Tag Archives: 17th amendment

The Basic Necessities

Posted on by

Every human on this planet has the same basic needs food, clothing and shelter. Food including water gives life. Clothing gives protection from the environment. Shelter gives safety and security. These three things are all that is needed, everything past these are comforts.

This post is not about the World, it is about America and Americans. It has been proven time and time again that you can not help others, until you first help yourself. It has also been proven that it is foolish to help those that will not help themselves. It has also been proven that attempting to help those who will not help themselves can destroy the one attempting to help others. It has also been proven that the wrong kind of help causes more harm than good.

Times have changed as has the perception of what is a necessity. If an 85 inch flat screen is a necessity, remove one, any one of the three and put the flat screen in its place and try to live. The same can be said of anything, because nothing can replace the basic three. If food is given up starvation is the result. If clothing is given up you have no protection from the environment(elements). If shelter is given up you have no safety or security.

Times may have changed the perception, but no amount of time can change the reality.

Each and every American that is of sound body and mind should be responsible enough to provide themselves and their families with the basic necessities of life. Sadly, this is not the case. Many in America have turned to the government to provide their basic necessities. Some in America have even demanded luxuries from the government and received them through government social welfare programs. Bad behavior, bad decisions and bad choices and in some cases down-right laziness have led to countless government assistance programs.

Government despises competition wants none, not in any area. There was a time before progressive liberalism when a person fell on hard times the communities, neighbors, the churches and even downright big-hearted people offered those in need a hand-up. Government through progressive liberalism does not offer a hand-up, it instead gives hand-outs. There are still places and organizations that offer a hand-up, but their activities are severely limited by government. As I said government despises competition and is completely in charge of hand-outs. It is a complete shame that those offering a hand-up need government approval. The difference between a hand-up and a hand-out is this. A hand-up is given freely and is done to help one get back on ones own feet. A hand-out is given because it was taken from another, and is given with no expectation of one getting back on ones own feet. Hand-outs only serve to keep one down, to insure this some hand-outs are more than the person could do for themselves, removing the incentive to even get up on ones own feet.

The government despises competition on its part, but has provided competition to those receiving hand-outs. The competition for hand-outs has come most recently in the form of forgiving student loans, and the 5.1 million illegal immigrants who have received executive amnesty, which is not 5.1 million but more likely at least 12 million. The hand-out checks will need to be cut to provide for the new members of the hand-out rank and file. No, this will not happen, leaving one of three options 1. Take more from those who provide for themselves. 2. Cut money from a needed portion of government, like deeper military cuts. 3. Do both, this the most likely.

Government has nothing, produces nothing and makes nothing, but a mess of everything it sticks it long prying nose into. Government only has what it has because it takes from the responsible. Government sees itself as the modern day Robin Hood, taking from the rich to give to the poor. The story was never finished, if the story was finished the truth would have been revealed. The conclusion of that story would have been this, there is only so much to take. The only equality that will ever be achieved will be equality in poverty. The war on poverty that began so long ago has only increased the numbers in poverty. There are now more people of sound mind and body receiving government assistance than at any time in history. Less and less citizens are capable of providing the basic necessities than ever before, at least the government tells them they are, and the government is more than willing to step up and help with a hand-out, never a hand-up.

Accept a hand-up when needed, reject hand-outs. Provide the basics for yourself, when you have the basics covered you can help others with a hand-up. The people are the solution the government is not. Get your life back, stand on your own feet.

Out with the Old, In with the New, Problem is that they are the Same

Posted on by

The 114th Congress will be no different from the 113th. Leadership positions and appointments to committees will be based on party loyalty. Adherence to party platforms and party loyalty are the key to success to politicians. If a congressional member is seen as a problem to the leadership or to the party they can forget high-profile committees and will find themselves safely tucked into corner. Where they remain unknown and obscure, until they come around to the leaderships and parties way of thinking. Back-rooms are where committee memberships and leadership positions are assigned after an understanding is reached. The leadership protects itself from rivalry and in-fighting by insuring the minor leaders will not stray. Arm-twisting and coercion, a sort of political blackmail. The outside will never be allowed inside.

Political corruption runs much deeper than just the politicians and their respective parties. Is it really the leadership that names who to the committees? What role does the political party have in committee appointments? The political parties control the politicians, but who or what controls the political parties? Political parties survive on money, donations. The donations to the political parties come from lobbyists, PACs, and special interest groups. The donors see their donations as investments and want to see a positive return on their investment, no positive return, no more investment. So, who really controls appointments to committees and leadership. With-out the appointment to the right committee the politician is never introduced to the right people. So, which politician will sell him or herself out to get on the right committee to meet the right people?

The Republicans were handed a huge victory in November, yet they acted as though they had lost. Rather than a continuing resolution to fund the government until February, they pushed through a massive 1.1 Trillion dollar omnibus bill to fully fund the government, except one obscure section of DHS, until the end of the fiscal year. There are only two reasons for this to happen. 1. You establishment Republicans could not trust that the new members of Congress would continue doing business as usual, they may cause a wave upsetting your apple cart. 2. The 113th Congress were all of the same party. Not to mention the fact that not only did the omnibus bill pass before the new Congress convened none of you bothered to read it, but you each made sure that your donors were amply rewarded.

I can do math, your vain attempt, in the House at passing the Keystone XL pipeline bill and sending it to the Senate hoping that it would pass and go forward to BHO was for what purpose. This was another back-room deal, but it back-fired and died in the Senate, missed by 1 vote. Now you will try again, even if it is a clean bill, which I doubt, BHO will veto it. You do not have enough votes to override a Veto, and you know it. In order for BHO not to veto you will have to give him a lot. This is more likely, you know the veto pen will come out on the pipeline, and the crying begins anew. When the republicans gained the house, nothing got done and more crying ensued. The republicans controlled the House but need the senate to get anything done. The veto by BHO will lead to more crying we need the White house too. This bull-shit crying began in 2010 and has not stopped, nor will it. Excuses will be given for why the Congress failed to do anything and BHO did everything either by executive order or memorandum. News for you, you had the House, the Senate and the White House at one time and nothing but spending occurred and the government grew then as it grows now.

In all actuality you have no desire to stop BHO, you have no desire to stop the amnesty by executive order and you have no desire to stop Obamacare. This is best illustrated by your passing the omnibus spending bill before the new Congress. Some of the new members may have been serious about their campaign promises, even if you were not. The fact that it passed without being read speaks volumes about your character and you ineptness. The speed at which it was done only serves to prove that you, the establishment republicans could not and can not trust the new members of Congress.

This is why you will not stop BHO. The establishment politicians have been patiently awaiting his arrival, it did not have to be BHO but one like him. You have been patiently waiting for things to come together. Some career politicians waited so long they died in office.

The three separate branches of government were never meant to work together, the original intent was to keep the others in check. The Congress was sent to work for the people and the states not to work with the president.

It is beginning to look like America may have hitched the wagon to the wrong team

Posted on by

I have said it before, I will say it again and I will keep saying it. America in general and the American People have no representation in Washington D.C. The only things that are Represented in Washington D.C. are, and they are in this order, The Political Parties, The Lobbyists, and The Special Interest Groups. The Candidate is not on the ballot, the Political Party is. This is easily proven by the order of name political party affiliation and the state, check for yourself. The political party is placed before the state, so just where do you think the constituents are in the pecking order. The constituents are dead last, if they make it even that far up the chain of giving a damn for a politician or their respective party. The politicians holding Constitutional Offices, now referred to as political office represents the party and the party platform and will vote accordingly, and along party lines. There are a few exceptions when it comes to voting along party lines, if there was not then the opposing candidate could say of the incumbent, you voted 100 percent of the time with the president. The political parties frown on politicians going against the party platform too many times, and may just primary the incumbent out in the next cycle.

There are those that say and claim that BHO was on the ballot, or a least his policies or agenda was, this past November. BHO himself even said it to be so. That alone should have been enough for anyone with any sense not to believe it, after all he would never tell anything that could be proven untrue now would be. He said it and the Main Stream Media and the Talking Heads ran with it. My ballot did not have BHO or his policies or agenda on it anywhere. This is how this lie gets started and perpetuates itself in every election, the opposing candidate usually says this, the incumbent voted with the president 90 whatever percent of the time, BHO even used it against his opponent in the his first election. Check the video archives and see for yourself. The only way possible for a person to vote nearly all the time with another is if they have the same agenda, same beliefs, same morals, think alike or belong to the same political party. It has been said that “If every one is thinking alike then someone is not thinking”.

The President is the President, Commander-in-Chief and the Head of his Political Party, but not necessarily in that order, I am of the belief that the political party is placed ahead and above all else, no matter who sits behind the “big desk”.

This is what I said and what I believe BHO and his policies were not on the ballot, what was on the ballot was the direction that America was going in. I can not speak for all but I can speak for myself, more than that I can think for myself. More voters wanted a change of direction from the one America was on, than those who wanted to stay the course, it really is that simple. Democrats and the Democratic Party were voted out in many locals and Republicans and the Republican Party were voted in. One was on the wrong path and the other promised a new course.

And this non-sense about the Congress and it’s leadership, if it can be called that, stating that they are willing to work “with” the President serves to prove my point. By the Congressional leadership openly saying that they will work with the President, they are actually saying that they will support the President. The only opposition offered against the president thus far has been lip service. They by default have given the president the upper hand. Maybe it is time for Congress, the President and the Courts to read the Constitution, and I mean read it in the Spirit and Context that it was written. It is also about time that they all realize or at least remember that they are all elected to Constitutional Offices and not Political offices. Maybe then they will realize why our government is divided into three branches. They each swore by oath of affirmation that they would uphold the Constitution, the entire Constitution, not just the part that covered their branch or the parts they agreed with. Neither of the three branches were intended to work with the other, the intention was for them to work together to ensure the success of America.

America is on a course towards self-destruction. If America continues on the same path, self-destruction will come as predicted in the past, “If America is to be destroyed it will be from with-in”.

The Republicans and the Republican Party won the last election big time, and as I said it was not for them to work with the president, it was for them to act sensibly and responsibly. I can not speak for the rest of the American voters but as said above I can speak for myself and think for myself. Personally I think every last one in Congress should have been replaced. I am of the opinion that the only reason the republicans won anything is because Congress had become known as the “do nothing” Congress. But it was not really a do nothing congress, the Democratic controlled Senate had been doing one thing and that was protecting BHO. If a bill were to be sent to his desk and it contained good legislation, but it went against his agenda and he vetoed it then he would have to explain why he did not sign into law legislation that was “wholesome and good”. If it never reached the desk BHO did not have to do anything, but it did provide a scapegoat. Come January when the Republicans take control of the Senate and have even more seats in the House do something, introduce legislation that is “wholesome and good”, and please keep it simple and short, send it to BHO to either sign into law or veto and let him explain his actions. Not only send it to BHO but post it for all Americans to see. Who knows, he may actually do his job if you force him too. Congress can continue being a part of the problem or become part of the solution. You can be voted out the same as you were voted in. I am thinking you will continue doing the same old thing as your predecessors did and put your party first, and out you shall go.

Truths about Politicians, Political Parties and government in general. Government either elected or appointed has one goal in mind, Power and Control. The more Power government has, takes or acquires the more Control it can exercise over the populace. It is now how it has been in the past one side seeks to grow the federal government and one side promises to shrink government, but in honesty when was the last time the government gave the power back to the people, name one. Politicians and the Political Parties rely on the voters that would rather be Dependent than Independent. Being Dependent on government frees a person from being Independent. For some, and I believe now for many it is as it has always been, they would rather a few or in some case one make the decisions for them. When a person has to make decisions for themselves they may be forced to choose, with choice comes sacrifice and prioritization. The basic priorities of life are the same now as they have always been, and they are Food, Clothing and Shelter.
An Independent person is Self-Reliant, practices Self-Sufficiency and understands the principles of Prioritization and Sacrifice. This type of person also understands that they are entitled to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and nothing else, these are the only entitlement programs in America. These are the people politicians fear, therefore the politicians do not represent these types of people.
The Dependent person is not Self-Reliant, rarely if ever practices Self-Sufficiency and understands nothing of prioritization or Sacrifice. This person also has come to realize that they can vote themselves money from the Treasury by voting for a politician who will continue to call Welfare programs Entitlements. Welfare programs are not Entitlements. Welfare programs are Bribes on one hand and out right Theft on the other. Theft and Bribery are the best words I can think of to describe Welfare Programs. Taking by force or the threat of force, Theft, from one to be used as a Bribe to buy votes of another. This person has been bought and paid for by government and the social welfare programs, more importantly this type of person demonstrates that they can be bought. These are the people politicians do not fear, therefore the politicians represent these types of people.
The only fear politicians have is that the money will run out.

Now, we come to the point where I prove or a least try to prove that America may have hitched the wagon to the wrong team. The republicans in congress have been railing against BHO for his power grabs and his utter disregard for the Constitution and abuse of powers. Yet, BHO has been given even more power by Congress, but was the power given to BHO or was the additional power given to the Office of the President. BHO will be the immediate receiver of this power gift, but the effects will be long-lasting, in fact the true recipient will be succeeding presidents and will at some point lead to Imperial Rule. As pointed out above no politician has ever given back any powers gained, no matter the means in which they were gained, for that matter nor has any government office. The more they get the more the want and demand, spoiled children, not an adult in the room.
The establishment republicans either will not or do not understand why they have been entrusted by the People to right this nation. The election of November past was not a referendum on anything but partisan politics.
The wagon was unhitched from a team of blue asses and hitched to a team of red asses dressed as pachyderms. The only real change was the color. Doing this only delayed the inevitable.
As stated above the republicans and especially the establishment republicans are not that upset over the power grab by the executive branch, they are only upset that the executive branch is controlled by a democrat. If a republican was at the helm and sitting behind the big desk they would be okay with presidential overreach. I come to this conclusion and make this statement based on my own observations and deductive reasoning. The claims of presidential overreach and abuses of power must be okay with congress based on this if it was so upsetting and un-nerving why did they just increase the power granted to the executive branch and even fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. The budget, more accurately, the omnibus spending bill will now carry the government through the 30th of September 2015, but what else happens in 2015. The never-ending election cycle begins, there will be elections held in November 2016. The newly elected members of the House will instead of focusing on ways to trim government spending will instead have to focus on taking steps to be re-elected. Maybe it was all planned this way. Also the long-lasting effects of additional powers granted to or assumed by the executive branch will be handed down through successive administrations. BHO may be the beneficiary for now but the establishment republicans are counting on gaining the White House in 2016 and the new republican president will have all the power bestowed upon him or her by the previous administration and will enjoy the new powers bestowed by a benevolent congress.

What is needed in America is for people to seek, gain and hold Constitutional Offices based on the Spirit and Context of the Constitution, but this will require Statesmen and not Politicians.

In reading a recent post on another site concerning Thomas Paine and his contributions to American Independence, the author asked if there were any like Thomas Paine in America today. The answer is yes, there are and there has always been, you must only look for them. They will be where you least expect them, and their occupation may surprise you. The best two examples that come to mind are a Comedian and a Teacher. The comedian I refer to is Red Skelton, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the teacher I refer to is the Teacher Red Skelton refers to in his recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. It is on YouTube, I encourage you to watch it and if you have seen it watch it again and show it to the young, especially the young.
There are places where a Thomas Paine will never be found, namely in Washington, D.C.

What America needs now is to evict the politicians, political parties, lobbyists and special interest groups from government and send Statesmen to represent the People, the States and the Country. We need good Stewards of the country, not what we have now which is and are pitiful stewards of their political parties.

A Feudal Empire, the new America

Posted on by

The America of today is definitely not the America the Founding Fathers envisioned, but they knew the America of today was a possibility. They issued warnings and some even stated what would destroy the Republic. Some of them even offered ways to avoid the fall and destruction. The United States of America is degenerating into a Feudal Empire. The elections and campaigning in America have become non-stop as soon as one is over the next begins. This year it never took a break, the politicians were already posturing and positioning for the next one even before some of the elections were settled. The never-ending campaigning and election cycles have taken a life of their own, as a matter of fact, they have taken the form of a Feud.

The feud being waged across America is like nothing seen before in this land, not even the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s can hold a candle to this one.

The Feud being waged across America is not about defending one’s honor, defending the honor of one’s family or even defending the honor of one’s country. It is about control, absolute control. It is not about honor, as most of the participants have no honor to defend. The participants in this feud are the Political Parties, the Politicians themselves and the Special Interest Groups including the Lobbyists and the PACS with the major Media outlets providing aid, comfort and support. Power and control are what is sought, fulfilling the agenda is the goal.

As a matter of fact the ongoing feud is not only being waged across America, it is being waged against America. The weapons and tools used in the Political Feud include money, divisiveness, lies and deceit. When these weapons are used in unison with a population that either will not, or can not see the truth they become weapons capable of destroying the Republic.

Money used as a weapon and a tool. “The Republic is in Danger of Collapsing when the People learn they can Vote themselves Money from the National Treasury”. That was a true statement, but it took Congress and Liberal Progressives to make it true. The biggest danger the Republic faces is Political Parties and Politicians who realize that they can Buy Votes with Monies from the National Treasury. With the arrival of this realization the death of self-reliance and government dependence was born. Wealth redistribution did not arrive with Obamacare, it has lived among us for many years. The National treasury is tax dollars paid in by the working population and was intended to support the country, not some of the inhabitants. If one wishes to Reap the Benefits of Living in a Free Country and Enjoy the Liberties that come with such a life must Bear the Fatigue of Supporting it.
Practice self-reliance, do for yourself what needs to be done. Do not rely on government to provide for you that which is your personal responsibility. If you rely on government to provide for your needs you give government the power to rule your life. If the government has the power to give, the government has the power to take away. With power comes control.

Divisiveness used as a weapon and a tool. As I have written before, a divided populace is easy to control and manipulate. Government, at all levels, is about complete and utter control. America is now and has been divided along many lines. America is divided along lines such race, financial status, age and gender.
Division by race. Black against White against Black. Hispanic against White against Hispanic. Black against Hispanic against Black. In short every race against every other race. Discrimination, Bigotry, Hatred and Racism are all very much alive today. One would or more aptly should ask, How is this possible in a land that has passed laws to prevent such. In fact the laws have been so perversely applied that a new term was created, Affirmative Action, which gave us the reverse. The answer to this is quite often the same as with many other issues facing America, “Government is not the solution Government is the Problem”. In the case of Racism, Government not only supports it but encourages it and even participates in it willingly and voluntarily, though it claims to be against it. Normally this would be referred to as being Two-Faced, but in government this is normal behavior. To prove this let me submit the following, using the U.S. Congress as an example, and a “fine example” they are. Congress sets the example for America to follow by dividing themselves into racial groupings. There is the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Does anybody really believe these two “fine examples” of leadership represent anything but their race? I submit to you that they do not. If they have “exclusive sessions”( I wonder what are the requirements are to be a member of a group that claims in its title to be black or Hispanic) why would any believe that they conduct themselves any differently when they all get together. While these two “racial groups” appear to be leading the “fight” to ensure a better life for their particular races they actually do more harm than they can ever do good. In their attempts to secure advancement of their particular race they hinder and obstruct the advancement of all others. If America is to advance based on race and Governmental action, America will only advance as far as Government allows. I submit this to you in a country with the Freedoms and Liberties that all Americans are supposed to enjoy, they must all advance together and unite into one Race, and that race is American. I have often wondered why any person would belong to any group government or otherwise that seeks to promote advancement one race in America and not all races in America, after all we are all Americans and America was at one time referred to as the “Great Melting Pot”. A few final questions on Racism, are you being held back because of your race or are you being held back because of government? If Government Action is the answer, why are you stagnated in the position provided for you by big government? Have you already advanced as far as government will allow?
“The only limits on advancement an American faces are the limits one places on one’s self”. That should be a statement to live by, no limits should be placed on advancement by Government.
If you do not believe that the Government has been successful in dividing the populace into small and easily controllable groups consider the following. Check any form or application the government requires to be filled out and you will find the following, and you must disclose the information; There are several blocks that must be filled in or at least checked and they are, Race or Ethnicity, Age Bracket or Date of Birth, Gender and on some forms the Other block concerning race has been eliminated. The populace happily checks the blocks or fills in the information without ever wondering why this information must be disclosed. The Quota system is still alive and well thanks to Government.

Lies and Deceit used as a weapons and a tools. These are politics and politicians who rely on ignorance of the populace. Perhaps the best example of lies and deceit center around financial status. A politician will give a speech on income inequality to a crowd and get them all stirred up over how poor they are, and blame the rich for them being poor. The politician is being wee-paid for their appearance, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and them have the nerve to blame the rich for the poor. The next time you attend one of these events ask the speaker these three questions. How much are you being paid to give this speech? What have you personally done to fight poverty and help the poor? Who was the last person to be hired by another poor person? One of two things will happen after the questions are asked. The politician will lie on all accounts, because that is what politicians do best, or you will find your poor-ass being escorted out of the event.

The ultimate goal is the return of America to the level of a Feudal Empire, as one might say returning to its “Roots”. But it will be a little different from Colonial America. The feuding powers this time will be and are the political parties and one will win the feud and we the populace will be handed off to the next feudal winner. It will be just like the Serfs of old, passed along with the title and the land. If you do not believe this look a the election maps, what color state do you live in, red or blue. The individual no longer matters the state is claimed in the name of the political party.

Colonial America had its founding in Serfdom, the nations of Europe had Imperial Leaders and the nations of Europe were constantly feuding. One would lose and the victor would gain that territory and with it acquire the colony in America. The colony along with its inhabitants would be passed to the feudal winner. Without going through all the history of how the colonies eventually came under British Imperial rule, the following should suffice: By definition a Serf is no more than a slave, subservient if you will, belonging to the land and is transferred with the land to the Feudal winner. The citizenry was expected, no demanded to be obedient and compliant with the Feudal winner, the Master if you will.

There are some major problems with living in a Feudal Empire.
The first problem is that the Feuding never ends, it rages on from day-to-day, never-ending and never-ceasing.
The next problem is that the winners of the Feud begin to see themselves as Imperials, kings or queens even if only for a term. They no longer see themselves as elected to Govern they see themselves as elected to Rule.
The next problem is that when the elected officials, the ones who won the latest Feud, see themselves as and then act as Imperials they see the population as Serfs, subjects and subservient to the ruling class. This is a very big problem, but not an insurmountable one.

It starts again, already

Posted on by

I admit that I was more than happy that the Republicans will control the Senate and still retain control of the House when the next Congress convenes in January. At last count there were still three Senate races that were not settled, AK, LA, and VA.

On the early morning news channels it started with the Talking Heads, Pollsters, Strategists and Political has-been making their rounds on the morning news shows dissecting every contest and vote offering their opinion as to why the Electorate voted as they did, and has been going on all day, and will likely continue for days. The weekend news programs will only offer more of the same. The answer is actually quite simple, the Electorate either voted for or against something or someone.

The hard-core base of each political party went to the polls to vote for their respective political party, regardless of the person. The uninformed and misinformed voters went to the polls and cast their ballot for a candidate or an initiative based on fear-mongering, race-baiting or brow-beating all the while not knowing or understanding the issues, much less who or what they were voting for or against. The informed voters went to the polls to cast their ballots based on an understanding of the issues. As for me, when I go to the polls to cast my ballot for a candidate I vote for the one who more closely matches my values regardless of party affiliation. As to the Florida governors race I believe that Florida is heading in the right direction and voted accordingly, what is best and right for Florida may or may not be what is best for me.

The most dangerous elements of the Election process in America are the hard-core base voters, the uninformed/misinformed voters and the political parties themselves.
The hard-core base voters are dangerous because they may stay home and skip an entire election cycle if the candidate on their party’s ticket does not measure up to the party platform. I guess this is their way of showing them. The politician is forced to pander to them to get them to vote, both parties do it.
The uninformed/misinformed voters are dangerous to the process because they do nothing to educate themselves about the candidates or the issues. In this day and age there is no excuse for anyone to make an uninformed choice. The world is at your fingertips, yet you do not take advantage. There is a world of information available, you may have to sort through it to get the truth. Maybe this is the reason you remain uninformed, just to lazy to sort out the truth. If the uninformed remain uninformed the door opens for them to be misinformed. Politicians, Pundits, Talking Heads and other people who are in reality no more relevant than a gnat will tell you what they want you to believe. If you are told the same thing enough times you will accept it as fact, even if it is a lie. But because you would not find out the truth for yourself you accept lies as truth. Fear-Mongering, Race-Baiting and Brow-Beating are your diet, and you are fed daily, if you appear hungry they come again and again with another dose.
The Political Parties are dangerous because of money. Not just money, but the way the money is used and the “pecking order” on how the money is doled out. The RNC and the DNC do the same things, if the candidate is an incumbent and faces little opposition he or she receives less campaign money than a hotly contested race. Conversely if a candidate does not stand a snow ball in hell’s chance of winning he or she receives little if any campaign money. The candidates who stand little, if any chance of winning must rely on state or county campaign committees for campaign money or donations from friends and supporters.

In an election there is a winner and a loser, just think of all the millions if not billions of dollars that were wasted on the loser of every election. New records in the amount of money spent were set on this Senate election, and makes no sense. Who was the benefactor in this free-for-all in spending? How many millions did the Newspaper and Magazine publishing companies and owners receive for advertisements? How many millions did the Radio and Television conglomerates receive for political advertisements? How many tons of electioneering material ended up in the Mail Boxes of America? Who paid the postage on the mailed material? How many e-mails and news letters were sent?

As mentioned in previous posts spending millions to get a job that pays thousands is insanity. The only way to clean up American politics is to remove the money. Furthermore the PACs and Super PACs should be done away with, they only serve one purpose with one goal, and that is the interests of the group or person who founded it and their agenda. The only people who receive money from the PACs are the ones who fit their idea for a perfect candidate.

The original intent of the Senate was to represent the State and the States interests, they were selected by the State Legislature. Now we have a popular election to send 2 Senators to represent the Political Party, the states no longer have any representation in Washington, D.C. Repealing the 17th Amendment alone would save millions upon millions of dollars.

Campaign Finance Reform is and has been a joke, but what was one to expect politicians wrote it. Here is an idea for real reform of campaign finance, all you can spend in seeking Constitutional Office is the amount equal to one years pay. This will hold down the negative attack advertisements, you will need your limited resources to sell yourself to the voters. If you must attack your opponent, attack his or her voting record, not how many times he or she voted with the president. Donors should be limited to the amount equal to 1 hours wages, after taxes of course. U.S. Government equipment is for Official Business Only, not for personal use or use while campaigning.

Politicians are members of political parties and they vote with the party, it is not a crime to vote along party lines. If you want to eliminate political party voting eliminate the political party. A politician can not go against the party to many times before the politician is sent to the wilderness. If you do not believe that the politician represents the political party look behind their name for a letter D, R or I. The president also represents the political party first, and since he is the president he is the head of his party, not too many in the party oppose and not many times.

The President is supposed to represent America, the Senate is supposed to represent the State, the House of Representatives are supposed to represent the constituents in his or her district, politicians represent the political party. All are supposed to uphold the Constitution of the U.S., not the party platform. What do we have in Washington, D.C.?

As mentioned in the beginning the republicans will control the Senate next Congressional Session. I mention this for two important reasons, 1 vacancies in the Courts and the Cabinet, there are already enough activists filling some of the positions, the vacancies can only be filled with advice and consent of the Senate, that is unless of course BHO fills them during recess. 2 Maybe, at least now something will get done by the Senate, and BHO will be presented bills for signature or veto, his buffer to responsibility will be gone.

What I meant by the title. There was no electioneering crap cluttering up my mailbox today but I did receive e-mails and news letters seeking donations and contributions in preparation for 2016. Give me a freaking break this election is not settled yet and still you ask for money, hard-earned I might add. This on top of the fact that the new Congress has not even been sworn in as yet, add this to the fact they have not done anything yet, talking and speeches do not get it done. Show me some action and meaningful legislation that is good for America. If you want donations and contributions from me do something that increases the bottom line of Americans. You wont like the donation I send to you, if I choose to, using my idea concerning donations from individuals, one hours wages after taxes is not much, but I make do. No, on second thought I will make no donations or contributions because you did not see the congressional race in my district as important, well it was important at least to me.

Words and numbers got us to where we are today, if applied corectly words and numbers get us out of this mess

Posted on by

Two words have gotten us to where we are today, Electability and Likeability, these two words should be stricken from the American language. Numbers have also played a major role is getting us to where we are the numbers I refer to are Poll Numbers and are constantly touted by the media. The only polls that matter are the elections and the results. Government is a necessary evil and no politician should ever be elected based on popularity, it is not a popularity contest it is only a necessary evil.

Words that should matter and get this country righted are illustrated in the following:

Core Values. Core values begin to form from birth and continue through adulthood and become what you hold near and dear. They do not continue to develop till death, long before you die your core values are set, set in stone. They are what you believe to be true, right and just and never waver. There are not many, if any, politicians who have the same core values that I have. I make my selection based on their core values and how near they match mine and vote accordingly not by political party affiliation.

Accountability and Responsibility. Accepting responsibility for your actions as well as those you have entrusted by delegating them some of the tasks or functions they may be better suited for than you. Delegate responsibility but accept the blame. It is not accept the responsibility(unless there happens to be someone standing nearby that you can pin that on) but delegate the blame as is illustrated by the current administration. BHO seems to accept neither the responsibility or the blame, that is about detached as one can get and still get paid.

Disclosure. And by this I mean full disclosure, upon deciding to enter public service there is no room for secrets of any kind. Upon announcement of your potential candidacy for public office you must be ready disclose and reveal your life, college and university records including subjects studied, test scores and any affiliation with any group or fraternity, voting records if any public office was held prior to your seeking of a new office, tax records, real estate records, birth certificate, passport, arrest record, military service record if you served and any other document the public has an interest in examining or scrutinizing. The people will determine if you are qualified to hold public office and vote accordingly. We as American citizens have a duty, right and obligation to know who and what you are and about before entrusting you with any public service or political office. Upon taking office the disclosure must continue, visitor logs are a must if you want two fine, one for official visitors and the other for unofficial visitors, if you combine the two that is also fine. Not a shadow should cross the threshold without being in the log. They must be ready to present on request at any time, no one should have to sue for information that is not a matter of national security. Protest the request under national security if you must, but explain why a visitor is a matter of national security. Upon leaving office you must disclose your personal wealth and the manner it was acquired. Your visitors log or logs must be surrendered for audit. Your voting record must be revealed for scrutiny. Your personal wealth will be matched to your visitor log or logs and voting record. If you voted for or introduced any legislation that became law that increased your personal wealth or protected you in any shape, manner or fashion without being of the same benefit of the public at the same time the money any interest it would have accumulated would be forfeited and placed in the national treasury as well as facing possible criminal charges. Lobbyists must petition Congress as a whole not on a one on one basis. As to the matter of bills that are introduced make them simple and addressing only one issue at a time, stop hiding pet projects or other issues in the legislation and post the bill as written for the public to read if they so choose, many of us have an interest in politics and the future of America but have no interest in becoming a politician. There should never have been a time when these words were uttered “you have to pass it to find out what is in it”, but there was and those words should never be heard again.

There are many more words that could be applied, Moral Courage, Moral Character, Honesty, Loyalty, Allegiance, Faithful, Integrity, Trust are just some examples of the many traits that so many of the politicians of today lack, but that is the fault of us the American voter who keep electing and then re-electing them.

If you wonder why so few on the right and almost none on the left stand up to and against BHO, the answer is simple they have waited their entire political careers for him or someone like him to arrive, some waited so long that they died of old age in office. You may have noticed some on the right have just starting to stand up to challenge BHO and are doing so only because of public opinion and for no other reason. The proof is this if they truly objected they would have raised objection and took action when it started. What took so long BHO did not just start doing what BHO does? Face it, they were swayed by public opinion and public opinion alone.

If a politician has constant rising or falling poll numbers he or she does not hold true and faithful, they are merely changing with the wind and trying to be all things to all people at different times. If a politician is capable of lying to themselves what makes you think they will ever be truthful to the people. Poll numbers are a matter of opinion formed before the facts come in, opinions change with the facts, facts do not change because of opinion. Todays politicians are more concerned with what is popular than what is right and just or factual. Power is what they crave and will change to whatever is needed at the time to keep it and will even change right back if their old position becomes popular again.

Numbers that I really like:

One. The number of vacations taken during the year. The average American working a full-time job usually earns 2 weeks paid vacation a year, some more, some less. Very few Americans are given a vacation at company expense, that would be like being paid 54 weeks for 52 weeks work, most pay for their own vacation. That is the idea behind a paid vacation receiving 52 weeks pay for 50 weeks work, the extra two weeks pay is intended to help pay for your vacation. Some politicians seem to be on a permanent vacation stopping by the office occasionally. There is no such thing as a working vacation, working is not a vacation. Company cars, the average employee that has that perk is given just one not a fleet of them and it is for company business only not pleasure, vacations, fund-raising or just to get away from it all, if it is used for pleasure or personal business the employee is responsible for expenses. This is a good plan for the following reason, the politicians are sent to congress and yes even the presidency to do the will of the people, what is best for the country or state as a whole, representing the people and should not be treated or demand more than the average citizen. The politicians claim to be looking out for the middle class try living like them.

Ten. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, known as The Bill of Rights are strictly off-limits to any form of limitation or restrictions by the Federal Government and no person should be harassed or intimidated in any way while lawfully exercising their rights.

Sixteen. Repeal the 16th amendment to the Constitution and effectively abolish the IRS. A flat rate tax is an option, come up with a percentage each person pays into the Treasury, no deductions no exemptions, but this is a tax placed on legal and lawful income. A better option would be to implement a consumption based tax, this taxation would cause all people to pay into the treasury no matter how they came by their money legal or otherwise.

Seventeen. Repeal the 17th amendment to the Constitution. Return the appointments to the Senate to the States and remove them from the political parties. The States would be able to recall and replace any Senator who failed to represent the State and its interests.

Twenty Eight. Introduce and ratify the 28th amendment to the Constitution allowing for the recall and of Representatives that have wavered from the intent of the citizens who sent them to Congress. This alone would return the House of Representatives to its original intent and purpose, which was to represent the interest of the people and mot the political party or their own special interests.

Fifty. The number of States to recall and replace any Senator if he or she places political party affiliation or their own personal ego and interests above the States interests.

One Hundred. The percentage of people who each law that is passed applies to, no exemptions or exceptions.

Politicians and Government Agency Employee Pay. This will be determined by the citizens in your Hometown, District or State. The formula is simple; Take the highest and lowest hourly wage earned, then add the two together and divide that number by two that will determine your hourly wage multiply that number by 40 and that will determine your weekly pay. Any overtime must be approved, if you can not get your job done in 40 hours see numbers 17, 28 and 50. I like this part best, since you are a public servant and are supposed to be looking out for the people for every person who loses their job because of laws and regulations you passed or enacted will be fined one cent per hour to be paid into the treasury to help fund the programs that you voted for. The way you have managed the government and the country will soon have your sorry butts paying just to have your office. Raising the minimum wage will not help you, while one person may make more money per hour, others may lose their jobs, the best you can hope for is a net gain of zero. The only way you can hope to lessen the fines you will pay and quite possibly increase your hourly pay is to create and environment that spurs more people to work and possibly increase their hourly pay. We win you win, we lose you lose. This is perhaps the best part if you sponsor, introduce or regulate any measure that causes a person to lose their job you must pay their unemployment checks directly out of your personal wealth, the unemployed become a personal leech on you and not on America. Not only must you pay the unemployment checks you must pay for all the social programs they will qualify for and receive, food stamps and the rest. Why should American citizens pay for your choices and blunders. By the way, abandon your retirement system and join the one that you forced us into. Good luck in your golden years, you will need it. If you can not or will not join the one we are forced into then at least give the common folks an opportunity to join yours or do you consider yourselves better than the common folks. By the way, can we join your healthcare plan the one you designed and forced on America really sucks?

Let’s just say the Founding Fathers got the Constitution right and quit trying to interpret what they meant. They meant exactly what they wrote. Read the preamble they did not try to create the perfect government, only a more perfect one. We can only imagine the kind of tyranny, abuse and hardships that were endured in Colonial America, and may God prevent us living here today having to endure such a life as the Colonials. But, I say this, if the American voters do not change their voting patterns and habits there may come a time when a man or woman is elected as president that will view themselves as above the law and can change the laws on a whim and view themselves as a king or queen.

How much longer do we have? Part 3

Posted on by

The Duke Knew

The Duke Knew

life in the minority

life in the minority

The future and the continued existence of The United States of America may well lie in our past. As stated in part 2 of this series 1913 was the year that America changed from a “Constitutional republic” into a “Democracy”. The Legislative Branch of our form of government was divided into two sections from the beginning for a reason. The House of Representatives were “elected” by popular vote to represent the People of the state they came from. The Senate was “sent” by the State to ensure that the State received equal representation in the government. The House represented the people’s interest and the Senate represented the states interests. The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in April of 1913, changed all of that the Senators were elected by popular vote. Now they were freed from the duty of ensuring that the state they represented received equal representation, and set about ensuring that they represented their “political party” was represented “state be damned”. Every state was guaranteed a “Republican” form of government by the U.S. Constitution, but no, the Federal Government rammed its agenda down the throats of the citizens using politicians, the gullibility of the citizens and the trust of government. A “Constitutional Republic” was caught-up in political maneuvering that caused an explosion in the size and scope of government and out of the “rubble and ruin” came a “Democracy”. A “Democracy” gives the power to the “majority”, a “Constitutional Republic” gives the power to the “people”. Every administration since Woodrow Wilson has benefited from America becoming a “Democracy, some more than others. Another interesting thing happened in 1913, the 16th Amendment clarifying income taxes was ratified in February. The “income tax” amendment changed the way taxes were collected. The 16th Amendment gave us the Internal Revenue Service which has evolved into a government weapon that can be used against on group of citizens or used for another group of citizens.

A repeal of the 17th amendment would be a good beginning towards returning America to its original envisioned creation of a “Constitutional Republic”. This though, will never happen, the Senate has become accustomed to their power over the people. They will never willingly give that up, nor could they return to watching out for the interest of their states. This fact is easily seen through their actions, some even go to the extreme of assisting with the erection of barricades to prevent their state from enacting legislation that is in the best interest of the state. The only way to repeal this amendment would require a “time machine”, even that would not work because the people of that time honestly believed that they could trust government. Government can say “thank God” for government education, oh that’s right, government took God out of the schools.
Another thing that would help return America to a “Constitutional Republic” would be to institute a new tax system(notice I did not say income tax). An income tax punishes those that have jobs and therefore their employer furnishes a W-2 form and after deductions taxes are paid. The moochers and social parasites have no income and therefore pay no tax, nor do criminals(including politicians). I am not in favor of a “flat tax” either for the same aforementioned reasons. What I am in favor of is a consumption based tax system, The Fair Tax, this system would garner taxes from wage earners, moochers, social parasites and criminals(including politicians) at the same rate. This too would require the repeal of an amendment, the 16th amendment and a new amendment added, the politicians will never go for this either. This would also lessen the power the politicians have over the people, power is what the politicians crave. The government has one practice with money “easy come, easy go” as long as it does not involve their money. The government does not trust the people, this is a fact and is proven by the fact that the government steals their “portion”(pound of flesh) of our hard-earned money before “we the people” receive our paychecks. If the government does not trust the people, just why the hell should the people trust the government.

This is a good time to insert this. It is not only the Federal Government that uses taxes to punish those of us who have chased and caught the American dream. I live in Marion County, Florida, and our County Commission has decided to put on the ballot a referendum to raise property taxes by $1 per $1000 assessed value at the behest of the Marion County School Board. Problem is that every registered voter in the county gets a vote, not just the property owners. The tax increase is supposed to go to the schools. What did you do with the money that you have already taken and wasted that you got from us in the form of property taxes? And while on the subject if the value of my place keeps dropping, why do my taxes keep going up. When will you finally take your pound of flesh? You also might get your scale re-calibrated, I’m getting a mite thin here and can’t afford many more pounds removed. They dropped the idea of a sales tax increase, that failed before. We are Taxed Enough Already. This is another example of government relying on government education. The renters will see this as an opportunity to get the tax burden off of their back and shove it to the home owners and business. They are either “stupid or ignorant”. If they vote for it and it passes the cost will only be passed along in the higher costs for goods and services. So the property owners get a double dose of “government medicine” higher property taxes and higher costs for goods and services. BOHICA property owners. If the renters vote for the property tax increase their land lord will only pass that along to them in the form of rent increases. They will get their second dose when it comes time to sign a new rental contract, and the will wonder why their rent increased. The only people who will not see the effects of the increase are the ones occupying section 8 housing. BOHICA taxpayers. The renters do not and can not see this coming thanks to the “ruling class” telling them how much they are discriminated against and the government education system failing in their task of providing a proper education. But seeing as how “government education” was designed to only educate to the level of “loyal and obedient citizens”. They have succeeded marvelously in that aspect and people still trust and obey without question. Again, I did not get that memo.

The difference between stupid and ignorant is that “stupid” lasts forever and “ignorance” can be overcome with education. I don’t mean with government education, that is how we got in this mess to begin with. Our best chance is for the stupid to stay home on election day watching some reality show, this goes for all elections local, state and federal. Our most important task is to educate the ignorant and save our nation.

The answer to the question of how much longer do we have, may come down to the people who know the truth about government educating those willing to learn and accept the truth about the corruption in all levels of government. We can not help those who are blindly obedient to the government. We must choose our battles.

To be continued.

How much longer do we have? Part 2

Posted on by

BHO is becoming desperate as his failures become clear to America and the world, even though the liberal left and the major media outlets will never admit it, at least not publicly. Obamacare is so flawed that he is forced to change the law, arbitrarily and almost daily, he was offered a way out, but refused, it could have been re-written or repealed, but even more importantly it should have been read. If Congress had read it before passage instead of passing it to find out what is in it, the hideous thing would have never become law. Obamacare is so flawed that his name is not tied to it any longer by the liberal left and the major media outlets. His foreign policy, if he ever had one, has caused him and unfortunately America much embarrassment around the world. The world sees him as weak, spineless, a joker and gutless, unfortunately since he is the President the world has the same view of the American citizens. The sanctions imposed on Russia and the Russians that the administration claims to have been responsible for the Crimean annexation, as I have said previously are meaningless. New and more harsh sanctions are planned if The Ukraine is further violated will be just as meaningless. America is still a formidable opponent and even a hardline Soviet like Putin is not prepared to engage in open warfare with her, not because of BHO, but because of the men and women in the U.S. Military. America still maintains a strong professional Military for now.

Desperation leads to panic. Panic leads to poor decision-making. History provides numerous examples of leaders who panicked when desperate and consequently made wrong decisions, mostly because the were in over their heads to start with. BHO has been in over his head from the beginning, and he knew it. He made no effort to surround himself with the best minds with much-needed experience, he instead chose to surround himself with ideologues, some of which are radical, and like himself do not believe that America and its people are truly exceptional.
This brings us once again to the question of, how much longer do we have. Before that can be answered we must examine how we ever got to this point both domestically and abroad. BHO charged down the path of “Global Humiliation” beginning with the world apology tour and can not seem to slow down. Unfortunately the how, is changing at the same pace as his head long charge. He has refused to accept his role as the “Leader of the free world” and the responsibilities that come with the title of President of The United States of America. BHO has set about a course to divide America. BHO took on The Office of The President willingly, there was only one United States of America when he took office, contrary to what the “liberal left” including the major media outlets have been spouting. The president, the liberal left and the major media outlets seem to always promote a level playing field, income equality, benefits and entitlements.

The only “Utopian” place all this can be achieved is in a “commune”, but even that is less than “ideal”, there are no laws or protections. Sooner or later, even the “commune” will need to join with another “commune” either for economic, social or security reasons, the last is to remove lawlessness from the equation. (The words democratic, republican, democracy and republic have no political party affiliation in the following.) This is when the real problems begin, they will need to establish some form of “government”. The supposed experts would suggest a “democracy” would fit the bill as the best form of government and would best suit the circumstances, nothing could be farther from the truth. In a “democracy” there is no equality in representation, the largest group has the most representation and will address the issues that they feel are the most important or that will affect them the most. This form of government represents the “majority” and not the “minority”. The Founding Fathers did not set about creating a “Democracy” and this was intentional for the aforementioned reasons they also recognized that government was a “necessary evil”. The Founding Fathers set about creating a “Constitutional Republic” to prevent abuses of power and to insure equal representation for the several states. To further insure prevention government abuses an election system is spelled out in the Constitution. The “Constitutional Republic” that was once The United States began to sink to the level of a “Democracy” with the ratification of the 17th amendment in 1913, and each administration since has kept the “bilge” pumps turned off. The sinking of the United States Of America has continued to this day, and has only remained afloat because of the people and not the government. With the continued “majority” rule and a President who is operating outside his Constitutional powers, and a Congress that is unwilling to stop him, the continued effects of constant flooding may soon tip the scales and sink this once great nation.
It is true that I am critical of the President, and Congress and that is only because they at present occupy the driver’s Seat” of an out of control vehicle and will not disengage the cruise control. They have been careening down a road to national destruction, blowing through many yield and even some stop signs. Sooner or later an obstacle will block your path causing you to either stop or crash, or you may reach a dead-end. I am critical of the major media outlets for carrying the water for failed policies and for letting America down in the process. BHO and his refusal to accept the free world leader role created a vacuum and had the unintended consequence of Putin stepping up. With the absence of BHO from the “world” scene many other leaders like Putin will surely step-up to fill the “void”.

The question of, how much longer do we have left could be reduced to simple mathematics. From 1787 until 1913 is 126 years, from 1913 until 2014 is 101 years, 126 years minus 101 years equals 25 years.

Welcome to the world you have inflicted on the supposedly Free and Liberty loving citizens of America.

Posted on by

Our elected representatives in Washington D.C. and the various States have finally came to the conclusion that there really is a Constitution of The United States and a Bill of Rights. Now it appears that the United States Senate is upset by the fact that the Executive Branch is using government agencies to spy on them, but they were okay with the news and the fact that the government is spying on the common American citizens. One has even threatened to declare “war” on one government agency. Did you really think that you would remain “above the law”? With every “radical ideologue” that you confirm to the posts in the Administration and the Supreme Court you are in actuality giving the Executive Branch more and more power. You may even eventually give the administration supreme power over the land. The Seventeenth Amendment only changed the “how” you got to Washington D.C. it did not change the “why”. Maybe the time has finally come that you should read and understand “our founding documents”, after all you did take an oath, or was that just “lip service”. Perhaps you should actually read the bills you send forward for signature and understand that even you will have to live under the laws as written. What liberties and freedoms have you sacrificed that belong to us common people with the passage of the NDAA, or do you have any idea what they were. The time has come for you to remember that you are all public servants and quit being self-serving.
I find it particularly embarrassing that some members of Congress do not even know how long The United States has been around. That alone demonstrates that some and in my opinion most of Congress has not read our “founding documents” and answers the question about “lip service”.