Where There Is No "Representation"

Today we will see the Senate vote on a two year budget deal that continues down the "spend like there is no tomorrow" path we have seen for the past five years. Our National Debt has gone from $10.2 Trillion to $17.2 Trillion in those five years - an increase of 70 percent. Five years out of our more than 220 years of existence has given us 70 percent more debt! Congress has failed at every turn to stop this headlong rush into fiscal insolvency by heaping more debt on generations yet unborn. To add insult to injury, this current budget deal will cut pension benefits to those who put their lives on the line for this nation, our military retirees. Notice there is no talk of cutting pensions or benefits for the people who put us in this bind (the U.S. Congress)? In fact, we see acts of "magnificence" (beneficence) where Congress gives millionaire widows of Congressmen huge grants of U.S. taxpayer money (what would have been salary for these pompous buffoons). That money didn't come out of their pockets as a donation. No, it came out of the pockets of taxpaying citizens, and that pool is shrinking rapidly every month because of our horrid economy. Congress tries to fool us by talking about Billions in savings over tens of years - paltry hundredths of a percent of the money they spend annually! Then they spend (and BORROW) at least a Trillion more annually than they take in. Can you understand this insanity?

The interests of The People are no longer paramount in the eyes of our elected "representatives". It seems they are more interested in lining their own pockets while destroying the fiscal solvency of our nation and making the common citizen ever more in debt. Unfortunately, it appears this nation is growing ever closer to the time when citizens, if they have the moral outrage over the injustices of our current system, may have to rise up and overthrow this government. This was how this nation was born. Lack of honest representation, focusing on the best interests of the citizens, created a nation of The People and by The People. That nation has been mutated into a nation of the Politician, for the Politician, and seemingly totally unanswerable to The People. Without drastic and rapid change back to our roots, the United States will go the way of Rome and fall to corruption and in flames.

Stand strong, Patriots!  No Compromise, No Surrender! 

They Have Earned Our Undying Gratitude?

How many times have you heard those words from our "Commander in Chief"? Now, ask yourself, "What has our nation done to show that undying gratitude?"  It makes you go "Hmmmmm!" when you see articles like "Military's Budget Plan: Cut Pay, Benefits" (http://www.newser.com/story/177744/militarys-budget-plan-cut-pay-benefits.html).

I, personally, am amazed that this nation has allowed the constant and recurring deployment of National Guard units without the declaration of War by Congress. The last time Congress declared war in accordance with Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution was for World War II. I can see the call up of U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Reserve units, but the National Guard should only be called up under a declaration of War to execute Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions. Have you seen any of those since WWII?

In the mean time, we've seen constant reduction of military benefits for both active duty and reserve personnel and their families. We've seen the suicide rate of our military sky rocket because of these constant and recurring deployments IN A TIME OF PEACE (remember, war has not been declared). We see stories of the hardships the families of deployed military living on reduced income while their spouses have been activated and taken from jobs that pay more than the military. We see stories of the disrespect and abuse of our military and ex-military by citizens too wrapped up in what they can get for "free", when they owe those who served and sacrificed for our Freedoms a debt that can never sufficiently be repaid.

America, you need to sit back, take a deep breath and imagine what your lives and freedoms would be like if our military never took that oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Less than one percent of the U.S. population serves in the military of the United States at any one time. They literally sign a check for their lives on demand by a President and Congress who deliberately place them in harms way. In the mean time, we 99+% of the citizenry go about our lives, mostly forgetting that while we eat, sleep, and work, men and women are out there being shot at, blown up, maimed, and killed at the whim of our political process and without the declaration of war. Instead, we should be getting on our knees and praying for the blessing and protection of those who serve and sacrifice so that we might be free.

If you want to show your gratitude, there are many ways to do so. Get involved in community efforts to pack "care boxes" for our deployed military. Many sites offer to prepare and send packages of needed and welcome supplies to our troops for a very reasonable donation. Take the time to go down to the airport and welcome home military who are returning from deployment. Let your heart warm to the glow of their faces when they see you took a few moments to remember their sacrifices and greet them at homecoming. Volunteer at the local USO. Go out of your way to prepare a Christmas card and package of "goodies" for our deployed troops and wounded veterans in hospitals; there are organizations that will send those off to the troops for you. Find groups like H.E.A.R. Our Veterans (http://www.gofundme.com/2qhwgs) to benefit our veterans and give them a platform of support for their concerns and needs. And, finally, remember our service members in your prayers. Matthew 5:9 " 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons (and daughters) of God."

Stand strong, Veterans, Patriots and Preppers!  No Compromise, No Surrender!

Again, Rome Falls

I've been fairly quiet at blogging for a few months.  I guess I'm just so fed up with what our "representatives", with a few exceptions, in Washington, D.C. and our Government have been doing.  I've watched the great Kabuki dance our politicians are doing and they are, like the ancient Roman government, giving the populace free bread and the games all over again.  Our attention has been diverted from the routine attack on our God-given rights by the Government: privacy, free speech, practice of our religion (unless you happen to be a Muslim), and, for that matter, most of the Bill of Rights recognizing those God-given (NOT Government granted) rights.  The ones who haven't been swayed by all of this subterfuge have been quietly making plans.  They have been preparing for the downfall of this "Empire".  And, no, I am not saying an armed rebellion is afoot!  I'm pointing out that those who have a belief in all the things that made this country great (independence, self-reliance, personal responsibility, and a deep belief in God/His morality) are trying to make sure that when things do go down that great sucking maelstrom created, with the help of our "representatives", by the Federal Government, some will survive to rebuild again.  Hopefully they will rebuild with a mind to avoid our past errors.

Our pending downfall is rooted in the conveniences and excesses of our age.  We no longer, for the most part, have to work hard every day to put food into our mouths through farming, ranching, animal husbandry, foraging, and sun up to sun down labor.  Modern life has given us time to spend on other things that detract from our basic survival.  Unfortunately, this extra time has also taken us away from personal responsibility.  We elect or appoint someone to "take care" of what are our most basic rights so that we can concentrate our time elsewhere.  When a man or woman fails in their personal responsibility to take care of themselves, their families, and their God-given rights, they will fall to those who want nothing more than unchallenged dominance over others.  That is probably our greatest mistake, next to a loss of faith.

When we lose faith or no longer practice our faith, the immoralities we would have never accepted become lost in the noise level of everyday life.  The foundation of our morality is our faith in God.  When morality is gone, the perversions of life take over.  The murder of another, whether on the street or in the womb, loses it horror.  The permanence of the bond between a man and a woman is eroded, as is the strength of family. Common decency is overlooked because we are distracted elsewhere.  We lose hope because we forget the source of our inner strength.  Those who would dominate us know this all to well.  That is why you see organized attacks by them on Christianity.  That is why you see reports of Government training to our military that brands Christians as hate groups and terrorists.  They chip away at the foundations of our strength.  It is our willingness to compromise and give up, chip by chip, our faith, our principles, our rights, and our personal responsibility that is our undoing.

I can only hope that those who still believe in themselves, their faith, and their God-given rights will ultimately prevail.  People need to remember that Government has no power but what we give it.  What has been delegated can be withdrawn. Personal responsibility is hard, but so much easier than the bonds of slavery to another.

Proverbs 6:6 –11 (NLT)
“6:6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 6:7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 6:8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 6:9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 6:10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—6:11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” 

1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV)
“If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Proverbs 27:12
“A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

Stand strong, Patriots and Preppers!  No Compromise, No Surrender!

I Am the Flag

I am the Flag of the United States of America
My name is Old Glory
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings
I stand watch in America's halls of justice
I fly majestically over institutions of learning
I stand guard with power in the world
Look up at me and see me

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice
I stand for freedom
I am confident
I am arrogant
I am proud
When I am flown with my fellow banners
My head is a little higher, my colors a little truer

I bow to no one
I am recognized all over the world
I am worshipped
I am saluted
I am loved
I am revered
I am respected and I am feared

I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomatox
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest
Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa
Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me
I was there
I led my troops
I was dirty, battle worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud

I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free
It does not hurt, for I am invincible
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my own country
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle - it hurts
But I shall overcome, for I am strong
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon
I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours, but my finest hours are yet to come

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier
Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud
My name is Old Glory
Long may I wave
Dear God in heaven
Long may I wave

Today is Flag Day. We celebrate both the adoption of our flag and the birthday of the U.S. Army.  Our flag is more than just a piece of cloth.  It symbolizes the history of our nation, the hopes and ideals of our Founders, the promise of something better, and the heart of the American People.  For me, it is all of that and more.  It is the symbol of my Republic, my Constitution, and my oath to support and defend that Constitution.  It has ridden my shoulder as I have served and fought for my nation.  When I pass, it will be the last mortal cover laid over me as I am consigned back to my God and maker.

Take time today to consider the true meaning behind our Flag.  If it is in you, commit yourself to defend the hopes and ideals that Flag represents from the decay infecting our Nation.  God Bless you and God Bless the U.S.A.!

 Stand strong, Patriots! No Compromise, No Surrender!

If America was a Corporation, Obama would be FIRED!

In a corporation, the likes of Obama (and his appointees) would have long ago been kicked out on his a$$ by the stock holders. But wait, you say, Obama was elected by a majority of the American people. That may be, but a majority of American voters ARE NOT stock holders in the corporate sense of the word. They are not true "investors" with the cash from their hard-earned dollars. They are the "TAKERS" who come to the government with their hands out expecting "free stuff" without truly paying their share of the cost of that government. They are infected with the Liberal "Entitlement Mentality". They do not pay income taxes. The taxes they do pay come from the welfare money they collect from the government (actually from all the taxpayers that do pay income tax). Their numbers have swelled because the Liberal political agenda is to promise these "takers" the world, paid for with the taxes from the real taxpayers, all in return for their vote to overturn the desires of the real "investors".

The "takers" don't really care what corruption, lies, deceit, and moral turpitude the government perpetrates as long as their "free stuff" is paid in full. The unfortunate truth is that the number of true "investors" in the government, the ones who really pay for all that "free stuff", is approaching the tipping point (if it hasn't passed already) where the "takers" outnumber the "investors" in rapidly increasing numbers. When those that pay for all of this government largesse can no longer afford to pay for the "free stuff", it will stop. That day will be the end of the current government. The "takers" who feel they are "owed" all of this "free stuff" will rebel with violence. Seeing how this is going, it will not be the "takers" that the government targets - it will be the "investors". The secret tyranny at the highest levels will come out of the closet with bristling arms. The "investors" have allowed themselves to slowly be made into slaves to the overspending corruption of the government. The government will use force to reign in these "slaves" that provide their currency of dependency - cash generated by the hard work of those who feel they are not owed.

We must stand up and, with a united front, force government to shut down the "free stuff" government supply lines and move these "takers" into being responsible for themselves. It won't be easy. Few honest politicians remain so after several terms in Federal office. We must get rid of these politicians and move back to the Government (yes, capitalized this time) envisioned by our Founding Fathers. We must move back to a limited government that only provides the "opportunity" to seek life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not the physical and monetary means to do so. The first step in this process is to use the word "NO!" to our politicians. The second step is a lifetime two-term limit for all Federal political positions, returning them to "public service" positions and not a political career of corruption and self promotion. It is past time for the "slaves" who pay for everything this government does (or doesn't do) to "revolt" and take control back into the hands of the citizens! It won't be easy, but if we don't, the freedom our Founding Fathers gave us will die.

Stand strong, Patriots! No Compromise, No Surrender!

IT IS THE SOLDIER

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

©Copyright 1970, 2005 by Charles M. Province

In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless them and their families! Freedom is ours because they chose to serve.

Stand strong, Patriots! No Compromise, No Surrender!

 

Memorial Day (Decoration Day), May 27th, 2013

On Monday, May 27th, we honor those who died in the service of their country. More than 43 million American Patriots have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect Liberty, both here and elsewhere in the world. (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004615.html) One percent or less of Americans at any one time serve their country in the Armed Forces. Just one-half of 1 percent of Americans served in uniform at any given time during the past decade -- the longest period of sustained conflict in the country’s history. Please take time this weekend to remember the fallen and thank those who have served in uniform for both their service and sacrifices. Remember, too, to say a prayer for both those currently in the military and their families. Our Liberty is in their protection. In honor of the fallen, fly the U.S. Flag at Half Staff from Sunrise Until Noon on Monday 5/27/13 for Memorial Day. God Bless those who are serving and have served. 

Stand strong, Patriots! No Compromise, No Surrender!

The Second Amendment: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
----------------------------------------------------
in·fringe /inˈfrinj/ Verb

1) Actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.): "infringe a copyright".
2) Act so as to limit or undermine (something); encroach on: "infringe on his privacy".

Synonyms
violate - transgress - break - contravene - trespass
-----------------------------------------------------
It is obvious that every act currently being taken by Sen. Feinstein and her Liberals cohorts (regardless of party) is aimed at infringing on Second Amendment rights. Background checks - infringement. Banning of firearms - infringement. Limiting weapon magazine ammunition capacity - infringement. Prohibiting weapon characteristics or features - infringement. Our Founders used plain, simple language, not legalistic gobbledygook. It doesn't take a lawyer or the Supreme Court to see that these acts are unconstitutional and illegal. If Americans don't wake up, soon any rights they have will be limited to the point of eradication.

Stand strong, Patriots! No Compromise, No Surrender!

 

Procrastination - How to Bankrupt a Nation

Food for Thought: Procrastination rarely produces good results, especially when it has negative consequences while procrastination occurs. This continues to be the case with our National Budget. Rather than deal with the hard choices of cutting out unnecessary spending so that we only spend what we have, our Congress continues a decades old strategy of kicking the can down the road to let future legislators deal with the problem. As a result, The National Debt is now in excess of $16 Trillion. $4 Trillion of that was added during eight years of the Bush administration. the last $6 Trillion has been added in only 4 years of the Obama administration. The Federal Government (Congress) has been borrowing in excess of $1 Trillion per year just to pay for the nice to have, and in most cases, unnecessary programs.

Right now, "Entitlement Programs" eat up the majority of Federal spending. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security—along with other entitlements such as food stamps, unemployment, and housing assistance— make up 62 percent of all federal spending. What is an entitlement program? Per www.wiseGEEK.org:

"An entitlement program can be defined as a governmental mechanism where public funds are given to people because they meet some kind of requirement. One commonly known American example of an entitlement program would be the federal food stamp program, which allows people without sufficient funds to buy food. Another well-known entitlement program is Medicare, although only certain parts of that program actually qualify as entitlements.
There are some common misconceptions related to the definition of an entitlement program. Many people believe that any program where the government gives people money is an entitlement program, but this is not the case. For example, people actually give money to the Social Security program during their years of work, so they are actually paying to gain access to that program, and it doesn’t necessarily qualify as an entitlement. Medicare is similar, although there are actually parts of both programs that could technically be called entitlement program elements.

An example of Medicare and Social Security being used as entitlement programs would be when someone is disabled and they can’t work. People in this situation are given access to Social Security funds, along with government medical insurance. These people don’t actually have to pay into the program to get a benefit, and this is what separates them from normal Medicare and Social Security recipients.

There has been a political firestorm over entitlement programs in the United States. Many people on the right-wing side of the political spectrum are strongly opposed to any kind of entitlement program. They believe that they ultimately cause people to become more reliant on government, and that could potentially harm society. People on the left-wing side of the political spectrum have the opposite view. They think that the government should be spending significantly more money on entitlement programs as a way to help the needy.

Some entitlement programs can be very expensive for a government to maintain in the long term. In order to keep entitlement programs going, governments are often forced to raise taxes and reduce spending in other areas such as military defense or scientific research. Once the government sets up some kind of entitlement program, it is usually politically very difficult to reduce spending on it, and it is often politically impossible to remove it. Those on both sides of the political spectrum often look for ways to reduce the price of these programs so that they can avoid increasing taxes, which is also politically unpopular."

There are two real problems with "Entitlement Programs."  The first is that NONE of these programs are included as an enumerated power granted to the Federal Government by the U.S. Constitution. That means that they belong with the States and the People.  The second is that with any program you are only "Entitled" what you put into the program plus a reasonable amount of interest for the time the contributions were held. Running a program in any other way is economically unsound and doomed to failure. When a program pays out money to individuals that did not contribute to the program or pays out more money to a participant that what they contributed plus reasonable interest, THE MONEY RUNS OUT! When this happens, people who contributed but have not yet collected benefits are cheated of their portion.


 “Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.” -Thomas Jefferson

“To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.” -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Joseph Milligan, April 6, 1816

"I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer." Benjamin Franklin, On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor, November 1766

"In 1794, when Congress appropriated $15,000 for relief of French refugees who fled from insurrection in San Domingo to Baltimore and Philadelphia, James Madison stood on the floor of the House to object saying, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”" -James Madison, 4 Annals of congress 179 (1794)

Until this Government, especially Congress, gets realistic on managing the budget to annual intake of revenues, every financial transaction will drive us closer to the financial bankruptcy of our nation. That event isn't far away. We must force our representatives in Congress to go back to basics. What IS the Government supposed to do at the Federal level as dictated by the Constitution? What Federal functions currently existing DO NOT match that list in the Constitution? What departments of the Federal Government must be eliminated to match Constitutional enumeration of powers? What is the Federal Government doing that rightfully belongs with the States or The People? We must force Congress to do this and shackle them to only those functions and only that spending. If it happens in time, we may be saved. If it does not, the United States as we know it will crumble within this decade. Plans that promise to balance the budget in 10 years will not solve our problem in time.

Stand strong, Patriots! No Compromise, No Surrender!

Bankruptcy, U.S. Government Style

The audacity of this administration, with tomorrow's approach of the sequestration cuts, never ceases to amaze me. Here is a Government that does nothing but grab every tax dollar it can and insinuate itself into every aspect of American life. At the same time, it consistently spends at least $1.2 Trillion per year more than it takes in through annual taxation. The President's 2013 "budget" proposals, not yet presented formally to Congress, supposedly total $3.8 Trillion, with projected annual revenues at $2.49 Trillion. That proposed "budget" is $1.31 Trillion higher than revenues.  "Discretionary spending" in this "budget" is around $1.2 Trillion. Isn't it funny that you have $1.2 Trillion in discretionary spending when you don't even take in the $3.8 Trillion you propose to spend? In my mind, EVERYTHING above $2.49 Trillion is discretionary, nice to have IF you had it, spending. The sequestration imposes $1.2 trillion in across-the-board, automatic cuts (over 10 years) to both military and domestic programs, set to begin this year. The 2013 share of these cuts is $85 Billion. That is a 2% cut in PROPOSED spending! Unfortunately, despite all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, the sequestration WILL NOT BRING TOTAL SPENDING IN 2013 DOWN TO MATCH REVENUES! The Government will still spend $3.715 Trillion! We will still have to borrow at least $1.215 Trillion dollars if the Federal government spending matches the President's proposed $3.8 Trillion budget (less the $85 Billion in sequestration cuts). What does sequestration get us? It gets us CONTINUED SPENDING FAR ABOVE OUR MEANS and matches the exact spending curve that got us into this mess! It gets us GOVERNMENT OVERSPENDING AS USUAL! Congress, again, has failed the American People. It refuses to meet its fiduciary responsibilities to spend within annual revenues. Until the People express their outrage in terms that throw "the fear of God" into Congress and the Federal Government, we will continue down the path of ancient Rome into ruin. People, at this rate, we have less than 10 years until that ruin is complete. Under President Obama, the Federal Debt will double from $10 Trillion when he took office, to more than $20 Trillion at the end of his second term. Make your decision. I can only pray it is the right one. I, and Patriots like me, will remain voices crying out in the wilderness until a responsible majority does what must be done.

Stand strong, Patriots! No Compromise, No Surrender!

The Right to Keep and Bear Arms

The right of the People to keep and bear arms is a major discussion today. The unfortunate thing is that it shouldn't be. This right, under the general description of self defense, is a God-given, inalienable right of all free men. The U.S. Constitution recognized that right and said it "...shall not be infringed." The political scene has become infested with those who think they know what is best for us and want to control every aspect of our lives. The right to keep and bear arms is a major impediment to them doing so, because that right allows free citizens to fight for their rights. I advise all free men to stand up and fight for their right to keep and bear arms. As said by Tench Coxe, one of the Founding Fathers:

"The power of the sword, say the minority of Pennsylvania, is in the hands of Congress. My friends and countrymen, it is not so, for The Powers of the Sword Are in the Hands of the Yeomanry of America from Sixteen to Sixty. The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be tremendous and irresistible. Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves. Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American.... [T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people."

If we desire to remain free, we need to stand up and fight those who would try to deprive us of the right that would defend all other rights, the Second Amendment. I, for one, will be one of the fighters. I swore an oath to defend and protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. It seems the domestic enemies are at the gates.

One of the best discussions of the Second Amendment I have read is: 

  

The Right of the People or the Power of the State
Bearing Arms, Arming Militias, and the Second Amendment

by

Stephen P. Halbrook

I highly recommend it:  http://constitution.org/2ll/schol/jfp6ch04.htm

Stand strong, Patriots! No Compromise, No Surrender!