Please join Dr. Charles Stanley, and fellow Americans, in 140 days of prayer for our great country:

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Below is a table, linking to each verse, for all 20 weeks:

Certainly, over the last 10 years, both parties are to blame for the fiscal irresponsibility, and lack of prudence with tax-payer money;  however, the current spending policies, which appear to be mostly ideological, do not promote the growth needed to get the economy moving again. In fact, many of us would agree, that the current policies are making our situation much worse.

Please watch Bill O’Reilly on the state of the economy:
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Politically speaking, this is, of course, very good news for The Republican Party, with the upcoming midterm elections in November; however, to have a President, or anyone in our Federal Government that advocates such policies, is never a good thing. It is certainly one thing to be in a political science class, or on a college campus, discussing different political systems; and theorizing why certain systems may have succeeded or failed; it is quite a different story when people are elected to high office and attempt to put such policies in place; especially without an overwhelming consensus from the people who elected them to office!

And regardless of ones motivation to advocate such policies, Socialism has a proven record of failure, and makes no real sense, economically-speaking; it generally requires a top down, authoritarian type of government, which, inherently, makes it a very dangerous system to a free nation.

Certainly, most Americans are not opposed to some short-term, transitional, social programs, to help fellow citizens get back on their feet; but The American people also realize, this great country was built on hard work; and most people in society, one way or the other, can be a useful and productive member of society.

Most of The American people have an intrinsic desire to be productive, and believe in freedom, and our free-market system of commerce and enterprise. And, because of our history, most Americans realize, the free-markets are a great contributor to what has made our country free and prosperous since the days of our founding.

Certainly, the free-markets and Capitalism are not perfect; but irrefutably, they not only have a proven record of prosperity in this country, but in several other countries as well. And, most would agree, if something is in need of repair, then we need to fix it and move on. Conversely, most Americans will not likely sit back and allow their country to be “fundamentally transformed” by a long string of social experiments, that could, economically, bring this great country to it’s knees.

One of the greatest concepts that our founders put in place, along with our Republican system of government, was to create a federation of states; which allowed the states to maintain their own sovereignty, and their own legislative bodies. Therefore, each state is free, by consensus of their voters, to create their own laws and social programs.

Our history, as a country, now shows, that all of these big social (socialistic) programs that our Federal Government has instituted over the years, and forced on the states, have negatively effected our overall economy, and to a large extent, eroded our national character. Such long-term policies and programs are simply, and utterly, unsustainable.

Now, after one and a half years of Obama’s presidency; some very questionable political appointees; and after a long string of redistributive, and general far-left policies, 55% of The American voters say that President Obama is, indeed, a Socialist.

Please watch David Asman’s interview with Congressman Ron Paul and guests:

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Undoubtedly, for many years, under several administrations, and spanning both parties, there has been a failure to effectively secure our borders. Sadly, like many other things that are wrong in our country, failure to secure our borders is greatly due to political posturing; as opposed to doing what is morally, and judiciously, right for The American people. Most Americans would agree, our borders need to be secured, once and for all! And failure to have done so, after 911, is truly reprehensible! 

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Further reading:
Supreme Court and lower Federal Court interpretations of The Supremacy Clause

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“The income tax is bad because it has robbed you and me of the guarantee of privacy and the respect for our property that were given to us in Article IV of the Bill of Rights. This invasion is absolute and complete as far as the amount of tax that can be assessed is concerned. Please remember that under the Sixteenth Amendment, Congress can take 100 percent of our income anytime it wants to. As a matter of fact, right now it is imposing a tax as high as 91 percent. This is downright confiscation and cannot be defended on any other grounds.”

“The income tax is bad because it was conceived in class hatred, is an instrument of vengeance and plays right into the hands of the communists. It employs the vicious communist principle of taking from each according to his accumulation of the fruits of his labor and giving to others according to their needs, regardless of whether those needs are the result of indolence or lack of pride, self-respect, personal dignity or other attributes of men.”

- James Madison (Federalist Papers #45)

Due to the increasing size and scope of our Federal Government, and the increasing far-left agendas of The Obama Administration, there is no doubt, that even people who previously identified themselves as Conservatives, have increasingly moved further right, to a more Libertarian point of view. It is doubtful that our country could ever go back to a completely Libertarian state, as in the days of our founders, but it is great to see such a Constitutional awakening in our country, and a desire to move closer and closer to our founding values, and The Constitutional principles that made us such a great country, for so many years.

I have often said, “if a plant loses it’s roots,” then the plant could never survive. Conversely, if a country is too far removed from it’s foundation, then God only knows where it could lead. Sadly, the many problems that we are currently experiencing in The United States, is greatly due to the lack of prudence to our Constitution, by our Federal Government, over the last 100 or so years.

Please listen to this insightful and informative discussion:

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Unfortunately, rather then things improving, it appears that things continue to increasingly get worse, as our national debt sky-rockets, unemployment stays high… and now, an ecological disaster in The Gulf of Mexico, which (containment wise) this administration does not appear to have a great command over.

While it is very understandable to see the right get angry with this far-left agenda, it now appears that the left’s own base is beginning to pile on as well… as they, unbelievably, do not think The Obama Administration is governing far enough to the left.

Politically, things do not look good for The Obama Administration.  As far as the state of The United States, sadly, things do not appear to be getting any better either. Most Americans, anxiously, appear to be looking forward to November and the mid-term elections, to have a peaceful revolution at the ballot box, and hopefully, restore a bit of sanity back into our country. Until then, anger appears to continue bubbling up on both sides of the political fence.

Please listen to Bill O’Reilly on this:

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To go no further back, let us turn to Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, published in 1776. The first chapter of this remarkable book is called “Of the Division of Labor,” and on the second page of this first chapter the author tells us that a workman unacquainted with the use of machinery employed in pin-making “could scarce make one pin a day, and certainly could not make twenty,” but that with the use of this machinery he can make 4,800 pins a day. So already, alas, in Adam Smith’s time, machinery had thrown from 240 to 4,800 pin-makers out of work for every one it kept. In the pin-making industry there was already, if machines merely throw men out of jobs, 99.98 per cent unemployment. Could things be blacker?

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If this book is of interest to you, it can be purchased here, at Amazon.com

- John Adams

For several years, many, if not most people have gone to the polls, and naively pulled levers, simply because they saw an R posted next to a candidate’s name; assuming, because there was an R, they would get a Conservative Republican; obviously, that has not always been the case, and is part and partial to the problems we are having today. In my opinion, The R and The D, has given people, in the past, a false (false-positive) sense that they will get what they voted for, and has allowed people to be laxed on doing the necessary research of the “individual” candidates, over the years.

Conversely, suppose all candidates were Independents: the voters then would have no choice but to thoroughly review the candidate’s record before voting for them, if the voter is truly concerned with knowing the candidate they are voting for. Also, if there were “individual” candidates in Congress that we were not happy with, it would certainly be easier to purge out individuals from Congress, then it is to purge an entire party. And with one Independent body, in Congress, the people would have a much better chance of Congress following The Enumerated Powers, in The Constitution, as enumerated by our founders. We’d also remove that extra level of party allegiance that often causes people in Congress to vote one way or the other, regardless of their conscience, or what their constituents demand. The people of The United States would be more likely to be united as well, with one political body, then with separate, and competing factions in our government.

After so many years of having political parties, I can understand why most people feel comfortable with their respective parties; which is why these thoughts will not likely become a reality… unless of course, a great majority of the nation insisted on it. Unfortunately, many people, and by virtue of human-nature, are often more concerned with a specific worldview being advanced, then they are with national unity; or with having one government, obeying one Constitution, according to the vision of our founding fathers.

- George Washington

After experiencing this disconnect, and public display of arrogance by many of these Representatives, I started asking people, how exactly should these Representatives represent us in Congress? After all, The U.S. Constitution is explicit as to how they are to be elected, but there appears to be no true definition as to how they should represent us. Therefore, after some further thought, I have come up with a few suggestions:

 1. It is incumbent on the people of each district to respectfully define what they expect from their Representatives, and not let them go to D.C. thinking they are no longer accountable to their constituents!

2. Every state should lobby their respective state legislatures, to have the power of recall of Senators and Representatives, added to their state Constitutions… this would put each elected official on notice, that they work for the people; and if they forget that, or go too far off the rails, by consensus of the voters, they will be relieved of their positions.

3. I truly believe, there needs to be a U.S. Constitutional Amendment that sets term limits for all Senators and Representatives… this would guarantee that Congress is not a career position, and new people with fresh ideas can continually be elected to Congress. Until then, perhaps the states could set their own term limits on the people they send to Congress.

 4. The respective states, or the people in each Congressional district should decide, how do We, The People, want our relationship to be with our Representatives in Congress? In other words, do we want him or her to do biweekly or monthly town halls at home? On Congressional bills, do we want them to vote what the majority (rules) of the district decides? And how can the entire district participate in the voting process of each bill? This would ensure that all voting citizens have a voice in Congress, as opposed to leaving it solely up to one person to make the decisions for an entire district of voters.

5. Possibly the most important: We, the people, need to continue educating ourselves in regards to The U.S. Constitution, so that we have a firm idea of the principles, laws, and limitations, our Representatives should use to represent our country, as well as our states. Familiarity with The U.S. Constitution also allows us to know what our rights are, as citizens, and voters, of The United States.

These are a few of my ideas as to how we can bring more power back to where it belongs, with the people of The United States, and not solely with a few hundred bureaucrats in Washington D.C. I encourage every citizen to ponder the same question: how do we, the people, of our respective states, want our representatives to represent us in Washington D.C.?

On Christmas Night, 1776, George Washington and the Continental Army mounted a surprise attack against the British by crossing the Delaware River and marching to Trenton, New Jersey. Washington Crossing Park marks the site where Washington’s troops were encamped, as well as the location where they launched the boats across the Delaware River that ensured their victory. This successfully saved Washington’s army, and help lead the Continental Army to final victory. This action by George Washington was one of the most important events in U.S. history.

The Friends of Washington Crossing Park (FWCP) are working tirelessly to open Washington Crossing Historic Park for tours and educational programming. FWCP understands the importance of the park as a historical treasure and cultural gem. In light of recent budget cuts, we believe strongly that now is the time to move forward, take action on this long-standing Bucks County Park, and re-open the doors.

A nonprofit group, FWCP has been formed to pursue and create fundraising, membership and volunteer opportunities. Your donations and assistance will help support our efforts.

When financial budgets cuts by the state of Pennsylvania threatened to cancel the 2009 Christmas Crossing event, FWCP formed as an ad hoc group. We successfully mobilized time and financial resources to see that this significant event succeeded.

While establishing a board of directors, by-laws and nonprofit status, FWCP has continued to host events traditional to the park. FWCP will partner with The Pennsbury Society and will open Bowman’s Tower this May. Very soon, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission (PHMC), we will open the doors to the historic homes at the park and give guided interpretive tours to visitors. 

How can you help our efforts?

Volunteer: There are dozens of volunteer opportunities at Washington Crossing Historic Park from manning the visitor center gift shop to caring for sheep. We need help for special events and on a regular basis. It’s a great way to make friends and connect with the community. No experience is necessary but if you have a special interest or talent, we will find a volunteer opportunity that suits you!

Become a Member: We have several different membership levels. Members are invited to all FWCP events and receive an e-newsletter. Levels are: Patriot ($25 or 20 hours volunteer service), Infantry ($50), Oarsman ($100), Lord Stirling ($250) and General Washington ($500+). Membership dues are used to fund programming and events. Join today by using the Donate link on top right.

Donate: FWCP has ambitious plans to open and improve the park.
http://www.friendsofwashingtoncrossingpark.com

Your donation will help us fulfill our goals.

And sadly, many of us were blind to the disaster waiting to happen, as a result of  entitlement programs, created by our Federal and state governments over the years. Now, with the state of our economy, and with a recession that has no foreseeable end, the people, by in large, are wide awake, and very concerned about our fiscal sovereignty, and future as a nation.

Please watch Bill O’Reilly (below) on entitlement programs and taxation:

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- James Madison (Federalist Papers #10)

- Benjamin Franklin

In one of President Obama’s off-cue moments, speaking to Joe The Plumber, while campaigning for President, he talked about spreading the wealth around… that one line so frightened many Americans, myself included, that it nearly cost Barack Obama the election.

Most Americans are hardworking, and believe in the freedom of the individual, and the Equal Rights of each individual to pursue economic opportunity in their country. By now, most of us know, the terms spreading the wealth, or Social Justice, are terms that stem from economic systems such as Socialism and Communism… these systems have been tried, over and over, throughout history, and the outcome is rarely, if ever, a very good one.  Such doctrines, are fundamentally un-American, and foreign to most American’s way of life and thinking.

Below are a few, very telling, and honest, clips …

- Benjamin Franklin

The complete transcript to this exchange, can be read here.
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Through various Constitutional questions, and explanations by Judge Andrew Napolitano, they help the audience, and viewers, begin to guage where they fall, in the political spectrum, in United States’ politics.

The entire show is very interesting, educational, and certainly worth watching…

Enjoy!

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After watching it, you will hopefully better understand and appreciate the great system our founders put in place for our young nation; as well as seeing the  potential peril we can be faced with, if we do not guard our freedom and Republic with great vigilance. Even if this is not new information to you, I see it as a great tool to share with others who are not as well-informed on our system of government.

Incidentally, today would have been former President, Ronald Reagan’s 99th birthday; it is great to see his wisdom, and legacy, is being carried on, by people such as Sarah Palin… 

Great speech Governor! …
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In my opinion, it is sad, because the president seems to (usually) be a likable man, who clearly is very smart, and a very good orator; however, these attributes are only one part of the equation, and can not, and will not, be permitted to trump our fiscal, and national security. It is yet to be seen, if the president will get more in step with the citizens of The United States.

Please listen to Bill O’Reilly’s analysis… I believe he is spot on!

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I totally share Ted’s frustrations with these dam Progressives! Today, in this country, our government, in the name of regulation, is trying to control too many aspects of the people’s lives; while reading terrorists their rights, and court-marshaling our Navy Seals. It is truly insane!

I love Ted’s straightforwardness, articulation, and passion, on The Second Amendment…

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Artist Unknown

Throughout the course of our short history, political parties have come and gone. I, for one, don’t believe in political parties, and neither did George Washington. In 1791, Thomas Jefferson formed The Democratic-Republican Party, in response to Hamilton’s formation of The Federalist Party, a year earlier; and hence, the beginning of “true” political division in our nation.

That being said, The Republican Party, over the years, did represent our founding principals, as the party of Thomas Jefferson; however, over the years, both parties have increasingly become more and more nationalized, while the sovereignty of the individual states seem to be getting less and less. Fiscal responsibility is another thing that seemed to have become a thing of the past, in Washington D.C, over the last decade or so. And now, most recently, our free-market system seems to be really under assault by a heavy-handed, far-left Democrat majority in Congress.

The establishment will also have you believe, and with good reason, that a third-party can not succeed in our system of politics. OK, well, what if someone had told that to Abraham Lincoln, and he believed it? He would not have become our first Republican President.

I truly believe, the only establishment that true conservative Americans should be interested in, is the establishment of a prudent, limited, and fiscally responsible government, as directed by our founders, and through our Constitution. For conservatives across the country, it is exciting to see Doug Hoffman so close to a victory in NY, under The Conservative Party. He appears to be advocating “true” conservative values; and from what I understand, The Republican Party is allowing him to caucus with them as well. Speaking of third parties, I recall Joe Lieberman winning his Senate seat back, running as an Independent, which is further evidence that we do not necessarily have to concede to the two “established” parties.

In this turbulent time, in our nation, and with so much on the line, we must remain open-minded to candidates who truly are interested in restoring our government back to a much more constitutionally respecting place in our nation; and from there, I do believe, as with Hoffman, the right people will get behind them, and help them get to where they are going.

We should not hold animosity to anyone who believes in the established system of the two parties; it is human nature to feel secure with a system that has lasted so many years; however, if things are meant to be, they will be, if not, they will be replaced. We need to embrace all true conservatives, because many people have so many great ideas that can help our nation get it’s footing back to where it needs to be.

If Doug Hoffman wins a seat to Congress, I do believe other conservative candidates will follow suit; and hopefully, The Republican Party will embrace them as well. Perhaps this movement will be a clear message to future Republican candidates, while many of us believe in building consensus, we are not always happy with their compromises.—There is clearly a difference…

Mark

I don’t consider myself a hyper-partisan, in regards to party politics, but increasingly, I am having less and less tolerance for these so-called progressives who seem to completely disregard, even have a disdain for our Constitution, and founding principals. I have heard Barack Obama himself talk about the incompleteness of our constitution… Really? So is the inference that our founders were not competent enough to consider the necessary factors? Or, subconsciously, would you like to toss the Constitution to the wind, and create laws as you and other progressives see fit? If that is the progressive thought process, then in my mind, that is a true subversion of our Constitution, and of the very system of governance that our founders set in motion.

I have said this many times, but it is worth repeating… If all of Congress were forced to create laws that are in line with The Constitution, as opposed to a bunch of renegade laws, I think we could get back to some uniformity and well-needed continuity in this nation. It is not hard to imagine, if all of Congress, in both parties, were forced to follow the same rule book, increasingly, the gap between both major parties would begin to narrow.

Mark

Certainly, for many years, The Republican Party was thought to be the more conservative of the two major parties, however, over the last ten years, the conservatism in The Republican Party seems to be slipping away more, with each passing year.

Not many events prior to the failing of our financial markets, the subsequent bailouts, the recession, the election of Barack Obama, and the continued far-left agendas being considered in Washington D.C., have I seen such a collective effort for true conservatives to lay their foot down and say, enough! I must admit, I am now one of those conservatives who feel we are in a sink or swim moment in our nation, and no longer have much time to watch our great nation be compromised further into the abyss.

That being said, over the last few years, I have listened to former Speaker of The House, Newt Gingrich, articulate some great political, and economic arguments; as well as the great books, and videos he and his wife continue to churn out. In my opinion, Newt Gingrich, politically and socially, appears to be truly conservative…

Which leads to this interesting congressional race in New York State between Doug Hoffman (Independent) and Dede Scozzafava (Republican)… Admittedly, I have not really followed either candidate, nor do I know much about the policies either candidate espouses; however, the big news seems to be that such names as Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum and Steve Forbes are backing Doug Hoffman, as they feel he is the more conservative candidate out of the two. As a Conservative Independent myself, I am all for their support of Doug Hoffman, and completely understand their rationale for backing him as well. That being said, I have now heard two interviews where Newt Gingrich articulated the Tenth Amendment argument,…

We, as citizens of The United States, now have two very large powers that we often take for granted: One is the ability to vote for the candidates that we feel best represents us, and the other is the power to purchase, or not purchase from a particular merchant if we are not happy with their prices or services. If we, collectively, bond together, we can actually force prices to go down, if we decided not to purchase from a particular merchant.

Now, if the government were to takeover the business of health care in this country, and takes our money, via income tax, what recourse do we have if we are not satisfied with the services that are being provided?

In the free market, we have discretionary spending, and through income tax, sadly, you would be considered breaking the law, if you decided that you don’t want to participate in a federally-mandated program, and refuse to pay taxes.

Of course, everyone can draw their own conclusions, but as for me, I’d rather retain my rights to continue or end a service, at any given time.

In a nation such as ours, we are very blessed, and should be careful “not” to take our freedoms for granted; they can be here today and gone tomorrow.

“It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the Federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the Federal Government and those reserved to the States or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government.

Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it is not my intention to do away with government. It is, rather, to make it work—work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.”

Every four to eight years, we end up with a President that is in favor of either Team Democrat or Team Republican, when in fact, we need them to be an objective leader that represents both teams, while utilizing the same set of rules, for both teams. The United States Constitution addresses the powers of The Congress, and the powers of The President, however, there is nothing in The Constitution that explains how Republican elected officials are to objectively represent a Democrat constituency of voters, and vice-versa for Democrat elected officials; therefore, these same principals should apply to all elected officials, including Senators and Representatives; and all with strict term limits, as with the President.

With Supreme Court Justices, there is an expectation for them to objectively interpret the law; and  law-enforcement is expected to objectively enforce the law; therefore, wouldn’t it only make sense that the law-makers begin to objectively create laws? And laws that benefit the entire team, instead of one team or the other? If we had elected officials, in Congress, acting as objective legislators, and utilizing The Constitution as their foundation for creating laws, then I would believe, the need for political parties would diminish greatly. And, after all, aren’t we suppose to be The “United” States of America? 

I see this as a way that we can come together, as a nation, but still maintain our liberty, privacy and freedom of choice.

I believe, the aforementioned is far better then any public option or having the government managing another large program, which more then likely, would balloon out of control at some point, and further damage our long term, economic stability.

Mark

Whether or not you agreed with the post 911 policies, one thing is absolutely irrefutable; and that is, The George Bush administration did dwarf any further 911 type attacks on The United States’ soil; which in my opinion, makes these political witch-hunts that much more outrageous.

This Spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual, and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation on the ruins of public liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the public councils, and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passion. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true and in governments of a monarchical cast patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose; and there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.

It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power and proneness to abuse it which predominates in the human heart is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositories, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern, some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them.”

- George Washington (Washington’s Farewell Address 1796)

Anyone who knows me, and my political views, surely, by now, knows that I have great admiration for Daniel and his great political views, honesty and courage.

His below speech is very inspiring, as he talks of our  founding principles in The United States, and our founders.

For any United States citizen that thinks nationalized health care sounds good; I would agree, on paper, every citizen having accessible and affordable health care, would be good. However, before handing over control of your health, and the health of the ones that you love the  most, to the government, I am asking you to “please” watch this video, and find people and doctors that live in countries such as England and Canada, that currently have these government ran health care systems, and get their views on it as well.

I would also like to add, that many, including “some” government officials, would like some to believe, that people like myself, or Glenn Beck, don’t care about fellow Americans; on the contrary, we do care “very much” about our fellow citizens, and “that is why” we bring this information to the public.

There are many possible solutions to making health care affordable and accessible to the general public, while maintaining your privacy and freedom; but as you will hopefully learn, government ran health care systems are “not” an efficient or best approach to national health care concerns.

Please watch the below (interviews) videos with Daniel Hannan, on nationalized health care…

When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,  though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]

11″This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 8:4-8:15 (NIV)

Soros on the Dollar, Euro @ Yahoo! Video

2.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Amen!

Psalms 23 (KJV)

Over and over, polls show that this country, in general, is a center to right country; which means, most of us would like just to have responsible, commonsense and prudent governance.

I think that the people on the far-left, and on the far-right, are in the minorities; and these are the people that I often have trouble dealing with, because they are just too stuck in their own (world views) ideologies, that it is hard for them to bend or compromise with anything; and this is precisely what we are seeing with The Obama administration not bending and compromising with The Republican Party, and some of their very good ideas on health care reform and other legislation.

I have noticed, when the government goes too far left, there tends to be push back, and the moderate people move right; and vice versa, when the the government goes too far right, it seems that moderate people move further left.

Perhaps this would explain why I had (have) an intuitive sense that Pelosi, Reid and Obama will not succeed; even though (in my opinion) they are severely hurting our economy, their agendas will not fly with The American people; because, as a whole, we are mostly moderate and conservative people who appreciate our founding principals, and our freedoms, such as entrepreneurship and Capitalism.

I would go as far as saying, if we had no political parties, as our founders intended, the body of Congress would be mostly rational and moderately conservative people; and we would not have to go on a roller-coaster ride every 4 to 8 years. If I had my way, we’d resolve to having no parties; then we could focus on policies that help advance this country, as opposed to incessant party line battles.

Please see Bill O’Reilly’s Talking Point Memos (below) on the proposed government sponsored health care plan, President Obama, and the the far-left agenda in general…

Mark

“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

Our founders were very wise, and most believed in the de-centralization of power, and often chose to relinquish power; unlike the over-reaching and ever-expanding federal government that we are often seeing today.

When our founders drafted The United States Constitution, the federal government was given explicit (expressed) powers…

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First let’s look at the expressed powers given  to The (Legislative Branch) United States Congress…

• The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
• To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
• To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
• To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
• To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
• To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
• To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
• To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
• To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
• To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
• To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
• To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
• To provide and maintain a Navy;
• To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
• To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
• To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
• To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;

• —And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the “foregoing” Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

• The Migration or Importation of such Persons (prev. referred to as slaves) as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight (1808), but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
• The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
• No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
• No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
• No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
• No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
• No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
• No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

• “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”.

Article 2, Section 2…

• The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
• He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
• The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Then there are presidential duties…

Article 2, Section 3…

• He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

And lastly, a United States President can be impeached (removed from office) for any of the below reasons…

• The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article 3, Section 1…

• The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Article 3, Section 2…

• The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or more States;—between a State and Citizens of another State;—between Citizens of different States;—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
• In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
• The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Article 3, Section 3…

• Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
• The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

I believe there are many good people that run for office, with the best of intentions in representing their constituents; and to make positive changes for their country, states, and communities…

However, after a long string of events, that seemingly make little to no sense from our elected officials in Washington; only to see continued pain with each new proposed bill; after watching many good people lose every thing that they’ve worked so hard for; it not only breaks my heart, but it leaves me with an extraordinary cynical view of our current federal government; and the incessant abuses that continue to be legislated, and forced on the good people of this country; none of which, by virtue of common-sense, seem to be aimed at truly fixing the problems at hand, let alone restoring this country to the virtues and foundations which have made us a great country.

So, if we were to apply common-sense, most of us can relate to the old adage: “If it isn’t broke, then don’t fix it”… However, what if the machine is severely broken? Shall we continue to replace it with bad parts? 

“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people”…

Therefore, let’s not be confused or misled: here in The United States, we are not living in a true democracy… If anything, we have  a Representative form of Democracy.

In reality, we are a Republic… which is a state or a country that is not led by a monarchy, and which the people (or part of the people) have an impact on it’s government. More broadly, we are a Constitutional Republic, governed by laws, and by which the people are represented by elected officials.

The word Republic is derived from the Latin phrase “res publica,“ which is translated to English as “public thing,” or “public affair.”

Article 4, Section 4, of The United States Constitution:
“The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,…”

I am Janet Contreras, a concerned, home-grown American citizen. I am 53, and I have been a registered Democrat all of my adult life. Before the last Presidential election, I registered Republican because I no longer feel the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. I now no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me.

There must be someone, please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me you are there and are willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please do it now.

You might ask yourselves what my views and issues are that I would feel so horribly disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me? These are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

* Illegal Immigration—I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S. I am not a racist. This not to be confused with legal immigration.

* TARP Bill—I want it repealed and no further funding supplied to it. We told you “NO!” but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze! Repeal!

* Czars—I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the Czars. No more Czars. Government officials answer to the process not the President. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

* Cap & Trade—the debate on global warming is NOT over, there IS more to say.

* Universal Health Care—I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don’t you dare pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

* Growing Government Control—I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Please mind your own business; you have enough to do with your REAL obligations. Let’s start there.

* ACORN—I do not want ACORN or its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them on every real estate deal that closes. Stop all funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audit and investigation. I do not trust them with the taking of the census or with taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before the taxpayers get any further involved with them. It walks like a duck and talks like a duck—hello… stop protecting political buddies. You work for the people. Investigate.

* Redistribution of Wealth—No. If I work for it, it is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth I support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do want me to hate my employers? What do your have against shareholders making a profit?

* Charitable Contributions—although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities where we know our needs best and can use local talent and resources. Butt out, please. We want to do this ourselves.

* Corporate Bail Outs—knock it off! Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we will be better off just getting to it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful, like ripping off a band aid. We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us a chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

* Transparency and Accountability—how about it? No really, let’s have it. Let’s say we give the “buzz” words a rest and have some straight, honest talk. Please stop trying to manipulate and appease me with cleaver wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

* Unprecedented Quick Spending—stop it, now. Take a breath. Listen to “The People.”

Let’s just slow down and get some more input from some “non-politicians” on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law.

I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant nor a violent person. I am a mother and grandmother. I am a working woman. I am busy, busy, busy and tired, tired, tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawns and wash our cars on weekends, and be responsible, contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same, all the while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding our Constitution and believed in the checks and balances to keep you from getting too far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think that I find humor in hiring a speed reader to unintelligibly ramble through a bill you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not! It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face! I am not laughing—the arrogance!

Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it, but you expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children? We did not want that TARP bill. We said “NO!” We would repeal it if we could. I am not sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all the recent spending. From my perspective, it seems that you have all gone insane.

I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back!

You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington.
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For anyone that has not really given this kind of spending, any real serious thought, I would like you to please consider a few things…

The Iraq war costs approximately 10 billion dollars a month…while that alone is an enormous amount of (tax payer) spending,  the federal government, on February 17, 2009, signed into law, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which conveniently started out being sold as The Stimulus Bill. That one bill was for the monumental amount of 787 billion dollars…

According to my calculations, that would be 78 months of funding for The Iraq War; which amounts to 6.5 years, and roughly the cost of the entire war thus far. So, was that bill (monetarily) a bit unprecedented? Let’s not leave out the interest… it is estimated that the total cost, with interest, is approximately 1.4 trillion dollars…

Estimates say, that amounts to $30,000 per household…Can anyone think of a few other ways that our federal government (or we the tax payers) could have utilized that money?

Well, China holds approximately 763 billion dollars of United States Treasury Securities; which in short, is our government’s debt to foreign countries. Perhaps paying off our debt to China, “may” have been “one” of the several prudent things that the federal government could have done. 

Now, for a moment, let’s stop and ponder what a trillion dollars really is…

• If you had one thousand dollars ($1,000), 1,000 times over, you would then have one million dollars ($1,000,000)

• If you had one million dollars ($1,000,000), 1,000 times over, you would then have one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000)

• If you had one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000), 1,000 times over, you would then have one trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000)

Well, apparently, we are starting to see some of this come to fruition…and recently, President Obama appointed a Pay Czar named Kenneth Feinberg, who will have authority over compensation for senior executives… Wait! A what? What is a Czar? Well, let’s see, according to Dictionary.com, a  Czar is a noun, meaning one of these four things…

That makes twenty-some odd Czars appointed thus far by President Obama. Oh yes, by the way, has each one of these so-called Czars been approved by The Senate Mr. President? After all, there is this document called The United States Constitution (Article 2, Section 2 ), that happens to mention alittle something about this…

–Rev. Martin Niemoeller, German Lutheran Pastor

I am a compassionate person, and I am also proud of the humanitarian efforts that The United States has made around the world, however, from my point of view, it seems as though our presidents have not been putting enough emphasis on The United States, over the last so many years.

While we are in other countries, rebuilding their countries, The United States has been withering away, both structurally and economically; so, if there is another Ronald Reagan out there, I am begging them to please run for office in 2012, because we are sorely in need of another president like him, that “will” be all about America.

We need a leader that will accentuate the greatness, and achievements of this country, instead of going on these worldwide, Blame America First Tours. The American people are not paying the president to be a leader of the world, we are paying him to sort out our affairs, and defend our country. I am so tired of hearing about how bad America is from this administration.

We do not need worldwide approval or International consensus; in fact, just about every country in this world has committed their share of atrocities, far worse then anything The United States has ever done or would do; and we have absolutely nothing to be sorry or ashamed for. We are a great and generous country!

That being said, can we please have leaders that will start being all about America again?

Mark

It was The attack on Pearl Harbor that ultimately brought The United States into World War 2; however, if The United States did not enter that war, Europe, as we know it, could very well be dramatically different today.

We owe a great amount of  gratitude to those men and women, from all countries, that made these enormous sacrifices in World War 2, to defend the liberties that we still have today.

There is hardly any words that I can write to effectively describe their sacrifices, and the gratitude that I feel to that generation. However, our former President, Ronald Reagan, said it so eloquently, in this 40th anniversary speech to the veteran Rangers at Pointe Du Hoc, Normandy, France, on June 6th, 1984.

Please watch this great and emotional speech…

Mark 
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President Reagan’s Speech:

We’re here to mark that day in history when the Allied armies joined in battle to reclaim this continent to liberty. For four long years, much of Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved, and the world prayed for its rescue. Here, in Normandy, the rescue began. Here, the Allies stood and fought against tyranny, in a giant undertaking unparalleled in human history.

We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but forty years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs. Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here, and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance.

The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers at the edge of the cliffs, shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After two days of fighting, only ninety could still bear arms.

Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them here. These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war. Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender’s poem. You are men who in your “lives fought for life and left the vivid air singed with your honor.”

I think I know what you may be thinking right now — thinking “we were just part of a bigger effort; everyone was brave that day.” Well, everyone was. You remember the story of Bill Millin of the 51st Highlanders? Forty years ago today, British troops were pinned down near a bridge, waiting desperately for help. Suddenly, they heard the sound of bagpipes, and some thought they were dreaming. Well, they weren’t. They looked up and saw Bill Millin with his bagpipes, leading the reinforcements and ignoring the smack of bullets into the ground around him.

Lord Lovat was with him — Lord Lovat of Scotland, who calmly announced when he got to the bridge, “Sorry, I’m a few minutes late,” as if he’d been delayed by a traffic jam, when in truth he’d just come form the bloody fighting on Sword Beach, which he and his men had just taken.

There was the impossible valor of the Poles who threw themselves between the enemy and the rest of Europe as the invasion took hold, and the unsurpassed courage of the Canadians who had already seen the horrors of war on this coast. They knew what awaited them there, but they would not be deterred. And once they hit Juno Beach, they never looked back.

All of these men were part of a roll call of honor with names that spoke of a pride as bright as the colors they bore; The Royal Winniped Rifles, Poland’s 24th Lancers, the Royal Scots Fusiliers, the Screaming Eagles, the Yeomen of England’s armored divisions, the forces of Free France, the Coast Guard’s “Matchbox Fleet,” and you, the American Rangers.

Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet, you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief. It was loyalty and love.

The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead, or on the next. It was the deep knowledge — and pray God we have not lost it — that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.

You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One’s country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.

The Americans who fought here that morning knew word of the invasion was spreading through the darkness back home. They fought — or felt in their hearts, though they couldn’t know in fact, that in Georgia they were filling the churches at 4:00 am., in Kansas they were kneeling on their porches and praying, and in Philadelphia they were ringing the Liberty Bell.

Something else helped the men of D-day; their rock-hard belief that Providence would have a great hand in the events that would unfold here; that God was an ally in this great cause. And so, the night before the invasion, when Colonel Wolverton asked his parachute troops to kneel with him in prayer, he told them: Do not bow your heads, but look up so you can see God and ask His blessing in what we’re about to do. Also, that night, General Matthew Ridgway on his cot, listening in the darkness for the promise God made to Joshua: “I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”

These are the things that impelled them; these are the things that shaped the unity of the Allies.

When the war was over, there were lives to be rebuilt and governments to be returned to the people. There were nations to be reborn. Above all, there was a new peace to be assured. These were huge and daunting tasks. But the Allies summoned strength from the faith, belief, loyalty, and love of those who fell here. They rebuilt a new Europe together. There was first a great reconciliation among those who had been enemies, all of whom had suffered so greatly. The United States did its part, creating the Marshall Plan to help rebuild our allies and our former enemies. The Marshall Plan led to the Atlantic alliance — a great alliance that serves to this day as our shield for freedom, for prosperity, and for peace.

In spite of our great efforts and successes, not all that followed the end of the war was happy or planned. Some liberated countries were lost. The great sadness of this loss echoes down to our own time in the streets of Warsaw, Prague, and East Berlin. Soviet troops that came to the center of this continent did not leave when peace came. They’re still there, uninvited, unwanted, unyielding, almost forty years after the war. Because of this, allied forces still stand on this continent. Today, as forty years ago, our armies are here for only one purpose: to protect and defend democracy. The only territories we hold are memorials like this one and graveyards where our heroes rest.

We in America have learned bitter lessons from two world wars. It is better to be here ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We’ve learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent. But we try always to be prepared for peace, prepared to deter aggression, prepared to negotiate the reduction of arms, and yes, prepared to reach out again in the spirit of reconciliation. In truth, there is no reconciliation we would welcome more than a reconciliation with the Soviet Union, so, together, we can lessen the risks of war, now and forever.

It’s fitting to remember here the great losses also suffered by the Russian people during World War II: 20 million perished, a terrible price that testifies to all the world the necessity of ending war. I tell you from my heart that we in the United States do not want war. We want to wipe from the face of the earth the terrible weapons that man now has in his hands. And I tell you, we are ready to seize that beachhead. We look for some sign from the Soviet Union that they are willing to move forward, that they share our desire and love for peace, and that they will give up the ways of conquest. There must be a changing there that will allow us to turn our hope into action.

We will pray forever that someday that changing will come. But for now, particularly today, it is good and fitting to renew our commitment to each other, to our freedom, and to the alliance that protects it.

We’re bound today by what bound us 40 years ago, the same loyalties, traditions, and beliefs. We’re bound by reality. The strength of America’s allies is vital to the United States, and the American security guarantee is essential to the continued freedom of Europe’s democracies. We were with you then; we are with you now. Your hopes are our hopes, and your destiny is our destiny.

Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: “I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”

Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their valor and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.

Thank you very much, and God bless you all.

Perhaps we need computers instead of judges on The Supreme Court. They can work on Constitutional algorithms instead of their own emotions.  : )

Let’s be honest, judges are human beings as well, and they are going to likely slant a little bit one way or the other, however, they do need to be as Independent minded as possible, and try to look at each issue from all sides, while applying the law as close to The Constitution as “humanly” possible.

That being said, we certainly “do not” want activist judges whose agenda it is to allow laws to be passed based on their personal (or biased) preferences. While I completely understand why our founders had the three separate branches of government, as a way to de-centralize power, they had to know that The Supreme Court, by its very nature, was a possible opening for “potential” bias decision making, as it allows for The Constitution to be interpreted by a small group of individuals that are Constitutionally granted a life tenure on the court. However, there are nine justices, as opposed to one Supreme Justice; and four out of the nine justices must agree to hear a case before it can even come before The Supreme Court.

While I do understand the concern for the remarks that Sonia Sotomayor made, I do think that there is a reality that we all need to face…If you have a liberal president, then there should be no surprise that his selection is going to be a judge that has ruled with a liberal point of view, and vice-versa for conservatives. It is really bad when every single move that a president or law-maker makes, causes the entire country to draw a line in the sand; this is yet, more evidence that we really have lost faith in our law makers. Also, had judges always been working diligently to follow The Constitution, then we likely would never be having this conversation today.

Law-makers should also completely “respect” The Constitution, and be governing based on how our founders intended it. It really does seem as though we have become so paranoid of our elected officials, that forward progression (without true reform) and trust in their decision making, almost seems impossible.

Mark

I am not an economist, nor am I really a partisan when it comes to politics, but I have been forced over the last year to think about economic matters a lot, and would like to share some of my insights…

I have heard, on several occasions, that upward of two thirds of the economy is based on consumer confidence and spending;  that being the case, to “really” boost consumer confidence and spending, I would think that one of two things need to happen…either all goods and services would need to collectively drop in cost, or all consumers in The United States would need to collectively get a raise in income, so that they have more money to spend. Is either one or both of these two things possible?

Let’s first consider this…the federal government, on February 17, 2009, signed into law, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which started out as The Stimulus Bill. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act…it actually sounds kind of good on the surface, doesn’t it? I mean, what American doesn’t want to see investment in their own country? Our great country certainly deserves investment into infrastructure and some other things that have withered over time. When this bill was being debated, it was asked, how much of this 787 billion dollar bill would actually be stimulative? I thought that this was a great question, and my answer to that question was, “not a whole lot”.

For a moment, consider this…if you took a handful of darts, and all at once, threw them at a dartboard, how many of those darts would actually stick to the dartboard, let alone hit the bull’s eye? The current administration often used the term shovel ready; even if the project was permitted, designed, reviewed, re-visioned and approved; and all of the other red tape that goes along with major infrastructure projects, making it shovel ready, generally construction projects last for a period of time, then the people that worked on those projects, are often once again laid off; therefore, any job creation, or stimulative effects would be of a short term nature, in a so-called shovel ready project.

Let’s now go back to consumer spending and confidence…In the past, we have received stimulus checks (in the mail) from the government, for a few hundred bucks. While money is always welcome in my mailbox, I personally would have preferred the government to keep that money in The Treasury, in case of a national emergency, as I saw very little stimulative effect that would really come from it. In fact, it has been shown that most people either saved that money, or paid down some personal debt, and very little was pumped into the economy.

I think that the use of these small scale and non-stimulative rebate checks have been used by many as an argument against tax cuts. I do not believe that a small scale, one time rebate check will ever do much to stimulate the economy, however, I would like to see a complete tax holiday, eliminating income tax, sales tax, corporate taxes, and any other taxes for a specified amount of time, or until the economy gets back on it’s feet.

So let’s look at some facts…

• We know that consumer confidence and spending is a large key to economic growth.
• We know when people have a sustained raise of income, they have more money that they can rely on, and more money to spend.
• We know that if sales tax is suspended for a period of time, then people will be much more inclined to go spend more, which in return would create profits for businesses all around.
• We know if corporate tax is suspended, or lowered significantly, that companies will also have more money to retain and hire employees; and hopefully to invest into new business; not to mention the new businesses that may flock to The United States as a result of a low corporate tax.

Now, while I agree with Colin Powell on a few points, in regards to The Republican Party, I completely disagree with him that Americans want a bigger government and more taxes for services.

Evoking a bigger government and more taxes is in direct contrast to the core principals of The Republican Party and of our founder’s vision. In fact, big government control and high taxes were the foundation for The American Revolution.

Colin Powell is a very smart man, and while I agree with him to some extent, I have to believe that he knows that The Republican Party is a direct contrast to what he has been advocating lately.

If he wants bigger government and higher taxes, then he is now in the right party, at the right time; in fact, that philosophy is even more indicative to a farther-left Democrat, I’m not sure that a more “moderate” Democrat would even agree with his assertion.

He has also stated how he worked under Ronald Reagan; and no reasonable American will doubt Colin Powell’s great patriotism and service to our country; but again, these philosophies that he is advocating, are in direct contrast to Ronald Reagan as well. Ronald Reagan said that government was the problem, not the solution, and he was right. Ronald Reagan was also an advocate of low taxation.

So, while The Republican Party certainly needs to do a bit of work, they “should not” sell out their core beliefs, nor should The Republican Party allow a powerful, intelligent man like Colin Powell to try to sell (brand) The Republican Party as something that it is not.

I would like to see people read more about the history of our parties and what they truly stand for; it is actually eye-opening. It was after doing the research that I realized, my views on the economy, government and taxation, were much more aligned with The Republican Party, and our founding fathers. However, most of my life I had voted Democrat because I was told to do so, and was lead to believe that they were the right party.

The Republican Party has