Do ya think the stories about the US Government (NSA) reading the e-mails of foreign governments is
related to the fiasco of Obamacare and its rollout? Are the stories fodder for
the mainstream media to focus attention in the nightly news away from Obamacare
and the disaster it is? My intuition and suspicious Scorpio nature says YES!
OPINIONS ON THIS BLOG ARE PROTECTED BY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. 'That Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and consult for their common good, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.'' The author was the 14th Ohio Congressional District public policy spokesman of President Reagan's official grassroots lobbying organization during his Presidency.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Friday, October 04, 2013
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Something worth sharing - Michael Connelly ret. Constitutional Attorney
Something worth sharing.
The Truth About the Health
Care Bills - Michael Connelly, Ret. Constitutional Attorney
Well, I have done it! I have read the entire text of proposed House Bill 3200: The Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009. I studied it with particular emphasis from my area of expertise, constitutional law. I was frankly concerned that parts of the proposed law that were being discussed might be unconstitutional.
What I found was far worse than what I had heard or expected.
To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.
The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out of business,and put everyone into a government run system. All decisions about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats, and most of them will not be health care professionals. Hospital admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical devices will be strictly controlled by the government.
However, as scary as all of that is, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred,or even been contemplated. If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.
The first thing to go will be the masterfully crafted balance of power between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government. The Congress will be transferring to the Obama Administration authority in a number of different areas over the lives of the American people, and the businesses they own.
The irony is that the Congress doesn't have any authority to legislate in most of those areas to begin with! I defy anyone to read the text of the U.S. Constitution and find any authority granted to the members of Congress to regulate health care.
This legislation also provides for access, by the appointees of the Obama administration, of all of your personal healthcare a direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution, information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures. You can also forget about the right to privacy. That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3rd and 4th Amendments may provide.
If you decide not to have healthcare insurance, or if you have private insurance that is not deemed acceptable to the Health Choices Administrator appointed by Obama, there will be a tax imposed on you. It is called a tax instead of a fine because of the intent to avoid application of the due process clause of the 5th Amendment. However , that doesn't work because since there is nothing in the law that allows you to contest or appeal the imposition of the tax, it is definitely depriving someone of property without the due process of law.
So, there are three of those pesky amendments that the far left hate so much, out the original ten in the Bill of Rights, that are effectively nullified by this law. It doesn't stop there though.
The 9th Amendment that provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;
The 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.
I could write many more pages about this legislation, but I think you get the idea. This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights. Article 6 of
the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to "be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution." If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it, without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway, I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.
For those who might doubt the nature of this threat, I suggest they consult the source, the U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us.
Michael Connelly
Retired attorney,
Constitutional Law Instructor
Well, I have done it! I have read the entire text of proposed House Bill 3200: The Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009. I studied it with particular emphasis from my area of expertise, constitutional law. I was frankly concerned that parts of the proposed law that were being discussed might be unconstitutional.
What I found was far worse than what I had heard or expected.
To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.
The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out of business,and put everyone into a government run system. All decisions about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats, and most of them will not be health care professionals. Hospital admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical devices will be strictly controlled by the government.
However, as scary as all of that is, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred,or even been contemplated. If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.
The first thing to go will be the masterfully crafted balance of power between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government. The Congress will be transferring to the Obama Administration authority in a number of different areas over the lives of the American people, and the businesses they own.
The irony is that the Congress doesn't have any authority to legislate in most of those areas to begin with! I defy anyone to read the text of the U.S. Constitution and find any authority granted to the members of Congress to regulate health care.
This legislation also provides for access, by the appointees of the Obama administration, of all of your personal healthcare a direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution, information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures. You can also forget about the right to privacy. That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3rd and 4th Amendments may provide.
If you decide not to have healthcare insurance, or if you have private insurance that is not deemed acceptable to the Health Choices Administrator appointed by Obama, there will be a tax imposed on you. It is called a tax instead of a fine because of the intent to avoid application of the due process clause of the 5th Amendment. However , that doesn't work because since there is nothing in the law that allows you to contest or appeal the imposition of the tax, it is definitely depriving someone of property without the due process of law.
So, there are three of those pesky amendments that the far left hate so much, out the original ten in the Bill of Rights, that are effectively nullified by this law. It doesn't stop there though.
The 9th Amendment that provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;
The 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.
I could write many more pages about this legislation, but I think you get the idea. This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights. Article 6 of
the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to "be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution." If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it, without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway, I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.
For those who might doubt the nature of this threat, I suggest they consult the source, the U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us.
Michael Connelly
Retired attorney,
Constitutional Law Instructor
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
"Americans" involved in Kenyan Mall Terror?
Northfield. American media news reports are attributing some of the Kenyan mall terrorists as being "Americans." Let's be clear here, I HAVE TO PRESUME they're Somalii-Americans. Perhaps they've even obtained American citizenship but they are HERE folks. Their mission? To Kill Christians and Jews.
I'd like to be sayiing "That's All Folks" but instead I'm saying "More to Come Folks."
The solution? A collective and coordinated International coalition to stamp them out wherever they are. That's what the United Nation was supposed to be about. Unfortunately they've become an anti-American and politicized organization that promotes the agenda of the Left instead of promoting doing what's right.
As an alumnus of NATO, we had pre-positioned equipment in Europe and elsewhere for rapid response to situations that demanded it. The same principle should be applied to just such an International response team to terrorism.
I'd like to be sayiing "That's All Folks" but instead I'm saying "More to Come Folks."
The solution? A collective and coordinated International coalition to stamp them out wherever they are. That's what the United Nation was supposed to be about. Unfortunately they've become an anti-American and politicized organization that promotes the agenda of the Left instead of promoting doing what's right.
As an alumnus of NATO, we had pre-positioned equipment in Europe and elsewhere for rapid response to situations that demanded it. The same principle should be applied to just such an International response team to terrorism.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
WHO'S THE WINNER, THE PRESIDENT OR THE PEOPLE?
Northfield. After watching President Obama speak last
night on television regarding Syria, the focus from ALL the networks is about the President.
I see matters as being about we, the people. It was also the FIRST time I’ve heard
him begin any address with “My Fellow Americans.”
Our voice
APPEARS to have been listened to and the President APPEARS to have changed
course, opting instead to see what evolves with the disposition of Syria’s
alleged chemical weapon stock. Network coverage is playing this as if the President is the loser here and Russia is the winner, either way. Once again, through Sullivan's eye, We the people, appear to be the winners.
On another
note, the 2nd annual World Happiness Report this week informs
us that nations in northern Europe are the happiest in the world. Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands
and Sweden are named. I wonder why? Are they all wealthy beyond description due
to whatever – oil, banking, staying out of political entanglements?My point is that,
for the most part, we never hear anything about them unless a maniac kills
scores of school children or there’s a political assassination.
Thus far, I repeat, the American people are the victors in the Syrian situation. That is, of course, if the President doesn’t initiate war against Syria and authorize the use of military force against Syria. That, my fellow Americans, is another can of worms.
I’d like to
see the U.S. join those northern European nations that are happy with
themselves. As of this writing the American people have won this Syrian
situation by virtue of our voice. It remains to be seen, however, if our voice
will continue to have power over misguided politicians.
The ‘spin’ is
on.
Monday, September 09, 2013
THE INTERNET AND CONTROL OVER IT aka THOUGHT CONTROL
CONTROL
OF THE INTERNET AND THOUGHT CONTROL
by
JC
Sullivan
Every
so often I read about “Experts” saying more must be done to get people online.
I have to ask why? Oh sure, a world where EVERYBODY is connected is ideal. But
then I always have to ask, WHO PAYS?
Some
have the gift of sight and write about the dangers of government intrusion into
the Internet! How wonderful, they say, it would be if we all had free
Internet.
There
is definitely a move for communities to have “free” Internet for residents.
Crack the door open now…..kick it open later…..just like Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Plain Dealer columnist Kevin O'Brien wrote about the same topic. He didn’t
mention government thought control. The blogosphere is where folks get
alternate opinion.
Pop thought has been force-fed to we, the people, formed by major publications and broadcast media. Eliminate sources of free thought and you eliminate expression of free thought. Just like Mullahs worldwide.
The majority of people in our nation don’t know about Radio Free Europe and the “jamming” of the radio waves by Communist governments. People who thought freely were arrested and sent to concentration camps, gulags, or just disappeared. Just like Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany.
Is our nation going to have to go through the same hoops? I have great hope that the ongoing revolution in America, being expressed by our opposition to involvement in Syria's Civil War, will extend through the next election cycle.
Pop thought has been force-fed to we, the people, formed by major publications and broadcast media. Eliminate sources of free thought and you eliminate expression of free thought. Just like Mullahs worldwide.
The majority of people in our nation don’t know about Radio Free Europe and the “jamming” of the radio waves by Communist governments. People who thought freely were arrested and sent to concentration camps, gulags, or just disappeared. Just like Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany.
Is our nation going to have to go through the same hoops? I have great hope that the ongoing revolution in America, being expressed by our opposition to involvement in Syria's Civil War, will extend through the next election cycle.
Before
both WWI and WWII the majority of the American people opposed our involvement
in the wars and politics of Europe. Charles A. Lindbergh, an American hero, was
vilified for his opposition to involvement. Unfortunately, the 1941 bombing of
Pearl Harbor by the Japanese military changed all that.
I'd
like to be singing "Here Comes Santa Claus" at this Christmastide,
2013. Instead I will be singing "Here Comes Uncle Sam". Ole St. Nick
used to be jolly. But I, like so many other Americans, no longer trust
him....we've seen too much.
And
when he controls what can be said on the Internet and what can’t be said he will
have achieved total thought control over we, the people. Just like Mullahs.
The Strength of America is Our People
Because the opinion of the MAJORITY of the American people do NOT want to be involved in Syria's Civil War, we are being portrayed as being weak. I opine it is a sign of our STRENGTH as a nation.
Just prior to both WWI and WWII, the majority of Americans did NOT want to be involved in Europe's politics and wars. Unfortunately for us, Pearl Harbor changed all that. Imagine an America today that had the benefit of the sons and daughters of those men and women who lost their lives in the war. How our nation would be enriched.
Choose not...to allow your mind to be influenced by neither the Right or the Left. Choose to be an AMERICAN at this time and allow the strength of our people to, once again, dominate world thinking.
Just prior to both WWI and WWII, the majority of Americans did NOT want to be involved in Europe's politics and wars. Unfortunately for us, Pearl Harbor changed all that. Imagine an America today that had the benefit of the sons and daughters of those men and women who lost their lives in the war. How our nation would be enriched.
Choose not...to allow your mind to be influenced by neither the Right or the Left. Choose to be an AMERICAN at this time and allow the strength of our people to, once again, dominate world thinking.
SYIRA - PART TWO. Author is Special Forces Captain U.S. Army (Ret.) David J. Pristash
SYRIA - PART TWO
In Sun Tzu’s Art of War, it is made
very clear that knowledge of the enemy’s capabilities, and of your own
capabilities, is critical to winning any war; and war is much more a game of
chess than that of a boxing match.
The current situation in Syria is to a large
degree the result of the policies instituted by Obama when he first took office
in 2009 and went on his world apology tour that began in Egypt. That was quickly
followed by policies of getting us out of Iraq and Afghanistan as quickly as
possible; which are now complete in Iraq and in the final stages in
Afghanistan.
Then we ignored the Green revolution in Iran and the
support of the Arab spring in North Africa.
The message of all these actions, or inactions, is very clear and that
is --- the United States is in support of removing the strong men ruling any of
the Islamic countries in favor of those with strong ties to their religion, especially the Muslim Brotherhood.
Russia and Putin have a somewhat
different view of the world as they have probably had more citizens killed by
the Islamic fanatics than we have in Chechnya and the various southern
boarder areas they have with the Muslims.
Putin would like to see a continuation of the old system of Strong men
ruling these countries since their desire for power was greater than their
religious faith and that kept some of the heat off the Russians. Syria was a win-win for them since, besides
preventing the emergence of a Caliphate, it was a jab at the United States since
it was Obama’s policies that started all this change to begin with.
To be blunt, the Russian policy makes more sense than the United States policy mainly because
in the United States the political leadership of both parties has been
infiltrated by the Muslim Brotherhood and they have been able to manipulate
Washington into doing their bidding, which is not to our betterment.
Making this situation even worse
we have the entire leadership of this administration being composed of
academics and political neophytes with no understanding of power and the use of
power. They only know what the books say is supposed to work but few have ever
actually had to do anything, including the current president, prior to taking
office.
After five years it’s very clear
that Obama’s team has no clue as to what is really going on anywhere as they
are solely focused on yesterday’s polls and how to keep their base of power
satisfied so they can complete the transformation of the country into the
utopian society that they envision. The
rest of the world, is now seeing that the White House is empty and there is no
coherent strategy so they are taking advantage of the situation where they can.
This current debacle started when, in late August 2012, made his comments on the use of chemical weapons. Then, a month later at the UN, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed a bomb with a fuse
and a red line and said Iran was getting to the point that
something would have to be done. Although these comments were not technically
related, the media jumped on the Red Line and soon it was the policy of the
administration in both Iran and Syria. Neither leader denied this so it
became de facto policy. And to be fair, this was being pushed as something the UN should do since neither leader
wanted to do this alone.
But this is international politics
not lawn tennis with multiple power centers using Machiavelli’s The Prince, not Robert’s Rules of Order, as the logic in their dealings with other rulers.
And therein lays the “Rub” since Obama got to his position without ever having
done anything and all those he is dealing with become leaders in their countries because they were good at what they do, not just looking good. Obama and his academic and Hollywood friends
are being played by leaders that actually know what they are doing and that is
why this situation is so dangerous.
The logic for doing something or
not doing something is being based on having “normal” political leaders in
power in the major power centers, i.e. the United States, Russia, China, Great
Briton and Germany. However, Obama is
not up to the task of the office he occupies and that could lead to disaster
beyond mere reputation. For example;
Putin gets Assad to set up a hospital with demolition charges and after the
United States sends cruse missiles into hit their targets the Syrians gather up
the missile pieces and takes them to the hospital (a women’s or children’s
hospital would be best), and then they blow the hospital up during a missile
strike and throw the US cruise missile pieces from the previous strike in the
ruble. Then they go in and find the
pieces and blame the United States and Obama for what happened. What do we do if this or something like this
is done?
The logic for doing something is
strong but not compelling, especially since the UN is still evaluating the
evidence. What Obama should have done right after this use of chemicals
occurred was to immediately go to the UN and demand they do something. Then, if
they didn’t, well it was on them. And he still had an option to do something but
the extra time would have allowed us to at least have a better idea of what
actually happened. As it is, it’s
basically out of control and that means the outcome is not predictable.
Sara Palin, Rand Paul and Ted
Cruze have it right. This is not in our
national interest; it is a world problem (UN) and not ours to get involved. Push
the UN, not our Congress. Ted Cruze also
made a very good point; let’s say we get rid of Assad and the rebels get in. What do we do if the Al Qaida or Iranian factions get control of some of the
Chemical weapons that Assad has?
David J. Pristash
BBA, EMBA, Graduate GE management program,
Captain US
ARMY (Retired), Seven issued patents’
Member Beta Gamma
Sigma
Brecksville Ohio 44141
Email David.Pristash@gmail.com
Sunday, September 08, 2013
RUSSIA AND CHINA SENDING WARSHIPS TO SYRIA
Neither Russia nor China want to see the nations of this region become Radical Islamist, unlike POTUS. What we ALL should be thinking about is their utter defeat. They have destroyed Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria et al...and now they're working on Syria. Their ultimate goal? The control of the wealth of the oil states, not to mention the control of the minds of those living there.
Friday, September 06, 2013
SYRIAN MIDDLE CLASS FLEEING RADICAL ISLAMIST TERROR
But of course...the radical Islamists, oh scuzza me, rebels, who are attempting to take over Syria, are forcing those who can get out to flee for their lives. While Assad is not a kindly king he is certainly one who can return Syria to relative security. POTUS knows his side is losing and that's why he's pushing our involvement.
$100 million in $100.00 bills - gone!
News reports this week said that $100,000,000.00 in $100.00 dollar bills allegedly had to be destroyed this week due to a "printing error." Do you believe 'em? I don't.
The corruption and lying of this administration is rampant. I just wonder who got the moola. The Islamist "rebels" in Syria? The Democratic Left who support him?
Just wondering...
The corruption and lying of this administration is rampant. I just wonder who got the moola. The Islamist "rebels" in Syria? The Democratic Left who support him?
Just wondering...
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
SYRIA - America's Attempt to Install Radical Muslims in Power
Northfield. Our involvement in Syria is ludricous. Let's get one thing straight. Bashar Assad is a dictator. The question must be asked - has he kept order in his nation prior to the attempt by radical islamists to take over? Another thing - his government is a client of Russia.
Did his government use Sarin gas on civilians? I don't believe they have. WHAT would he gain by doing so? I believe radical Islamists would go to any length to achieve their end. And just what is there end?
U.S. President Obama is attempting to change the American economy to a Socialist state - there's no doubt about it. He has also emasculated the U.S. military. So, what is the agenda of the Left regarding Syria? May I opine that it is because they want to install a radical Islamist government?
We're hearing the question - Where is this going to go? Interesting that the Democrats are circling the wagons to protect the President. It's Politics First. Never mind that 59% of the American people do NOT support our involvement in the war there. Democrats would not support a Republican President in this matter. They are speaking with forked tongues.
Let's ask another question - what happens if we attack Syria and Iran DOES attack Israel? What then?
Is it possible that we bomb Syria and Iran does nothing? Of course it is. Yet I've heard nothing from the White House and Congress address the issue.
The best course for us to follow is to stay the hell out and quit the back door supply line to our enemies.
Saudi Arabia has said they will support Syria with any financial support they need, (read $$). My guess is that we're going to get involved and we will see another radical government, just like Iran, running Syria.
Did his government use Sarin gas on civilians? I don't believe they have. WHAT would he gain by doing so? I believe radical Islamists would go to any length to achieve their end. And just what is there end?
U.S. President Obama is attempting to change the American economy to a Socialist state - there's no doubt about it. He has also emasculated the U.S. military. So, what is the agenda of the Left regarding Syria? May I opine that it is because they want to install a radical Islamist government?
We're hearing the question - Where is this going to go? Interesting that the Democrats are circling the wagons to protect the President. It's Politics First. Never mind that 59% of the American people do NOT support our involvement in the war there. Democrats would not support a Republican President in this matter. They are speaking with forked tongues.
Let's ask another question - what happens if we attack Syria and Iran DOES attack Israel? What then?
Is it possible that we bomb Syria and Iran does nothing? Of course it is. Yet I've heard nothing from the White House and Congress address the issue.
The best course for us to follow is to stay the hell out and quit the back door supply line to our enemies.
Saudi Arabia has said they will support Syria with any financial support they need, (read $$). My guess is that we're going to get involved and we will see another radical government, just like Iran, running Syria.
Thursday, August 08, 2013
"The Point of the Spear"
Northfield. President Obama appointees Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Defense
and James Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are doing
their part to weaken America. In a military.com news story “Hagel Forecasts Massive Cuts to
Troop Numbers.” Following orders, they propose to cut the Army “to
380,000 troops, the Marines Corps to 150,000. The Navy would lose three
carriers, and the Air Force would begin mothballing its B-52 bomber fleet…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIRHrJkCZG8
All this does not bode well for American strength in the
eyes of our allies. In what will then remain of the free world we can expect
abandonment by former allies. They will then succumb to the forces of our
enemies in the non-free world.
In the words of our late President John F. Kennedy, “We have
the strongest peacetime Army in the history of our country and one which can
meet its responsibilities all around the globe. To make it more mobile; to
increase its training and competence; to make it more responsive; to make it better
able to fulfill its mission. These are the assignments of the Army. And I
believe that a strong Army to be a strong America.
We must continue to meet our responsibilities. We must
continue to have a strong country, a strong alliance and a strong free world.
And to do that we need a strong Army, which is the point of the spear.”
Do you think that, today, the U.S. Army and supporting units could accomplish what is demonstrated on the youtube video link below?
Saturday, August 03, 2013
The Design Plan of American Destruction
Detroit's
'One Party' State Killed It
Thursday,
August 1, 2013 11:04 AM
By: George
Will
In 1860, an
uneasy Charles Darwin confided in a letter to a friend: "I had no
intention to write atheistically" but "I cannot persuade myself that
a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae
with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of
caterpillars."
What appalled
him had fascinated entomologist William Kirby (1759-1850): The ichneumon insect
inserts an egg in a caterpillar, and the larva hatched from the egg, he said,
"gnaws the inside of the caterpillar, and though at last it has devoured
almost every part of it except the skin and intestines, carefully all this time
avoids injuring the vital organs, as if aware that its own existence
depends on that of the insect on which it preys!"
Government
employees' unions living parasitically on Detroit have been less aware than
ichneumon larvae. About them, and their collaborators in the political class,
the question is: What. Were. They. Thinking? Well, how did Bernie Madoff or the
Enron executives convince themselves their houses of cards would never
collapse?
Here, where
cattle could graze in vast swaths of this depopulated city, democracy ratified
a double delusion: Magic would rescue the city (consult the Bible, the bit
about the multiplication of the loaves and fishes), or Washington would deem
Detroit, as it recently did some banks and two of the three Detroit-based
automobile companies, "too big to fail."
But Detroit
failed long ago. And not even Washington, whose recklessness is almost
limitless, is oblivious to the minefield of moral hazard it would stride into
if it rescued this city and, then inevitably, others that are buckling beneath
the weight of their cumulative follies. It is axiomatic: When there is no
penalty for failure, failures proliferate.
This
bedraggled city's decay poses no theological conundrum of the sort that
troubled Darwin, but it does pose worrisome questions about the viability of
democracy in jurisdictions where big government and its unionized employees
collaborate in pillaging taxpayers. Self-government has failed in what once was
America's fourth-largest city and now is smaller than Charlotte, N.C.
Detroit,
which boomed during World War II when industrial America was "the arsenal
of democracy," died of democracy. Today, among the exculpatory alibis
invoked to deflect blame from the political class and the docile voters who
empowered it, is the myth that Detroit is simply a victim of
"de-industrialization."
In 1950, however, Detroit and Chicago were comparable — except Detroit was probably wealthier, as measured by per capita income. Chicago, too, lost manufacturing jobs, to the American South, to south of the border, to South Korea and elsewhere. But Chicago discerned the future and diversified. It is grimly ironic that Chicago's iconic street is Michigan Avenue.
In 1950, however, Detroit and Chicago were comparable — except Detroit was probably wealthier, as measured by per capita income. Chicago, too, lost manufacturing jobs, to the American South, to south of the border, to South Korea and elsewhere. But Chicago discerned the future and diversified. It is grimly ironic that Chicago's iconic street is Michigan Avenue.
Detroit's
population, which is 62 percent smaller than in 1950, has contracted less than
the United Auto Workers membership, which was more than 1 million in 1950, and
now is around 390,000. Auto industry executives, who often were invertebrate
mediocrities, continually bought labor peace by mortgaging their companies'
futures in surrenders to union demands.
Then city
officials gave their employees — who have 47 unions, including one for crossing
guards — pay scales comparable to those of autoworkers. Thus did private-sector
decadence drive public-sector dysfunction — government negotiating with
government-employees' unions that are government organized as an interest group
to lobby itself to do what it wants to do: Grow.
Steven
Rattner, who administered the bailout of part of the Detroit-based portion of
America's automobile industry, says "apart from voting in elections, the
700,000 remaining residents of the Motor City are no more responsible for
Detroit's problems than were the victims of Hurricane Sandy for theirs."
Congress, he says, should bail out Detroit because "America is just as
much about aiding those less fortunate as it is about personal
responsibility."
There you
have today's liberalism: Human agency, hence responsibility, is denied. Apart
from the pesky matter of "voting in elections" — apart from decades
of voting to empower incompetents, scoundrels, and criminals, and to mandate
unionized rapacity — no one is responsible for anything. Popular sovereignty is
a chimera because impersonal forces akin to hurricanes are sovereign.
The
restoration of America's vitality depends on, among many other things, avoiding
the bottomless sinkhole that would be created by the federal government
rescuing one-party cities, and one-party states such as Illinois, from the
consequences of unchecked power. Those consequences of such power —
incompetence, magical thinking, cynicism, and sometimes criminality — are
written in Detroit's ruins.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
How a Miami School Crime Cover-Up Policy Led to Trayvon Martin’s Death
Reporters note. For anyone who might think that Trayvon
Martin was not responsible for his own demise - read this. I personally
think that Zimmerman got a fair trail and Martin got what he ultimately
deserved.
The Spectacle Blog
How a Miami School Crime Cover-Up
Policy Led to Trayvon Martin’s Death
The
February 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martion might never have
happened if school officials in Miami-Dade County had not instituted an
unofficial policy of treating crimes as school disciplinary infractions. Revelations that emerged from an
internal affairs investigation explain why Martin was not
arrested when caught at school with stolen jewelry in October 2011 or with
marijuana in February 2012. Instead, the teenager was suspended from school,
the last time just days before he was shot dead by George Zimmerman.
Trayvon
Martin was not from Sanford, the town north of Orlando where he was shot in
2012 and where a jury acquitted Zimmerman of murder charges Saturday.
Martin
was from Miami Gardens, more than 200 miles away, and had come to Sanford to
stay with his father’s girlfriend Brandy Green at her home in the townhouse
community where Zimmerman was in charge of the neighborhood watch. Trayvon was
staying with Green after he had been suspended for the second time in six
months from Krop High School in Miami-Dade County, where both his father, Tracy
Martin, and mother, Sybrina Fulton, lived.
Both of
Trayvon’s suspensions during his junior year at Krop High involved crimes that
could have led to his prosecution as a juvenile offender. However, Chief
Charles Hurley of the Miami-Dade School Police Department (MDSPD) in 2010 had
implemented a policy that reduced the number of criiminal reports, manipulating
statistics to create the appearance of a reduction in crime within the school
system. Less than two weeks before Martin’s death, the school system commended Chief Hurley for “decreasing
school-related juvenile delinquency by an impressive 60 percent for the last
six months of 2011.” What was actually happening was that crimes
were not being reported as crimes, but instead treated as disciplinary
infractions.
In
October 2011, after a video surveillance camera caught Martin writing graffiti
on a door, MDSPD Office Darryl Dunn searched Martin’s backpack, looking for the
marker he had used. Officer Dunn found 12 pieces of women’s jewelry and a man’s
watch, along with a flathead screwdriver the officer described as a “burglary
tool.”
The
jewelry and watch, which Martin claimed he had gotten from a friend he refused
to name, matched a description of items stolen during the October 2011 burglary
of a house on 204th Terrace, about a half-mile from the school. However,
because of Chief Hurley’s policy “to lower the arrest rates,” as one MDSPD
sergeant said in an internal investigation, the stolen jewelry was instead
listed as “found property” and was never reported to Miami-Dade Police who were
investigating the burglary. Similarly, in February 2012 when an MDSPD officer
caught Martin with a small plastic bag containing marijuana residue, as well as
a marijuana pipe, this was not treated as a crime, and instead Martin was
suspended from school.
Either of
those incidents could have put Trayvon Martin into the custody of the juvenile
justice system. However, because of Chief Hurley’s attempt to reduce the school
crime statistics — according to sworn testimony,
officers were “basically told to lie and falsify” reports — Martin was never
arrested. And if he had been arrested, he might never have been in Sanford the
night of his fatal encounter with Zimmerman.
In fact,
the reason Zimmerman was patrolling the townhouse community the night of the
February 2012 shooting was that there had been a rash of burglaries in
the neighborhood, although there was no indication that
Trayvon Martin was involved in any of those crimes.
As for
Chief Hurley’s policy, it was the controversy over Martin’s death that
accidentally exposed it. In March 2012, the Miami
Herald reported on Martin’s troubled history
of disciplinary incidents at Krop High. Chief Hurley then
launched the internal affairs investigation in an attempt to find out who had
provided information to the reporter. During the course of that investigation,
MDSPD officers and supervisors described Chief Hurley’s policy of not reporting
crimes by students. Chief Hurley was subsequently accused of sexually harassing
two female subordinates. He resigned in February, about a
year after Trayvon Martin’s death.
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Saturday, July 13, 2013
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Yikes! The Russians have it right!
Putin’s Speech on Feb. 04, 2013
This is
one time our elected leaders should pay attention to the advice of Vladimir
Putin....how scary is that?
On February 4th, 2013, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, addressed the Duma, (Russian Parliament), and gave a speech about the tensions with minorities in Russia:
"In Russia live Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws.
If they prefer Sharia Law,
then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state law. Russia
does not need minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them
special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter
how loud they yell discrimination'.
We better learn from the suicides of
America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The
Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or
the primitive ways of most minorities. When this honorable legislative body
thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest
first, observing that the minorities are not Russians.
The politicians in the Duma gave Putin a
five minute standing ovation.
The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
You knew they wouldn't go without a fight. In all probabilty we will notice a cessation of hostilities in the region while their Muslim radical fighters move into Egypt at will.
Psychic that I am, I see the major cities of Egypt being destroyed by war and the deaths of thousands. Unfortunately, like the Third Reich, the Muslim Brotherhood would rather see the nation and thousands killed in the name of Allah. Hitler could've been snubbed out had England not tried the appeasement route.
The only way to snuff these guys out is to, well, snuff 'em out.
Psychic that I am, I see the major cities of Egypt being destroyed by war and the deaths of thousands. Unfortunately, like the Third Reich, the Muslim Brotherhood would rather see the nation and thousands killed in the name of Allah. Hitler could've been snubbed out had England not tried the appeasement route.
The only way to snuff these guys out is to, well, snuff 'em out.
Moving to Oklahoma - author unknown
Moving to Oklahoma
MAY NOT ALL BE AS IT SEEMS, BUT I LIKE THE PLAN.
Oklahoma may be an option for relocation..... It is far more American than the rest of America .....
OKLAHOMA !
Oklahoma is the only state that Obama did not win even one county in
the last election...
While everyone is focusing on Arizona's new law, look what Oklahoma
been doing!!!!
An update from Oklahoma :
Oklahoma law passed, 37 to 9 an amendment to place the Ten Commandments on the front entrance to the state capitol. The feds in D.C., along with the ACLU, said it would be a mistake. Hey, this is a conservative state based on Christian values...! HB 1330
Guess what.......... Oklahoma did it anyway.
Oklahoma recently passed a law in the state to incarcerate all illegal immigrants, and ship them back to where they came from unless they want to get a green card and become an American citizen. They all scattered. HB 1804. This was against the advice of the Federal Government, and the ACLU, they said it would be a mistake.
Guess what.......... Oklahoma did it anyway.
Recently we passed a law to include DNA samples from any and all illegal's to the Oklahoma database, for criminal investigative purposes. Pelosi said it was unconstitutional SB 1102
Guess what......... Oklahoma did it anyway.
Several weeks ago, we passed a law, declaring Oklahoma a Sovereign state, not under the Federal Government directives. Joining Texas, Montana and Utah as the only states to do so.
More states are likely to follow: Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Carolina's, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, West Virginia, Mississippi and Florida. Save your confederate money, it appears the South is about to rise up once again. HJR 1003
The federal Government has made bold steps to take away our guns. Oklahoma , a week ago, passed a law confirming people in this state have the right to bear arms and transport them in their vehicles. I'm sure that was a setback for the criminals. The Liberals didn't like it -- But..... Guess what........... Oklahoma did it anyway.
Just this month, the state has voted and passed a law that ALL drivers' license exams will be printed in English, and only English, and no other language. They have been called racist for doing this, but the fact is that ALL of the road signs are in English only. If you want to drive in Oklahoma , you must read and write English. Really simple.
By the way, Progressives don't like any of this either.
Guess what...who cares... Oklahoma is doing it anyway.
"Sending in their people..."
Northfield. The abortion fight in Texas has been described as the forces of pro-abortionists and anti-abortionists. Throw in pro-choice folks too.
I heard a news reporter calling it a time when the pro-abortion forces will be sending in their own people. I get the feeling that Florida is readying for the same. If George Zimmerman is acquited of 2nd degree murder of Trayvon Martin will blacks there "riot?" Or will it be a case of having sent in "their own people?"
The Left in this nation has the power and financial resources to gather their own and send them wherever they want. And its generally in front of cameras.
If Zimmerman is acquitted by a jury, and blacks riot, I cannot help but think I can't trust blacks. And that, unfortunately, means not voting for any of them.
I heard a news reporter calling it a time when the pro-abortion forces will be sending in their own people. I get the feeling that Florida is readying for the same. If George Zimmerman is acquited of 2nd degree murder of Trayvon Martin will blacks there "riot?" Or will it be a case of having sent in "their own people?"
The Left in this nation has the power and financial resources to gather their own and send them wherever they want. And its generally in front of cameras.
If Zimmerman is acquitted by a jury, and blacks riot, I cannot help but think I can't trust blacks. And that, unfortunately, means not voting for any of them.
Thursday, July 04, 2013
Egypt - Is it real?
Northfield. It appears that moderate muslims are making their voice heard and throwing out the islamist thugs of the so-called "Muslim Brotherhood." I hope I'm right and the good people of the nation are taking back power. If it's true then it will, hopefully, be an inspiration to other Muslim moderates throughout that part of the world. As I see it, it's not an anti-muslim thing but the voice of the good people there.
I hope I'm right.
I hope I'm right.
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
Anybody listening?
Author unknown
California, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, New York and Maine now have More People on Welfare than they do
Employed!
Last month, the Senate Budget Committee reported that in fiscal
year 2012, between food stamps, housing support, child care, Medicaid and
other benefits, the average U.S. Household below the poverty line received
$168.00 a day in government support. What's the problem with that much
support? Well, the median household income in America is just over
$50,000,which averages out to $137.13 a day. To put it another way, being on welfare now
pays the equivalent of $30.00 an hour for a 40-hour week, while the average
job pays $20.00 an hour.
Furthermore:
There are actually two messages here. The first is very
interesting, but the second is absolutely astounding - and
explains a lot.
A
recent "Investor's Business Daily" article provided very
interesting statistics from a survey by the United Nations
International
Health Organization.
Percentage of men and women who survived a cancer five years
after diagnosis:
U.S.
65%
England
46%
Canada
42%
Percentage
of patients diagnosed with diabetes who received
treatment within six months:
U.S.
93%
England
15%
Canada
43%
Percentage
of seniors needing hip replacement who received it
within six months:
U.S.
90%
England
15%
Canada
43%
Percentage referred to a medical specialist who see one within
one month:
U.S.
77%
England
40%
Canada
43%
Number of MRI scanners (a prime diagnostic tool) per million
people:
U.S.
71
England
14
Canada
18
Percentage of seniors (65+), with low income, who say they are
in "excellent health":
U.S.
12%
England
2%
Canada
6%
And now for the last statistic:
National Health Insurance?
U.S.
NO
England YES
Canada
YES
Check this last set of statistics!!
The percentage of each past president's cabinet who had worked
in the private business sector prior to their appointment to the
cabinet.
You know what the private business sector is; a real-life
business, not a
government job. Here are the percentages.
T. Roosevelt.................... 38%
Taft................................ 40%
Wilson ........................... 52%
Harding........................... 49%
Coolidge......................... 48%
Hoover............................ 42%
F. Roosevelt..................... 50%
Truman........................... 50%
Eisenhower................ .... 57%
Kennedy......................... 30%
Johnson.......................... 47%
Nixon.............................. 53%
Ford................................ 42%
Carter............................. 32%
Reagan............................ 56%
GH Bush.......................... 51%
Clinton .......................... 39%
GW Bush........................ 55%
Obama............................. 8%
This helps to explain the incompetence of this administration:
only 8% of them have ever worked in private business!
That's right! Only eight percent---the least, by far, of the
last 19 presidents! And these people are trying to tell
our big
corporations how to run their business?
How can the president of a major nation and society, the one
with the most successful economic system in world history,
stand and talk
about business when he's never worked for one? Or about
jobs when he has
never really had one? And when it's the same for 92% of
his senior staff
and closest advisers? They've spent most of their time
in academia,
government and/or non-profit jobs or as "community
organizers."
They should have been in an employment line.
Conclusion? We need to make the U.S. a place where businesses can MAKE A PROFIT and employ people. We have to stop the bleed of capital, i.e. jobs, from the U.S. to overseas destinations. In other words, change the current government from one of giving our money away to keeping our money and making investment in America a profitable venture.
"What's in your wallet?"
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