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The Republican Party Has A Death Wish

1/31/2014

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I remember as a boy listening to my dad talk about why he was a Republican.  He talked about freedom, individualism, opportunity, and putting America first.  And when I think about those times when he would teach me about good citizenship, conservative principles and our democratic republic as a form of government, I know he would be truly sick at heart if he could see his Party today.  It is truly not the party he knew nor the Pparty that I was an active supporter of for many years.

I was a Republican at an early age.  I remember being the student speaker for Barry Goldwater in high school during our mock election period.  And I was proud when I first voted Republican.  I never even questioned it back in those days.

I was particularly proud to vote for Ronald Reagan, a man I truly admired.  I can honestly say I always felt like the country was in safe hands when he was in office.  Regrettably, I have never really felt that way since.  Oh, the Bushes were okay, but I always felt both George H.W. and George W. were really quite moderate and I was shellshocked by the change in W's demeanor in his second term, particularly the big push for amnesty, the same issue that is ripping the Party wide open today.  And moderate to me has always meant that you just sit on the fence, waiting to see which way the wind is blowing before jumping off in that direction.  The Republican Party today seems to be adrift, bereft of values and looking for any way to win votes regardless of what that course does to the country.

I really became concerned in 2008 when John McCain was nominated for President.  I never trusted McCain.  I always felt he saved most of his animosity for those in his own party, particularly true conservatives and I had to hold my nose to vote for him.  And later when I found that he frequently met with George Soros my concerns became clear.

Then there was Mitt Romney,
certainly a good man and I think one of the most decent human beings in politics recently, but it became clear that he was uncomfortable posing as a conservative, he was clearly more a man of business than a man of the people.  When when he meekly allowed Candy Crowley to get away with directly aiding Obama during the debates I knew that he was going to lose and that he really wasn't a fighter.

And look how much worse the party has become since.  Rather than chart a visionary course and develop excitement in tackling Obama's crippling programs,  Republicans instead bite the very hand of those who have been most loyal to them, their base.  John Boehner would never have become Speaker had it not been for the sweeping performance by Tea Party candidates in the 2010 off year elections, yet Boehner and the establishment have trashed them at every turn.  The establishment Republicans represent nothing but compromise at all costs and how can anyone in good conscience compromise over issues that you just know are wrong? 

So, folks, I think the Republican Party is dead and this group which is masquerading as the Party, men like John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan have sold out principle for Chamber of Commerce big business support dollars and I find that revolting.  And couple those guys with the John McCains and Lindsay Grahams of the world and it just isn't my party any more.

I don't think I'm alone and I truly feel that if they push this amnesty bill through and reward Barack Obama, a man who has ridiculed them and made fun of them for five years, they will show truly that they are unworthy of any trust.  So I am now just a plain old Christian Conservative and I'll vote for whoever supports my views as much as possible.  There may even be times when I choose to sit home if I can't distinguish a valid difference between the parties.  That would be tragic and a first for me, but I refuse to just pull the lever for a group of entrenched politicians who no longer support my conservative values.

So if the Republicans do have a death wish, I guess we'll just have to give them that wish or, as a better option, fight to take over the "guts" of the Party, which would be a better option.  But I refuse to support the organization as it is currently construed for I honestly believe that it is nothing more than a slightly less hostile version of the Democrats and that is truly sad for the America I love.
  America is about freedom, not control, graft and corruption. 

Farewell, Establishment Republicans, and don't be surprised if you find my sentiments are shared by many.  It's time for putting country first and time for fresh blood. And may God help us in America because we need His guiding hand more than ever to bring America back to her guiding principles and to God. 



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Is America Being Destroyed from Within?

1/30/2014

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Since America's foundation, her citizens always believed that no power would ever be big enough or powerful enough to destroy this nation which has stood as a beacon of hope for so many.  I remember as a child the bomb drills and the constant reminders of the Soviet menace, yet the might of America always endured and ultimately toppled that evil empire by forcing it into financial insolvency in its vain effort to keep pace.
 
As I grew older, I watched the willpower and the strength of the American Spirit begin to wane.  It started with little things, like children being taught that the Pledge of Allegiance or the reverence for the flag weren't important and it followed with our history being sanitized for fear that someone might be offended.  History, the subject which gives us a clue to what courses of action lead to what result was rewritten to try and please those who didn't approve.  They weren't interested in learning from the truth, just in cleansing it to meet their desired objective.

God, long a central feature in the American lifestyle, was relegated to lip service and now many just openly scorn those who profess belief.  And, sadly, even our government has gotten in on the action with chaplains in uniform, Christian chaplains, being told they should not use Jesus Christ in their prayers.

In addition to the aforementioned political correctness which has now totally run amuck, if you add in greed and corruption, two of the key components to power, you see where it has led us.  And in just the last few years, with a President who neither understands nor appreciates the true American Spirit and the nation's history, we are in the process of dismantling our sovereignty and eliminating our culture.

The Left has infiltrated and nearly completed the takeover of our schools and our legal system while those who previously stood in the way, the supposedly more conservative elected political officials nationwide have time and time again caved on everything.  And while the court system has become an added legislative branch, the school system has actively begun to brainwash our kids into thinking that government is the answer to our problems.  1984 is alive and well in the United States of America.  And America has become anything but united.  Even many of our mainline churches, well meaning of course, have bought the concept of social justice as their guiding principle, forsaking their real purpose, teaching the word of God from the Bible.

Several things that the government has done in recent years have sped up our demise greatly.  First, the continual growth of deficit spending where we now have a national debt of over $17 trillion dollars, a figure which we can't even picture in our minds.  And on top of this we have an estimated $90 trillion in unfunded liabilities, maybe more, you know for things like social security whose "lock box funds" were never locked in a box.  They were spent by power-hungry politicians in an effort to buy voters.  And make no mistake about it, friends, that's what was done.  And all of the notes, or IOUs filed to cover these funds are just worthless paper.

Second, destruction of our healthcare system.  Obamacare has been a disaster, a disaster which I think has been perpetrated on purpose.  Representing somewhere between 17 and 20% of our economy, putting healthcare under total government control is the ultimate plan of those who would like to rule instead of lead us.  They want to be our masters, not our servants.  In the meantime, millions of Americans are in the process of losing their private coverage and finding it replaced by a product which provides less and costs much more.  Medicare has been raided to fund Medicaid, a questionable program which doctors are opting out of in droves, and we don't even know if anyone has paid for the new plans since the government maintains strict secrecy.  If the program was working well, the government would be opening their books for review, not hiding them in another "lock box". 

Also, think about this: a leading expert says that only 11% of those without healthcare coverage
have gained it under Obamacare to date.  These are the very people who the program was supposedly designed to help.  At the same time, about 5 million have lost quality healthcare that was both affordable and which they loved, and this will dramatically ramp up this year as more and more Americans receive cancellation letters from insurance companies due to the ridiculous requirements mandated, requirements such as men having coverage for childbirth and contraceptives, items that they never need or want.  What a sham of a program and a sham that is working to bring this country down.

Lastly is immigration reform.  This program is supported by both big business and union leaders.  Big business wants it for cheap labor and union leaders want it so they can gather more dues and have more money for their political plans and their individual funding.  Democrats in total and increasingly Republicans are caving to the pressure of K Street, Wall Street, and even the international marketplace with visions of huge profits and riches in their pockets.  And what about the general American public?  Well, Obama will just give them a sit home and rot government check to help them survive but the opportunity for a future will be closed.  And no one will be hurt as much as those who occupy the lower rung of jobs, often those trying to get started in life, since the hordes of illegals, once declared legal, will bid down the pay structure through supply and demand.

And for those of you who say this is nothing more than what happened at the beginning of the twentieth century I say hogwash.  My grandparents, in order to be cleared for entry into this country, had to undergo a rigorous physical clearance and prove that they had a job awaiting them.  We brought in people who would be self sufficient, were eager to work and met America standards for skills needed.  There were no anchor babies or people just looking for a free handout in this crowd.  Check your history if you doubt me, unless it's already sanitized.


If you think America will rise up and change under policies like this in the future it is highly unlikely.  I think our last and best hope is right now in 2014.  At least it is a time to get things going.  We need to replace the status quo and greedy political establishment with men and women who stand for America, not those who stand for their personal wealth and power.  I mean, with the salary they have, how can Congressmen amass huge fortunes while in office unless something "is truly rotten in the State of America"?  The public servants have become raiders of the public treasury.

The best way to fire the first salvo is to replace the leadership of the Republican Party since they are the ones who claim to be conservative. Send Mitch McConnell packing and elect enough real conservatives to the House to force Boehner out.  Keep the House Conservative and get rid of RINOs and the Democrats in the Senate from red states and put a block on Obama's actions.  If he tries to use the pen in clear violation of the Constitution, take action.

Then we need to look at the Fair Tax, or something similar, which will eliminate their power. It will turn the power back to the people where your taxes are governed by how you spend your money.  It will be your choice, not theirs.

If we could ever get to this point, the coup de grace would be the end of the "career politicians".  Establishing term limits and limits of session length would bring back the citizen legislator.  This would mean that all walks of life could be represented in Congress with a constant stream of fresh blood, not the stale old incumbents who have sold their souls to their handlers in DC.


It's time for flyover America, those good God-fearing people of the heartland to rise up, speak up and vote for real change. Educate yourself on what candidates stand for, not merely what they say.  Use sources like the Heritage Foundation to find the truth and then spread the word.  This is a massive undertaking and we're fighting big money so don't let them discourage you.  We have a country to save and a way of life to return and now is the time. 

God bless you and remember, we're all in this together.


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How Will America Respond?

1/29/2014

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As I said in yesterday's blog, I didn't listen to last night's State of the Union speech by the President because I knew it would be full of falsehoods and doublespeak.  I did read the reviews, however, and it was apparent that he lived down to my expectations, taking credit for the turnaround that isn't.  After all of the fudging of numbers and outright lies about what he is really trying do to America, no one should ever trust this man on any promise that he makes.  Besides, government can't create jobs anyway; it can only make the environment receptive to job creation and Obama's policies do just the opposite.

But what was even more troubling was the response from the national Republican establishment.  I'm sure that Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rogers from Washington state is a very nice woman, but her comments were like feeding pablum to a shark.  Americans are looking for strength, they want real change that will help America, and all she could talk about was general platitudes and her upbringing.  Keep in mind, folks, that she is number four on John Boehner's leadership team so that means she supports going along with Obama and giving his other prize issue beyond Obamacare:  Amnesty.

The Republicans can call it anything they want but the immigration bill is pure amnesty and a reward for lawbreakers.  We already have laws about immigration which are being violated both by the illegals and the administration.  All we need to do is enforce the law and if changes need to be made, amend the bill but not with a complete reversal of American policy.  All this new program will do is destroy more American jobs, drop the pay rates and infuse America with people expecting freebies from the get-go.  This isn't the kind of immigration program that my and your grandparents went through, folks.

So just a quick word to the Republicans.  If you insist on playing like a Democrat-lite you will be destroyed by the real Democrats, because main stream, flyover Americans have had it with your cowardice.  We will not fall in line with you; you need to fall in line with us.  If you want a hint as to what that means, play back the speech on behalf of the Tea Party that Mike Lee gave. Excellent, to the point and truly in the American Spirit.

May someone in the national party develop some common sense fast and may God bless America.


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The State of the Union (ZZzzzzzzzzzzz)

1/28/2014

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So it's that time of year again. Tonight our illustrious President will bore America with another iteration of the same speech.  He will say that people need jobs, that he has created millions of them, that the economy is improving, that we are making the world safer, that we now have health care for everyone and that the only way we can make America better is to bring in millions of illegals who have broken the law but somehow now "deserve citizenship".  Oh, and he'll probably remind us that everything is Bush's fault with help from Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.

That last remark about deserving citizenship came from Jeh Johnson, Obama's recently installed Homeland Security Secretary, a man whos earlier claim to fame was designing the Christian harassment policies of the Defense Department. He was also a big time funding supporter of Obama.  One way, the only way, to get a high powered job in the Obama administration is to bring money, lots of money.  It kind of operates like an old Jimmy Swaggart performance.

I plan to opt out of watching the show.  Frankly, I've given up on television and unhooked the dish.  I don't miss it and I find my day is much more productive without it.  Between the net and radio, not to mention actual conversation with my wife, I am much happier.  And I sure don't need another iteration of Barack trying to set a new record for how many times he says "I".

Folks, things are getting serious now.  It leaked out today that this entire year up to the November Congressional elections will be devoted by our Leader to legislating with the "pen and phone."  Since he is unwilling to, or probably isn't capable of, negotiating with Congress over his proposals he has just decided to operate as an imperial President, unilaterally creating law which is illegal and unconstitutional.  Yet with the spineless Republicans in Congress, he'll probably get away with it and the result will be a further destruction of the  nation we love.

So I won't worry about what he says on TV, but I will worry about where it is leading us and I hope that we can all get the willpower and the discipline to look at where we are headed and "throw the bums out"  in November. We need major change and we don't need any more entrenched politicians who have forgotten what America is like outside of the Beltway.  We need to stop being so polite, unite together, and demand a return of America to the land of the free, for our freedoms are slipping away daily under a self-centered true believer who has no idea what the American dream is all about.

Let's ask our God for guidance, then stand up, speak up and never falter until direction has been changed. It's all up to us for the politicians will only act if they understand that the can't fool us anymore.  Let's work for real and legitimate change this election cycle, change that will halt our slide to tyranny.  Accept nothing less than liberty under our founding principles and then, only then, will America's engines get going again. 

God bless the USA and may her flag always fly high. Stars and stripes forever.

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Egyptian Military Doing America A Favor

1/27/2014

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After the Arab Spring in Egypt, when Hosni Mubarak was deposed and placed in prison and Mohammed Morsi won the election to be the new leader,  Barack Obama claimed that democracy had spoken and that now Egypt was free and her people would finally be able to reach their destiny.

Well, it didn't turn out that way as Morsi, the titular head of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that had been previously banned from politics by the government, began his own push for tyranny and oppression of anyone not agreeing with his strict views.  At the center of their target list were the Coptic Christians although Muslims not supporting their violent cause were also subject to pain and suffering.  But Morsi refused to relent, introducing a new constitution that basically gave the rights of governance to the  MB organization without regard to proper protections for the minority groups.  And once again, the government of the United States put its weight behind an organization that believed in ridding their country of free Christians.

The result: protests and riots filled the streets and the MB answered with the burning of Christian churches and the maiming and killing of those with whom they disagreed.  A jihad of severe proportions was utilized, yet the many minorities and their other supporters, which together constituted a large population, refused to back off and the country was thrown into chaos.

Only one organization within the government, the Army, had the discipline and power to stop this dreadful situation.  Its Chief of Staff, General el-Sissi quickly realized that Morsi and his new government would do nothing to serve the best interests of all the people and he was hell bent on ruthless power and implementation of strict Sharia law.  The Constitution was changed and the Christians became major targets for destruction.  Burning of churches and violence against them when they were in session rose significantly.  Since the Army is the one institution in Egypt that tried to maintain fair relations with all groups of citizens and which supported the concept of a secular government, it decided that action was necessary to restore order and decency in the largest country in the Middle East.

The Army gave Morsi the opportunity to resign which he refused and shortly thereafter arrested him and his key personnel and put them in prison.  A sweep of the MB activists nationwide ensued and the ultimate result was a cooling of tensions and a return to a much better state of order.  The MB has literally been put out of action although some of their supporters continue to pursue terrorist actions against non-Muslims and other Muslims with whom they disagree.  But the Army has been resolute, a revised Constitution allowing for more normalized activity by citizens has been voted on and passed, and they have even expressed a strong desire to take on Hamas, certainly a sister group to the MB, and by doing so they will lessen the likelihood of more terrorism from the South against Israel.

In this latter regard, the Army has destroyed many of the underground tunnels between Egypt and Gaza which have been used to ship weapons and such to the Israeli front.  As these sources dry up and Gaza becomes less violent, the southern flank of hostility against Israel can be curtailed, thereby enabling Israel to turn more of its defensive efforts against Syria and their puppets in Lebanon.

So while our President continues to condemn the Egyptian Army for being dictatorial and ending democracy in Egypt, remember the democratically elected MB representatives turned a democratic election result into a program of tyranny, and the result was death and lack of opportunity/economic improvement for Egypt's long suffering population.  I think it shows that democracy is not always the answer, at least not in a land where hate is so strong at the top.  General el-Sissi appears to want a more normalized society, where people can move about freely  and business can thrive, and in this regards he has announced that his forces will work directly to destroy the Hamas camp in Gaza, a step which will be one more blow against Muslim extremism.

I think we Americans should welcome this turn of events and I think our government, if they continue to insist on government by the MB after what they have done, will clearly be on the wrong side of the issue and the wrong side of history.  Of course, hasn't that been the case in most recent events of late?

Say a prayer for the good people of Egypt, those who want peace and prosperity just like most American do.  And say a prayer for our long suffering Christian brothers and sisters in Egypt who may have good reason to be encouraged today. Let's hope that the General is successful in his campaign and that a normal, rational approach to governing this large Middle Eastern country becomes ingrained in her psyche.  Egypt can play a big stabilizing role in giving Israel breathing room and, in so doing, provide peace for the Land of the God of Abraham.
  There is really no reason why Christians can't peacefully coexist with Muslims who have peace in their hearts.  But those who are filled with hate and want to destroy people and places, the General is right on target with what he is trying to accomplish and that's all we can ask for.  Keep up the good work, General, and know that there are many here in America who are glad that you stepped in when you did.  There is never a bad time to do what is right and just.


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Will We Christians Have the Strength of Stephen?

1/26/2014

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And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin."  And when he had said this, he fell asleep.  Acts 7:59-60 (NKJV)

Many of us in this day are fearful of what is becoming of our country.  It seems that what we know to be good is now judged to be bad and what we were taught is good is now bad.  Truly, America and the world are turned upside down and it's not something we are prepared for. Never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined it only a decade ago.

Friends, many today mock us and want to destroy our religious beliefs, just like what happened in Europe in the days of Hitler and Stalin and, of course, in the days of Jesus under the yoke of tyrants both in the Temple and in Rome.  Immorality, aberrant behavior by our Christian standards and falsehoods seem to be the rule of the day in many places just as they were in those earlier times, for evil has always been around to grab hold of all who are weak and refuse to believe.  But instead of being fearful, we should instead be recruiting those who need the Word and pray for them while also making final preparations for His return.  We need to stay at the ready at all times.    After all, the Bible points to a time of evil on the earth before Jesus returns to rule. 

Are we now nearing the Second Coming?  We don't know since God has chosen not to announce the time.  All we know is that when He sends His Son back to earth it will be swift and everyone will know He is Jesus Christ.  And it is for us to be ready, insuring that our heart and soul are in the right place and that we try to prepare our earthly brothers and sisters for that time.  It is our job as modern day Disciples to do all that we can to help as many as possible to see the Light through a life of goodness and love.  And that is no easy task, because included is the requirement that we love those who hate us and that is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. But it is what is expected of us.

We should also take comfort in this.  Whatever fate is to befall us on this earth, we are secure if we are in Christ because when all is done we will be at His table forever.  And many others have faced what we might very well face: John the Baptist, the Apostle Paul, of course Stephen and many others in Biblical times.  More recently, men like Dietrich Bonhoeffer of Germany, Richard Wurmbrand of Rumania and the thousands of martyrs going through pain and suffering around the world today.  But remember, friends, it is nothing to compare with the pain and suffering that Christ went through for us, for as a Man and a God he could have avoided it.  He knew, however, that His reason for being on earth was to save us from our sins and give us the opportunity for everlasting life.  What an opportunity and what a promise. 

So be strong, always speak up for Him and His goodness and light and the strength will be there when we need it.  Until then, let's work hard to bring Him back to the center of all that we do and are both here in America and throughout the world for he is our salvation.  Praise Him, always. 

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It's Time for Boehner to Go

1/25/2014

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I've tried very hard to take John Boehner with a grain of salt, realizing that the job of Speaker of the House requires a lot of give and take in trying to keep a diverse group of Congressmen together.  Unfortunately, this man's lack of fortitude and real willingness to fight for principle forces me to say that it is past time for him to be replaced as Speaker of the House of Representatives.  I reach this view after having reviewed the demise of the hopes and dreams of flyover country when they gave the Republicans control of the House in 2010, an action which allowed Boehner to become Speaker.

Remember 2010, a great year for Conservatives when Nancy Pelosi, a true believing liberal was swept out of the Speakership in a Congressional wave election?  The Tea Party worked hard that year and was able to elect many true Conservatives which gave a solid majority to the Republicans.  Without the Tea Party, the Republicans would have never won the House.  It was the Tea Party, a loosely knit group of many independent groups, who demanded that the government start answering to the people and afforded Boehner to advance his career.  And it was Boehner who had now even resorted to blasting the very same Tea Party for the principled stand they hold.  How's that for gratitude?

I always thought John Boehner was a moderate.  He just seemed like a blah kind of guy who would do just enough to to placate the House sufficiently to keep the membership in the fold.  But little did I know that he would actively court the Democrats by supporting many of their liberal causes, even to the point of joining with them to defeat the majority of his own Republican caucus.  For some strange reason he thinks that will lead to success.  I guess he has succumbed to "Beltway Madness", thinking that the Washington Post and New York Times represent the majority views of the people.  Open your eyes, Mr. Boehner, nobody outside of the D.C.-N.Y. corridor thinks those newspapers are fit to read.

I became disillusioned totally with the man by three things: his willingness to cave on the budget quite easily after some show of defiance, his refusal to appoint a select committee to truly get to the bottom of Benghazi, and his now current beginning of a push to give the Democrats just what they want, eventual citizenship for a large number of illegal aliens  and, frankly, the end of any chance of the Republicans to win national elections and the end of a large number of jobs for American, replaced for illegals being rewarded by politicians, will be an ultimate result.  And even worse, he is doing so strictly for big business cash.  If he supports the push for cheap labor wished for by big business in the name of the Chamber of Commerce, they will fund his campaigns so that he can try and play kingpin in the Congressional political fray.

Nowhere is the saying "Money is the root of all evil" more apparent than here and I think Conservative Americans, those who are most likely to vote Republican, albeit often while holding their noses, are reaching the point where they've had enough.  I know I have, for it's time for some Congressmen of character to demand a full investigation of Benghazi and all of the other totalitarian steps being taken by a lawless administration to gut the constitution and enforce tyrannical government.  Allowing lawbreakers to be given legal status in this country, while it might give the Chamber of Commerce their cheap labor, will also destroy much of the economic opportunity for good American citizens.

If a government no longer represents her people, it needs to be changed and a good starting point is by cleaning house in the House leadership team.  I urge all Conservatives and traditional Republicans to get involved by telling their Congressmen to turn things around.  If this means purging Mr. Boehner, along with Messrs. Cantor and McCarthy and many of the committee chairmen such as Fred "Lightbulb" Upton (the man who killed the incandescent lightbulb) from their leadership roles, so be it.  The Republicans have a golden opportunity to not only maintain the House but gain the Senate, but they will not be successful without the Tea Party and other loyal Americans who find the current actions by this government abhorrent.

Stand with the history and traditions of American liberty and freedom or don't stand at all.



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NSA Phone Tapping Illegal?

1/24/2014

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Reading Breitbart Big Government this morning I find it interesting that one independent government agency has ruled that the indiscriminate snooping into phone calls and maintenance of phone records on America citizens without sufficient cause is illegal.  Finally a government entity has taken a look at the issue and come to the conclusion that our government was never meant to operate like the Soviet Union.

Of even more interest is that the decision was a split vote with two appointees by George W. Bush voting against the majority.  Look, I voted for Bush twice and I appreciate what he was trying to do after 9/11, but I don't think indiscriminate spying is appropriate.  As we've seen from the witch hunts conducting by Obama against the Tea Party, using his own form of the Stazi, the IRS, too much information in the hands of government bureaucrats is never a good idea.  Their zeal to increase their power and gain promotions and favor always leads to bad things.  It's been that way since the beginning of governments as power, or the quest for it, usually leads to evil things.

I won't belabor the point any further, but I am including the link to the story from Breitbart.  Read it for yourself, I think you'll find it interesting.  But don't get your hopes up, for our President and those who are complicit by their deafening silence on such issues, will probably just utter the now famous "nothing to see here" and go on with the outrage.  Their response will probably be similar to that of Hillary after Benghazi: "What difference does it make.

Here's the link:   http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/23/US-privacy-board-says-NSA-phone-program-illegal--should-end--reports

Just remember this.  Things like this do make a big difference and freedom isn't free.  Every time we turn a deaf ear to warnings of government excess we ultimate become the loser.  Stand strong for America, speak up about travesties like this, keep your faith in a loving God and we can and will win this battle against tyranny.

God bless you all.

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Who's the Boss?

1/23/2014

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This morning I show this picture of an unknown city hall because I think it is representative of the big problem we have with government in general today.  If you look at the structure it is  elaborate and certainly was expensive to build. Many others are much more ornate and imposing than this.  They are a symptom of what is wrong with government at all levels in America today.

The problem is a basic one. The citizens, those being governed, have been placed in a position where we serve the government, as opposed to the government being made up of personnel who are there to serve us.  And while we hear most of the complaints about this today being directed at the federal government, the feds are just part of the problem.  Local and state governments are generally operating in a similar fashion, the only difference being it is easier for the public to get things corrected since we are closer to that level of government.  The federal behemoth is so remote to most of us and so imposing that most just think it is impossible to change.

The question we need to pose, however, is a good one and it is very basic?  Why should government at any level have its employees treated better with pay raises and better perks and benefits than the people they serve?  If you look around America today, you find that government employees generally have pensions and benefit packages that dwarf those of the private sector.  They also have much more job security with the employment regulations that govern their operation and, of course, union operations in union states where government employees are much more highly unionized than the private sector. 

At the same time, look at working conditions.
  Municipalities, just like the feds, build elaborate city halls and other offices that far outshine the work centers of the average American.  Somehow it just seems inappropriate for "servants of the people" to live better than those who pay their bills, yet we see this almost everywhere we go. 

As a result of these actions, a vicious spiral occurs.  These very government entities are finding themselves in a situation very similar to the feds: the funding is insufficient to pay for all of these goodies and taxes must go up or never ending bond issues are floated.  After all, local and state governments can't print money; they have to deal with the situation directly at hand or face default, a situation happening more and more in these troubled times.  Those paying the taxes are those least able to afford them; many haven't seen a pay raise in years.  Many more have in fact been impacted by pay cuts and even job reduction, yet they are expected to shoulder the burden for a government that has not been a good steward of the public treasury.

So when you complain about the cost and taxes that we spend to an unresponsive federal government, cast your eyes at state and local government as well.  They, too, are generally unwilling to live within their means and these elected officials, like elected officials at every level, have a tendency to want to grow and expand their power the longer they hold office. This is, unfortunately, a weakness that most politicians have and it is always easier to spend the money of others rather than your own.  It's also human nature to put off problems until tomorrow rather than face them today, but tomorrow may be too late.

The point here is that we have to constantly monitor and pay attention to the workings of government at all levels.  Hold them accountable, demand that they operate under the same conditions that most of us must, and if that means tightening the belt and limiting some services, so be it.  Some states and localities have done a good job with this, states like Wisconsin where Governor Walker has made remarkable changes.  Look at your own state and locality and demand the same.  After all, we should all be in this together, and if we face the challenge and live within our means in today's tough economy, we will be so much better off when an improving situation presents itself.  Economic cycles ebb and flow, we just need to be ready.


It all boils down to this: Do we want our communities to thrive or become another Detroit?  If not, let's get involved and take a stand for common sense and accountability.   It will improve our communities and it's the right thing to do.

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Keep 'Em Busy and They Stay Out of Trouble

1/22/2014

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When our family would visit my maternal grandmother, I vividly remember my mom asking her, "Mom, how did you keep the boys out of trouble?" 

With a twinkle in her eye she would say, "Just keep 'em busy and they stay out of trouble."

And boy, did Mom pick up on that.  We always had plenty of chores to do and she was a zealot about overseeing homework, but when it was all done and if it was still daylight, it was outside to play. Now that part of being busy I liked.  Unlike the kids today who spend a lot of time as couch potatoes playing video games or watching TV, for us it was football in the Fall, basketball in Winter and baseball in Spring and Summer.

But now that I'm retired and our kids are grown, I have found that the age old advice Mom was given also works with a rambunctious little pony.  Sturdy, stocky and full of himself, having a job is just what the doctor ordered and he loves it.

Case in point is our new Amish cart.  We were worried how he would react to being hooked up for the first time.  There was no need to worry.  Little Angus took right to it and went around the field in uneventful fashion on his first try.  Once he realized what it was all about he was steady and calm and I really think he liked the special attention that he was getting.

A few trial runs over the next few weeks and this smart little fella' will be ready for a road trip.  Oh, we won't take him too far, but it sure will be fun to go around our rural neighborhood to visit the neighbors.  And I know that Angus will just know that he is "Hot Stuff'".  And it's nice to live in a place where we can go on a cart ride easily and without having to worry about traffic.  It will just bring back memories of a time past when things were less frantic and life allowed time to smell the roses.

I would recommend that anyone, wherever you are and whatever you do, take the time to savor the beauty of the natural world around us.  God gave it to us to enjoy and life is fleeting.  Don't miss it.  And as for my wife and me, I think Angus will insure that we do.

God bless you all and have a great day.
_______________________________________________________________________________
James is the author of Honey, We Shoulda' Bought the Ark, a story about life with animals in rural America from a Christian perspective.  The book was selected as a One of the Best Reads of 2014 by American Pet Magazine.  Check out his author pages at outskirtspress.com/honeyweshouldaboughttheark or amazon.com/author/jamesdick.  Animals: A Wonderful Gift from God.

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    ABOUT ME

    Hi, I'm James, a writer who studies nature,  animals and all things created by God. I also write from time to time about what I think God expects of us.  I would love to hear your thoughts on these subjects. I hope you enjoy my comments.

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