Quote Of The Day

Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.

Ronald Regan

Obama's Supreme Court Nominee

Obama's Supreme Court nominee...discuss amongst yourselves. Does anyone remember the firefighters whose advancement test results were thrown out because the racial minority test takers didn't score high enough? The Appelate Court judge who wrote the opinion is this nominee.

Our Out Of Control Government

Just perusing the recently retracted Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis Domestic Extremism Lexicon "Reference Aid". It apparently classifies a large portion of the population as extremists. It's overarching broad descriptions of "extremist" groups opens up a myriad of possibilities for agencies to target individuals for their perceived extremist views. As an example, I fully support 2nd Amendment rights. If I actively pursue forms of support for repealing gun laws or protesting new legislation I may be targeted as a militia member according to the lexicon description. Read through some of these to see which extremist group YOU may be a "member" of according to the DHS.

The bracketed (U) stands for unclassified and (U//FOUO) stands for unclassified, for official use only. The post title is a link to the document.

(U) alternative media

(U//FOUO) A term used to describe various information
sources that provide a forum for interpretations of events and
issues that differ radically from those presented in mass
media products and outlets.

Apparently media other than "mainstream" is subversive and dangerous. The truth is not important, the source is. The DHS is of the opinion that as long as the sheeple continue to watch the alphabet soup networks (abc, nbc, cbs, etc.) they will be fully propagandized.

(U) hate groups

(U//FOUO)A term most often used to describe white
supremacist groups. It is occasionally used to describe other
racist extremist groups.

Racism of any form is antithetical to everything I believe. God created us in his image and we are all his children (there's a radical notion we should fear!) However, it is troubling that DHS describes "hate groups" mainly as white supremacists. Is not Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam a hate group? La Raza? The lexicon descriptions of the various minority extremist groups do not describe them as racist even though their actions are. If you are a minority is it not possible to be racist as well?

(U) patriot movement

(U//FOUO) A term used by rightwing extremists to link their
beliefs to those commonly associated with the American
Revolution. The patriot movement primarily comprises
violent antigovernment groups such as militias and sovereign
citizens.
(also: Christian patriots, patriot group, Constitutionalists,
Constitutionist)

O.K., this is really confusing. The term "patriot" is now being given a negative connotation. Can someone be antigovernment without being violent? Of course. Lets also throw in "Christian" as well. Saying that the movement "primarily" comprises violent antigovernment groups does not specify that if you are NOT violent you are not an extremist because you believe the government to be too big and too powerful. While revolutions can be violent such as the American Revolution, a revolution in general terms can mean many things other than violence. Associating the American Revolution with an extremist group is an subversive way of targeting those who would want more of the freedoms our Founding Fathers intended and less government intrusion. There is a quote that goes something like, 'When people fear their government, that is tyrrany. When government fears the people, that is liberty.'

(U) rightwing extremism

(U//FOUO) A movement of rightwing groups or individuals
who can be broadly divided into those who are primarily
hate-oriented, and those who are mainly antigovernment and
reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.
This term also may refer to rightwing extremist movements
that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to
abortion or immigration.
(also known as far right, extreme right)

Just having the term "broadly divided" in the above description should scare everyone. Somehow rejecting federal authority for state and local authority is a bad thing? Can anyone provide me with an example of some statute, program, code or law that can be equally applied and relevant to all fifty sates? Under this definition of rightwing extremism, the Founders are just that. They believed in a weak centralized government and strong state governments.

(U) tax resistance movement

(U//FOUO) Groups or individuals who vehemently believe
taxes violate their constitutional rights. Among their beliefs
are that wages are not income, that paying income taxes is
voluntary, and that the 16th Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution, which allowed Congress to levy taxes on
income, was not properly ratified. Members have been
known to advocate or engage in criminal activity and plot acts
of violence and terrorism in an attempt to advance their
extremist goals. They often target government entities such
as the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
(also: tax protest movement, tax freedom movement, antitax
movement)

My head is going to explode. I am an extremist because I think the government takes far too much money from me to give to people, places, causes and events that I do not wish to support. They believe that my hard earned dollars are theirs to use in whatever way they see fit. A good example is sending hundreds of millions of dollars to "community groups" such as ACORN that perpetrate voter fraud. Their mention of the 16th Amendment in the context of "it's in the Constitution" gives the impression that anyone who opposes is a radical. The 16th Amendment which was ratified to fund the Civil War snowballed over the next century into our current confiscatory tax system. What's not to like about that? Raise your hand if you support higher taxes and more debt. Anyone?

(U) skinheads

(U//FOUO) A subculture composed primarily of
working-class, white youth who embrace shaved heads for
males, substance abuse, and violence. Skinheads can be
categorized as racist, anti-racist or “traditional,” which
emphasizes group unity based on fashion, music, and lifestyle
rather than political ideology. Dress often includes a shaved
head or very short hair, jeans, thin suspenders, combat boots
or Doc Martens, and a bomber jacket.

Here the problem is a radical group being identified by it's fashion and music among other things. Um, I actually own a pair of Doc Marten shoes. Not boots, but shoes. I also have a pair or two of jeans. I guess I've slipped into the dark realm of the skinheads.

The entirety of this report should be troubling to all of us as Americans. That your political or personal views can be deemed extremist by the government and could possibly put you on some terrorist watch list should frighten everyone. This lexicon broadly describes so many belief systems that nearly everyone in America could find some portion of one of these groups that they would be in agreement with.

Currently Applicable Jeffersonian Quotes - and a Mark Twain thrown in for good measure

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,
we shall become as corrupt as Europe."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those
who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

Unfortunately the following quote is a truism about the industry in which I work.

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed."
-Mark Twain

Assisting The Obama Administration With Their Promise Of "Transparency"

I purposefully put the word transparency in quotations. The Obama administration has been in office for less than a month and the campaign "promise" of transparency has been all but ignored. In order to help the administration live up to the transparency promise I will, at my leisure, begin posting the details from the all important "emergency" stimulus (read: pork) bill. Let me cut the banter and get right to the crux of the matter.

Warning: individuals being treated for high blood pressure or other coronary disorders are advised against proceeding beyond this point. The author takes no responsibility for any adverse reactions to the information contained within.

The text excerpted below can be acessed at this link. Keep in mind that the stimulus bill is intended to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Pay close attention to where the money is going. You'll notice that a large percentage of the money allocated is for the government to spend money on itself. These sections will be highlighted for your easy reading pleasure! I will provide you with an equivalent for the proposed funding amount. The Obama administration has been generous enough to provide you a $400 "tax rebate" that will be spread out over the course of one year. $800 for couples. Over the year an individual will realize a whopping $7.69 per week reduction in their income tax witholding. Couples will be swimming in their extra cash as they will notice a net reduction of $15.38 per week in taxes. Where will you spend all that extra money you ask? Well, you won't have any to spend if you live in California! "Why is that?", you say. The below list has the proposed reasons why that is -

1. A 5% surcharge on what the tax filer owes (great! a tax on taxes!). Incrediby, they are trying to put a positive spin on this by saying, "The state income tax is deductible on the federal tax return". Whoppee!!

2. Increase the annual fee on the value of vehicles from 0.65% to 1.15%. Translation - if your car is worth $15,000, your annual DMV renewal tax would increase from $97.50 to $172.50. Oh, but wait, it's deductable from your federal tax return. How simple is that!

3. Increase the state sales tax by one cent on the dollar. That increases the state sales tax rate to nine cents.

4. Increase the per-gallon gasoline excise tax by 12 cents!.

5. Reduce the dependent income tax credit by two thirds from $309 to $103.

California is not the issue, it's just my pain (maybe yours as well). The issue is the federal "porkulus" bill. Without further ado, please indulge yourself in this disgusting, fraudulent, wasteful bill.


TITLE I-AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION,
AND RELATED AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES AND RENTAL PAYMENTS

For an additional amount for "Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments", $24,000,000, for necessary construction, repair, and improvement activities.

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
For an additional amount for "Office of Inspector General", $22,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2013, for oversight and audit of programs, grants, and activities funded by this Act and administered by the Department of Agriculture.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
For an additional amount for "Buildings and Facilities", $176,000,000, for work on deferred maintenance at Agricultural Research Service facilities: Provided, That
priority in the use of such funds shall be given to critical deferred maintenance, to projects that can be completed, and to activities that can commence promptly following enactment of this Act.

FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
For an additional amount for the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.c. 1751 et. seq.), except section 21, and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et. seq.), except sections 17 and 21, $100,000,000, to carry out a grant program for National School Lunch Program equipment assistance: Provided, That such funds shall be provided to States administering a school lunch program in a manner proportional with each States' administrative expense allocation: Providedfurther, That the States shall provide competitive grants to school food authorities based upon the need for equipment assistance in participating schools with priority given to school in which not less than 50 percent ofthe students are eligible for free or
reduced price meals under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

Free school lunches create jobs and stimulate the economy?

GENERAL PROVISIONS-THIS TITLE
SEC. 101. TEMPORARY INCREASE IN BENEFITS UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. (a) :MAXIMUM BENEFIT INCREASE.-
(1) IN GENERAL.-Beginning the first month that begins not less than 25 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the value of benefits determined under section 8(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and consolidated block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa determined under section 19(a) of such Act shall be calculated using 113.6 percent of the June 2008 value of the thrifty food plan as specified under section 3(0) of such Act.

Whu-what?

I really have to stop before I hurl on my laptop. This is a conglomeration of liberal pet projects probably collected over the last 10 to 15 years. More than likely none were ever able to get out of committee. Now we have this fiscal "emergency" and we must act "urgently" to pass this bill. Translation: pass it before anyone figures out what's in it!

What Has This Country Become?

I don't know who we are anymore. The corrupt band of criminals in Washington D.C. have co-opted my children's children's future. These bastards spending money on their whore's like there's no tomorrow. Sorry for the language but that's how I equivocate this fiscal travesty that's happening. Feel free to see where some of YOUR hard earned income is going. Here I am working and trying to get by at my trivial "job" while these bastards are giving criminals BILLIONS of dollars so their companies won't fail. Somehow they are too big or too important to fail. Excuse me...if you are crooked and run your company into the ground, it should fail!! After it fails YOU should go to jail and get a maximum sentence in the general population. Then you can become Bubba's bitch and see how it feels to be a regular Joe. You can get it just the way the rest of us are getting it. Scum bags. I understand that this is not the "me" that you are used to reading. It IS the me that is incredibly pissed off!

I learned today that all the employees of our company are required to take one week off without pay before the end of March. Hello? Washington? Where's our bailout? I know that a week without pay is better than no job at all. However, why don't they give me my tax money back instead of spending "$150,000,000 to provide emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish to aid in the reduction of losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary".

Corrupt Bastards - Every one of them!!! You people need to wake up! You get what you vote for. If you voted for one single incumbent, I can only hope that you are looking back at your voting propensity with great dismay. The Founding Fathers are churning in their graves.

I'm signing off to go have a siezure in the quiet comfort of my padded room.

Today's Quotes

This first quote from Samuel Adams is aimed specifically at Barack Obama and his associations that are rightly being called into question -

"He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard for his country. There is seldom an instance of a man guilty of betraying his country, who had not before lost the feeling of moral obligations in his private connections." --in a letter to James Warren, Nov. 4, 1775--

This too, is directed at Obama in regards to his "spread the wealth" viewpoint he expressed to Joe the Plumber

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
- Thomas Jefferson

This one can definitely be said of most of the recent sitting Congress'

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.
- John Adams

The next two just happen to be for Joe. I know he'll give me a bucket of chum in return. I expect it and welcome the banter.

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.
- John Adams

It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.
- Patrick Henry

An appropriate quote in regards to the current financial meltdown throughout our country and the world.

History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling the money and its issuance.
- James Madison

Corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded.
- Noah Webster (the father of public education in America)

The Founders Knew Not To Raise Taxes

So why doesn't Obama understand the concept? Joe was in agreement with me that Obama's statement regarding "spreading the wealth" made him cringe. I not only cringed, I hypothetically ran sreaming down the street pulling my hair out. Why don't people see Obama as the socialist that he is? Today's "voters" form their opinions on a 30 second TV commercial that says nothing. They listen to the alphabet soup networks proclaim him as the messiah and fall in lock step with the other drooling sheeple that get all their information from the idiot box. I really think that if you want to vote, you should be required to take a basic test of your understanding of the issues and players. If you haven't been paying attention, you don't get to play along.

This Howard Stern "Man on the Street" interview of Obama supporters in Harlem shows how clueless the electorate that I am describing, is.


Back from the tangent here and on to notable quotes from the founders about taxes.

Alexander Hamilton
1787 - Federalist No. 21

If duties are too high, they lessen the consumption; the collection is eluded; and the product to the treasury is not so great as when they are confined within proper and moderate bounds. This forms a complete barrier against any material oppression of the citizens by taxes of this class, and is itself a natural limitation of the power of imposing them.

Here's Thomas Jefferson denouncing Obama's recent "spread the wealth" statement to Joe the Plumber nearly 200 years ago.

Thomas Jefferson
1816 - letter to Joseph Milligan

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

James Madison makes a point in regards to Obama seeming to think that those that make more money should pay more in taxes as a percentage of their income.

James Madison
1792 - Essay on Property

A just security to property is not afforded by that government, under which unequal taxes oppress one species of property and reward another species.