Are You Kidding?!?

Our lovely elected officials...HAVE THEY READ THE FREAKIN' CONSTITUTION???

To quote Russ Feingold
"Lindsay Graham and I sponsored legislation to have pilot programs in five states," Feingold told the audience. "Maybe we should try some different things. There might be a single-payer state. There might be a co-op state. Let's get some evidence on the ground. This thing right now is not going in the right direction. We might be in a situation where there won't be a bill worth passing." (The Lakeland Times)

Anybody remember that 10th Amendment Thing...you know, Enumerated Powers.

This country was not founded so the federal government can use individual states as testing grounds. States decide for THEMSELVES what they think is best.

I would like to share my favorite tweet regarding this:

@topherbrenner (me) Anyone disturbed the Senate wants to tell different states what to do http://tinyurl.com/n7u3ue #tcot #tlot #gop #iamthemob

@betseyross "Disturbed" is one way to put it. I'd say madder than 40 hells is more like it.

Exactly,

@betseyross, couldn't have said it better myself

My two cents

We the Living

I am reading "We the Living" by Ayn Rand (mostly known for "Atlas Shrugged").

This book is downright frightening. It shows the slippery slope to socialism. Private industry is socialized and then there a few things that make or break a life
- Union membership (the workers)
- Free Professions (middle class)
- Private Traders (the rich)
- Unemployed (the unemployed)

The most troubling passage regarding this is as follows.

In discussing playing for a clogged chimney, the Upravdom (landlord?) gave the breakdown on how the house would pay for it.

"The workers pay three per cent and the Free Professions ten, and the Private Traders and umemployed - the rest."

Sound like anyone's tax plan?

My two cents

Constitutional Abomination

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.(emphasis added).

Well, who feels safe now? If this health care/insurance reform bill passes, the government will be able to access financial records, medical records, etc. Bet they don't issue warrants for these records.

I guess my biggest issues with all of these bills (health care, cap and trade) come down to two things
1. The economic disaster they will cause
2. The increased hand of government in our lives

If we disagree, we get muscled and ridiculed. Don't remember anything in the constitution about that. It was patriotic to disagree with "W", but you are a racist to disagree with BHO. Without a watchdog for the media, I really don't think we have any hope of defeating these bills. By all means, unite with purpose, unite with peacefulness; but I am feeling really cynical about this.

I don't like what Washington (Democrat and Republican) is doing. And I don't know if we will be able to undo the damage if these bills pass. Let's hope "the mob" can keep them from passing in the first place.

My two cents

Is this a new smoke screen?

I have to give it to the folks in DC, all this calling town hall attendees "mob" nonsense should take the attention away from:
- Over one trillion dollars in debt
- Cap and Trade to be up for vote in senate
- Another activist judge on the Supreme Court
- Even if "Blue Dogs" get their way, health care reform still $900 billion
- Cash for Clunkers is a huge price fixing scheme

Also, where are the republicans? They seem to be happy with a compromise, but as a conservative, I would love to see a completely different bill, one with tort reform, less government regulation on insurance, tax deductions for doctors whose patients don't pay, etc. Republicans are fighting over minutiae, not a new bill.

Where are the conservative advocates in Washington? Where are the congress members defending the "mobs"? Let's face it, conservatives are not represented in congress, only the interest of those seeking reelection.

My two cents

Where did it go wrong

Where did it go wrong? The role of president I mean. This isn't just about BHO. It is also about those who came before him.

Here are the roles of the president as defined by the US Constitution.
-Commander in chief of the military
-Sign treaties as approved by the senate
-Approve or disapprove bills passed by the legislature
-Appoint ministers as approved by the senate
-Pardon those convicted of crime against US
-Ensure that the law is being executed

That's it

When did we lose our way?

My two cents

Quotes that shaped me

This isn't exactly the most original post, but here are some quotes that have shaped me into what I am.

At any rate, I am convinced that He [God] does not play dice.
-Albert Einstein

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas A. Edison

The collection of taxes which are not absolutely required, which do
not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to the public welfare, is only
a species of legalized larceny.
-Calvin Coolidge

All great change in America begins at the dinner table.
-Ronald Reagan

I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.
-G.K. Chesterton

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.
-Mark Twain

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.
-Winston Churchill

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
-Yogi Berra

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
-Thomas Paine

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Play Action Politics

Obama's stream of consciousness
"Let's see...

1. The largest tax increase in US history is on the table with Cap and Trade.
2. We are going to control life (a la "Brave New World") with nationalized health care.

People are kinda ticked about that so...

I know, I know...let's play the race card again. Neighbor sees guy trying to get into house forcibly. But wait, that is an African-American man (and even a friend of mine), and his door is jammed. Policeman follows up on call, asks for ID, man verbally assaults police officer, police officer arrests for disorderly conduct. Racism is such a problem in this country...yea...that's the ticket."

Harry, Nancy,

Now that everyone is distracted, think we can get those bills through?

My two cents