked. Upon his return to the United States, he lobbied heavily to have the “Prussian model” adopted. The purpose was to instill social obedience in the citizens through indoctrination. Make good soldiers for the Army, compliant workers for the factory, and obedient serfs for the aristocracy to lead.

Note where the head politician sends his children to school!

Let’s get the Gooferment out of the education process completely. It’s taken more than a hundred years to get to this realization. So let’s have two twenty year plans to accomplish the “Separation of School and State”. The Gooferment operates the schools and funds them by taking wealth from the people.

We can debate the morality of stealing wealth from people, laundering it through various levels of Gooferment — each with a handling charge, and providing a substandard education for non-wealthy children. We can’t debate that it is NOT working.

“If the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan wanted to sabotage black academic excellence, he could not find a more effective means to do so than the government school system in most cities.” —- Walter Williams

So first, we end the Gooferment operation of education. And, then we end the funding of it.

Since we didn’t get into this mess overnight, we can’t get out of it overnight either. People have to have time to learn the new meme and adapt their lives to accommodate it.

The first 20 year plan is to “privatize” schoo


POLITICAL: No party labels this year?

Sunday, September 26, 2010

DSCN0031

Isn’t that interesting. No party affiliation? Either party? Could it be that they think we are stupid and don’t know there is a gang of crooks behind this sign waiting to rob us blind.

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POLITICAL: The “Repeal Amendment”

Friday, September 24, 2010

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12144

The case for a “Repeal Amendment”
Cato Institute
by Randy Barnett and William J. Howell

*** begin quote ***

“In its next session beginning in January, the legislature of Virginia will consider proposing a constitutional ‘Repeal Amendment.’ The
Repeal Amendment would give two-thirds of the states the power to repeal any federal law or regulation. Its text is simple: ‘Any
provision of law or regulation of the United States may be repealed by the several states, and such repeal shall be effective when the
legislatures of two-thirds of the several states approve resolutions for this purpose that particularly describe the same provision or
provisions of law or regulation to be repealed.'” (09/16/10)

*** end quote ***

Good luck!

Many decades too late.

Secession is the only option!

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POLITICAL: Fighting Wilson’s influence

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

My exchange with a fellow alum about Woodrow Wilson

*** begin the target trigger quote ***

You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand. -Woodrow Wilson

*** end quote ***

My first comment

*** begin quote ***

Have you read much about Wilson? He’s not a guy I’d like to see anyone quoting. Ran as the “peace candidate”; immediately got the USA in WW1. Signed the Federal Reserve Act. Income tax. And was a racist, elitist, and a Progressive (Socialist). He’s in my second tier of worst Presidents.

*** end quote ***

The response

*** begin quote ***

I’ll describe what (little) I know of Wilson as a measure of context.

Wilson’s presidency is perhaps one that gets the most airtime in high school-level classrooms (if only because it seems that classes never progressed beyond WWII). However, his proponents must have written those textbooks because he was always presented in a favorable light.

Theoretical socialism does not bother me – the haphazard application of interesting ideas is enough to cause anyone to pause. I do not know much about the impact of the Federal Reserve Act, and can only ascertain that like any other major legislation, he had a slew of followers and critics, along with a range of those who were sitting on the fence, ignorant, or wholly disinterested.

Specifically, I am deeply disappointed by his inaction against the Jim Crow laws and any discriminatory practices encouraged during his administration. However, I appreciate his applauded footwork during WWI (I understand it as having been a necessary act), the fact that he was the first U.S. president to have a doctorate degree, and his straightforward writing approach in the well-known Fourteen Points…there is not much fondness to be mentioned about his League of Nations, but it was a respectable, if ineffective attempt.

In any case, I felt it proper to cite the source of the quotation, because plagiarism still isn’t acceptable on Facebook. I was first introduced to the following book by a peer as an undergraduate at Manhattan College, which contains the quote. I try to encapsulate its underlying message in my professional endeavors as a demonstration of positivity and good will: http://www.amazon.com/Woodrow-Wilson-Essential-Writings-Scholar-President/dp/0814719848

*** end quote ***

To which I responded

*** begin quote ***

>Wilson’s presidency … … in high school-level classrooms

Remember that the current “education meme” is imported from preWW1 Prussia. It’s purpose was to make the population more pliable to the elite. Specifically, they wanted cannon fodder for the army, good factory workers, and a subservient electorate that could be led by the elite. Where do politicians send their children? It dumbs down future voters.

>Theoretical socialism does not bother me –

Ouch, it should. They say: Any one, whose not a young socialist, has no heart; any one, who is not an old conservative, has no brain. Unfortunately, socialism is a nice way to say “force”. Redistribution requires force. The little L libertarian was of saying it is: “Where is the gun in the room?” And, “theoretical socialism” always gets down to killing, brutality, and poverty.

>I do not know much about the impact of the Federal Reserve Act

Well, hindsight is 20/20. We can channel our inner Andrew Jackson about the evils of central banking. The Federal Reserve Bank, which is not Federal, Reserves nothing, and isn’t a “bank”, is a banking cartel that allows the banks to monopolize the creation of money. It’s a license to steal. In exchange, it allows the politicians, of both parties, to spend “money” without taxation or borrowing. There’s the silent tax of inflation. I’ve ranted about it on my blog. Basically, it can be summed up in two parts — ONE: What’s a dollar? It used to be a fixed amount of gold or silver until FDR stole everyone’s gold in 1932. Now it’s what? A piece of paper signifying nothing. — TWO: Since its creation in 1913 (thanks WW), the value of a dollar (purchasing power) has declined 95+% between 1913 and 2000. That wealth has been stolen by politicians and bureaucrats for expanding the Gooferment.

>inaction against the Jim Crow laws and any discriminatory practices

That’s consistent with his racist beliefs!

>However, I appreciate his applauded footwork during WWI
>(I understand it as having been a necessary act)

WW1 was a disaster. American was non-interventionist and Wilson ran as a “peace candidate”. Almost immediately, after his election, he sought to get us into the WW1. The Lusitania was carrying munitions in violation of the Geneva Convention. It was another step in moving the USA from a peaceful stay at home to a global power. It is generally conceded that the USA’s entry into WW1 prolonged the conflict, allowed the French and English to gain the upper hand, force the Germans to accept a terrible armistice, and sowed the seeds for Hitler and WW2. The Dead Old White Guys warned us about becoming involved in “Europe’s petty squabbles”.

>his League of Nations, but it was a respectable,

It was Global Governance that would, like the UN, put the elite in charge of the planet. Doesn’t work out so well if you’re one of the serfs. You’ll find that, like the UN’s Human Rights Committee which is populated by the worst Human Rights violators, Global Governance is a cesspool of corruption, theft, violence, and fraud. And the USA pays for it! Argh!

>demonstration of positivity and good will

Well, I don’t think a quote is plagiarism. Might want to chat with one of the many lawyers about “fair use”.

My problem with the quote is … … it’s essentially socialism. You are here to make living. And, you have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. In pursuing your own crass economic best interest, you will by definition “enrich the world”. Greed is good. Because it induces everyone to cooperate. The only way you can morally get lots of “certificates of appreciation” is to satisfy the needs of your fellow man. Satisfy enough needs and you get lots of them there “certificates”. You’ll recognize them right away. They’re green and you can exchange them for other stuff. Some even call them money.

Note, those green Federal Reserve Banknotes, which little L libertarian label FRBies — furbies, haven’t been “money” since FDR took us off the gold standard.

“Money is a matter of functions four, a medium, a measure, a standard, a store.” He repeated that four times like poetry. “Six Characters in Money: Portable – Durable – Divisible – Uniformity – Limited Supply – Acceptability.” CHURCH 10●19●62 (Vol 1) 978-0-557-08387-9 page 110

It’s no longer “money” because it’s not a standard or store. It also fails because it doesn’t have limited supply. The FED can print as much as the need.

>

I’m sure that you have better things to do than think about … history. Unfortunately, this stuff has direct application to today’s conditions. It’s what the Tea Parties are yelling about. And, youths like yourself have to deal with the mess that you’re being left. Yours, reportedly, is the first generation that isn’t as well off as previous generations.

One last point, then I’ll stop bending your eye.

Don’t believe anything any politician says. Any one, any time, on any topic. If some person stands up and says they promise the sun will rise tomorrow, they’re lying. They all have a angle. At the very least, they are spinning the fact to match their need.

And, don’t listen to fat old white guy injineers that are alumni. Their tin foil hats are on too tight.

*** end quote ***

And the finish

*** begin quote ***

Haha, no, I appreciate the discussion and the time you’re taking to share your views.

I certainly wasn’t thinking about history or allying myself to any president’s cause when I chose the quote – it was selected (and yes, I’m aware that quotations can be taken out of context to suit others’ needs and propaganda) simply because it resonated something truthful for my vocation, nothing less or more (although, in a sense, there’s always more to it).

“Don’t believe anything any politician says. Any one, any time, on any topic. If some person stands up and says they promise the sun will rise tomorrow, they’re lying.”

Of course, politicians lie – they want to get voted in, after all. I would rather give each candidate a fair shot, but my generation has been criticized as being more than slightly apathetic – a completely dangerous stance – (aside from the ‘Rock the Vote’ campaign), because mine “reportedly, is the first generation that isn’t as well off as previous generations.” Yet, I believe that every generation had its struggles – we’re faring better than those during the Great Depression, and others who suffered before and during the initial start of the civil rights movement, to name a couple. A single politician (administration included) cannot be expected to run a nation perfectly – something is always going to go wrong in taking on the burden from one’s predecessor, choices have to be made, and there are too many people to please who will never be satisfied.

To put it into perspective, I was in kindergarten when George Bush Sr. was elected into office. In a poorly constructed, clichéd metaphor, members of my generation can’t drink the kool-aid readily when we are 1) on a diet or jaded by a constant stream of reality tv meant to placate and numb us or 2) already saw others before us do it with dire consequences.

I understand the quote as socialist in nature when sipped from the source, sure, but I’ve appropriated it into the values instilled by my Lasallian education to support the betterment of those around me, my future clients and the Jaspers I work with on a daily basis. There are not that many people who pursue an education or social services-related field to obtain wealth; I merely hope to share my skills to help empower others. MC has adopted the motto “The Work is Ours” from Br. Luke Salm’s book on St. De La Salle, entitled “The Work is Yours.” I believe there has to be self-awareness, reflection, and intention in completing one’s work.   

*** end quote ***

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POLITICAL: Carter speaks; to get out of the doghouse?

Friday, September 17, 2010

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/16/60minutes/main6872344.shtml

Sept. 16, 2010
Jimmy Carter Slams Ted Kennedy On Health Care
Tells “60 Minutes” Comprehensive Care Would Be In Place Had The Late Senator Not Killed His Bill

*** begin quote ***

(CBS) The late Sen. Ted Kennedy, champion of the recent health plan legislation, actually delayed comprehensive coverage for Americans for decades, says former President Jimmy Carter. It was Kennedy’s actions to kill Carter’s own health care bill that made Americans wait more than 30 years for meaningful coverage, says Carter in an interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl.

*** end quote ***

Well, if he wanted Carter-care, then I’ll have to praise Saint Teddy. Right result for the wrong reasons is still the right result.

Perhaps, Carter senses that Obama is trying to displace him as the worst most-inept President in “modern times”. Jimmy, for all his faults, can’t come close to Lincoln as the “worst”. And, he’s not even in the second tier of “worser” — WW1 Wilson, SSI FDR, Hiroshima Truman!

And, of all the two faced politicians, Carter did send Amy to public school. Not a hypocrite like these others.

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POLITICAL: DWI stupidity

Monday, September 13, 2010

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/east_brunswick_man_crashes_int.html

East Brunswick man is charged with drunken-driving after hitting police car en route to work
Published: Monday, September 13, 2010, 11:51 AM
Updated: Monday, September 13, 2010, 12:56 PM
Tom Haydon/The Star-Ledger

*** begin quote ***

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A man with four prior drunk-driving convictions was arrested on the same charge Sunday after he crashed into a vehicle driven by a South Brunswick police officer heading to work, authorities said.

*** end quote ***

As a little L libertarian, I think the the DWI laws are: dumb, poorly enforced, and do little to protect innocent people who share the roads.

I don’t believe in the one size fits all law that tries to use a number as the criteria for enforcement.

First of all, people are different. Their tolerance of alcohol is hugely different. I know guys and gals, who after a drink or two, shouldn’t be allowed to operate anything from a car to a cell phone. I know others, who can down prodigious amounts of beer and go on and win parlor games of strategy, dexterity, and / or concentration.

Giving the police more power to enforce an arbitrary law is an invitation to sexual / racial harassment, favoritism, and abuse. The TV commercial, aka a PSA, that shows uniformed officers stopping every car and demanding “have you been drinking tonight”, is “show us your papers”.

That being said, if one causes an “accident” that results in damage, or –heaven forbid — injury or death, then those questions and physical testing is not only appropriate, but mandatory. And, it should NOT be called an “accident”. It should be called exactly what it is “assault with a deadly weapon”. Anyone, who uses a tool, any tool, be it a car or a gun, while under the influence of any chemical, is reckless. Should damage or injury occur from reckless behavior then that is a foreseeable consequence of the choices that were made.

Choices have consequences!

So the “DWI” law needs to be tuned. There has to be an accident, injury, or death to initiate an arrest.

Also, the current tolerance that politicians and bureaucrats have for multiple DWI convictions is completely insane.

In the cited example, the man has FOUR convictions. And, he is driving? He has outstanding warrants.

I can understand some leniency for a first conviction where there is damage but no personal injury. It should be more than a slap on the wrist, but less than incarceration. A second conviction, or injury in a first conviction, demands that civil society be protected from someone who is obviously not fit to be trust to behave reasonably towards the society. A third or fourth should trigger longer “adult time outs”.

Never mind “punishment” or “rehabilitation”. We need “protection”. Someone convicted of this new tougher DWI law should be isolated and prevented from harming innocents.

Four convictions? A decade of protection might be prudent.

Cars are too ubiquitous. A convicted felon, who has served their time out, must be allowed to drive. But, as a condition of their readmission to civil society and license to share the public roads, might be required to agree to spot checks. A special license plate for those with multiple convictions, like four, would encourage police to stop and check their sobriety. A special drivers license for those with one conviction would alert police to check sobriety, if stopped for a traffic violation. In either case, it self-preservation to check those, that have forfeit their rights by harming and further endangering others.

In summary:

(1) No spot checks on drivers who have not offended in the past.

(2) Harsh treatment for whose cause damage or injury.

(3) Longer “time outs” for multiple offenders.

(4) Aggressive enforcement on multiple offenders.

Note: I oppose the Psuedo War On Some Drugs. I don’t care what my fellow Americans put in their bodies. As long as I don’t have to pay for their care. But an impaired driver, who causes harm, should be treated the same. Regardless of their chemical of choice.

imho.

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POLITICAL: Selective Constitutionality

Saturday, September 11, 2010

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100910/D9I50KL00.html

Calif judge to stop ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy
Sep 10, 6:39 AM (ET)
By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON

*** begin quote ***

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A federal judge said she will issue an order to halt the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, after she declared the ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled Thursday that the prohibition on openly gay military service members was unconstitutional because it violates the First and Fifth Amendment rights of gays and lesbians.

*** end quote ***

And, the Army is Constitutionally only supposed to exist for two years after being called up. And, there’s supposed to be a RKBA. And, the Fifth says Obama couldn’t take over the GM screwing the GM bondholders.

Amazing how they pick and chose what they want to enforce.

The Anarcho-capitalist’s (AKA libertarian anarchy, market anarchism, or free market anarchism) are right: we don’t NEED Gooferment and it ALWAYS oppresses us.

Argh!

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POLITICAL: Subsidizing politics from the public treasury!

Friday, September 10, 2010

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/09/tri-c_students_recruited_to_fi.html

Home > OPEN: Ohio Politics > Energy
Tri-C students recruited to fill the seats for Obama’s appearance
Published: Wednesday, September 08, 2010, 1:30 PM
Updated: Wednesday, September 08, 2010, 1:33 PM
Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer

*** begin quote ***

PARMA, Ohio – With less than an hour before President Obama’s scheduled speech, 75 seats remained empty in the recreation center at Cuyahoga Community College’s Western Campus. So organizers went around campus and recruited more students to fill the seats.

*** and ***

dunlopreggie September 08, 2010 at 2:40PM

How shameful that an elected officeholder flies in to town on a publicly bought jet, is escorted and secured by probably hundreds of publicly paid police, to give a speech in a publicly owned facility, and the event is not open to the public. What a sham. I hope someone is reimbursing the taxpayers for the costs of this partisan campaign appearance.

*** end quote ***

Excellent point!

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POLITICAL: Police want an intrusive capability

Thursday, September 9, 2010

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/09/08/669723/lists-of-pain-pillpatients-sought.html

*** begin quote ***

Sheriffs in North Carolina want access to state computer records identifying anyone with prescriptions for powerful painkillers and other controlled substances.

*** end quote ***

You’re gonna be in that database! What people put in the body is nobody’s business. Unless, they hurt others or expect “We, The People” to clean up after them.

Sorry, but what the economists call “the natural rate of addiction” hasn’t really changed since the Ancient Greeks. New drugs, new laws, new approaches — no difference. Even in China. where they had the death penalty for it, and they STILL have the natural rate of addiction.

And, we have to endure civil strife. End the psuedo drug laws, put WalMart in charge of selling “illegal drugs” and let’s all live in peace.

Argh!

Let’s put the various “Drug Lords” out of business! The various Czars as well!!

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POLITICAL: Telemed abortion; telemed everything?

Monday, September 6, 2010

http://www.lifenews.com/state5383.html

Iowa Board of Medicine Creates Committee, May Study Telemed Abortion Process
by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor
August 26, 2010

*** begin quote ***

The organization contends Planned Parenthood is breaking the law because Iowa state law requires abortions to be done by physicians and a doctor is not physically present with the woman at the time she get the abortion drug. Instead, a potentially untrained or unlicensed staffer sits with the woman as she visits with the abortion practitioner, who may be out of state at the time, during a videoconfernce.

*** end quote ***

Why regulate medicine?

To make jobs for bureaucrats and drive up costs for the benefit of the monopoly suppliers. Argh!

If one can have video conference abortions, then why can’t we have video conference everything else?

Good way to ship doctor’s jobs to third world countries.

As a little L libertarian, why do we permit the Gooferment to “regulate” medicine? Not like it does anything but drive up costs.

(And, btw, how much does this “committee” cost?)

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POLITICAL: The Just War criteria

Friday, September 3, 2010

http://irisheagle.blogspot.com/2010/09/if-this-were-war-wed-have-objectives.html

Thursday, September 02, 2010

If this were a war we’d have objectives and strategies to evaluate

*** begin quote ***

If the problems in our economy were a war the public would want to know: (a) What’s at stake?; (b) What will it take for victory?; and (c) What will victory look like? From those answers would follow the tactics we’ll be employing to win the war and a forecast as to how those tactics will play out.

*** end quote ***

I managed to get my heroic children to consider the “The Just War Doctrine” in my novel. (I tried to stuff the book with anything I learned. My whizdumb!) Reference: CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 326

We did discuss this in 8th Grade Grammar School (“Gentlemen, you may love war movies, but Holy Mother Church has some standards for what is a just war.”) Did it again in High School “Religion” and College “Theology”.

*** begin quote ***

The strict conditions, for legitimate use of military force, require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:

* the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;

* all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;

* there must be serious prospects of success;

* the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine. The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.

*** end quote ***

At one time, I thought “Viet Nam, Republic of” satisfied all the conditions. Now that I am older and I understand that, to misquote Doctor House, “Politicians lie!”.

In considering the Iraq War, I thought that the conditions were again satisfied.

The damage point (i.e., Bush lied us into war) was really covered by the WMD.

One thing that everyone chooses to overlook is that: “We KNOW Sadaam had them.” We sold the poison gas to him in the 70’s and he used that gas on “his” minority, the Kurds. As far as not finding those weapons, there was six months to move them to Syria. Unfortunately, no one can prove that.

As a little L libertarian, there was no justification that would convince me that we should have done this.

Argh!

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POLITICAL: BHO44’s “End of Iraq Combat Operations” speech last night

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

How do you tell when a politician is lying?

Yes, his lips moved.

I couldn’t believe how flat he was as he read this fairy tale to us.

Did ANYONE believe it?

And 50k of armed troopers, boots on the ground, isn’t “out”. It’s like so many many other places, we’re suck there.

Sorry!

It doesn’t make it true.

And, the body language. Guess he should just go back on vacation for the next two years. We’d be better off.

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POLITICAL: End “benefits” now

Monday, August 30, 2010

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/08/one_payoff_to_pass_obamacare_n.html

August 29, 2010
One payoff to pass Obamacare not paying off
Ed Lasky

*** begin quote ***

We know about the backroom deals made to get Congressmen to vote for ObamaCare but there were also favors cut out for unions, drug makers, and even small business to get them to support the program.

Guess what? The “credit” offered to small business to help them pay for the increased health care costs-due to ObamaCare mandates- turns out to be not much help at all.

*** end quote ***

Make a deal with the devil and don’t be surprised when you get cheated.

Not much to say, but dealing with the Gooferment for “special favors” isn’t what business is supposed to be all about.

Remember this whole benefits mess was created by FDR’s wage and price control in WW2. And, generations later we are still screwed by it.

Time to take some bitter medicine.

Phase out “benefits”.

Businesses should pay their workers their full wage. Allow people to buy “health insurance” like car insurance. THen it would be “portable”.

Perhaps then credit unions to offer group insurance to its members?

Argh!

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POLITICAL: Not post-racial yet

Friday, August 27, 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qeMslmDBxY&feature=watch_response

Beat Whitey Night – Attacks mar Iowa State Fair – NBC-2.com WBBH News

# – # – #

Guess we are not in a “post racial” amerika yet. Note the lady police officer saying “doesn’t know if it’s racial” but all the victims were white. Are you kidding me? If that was reversed, imagine the response? Argh!

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POLITICAL: A not so free press

Friday, August 27, 2010

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/07/25/a_free_press_means_no_subsidies

A free press means no subsidies
By Jeff Jacoby
Globe Columnist / July 25, 2010

*** begin quote ***

When the Bay State Banner, Boston’s only black-owned newspaper, was on the verge of shutting down last July, Mayor Thomas Menino kept it alive with a loan of $200,000 in public funds. Did the Banner’s gratitude to the mayor affect its autonomy? In April the paper had thundered, “No self-respecting African American can vote for Menino if he chooses to run again’’ — yet in September it made no endorsement in the mayoral primary. By January, it was flattering Menino for his pursuit of “innovative ideas’’ and hailing him as Boston’s “most productive’’ mayor ever. The Banner’s publisher insisted that the loan had not affected his editorial stance, but not everyone was convinced. When it comes to Menino, blogged Colman Herman for MassINC, “the Bay State Banner . . . has turned from watchdog to lapdog.’’

*** end quote ***

He who has the gold makes the rules!

The First Amendment was for “watchdogs”; not lapdogs.

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POLITICAL: Too many different Gooferments

Monday, August 23, 2010

http://www.impactlab.net/2010/08/19/a-nation-of-90000-governments-maximizing-our-own-failure-points/

August 19th, 2010 at 8:23 am

A Nation of 90,000 Governments – Maximizing Our Own Failure Points

*** begin quote ***

Thomas Frey: The total number of governmental bodies in the U.S. is approaching a staggering number – 90,000. During normal economic times there is plenty of money to go around, but now every city, state, county, parish, township and special taxing district is competing for the same tax dollars that the federal government is.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like this fellow has hit the nail on the head.

I’d suggest localization.

Only the lowest level of government should be able make “people” impacting laws or collect taxes. Let the State regulate the locals. Let the Fed regulate the States.

And, they will spend so much time fighting with each other they won’t have time to bother us.

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POLITICAL: Troops out of Iraq?? Completely!

Friday, August 20, 2010

On Aug 20, 2010, at 9:29 AM, XXXXXXXXX wrote:

*** begin quote ***

Isn’t this like the “Mission Accomplished” banner? ‘We no longer have combat troops in Iraq’….but….there are still 50,000 there. And I have a crisp $100 bill that says they have guns on them!

*** end quote ***

If they don’t, then they are victims.

How dumb does BHO44 and his media think we are?

Is this like Germany? We’re going to have troops there for eternity.

Argh!

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