ME The People

The Argument for States Rights…

2011-03-09T11:49:00.001-08:00

Now how could I NOT post something as important as this ? From Glenn Beck’s page…

Power Divided is Power Checked: The Argument for States Rights

Whenever you write a book, invariably people ask “Why did you write this book now?” While the idea for "Power Divided is Power Checked: The Argument for States Rights" is as old as the founding documents themselves, there was an urgency in my mind towards reinvigorating the framers’ intention at this particular moment.

We are at a tipping point in America of which there may be no going back if we choose the wrong path. And while everyone (at least those on the left) bemoans the fact that the country appears to be so polarized, no one asks why. I think I know one reason.

People have always had differing views on the size of government in a free society. In the modern era, however, we have abandoned the live and let live philosophy of federalism for the ‘one size fits all’ imposition of consolidated power. The result is a spoils system bordering on mob rule by allowing Leviathan government to impose its will on the rest of the country. This is the antithesis of republican architecture.

James Madison wrote of the new central government that it could not “be deemed a national one since its jurisdiction extends to certain enumerated objects only, and leaves to the several states, a residuary and inviolable sovereignty over all other objects.” In short, the genius of the framers was to craft a system of governance that would account for the diversity of men by allowing separate jurisdictions–known as states–to compete for the governed.

A Republic then embraces a division of power that emphasizes local control “extended over a large region.” It is neither a monarchy nor a democracy, but a filtered majority refined with representation and constrained by the separation of powers. The most important of which, expressed in the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, being vertical in nature.

Why is this important? Because the most divisive issues of the day are no longer being decided by everyday citizens crafting the laws under which they live, but by a federal behemoth overstepping its constitutional boundaries.

For instance, while the Civil War Amendments were appropriately designed to eradicate any and all forms of state racial preferences, they were not (contrary to a century of judicial activism) meant to “incorporate” federal review over every imaginable dispute. Most of those–from religion to education to crime and punishment–fell squarely under the power of the states to police the law.

At the same time, regulating commerce among the states was never intended to nationalize control over the economy. Indeed, the federal health care law (Obamacare for the unpersuaded) itself now rests tenuously upon the twin posts of an elastic commerce clause and a bizarre view (hatched at a cocktail party during the New Deal) of an unlimited federal taxing and spending power. Believe it or not, there was a time when state tax burdens were of greater concern to the average worker than the federal one. The demise of fiscal federalism has conclusively put an end to that.

The point is this: if any given state wants to bailout business, subsidize health care, and legalize abortion and gay marriage, let them do it. As long as every other state is free to enact the opposite policy. In 1962 it was President John F. Kennedy who (perhaps unwittingly) reminded a nation on the doorstep of expanding centralized power, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”

Breaking up the monopoly in Washington may be the surest way to diffuse today’s political hostilities. But that of course would require the most progressive of pundits to stand down on the issue of national government and in the process rediscover the virtue of exactly what they’ve demonized for so long: states’ rights.

And that’s why I wrote “Power Divided is Power Checked: The Argument for States’ Rights.”

Jason Lewis is a nationally syndicated talk show host and a columnist for the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. He is also the author of “Power Divided is Power Checked: The Argument for States’ Rights” from Bascom Hill Publishing.

Identities Sold and Traded Online…

2010-11-10T10:08:00.001-08:00

This video from CBS News discusses how your private information is being bought, sold and traded online through chat rooms…

Take a look, and learn how to protect yourselves.

Identities Sold Online

For more information about how YOU can protect your information…and how to have the World’s largest asset protection service restore your identity…please visit my website at www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/wlive .

Painful Medical ID Theft…

2010-11-09T07:09:00.001-08:00

Most people are unaware that there is yet another form of Identity Theft out there…thieves are now targeting your medical records and insurance. Medical ID Theft is one of the fastest growing forms of this crime, and nearly all who experience it don’t realize they have a problem until either the bills start arriving, or when they need medical care themselves. Watch this video for a quick overview of medical ID Theft…

Painful Medical ID Theft

For more information on how to protect yourself from this, and other forms of Identity Theft, please visit my website at www.prepaidlegla.com/hub/wlive .

Teen Identity Theft

2010-11-05T19:49:00.001-07:00

The largest increase in Identity Theft crimes is against children…when this video was made, it was teens. Now, it’s the identities of little kids that are being stolen and used to get credit, medical treatment, and work identification. For information on how to prevent, and RESTORE your identity issues please visit my website at www.prepaidlegal.co/hub/wlive .

Teen Identity Theft

For more information on how to prevent, and RESTORE your identity issues please visit my website at www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/wlive .

Lawsuits and small business…

2010-11-05T12:22:00.001-07:00

Here is the second installment of my series of morning updates about life events and how they affect our daily lives…

For more information on how to protect yourself, your family and your business from frivolous or other lawsuits, please visit www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/wlive .

Wiley’s Morning Updates…

2010-11-05T12:02:00.001-07:00

I’m going to embark upon a series dedicated to bringing useful daily “life-event” knowledge to my readers. For the next few weeks, you may come here and see a video, click on a link, or simply read about issues that affect our daily lives. It is my hope you’ll find this informative , and that you’ll discover a way to become proactive and protect yourself, your business, and your family.

My first video deals with illegal immigrants and Identity Theft issues.

You’ll find that video here :

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/immigration-and-id-theft/6702wki?tab=m5&rf=http%3A%2F%2Fredtape.msnbc.com%2F2006%2F03%2Fhidden_cost_of_.html&from=00

For information about protecting yourself from Identity Theft, or Identity Theft RESTORATION, please visit www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/wlive

Yes means yes, and No means disaster…

2010-10-28T09:27:00.001-07:00

This is VERY important to you if you have a family, are a business owner, or are under-employed. A YES vote on Prop 23 temporarily sets aside the dangerous economic implications of AB32, a law which is designed to raise revenue (that's TAXES & PRICES) to fund alternative fuels and power generation.

Do you remember what happened just over a year ago, when gas prices hovered around the $4/gallon mark ? I do. People did LESS, bought LESS, worked LESS, because they couldn't afford to fill up the family car. The California economic climate has been hammered into the "State most likely to go bankrupt" because of ideas like AB32...the green lobby, California Air Resources Board, and socialist California legislature DO NOT care about YOU...their agenda is to be "a model for the Nation".

It is a good "someday" goal...but not at the expense of every consumer and taxpayer in the state. To simplify: A YES vote on Prop 23 means YES, you can go to work...YES, you can go on vacation...YES, you can purchase goods and services for your family. And YES someday AB32 WILL be implemented...but not until our economy can get on its own four wheels.

Mandatory Reading for Every American

2010-10-27T15:07:00.001-07:00

This is a link to a book preview that must not be ignored…it is EXTREMELY important to read this, understand this, and make sure we do the things necessary to restore our country to prosperity.

I don’t know how long this link will be up, but for now…here it is:

http://media.glennbeck.com/books/brokepreview.pdf

In Search of Customer Service…

2010-03-09T22:32:00.001-08:00

Yes, times are tough…

I’d like to share an experience I’ve just had with a service provider called Nascar.com .

I’ve always been interested in motor vehicles. From my earliest years I remember being fascinated by boats, and aircraft, and especially cars…and I’ve always been driven by the process of making them better; faster; more efficient. Having built motors for several cars, and even one “show winning” custom, I am a constant follower of all things “motor vehicle”.

I am an especially rabid fan of NASCAR. A lot of you won’t understand, but it really is a team sport, and so much more than “a bunch of cars turning left”. Being a fan, I spend a considerable amount of time and money in the enjoyment of each season, buying merchandise, tickets to race events, and using the latest in technology to follow my favorite driver during each race.

One of the “new technology” items is RACEVIEW, which gives a CGI representation of each car on the track in real time. It also provides other statistical information, including conversations between the driver, crew chief and team spotter, but the real candy is the view of the car relative to the other cars on the track.

RACEVIEW is offered by NASCAR.com, a website run by Turner Sports and Digital Entertainment Network. They have offered this product for a few years now, and I’ve enjoyed using it from time to time, including the final half of the last racing season. When the end of last season arrived, I let my subscription to this service run out.

As the new season began, I found that NASCAR.com was calling RACEVIEW an “improved” product and providing, as always, a 14 day FREE TRIAL. To get the best deal, I signed up for the annual plan, thinking that if I didn’t like it for any reason I could cancel within the 14 day free trial period.

Well I tried the “improved” RACEVIEW” product, and to my dismay the most noticeable change was to shrink the CGI window by about 33 percent. As far as I can tell, this was done to accommodate getting all information that they provide on one page, a totally unnecessary modification which made the product much less useful to me. Anyone who had used the product previously knows that you could open multiple windows and have all the information at hand, without affecting the size of the visual windows. No more. It’s now “one-size-fits-all”, and it’s also apparently love it or screw you as well.

I notified NASCAR.com that I did not like the “new” product within the first 5 days of use. They informed me that since I had previously subscribed to this product I was not entitled to a free trial period ! They graciously allowed me to cancel my subscription…effective in February of 2011. I would NOT, under any circumstances, be entitled to a refund !

I am a reasonable guy. If the product was the same as before, I would be more than willing to continue using it. If NASCAR.com had charged me for the usage up to the time of my cancellation, I would have allowed it. I was even ready to allow for a partial refund, and use of the SCANNER feature (a separate product, which is included in RACEVIEW) at full retail cost for the year…but NO. I am now stuck with a product I don’t like, and am out my $79.95 .

It is my contention that this “improved” product was a different service than what I had purchased previously, and therefore a “new” subscription; that NASCAR.com does not inform current subscribers of their ineligibility for the 14 day FREE TRIAL; and that NASCAR.com is only interested in INCOME and not SERVICE to customers.

As such, I will never spend another dime at NASCAR.com . I will buy my NASCAR gear at my driver’s website; I will get my news and information from NASCAR ILLUSTRATED, and will visit the numerous other websites out there for all things NASCAR. This is my right as a consumer to determine the best value for my dollars spent.

I realize when times get tough everyone looks to minimize losses and make the most of their available resources. NASCAR.com should go back to basics and remember that excellent service is the best dollar earned, and the easiest customer kept.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR,NASCAR.com,RaceView,customer service

“No, the sky is NOT falling…”

2009-08-14T14:55:00.001-07:00

According to Ban Ki Moon, current leader of the United Nations, we only have four months from today to defeat global warming…that’s just 120 days, folks…after that, well, we’ll all die…so I guess it is time to let the chaos, mayhem and bucket-list chasing begin…

Reminds me of a fable I heard as a kid…I think it went something like this…

ONE day Ally Gorey was picking up energy credits to offset his lifestyle, when a drop of rain hit him upon the head. “Goodness gracious me!” said Ally Gorey; “the globe is a-warmin’; I must go to Washington and tell Obama-llama.”

So he went along, and he went along, and he went along until he met Sierra Clubby. “Where are you going, Ally Gorey ?” said Sierra Clubby. “Oh ! I’m going to Washington to tell Obama-llama the globe is a-warmin’ “ says Ally Gorey. Seeing an opportunity for making BIG money, Sierra Clubby said “Oh! May I come with you ?” “Certainly” says Ally Gorey. So Ally Gorey and Sierra Clubby (in separate private jets, of course !) started off to Washington to tell Obama-llama that the globe was a-warmin’.

So they went along, and they went along, and they went along until they met Grantee Scientist. “Where are you going to, Ally Gorey and Sierra Clubby ?” asked Grantee Scientist. “Oh ! We are going to Washington to tell Obama-llama that the globe is a-warmin’” said Ally Gorey and Sierra Clubby. Seeing an opportunity for making BIG money, Grantee Scientist said “Oh! May I come with you ?” “Certainly” says Ally Gorey and Sierra Clubby. So Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby and Grantee Scientist (in his own jet, of course !) started off to Washington to tell Obama-llama that the globe was a-warmin’.

So they went along, and they went along, and they went along until they met Teachy Preachy. ““Where are you going to, Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby and Grantee Scientist?” asked Teachy Preachy. “Oh ! We are going to Washington to tell Obama-llama that the globe is a-warmin’” said Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby and Grantee Scientist. Seeing an opportunity to make all the world a better place, Teachy Preachy said “Oh! May I come with you ?” “Certainly” says Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby and Grantee Scientist. So Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby, Grantee Scientist and Teachy Preachy (who left no child behind) started off to Washington to tell Obama-llama that the globe was a-warmin’.

So they went along, and they went along, and they went along until they met Average Joe. “Where are you going to, Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby, Grantee Scientist and Teachy Preachy ?” asked Average Joe. “Oh ! We are going to Washington to tell Obama-llama that the globe is a-warmin’” said Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby, Grantee Scientist and Teachy Preachy. Seeing that Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby and Grantee Scientist were looking to make BIG money, and that Teachy Preachy seemed deluded into thinking she was finally going to make a difference in the world, Average Joe decided it was time for the truth.

So Average Joe looked at Ally Gorey and said “It was a raindrop. It happens all the time. There is nothing you can do to stop, start or control it in any way.”

Then Average Joe looked to Sierra Clubby. “Membership drives and increased income do not justify the making of World or National policy.”

Average Joe then looked at Grantee Scientist. “Can’t you be happy with the funding you get for REAL science ? “ he asked.

Finally, Average Joe looked over to Teachy Preachy. “While your heart is in the right place” he said “ there is no excuse for not learning the truth before trying to persuade others that mere fantasy or theory is fact”.

Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby, Grantee Scientist and Teachy Preachy all looked at each other, then looked at Average Joe. Then, they started laughing at Average Joe.

“Well, we’re still going to tell Obama-llama, and when we do, he’ll make sure you go along.” said Ally Gorey. “We have this way of funding all this called “Cap And Trade”. You’ll PAY for your ignorance. The GLOBE is A-WARMIN’ ! “

Average Joe thought about what Ally Gorey had said. He thought about how this “cap & trade” had already ruined a farm called californica. He thought about his neighbors, and friends, and all the others like himself who worked hard for their families. Finally, he looked at Ally Gorey, Sierra Clubby, Grantee Scientist and Teachy Preachy and said…

“You have a bigger problem”

“What’s THAT ? said Ally Gorey, with his nose in the air.

Average Joe laughed, and then said…”The TAXES IS A-STOPPIN’ ! “

A Symbol For Freedom

2009-07-16T19:05:00.001-07:00

I’ve been struggling with an idea for the past few weeks…I’ve been looking for a symbol to represent what I see as the elimination of the country I have worked hard to support my entire life. With the present administration’s rush to nationalize the finance, auto, energy and health care industries we are running headlong into Communism. Why is it so hard for the average liberal to see that their leaders are taking them, Pied Piper-like, into absolute Socialism ? I’ve been calling my Democrat acquaintances “Commies” for years, and it always gets a little laugh and a nervous smile…but really, I wish they would actually THINK about the policies that are taking us in this direction at so fast a pace.

Just last week we were celebrating the freedoms that mean so very much to so many Americans…how is it possible for this Congress to so deliberately trash the framework upon which so many have prospered throughout the history of our Nation…how can they turn their backs on the system the world has envied ?

And so, I’ve been searching for a way to get the word out…a way to not only show my displeasure with the direction our leaders are taking us, but to also get others to notice, and to question, as well.

From this day forward, until I can recognize the country of our forefathers, I will be flying my American flag at half-mast.

I hope this will become a national symbol. I hope that others across this great nation will do this to get their neighbors and friends and local leaders, and even their legislators to notice that we know something is wrong. And when someone asks me “who died” my answer will be “The Constitution”.

I looked into flag etiquette about this, as I knew some might find this disrespectful. But according to USFlag.org , “The flag is to be flown at half staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon presidential or gubernatorial order”. Well, in my book the Constitution is the ultimate “designated, principal government leader”. It is the rulebook, the foundation and the one supreme document we are supposed to rely upon. It is the reference manual for all government action…and it spells out, precisely, what the government is allowed to do, and what the people have the right to expect.

I mean no disrespect to my country, or to the brave souls who have worked, and fought, and died to build this great land. But I am serious…I want my country, my Constitution, and my government back. I want to know that the greatest economic and political system ever to be borne by the minds of men will survive.

So please join me. Fly your flag proudly; salute it, honor it and remember whenever you see that symbol of freedom that it asks for you to give it support. But let’s show everyone that we mean to use this symbol to fight and support the country we deserve.

Fun Friday…July 3rd, 2009

2009-07-03T06:54:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,AMERICA !!

Celebrate safely, and please attend a Tea Party near you…go here for details : http://www.teapartyday.com/Organizers.aspx?g=topics&f=96

Bumper sticker humor…and I’m sure these are available somewhere for purchase !

Many of you may have seen these already, but I just have to share…

Californicating the Nation

2009-06-30T10:18:00.001-07:00

I have to wonder just how long it’s going to take the rest of the country to figure out that following the “California” example is a foolish direction. Here it is June 30th, and tomorrow this state begins issuing IOU’s for any debts and obligations. Barring a late-night rescue by our HEAVILY Democrat-majority legislature, the state will be insolvent.

This has been a long time coming. Many of our loony legislators have the idea in their heads that Californica (let’s call a spade a spade, shall we ?) should lead the nation and provide an example for others to follow…and that would be great if we were talking about energy production, or business revenue, or school scores. But no.

Our knuckleheads think that State government can provide a shining light to the Green frontier. They are militantly anti-car, anti-oil, anti-grocery bag, anti-personal freedom. Amazing ! Here we have a state with a 24 Capital B-BILLION dollar deficit, and the legislators (I’m talking Democrats here) have the audacity to think We The People should pay for it…thank God for the Republicans, who are holding the line and not allowing ANY new taxes.

You would think, now that they have forced Californica emissions standards on the entire country, that we could perhaps disband the CA Air Resources Board, whose budget is over $625,000,000 this year ALONE. Since this is now a Federal area, shouldn’t that expense also be Federal ? Oh, I see…we have to pay BOTH of you…

And as far as “Cap & Trade”…(HR2454, or the “Climate Change” bill)…well, we had our own version of THAT, too, known as the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006…look HARD, America, at what has happened to businesses and taxes in this state before doing this nationally. Businesses, Families, and even the illegal aliens who work for them are FLEEING the state because it is just too expensive to exist here.

Our state legislators think they are visionary, but they’re creating a public nightmare. Our Senators are Socialists. Our students have sunk to almost LAST in national test scores; our taxpayers carry nearly the highest tax burden in the country. And our illegal alien population is one of the best cared-for in the United States.

It’s time to JUST SAY NO to California, people. Nothing good is entering the public arena from this locale. You need to consider persons like myself, who have unfortunately lost control of our state and don’t want to see the same thing happen to our nation. YOU have to stop this, YOU have to be the ones who say NO…YOU have to be the ones who take back control of our country…because if you don’t…well, you’ll just have to BEND OVER AND TAKE IT !

blog support – for “The Rush to Socialism”

2009-06-29T13:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I wrote about HR 2454, the Energy Tax (or, as Congress wants you to think about it, the “Climate Change”) bill, and how it was stampeded through the House without anyone being able to first read the 1300 page document and its 300 page rider.

Here is a link to yet another explanation of HR2454 : http://www.examiner.com/x-1528-Baltimore-Personal-Finance-Examiner~y2009m6d26-Cap-and-trade-legislation--A-SmootHawley-rerun

Here’s the Californication example: http://blog.tommcclintock.com/2009/06/29/the-biggest-economic-mistake-since-the-days-of-herbert-hoover/

And another:

http://townhall.com/columnists/MyronEbell/2009/06/29/waxman-markey_is_hilarious,_but_the_joke_is_on_us?page=full&comments=true …oh, and if you have time, there’s a wealth of info in the Comments section.

In support of my blog, I mentioned an editorial by Patrick Bedard at Car and Driver magazine. I went to Caranddriver.com to link the article, but…surprise ! The article isn’t archived.

So I have it for you here. From the June 2009 issue of Car and Driver:

The Rush to Socialism

2009-06-28T20:22:00.001-07:00

It was a bad week for America…well, worse still for the likes of Ed McMann, Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, but through all the media attention regarding celebrities who have so little to do with our lives we lost a very important battle over our freedom, our wallets, and our ability to live life to its inevitable conclusion.

I’m disturbed about HR 2454…also known as the Waxman-Markey bill…which is being touted as “Climate-Change Legislation”. What ? It’s really about yet another (how many so far this year?) socialist scheme to wring even more hard-earned money from poor and middle class taxpayers. It has been estimated that the provisions in this bill will cost the average family from $1300 to $3000 per year...Do you have that available in your budget ? I Don't !

It’s NOT about “Climate-Change”, and, for the moment, let’s even assume that the man-made global warming hype IS real (read this first; eye-opening: http://www.rightwingnews.com/#post15984 )…this legislation, rammed through by Nancy Pelosi and Mr. B.O. himself, is about taxing YOU…taxing energy (that’s gasoline, oil, natural gas and a host of others) to create a “carbon trade” economy.

It’s amazing enough that they rammed this through the House without anyone having the chance to read it…or that they added 300 pages of amendments to help insure passage (again, without anyone reading the actual bill). The author of the bill, Henry Waxman from (sorry) California even admitted, on-the-air, that he didn’t know what was in the bill. Many of the members that are soooo interested in passing this have created companies which will benefit from this legislation and we, the gullible little taxpayers, will be the ones who pay. We should be very angry about this (oh, some are…http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/27284/ ), and I implore you to PLEASE check this out and try to make an informed opinion (your House member didn’t get that chance, but may have voted to pass the bill anyway !).

To get an idea from people who have researched this area, take a look at Patrick Bedard’s editorial in the June 2009 issue of Car and Driver magazine, entitled “Who Pays For New Fuels?” . This insightful article uses current government data to show just how much “alternative-energy” costs…and it ain’t pretty. And the bill known as HR 2454 gives Congress the ability to soak US for the 50-to-200 TIMES-more-expensive subsidies these “alternatives” seem to require. (Funny…but there is no link to Mr. Bedards article at Caranddriver.com…maybe I’ll type it up and post it here for those of you who can’t get your hands on a copy of the June 2009 issue).

So, the administration has nationalized the banking system…they’ve taken control of the auto companies (watch – they’re going after GE next)…and now they want to penalize and subsidize the energy markets ( HR 2454 - that’s called “control”)…clearly, we are being dragged away from free enterprise, and we must put a stop to it. Please, in the spirit of July 4th and the birth of a free nation, find out about this bill, find out how your House member voted, and do what you can to make your voice heard.

The Letter That Launched A Million Voters…

2009-06-17T20:34:00.001-07:00

Talk show host Glenn Beck read this letter on his show today, and even had the author , a grandmother from Arizona, on his radio show. I know it's a lot to read, but it IS important. And, if you agree with what she says, go to this site to sign a petition... http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/an-open-letter-to-our-nations-leadership

"I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I 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 the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

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

Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: 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 to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.

Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. 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 that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why ‑‑ what do you have against shareholders making a profit?

Nine, 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 our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band‑Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ‑‑ please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.

Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians 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 or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am 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 lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that 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 at your 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 should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have 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 that 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. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're morons.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us who will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.

Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming".

Fun Friday…June 12, 2009

2009-06-12T16:41:00.001-07:00

Funny how David Letterman’s attack on Sarah and Willow Palin is working out…I think he’s beginning to regret going up against the Palin “Tigers”…this whole situation is funnier than Dave himself !

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It’s basketball finals season, so when your team wins…burn down the neighborhood ! That’s almost what happened last night after the L.A. Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in Orlando’s own house…a riot erupts in East Los Angeles with fans(?) trying to turn over cars, throwing rocks and bottles and squaring off against the police.

I guess there’s no Laker fans in Bel Air or Beverly Hills…do you wonder why I call it “’banger-ball” ?

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A prediction: Now that ruling party has all their ducks in a row with the finance industry, the auto industry, and the tobacco industry, the next to fall will be the energy companies. Look for a $1 to $2 per gallon gas tax in a station near you sometime between September and December to fund “necessary” programs to “change” America’s transportation industry. Your mileage may vary, especially here in Californica, as I’m sure the progressives here will require an increase in gas tax for the state as well.

Other 49 states take note: Why do you look to this screwed-up mess of a state for leadership ? Doesn’t our $26 BILLION deficit tell you something about the future of America if you go down the same path ? Remember, INSANITY is sometimes defined as doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result…

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NASCAR goes to Michigan this Sunday, for TV viewers it’s on TNT…Go 17 !!

The Lynching of Carrie Prejean

2009-06-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

Keith Lewis, Executive Director of the Miss California organization, got his way yesterday with the firing of Miss California ( and Miss USA first runner-up ) Carrie Prejean. The reason as explained to the media was because she refused “to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization”. But if you’ve been following the story, I think you really know what this is all about…she was fired for embarrassing organization officials in the Miss USA pageant by stating her preference for marriage to be between one man and one woman. This was in answer to a blind-side question by that most-flaming Perez Hilton, who (WHY ???) was a pageant judge.

In addition, she filled in as a co-host on the morning newscast of “Fox and Friends”, which would be akin to tying gays to a fence and beating them to death in the eyes of pageant organizers. Miss Prejean, in a radio interview with Sean Hannety on June 11th stated that she was offered an opportunity to join the reality show cast of “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here” OR pose for some risqué photos for PLAYBOY…both offers (not “requirements”) she chose to decline.

“Reality shows are just not my thing” stated Prejean”, and she felt the PLAYBOY offer was not in the best interests of the Miss California organization. Other than that, she had complied with every request made to her. In a published statement made today, Prejean said "I have met every scheduled appearance, and responsibility, as recently as May 31st. I have followed the proper protocol requested of me and haven't made any appearances or speaking engagements without the consent or approval from the Miss California USA or Miss Universe Organizations. I have not signed with any book publisher or taken on any business proposals. As of today, June 11, 2009, I have done everything possible to honor my contract."

But Keith Lewis just HAD to hit the morning talk-show circuit with this to say about the “tens and tens and tens” of appearances she missed…(who talks this way ? FLAMING !!!)

"She was unavailable. She didn't want to make them. She was just really difficult to work with. She didn't want to make any appearances in Hollywood. It was a combative relationship."

As it turns out, Miss Prejean has been more than willing to stand for her beliefs. And while she may not be Miss California anymore, she clearly has bigger and better BALLS than Keith Lewis, Donald Trump, Perez Hilton or any other Hollywood flamer.

Shredding the Constitution

2009-06-10T17:16:00.001-07:00

Pardon my dramatic title, but some VERY scary things are happening in Washington these days. The way the two auto giant bankruptcies are being managed reeks of cronyism, political payback and just plain illegal activity. Further, the way the old investors in these companies are being treated is not only unconstitutional, but just downright dangerous, for the message Washington is sending is that money invested doesn’t belong to YOU, or the COMPANY…it belongs to whomever the government decides it belongs to.

In both these examples, the SECURED BONDHOLDERS are being cheated out of their investments, in exactly the same way Enron stole from investors just a few short years ago.Except this time, it’s the federal government who is taking their investment, and redistributing it to the UAW. Will they (will ANYONE ?) ever invest in industry again ?

Brent Bozell wrote a great article on this today; read it here.

Seriously, we can’t just let this go…the damage that is being done to our economy, for both now and the future, is extensive. The economic policies of this administration could actually trigger a major depression, not just a recession. Wake up people…

The Right To Be Stupid

2009-06-08T23:49:00.001-07:00

I was driving home this evening, going at my usual speed of around 75 miles per hour in the #1 lane(that's the one closest to the center in case you didn’t know). I see this small car come flying up behind me,easily going 80 plus, so I move to the right to let him pass.

So as he goes flying by me I see his right arm held out to a 90 degree angle, with a phone shoved up against his right ear…

First thought: Wish the cops were here to give him a ticket (it’s illegal to drive with your hand holding a phone here…must be “hands free”).

Second thought: Well, actually, I don’t care what he does, as long as he’s not hurting anyone.

All of a sudden he starts slowing down….he is still in the number one lane, but now his speed has dropped to around 60 miles per hour….and he’s thoroughly engrossed in his conversation now , to the point of highway inattention.

Next thought: Used to only see chicks do that stupid stuff; you’re ruining my statistics…

Next thought, as he pulls in front of me and heads for the # 4 lane and the exit: IDIOT !

I’m all for live and let live; my personal philosophy is to allow others to act as they wish, to pursue their idea of “happiness” without intervention from me (or government, either) AS LONG AS THEY DON’T ENDANGER SOMEONE ELSE…stupid behavior leads to a loss of freedom for everyone else…

Final thought on the subject: Eventually Darwin will catch up with that moron.

Fun Friday… June 5th, 2009

2009-06-05T10:09:00.001-07:00

With all the recent talk of ACORN on O’Reilly and Glenn Beck, and with all the Obama supporters doing their nutational dance to everything he says and does, we’d be nuts to not look into this issue. I mean, it’s not just peanuts we’re talking about here…

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In the spirit of the President’s Apology Tour to the Middle East, I address this to the liberals and environmentalists out there: If you really want to help the Muslim world improve their way of life, let ‘em sell me their damn gas !! Along with that, here’s one of the greenest thoughts I have: I want everyone out there to buy as many hybrids and electric cars they can…so there’s more gas for me !!

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For any of you animated TV watchers out there, you’ve got to check out The Goode Family on ABC. Gives a nearly spot-on representation of Green America. I don’t know how Mike Judge (of Beavis & Butthead fame) got this on the air at a darkest-green Disney network. Worth watching if you’re near the shade of green I am…

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For NASCAR fans, we’re at Pocono this week…TV coverage is on TNT for the next few weeks. Go 17 !!

“As General Motors goes, so goes the Nation”…

2009-06-04T11:56:00.001-07:00

For some reason this quotation has been rattling around in my head the last few days…I seem to remember hearing this as a relatively young child, back when I read everything I could get my hands on like newspapers and cereal boxes.

However, in checking this quote, it seems to have never existed in this context. Let’s hope the literal iteration then is also a fallacy, as I don’t think we’ll be very happy under a majority of “reluctant” government control.

Anyone who thinks that the General is going to magically reappear as some sort of automotive phoenix should pony up their investment soon…but I doubt that will happen. Instead, smart investors will be looking for companies that continue to be successful, even in these hard times. They will go with a “winner” , and rightly so…for investments today and in the near future MUST be for anticipated near-term profit.

Let’s think about what GM is bringing to the market…anything now in production for the next 3 to 5 years is pretty much the same types of vehicles they already build…oh, there’ll be a hybrid here and there, and some “econo-minimized” models, but for the most part it’s business as usual. This government takeover won’t have any effect on “future” technologies for at least 5-7 years…and they would have likely gotten there anyway, without the bailout.

As far as the quote…it was stated by the Chairman of GM, Charles Wilson in 1953, reporting to a Senate Committee.

The statement as reported by the New York Times (Feb. 24, 1953) was, “For years I thought what was good for our country was good for General Motors and vice versa. The difference did not exist. Our company is too big. It goes with the welfare of the country.” The Democrats on the committee, who were in a majority, focused on the “vice versa” of Wilson’s statement…

It took them 56 years, but Big Government finally got the control they were looking for.

How An Industry Lost Its Way

2009-06-03T21:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we saw the death of an industry giant..a giant so large that the American auto industry itself may never recover. A sigh of relief on Wall Street, where the General’s seat (along with CitiGroup) was removed. I’m sure there’s a lot of dust in the air from the many former company leaders (and proud autoworkers, for that matter) rolling in their graves as this fascist spectacle unfolds.

I have always loved cars. I remember being in grade school, wondering what I could be when I grew up…liked music, but couldn’t play well. Enjoyed sports, but never excelled in any of them. There was one thing that dominated my interest…drawing cars; figuring out how they worked; learning how to identify ALL the new models on sight. At the age of 9, my parents bought me one of those working “visible V8” models that, when completed, moved just like an actual automobile engine. From that point on, I was hooked !! I couldn’t wait for the day that I could take apart and put back together an actual car engine…something I’ve done many times since, right up to building the motor for my latest project that will,sometime soon, include a supercharger.

Having had such a deep interest in that industry, I have followed the many developments that have brought us to where we are today. I find it fascinating that EVERYONE blames the industry itself, with the least informed among us chortling about how they couldn’t build what America wanted. On the contrary, they have always built EXACTLY what the consumer wanted…usually larger cars and trucks, occasionally adding some smaller, fuel efficient models when the price or supply of gas was threatened. And they learned that, after the “fuel crisis” of the mid-seventies, they needed to produce quality cars if they were going to compete with the new imports. They didn’t always build a great car, but they always had at least something to offer everyone.

The 70s was the decade when government decided to get involved…which we can now see as the “beginning of the end” of our American auto industry. Because that is when government started to mandate exactly what cars should have as equipment. Seat belts, smog devices, other “enhancements” in the name of safety as required by the NHTSA; these are all things that the leaders of the auto industry began capitulating to in an effort to get along with government regulation. Now, I’m NOT saying these items were bad; they did (and they continue to) save lives. But each time something was added, the cars usually gained weight. And it’s a simple rule of car physics that more weight means a safer car, less weight makes a fuel efficient car. A safe, fuel efficient car is strictly a matter of degree, and when you mix the field of vehicles out on the open road, you’re going to want to be in the bigger, heavier car when they collide.

I guess my biggest complaint is the never-ending whining of the EPA, CARB and the AQMD…these agencies have, through the decades, forced the industry to comply with ever-changing rules and regulations regarding emissions. While I agree they have done some fine work in reducing smog levels in general, they take this issue far too seriously. With each successive year after about 1978, they hammered the automakers with more and more stringent rules. Now, in conjunction with CAFE standards, government intends to take the “car” out of cars…making them into appliances that have a “small carbon footprint”. Our role in the so-called global warming is still smaller than that of volcanoes and cows, yet the “leaders” of today (following advice from socialists and third-world dictators) have us trying to build the impossible.

Simply put (sorry to drag you through all this), the American auto industry was the best in the World when it was able to build cars without government interference. It began to falter when it gave up the ability to innovate on its own. Once government got involved, the builders in Europe and the Far East began to make huge strides in their own auto industries, because in those countries it was common to have subsidies and cheaper labor.

It IS safe to say management could have handled all this better…they could have been more aware of how benefits for workers might someday strangle financial resources…they could have stood up against some of the things mandated by government that eventually cost more to produce (here) and therefore cost us market share…they could have pointed out how different they were, and how much better they were when government did not intervene. But no, they had to “go along to get along”, and now they (and we) are paying the price for cowardice.

I, for one, will NEVER, EVER purchase another GM vehicle.