Robert Byrd, Federal Bankruptcy, and Moral Debauchery
by Jacob G. Hornberger
Mainstream commentators were extolling the effectiveness of Senator Robert Byrd, who recently died. They pointed out how successful he was in bringing federal largess to West Virginia. Their accolades reflect not only why the federal government is broke but also the moral bankruptcy into which our society has plunged.
Indeed, how much federal largess a member of Congress brings home to his district has become a standard measuring rod for the mainstream press over how effectively he has represented his district. Whenever a U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator announces a federal grant has been awarded his area, which oftentimes occurs during campaign season, the local mainstream press goes gaga over what an effective member of Congress they have representing them.
Let’s examine how this system works to see how sordid it is.
Through the federal income tax, the American people are forced to send a portion of their hard-earned income to the IRS. Although federal officials sometimes tell people that America’s tax system is “voluntary” (see this video, for example), nothing could be further from the truth. If you don’t pay your taxes, they will prosecute you and do their best to see that you go to jail. They will also pursue you with civil processes, including liens, foreclosures, garnishments, and attachments.
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The Declaration of Independence 2010
by Russell D. Longcore
Envision this scene: A group of patriots gather in a hall in Philadelphia in a steamy late-June 1776 to make plans for a secession…a revolution. So they set about enumerating the many acts of tyranny committed by King George and his minions against the British citizens of the colonies.
A Virginia aristocrat named Thomas Jefferson was given the task of drafting the document. In mere days, he writes a document which will come to be regarded as the most important statement of human freedom in the history of mankind.
Many scholars believe that Jefferson meant for the Declaration of Independence to be performed, not just read by individuals. The flow of the words and the cadence of the phrases are an invitation to the human voice and the human ear.
The greatest value of the Declaration of Independence is its function as a compass needle, pointing always to that true north of the ideals declared within it. No matter how far We the People have strayed from its ideals, we have only to acknowledge our errors and return to the fundamental values published therein. For only in this document do we find the template for human liberty and governance.
Fulfilling the goals of any Declaration of Independence is a struggle that demands constant vigilance. We have all borne the tyranny visited upon us when we have taken our eyes off liberty’s compass. And though the struggle to return to true liberty may be perilous and arduous, it will also be ennobling. We still desire the sweet fruits of liberty, and our progeny still need heroes.
It is with great pleasure and pride that I present to you an interpretive reading of the 1776 Declaration of Independence. May liberty-loving men and women re-dedicate their Lives, their Fortunes and their Sacred Honor to the quest to be Free and Independent States once more.
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Government Aggravated Tragedyby Walter Williams When Thomas Paine said, "(G)overnment, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one." He added that when it's self-inflicted, "(O)ur calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer." The Gulf of Mexico disaster has been made worse because of Washington acts similar to Great Britain's tyrannical acts that caused our founders to rise up in rebellion in 1776. Let's look at it. The Navigation Act was that name given to laws that regulated trade and commerce between Great Britain and its colonies. First enacted in 1651, and often amended, the law stipulated that no merchandise was to be carried to Britain or its colonies except by British ships built and manned by British subjects. The act stifled American manufacturing, increased the cost of goods and gave rise to smuggling and increased resentment against the mother country. The purpose of the mercantilist Navigation Act was to protect and enrich British interests. You say, "Williams, the history lesson is nice but what does it have to do with the Gulf oil disaster?" Foreign companies, with extensive successful experience in oil spill cleanups, have offered their services but have been refused by Washington. Why? A Coast Guard spokesman said that Belgian, Dutch and Norwegian vessels are being barred from the Gulf region because they "do not meet the operational requirements of the Unified Area Command." That's another way to say that the 1920 Jones Act, a protectionist law not unlike Britain's Navigation Act, requires vessels working in U.S. waters be built in the U.S. and be crewed by U.S. workers. James Carafano, researcher at the Heritage Foundation, said, "The unions see it as … protecting jobs. They hate when the Jones Act gets waived, and they pound on politicians when they do that." Carafano asks, "So are we giving in to unions and not doing everything we can, or is there some kind of impediment that we don't know about?" President Obama has the power to waive the Jones Act to allow foreign vessels and crews to bring their expertise to the Gulf cleanup, but he fears angering American labor unions. Read more... {jcomments on}
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by Sarge
Bail-out is a term used when there’s sufficient cause to abandon a position or as originally used, to jump from an airplane, preferably with a parachute. Now, in financial circles it means to be covered by governmental funds ensuring that your failure and incompetence as a business person doesn’t adversely affect the economy. Money is supplied from public funds (taxpayer dollars) to prevent the guilty from suffering the consequences of their actions.
Years ago I tried to sell insurance. I was a better writer than I was a salesman. Some people rate insurance salespeople slightly above used car salesmen but, they work hard at selling a service/commodity so many people believe they have no need for in life. Nothing could be further from the truth. No matter what the case, your loss will remain a loss without insurance to buffer the financial damage and replacement costs. Insurance once was a matter of taking a risk based on Actuarial Tables (statistics) to gauge the relative risk of issuing the policy. Risk is the factor, thing or element or course of action involving uncertain dangers. Action: you fly – Risk: you might crash.
Simple don’t you think? Not anymore.
Now people expect guarantees. They want assurances of success. They accept few challenges without the acknowledgement they’ll not fail. It’s like nobody has the stones to try anymore unless Mommy and Daddy will make it better if it flops like a fish out of water. And more and more Mommy and Daddy are teaching the kids the mess will be cleaned up by somebody but not necessarily the guilty party.
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