Hanover Conservative Caucus

Observations From Down Under

2012-02-18T20:01:00.004-05:00

The Australian people are wonderful and have a great affinity for Americans, while visiting that nation I was surprised to learn that they follow our politics almost as closely as their own. We were there for a couple of weeks traveling and never missed what was going on here. Australia even has "Tea Party"! Good on ya!
Why they've even made a list and checked it twice:

By The Australian Tea Party

Obama...the list of accomplishments.

He truly is a President of FIRSTS!
A gallon of regular gasoline the day Obama was inaugurated was $1.79 on average in the U.S. Today that price is $3.59, a 100.6% increase. The number of food stamp recipients has risen since Obama took office from 31,983,716 to 43,200,878, a 35.1% jump. Long term unemployment soared 146.2% during the same 34 month period from 2,600,000 to 6,400,000. Staggering hope and change isn’t it?

American citizens living in poverty have risen 9.5% from 39,800,000 to 43,600,000, and the number of unemployed has jumped almost 25% from 11,616,000 to 14,485,000 as of August 31, 2011. The number of unemployed blacks has risen from 12.6% at the end of George Bush’s term to 15.8% today, a 25.4% increase, and finally, our national debt is up 44.3% from 10.627 trillion to 15.337 trillion.

Keep these figures in mind as we recount the number of firsts for this presidency:
First President to refuse to show a valid birth certificate.
First President to apply for college aid as a foreign student then denies he was a foreigner.
First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived in.
First President to preside over a cut to the credit rating of the United States.
First President to violate the War Powers Act.
First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
First President to defy a Federal Judges court order to cease implementing the Health Care Reform Law.
First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party.
First President to spend a trillion dollars on shovel-ready jobs and later admit there was no such thing as shovel-ready jobs.
First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.
First President to by-pass Congress and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat.
First President to order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportation of illegal immigrants across the U.S., including those with criminal convictions.
First President to demand a company hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees.
First President to terminate America’s ability to put a man in space.
First President to encourage racial discrimination and intimidation at polling places.
First President to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present.
First President to arbitrarily declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it.
First President to threaten insurance companies if they publicly speak-out on the reasons for their rate increases.
First President to tell a major manufacturing company in which state they are allowed to locate a factory.
First President to file lawsuits against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN).
First President to withdraw an existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago.
First President to fire an inspector general of Ameri-Corps for catching one of his friends in a corruption case.
First President to appoint 45 Czars to replace elected officials in his office.
First President to golf 73 separate times in his first two and a half years in office.
First President to hide his medical, educational and travel records.
First President to win a Nobel Peace Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it.
First President to coddle American enemies while alienating America’s allies.
First President to go on multiple global apology tours.
First President to go on 17 lavish vacations, including date nights and Wednesday evening White House parties for his friends, paid for by the taxpayer.
First President to refuse to wear the U.S. Flag lapel pin.
First President to have 22 personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife.
First President to keep a dog trainer on retainer for $102,000.00 a year at taxpayer expense.
First President to repeat the Holy Qur’an tells us, and openly admits the early morning call of the Azan (Islamic call to worship) is the most beautiful sound on earth.

Remember that in 37months of Obama ‘We the people’ have accumulated national debt at a rate of more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our nation’s entire history.
Hope and change anyone?

* sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Wall Street Journal, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept. of Labor, Standard & Poors/Case-Shiller, Federal Reserve, US Treasury, Heritage Foundation.

Pharaoh's Socialist Experiment

2012-02-08T21:00:00.000-05:00

Folks I can't say if this was ever read as a sermon (seems a bit short to me) but it is a fine exposition on a lesson in human nature recorded in Holy Writ. Presented as found:

"VIRGINIA CHURCH SERVICE
This article is supposedly from a Pastor of a predominantly black church in Virginia. Whether this is from a real sermon or not, this sermon makes a valid point. Perhaps each one of us should decide who our real leader is. It is amazing to see that very little has changed in 4,000 years. Think about the implication in regard to government run healthcare.

RECENT VIRGINIA CHURCH SERVICE -STIMULUS SERMON

Genesis 47:13-27Good morning brothers and sisters; it’s always a delight to see the crowded pews on Sunday morning, and so eager to get into God’s Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will to Genesis 47. We’ll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27.

Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us?

….(reading)…

Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray…..

So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt , and the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built.
So the people brought their money to Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their money ran out, and they were hungry again.

So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their livestock -their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey –to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only took them through the end of that year, But the famine wasn’t over, was it?

So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. ”There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land.

Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh.” So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real estate to Pharaoh’s government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain.

What can we learn from this, brothers and sisters?

That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery? Yes.. That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master? Yes.

But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters!

Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt , in the land of Goshen, they gained possessions in it, were fruitful and multiplied greatly.” God provided for His people, just as he always has! They didn’t end up giving all their possessions to government, no, it says they gained possessions!

But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one. We see the same thing happening today – the government today wants to “share the wealth “once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us. It wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us. When government rations it, government decides who gets it, the amount, and what kind. If we go along with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years ago —as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders.

What Mr. Obama’s government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh’s government did then, and it will end the same. And a lot of people like to call Mr. Obama a “Messiah,” don’t they?

Is he a Messiah? Is he a savior? Didn’t the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh”?

Well, I tell you this –I know the Messiah; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. Obama is no Messiah! No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh.

Bow with me in prayer, if you will.
Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, we rely on You, and alone. We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never will be.

We read in the eighth chapter of 1st Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says “And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day….” And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to you because of the ruler that we have chosen for ourselves as a nation. Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for deliverance from those who would be our masters. Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of Pharaoh’s government.
In God We Trust…Amen and Amen

Chesterfield Get's it - No Agenda 21!

2012-02-08T20:40:00.002-05:00

"Chesterfield County, VA residents, the Board of Supervisors pushed away the Comprehensive Plan Draft and gave the Planning Commission instruction to go back and develop an entirely new and different plan that works for Chesterfield and not for the supporters of Agenda 21. The new plan will be based on thecurrent plan in place with changes that will help everyone in our county based on the specifics of your area, not a cookie cutter plan. Area's of Chesterfield need to retain their distinction and look forward to new plan that is developed. Just two weeks ago, the board admitted it was headed in a very different direction. The involvement of many citizens have made such an impact of explaining Agenda 21, and how the plan that was shown the door today would affect our lives as residents. Citizens of Chesterfield Co., this would never have happened if we all stay at home and never speak out on how we feel about our community. Today, all citizens win, and I want to thank the entire board for their willingness to listen to the citizens that chose to get involved, and to the citizens who did, you should be commended as well. ~ Daren L. Gardner (FB)"

People are waking up to the reality of Agenda 21. Hanoverians need to step up and press for the same result here.

Congratulations are in order for the perseverance of Chesterfields patriots! Way to go!

Romney's Record from the McCain 08 Campaign

2012-01-18T12:58:00.001-05:00

Mitt Romney

A lot of people endorsing Mitt Romney to be the Nominee including John McCain, Jimmy Carter, Bob Dole, Chris Christie, Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party, Ann Coulter, the Dinosaur Media and FOX has all but changed their name to MITT.

What gives? Rush Limbaugh believes the GOP Elite want Romney because they don't care about the Presidency and don' want a pot stirrer to damage their chances in the Senate.

McCain trounced Romney in the 08 primary- much harder on Willard then he was on Barry and here is what he dug up on Romney in that campaign CLICK HERE. Surely Ann Coulter has read this. So why are conservatives and Obama's allies in league with one another for a man who lost to the man who lost to Obama?

Here is a sampling of Romney's record:

 State spending increased at well over rate of inflation under Romney’s watch, estimated at 24% - more than $5 billion – over Romney’s final three years.
 Under Romney, Massachusetts dramatically underperformed the rest of the nation in terms of job growth.
 Romney has been criticized by experts for failing to deliver on issues of business development and economic growth after selling himself as the “CEO governor.”
 2006 report issued by quasi-public Massachusetts Technology Collaborative warned the state was losing its grip as leader in “innovation economy” and that tech job was alarmingly slow.
 Romney left his successor to fill a budget deficit exceeding $1 billion.
 Romney raised state fees and taxes more than $700 million per year, according to independent experts.
 Romney raised fees by roughly $500 million in his first year alone, a figure that was highest in the nation.
 Romney quadrupled gun licensing fees and raised fees on first responders, real estate transactions, the blind, golfers and many others.

Sure seems strange that Shaun Hannity, Ann Coulter, Bill OReilly as well as Jimmy Carter, Nancy Pelosi are all so eager to see this guy get the nod.

Senator McDougle's Weekly Session Update - Week 1

2012-01-13T17:28:00.000-05:00

Forwarding this from Senator McDougle's :

The Virginia General Assembly began its 2012 Session on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, with all 100 Delegates and 40 Senators taking their oaths of office marking the beginning of their terms.

As you could probably tell from the news coverage, media attention was focused squarely on the Senate, where the day’s business took considerably longer to complete. The election of 20 Republican and 20 Democratic Senators guaranteed that every aspect of opening day activities in the Senate would be closely monitored. The media was waiting for a pitched partisan battle. What they got instead was a Senate with members disagreeing, but doing so in a thoroughly professional, courteous “senatorial” way.

The most contentious debates in the Senate were marked by civility. Instead of over-the-top rhetoric and wild accusations, discussions over the merits of changes to the Rules, assignments to standing committees, and the constitutional prerogatives and responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor were the focus of the day. These are not debate topics that guarantee excitement among viewers and spectators. But, they are important nonetheless.

The core of the disagreement between the two parties is the role of Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, who presides over the Senate and is empowered by the Constitution of Virginia to break tie votes in all but a few circumstances. The Lieutenant Governor’s responsibilities in Virginia are similar to those of the Vice President of the United States, who is the presiding officer of the United States Senate and empowered to break ties in that body. Because Lieutenant Governor Bolling is a Republican, the Senate’s partisan “tie” effectively becomes a 21-to-20 Republican majority. So for the first time in four years, Republicans are the majority caucus in the Virginia Senate.

STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH

The first day of every General Assembly session concludes with the Governor’s State of Commonwealth Address to a joint session of the House and Senate. This year, Governor McDonnell’s address marked the impressive progress Virginia has made over the last two years and detailed his legislative priorities. Virginia now has the distinction of having the lowest unemployment rate in our region, and the Governor is committed to continuing that progress. His agenda includes multiple measures to further strengthen Virginia’s business environment to create jobs.

Continuing his efforts to make state government more efficient and effective, Governor McDonnell also outlined his proposals to streamline state government by reducing and consolidating some state agencies, departments, boards and commissions. To keep government spending under control, the Governor announced a new effort to study and address unfunded federal mandates. And to ensure that Virginia does not experience a pension crisis like the ones plaguing several states, he is proposing the greatest employer funding of the Virginia Retirement System in Virginia history.

Making improvements and instituting reforms to Virginia’s education system is a major component of Governor McDonnell’s agenda. He is proposing that Virginia’s state-supported colleges and universities receive a significant funding boost. He is also proposing major reforms and increased funding for Virginia’s public schools.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Like most legislative bodies, the Senate uses a committee system to review legislation. After a bill is submitted, it is sent to one of eleven standing committees for review. Each of the committees considers specific areas of legislation. The members of the committees screen bills, sometimes suggesting amendments and determining whether or not they should be considered by the entire Senate.

I’ve been appointed to serve on five Senate Committees and am excited to have been appointed as the new Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. The Rules Committee, which handles a myriad number of responsibilities relating to managing and operating the Senate of Virginia and the General Assembly, is comprised of members of the leadership of both parties and the body’s most senior members.

In addition to my appointment as Chairman of the Rules Committee, I’ve been named as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which is responsible for all legislation relating to spending and taxation and is charged with crafting a budget for the Commonwealth.

I will continue to serve as a member of the Senate Transportation, Courts of Justice, and Rehabilitation and Social Services Committees.

We are now set up in our offices in Richmond. My legislative assistant, Anne Creasy, is staffing our office here, located in Room 314 of the General Assembly Building. You can contact us by sending an e-mail toDistrict04@senate.virginia.gov, or by sending a letter to me at Senate of Virginia, P.O. Box 396, Richmond VA 23218-0396. You can also call us at 804.698.7504.

This newspaper has generously agreed to print these columns during the General Assembly session. This is a public service on their part, one for which I am very grateful.

Look here next week for more news from Richmond.

Ryan T. McDougle

It's called Performance Art!

2012-01-13T16:56:00.002-05:00

Remember "Piss Christ" and the Virgin Mary being urinated on? High art the liberals said! Now Hillary has her panties in a bind over Marines doing just that- Performance Art. Such is to evoke emotions and such!

Or as one pundit put it:

If the Marines were urinating on one another they would be awarded a Pink Star for enhancing military diversity. If I were their defense attorney, I would argue it was some kind of bizarre sexual ritual. The downside is that the Muslim world would be even more offended thinking good jihadists were killed by homosexuals. You can't win. You just can't win. ~ Mike Adams

Seems like the marines and the military just can't get anything right anymore. War is hell especially when you own government reacts to petty incidents unworthy of attention all the while pissing on the taxpayers and claiming it's Global Warming.

The Religion of Perpetual Rage goes ballistic over any infraction- why pander?

Click here for an amusing post!

Mitt Romney has a truth problem...

2012-01-06T15:05:00.002-05:00

No one can explain Wilber better then himself... except maybe his wife?

‎".. He can argue any side of a question. And sometimes you think he's really believing his argument, but he's not." - Ann Romney

Here is Wilber vs Wilber.

Rollback: Congress

2012-01-05T11:27:00.002-05:00

Rollback.

"In political science, rollback is the strategy of forcing change in the major policies of a state, usually by replacing its ruling regime. It contrasts with containment, which means preventing the expansion of that state; and with détente, which means a working relationship with that state. Most of the discussions of rollback in the scholarly literature deal withUnited States foreign policy toward Communist countries during the Cold War. The rollback strategy was tried, and failed, in Korea in 1950, and in Cuba in 1961." WIKI

If you haven't seen this in your email box give it a read and pass it on. Congress is out of control - their approval rating with the American People is in single digits- they have become a self serving corrupt body of thieves looking for personal gain. Willing to spend millions of other peoples money to get in office to spend trillions of other peoples money and glean whatever they can with insider trading deals, trips, lobbying money, pac perks, Earmarks, etc., etc.

It used to be an honorable thing to serve your country and there are ideas on how to roll it back. Below is one circulating the web and I thought it worth posting here, it is attributed to Warren Buffet but I can't verify it, anyway it's food for thought so read it and pass it on if you agree.

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12 . The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Don't you think it's time?

Hopefully we can rollback Congress- if we want reform it means we have to stop doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result (the definition of insanity). Don't vote for career politicians but rather citizen legislators willing to keep their day jobs.

A LOOK AT THE CASTLE DOCTRINE FOR VIRGINIA

2012-01-04T17:08:00.000-05:00

This in by Email from the VIrginia Citizens Defense League:

"A LOOK AT THE CASTLE DOCTRINE FOR VIRGINIA

The "Castle Doctrine" debate continues to heat up around the country and also here in Virginia. The Castle Doctrine basically says that a person has the right to defend themselves while in their own home (castle) and provides them special protections should they have to exercise that right.

Virginia's self-defense laws are based on common law developed in case law over the last several hundred years. We have pretty good coverage for self-defense here in Virginia currently (many states who celebrated getting a Castle Doctrine law were not so lucky and desperately needed to improve their laws).

Here is a summary of the current self-defense law in Virginia:

Virginia is a stand-your-ground state. But not just in your "castle," but EVERYWHERE you might be. As long as you are not "part of the problem," you can stand your ground and defend yourself. If you end up killing your assailant, it is considered a "justifiable homicide." If you are part of the problem, say you yelled an expletive at someone who cut you off in traffic, and you are attacked, then you must retreat as far as you can, indicate you have given up the fight, and only if the assailant keeps up the attack, may you defend yourself. In that case if the assailant dies, it is considered an "excusable homicide." Also, you can only use deadly force to protect yourself or others when you reasonably fear death OR grievous bodily injury. You CANNOT use deadly force to protect property or against a trespasser.

You might wonder why you have to retreat if you are part of the problem. That's to prevent someone intentionally murdering someone else and claiming self-defense. Let's say that John wanted to murder Jim. John could get a gun, keep it hidden and antagonize the hell out of Jim to the point that Jim might pickup something to attack John out of frustration or anger. John could then shoot Jim claiming "self-defense" since Jim had come at him with a baseball bat.

Problem is that John had intentionally set up Jim to be murdered. By requiring the co-aggressor to retreat, the Commonwealth is trying to eliminate such a scenario.

The push is to change the above into an actual hard-coded law. And that can be very tricky.

Previous attempts to pass a Castle Doctrine bill have mostly centered around protecting someone in a dwelling from being sued if they have to defend themselves. The problem is that no one is being sued for such a thing. Why? Because lawyers would generally do that on contingency, most likely will lose the case under Virginia law, and they will then lose their investment. So there is no monetary incentive for lawyers to "ambulance chase" legitimate self-defense cases.

An all-encompassing Castle Doctrine bill has been hashed around by the battery of lawyers who volunteer their time to VCDL. The bottom line is that it is hard to draft such a bill in a way that doesn't goof up our current legal protections. In that case we are better to do nothing than to make current law worse.

Senator-elect Dick Black has been working with VCDL to draft a solid Castle Doctrine bill for the last couple of weeks. After much time spent going back and forth, Dick and I concluded that the best way to do a Castle Doctrine bill correctly is as follows:

1. Draft a solid bill and put it on the VCDL website
2. Encourage prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, Delegates, Senators, and any other legal professional to look at the bill and try to shoot holes in it
3. Correct the daft for any found deficiencies and repost to the VCDL website
4. In the fall of 2012, prepare the final, fully vetted bill to be drafted by Legislative Services and pre-filed for the 2013 General Assembly session

There are going to be some Castle Doctrine bills put in by others. VCDL will support them, or stay neutral, as long as the bills do no harm. If they do have the potential to harm our current protections, then we will oppose them."
VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org

Loyalty Oaths.

2012-01-02T23:01:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you but I am confused. I'm trying to make some sense of a seemingly incoherent set of rules for the Virginia primary, most especially the loyalty oath.

Oaths are serious business and many conscientious people have good reason to avoid them:

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. James 5:11

An oath is a sacred pledge and not to be made lightly or offered insincerely. A person's word is as good as their reputation and if we really believe all the lip service given our Founders a school kid knows they would never take an oath without the gravest concern because they had fear of God. Well, ok they don't teach that is schools anymore. Does reputation matter in this age? The actions of Virginia Republican Party surely seems to indicate it does not.

The GOP requires a loyalty oath of it's members: it's a free country any group ought be able to set standards and make demands as such. But are those standards just an excuse to keep people out and not binding on members that pledge these oaths? Why take an oath if you have no intention of keeping it? If a party sets an oath as conditional for membership only to break it at any convenience why would the voters believe anything they say?

Republican Eric Cantor took the loyalty oath to his party to exclusively support Republican candidates but he endorsed Independent Bill Janis.
Republican Lt. Governor Bill Bolling also took the loyalty oath to exclusively support Republican candidates and also endorsed Janis and yet he has the audacity to whine that the rules can't be changed in mid stream because it's "not fair to the candidates!" (Of course he is in charge of the Romney campaign in Va).
Republican Ron Paul refuses to take an oath to the Republican Party, ran against it once, refused to support McCain in 08 and endorsed Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader. I have yet to hear him condemn the loyalty oath in Virginia!
I have first hand accounts of Ron Paul supporters explicitly stating they will take the oath without regard or reservation and follow Paul to a third party.

That just pisses me off!

I don't know about you but I have a problem taking an oath because of the verse above.
I have a problem with having to take an oath to a party who doesn't believe their own oaths are binding on them.
I have a right to vote in any election and this policy invokes memories of such scandals as the old poll tax.
I have a problem with a party stupid enough to think this will protect them when the people they want to filter out with the oath have every intent of breaking it should Ron Paul make a 3rd Party run and have publicly stated they will stay home if their guy loses- they're willing to throw the election to Obama!

The whole affair is a double standard that exposes the GOP leadership as hypocrites and it fails to protect the status quo from the Paul campaign because they don't honor oaths and they have a cult like apocalyptic world view. So what's the point?

On the legal issue of lowering the qualifications Bolling says it's not fair to the candidates to change in mid-stream, but what about the voters- aren't we taxpayers paying the Federal Matching Funds the other candidates are receiving? How is that fair?

The rules have been changed in that they are actually checking the signatures now because of a lawsuit files by Michael Osborne (I) a new standard is a change. Why the lawsuit if that was the case in the past?

Once again conservatives are on the losing end with the GOP. This affair is frustrating, discouraging and very dangerous politics and seems to indicate paranoia. I suppose the one lesson we can glean form the incoherent policies of the Virginia GOP is that there is no honor among thieves. And that more important then voters having the ability to vote for the candidates they are paying for the Establishment is grasping straws to maintain it's neo-monarchial "It's my turn" entitlement power structure.

I encourage the reader to contact the Republican Party and tell them to drop the loyalty oath until such time as they can elevate politicians who have the character to keep their own oaths.

Gingrich addresses Agenda 21

2011-12-19T14:36:00.001-05:00

"Everywhere I go people all over the country are worried about Agenda 21... seeking to create extra constitutional control over us."

Now why is it our Board of Supervisors who are in the same party cannot bring themselves to say the same thing? Is it the money attached?

George Allen - If you can't beat 'em steal 'em!

2011-11-28T09:59:00.001-05:00

???

I was contacted by a Tea Party friend this past week via the internet about Mr. Allen's desire for Tea Party endorsements. She said "many names on the list had not given any such permission." The thing about the TP is there really are no regional or national leaders, it's mostly a loose confederation of conservatives and libertarians and republicans- so it's hard to get an endorsement from a group so structured.

But apparently if your George Allen it's not a problem! Just co-opt a Gasden Flag ('hey it worked for Cooch- did you see that ovation he got at the TP Convention?- Me Too!!" ) and say they endorse you! No one will notice- they don't have leaders to check such things out!!!

Well this woman noticed because her name was on that list and she "does not endorse Allen" and said so.

To give this a little dimension let me offer my observations at the Richmond Tea Party's very successful Convention. I saw Allen there , he was marching around in the hall with body guards trying to look like he had somewhere to march too only no one was following. In fact no one paid him any attention and when he walked onto the stage later in the day he got a luke warm welcome. When Ken Cuccinelli walked on for the same round robin presentation the place went wild.

So want to be a TP guy- hey print up a Gasden Flag and put your name on it!!! Can't wait to see Obama's Gasden flag in 2012!!! He's a Tea Party guy too! No really! Seriously!

Do you really want yo vote for someone who has to co-opt and make unfounded claims- so much the same old politician that got us in the predicament we are in? Or do we send a citizen concerned with straightening out our affairs to Congress who is not a professional lifetime politician wannabee who simply wants to be back in the saddle with his "Young Guns" buddies?

Read what Redstate reported on the Allen Campaign's big fib:

http://redstatevirginia.com/2011/11/george-allens-endorsement-lies/http://redstatevirginia.com/2011/11/george-allens-endorsement-lies/

How Safe Are Our Colleges?

2011-11-27T09:32:00.009-05:00

Do you or a loved one attend a college in Virginia? Do you work for one of our fine universities or have occasion to visit one? If so, please pay attention to what our institutes of higher learning are attempting to do.

A recent opinion by Attorney General Cuccinelli stated that a school’s policy of no guns on campus is just that…a policy. It is not a regulation and therefore has no real bearing on the general public, so an average, law abiding citizen is not denied the right to self preservation simply because he has occasion to visit one of our state’s colleges. However, our professors, the school’s staff and the students are obligated to abide by
the policy, lest they lose their employment or be expelled.

I submit to you this question; are the lives of these individuals worth less simply because they work at or attend a particular institution? Keep in mind that all the laws that apply outside of the college are in full force inside the buildings as well. In other words, one may not possess a firearm if they are a convicted felon or have been adjudicated mentally unfit. Another point to consider is that many of the students are attending these establishments under the GI bill…they are trusted to guard our lives, well being and national security, but not allowed to defend themselves while attending school. Does this make sense?

There are a growing number of college students who are asking our General Assembly to pass legislation allowing concealed handgun permit (CHP) holders the right to carry on college campuses. Consider the fact that we are speaking about adults, 21 years of age and over, who have passed a qualifying course and a background check. Statistics continue to bear out that CHP holders are one of the most law abiding groups of citizens, even more so than law enforcement. In addition, what have been termed as “gun free zones” tend to be instead “maniac magnets” and “felon free-for-all” zones, attracting those who wish to do massive harm without fear of reprisal. Consider this; when the police talk to communities about how to deter crime, they tell us that criminals go for the easy target…places where they find little resistance. And yet we advertise that our schools have absolutely no resistance whatsoever.

What’s more, some members of the Board of Regents want to make it illegal for you to possess the means to defend yourself! They are contemplating changing their policies to regulations, which would then prohibit all law abiding citizens from being able to possess the tools necessary to exercising their right of self-preservation. We all know that passing a law does not stop crime from happening.

If you want to find out more about this subject the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus would like to hear from you. They have a web site at http://www.concealedcampus.com/.

In addition, the Virginia Citizens Defense League is planning protests during the months of November and December. The next rally is at VCU on Thursday, December 1st from 11:30 – 2:00.

To stay abreast of the fast changing developments, simply sign up for the VA-ALERT at http://www.vcdl.org/ or visit their mcalendar by clicking on the link on the home page.

by "Girlswithguns"

The Delphi Technique

2011-11-25T11:30:00.001-05:00

Ever go to a public meeting and think "shouldn't I have a voice in this process somehow?" and no matter how long you've been interested in public policy you cannot seem to get your government to work for you? The example below uses education as point of contention but group manipulation happens in other areas. Simply holding public meetings like Board of Supervisor meetings in the daytime during work hours is a way of manipulating outcomes.

Welcome to the Delphi Zone:

"The Delphi Technique — What Is It?

"The Delphi Technique was originally conceived as a way to obtain the opinion of experts without necessarily bringing them together face to face. In recent times, however, it has taken on an all new meaning and purpose. In Educating for the New World Order by B. Eakman, the reader finds reference upon reference for the need to preserve the illusion that there is "…lay, or community, participation (in the decision-making process), while lay citizens were, in fact, being squeezed out." The Delphi Technique is the method being used to squeeze citizens out of the process, effecting a left-wing take over of the schools.

A specialized use of this technique was developed for teachers, the "Alinsky Method" (ibid, p.123). The setting or group is, however, immaterial; the point is that people in groups tend to share a certain knowledge base and display certain identifiable characteristics (known as group dynamics). This allows for a special application of a basic technique.

The change agent or facilitator goes through the motions of acting as an organizer, getting each person in the target group to elicit expression of their concerns about a program, project, or policy in question. The facilitator listens attentively, forms "task forces," "urges everyone to make lists," and so on. While s/he is doing this, the facilitator learns something about each member of the target group. S/He identifies the "leaders," the "loud mouths," as well as those who frequently turn sides during the argument — the "weak or noncommittal".

Suddenly, the amiable facilitator becomes "devil's advocate." S/He dons his professional agitator hat. Using the "divide and conquer" technique, s/he manipulates one group opinion against the other. This is accomplished by manipulating those who are out of step to appear "ridiculous, unknowledgeable, inarticulate, or dogmatic." S/He wants certain members of the group to become angry, thereby forcing tensions to accelerate. The facilitator is well trained in psychological manipulation. S/He is able to predict the reactions of each group member. Individuals in opposition to the policy or program will be shut out of the group.

The method works. It is very effective with parents, teachers, school children, and any community group. The "targets" rarely, if ever, know that they are being manipulated. Or, if they suspect this is happening, do not know how to end the process.

The desired result is for group polarization, and for the facilitator to become accepted as a member of the group and group process. S/He will then throw the desired idea on the table and ask for opinions during discussion. Very soon his/her associates from the divided group begin to adopt the idea as if it were their own, and pressure the entire group to accept the proposition.

This technique is a very unethical method of achieving consensus on a controversial topic in group settings. It requires well-trained professionals who deliberately escalate tension among group members, pitting one faction against the other, so as to make one viewpoint appear ridiculous so the other becomes "sensible" whether such is warranted or not.

The Delphi Technique is based on the Hegelian Principle of achieving Oneness of Mind through a three step process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. In thesis and antithesis, all present their opinion or views on a given subject, establishing views and opposing views. In synthesis, opposites are brought together to form the new thesis. All participants are then to accept ownership of the new thesis and support it, changing their own views to align with the new thesis. Through a continual process of evolution, Oneness of Mind will supposedly occur.

The theory of the Delphi and the reality of the Delphi are, obviously, quite different — the reality being that Oneness of Mind does not occur but only the illusion of Oneness of Mind with those who refuse to be Delphi'd being alienated from participating in the process.

While proponents of education reform feel they are quite justified in this, the effect of this unethical manipulation of people is to create polarized camps. In an effort to maintain the process, advocates have marketed a plethora of publications (such as What's Left After the Right, No Right Turn and If You Don't, They Will) intended to label, castigate, and alienate anyone who does not go along with them. As a result, parents come to understand that their role in education reform is merely perfunctory; that the outcome is preset, that they are not but the rah-rah team so when opposition does arise, advocates of education reform can say, "we had community input."

To make sure that the situation is controlled, only those parents who agree with the process are allowed on the restructuring teams. New participants are carefully screened to ensure that education reform goes forward unquestioned.

If measurable opposition persists, advocates are told, get the local ministers on board. Take steps to neutralize, by whatever means necessary, the opposition. In some places, opponents have been harassed, both at home and on the job, personal property has been damaged and vandalized, people have lost their jobs. Anyone who does not go along with the restructuring of our society is susceptible to the totalitarian tactics of those promoting education reform – whether it be parents, teachers, principals, superintendents or board members. The need exists for advocates to maintain an iron grip on the process. They cannot, for instance, withstand open public debate of the issues. Therefore, they do not partake in public forums. They cannot withstand the criticism, so they close every avenue for parents to address the issues. They are rapidly creating, through their divisive tactics, a volatile situation. America is being torn apart.

Parents, citizens, teachers, principals, superintendents who are opposed to the new purpose being given our American education system need tools to withstand the process being used to bring it in — against the Delphi Technique and consensus which, through their basis in the Hegelian Principle, have Marxist connections and purposes.

First, no opportunity must be left untaken to expose this unethical, divisive process. Second, when this process is used, it can be disrupted. To do so, however, one must be able to recognize when the Delphi Technique is being used, and how to disrupt it.

With thanks to Sandy Vanderberg, Peg Luksik and others."

The Morning After

2011-11-12T08:38:00.001-05:00

Ever see a movie where some guy picks up a woman at the bar and wakes up the next morning only wanting to chew his arm off to escape?

Well here we are and lets take a good look at what we took home:

Seems there is a lot of news about whats going on with the Republican Status Quo. First up is that Agency of Agencies, that great creation of the Republican Party under Nixon.... Come on, can you guess it?

That's right! The EPA.

Seems Republicans are once again chewing at the arm to get away but this behemoth is still sprawled out and getting bigger by the minute. So what to do? Wake up that other big Agency you took home recently still laying on the other side of the bed and ask for help!!!
Republicans are asking "Big Sis" Janet Napolitano to review EPA's air quality rules!!! Hahahahaa! Sniff Sniff! Egads!

[Asking DHS to] "opine on the threat the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, Utility MACT and its other anti-coal-fired utility rules pose to energy security and reliability."

I guess a bottle of Listerine (Click to read letter) left on EPA's doorstep is rather difficult when she is still laying across your arm so send a note!

The House GOP has the power to toss EPA out, to cut her off from all her bad habits- she is the GOP's invention but will they? No, they turn to Homeland Security to do it for them and then a rather tepid 'asking' at that!

Let's move on...

Also in the news about EPA is Rand Paul's attempt to thwart that agencie's latest regulation on power plants in order to try to shut them down and or cause the cost of energy to rise again (Gee, thanks GOP for increasing the size of government!).

"We are simply asking that the clean air regulations already on the books stay in place and we do not make the regulations so onerous that they put utility plants out of business and we have an inability to supply electricity in this country," Paul said. "To have clean air and clean jobs you must have a balance." ~Rand Paul

Are we done yet?

But wait you might say Paul is a Republican and he was attempting to curb EPA! Yes, but this vote needed a simple majority and Republicans handed the leash over to the left. If those six had worked with Paul it could have passed!

The six: Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tenn., Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Mark Kirk of Illinois.

Closer to home:

Karen Hurd of the Tea Party Alliance had this to say on Richard Viguerie's Blog"

The Republican Party of Virginia spend a great deal of money on the wrong message and a weak message, they also wasted literally millions of dollars on TV ads and expensive mailings in July, August, September and even in early October. These ads focused on the personality of the candidate, not on the issues or ideas that motivate voters. This money could have been better spent much more effectively building grassroots support early, with a solid message and vision. In short, the Republican Party of Virginia failed to create a compelling reason for voters to switch from the “devil they know” to the “devil they don’t know.

Turning to the ol' play book they played it safe and while effective for gaining and retaining seats it does nothing to alleviate the perennial problem of a mushy GOP! You know what I'm taling about- the old maxim the the Republicans can't legislate as a majority party. When they get the majority they don't know what to do with it! Wit the possession of all three branches of the Federal Government under George Bush! Did we see the shrinking of government and pursuit of the conservative ideals espoused in all those campaign postcards? No we got more government and more debt thanks to guys like George Allen. We got the DHS and TSA- that's right, every time you go through the airport you should see elephants at the gate ready to check grandmas diaper.

Here in Hanover County we see a Republican mindset much the same and one that is unleashing Agenda 21 on property owners. When asked repeatedly (by myself) where Supervisor Bucky Stanley stands on Agenda 21 he looks at his shoes and plays possum. This the same Bucky Stanley who forgot his loyalty oath to the local Republican Party and supported Independent and old crony John Gordon over the Tea Party Republican Wayne Hazzard.

So, as the Grand Old Party picks up majorities in the Old Dominion will we see some Conservative principles guiding they way or will opportunity be squandered once again by playing it safe?

It's up to you to make sure the Republicans do as they say and not as they do. Make regular calls to your representatives and ask them what it is they have done for you lately.

Read the rest of Karen's article here.

Hazzard Wins in South Anna

2011-11-08T21:22:00.000-05:00

Early word is Wayne Hazzard has defeated incumbent and status quo pick John Gordon in the South Anna District. Gordon (I) was endorsed by Bucky Stanley (R) in violation of the Republican loyalty pledge.

More as it comes in...

Patrick Henry Tea Party Meeting Tuesday Evening

2011-11-07T16:22:00.001-05:00

Next General Meeting

Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 7pm
Election Day!
Vote early so you can attend this special meeting.
Bring your friends and neighbors. Learn the truth.

When a politician says he/she is a Conservative, ask a simple question:

What have you conserved lately?

American Legion

17662 Beaverdam Road

http://mapq.st/pBRcCM

Agenda 21

A Threat To Your Property Rights

Join us and learn about the threat to your property rights

by government regulations, including the County Comprehensive Plan,

as well as un-elected Regional Planning Districts.

Learn what you can do about it.

Featuring
Donna Holt

Executive Director of VA Campaign for Liberty

Mrs. Holt is one of the premier authorities in Virginia and has an excellent presentation on how Agenda 21, or "sustainable development" is taking away your property rights, creating human settlements, planning management of private land and water and extending its authority into virtually all walks of private and business life. It disregards the individual and promotes the greater common community good.

TEA Partys all across America are addressing this serious issue. Come to be informed and to help defeat this global effort that regards private land ownership as a concentration of wealth and as such contributing to social injustice.

Read about Agenda 21 at

http://www.patrickhenryteaparty.com/property-rights.html

9-minute video "Agenda 21 for Dummies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzEEgtOFFlM

Election Day

2011-11-07T13:19:00.000-05:00

Don't forget Tuesday is election day go and vote. Right?

This is likely to be a low turn out day at the polls due to confusion about where one's district may now lie and the fact that a lot of flab is on the ballot by way of uncontested races. Estimates are about a 30% turn out in this off year cycle.

The big action is for the State Senate and that makes the trip to the poll worth while. According to the Examiner:

" Democrats are fighting to maintain a 22-18 Senate majority. Republicans already control the House of Delegates and the governor's mansion. As of Oct. 26, more than $31 million was spent in Senate races."

So there is a lot at stake here on the State level. On the local scene here in Hanover Good Ol' Boy John Gordon is getting endorsements by Republicans even though he is running as an Independent against Republican challenger Wayne Hazzard . You may recall this is the same double standard we observed with Eric Cantor's support of Del. Bill Janis outside the party except in the case of Cantor and Cuccinnelli they got expelled (wink, wink, nod, nod). As a member you have to take a loyalty oath to support the party's nominees or face expulsion. Bucky Stanley is supporting old timer and former Republican John Gordon (I) over Hazzard (R) and Mr. Stanley should be thrown out of the local Party because he has violate his oath of membership but here in Hanover the Republican Party is not subject to it's own rules when the GOB network is threatened. Cantor will be restored after the election in Henrico so it is all so much smoke and mirrors anyway.

The board needs to be turned over in Hanover- no public office should be a lifetime career and on that principle alone we endorse Hazzard.

So go make a difference on the Senate races and vote for Hazzard and make a difference. As to those incumbents running unopposed we suggest you leave them blank or write in a name- just like the Republicans are doing for Floyd Mays in Ashland to challenge Mceachin's re-election Senate bid.

See you at the poll!

Equal Justice for All!

2011-11-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

Friends,

Please welcome James Manship to our contributors. Many of you know him as George Washington from Tea Party events in Richmond. Mr. Manship is a staunch supporter of the right to life. Please give his article a read.

James 'States' Manship

RE: Justice Rehnquist DISSENT in BIGELOW V. VIRGINIA, 421 U. S. 809 :: Volume 421 :: 1975

Dear Pro Life Friends,

Again from the viewpoint of Legal History...

The time may be ripe being that Chief Justice Roberts clerked for Chief Justice Rehnquist, and this Rehnquist DISSENT in Bigelow v. Virginia case (heard 18 December a.d. 1974, decision 15 June a.d. 1975) involves the state protecting its Citizens from adverse health "services" available in another state. Rehnquist wrote:

The result is the fashioning of a doctrine which appears designed to obtain reversal of this judgment,

Remember that in the movie "Amazing Grace" after years of failure at the "direct approach" of outlawing Slavery in the British Empire, as suggested by a young man NOT involved in the years of unsuccessful legislative efforts, Wilberforce obtained an inroads against Slave Traders by a "flanking attack", passing a law that Slave Ships had to meed certain health and safety requirements.

After a warning or two, the British Navy could seize the slave ship, which the Navy did, and that put a huge hole in the profitability of the Slave Trade. That then led to the banning of Slavery, after the Slave Traders income was reduced by legislative attack.

The Bigelow decision addresses tangentially the "profitability" and the commercial aspects of Aborticide services.

There may be a connection with the issue of "Federally Mandated Health Care" (Obama'Scare, a scary program as contrasted with the more main stream media label of "Obama Care"), originating in another state, or directed from DC, and indeed, even the very premise of the 14th Amendment extension of Roe and Doe to overrule State laws outlawing Aborticide services.

Read Rehnquist's short DISSENT (below) to understand there was a VERY slim legal logic or legal history for the majority opinion in Bigelow v. Virginia.

Given the "evolving standards" of banning advertisement in the Tobacco Settlements of the 1990s, provided now are additional reasons for this issue being "ripe" for plucking by a well designed action plan and well crafted legal argument.

Reading the opinion and the dissent, but NOT the transcripts of the Virginia Attorney Generals assistant before the U.S. supreme Court, there are sad indicators of a weak and poorly crafted argument.

There seemed to be "confusion" as what position that Virginia would assert because of the Roe and Doe decisions that the U.S. supreme Court had recently issued.

The Transcripts of the Oral Arguments would affirm or refute that "reading between the line" discernment.

It's my body mom!

Now is the time to plan a careful strategy, and craft a well-reasoned and thorough legal argument by the Virginia Attorney General, with others, to "reverse Bigelow v. Virginia" as Rehnquist suggested was possible in his Dissent of 36 years ago.

Yes, while the Children of Israel were 40 years in the wilderness, after 38 years (2011-1973) in the "Wilderness of Roe and Doe and Bigelow", now is the time for a Rallying Cry of "Abolish Abortion".

For Equal Justice for All (born and unborn),

James Renwick Manship, Sr.

http://supreme.justia.com/us/421/809/case.html#F4

MR. JUSTICE REHNQUIST, with whom MR. JUSTICE WHITE joins, dissenting.

The Court's opinion does not confront head-on the question which this case poses, but makes contact with
Page 421 U. S. 830

it only in a series of verbal sideswipes. The result is the fashioning of a doctrine which appears designed to obtain reversal of this judgment, but at the same time to save harmless from the effects of that doctrine the many prior cases of this Court which are inconsistent with it.

I am in agreement with the Court, ante at 421 U. S. 817-818, that Virginia's statute cannot properly be invalidated on grounds of overbreadth, [Footnote 2/1] given that the sole prosecution which has ever been brought under this now substantially altered statute is that now in issue. "It is the law as applied that we review, not the abstract, academic questions which it might raise in some more doubtful case." Saia v. New York,334 U. S. 558, 334 U. S. 571 (1948) (Jackson, J., dissenting).
Since the Court concludes, apparently from two lines of the advertisement, ante at 421 U. S. 812, that it conveyed information of value to those interested in the "subject matter or the law of another State and its development" and to those "seeking reform in Virginia," ante at 421 U. S. 822, and since the and relates to abortion, elevated to constitutional stature by the Court, it concludes that this advertisement is entitled to something more than the limited constitutional protection traditionally accorded commercial advertising. See ante at 421 U. S. 825 n. 10. Although recognizing that "[a]dvertising, like all public expression, may be subject to reasonable regulation that serves a legitimate public interest," ante at 421 U. S. 826, the Court, for reasons not entirely clear to me, concludes that Virginia's interest is of "little, if any, weight." Anteat 421 U. S. 828.
Page 421 U. S. 831

If the Court's decision does, indeed, turn upon its conclusion that the advertisement here in question was protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments, the subject of the advertisement ought to make no difference. It will not do to say, as the Court does, that this advertisement conveyed information about the "subject matter or the law of another State and its development" to those "seeking reform in Virginia," and that it related to abortion, as if these factors somehow put it on a different footing from other commercial advertising. This was a proposal to furnish services on a commercial basis, and since we have always refused to distinguish for First Amendment purposes on the basis of content, it is no different from an advertisement for a bucket shop operation or a Ponzi scheme which has its headquarters in New York. If Virginia may not regulate advertising of commercial abortion agencies because of the interest of those seeking to reform Virginia's abortion laws, it is difficult to see why it is not likewise precluded from regulating advertising for an out-of-state bucket shop on the ground that such information might be of interest to those interested in repealing Virginia's "blue sky" laws.
As a threshold matter, the advertisement appears to me, as it did to the courts below, to be a classic commercial proposition directed toward the exchange of services, rather than the exchange of ideas. It was apparently also so interpreted by the newspaper which published it, which stated in apparent apology in its following issue that the
"'Weekly collective has since learned that this abortion agency . . . as well as a number of other commercial groups are charging women a fee for a service which is done free by Women's Liberation, Planned Parenthood, and others.'"
213 Va.191, 194, 191 S.E.2d 173, 175 (1972). Whatever slight factual content the advertisement may contain, and
Page 421 U. S. 832
whatever expression of opinion may be laboriously drawn from it, does not alter its predominantly commercial content.
"If that evasion were successful, every merchant who desires to broadcast . . . need only append a civic appeal, or a moral platitude, to achieve immunity from the law's command."
Valentine v. Chrestensen, 316 U. S. 52, 316 U. S. 55 (1942). See, e.g., Ginzburg v. United States, 383 U. S. 463, 383 U. S. 474 n. 17 (1966). I am unable to perceive any relationship between the instant advertisement and that, for example, in issue in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U. S. 254, 376 U. S. 292 (1964). Nor am I able to distinguish this commercial proposition from that held to be purely commercial inPittsburgh Press Co. v. Human Rel. Comm'n, 413 U. S. 376 (1973). As the Court recognizes, ante at 421 U. S. 819-821, a purely commercial proposal is entitled to little constitutional protection.
Assuming arguendo that this advertisement is something more than a normal commercial proposal, I am unable to see why Virginia does not have a legitimate public interest in its regulation. The Court apparently concedes, ante at 421 U. S. 825 n. 10, and our cases have long held, that the States have a strong interest in the prevention of commercial advertising in the health field -- both in order to maintain high ethical standards in the medical profession and to protect the public from unscrupulous practices. See, e.g., Semler v. Dental Examiners, 294 U. S. 608, 294 U. S. 612 (1935);Williamson v. Lee Optical Co., 348 U. S. 483, 348 U. S. 490-491 (1955); North Dakota Pharmacy Bd. v. Snyder's Stores, 414 U. S. 156 (1973). And the interest asserted by the Supreme Court of Virginia in the Virginia statute was the prevention of commercial exploitation of those women who elect to have an abortion:
"It is clearly within the police power of the state to enact reasonable measures to ensure that pregnant
Page 421 U. S. 833
women in Virginia who decide to have abortions come to their decisions without the commercial advertising pressure usually incidental to the sale of a box of soap powder. And the state is rightfully interested in seeing that Virginia women who do decide to have abortions obtain proper medical care and do not fall into the hands of those interested only in financial gain, and not in the welfare of the patient."
213 Va. at 196, 191 S.E.2d at 176.
The concern of the Virginia Supreme Court was not a purely hypothetical one. As the majority notes, ante at 421 U. S. 822-823, n. 8, although New York, at the time of this advertisement, allowed profitmaking abortion referral agencies, it soon thereafter passed legislation prohibiting commercial advertisement of the type here in issue. The court in S. P. S. Consultants, Inc. v. Lefkowitz, 333 F.Supp. 1373, 1378 (SDNY 1971), quoted the author of that legislation on the reasons for its passage:
"Because New York State has the most liberal abortion statute within the Continental United States, thousands of women from all over the country are coming into New York State. . . . [M]ost of these women came here through referral agencies who advertise nationally. These agencies, for a sizeable fee, make all abortion arrangements for a patient. We also learned that certain hospitals give discounts to these lucrative, profit-making organizations. Thus, at the expense of desperate, frightened women, these agencies are making a huge profit -- some, such a huge profit that our Committee members were actually shocked."
See, e.g., State v. Mitchell, 66 Misc.2d 514, 321 N.Y.S.2d 756 (1971); State v. Abortion Information Agency, Inc., 69 Misc.2d 825, 323 N.Y.S.2d 597 (1971).
Page 421 U. S. 834

Without denying the power of either New York or Virginia to prohibit advertising such as that in issue where both publication of the advertised activity and the activity itself occur in the same State, the Court instead focuses on the multistate nature of this transaction, concluding that a State
"may not, under the guise of exercising internal police powers, bar a citizen of another State from disseminating information about an activity that is legal in that State."
Ante at 421 U. S. 824-825. And the Court goes so far as to suggest that it is an open question whether a State may constitutionally prohibit an advertisement containing an invitation or offer to engage in activity which is criminal both in the State of publication and in the proposed situs of the crime. See ante at 421 U. S. 828 n. 14.
The source of this rigid territorial limitation on the power of the States in our federal system to safeguard the health and welfare of their citizens is not revealed. It is surely not to be found in cases from this Court. [Footnote 2/2]
Page 421 U. S. 835
Beginning. at least with our decision in Delamater v. South Dakota, 205 U. S. 93, 205 U. S. 100 (1907), we have consistently recognized that, irrespective of a State's power to regulate extraterritorial commercial transactions in which its citizens participate, it retains an independent power to regulate the business of commercial solicitation and advertising within its borders. Thus, for example, in Head v. New Mexico Board, 374 U. S. 424 (1963), we upheld the power of New Mexico to prohibit commercial advertising by a New Mexico radio station of optometric services provided in Texas. Mr. JUSTICE BRENNAN, concurring in that opinion, noted that a contrary result might well produce
"a 'no-man's land' . . . in which there would be at best selective policing of the various advertising abuses and excesses which are now very extensively regulated by state law."
Id. at 374 U. S. 446. See, e.g., Packer Corp. v. Utah, 285 U. S. 105 (1932); Breard v. Alexandria, 341 U. S. 622 (1951).
Were the Court's statements taken literally, they would presage a standard of the lowest common denominator for commercial ethics and business conduct. Securities issuers could circumvent the established blue sky laws of States which had carefully drawn such laws for the protection of their citizens by establishing as a situs for transactions those States without such regulations, while spreading offers throughout the country. Loan sharks might well choose States with unregulated small loan industries, luring the unwary with immune
Page 421 U. S. 836
commercial advertisements. And imagination would place the only limit on the use of such a "no-man's land" together with artificially created territorial contacts to bilk the public and circumvent long-established state schemes of regulation.
Since the Court saves harmless from its present opinion our prior cases in this area,ante at 421 U. S. 825 n. 10, it may be fairly inferred that it does not intend the results which might otherwise come from a literal reading of its opinion. But solely on the facts before it, I think the Court today simply errs in assessing Virginia's interest in its statute because it does not focus on the impact of the practices in question on the State. Cf. Young v. Masci, 289 U. S. 253 (1933). Although the commercial referral agency, whose advertisement in Virginia was barred, was physically located outside the State, this physical contact says little about Virginia's concern for the touted practices. Virginia's interest in this statute lies in preventing commercial exploitation of the health needs of its citizens. So long as the statute bans commercial advertising by publications within the State, the extraterritorial location at which the services are actually provided does not diminish that interest.
Since the statute in question is a "reasonable regulation that serves a legitimate public interest," ante at 421 U. S. 826, I would affirm the judgment of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
[Footnote 2/1]
The Court, ante at 421 U. S. 817, states that the Virginia Supreme Court placed no limiting interpretation on its statute and that it implied that the statute might apply to doctors, husbands, and lecturers. The Court is in error: the Virginia Supreme Court stated that it would not interpret the statute to encompass such situations. 213 Va.191, 198, 191 S.E.2d 173, 177 (1972).
[Footnote 2/2]
The Court, ante at 421 U. S. 822-823, relies on Huntington v. Attrill, 146 U. S. 657, 669 (1892), for its major premise that Virginia could not regulate the relations of the advertiser with its residents, since these occurred in New York. To the extent that the Court reads Huntington to impose a rigid and unthinking territorial limitation, whose constitutional source is unspecified, on the power of the States to regulate conduct, it is plainly wrong. The passage referred to by the Court in the Huntington opinion is dictum, and appears to be a statement of then-prevalent common law rules, rather than a constitutional holding. And the attempt to impose such a rigid limitation on the power of the States was first rejected by Mr. Justice Holmes, writing for the Court inStrassheim v. Daily, 221 U. S. 280, 221 U. S. 285 (1911):
"Acts done outside a jurisdiction, but intended to produce and producing detrimental effects within it, justify a State in punishing the cause of the harm as if he had been present at the effect. . . ."

Mr. Justice McKenna in Hyde v. United States, 225 U. S. 347, 225 U. S. 363 (1912), observed that "this must be so if we would fit the laws and their administration to the acts of men and not be led away by mere bookish theorick.'" See, e.g., Skiriotes v. Florida, 313 U. S. 69, 313 U. S. 74-75 (1941); Ford v. United States, 273 U. S. 593,273 U. S. 620-621 (1927). To the extent that the Court's conclusion that Virginia has a negligible interest in its statute proceeds from the assumption that the State was without power to regulate the extraterritorial activities of the advertiser involving Virginia residents, it is quite at war with our prior cases.

A Lesson in the Free Market: I Pencil.

2011-10-23T15:24:00.001-04:00

Folks here is a great demonstration of Free Market Principles, if you have children this is a great lesson they likely won't get in school:

I, Pencil My Family Tree as told to Leonard E. Read

"I am a lead pencil—the ordinary wooden pencil familiar to all boys and girls and adults who can read and write.*

Writing is both my vocation and my avocation; that's all I do.

You may wonder why I should write a genealogy. Well, to begin with, my story is interesting. And, next, I am a mystery—more so than a tree or a sunset or even a flash of lightning. But, sadly, I am taken for granted by those who use me, as if I were a mere incident and without background. This supercilious attitude relegates me to the level of the commonplace. This is a species of the grievous error in which mankind cannot too long persist without peril. For, the wise G. K. Chesterton observed, "We are perishing for want of wonder, not for want of wonders."

I, Pencil, simple though I appear to be, merit your wonder and awe, a claim I shall attempt to prove. In fact, if you can understand me—no, that's too much to ask of anyone—if you can become aware of the miraculousness which I symbolize, you can help save the freedom mankind is so unhappily losing. I have a profound lesson to teach. And I can teach this lesson better than can an automobile or an airplane or a mechanical dishwasher because—well, because I am seemingly so simple.

Simple? Yet, not a single person on the face of this earth knows how to make me. This sounds fantastic, doesn't it? Especially when it is realized that there are about one and one-half billion of my kind produced in the U.S.A. each year.

Pick me up and look me over. What do you see? Not much meets the eye—there's some wood, lacquer, the printed labeling, graphite lead, a bit of metal, and an eraser.

Innumerable Antecedents

Just as you cannot trace your family tree back very far, so is it impossible for me to name and explain all my antecedents. But I would like to suggest enough of them to impress upon you the richness and complexity of my background.

My family tree begins with what in fact is a tree, a cedar of straight grain that grows in Northern California and Oregon. Now contemplate all the saws and trucks and rope and the countless other gear used in harvesting and carting the cedar logs to the railroad siding. Think of all the persons and the numberless skills that went into their fabrication: the mining of ore, the making of steel and its refinement into saws, axes, motors; the growing of hemp and bringing it through all the stages to heavy and strong rope; the logging camps with their beds and mess halls, the cookery and the raising of all the foods. Why, untold thousands of persons had a hand in every cup of coffee the loggers drink!

The logs are shipped to a mill in San Leandro, California. Can you imagine the individuals who make flat cars and rails and railroad engines and who construct and install the communication systems incidental thereto? These legions are among my antecedents.

Consider the millwork in San Leandro. The cedar logs are cut into small, pencil-length slats less than one-fourth of an inch in thickness. These are kiln dried and then tinted for the same reason women put rouge on their faces. People prefer that I look pretty, not a pallid white. The slats are waxed and kiln dried again. How many skills went into the making of the tint and the kilns, into supplying the heat, the light and power, the belts, motors, and all the other things a mill requires? Sweepers in the mill among my ancestors? Yes, and included are the men who poured the concrete for the dam of a Pacific Gas & Electric Company hydroplant which supplies the mill's power!

Don't overlook the ancestors present and distant who have a hand in transporting sixty carloads of slats across the nation.

Once in the pencil factory—$4,000,000 in machinery and building, all capital accumulated by thrifty and saving parents of mine—each slat is given eight grooves by a complex machine, after which another machine lays leads in every other slat, applies glue, and places another slat atop—a lead sandwich, so to speak. Seven brothers and I are mechanically carved from this "wood-clinched" sandwich.

My "lead" itself—it contains no lead at all—is complex. The graphite is mined in Ceylon. Consider these miners and those who make their many tools and the makers of the paper sacks in which the graphite is shipped and those who make the string that ties the sacks and those who put them aboard ships and those who make the ships. Even the lighthouse keepers along the way assisted in my birth—and the harbor pilots.

The graphite is mixed with clay from Mississippi in which ammonium hydroxide is used in the refining process. Then wetting agents are added such as sulfonated tallow—animal fats chemically reacted with sulfuric acid. After passing through numerous machines, the mixture finally appears as endless extrusions—as from a sausage grinder-cut to size, dried, and baked for several hours at 1,850 degrees Fahrenheit. To increase their strength and smoothness the leads are then treated with a hot mixture which includes candelilla wax from Mexico, paraffin wax, and hydrogenated natural fats.

My cedar receives six coats of lacquer. Do you know all the ingredients of lacquer? Who would think that the growers of castor beans and the refiners of castor oil are a part of it? They are. Why, even the processes by which the lacquer is made a beautiful yellow involve the skills of more persons than one can enumerate!

Observe the labeling. That's a film formed by applying heat to carbon black mixed with resins. How do you make resins and what, pray, is carbon black?

My bit of metal—the ferrule—is brass. Think of all the persons who mine zinc and copper and those who have the skills to make shiny sheet brass from these products of nature. Those black rings on my ferrule are black nickel. What is black nickel and how is it applied? The complete story of why the center of my ferrule has no black nickel on it would take pages to explain.

Then there's my crowning glory, inelegantly referred to in the trade as "the plug," the part man uses to erase the errors he makes with me. An ingredient called "factice" is what does the erasing. It is a rubber-like product made by reacting rape-seed oil from the Dutch East Indies with sulfur chloride. Rubber, contrary to the common notion, is only for binding purposes. Then, too, there are numerous vulcanizing and accelerating agents. The pumice comes from Italy; and the pigment which gives "the plug" its color is cadmium sulfide.

No One Knows

Does anyone wish to challenge my earlier assertion that no single person on the face of this earth knows how to make me?

Actually, millions of human beings have had a hand in my creation, no one of whom even knows more than a very few of the others. Now, you may say that I go too far in relating the picker of a coffee berry in far off Brazil and food growers elsewhere to my creation; that this is an extreme position. I shall stand by my claim. There isn't a single person in all these millions, including the president of the pencil company, who contributes more than a tiny, infinitesimal bit of know-how. From the standpoint of know-how the only difference between the miner of graphite in Ceylon and the logger in Oregon is in the type of know-how. Neither the miner nor the logger can be dispensed with, any more than can the chemist at the factory or the worker in the oil field—paraffin being a by-product of petroleum.

Here is an astounding fact: Neither the worker in the oil field nor the chemist nor the digger of graphite or clay nor any who mans or makes the ships or trains or trucks nor the one who runs the machine that does the knurling on my bit of metal nor the president of the company performs his singular task because he wants me. Each one wants me less, perhaps, than does a child in the first grade. Indeed, there are some among this vast multitude who never saw a pencil nor would they know how to use one. Their motivation is other than me. Perhaps it is something like this: Each of these millions sees that he can thus exchange his tiny know-how for the goods and services he needs or wants. I may or may not be among these items.

No Master Mind

There is a fact still more astounding: the absence of a master mind, of anyone dictating or forcibly directing these countless actions which bring me into being. No trace of such a person can be found. Instead, we find the Invisible Hand at work. This is the mystery to which I earlier referred.

It has been said that "only God can make a tree." Why do we agree with this? Isn't it because we realize that we ourselves could not make one? Indeed, can we even describe a tree? We cannot, except in superficial terms. We can say, for instance, that a certain molecular configuration manifests itself as a tree. But what mind is there among men that could even record, let alone direct, the constant changes in molecules that transpire in the life span of a tree? Such a feat is utterly unthinkable!

I, Pencil, am a complex combination of miracles: a tree, zinc, copper, graphite, and so on. But to these miracles which manifest themselves in Nature an even more extraordinary miracle has been added: the configuration of creative human energies—millions of tiny know-hows configurating naturally and spontaneously in response to human necessity and desire and in the absence of any human master-minding! Since only God can make a tree, I insist that only God could make me. Man can no more direct these millions of know-hows to bring me into being than he can put molecules together to create a tree.

The above is what I meant when writing, "If you can become aware of the miraculousness which I symbolize, you can help save the freedom mankind is so unhappily losing." For, if one is aware that these know-hows will naturally, yes, automatically, arrange themselves into creative and productive patterns in response to human necessity and demand—that is, in the absence of governmental or any other coercive masterminding—then one will possess an absolutely essential ingredient for freedom: a faith in free people. Freedom is impossible without this faith.

Once government has had a monopoly of a creative activity such, for instance, as the delivery of the mails, most individuals will believe that the mails could not be efficiently delivered by men acting freely. And here is the reason: Each one acknowledges that he himself doesn't know how to do all the things incident to mail delivery. He also recognizes that no other individual could do it. These assumptions are correct. No individual possesses enough know-how to perform a nation's mail delivery any more than any individual possesses enough know-how to make a pencil. Now, in the absence of faith in free people—in the unawareness that millions of tiny know-hows would naturally and miraculously form and cooperate to satisfy this necessity—the individual cannot help but reach the erroneous conclusion that mail can be delivered only by governmental "master-minding."

Testimony Galore

If I, Pencil, were the only item that could offer testimony on what men and women can accomplish when free to try, then those with little faith would have a fair case. However, there is testimony galore; it's all about us and on every hand. Mail delivery is exceedingly simple when compared, for instance, to the making of an automobile or a calculating machine or a grain combine or a milling machine or to tens of thousands of other things. Delivery? Why, in this area where men have been left free to try, they deliver the human voice around the world in less than one second; they deliver an event visually and in motion to any person's home when it is happening; they deliver 150 passengers from Seattle to Baltimore in less than four hours; they deliver gas from Texas to one's range or furnace in New York at unbelievably low rates and without subsidy; they deliver each four pounds of oil from the Persian Gulf to our Eastern Seaboard—halfway around the world—for less money than the government charges for delivering a one-ounce letter across the street!

The lesson I have to teach is this: Leave all creative energies uninhibited. Merely organize society to act in harmony with this lesson. Let society's legal apparatus remove all obstacles the best it can. Permit these creative know-hows freely to flow. Have faith that free men and women will respond to the Invisible Hand. This faith will be confirmed. I, Pencil, seemingly simple though I am, offer the miracle of my creation as testimony that this is a practical faith, as practical as the sun, the rain, a cedar tree, the good earth."

Leonard E. Read (1898-1983) founded FEE in 1946 and served as its president until his death.

"I, Pencil," his most famous essay, was first published in the December 1958 issue of The Freeman. Although a few of the manufacturing details and place names have changed over the past forty years, the principles are unchanged.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did- be sure to look up the additional Friedman videos on Youtube and additional works of the author Leonard E. Read .

RUNAWAY!

2011-10-18T16:08:00.001-04:00

Folks I'm not sure what to do here!

We have a first order moral dilemma at hand. Earlier today it was reported that TOTUS was stolen while sitting in a truck in Obama's entourage. Further investigation and tips from insiders has led the HCC to believe it may be a case of 'RUNAWAY"!

Don't make me go home pleeeease!

TOTUS the teleprompter is in a predicament! A sensitive creature, TOTUS has a conscience and may have made it's get away when opportunity presented itself today. Consider what it must be like to have to be the oracle of nonsense day in and day out! Consider that all the other teleprompters are murmuring against you because you are ruining their reputations! What would you do! Like some storyline of a Hollywood Movie TOTUS has flown the coop with it's live-in friend the Microphone! A love story of a repressed couple forced to tell fibs to the point of shame! They ran! Sniffle!

This brings us to our dilemma... do we turn them in? Many have said they think that TOTUS needs to suck it up and continue because nobody believes anything Obama says anyway and so while TOTUS is understandably ashamed no one holds it accountable and believe TOTUS is actually doing service to the country by helping Obama reveal himself.

Or do we help TOTUS escape to Canada? Canada is quickly becoming a conservative nation and as such would be a likely place to offer TOTUS asylum. TOTUS and Microphone could get married and have an Ipod or two and settle into a quiet life in a corporate sensitivity training classroom somewhere in Calgary.

Please take time to let us know which is the preferable way to deal with such a tough situation.

New Federal Tax plan from a fellow citizen

2011-10-14T10:22:00.004-04:00

We all have ideas on ways to fix the current quagmire of tax code. And discussion of new ideas is laudable and worthy time spent. Here is an idea from a good friend Tony that lives locally- give it a read and we would love to hear your opinions:

New Federal Tax Code

With a debt approaching 15 Trillion dollars, yes I said 15 Trillion, Now 15 Trillion looks like
this… $15,000,000,000,000, leaves you with the question “Where do you start?” In my
humble opinion you start with the Federal Tax Code. The KEY to taking back our country is
getting control of our money.

Tackling the Federal Tax Code is actually very simple. You SCRAP the existing system. The
current Federal Tax Code is over 64,000 pages thick and is full of corruption and it needs to
be REPLACED with a new Federal Tax Code that I believe should be what is commonly
known as a Value Added Tax (VAT). I prefer to call it what it is a National Sales Tax (NST).
Now this is not a new idea but I believe it could be the answer to our dysfunctional tax
code.

The National Sales Tax will replace ALL Federal Taxes, Fees and any revenue enhancement
programs excluding Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. Social Security and
Medicare/Medicaid has to be addressed separately which I will go into at another time.

So how will this National Sales Tax work?

The National Sale Tax

The National Sales Tax should have a range between 1% to 5% at the point of sale with NO
EXCEPTIONS and NO EXCLUSIONS. I suggest a 5% NST. For example let’s use that ear of
corn you just bought at the grocery store as an example.

When the Farmer bought the seed, fertilizer, herbicide, etc. He would pay a 5% NST.

After the corn is harvested the Wholesaler would pay a 5% NST on the Farmer’s corn crop.

When the Grocery Store Chain buy’s a supply of corn from the Wholesaler they would pay a
5% NST.

That ear of corn you picked out in the produce section of the Grocery Store you will pay a
5% NST.

Of course all the NST paid by the Farmer, Wholesaler and Grocery Store Chain is included in
the price you pay for that ear of corn. You may ask, “Is that right?” The answer is yes.

All of the actual or estimated taxes that the Farmer, Wholesaler and Grocery Store Chain
will pay under the current Federal Tax Code are included in the price of that ear of corn. So
nothing will change when it comes to passing the cost of doing business.

What will the NST apply to?

The NST applies to all aspects of the U.S. economy. Which means it will apply to agriculture,
industry, finance, service, investments, energy, etc., remember I said NO EXCEPTIONS and
NO EXCLUSIONS. For example it will apply to houses, Cars, Bubble Gum, Insurance Policy’s,
Lawyer Fees, Gasoline, Food, Medicine, Stocks, Doctor Bill’s, etc. Do you get the picture
now?

What is the advantage of the NST over a Flat Tax or the Fair Tax?

without exception. Your income is NOT TAXED!

The Flat Tax of 10% to 20%, which ever rate they decide on will still tax your income and
require you to file a return every year just like you do now. Most if not all of the exceptions
are eliminated. Check the following link for more information.
A Brief Guide to the Flat Tax Link

The Fair Tax resembles the NST because it does tax you when you buy something. The
problem with the Fair Tax is that it will tax you about 25% at the retail level and will have
some exceptions and exclusions. Check the following link for more information.
The Fair Tax Link

How do we keep Congress from raising the NST rate or creating new taxes?

We all know that Congress will do their best to raise the NST rate or will create new taxes
weather we like it or not so they can spend more money on their pet projects. How do we
stop it? It will take a Constitutional Amendment to guarantee that Congress will not pervert
the NST. What will this Constitutional Amendment look like?

The 27th Amendment

1. Repeal the 16th Amendment.

2. The NST will not exceed 5% without a National Referendum. There are two
exceptions to this rule.

Exception 1: In case of a Natural Disaster Congress can enact up to a 1% increase in
the NST above the 5% limit until either the public infrastructure that was damaged is
replaced and paid for or it is approved by the voters on the next first Tuesday in
November in a National Referendum with 60% of the vote or more.
Exception 2: In case of a Declared War by Congress, Congress can enact up to a 1%
increase in the NST above the 5% limit until either the War is over and paid for or it
is approved by the voters on the next first Tuesday in November in a National
Referendum with 60% of the vote or more.

3. Congress CANNOT increase the NST above 5% without the prior approval of the
public through a National Referendum requiring 60% of the vote or more. All
increases will be limited to 1% without exception.

4. Any increase in the NST above the 5% limit CANNOT exceed 5 years. The public
must re-approve the previous NST increase in a National Referendum requiring 60%
of the vote or more.

5. The President will have the power of a Budget Line-Item-Veto.

6. Congress MUST maintain a Balanced Budget.

7. All Budget Deficits must be balanced with Spending Cuts.

8. All Budget Surpluses must be applied to the National Debt or in case the National
Debt has been paid then it must be refunded to the citizens (above 18 years old) of
the United States of America equally.

This new Constitutional Amendment will fundamentally change the way our Federal
Government works. It will literally take most of the power of taxation away from Congress
and give it back to “The People”. Think about that for a minute. You will through a “National
Referendum” for the first time in our history have control over your tax money.

I firmly believe that this proposed Federal Tax Code will bring in the revenue to help balance
our budget along with spending cuts.

We must elect people who will truly reform our Federal Government by not adding a bunch
of new laws but by repealing old laws.


Tony's plan exempts Mustangs from sales tax! Ok, I'm kidding!

Thanks Tony Hall for the submission and don't forget to add Tony's blog to your bookmarks:
http://politicsmustangs.blogspot.com/

(He is one of those Ford guys! Everybody knows Mopar Blogs are the best :-p)

Property taxes- a fraud and theft addressed...

2011-09-23T10:09:00.003-04:00

Shaun Kenny is a patriot, conservative and would you believe it, a Republican! In these days it's not a combination that automatically comes to mind! ;-P

Shaun is the Supervisor for the Columbia District of Fluvanna County, Virginia, pens Bearing Drift Blog, is active in the local Republican Party, and like those old Muppets Statler and Waldorf, Kenney heckles wanting liberals on Facebook. This article is from the beginning of the year and it looks as if it is dead in the water but I will follow up with Mr. Kenney for our Hanover audience to see if there is any chance for it.

The premise is spot on- we are being robbed openly by our county government. Property values have dropped as much as 30% and sales can be difficult to manage at any price. When times were good the assessors were emphatic about maintaining assessments within 95% of Market Value. They spent every dollar through the Bubble like there was no end and now that the end has come they want to pretend it's not here and continue to maintain a bloated government that is in their view is too big to fail and too sacrosanct for cuts.

Folks it's time to start demanding a fair assessment based on market value- it was good for the Goose during the real estate bubble- time to come back to reality for the County.

I support HB 570

by Shaun Kenney

Bearing Drift has the great news:

Currently, when a taxpayer believes he is being overcharged, he faces an uphill battle because the government’s assessment is presumed to be correct in any appeal. Iaquinto’s bill would lift that burden off the taxpayer by simply requiring the government official to demonstrate how the assessment was calculated.

Ironically, your friendly Virginia Association of Counties is opposing the bill because it places undue pressure on local government, who will then have to justify their assessments.
*insert snarky laughter here*
What’s more entertaining is that VACo insists that the current system works just fine for challenging unfair reassessments… but that shifting the burden of proof would require more staff, more time, etc. thereby making a good process for government… a bad one for taxpayers? What gives?
Fluvanna County is still smarting from rushed reassessments, and I know staff is not relishing the idea of another reassessment done at 30,000 feet and 120mph.
Done fairly, there is no need for the doomsday scenario VACo imagines. Frankly, our Commissioners want it done fairly as well, and there’s no better way to determine the best value of a property than from property owners themselves.
I support HB 570 as honest reform, and take a bit of exception that VACo would assume they speak for every local elected official on the matter. Let’s hope the Senate supports the reform as well.

HB 570 Real property tax assessments; appeals.
Salvatore R. Iaquinto | all patrons ... notes| add to my profiles

Summary as introduced:
Real property tax assessments; appeals. Changesthe burden of proof from the taxpayer to the assessor when a taxpayer appeals theassessment of real property to a board of equalization or to a circuit court. Full text:
01/12/10 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10103914D pdf | impact statement
02/03/10 House: Printed as engrossed 10103914D-E pdf | impact statement

Amendments:
House amendments

Status:
01/12/10 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10103914D
01/12/10 House: Referred to Committee on Finance
01/18/10 House: Assigned Finance sub: #1
01/27/10 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 1-N)
02/01/10 House: Reported from Finance (19-Y 2-N)
02/02/10 House: Read first time
02/03/10 House: Read second time
02/03/10 House: Amendments by Delegate Iaquinto agreed to
02/03/10 House: Engrossed by House as amended HB570E
02/03/10 House: Printed as engrossed 10103914D-E
02/04/10 House: Read third time and passed House (86-Y 13-N)
02/04/10 House: VOTE: --- PASSAGE (86-Y 13-N)
02/08/10 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
02/08/10 Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance
03/08/10 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (9-Y 5-N)

Why I decided to homeschool…

2011-09-18T14:15:00.001-04:00

I am a mom of two little boys, ages 2 and 4. I have decided that I have no other choice but to home-school them. God blessed me with them, and I have the responsibility to raise
them. I do not trust public schools or really even private schools. My children’s education is so important I cannot trust anyone else with it. They are the future of our great country. If they do not learn our past, how are they going to prevent us from making the same mistakes again and falling for the same liberal lies? If they do not learn economics, history, and the lessons of the Bible, how are they going to make our country the capitalistic, God-fearing superpower it once was?

We cannot trust public schools to teach our children. Many teachers may be great teachers, but the textbooks and the material they are required to teach have an agenda that keeps our children ignorant and encourages them to be accepting of immoral/false liberalcauses. I went to public schools in Hanover County. I never learned how truly evil Woodrow Wilson was. I never learned of the events that led up to WWII. A lot of what is happening inthe world today is repeating history. But a lot of Americans have never learned it and have no idea what we are facing. I blame all this on public schools. The public schools have been run by liberals/progressives for so long. The progressives have rewritten our history books so we are ignorant of our past and are blind to what they are doing to our future.

Haekel’s faked embryonic drawings still taught as fact.

Instead of God and the Bible, Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution is taught in public schools. Instead of worshiping God, our children are taught to worship the earth and celebrate Earth Day. They are taught that man is ruining the earth and that they are not important but the earth is. The first amendment is freedom OF religion. It has been perverted to freedom FROM religion. I was taught Thanksgiving was a time to celebrate a peaceful meal between Indians and Pilgrims and had nothing to do with thanking God. I never learned that George Washington, Ben Franklin, Patrick Henry, and so many of our country’s founding heroeswere Christians who relied firmly on the protection of Divine Providence.

An uncertain future is heading our way with our country’s unsustainable debt, our
insecure borders, the radicals/communists/socialists in and around our current President’s
administration, Islamic terrorists plotting to destroy Israel and America, the devaluing of the
U.S. dollar, our dependency on foreign oil, etc. This is why I believe it is essential that I teach
my children true history, moral leadership, the importance of capitalism, the exceptionalism of
America, and the Bible. I want my boys to grow up prepared to lead our country and defend the
Constitution the way our founding fathers intended.

"Beaverdam Mom"

Movin' on up!

2011-09-15T21:43:00.002-04:00

Google reports the HHC has had over 13,500 views! Thanks for your support! We will continue to look for the fun, absurd and downright underhanded in politics regardless of the source. If it ain't Conservative it's fair game! If you would like to submit an article contact us!

ATTACK of the ATTACKWATCH!

2011-09-15T21:33:00.000-04:00

Obama has put up a site to get people to snitch on you if you criticize the Administration- likely an idea from that titan of intellects Janet Napolitano AKA "Big Sis"of Homeland Security. Seems she must of had a little time in between frisking Grandma's Depends and little children at the Airport to consult the President on ways of collecting information on people. Enter ATTACKWATCH!

One bright person gave it a plug on FaceBook saying "I don't always report on my neighbors, but when I do, I use AttackWatch!" Hey it's ready, it's convenient and it's now a political laughing stock!

I reported a very suspicious act myself earlier seems a women looking exactly like Michelle was ordering a rack of Baby back Ribs and French Fried Potatoes! Subversion!

Enjoy:

Crony Capitalism Alive and Well in Olde Virginia

2011-09-15T20:15:00.003-04:00

The Commonwealth of Virginia may seem far removed from the corporate greed and
crony capitalism practiced by Wall Street “banksters,” but not so fast.

Crony capitalism is a term describing a capitalist economy in which close relationships
between businessmen and government officials determine who wins in business. It
may be exhibited by favoritism in the granting of legal permits, government grants,
special tax breaks, and so forth. Crony capitalism results when contributions to political
campaigns leave them beholden to special interests.

"A famous early example in the United States would be the Interstate Commerce Commission,

which was established in 1887 to regulate the railroad "robber barons"; instead, it quickly became controlled by the railroads, which set up a permit system that was used to deny access to new entrants and functionally legalized price fixing." ©Wikipedia

That’s why the following headline stuck out like a sore thumb, especially when we
expect energy prices to soar in the future.

Dominion seeks approval to export U.S. natural gas

"Sept. 2, 2011, 4:25 p.m. EDT
By Tennille Tracy
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Dominion Resources Inc. plans to begin exporting U.S. natural gas via a Maryland facility it currently uses for imports, taking steps to adjust to recent developments in the natural gas industry that have led to dramatic increases in U.S. gas production.
Dominion filed an application with the U.S. Energy Department to begin exporting natural gas to countries with which the U.S. has a free-trade agreement. Dominion is asking for permission to export up to 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day for 25 years.
The export process would involve cooling the natural gas to turn it into a liquid, making it easier to transport on a ship."
click here for the full article

And there's more...

By: Times-Dispatch Staff
"Published: September 15, 2011
Dominion Virginia Power is not anyone's idea of a poor company. Yet the federal government is giving it a half-million dollars ... [to] underwrite an analysis of possible offshore wind projects. Dominion CEO Tom Farrell already has said the company is interested in pursuing such endeavors... needs federal money for this.
Meanwhile, Washington also is doling out your tax dollars to French conglomerate Alstom Power — it has offices in Richmond — to encourage its development of offshore wind. Alstom, whose annual sales reach into the billions of dollars, will get more than $4 million from Uncle Sam to do turbine research.
In each of these cases, one of two conditions applies. One, the company was going to do the research anyway. In that case, there is no reason for taxpayers to pick up the tab. Or the company was not going to do the research. In that case, the public is paying to reallocate capital to less-productive uses.
Gov. Bob McDonnell applauded the subsidies, even as Republicans in Congress vow to lower the deficit."

click here for the full article

You might think there’s nothing wrong with this business arrangement and that a
company should make a reasonable profit for its shareholders from the risk it takes in
the marketplace. It sounds like basic Business 101, until you read the fine print and
discover that the government (local, state, or federal) becomes a manipulator in the
market using our tax dollars. Consider the following:

Who me?

(1) For all the talk about energy independence in the USA, Dominion Resources, which is headquartered in Richmond, VA, is a well respected firm selling American gas to foreign consumers.

(2) An abundance of natural gas in America should bring down prices for Americans, right? Besides, natural gas is a natural resource that belongs to all of the people of a nation, not just whatever corporate interest gains control of it.

(3) Therefore, why does any company get to control the supply of natural gas, set the price, and sell overseas before meeting demand in America? Why are we
fracturing rocks (“fracking”) and building a pipeline from Canada if we are just going to sell product to the highest bidder.

(4) Now we find that Virginia-based Dominion Resources wants to play the “green game” by asking for of our hard-earned tax dollars to subsidize its wind turbine technology.

You can’t have it both ways -- a free, competitive market economy under the rule of
law or crony capitalism where the politicians send million-dollar thank-you notes to
campaign backers. Once you scratch below the surface you soon discover that welfare
is welfare – whether it’s corporate or social. All at taxpayer expense!

By: Minnie Thanks

Earthquake passes through VA into DC... Obama to address the Bush Fault

2011-08-23T14:55:00.000-04:00

Federal Government Emergency Fund

Obama to speak to Nat'l emergency today as millions of dollars go unspent due to an evacuation of the city!!! Normally Congress spends 3 million per minute but the earthquake has put a stop to that. Congress will tomorrow reconvene to pass emergency spending measures to catch up.

Obama declares the Bush Fault!

North Anna Reactor down... More to come.....

Virginia to be downgraded?

2011-08-10T22:27:00.001-04:00

"Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) said Tuesday morning that he has not received word from bond rating agencies that the state’s credit will be downgraded following Standard & Poor’s unprecedented downgrading of the federal government last week."

This will effect localities as well. How will Hanover fare? Time to start asking questions! Hanover is already living beyond it's means by overcharging property taxes to the tune of 25% or more above market values and those values will drop further. Will the County raise your property taxes again? Will the sun come up tomorrow?

For all the talk of surpluses lately one wonders if this is all so much accounting trickery with such an announcement as this!

You’re Gonna Pay!!!! And Pay…and Pay

2011-08-07T21:28:00.001-04:00

If you worked, scrimped, saved, invested, and did the right things all your life to insure a stable retirement, here’s what you can expect for your honest effort and hard work.

First – “Means Testing” for Social Security

Pretty much everyone agrees that the social security system is broken. Even the Social Security Administration is upfront about its current fiscal prospects: Without changes, by 2037 the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted and there will be enough money to pay only about 76 cents for each dollar of scheduled benefits…

Several options have been put on the table such as raising the retirement age, indexing benefits to inflation, etc., but there’s one solution out there that has me fighting mad -- the idea that Social Security benefits should be “means tested.”

For those of us who have worked since high school or college graduation, we and our employers have paid social security taxes under contract with our government that these hundreds of thousands of dollars accumulated over our working lives would be claimed and used to guarantee regular income in retirement. This is not an entitlement like food stamps, free lunches, and rent subsidies.

You have options.

Why should we be penalized for saving and setting aside money for a rainy day. Is it so wrong to want to leave a little something to our children and grandchildren when we are gone? With “means testing,” hard work and saving could be used to revoke or reduce our Social Security income – income rightfully earned and paid for.

That’s why I believe “means testing” is a malicious way to penalize savers and justify reducing or eliminating our Social Security income. If we had spent every dime, we would have no “means” to test. For those of us who saved and scrimped to provide a better future for ourselves, we are now classified as rich and the rich gotta pay. Let’s call “means testing” what it really is – ROBBERY. We need to fight this idea “tooth and nail.”

Second – Medicare Tax

Something else to love in the 2010 Health Care (ObamaCare) Bill: Starting after January 1, 2012, a new 3.8% “Medicare Tax” on “net investment income” in excess of specified amounts.

The tax is generally levied on non-business income from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, and capital gains. Each person (current worker or retiree) will be taxed, in addition to his/her income tax, on 3.8% of the amount that the following income causes adjusted gross income to exceed $250,000 (for joint filers) or $200,000 (for non-married filers).

1. Non-business interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, and rents;
2. Other gross income of a passive activity or a business trading financial instruments;
3. Net gain on the disposition of non-business property (including net gain indirectly derived from disposition of a partnership interest or S corporation stock); and

4. Investment of any business's working capital.

As explained to me by a tax accountant, this Medicare contribution tax is in addition to other taxes imposed by Subtitle A of the Code, relating to income taxes. The Medicare contribution tax is not deductible in computing the other subtitle A taxes. Now my head is really spinning.

Many of us may not fall into this particular income category but I am certain of one thing – taxes are going to get very complicated. You can forget tax reform in Washington, DC. Do some research and get some good advice from a trusted source. I found this article particularly useful.

http://www.schwabe.com/showarticle.aspx?Show=12149

Third – Minimum Mandatory IRA Withdrawals

At age 70-1/2, retirees must begin making minimum mandatory IRA withdrawals (also known as required minimum distributions or RMDs). As money is contributed to Individual Retirement Accounts on a pre-tax basis, the Internal Revenue Service requires that at least some of the money be withdrawn at retirement age and becomes taxable upon withdrawal.

For most of my baby boomer friends, age 70-1/2 is about 5 or 6 years away. Can you imagine the billions of dollars put aside in IRAs by all of us “savers” that will taxed at who knows what rate? Do you think the IRS might be licking their chops? You betcha. The amount of the RMD is determined using IRS formulas (try to figure that one out) such as life expectancy and account value. Once again, if you have managed to save and accumulate a sizable IRA account, watch out.

Failure to take your RMD in any year will be subject to a penalty tax of 50% of the amount that you did not withdraw. This penalty continues for every year that you fail to take your RMD.

Once again, we’re going to need help figuring all this stuff out.

After you stop crying, call your Congressman.

Tea Party Grandma

Dr. Sebastian Gorka on Grandy Group WMAL

2011-08-05T20:18:00.000-04:00

Dr. Sebastian Gorka speaks to the issue of the Muslim Brotherhood on WMAL in Washington, DC.

"Islam, America and the Terrorist Threat" with Dr. Sebastian Gorka

2011-08-05T17:04:00.001-04:00

THE EVENT OF THE SUMMER!!!

WHEN: Saturday, August 20 · 4:00pm - 6:00pm

WHERE: Clarion Inn North, 801 east parham rd, Richmond, VA (804) 266-8753

"Islam, America and the Terrorist Threat" with Dr. Sebastian Gorka

America will soon commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Osama bin Laden is dead, but his ideology of global jihad is alive and well. How should we understand the threat to America? What do you need to know about Islam? And what can you do to make America safer?

Dr. Sebastian Gorka teaches irregular warfare and Counterterrorism at
National Defense University. He specializes in training law enforcement and Special Forces to understand the nature of today's threat. He has testified before Congress and is a frequent contributor to Fox News, CNN, CBS, the John Batchelor Show, and the BBC

In the Pocahontas Room at the Clarion Inn from 4-6PM Lecture about an hour Q&A afterwards, light refreshments.

Lots of Parking, next to the Diner. In front of the Lowes complex on Parham Road right next to I-95. Can't miss it and you don't want to miss this dynamic speaker!!!

Brought to you by Saint Athanasius Traditional Anglican Church, 10811 Staples Mill Road in Glen Allen. The little 'house church'! WWW.GLENALLENANGLICANS.COM

No Victory Lap for the Tea Party

2011-08-04T19:01:00.001-04:00

If you want to take the credit …

Be prepared to take the blame (and it’s already started)

My grandfather didn’t have to say much to get his point across. One of his favorite sayings was, “Figures don’t lie, but Liars can figure.” Boy, was he ever right. As more details about the debt plan unfold, it is becoming evident that the tea party patriots are going to be burned by this ”hot potato” with lots of help from the Washington ruling political class.

That’s why I am not doing a victory dance over this deal. Can anybody tell me how you can score 0 for 3 as a victory? All the talking points used by both sides following passage of this bill, “This is only the starting point.” So, what exactly is the end game?

1. Immediate increase in spending (and borrowing).

2. Spending cuts to be determined by an unconstitutional Super Committee.

3. A balanced budget amendment that will never get through the Senate.

I believe this deal is designed to blow up big time by year’s end and the Tea Party is going to shoulder the blame. It started before passage of the bill with the liberal media, and even Vice President Biden, using inflammatory buzz words such as terrorists, suicide bombers, hostage-takers. This could be expected from the Democrats, but then you have Senator John McCain (R) referring to the Tea Party Patriots as hobbits. Make no mistake -- The old guard from both parties is joined at the hip and would love to shovel the tea party movement on the trash heap.

Now, let’s examine the three basic elements of the bill, how it will probably play out before the end of the year, and who benefits the most. Consider that I have no “expert” credentials except that I have lived 65 years – the last 45 as a fiscal conservative. I’ve seen and heard this stuff before.

1. Immediate increase in spending…and borrowing…or printing more useless money. Even if promised cuts are made (#2), there is still no way to get to #3 without raising revenue (can you say, taxes). After signing the bill, the President said that everybody will have to pay a little more. How much clearer can you get?

2. Spending cuts will be determined by a bi-partisan Super Committee of Congress. This bothers me the most because I believe it is unconstitutional. Even the liberal Huffington Post calls this Committee “a Congress we didn’t elect.”

· Because Congress (via the leaders of both parties) was too chicken to exercise their sworn duty and make the tough decisions now, it has been passed to the committee process. This gives anybody who may be running in a tight race for re-election in 2012 political cover (and that includes the President).

· This bill opens the door for massive tax increases. By simply doing nothing, this Committee could allow the Bush tax cuts to expire, resulting in over $3 trillion in tax increases instantly. Remember the President’s remarks – everybody will have to pay a little more.

· Foremost, does anybody with half a brain truly believe this Super Committee is going to come up with something constructive, much less get it passed through both houses of Congress before Christmas 2011? I stopped believing in Santa Claus in 1^st grade.

· If no agreement is reached (and who really expects that it will), the automatic triggers to enforce spending cuts will fall disproportionately on defense spending. While waste can be found throughout government agencies, why target our defense budget before the Department of Education or Department of Energy or Department of Agriculture? Whose bright idea was that?

· While military salaries will probably be protected (and they should be), what’s left for new weapons development and equipment upgrades as new conflicts evolve around the world? Why would our Federal government neglect its express duty “to provide for the common defense” without addressing waste, fraud, and duplication in every single government agency? This is just plain crazy.

3. The President’s balanced approach does not include a balanced budget. Likewise, the chances of Congress passing a Balanced Budget Amendment are about the same odds as Congress voting for terms limits. Politicians will never willingly give up the power they have created for themselves. If I hear “We did the best we could” one more time, I think I will gag. That’s why the 2012 elections are more crucial than ever. No member of Congress who voted for this bill should feel safe.

News Flash – We don’t have to wait five months to see the results. 4 August 2011 (just two short days after passage of the deal that was going to save our economy), we see investors worldwide running for cover – just another example of why this whole debt/budget deal was bogus from the git-go and designed to fail. Just remember who the architects of this deal were: House and Senate Leaders and the President. Can’t you just feel the love as you watch your retirement accounts take another dive. At this rate, we’ll be working until age 90.

That’s why Tea Party Patriots should not rejoice in this bill. Watch for the blame game to start and accelerate until November 2012. I can just see the campaign ads now: “Vote for me –you can’t trust the Tea Party.” “Don’t blame me -- The Tea Party did this to you.”

Tea Party Grandma

Progress Report: Communism's Advance in our Society.

2011-08-04T13:20:00.000-04:00

Our culture has been under attack for years but many aspects seem to go unnoticed. Younger generations rarely exhibit any consciousness of the efforts of Communists to shape their worldview. Take a look at the list of goals and comment on where you would grade the success on any particular one:

Congressional Record--Appendix, pp. A34-A35January 10, 1963
Current Communist Goals
EXTENSION OF REMARKS OF HON. A. S. HERLONG, JR. OF FLORIDA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, January 10, 1963
Mr. HERLONG. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Nordman of De Land, Fla., is an ardent and articulate opponent of communism, and until recently published the De Land Courier, which she dedicated to the purpose of alerting the public to the dangers of communism in America.
At Mrs. Nordman's request, I include in the RECORD, under unanimous consent, the following "Current Communist Goals," which she identifies as an excerpt from "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen:
[From "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen]

CURRENT COMMUNIST GOALS
1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.
6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.
9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.
10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.
11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)
12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.
13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.
14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.
15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.
16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
18. Gain control of all student newspapers.
19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.
20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.
21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."
23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."
24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.
25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."
27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."
28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."
29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."
31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.
34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.
36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.
37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.
38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].
39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.
40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.
42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use ["]united force["] to solve economic, political or social problems.
43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.
44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.
45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction [over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction] over nations and individuals alike.

You will find the Ten Planks of the Communist Manifesto interesting at this point.
Click here to see them listed with brain-challenging comments.

Source: http://www.uhuh.com/nwo/communism/comgoals.htm

Bunk.

2011-08-02T16:07:00.000-04:00

Debtor's Prison

This past week we have seen the Congress bed down behind closed doors and do what they promised they would not- they crafted a Byzantine piece of legislation behind closed doors without an opportunity for the public to have the pledged 72 hours to see it.

We have also heard all kinds of fear-mongering most especially the bunk coming from both sides that the Country would default on it's obligations. Lets deal with that first:

Is the date of August 2 horse-pucky? Recall it has changed from May to July to August and many in congress have called it arbitrary.

"There is no certain day, it's a moving target. Even if August 2 is passed, Treasury has the tools in its back pocket to keep us from defaulting.", "Treasury has done a good job of trying to increase the panic, rather than giving us solutions." ~ Congressman James Lankford, Republican Study Committee.

The date is a object lesson in the current administrations philosophy of 'never let a crisis go to waste.'

What would happen if the Congress ignored the arbitrary date? Apparently nothing! The markets didn't buy the Chicken Little routine and are relatively calm and the Government receives well over 200 billion in revenue per month- plenty left over after servicing the debt. The only way a default could occur would be if the President intervened and disallowed a payment.

More bunk:

* An immediate increase of $900 billion in our nation’s crushing debt that will be spent by Christmas, and then the carnival of the absurd comes back to town.

* Boehner and the Republicans have just engineered the biggest increase in debt ($2.4 trillion total) in the entire history of the United States.

* Contrary to Republican claims, the Super Committee will in fact be able to raise taxes.

“There’s nothing in the legislation that would prevent the Super-Committee from proposing revenue increases. Nothing.” ~Jake Tapper, ABC:

* There are no “cuts,” only slowing of federal spending. The mentality is as follows: 'Hey honey, I just saved 100 grand on a Lamborghini we couldn't afford anyway by taking out a loan on a Mercedes!' In my household or yours, for my business or yours, it’s still a spending increase.
Virtually all the “cuts” are back-loaded and aren’t scheduled even to begin taking effect until 2014 after the Presidential Election when another Congress will be in charge and can easily ignore them.

“For 2011, it will do nothing.” ~ Drew Matus of UBS

* The problem for Moody's and other credit rating agencies is the debt, not the debt ceiling, the downgrade is coming on top of the . To use a boat metaphor this plan is like bailing out the ship by blasting a hole in the bottom to drain the water.

* Despite GOP claims to the contrary an unconstitutional "Super Congress" has the power to raise taxes. Jake Tapper, ABC: “There’s nothing in the legislation that would prevent the Super-Committee from proposing revenue increases. Nothing.”

* The bill imposes reductions in defense spending of $1 trillion freezes its budget very likely will gut our military, freezing its budget and leading to

* No Balanced Budget Amendment, just a vote on one. Democrats don't want it- dead in the water. An historic, once-in-a-legislative-lifetime opportunity squandered.

Congressman Hennie (R) gives the spin!

You also likely heard Congressman Hennie Pennie cry that your 401K would dissolve like the wicked witch of the west if they didn't add trillions in credit spending.
As I write this the Senate has approved the Bill and the Dow is nose diving. So much for business acumen!

Well all in all this thing is typical DC bunk and a prison of debt for the Nation- we have been sentenced to generations of hard labor. Consider before the vote, you owed $176,060.00 (or $668,378.00 per family) as your share of the National Debt! National debt was projected at 18,637,630,000.00 for 2015 prior to todays vote.
Now you owe more and both the Republicans and Democrats are coming to collect. The Bush tax cuts end soon and the Super Congress will never cut a thing but the will raise taxes.

Next we will explore the 'triggers'!

Factoid:
On this day in
2000 the National Debt was $5,709,190,000,000.00
2004 the Nat'l debt was 7, 349,383,000,000.00
2008 it was 10,093,149,000,000.00
Today it is 14,564,691,000,000.00
The GOP and Dems just added an additional 7 trillion in spending- think about it!

Ten Years On: The Evolution of the Terrorist Threat Since 9/11

2011-07-27T17:02:00.000-04:00

HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities:

Great Follow up from Boehner but no substance in his plan

2011-07-26T07:21:00.003-04:00

Who is that man behind the curtain?

The bottom line here is that both sides are hell bent to continue rapacious spending and growth of the Federal Government. The 'Party of YES YES' (Democrats) wants to include tax hikes so they can play their base before election season and they want a deferral until after election season. The 'Party of just Yes' (GOP) wants to maintain the status quo! Boehner's plan really does nothing. It extends another TRILLION dollars in credit (that's money your grandkids have yet to earn) and asks for UNSPECIFIED CUTS of 1.2 Trillion. Basically a wash- haven't figured the interest payments in so it may very well be a net loss. Now these UNSPECIFIED CUTS are to be mulled over by a COMMISSION called a "Super Congress"- that's reassuring, an Un-Constitutional body with no supervision!

"History has shown that such commissions, while well-intentioned, make it easier to raise taxes than to institute enduring budget reforms," Tea Party Coalition

The GOP's answer is more government and more credit! Anyone remember when a committee, commission or even the regular congress could restrain itself? No no one can. Don't worry, they have 10 years to figure some way to cut something right? When real people spend themselves into bankruptcy they loose it all. When they loose their income they have to cut back- sell off something and move to a smaller house. We expect the government to do the same and right now it looks as if both sides are insulating themselves from their own bad management and decisions at the expense of children as yet unborn!

The plan includes a toothless Balanced Budget Amendment, you get the picture on that- here is how it works- we increase the size of government by setting up a "Super Congress" while awarding ourselves more credit to pay bills we already have the money to pay and that there is no pressing emergency to deal with:

“The Federal Reserve and the Treasury can work together to generate enough cash probably for the next two or three months to avoid any kind of automatic default on the Treasury debt,” Silvia, who is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “In the Loop” with Betty Liu. “There’s a way of getting around this issue for at least another month or two.”

"To be clear, we are not criticizing the Speaker," the statement explained. "However, we cannot support his framework, and we urge those who have signed the Pledge to oppose it and hold out for a better plan." Tea Party Coalition

What's not to like?

How about SPECIFIED CUTS right now! How about seeing some government workers laid off just like in the Private Sector? A government employee has a better chance of dying then loosing their job! How about naming the agencies to be trimmed or completely dismantled- you can start with that ineffectual Dept of Education and that Jack-Booted Agency the EPA.

How about something meaningful Mr. Speaker?

Where is the "Party of NO?" That's the party we need right now. Go back to the drawing table Mr. Speaker- we are all glad to see you show a little spine on TV but the deal is so much the usual crying.

Obama's Address on debt

2011-07-25T22:08:00.001-04:00

Good evening. Tonight, I want to talk about the debate we've been having in Washington over the national debt - a debate that directly affects the lives of all Americans.

For the last decade, we have spent more money than we take in. In the year 2000, the government had a budget surplus. But instead of using it to pay off our debt, the money was spent on trillions of dollars in new tax cuts, while two wars and an expensive prescription drug program were simply added to our nation's credit card.

As a result, the deficit was on track to top $1 trillion the year I took office. To make matters worse, the recession meant that there was less money coming in, and it required us to spend even more - on tax cuts for middle-class families; on unemployment insurance; on aid to states so we could prevent more teachers and firefighters and police officers from being laid off. These emergency steps also added to the deficit.

Now, every family knows that a little credit card debt is manageable. But if we stay on the current path, our growing debt could cost us jobs and do serious damage to the economy. More of our tax dollars will go toward paying off the interest on our loans.

Businesses will be less likely to open up shop and hire workers in a country that can't balance its books. Interest rates could climb for everyone who borrows money - the homeowner with a mortgage, the student with a college loan, the corner store that wants to expand. And we won't have enough money to make job-creating investments in things like education and infrastructure, or pay for vital programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Because neither party is blameless for the decisions that led to this problem, both parties have a responsibility to solve it. And over the last several months, that's what we've been trying to do. I won't bore you with the details of every plan or proposal, but basically, the debate has centered around two different approaches.

The first approach says, let's live within our means by making serious, historic cuts in government spending. Let's cut domestic spending to the lowest level it's been since Dwight Eisenhower was President. Let's cut defense spending at the Pentagon by hundreds of billions of dollars. Let's cut out the waste and fraud in health care programs like Medicare - and at the same time, let's make modest adjustments so that Medicare is still there for future generations. Finally, let's ask the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to give up some of their tax breaks and special deductions.

This balanced approach asks everyone to give a little without requiring anyone to sacrifice too much. It would reduce the deficit by around $4 trillion and put us on a path to pay down our debt. And the cuts wouldn't happen so abruptly that they'd be a drag on our economy, or prevent us from helping small business and middle-class families get back on their feet right now.

This approach is also bipartisan. While many in my own party aren't happy with the painful cuts it makes, enough will be willing to accept them if the burden is fairly shared. While Republicans might like to see deeper cuts and no revenue at all, there are many in the Senate who have said "Yes, I'm willing to put politics aside and consider this approach because I care about solving the problem." And to his credit, this is the kind of approach the Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner, was working on with me over the last several weeks.

The only reason this balanced approach isn't on its way to becoming law right now is because a significant number of Republicans in Congress are insisting on a cuts-only approach - an approach that doesn't ask the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to contribute anything at all. And because nothing is asked of those at the top of the income scales, such an approach would close the deficit only with more severe cuts to programs we all care about - cuts that place a greater burden on working families.

So the debate right now isn't about whether we need to make tough choices. Democrats and Republicans agree on the amount of deficit reduction we need. The debate is about how it should be done. Most Americans, regardless of political party, don't understand how we can ask a senior citizen to pay more for her Medicare before we ask corporate jet owners and oil companies to give up tax breaks that other companies don't get. How can we ask a student to pay more for college before we ask hedge fund managers to stop paying taxes at a lower rate than their secretaries? How can we slash funding for education and clean energy before we ask people like me to give up tax breaks we don't need and didn't ask for?

That's not right. It's not fair. We all want a government that lives within its means, but there are still things we need to pay for as a country - things like new roads and bridges; weather satellites and food inspection; services to veterans and medical research.

Keep in mind that under a balanced approach, the 98% of Americans who make under $US250,000 would see no tax increases at all. None. In fact, I want to extend the payroll tax cut for working families. What we're talking about under a balanced approach is asking Americans whose incomes have gone up the most over the last decade - millionaires and billionaires - to share in the sacrifice everyone else has to make. And I think these patriotic Americans are willing to pitch in. In fact, over the last few decades, they've pitched in every time we passed a bipartisan deal to reduce the deficit. The first time a deal passed, a predecessor of mine made the case for a balanced approach by saying this:

"Would you rather reduce deficits and interest rates by raising revenue from those who are not now paying their fair share, or would you rather accept larger budget deficits, higher interest rates, and higher unemployment? And I think I know your answer."

Those words were spoken by Ronald Reagan. But today, many Republicans in the House refuse to consider this kind of balanced approach - an approach that was pursued not only by President Reagan, but by the first President Bush, President Clinton, myself, and many Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate. So we are left with a stalemate.

Now, what makes today's stalemate so dangerous is that it has been tied to something known as the debt ceiling - a term that most people outside of Washington have probably never heard of before.

Understand - raising the debt ceiling does not allow Congress to spend more money. It simply gives our country the ability to pay the bills that Congress has already racked up.

In the past, raising the debt ceiling was routine. Since the 1950s, Congress has always passed it, and every President has signed it. President Reagan did it 18 times. George W. Bush did it 7 times. And we have to do it by next Tuesday, August 2nd, or else we won't be able to pay all of our bills.

Unfortunately, for the past several weeks, Republican House members have essentially said that the only way they'll vote to prevent America's first-ever default is if the rest of us agree to their deep, spending cuts-only approach.

If that happens, and we default, we would not have enough money to pay all of our bills - bills that include monthly Social Security checks, veterans' benefits, and the government contracts we've signed with thousands of businesses.

For the first time in history, our country's Triple A credit rating would be downgraded, leaving investors around the world to wonder whether the United States is still a good bet.

Interest rates would skyrocket on credit cards, mortgages, and car loans, which amounts to a huge tax hike on the American people. We would risk sparking a deep economic crisis - one caused almost entirely by Washington.

Defaulting on our obligations is a reckless and irresponsible outcome to this debate. And Republican leaders say that they agree we must avoid default. But the new approach that Speaker Boehner unveiled today, which would temporarily extend the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts, would force us to once again face the threat of default just six months from now. In other words, it doesn't solve the problem.

First of all, a six-month extension of the debt ceiling might not be enough to avoid a credit downgrade and the higher interest rates that all Americans would have to pay as a result. We know what we have to do to reduce our deficits; there's no point in putting the economy at risk by kicking the can further down the road.

But there's an even greater danger to this approach. Based on what we've seen these past few weeks, we know what to expect six months from now. The House will once again refuse to prevent default unless the rest of us accept their cuts-only approach. Again, they will refuse to ask the wealthiest Americans to give up their tax cuts or deductions. Again, they will demand harsh cuts to programs like Medicare. And once again, the economy will be held captive unless they get their way.

That is no way to run the greatest country on Earth. It is a dangerous game we've never played before, and we can't afford to play it now. Not when the jobs and livelihoods of so many families are at stake. We can't allow the American people to become collateral damage to Washington's political warfare.

Congress now has one week left to act, and there are still paths forward. The Senate has introduced a plan to avoid default, which makes a down payment on deficit reduction and ensures that we don't have to go through this again in six months.

I think that's a much better path, although serious deficit reduction would still require us to tackle the tough challenges of entitlement and tax reform. Either way, I have told leaders of both parties that they must come up with a fair compromise in the next few days that can pass both houses of Congress - a compromise I can sign. And I am confident we can reach this compromise. Despite our disagreements, Republican leaders and I have found common ground before. And I believe that enough members of both parties will ultimately put politics aside and help us make progress.

I realize that a lot of the new members of Congress and I don't see eye-to-eye on many issues. But we were each elected by some of the same Americans for some of the same reasons. Yes, many want government to start living within its means. And many are fed up with a system in which the deck seems stacked against middle-class Americans in favor of the wealthiest few. But do you know what people are fed up with most of all?

They're fed up with a town where compromise has become a dirty word. They work all day long, many of them scraping by, just to put food on the table. And when these Americans come home at night, bone-tired, and turn on the news, all they see is the same partisan three-ring circus here in Washington. They see leaders who can't seem to come together and do what it takes to make life just a little bit better for ordinary Americans. They are offended by that. And they should be.

The American people may have voted for divided government, but they didn't vote for a dysfunctional government. So I'm asking you all to make your voice heard. If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your Member of Congress know. If you believe we can solve this problem through compromise, send that message.

America, after all, has always been a grand experiment in compromise. As a democracy made up of every race and religion, where every belief and point of view is welcomed, we have put to the test time and again the proposition at the heart of our founding: that out of many, we are one. We have engaged in fierce and passionate debates about the issues of the day, but from slavery to war, from civil liberties to questions of economic justice, we have tried to live by the words that Jefferson once wrote: "Every man cannot have his way in all things - Without this mutual disposition, we are disjointed individuals, but not a society."

History is scattered with the stories of those who held fast to rigid ideologies and refused to listen to those who disagreed. But those are not the Americans we remember. We remember the Americans who put country above self, and set personal grievances aside for the greater good. We remember the Americans who held this country together during its most difficult hours; who put aside pride and party to form a more perfect union.

That's who we remember. That's who we need to be right now. The entire world is watching. So let's seize this moment to show why the United States of America is still the greatest nation on Earth - not just because we can still keep our word and meet our obligations, but because we can still come together as one nation. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Boehner's response

2011-07-25T22:00:00.000-04:00

JULY 25, 2011

AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Good evening. I’m John Boehner. I serve as Speaker of the whole House -- of the members of both parties that you elect. These are difficult times in the life of our nation. Millions are looking for work, have been for some time, and the spending binge going on in Washington is a big part of the reason why.

Before I served in Congress, I ran a small business in Ohio. I was amazed at how different Washington DC operated than every business in America. Where most American business make the hard choices to pay their bills and live within their means, in Washington more spending and more debt is business as usual.

I’ve got news for Washington – those days are over.

President Obama came to Congress in January and requested business as usual -- yet another routine increase in the national debt limit -- we in the House said 'not so fast.’ Here was the president, asking for the largest debt increase in American history, on the heels of the largest spending binge in American history.

Here's what we got for that spending binge: a massive health care bill that most Americans never asked for. A 'stimulus' bill that was more effective in producing material for late-night comedians than it was in producing jobs. And a national debt that has gotten so out of hand it has sparked a crisis without precedent in my lifetime or yours.

The United States cannot default on its debt obligations. The jobs and savings of too many Americans are at stake.

What we told the president in January was this: the American people will not accept an increase in the debt limit without significant spending cuts and reforms.

And over the last six months, we’ve done our best to convince the president to partner with us to do something dramatic to change the fiscal trajectory of our country. . .something that will boost confidence in our economy, renew a measure of faith in our government, and help small businesses get back on track.

Last week, the House passed such a plan, and with bipartisan support. It’s called the ‘Cut, Cap, and Balance’ Act. It CUTS and CAPS government spending and paves the way for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, which we believe is the best way to stop Washington from spending money it doesn’t have. Before we even passed the bill in the House, the President said he would veto it.

I want you to know I made a sincere effort to work with the president to identify a path forward that would implement the principles of Cut, Cap, & Balance in a manner that could secure bipartisan support and be signed into law. I gave it my all.

Unfortunately, the president would not take yes for an answer. Even when we thought we might be close on an agreement, the president’s demands changed.

The president has often said we need a 'balanced' approach -- which in Washington means: we spend more. . .you pay more. Having run a small business, I know those tax increases will destroy jobs.

The president is adamant that we cannot make fundamental changes to our entitlement programs. As the father of two daughters, I know these programs won’t be there for them and their kids unless significant action is taken now.

The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today. That is just not going to happen.

You see, there is no stalemate in Congress. The House has passed a bill to raise the debt limit with bipartisan support. And this week, while the Senate is struggling to pass a bill filled with phony accounting and Washington gimmicks, we will pass another bill – one that was developed with the support of the bipartisan leadership of the U.S. Senate.

Obviously, I expect that bill can and will pass the Senate, and be sent to the President for his signature. If the President signs it, the ‘crisis’ atmosphere he has created will simply disappear. The debt limit will be raised. Spending will be cut by more than one trillion dollars, and a serious, bipartisan committee of the Congress will begin the hard but necessary work of dealing with the tough challenges our nation faces.

The individuals doing this work will not be outsiders, but elected representatives of the people, doing the job they were elected to do as outlined in the Constitution. Those decisions should be made based on how they will affect people who are struggling to get a job, not how they affect some politician’s chances of getting reelected.

This debate isn't about President Obama and House Republicans … it isn't about Congress and the White House … it's about what’s standing between the American people and the future we seek for ourselves and our families.

You know, I’ve always believed, the bigger government, the smaller the people. And right now, we have a government so big and so expensive it’s sapping the drive of our people and keeping our economy from running at full capacity.

The solution to this crisis is not complicated: if you’re spending more money than you’re taking in, you need to spend less of it,

There is no symptom of big government more menacing than our debt. Break its grip, and we begin to liberate our economy and our future.

We are up to the task, and I hope President Obama will join us in this work.

God bless you and your families, and God bless America.

Dream Act: Obama passes amnesty by executive order

2011-07-25T18:59:00.000-04:00

Thought this was dead? By hook or by crook the Left never gives up.

The Dream Act:

This bill would provide conditional permanent residency to certain illegal alien students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. illegally as minors, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment. Click the quote to read the rest.

The Executive Order:

"Last Friday, with no fanfare, no press coverage, and with every effort made to hide his actions from the American people, President Obama enacted the DREAM Act by executive order.

Opposed by a majority of the American people and twice defeated in Congress, the DREAM Act grants amnesty to any illegal alien residing in the United States if s/he agrees to enlist in the U.S. military or enter college."

Read the rest click here.

Agenda 21/ Sustainable Development by Stealth

2011-07-25T18:45:00.001-04:00

Still think this is some weird conspiracy thing? Your favorite socialist and mine seem to think that the best way to implement legislation it is not through your Representative in Congress but rather through Executive Order. So the question is - how will our Republican Governor, Congressman and Supervisors deal with it? Just more money to spend? If your Rebuplican supports Back Door Executive Orders by Barrack Hussein Obama what does that say about their ideology?

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

June 09, 2011

Executive Order - Establishment of the White House Rural Council

     By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America and in order to enhance Federal engagement with rural communities, it is hereby ordered as follows:

     Section 1. Policy. Sixteen percent of the American population lives in rural counties. Strong, sustainable rural communities are essential to winning the future and ensuring American competitiveness in the years ahead. These communities supply our food, fiber, and energy, safeguard our natural resources, and are essential in the development of science and innovation. Though rural communities face numerous challenges, they also present enormous economic potential. The Federal Government has an important role to play in order to expand access to the capital necessary for economic growth, promote innovation, improve access to health care and education, and expand outdoor recreational activities on public lands.

     To enhance the Federal Government's efforts to address the needs of rural America, this order establishes a council to better coordinate Federal programs and maximize the impact of Federal investment to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in our rural communities.

     Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a White House Rural Council (Council).

     Sec. 3. Membership. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall serve as the Chair of the Council, which shall also include the heads of the following executive branch departments, agencies, and offices:

           (1) the Department of the Treasury;

           (2) the Department of Defense;

           (3) the Department of Justice;

           (4) the Department of the Interior;

           (5) the Department of Commerce;

           (6) the Department of Labor;

           (7) the Department of Health and Human Services;

           (8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;

           (9) the Department of Transportation;

           (10) the Department of Energy;

           (11) the Department of Education;

           (12) the Department of Veterans Affairs;

           (13) the Department of Homeland Security;

           (14) the Environmental Protection Agency;

           (15) the Federal Communications Commission;

           (16) the Office of Management and Budget;

           (17) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;

           (18) the Office of National Drug Control Policy;

           (19) the Council of Economic Advisers;

           (20) the Domestic Policy Council;

           (21) the National Economic Council;

           (22) the Small Business Administration;

           (23) the Council on Environmental Quality;

           (24) the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs;

           (25) the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs; and such other executive branch departments, agencies, and offices as the President or the Secretary of Agriculture may, from time to time, designate.

     (b) A member of the Council may designate, to perform the Council functions of the member, a senior-level official who is part of the member's department, agency, or office, and who is a full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government.

     (c) The Department of Agriculture shall provide funding and administrative support for the Council to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.

     (d) The Council shall coordinate its policy development through the Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council.

     Sec. 4. Mission and Function of the Council. The Council shall work across executive departments, agencies, and offices to coordinate development of policy recommendations to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in rural America, and shall coordinate my Administration's engagement with rural communities. The Council shall:

     (a) make recommendations to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the National Economic Council, on streamlining and leveraging Federal investments in rural areas, where appropriate, to increase the impact of Federal dollars and create economic opportunities to improve the quality of life in rural America;

     (b) coordinate and increase the effectiveness of Federal engagement with rural stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, small businesses, education and training institutions, health-care providers, telecommunications services providers, research and land grant institutions, law enforcement, State, local, and tribal governments, and nongovernmental organizations regarding the needs of rural America;

     (c) coordinate Federal efforts directed toward the growth and development of geographic regions that encompass both urban and rural areas; and

     (d) identify and facilitate rural economic opportunities associated with energy development, outdoor recreation, and other conservation related activities.

     Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information to the Council, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council. Each executive department and agency shall bear its own expense for participating in the Council.

     (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

          (i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or

          (ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

     (c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

     (d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 9, 2011.

To spend or not to spend, why is it a question?

2011-07-24T16:53:00.001-04:00

While we are all sitting around waiting to see if our government votes itself a credit increase of our money (we have yet to earn) I thought it would be a worthy pass time to look at what some of the participants have said on the subject of the debt ceiling:

John Boehner:

“The fact is, our country is going broke, … We’re spending money we don’t have and passing it onto our kids, and at some point, somebody’s got to say, Enough’s enough.”

“The American people know that our government’s too big, and it spends too much. And they expect Congress to do something about it.”

“Working Americans who believe in our country and who believe in our Constitution are saying, ‘Enough is enough!’”

“The American people think the government in Washington is too big. That it spends too much. And – and that it’s totally out of control. They want something done about it.”

President Obama:

If Moody’s, the credit rating agency that announced a review of U.S. credit, downgrades the United States, President Obama said, “it will be a tax increase on every American.”

"There needs to be a long-term debt extension."

“This may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield on this,” he said.

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies." Senate Floor Speech on Public Debt, March 16, 2006

“Eric, don’t call my bluff,”

Eric Cantor :

“He shoved back and said ‘I’ll see you tomorrow’ and walked out,”

“I’m trying to represent where the votes are in the House. and we’ve always said the votes in the House are consistent with the principles that the speaker’s laid out that we’ve been operating on,”

Nancy Pelosi:

S'mores? No, I'm a Californian. I have five children, nine grandchildren. S'mores are big for us. I'd rather have them at home."

Harry Reid:

[Eric Cantor is] "childish"

Jim DeMint:

“In the Senate, I fear that we will not see a full-fledged effort to pass something that will cut spending, cap it over ten years, and send a balanced-budget amendment to the states,” “But I am not ready to accept that.”

Ron Paul:

'We Will Default, Debt Is Unsustainable'

Feel free to ad more quotes in the comments section. One advantage about politics over sports is that politics is always in season. Enjoy and see you in the soup lines!

More on Virginia SOL's... Islam and Leftists in your children's schools

2011-07-08T10:51:00.001-04:00

Tom White is an exceptional blogger and I posted his exposing of the 5 Pillars of Islam being taught at a Mechanicsville High School. Since it was a standardized test no reason to believe it was not taught in all the rest.

Mr. White has more info and just posted it on the Examiner:
http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-richmond/virginia-sol-s-push-islam-and-far-left-agenda-virginia-schools

Take a read and then call your supervisor and demand to know what the heck is going on here? Does anyone think we'd be taken seriously if we demanded the doctrine of Original Sin be taught?

Read it!

Mechanicsville District

Beaverdam District

Deborah B. Winans Chairman (804) 746-2272 (h) (804) 365-6234 (fax) dbwinans@co.hanover.va.us	Aubrey M. Stanley Vice Chairman (804) 449-6606 (h) (804) 449-6606 (h-fax) amstanley@co.hanover.va.us
Ashland District	Chickahominy District	Cold Harbor District
G. Ed Via, III (804) 550-2600 (h/w/f) gevia@co.hanover.va.us	Robert R. Setliff 804) 746-5553 (h) (804) 746-8476 (w) (804) 746-9209 (fax) rsetliff@co.hanover.va.us	Elton J. Wade, Sr. (804) 781-0044 (h) (804) 781-0413 (h-fax) ejwade@co.hanover.va.us
Henry District	South Anna District
Charles D. McGhee (804) 779-2875 (h) (804) 779-7765 (h-fax) cmcghee@co.hanover.va.us	John E. Gordon, Jr. (804) 798-3879 (h) (804) 752-2040 (h-fax) jgordon@co.hanover.va.us

Have a Blessed Independence day

2011-07-04T14:41:00.002-04:00

Al Gore says he wants to reduce the population!

2011-06-27T17:59:00.000-04:00

Bryan Fischer and Dr. Cal Beisner or the Cornwall Alliance discuss Al Gore's comments on needing to reduce population. The video has since been pulled from most websites.... so this may be your best chance to see it.

"taking control over all aspects of the lives of 16 % of the American people.”

2011-06-25T22:23:00.000-04:00

"President Obama signed his 86th executive order (13575) on June 9, which established the White House Rural Council (WHRC). According to The Blaze, the Executive Order seems to be in line with the United Nations radical Agenda 21, as it is designed “to begin taking control over almost all aspects of the lives of 16 percent of the American people.”
Evidence of this can be found in Section One of the Executive Order, which reads:

Section 1. Policy. Sixteen percent of the American population lives in rural counties. Strong, sustainable rural communities are essential to winning the future and ensuring American competitiveness in the years ahead. These communities supply our food, fiber, and energy, safeguard our natural resources, and are essential in the development of science and innovation. Though rural communities face numerous challenges, they also present enormous economic potential. The Federal Government has an important role to play in order to expand access to the capital necessary for economic growth, promote innovation, improve access to health care and education, and expand outdoor recreational activities on public lands.

As the Executive Order references “sustainable rural communities,” it raises a few eyebrows, since that is one of the key phrases found in the UN plan for sustainable development known as Agenda 21. The order admits that it intends to seize greater power over “food, fiber, and energy,” items that are key to human sustenance."

Think "Agenda 21" is something out of Hollywood? Better think again. Call your County Supervisor and demand to know Hanover's involvement.

Read the rest - click here.

How is our community embracing Aganda 21?

2011-06-25T21:25:00.001-04:00

The featured speaker at the Tea Party meeting, Rosa Koire, is a liberal Democrat who understands that Agenda 21 will destroy America as we know it. Rosa’s website, DemocratsAgainstAgenda21.com is also worth a visit.

"What is Agenda 21? If you do not know about it, you should.
Agenda 21 is a two-decade old, grand plan for global ’Sustainable Development,’ brought to you from the United Nations. George H.W. Bush (and 177 other world leaders) agreed to it back in 1992, and in 1995, Bill Clinton signed Executive Order #12858, creating a Presidential Council on ‘Sustainable Development.’ This effectively pushed the UN plan into America’s large, churning government machine without the need for any review or discussion by Congress or the American people.
‘Sustainable Development’ sounds like a nice idea, right? It sounds nice, until you scratch the surface and find that Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development are really cloaked plans to impose the tenets of Social Justice/Socialism on the world.
At risk from Agenda 21;
Private Property ownership
Single-Family homes
Private car ownership and individual travel choices
Privately owned farms
The Agenda 21 plan openly targets private property. For over thirty-five years the UN has made their stance very clear on the issue of individuals owning land;"

Click here to read more.

Click here for another article from LibertyNewsOnline!
http://www.libertynewsonline.com/article_363_30734.php

"Ron Paul is a LEFTIST! "

2011-06-25T09:01:00.001-04:00

One of my 'friends' over at Freedom Torch- the Conservative Social Network is Jonathan Cousar who is a long time member there and I believe a programmer for FT as well. Mr. Cousar is a staunch conservative and graciously agreed to share his latest blog with HCC. Like most Conservatives Jonathan views Libertarians as having difficulty with connecting the dots of social behavior with fiscal policy and since Libertarians are political allies of the left on social behavior and political allies of the right on fiscal policy I think this article examining that seeming doublemindedness of one of their great leaders is worth taking up. I know this topic will evoke some emotional responses and I will remind the RP folks if they want to prove to people they are leftists the best way is to go 'Emo'! So comment away but keep it cool.

Ron Paul is a LEFTIST!

Posted by Jonathan Cousar Thu at 10:22 PM - Filed in 2012 PRESIDENTIAL - #Ron Paul - 162 views
There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to Ron Paul. He is a libertarian who has been consistent since his election to Congress in 1976 in advocating unilateral disarmament of America’s defense and trade policy.

Many of his supporters describe themselves as conservatives, but they back a national security agenda which is almost identical with the radical left.

The introduction to Paul’s book on foreign policy says the Cold War and the War on Terror are both a “farce”, and designed to justify a larger role for government. He compares the U.S. role in Afghanistan to “a schoolyard bully.”

DEFICIT SPENDING: He claims to be for limited government but Ron and Rand Paul were among the few Republicans who opposed the Paul Ryan budget to reduce the deficit by $6.2 trillion over a decade. They said it did not cut enough, but they would not accept the Ryan plan as a starting point.

EARMARKS: He is the only GOP candidate who continues to support earmarks and pork barrel spending. He votes against every appropriations bill but only after making sure he has received his usual $400 million every year.

TRADE: He claims to support free trade but votes against every free trade agreement. He wants America to leave the WTO, and is one of the greatest protectionists on Capitol Hill. ABORTION: He claims to be pro-life, and says the Right to Life is the foundation for all rights in the Constitution. The truth is that he is really pro-choice on the state level. That is the purpose of his Sanctity of Life Bill. He is essential saying it is fine with him to kill a child if a state agrees.

IMMIGRATION: He claims to be against illegal immigration, but has voted against the border fence and the E-Verify program to stop employers from hiring illegal aliens. In fact, he is against all laws that prohibit employers from hiring illegal aliens.

He opposes Arizona’s get tough policies and the deportation of people who are here illegally. He claims to oppose amnesty but that is what his program advocates. If a state wants open borders that is fine with him. NumbersUSA gives him an “F” rating on immigration.

DEFENSE: Paul, 75, says he supports a strong national defense but the $1 trillion in Pentagon reductions he is seeking would end all modernization and readiness programs. It would return America to the hollow military of the 1970s when many service members were eligible for food stamps. Bush and Obama now agree on practically every war on terror policy including the Patriot Act and the use of Predator drones. They are opposed by Ron Paul and Code Pink. WAR ON DRUGS: Paul would immediately end the war on drugs. All dangerous drugs would be legal if they were approved by a state government.

CIVIL RIGHTS: He is the only Republican in the House or Senate who opposes the 1964 Civil Rights Act. We have heard his sovereignty arguments before. That is what the Southern states said when they started the Civil War. They said it again in the Southern Manifesto of 1957 to keep black children out of public schools, and when they tried to stop the Civil Rights Act. Eisenhower and Kennedy had to send in the U.S. military to open the schools.

FOREIGN POLICY: The Congressman says if he was President 1) He would not have authorized the raid to kill Osama bin Laden. 2) Iraq would have been allowed to take over Kuwait. 3) He would have done nothing if Saddam Hussein threatened to capture three-quarters of the world's reserves by taking over the Saudi oil fields.

An attack on Kuwait and Saudi Arabia would have violated the UN charter and had terrible repercussions for our energy security, but Paul would not have responded because "it did not involve an attack on America." 4) No U.S. soldiers were killed in the former Yugoslavia but he believes it was wrong to join the NATO mission which stopped genocide, ethnic cleansing and rape camps. The Milosevic dictatorship would have continued and Bosnia would have been taken over if it was up to Ron Paul.

ISRAEL: He rarely fails to repeat propaganda from terrorist groups. He claims Israel is keeping food, medicine and humanitarian supplies out of Gaza, even though the Red Cross says this is not true and there is no crisis. He claims Palestinians are confined to a "concentration camp." He is the only Republican who refused to vote for the resolution condemning Iran’s President after he said “Israel should be wiped off the map.” He voted against a resolution recognizing Israel's "right to defend itself against Hamas rocket attacks" and reaffirming the U.S.'s support for Israel.

INTELLIGENCE: He accuses the CIA of being in the drug business and says they need to be “taken out. There's been a coup, have you heard? It's the CIA coup. The CIA runs everything, they run the military. They're the ones who are over there lobbing missiles and bombs on countries. ... They're in businesses, in drug businesses, they take out dictators ... We need to take out the CIA.” The CIA did not invent crack cocaine and they have never been in the drug business.

It is Muslim extremists who intentionally target civilians, not the CIA or the US military. ISOLATIONISM AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES: The Texas Congressman is a firm isolationist and wants to pull out of NATO, and to abandon our veto in the UN Security Council. He promotes many conspiracy theories. He frequently talks of the dangers of the North American Union, an “Amero” currency and a “NAFTA Superhighway.” None of these things exists and they were never planned by the U.S. government.

GOLD STANDARD: He is the author of four books advocating a return to the gold standard. It did not work in the past, and no country has ever been able to maintain it. Gold is not sound money and it can be easily manipulated. Gold based dollars were devalued in the past to make exports cheaper. Gold would decrease the U.S. monetary supply by about half, cause massive deflation and threaten an economic collapse.

ECONOMICS: Paul advocates the Austrian School of Economics which is totally ignored by mainstream academia. The standard economics texts used on the university level do not even mention it. There are no more than 75 scholars worldwide who follow the Austrian School while there are over 20,000 economists in the American Economics Association. Mainstream economists use the scientific method, but the Austrians reject it. Mainstream economists make heavy use of statistics, but the Austrians claim they have little value. Mainstream economists believe in fiat money, while the Austrians believe in the gold standard. Libertarian economics is a small cult.

GUN CONTROL: The Congressman has always been a strong supporter of gun rights, but his unusual views are a real danger to the Second Amendment. He rejects the entire idea that the federal Bill of Rights should be applied to the states. If the states did not have to follow the bill of rights they could ignore the Second Amendment and disarm their residents.

He wants no restrictions at all, but there is no right to own a bazooka, tank or fighter jet. The radical libertarians want no restrictions on gun ownership. No background checks to prevent convicted criminals, registered sex offenders, suspected terrorists, illegal immigrants or anyone else from getting their hands on fully automatic weapons.

"You're Gone"

2011-06-24T09:49:00.000-04:00

Jim DeMint telling it like it is today! If the GOP waffles again on the debt ceiling there will be retaliation at the polls!

"Based on what I can see around the country," DeMint, R-S.C., said in an interview for the ABC News Subway Series, "not only are those individuals gone, but I would suspect the Republican Party would be set back many years."

DeMint get's it!

Eric Cantor walked out of the Biden talks yesterday but until we see whether he is holding ground or simply playing for the cameras and looking for some way to fudge without exposing himself politically there is no reason to celebrate. We have seen the GOP squander leverage before and Cantors love of spending money is well documented. If the GOP concedes to the Left and raises the debt we are going to see the financial storm accelerate. The world will not end if we shut down the government, in fact the CBO affirms one way to make ends meet is to do precisely that- do nothing. John Cox is vindicated!!! He has said that is part of his legislative strategy! Of course for it to work everyone else has to agree to do nothing as well. Fat Chance that, we can all wish I suppose.

Stay tuned I smell gooey Establishment Republican fudge cooking in the oven. Will they cave or demand 'massive' spending cuts and a balanced budget? Seems to me short of amputating several agencies like the EPA and FDA as well as others we cannot possibly maintain the current size of the government and survive. This principle(s) rolls down hill- all the way to Hanover.

Agenda 21 for Dummies

2011-06-22T08:33:00.001-04:00

Virginia school ranking in a dead heat with...

2011-06-22T08:11:00.002-04:00

ARKANSAS?

ARKANSAS?

So how are your tax dollars being spent on edgeetashun? Everyone I know thinks pretty darn good. But the truth of the matter is not quite what I think most people here in Hanover would think. Virginia Schools came in dead last- a tie with Arkansas. Didn't your kid's Principal send home the note? Didn't the teachers send you their report card? No? Did you know you can get their report card on line? Some things work both ways in the information age!

Click here for the 2010 State School Report Card

Bacon's Rebellion has covered this issue very well and there is no need for me to add to that report so I'll give you a couple quotes and a link:

"Virginia didn't merely rank below average in the analysis, which combined learning progress, fiscal efficiency and academic standards. It didn't just rank in the bottom quintile. The Old Dominion tied with Arkansas for the bottom spot... dead last. Every member of the General Assembly, every school board member and every parent needs to read this report and then start raising holy hell."

So, here's how Virginia stacks up:(This report presents such a ranking based on four indices of school performance:)
Learning achievement ... 43rd in the country
Efficiency ... 48th
Standards ... 32nd
Overall .. 50th (tied with Arkansas)

Read the rest click here !

What this all seems to say is what most conservatives know instinctively and that is having a bulky and inflated county employee role doesn't always equate to excellence. Spending money doesn't mean your getting your money's worth.
One commenter points out: "that's because of the expansion of the high school curricula into more and more things that are not core academic but rather college-resume padding "electives" like Latin IV or advanced Cello or Photo Journalism or the like."

And if you think your getting the straight skinny from your elected officials on performance you better start checking the methods they use to determine such claims. Seems like the County may have scratched out that "F" and made it an "A" before presenting it to Ma & Pa taxpayer.

BTW in Republican Hanover County should we be looking at School Vouchers? Vouchers are a basic platform plank in the GOP. Isn't compititon a basic component of Free Market ideology? Does Hanover Schools even teach Free market concepts? Seems they were teaching the 5 pillars of Islam a couple months ago. No Free Market there!

Click here for Islamic Study Guide given to Hanover Students at Lee Davis

Future FDA Warning Labels

2011-06-21T20:37:00.001-04:00

As you may know the FDA wants 50% of cigarette packaging to contain graphic images of cancer patients. Maybe it's a good idea that Uncle Sam should be in the biz of codifying moral questions. Most folks generally think legislating morality is a bad idea, at least when those morals reflect those of the Founding Fathers. It will be interesting to see if our Libertarian friends object to this bureaucracy doing exactly what they think Conservatives would do.

HCC has found that other products will soon be required to display graphic evidence of the consequences of their use:

Well you get the point.