A One Month Cruise

Well, I decided I'd look out after my adult children, my brothers and sisters, my dad and my in-laws. I made reservations for them all on a one month cruise! I reserved beautiful rooms with balconies, a pre-cruise and post-cruise stay at a posh hotel so we wouldn't be rushed, and made reservations at a 5-star restaurant for the night before we set sail. I made first class flight reservations for everyone too. What a guy I am! I hope you all enjoy it! Oh, you have questions? How much is it going to cost? You mean with air fare? What ship are we going on? How are we getting to the pier? Do you have to stay in a hotel pre-cruise and post-cruise? Are any excursions involved? What are the ports of call? Well I have to tell you I don't know those answers. I didn't read the contract. Silly of me. I just said yes when the call came in. You can afford it, can't you? It IS something you want, isn't it? No? Oh. Hmmm, sounds like maybe I should be a member of Congress. I have the knack, don't you think? Hmmm... Wake up America!!!

Maybe Congress Can't Read?

Well another bill was passed into legislation yesterday - this one over 1500 pages long. -The Crap & Trade Bill. The last 300+ pages were added at 3am yesterday morning. Once again, our congressmen and congresswomen chose not to read the bill before voting on it. This is the height of arrogance and irresponsibility. I am appalled and sickened by the thought that we have these morons controlling our lives. 219 individuals voted to pass the bill - that's a lot of brain dead individuals if you ask me. And a lot of disdain for the American people! I have requested a copy of the record from my congressman - Congressman Posey - who voted against it. Here's an excerpt of what he wrote on his web page.

"I rise to express my strong concerns about the bill before us - a bill which no one has read. This morning members of Congress were told about the addition of 309 pages that were added to this bill early this morning. No one has read it. Why the rush? Why does Congress have to pass this bill today, before anyone can read it and understand what this new language is doing? When Congress did this with the stimulus bill earlier this year it was discovered after passage of that bill that it contained bonus payments for AIG employees. But this bill, affecting every segment of our economy, has much broader applications that we and the American people have a right to know what is in this bill, how it will affect the American people, and what impact it will have on our economy. Nobody knows that this morning. We do not even have a cost estimate on this latest version of the bill from The Congressional Budget Office (CBO). No one knows what it will cost. My rule is if you are not going to give members of Congress the time to read the bill, a cost estimate of the bill, and the ability to understand its impact on taxpayers and American businesses, I'm going to vote no."

I urge each and everyone of you to CALL your US Senators and DEMAND that they not pass this bill - period. NO bill should leave the House without being read in its entirety and understood by every voting member of that body! The same is true for the Senate. We have GOT to get control of our elected officials back. They are TRAMPLING all over us, and it seems we just keep saying "Wow, it's nice to be a welcome mat. Wipe your feet on me some more!" I'm tired of it. I hope you realize just what Congress has evolved into over the past 50 years. It's a monster that we now HAVE to face, or it will continue to eat us all alive!

Wake Up America!!!!!

Where's the Government's Need to Know?

Since 1980 the Federal Government has been authorized to take a national census every 10 years. The next Census is scheduled for April 1, 2010. The US Constitution instructs that the government has the right to count citizens only. That information is required for distribution of Congressional seats to the various states. The government Census 2010 website describes the Census in part as "a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years. The Census is mandated by the US Constitution. Your participation in the census is required by law." It further explains that "the US Constitution (Article 1, section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state's Congressional representation. The numbers also affect funding in your community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing." Filling out the census form is required by law. The information collected is used by various local, state and federal agencies. Upon investigation I learned about the American Community Survey which is a nationwide survey designed to provide specific data to local communities. The survey claims to be a critical element in the Census Bureau's reengineered decennial census program. This survey collects and produces population and housing data yearly - not every 10 years. There is a report online titled Questions Planned for the 2010 Census and American Community Survey. It is 76 pages long! Now, while the US Constitution provides for the requirement of a headcount, it does not authorize the government to require any additional information from the citizenry. But, in their infinite wisdom (which continually and consistently manages to astonish me - feel the sarcasm?) congress passed a law (Title 13 of the US Code) that requires you to answer any question contained within the census questionnaire. According to that code (Title 13, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 221, as reported for January 8, 2008) the penalty for failing to answer every question was a fine of not more than $100. Anyone who provided false answers would be fined not more than $500. But this year the government fine has increased to $5000.00. Why do you think the government has made it this difficult to exercise civil disobedience? What's in it for them? It has been reported that no one has ever been fined in the past. Think that will be true this year? Let's find out... The proposed 2010 Census "short form" has 10 questions relative to the person completing the form, and 7 questions related to every other person in the household. That's significantly more than what the US Constitution requires. Why does the government need to know if I own my home? Will they tax me more? Why do they need my telephone number? That one's easy - if you fail to complete the form the government WILL call you up to 6 times to try to get the info from you. Why do they need to know what "type" of Hispanic I might be, or what my race is? How is that relevant to the purpose of the Census, which is to provide congressional seats based on the number of citizens in a state - not their race, age, ethnicity, sex, etc. And why do they need to know if I sometimes live somewhere else? Is that so they can skew the data to create seats in areas advantageous to their political agenda? There are several high profile individuals - Senator Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is one - who have decided the government is not entitled to this information, and is refusing to provide it. I urge you to visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/pdf/2010_Questionaire_info_Copy.pdf to review the Census yourselves. I also urge you to visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Community_Survey to view exactly what that questionnaire is all about. It's yearly, and it's invasive. Why does the government need to know? What are they planning? How much more of our lives do they need to control? Wake up America!

Maybe it's time to get rid of Barney Fife!

Lord knows, though I did vote for the man twice, there were several George Bush policies that I was not in agreement with. However, I believe in fairness and truth. So, while the libs beat him up at every turn, and the conservatives castigate him for being too socially liberal, I thought this video would be appropriate. Barney Fife, I mean Frank, is rewriting history, and many will never know it. My Massachusetts friends need to get this out to everyone they know. It's time for Barney to go. He's just too inept! This video clearly shows that George Bush, beginning in 2001, began warning Congress of an economic crisis in the making. But Congress refused to listen, especially our arrogant Congressman from Massachusetts, Barney Frank. Even when Alan Greenspan started reporting the same thing, there was resistance from good old Barney. This is the same Barney that just introduced a bill to legalize marijuana - something Mexico just did. Bet you haven't heard about that!! I wonder how many illegal aliens will be illegally crossing the border back to Mexico now? LOL Some how, this video was pulled from the YouTube site in America - any resemblance to Iran trying to shut down their Internet? It was sent through various people from a Canadian website, and eventually reached me. Here's the site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&NR=1 Spread the word - the truth is powerful! Wake up America!

This woman could be me!!

Did you happen to see Glenn Beck tonight? He opened his program by reading a letter from an Arizona woman - Janet Contreras. A letter to every member of Congress. I have reproduced it below. I only wish I could formulate my thoughts as well as she did. She has captured the mood of millions upon millions of Americans. I hope it moves you as much as it did me, and I hope you see yourself in her words. When you've finished reading it, log onto GlennBeck.com, and add your name to the petition next to this letter. It will only take a couple of minutes, but it could be one of the most meaningful things you do this year. Here it is. Enjoy! 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 are 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 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 health care. 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 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 a 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 non politicians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant, or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy and I'm 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 intelligently 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 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 can not 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 our 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 who 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 the 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 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 on 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 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. Wow! Powerful, isn't it? Can you imagine anyone in Congress not taking notice of this? But you know what? There are so many corrupt government officials in Washington with ego's the size of Montana, that it would not surprise me at all if they ignored this letter. Won't they be surprised when they're voted out? They won't be able to ignore that message, will they? Wake up America!! And God bless us all...

Can you say Roman Empire?

Do you remember your history? Do you remember reading about how powerful, influential and far reaching the Romans were? Sound familiar? Know what happened? Their form of government changed - it went from a republic to a democracy to an oligarchy. America is a Republic - which means it is ruled by law. A Republic is different from a Democracy - something many Americans think we are, because our elected officials keep trying to convince us of that (how many of them do you recall speaking of America as a Republic - not many) because we were NOT set up to be "ruled by a majority". Democracies are fundamentally flawed, because they are governed by the majority - even when the majority is wrong. An Oligarchy is a few ruling the many - have any comparison to what we're seeing in Washington today with czar fever? Where is that all leading? Have you ever seen an American president making unilateral decisions that affect business, banking, health care, the OIG's office, etc, etc? Have you seen American presidents do end runs around congress to such an extent in the past? That's what these Obama czars have been created to do - they answer to no one but him, yet have authority over many, many facets of American life. How can that be? Why is it being allowed? Why is there no public outcry? Where is the media? Oh, yeah, they're in Obama's pocket - I forgot, ha ha. Did you know that in terms of governmental structure of countries Communism, Fascism, totalitarianism, etc are ALL leftist governments? History has told us that the Nazi's were on the far right, but that was inaccurate. The far right, in terms of government, is actually anarchy - no government at all. A Republic is located just right of center, and is controlled by law agreed to by the citizens of the country - not created by the few that rule. We are in jeopardy of losing our republic altogether. We're already moving past the democracy stage and heading towards the oligarchy stage. The country is in serious trouble. We are witnessing the very decline of America that we've read about in the history books when it occurred in the Roman Empire. How long do we have before our great civilization ceases to exist? Can you see the greatness of the Roman Empire in Italy? I don't think so. So what will we become? What kind of a country will our grandchildren grow up in? What will history say about the America that was? Take a good look around you now, because the America that was, is nearly gone. She is changing faster than anyone could imagine, and certainly faster than most can keep up with. And the saddest thing about it is that most people are too busy to even notice. And those that do, are so overwhelmed by the changes they don't even know where to begin to stop them. They don't have time to watch and digest news. They don't recognize that many news programs are about opinion, not fact. They don't notice that most news programs are about promoting an ideology, not fact. And there are so many ignorant people, in terms of politics, out there, that slowing the slide may be impossible - never mind reversing it. Many people don't even realize America is being pushed down the path of mediocrity, which will ultimately destroy the dream of America that drove our ancestors to come here. All in the name of POWER! Remember, power corrupts? Well we're witnessing it - and it's been happening most of our lives, it's just more obvious now. That is the most powerful argument that can be given for requiring term limits for our elected officials. I suggest we seriously start pushing that requirement. So, if you're interested in at least trying to bring the greatness back to America (or allowing her to maintain the little she has left), then get involved. TALK to people. Write your congressmen. Get involved in a campaign, and monitor what's going on, and then get the word out - good or bad!! Join the Tea Party movement. Remain aware, or become aware, of what's happening in the country. Most of all, take the time to do it for your children, grandchildren and their children and grandchildren! Wake up America before it's too late!

Listen to the Silence

Here's a riddle for you all, have fun trying to answer it. Based on the fact that we are running up a $12 trillion debt over the next ten years (probably higher since they are admitting to this figure now) which is 15 times greater than the deficit we had in 2008, and based upon the fact that the Congress is in the process of developing and passing sweeping health care reform which is going to cost the country (that's us tax payers folks!) another trillion dollars, and based upon the fact that the treasury is broke and America is now printing new money and selling our debt to anyone who will buy it so we can "pretend" we have a cash flow, where are the voices of ALL THE MEMBERS OF PAST ADMINISTRATIONS - Democrats and Republicans alike? None of them were irresponsible to the degree this administration has been (and continues to be). Everyone of them is intimately aware of the inner workings of the government - how, why, when and where to spend money (or save it). Not one of them is a stupid person, so we can assume each is well aware of our current situation and what the result in terms of economic pain, will be for the country, for us, and for generations to come. So why aren't they speaking up? Why isn't someone addressing the nation regularly to tell us what we can really expect in the next 5-20 years? Here's one explanation. How many of you have heard that there is a movement that many countries have theoretically embraced (but not acted upon) to create a one-world currency? How many of you have heard of the Bilderberg Group? How many of you are interested enough in your futures to investigate them on the Internet? Could there already be a strategy in place that will result in an international monetary crisis, which will eventually precipitate the perceived need to move to one-world currency. Is it possible that such a huge crisis ensues that there will be a real need for such a currency. Such a strategy would have to have spanned many administrations and the governments of many countries. Is it possible? Is it impossible? So, if it is possible, what happens at that point? Does all past debt, held by any/all countries, just evaporate? Is that why no one seems concerned about the debt America is running up? Does everyone just start over from scratch? What other reason(s) can there be for the deafening silence from all our "leaders" - past and present? That's not rhetorical, I'd like to know! Food for thought...

Our Congress - Who's In Charge

Government OF the people, FOR the people, BY the people... So how has it happened then, that over the years, our "elected" officials felt they had the right to vote themselves so many perks? And why, in this age of instant electronic information, can't our congressmen - senators and representatives - poll us on what our positions are relative to the various issues that come up? Why do we continue to fund with tax dollars a Health Care System for our government officials that far exceeds anything that is provided for the citizenry? And if we allow Obama to force a new government health care system, will our elected officials be required to abide by that same system? If not, then why would we allow them to vote to provide us with a system far inferior to their own? Most national politicians receive salaries of less than $200,000.00 per year. However, they also have voted themselves a yearly allowance of over $1,000,000 per year. They also have expense accounts, and who knows what other monetary perks. How do you think they've all become millionaires? Which leads me to... Term Limits! We need to insist on term limits, thereby limiting power and corruption. Lifelong politicians lose sight of "real" life. Contact your reps and senators - ensure they understand your insistence. Make sure they understand that you will vote them out if they do not uphold your will. They've voted themselves a fantastic retirement package as well. They get life-long salary after they retire. How many of you can look forward to that? What makes them more special than you? How many Americans do you think authorized that vote? Remember, they are accountable to us, so why is it that they do what they want? Because there have been no repercussions until now. They've always felt untouchable - especially those that have been in for a long time and have built a strong base by providing favors to special interest groups and specific lobbies. Time to vote them out and get someone in there that will provide Americans with documentation of all the abuse that's gone on over the past 40 years! Why do you think that in this age of computers, email accessible cell phones, Ipods, etc our elected officials have not thought to poll us on what we think about the issues they vote on? Because they don't care what we think. They are looking to the next special interest group that will give them money. They're looking to the next deal they can do as a quid pro quo to a deal they want consummated. They are in a world of their own, all with large egos to feed, with no concern for the citizenry. Another reason we need term limits. How many of you have bought a house, or entered into a lease without reading the contract(s)? I would venture to say not many. How then can congress pass bills (regularly according to Bob Beckel, Washington Insider) without reading what's contained within them? That is INSANE!!! Which leads me to... Pork. I love pork, but not in Congressional bills. I believe that every issue/item contained within, or facet of, a bill be voted on separately - to pass or fail on it's own merits. THAT will stop the pork - especially if we demand that every vote be published and sent out to every voter so we know how our individual reps/senators voted. That is accountability! And how many people do we need to provide entitlements to? What happened to our ability to take care of those around us if necessary? Wasn't that the role of the church at one time? Isn't it still? Aren't we a charitable people on our own? Why then do we need government to take our money and distribute it as they see fit? And this leads me finally to... Spending. It's OUR money they are spending. How many times have you been asked for your input on what Washington should spend our taxes on? Hmmmm - NEVER!!!! And yet, they spend and spend - without a thought for what will result next year, next decade, next generation! But someone has to. That is where we come in. Insist on your congressmen doing your will, not theirs. If they refuse - VOTE THEM OUT! It's that simple. But it takes an active role on your part. You must educate yourselves on the issues, and where your congressmen stand. You must notify your congressmen of your stand on the issues. You must watch how your congressmen vote. And most of all you must go to the polls - to remove those that do not abide by your will! Wake Up America! And God Bless Us All!