THE ANSWER TO THE MASS MURDERS IN AMERICA

The country mourns the unthinkable tragedy that happened to the children and staff of a quiet little school in the Northeast. The funerals are presently taking place with undersized caskets. The pain in the hearts of Americans is indescribable, but nowhere near what is felt by those close to the victims and survivors.

Every aspect of the shooter's life, his family, his online history and his medical past will be examined in great detail. Why? Because we want to know the answer to one question. Why?

With the yellow tape still around the crime scene, the expected cries for more gun control and restrictions are loud and strong. This is the natural and predictable response to such a scene as we all just watched; albeit, from afar. From the White House to the halls of Congress to the media to the main streets of America, the voices are being raised in unison for more laws restricting access to guns.

It only makes sense that if there were fewer guns, there would be less gun violence. There are numbers going around (whether accurate or not) claiming Americans have 300,000,000 privately held guns. That is about one per person in the country. The anti-gun crowd cannot understand why so many want to own guns and especially guns that have been tagged as "assault rifles".

Make no mistake, there will be a very strong push for more laws limiting the ability to purchase guns and ammunition. With the fresh heartache on all of our minds, it will be more difficult for conservative politicians to stand up and speak out against more control of guns. So, expect some form of ban to be passed. Remember the motto of some on the Left, "Don't let a good crisis go to waste."

However, as someone has said, "Facts are a stubborn thing." If an honest evaluation were conducted about recent mass murders, you would find some interesting issues. Most happen in "gun free" zones such as schools or areas that have been posted with "No Guns" allowed signs (the Colorado theater). It appears that as a gunman plans, he chooses a location where he can expect that the population will be gun-free. In other words, he hand picks a place where the targets will most likely be defenseless. He then carries out the dastardly deed, killing one innocent victim after another until one thing happens. For the most part, these situations end while the shooter is still in possession of many more rounds of ammo and there are still many more potential victims. The shooting stops when someone else shows up with their own gun and puts a stop to the shooting. This is usually when the first of the police are able to arrive and enter the building, but only after several minutes of travel time and entry time and finding the shooter time. All the while, more of the unarmed are being slaughtered.

In an attempt to protect the public, the Left has instituted zones which are gun-free but only for the law abiding citizens. These are prime locations for the deranged shooter with a pack load of guns and ammo.

The "answer" to this carnage is not more restrictions on the law abiding citizen's rights to be armed and able to protect themselves and others; but less restrictions. If school staff were allowed to have concealed weapons with them, on campus; when something like the most recent shooting starts, the first responder would not be miles away, but steps away. The first guy to arrive on the scene, with a gun of his own, to have an opportunity to stop a shooter would be someone just down the hall. This is how to save lives, by saving minutes before another first responder can get there. The answer is for more of the good guys among us to be armed and able to deal with horrific situations. We cannot afford the time needed for the police to respond from across town.

THE 18th LEDGE

THE 18^th LEDGE

By:  Mike Foil

Dateline:  11/06/2012, Election Night

Many of us just witnessed the results of a very long and hard fought campaign to select, not only who the next president will be, but also the fundamental direction of the United States.  “Over dramatic!” you might be thinking.  I do not believe so.  We just witnessed four years of a very radical agenda being pushed upon America.  If that was not enough to cause extreme concern in the hearts and minds of her citizens, then those same hearts and minds are so far removed from the principles of our founding that it may not be possible to turn the country around after “four more years”. 

The question was already floating around as to whether or not it was already too late, even with a change in the White House; but, with no change to who sits behind that desk; the laws, treaties and executive orders put in effect during the next term; along with the policies, regulations, and back-room deals by the unelected will change the course of America to such an extent that she will never look the same as she did in the not too distant past. 

It is speculated that during the next four years that the president will appoint two justices to the Supreme Court.  Whoever they are, they will wield considerable influence over our lives and those who follow us for generations.  We have learned by the last two appointments just what type of Justice our president considers to be good for America.  Both are biased towards a very liberal agenda.  With those two on the bench, our current court is pretty much evenly divided; so much so that controversial decisions made by the Supreme Court can go either way.  Once there are additional appointments with the same leaning, there will be court decisions supporting conservative principles only on rare occasions. 

Liberal America has exposed for all to see their desires and dreams for our country.  We had glimpses and had gained a reasonable understanding of their goals, but we had not had an all-out assault, based on those goals, until the last four years.  Especially while the Democrats had full control of the House, Senate and White House; they were quick to push for as much as they could get, as fast as they could.  During this election cycle, we observed the Democrat base unhappy that more of the Left’s agenda was not fully implemented.  With a president who does not have to worry about another election, with the Senate still firmly in control by Leftists and with the Supreme Court not something that will need to be worried about; it will be full-speed-ahead.

What can we expect during the next four years?  First of all, there is no reason to believe that the president or the Senate will see the necessity of “reaching across the aisle” to the Republicans in the House in order to reach compromise on most issues.  They did not do that during the first term when a re-election was an issue.  Why would we believe it when they say they will do it now?  Remember when President Obama told the Republicans, soon after being elected to the first term, that they (the Democrats) won and the Republicans would just have to live with that fact.  Expect more of the same during the upcoming term.

Second, we can expect a continuation of liberal polices, but this time, with more gusto after winning another election.  We will see tax increases (and not just an income tax increase on the “rich”), continual high prices with additional inflation affecting the family budget to a greater degree, more deficit spending, more borrowing, more printing of massive amounts of dollars, much higher national debt, the push towards “green energy”, the restrictions on oil drilling, the closing of coal mines and electric generation plants that use coal, restrictions on atomic power plants, limited drilling for our own oil, a push for environmental issues (of the radical type), promotion of “global warming” and the enactment of regulations to battle “climate change”, more gun control, did I mention less drilling for our own oil, continued snubbing of Israel, a coziness towards Iran and other Islam nations where the Muslim Brotherhood has (or wants) control, a weaker military, a weaker defense of our nation, stronger abortion rights, implementation of “Obamacare” (with its massive costs and oversight on many aspects of our personal lives), less privacy both on and off the Internet, Internet control by government, taxes for using the Internet, national submission to the United Nations, continuation of the policies where we arm our enemies and insult our allies, “more flexibility” with Russia, tax money to support unions, tax money to political supporters of the president, more people on food stamps and other welfare programs, a continuation of high unemployment and underemployment due to government policies which are anti-business, and the continuation of reams of new regulations being dumped on citizens and businesses by unaccountable agencies and czars who are answerable only to the president.  We will see the DOJ (Department of Justice) continue to stonewall the Congress in the investigation of “fast and furious” gun running to Mexican criminals.  We will continue to get no real answers on how and why we had four brave Americans murdered in Libya and why no help was made available.  We will see an all-out push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (which amounts to weaker laws, more amnesty for those who broke our laws, and less enforcement and protection of our borders).   

There will be tremendous pressure on the Republican members of the House of Representatives to “compromise”.  For the next four years, these Representatives are our only line of defense against the radical agenda.  We have lost the presidency, the control of the Senate and soon, the balance on the Supreme Court.

Half of voting Americans (if you include all the votes cast, whether legal or not) want more of the same.  Half want a drastic change.  The hope for change just vanished into drifting smoke!  The Republicans in the House have been called “the party of ‘No!’”  Right now, all we can hope for is that they will stand strong and do everything possible to save our nation from going full-speed down the same path that is causing countries in Europe to collapse. 

“The 18^th Ledge” is the point of despair where I found myself earlier this evening, after it became clear as to the major outcome of this election.  I have been talked back in, off of the ledge, for now. 

WWIII - Are You Ready?

WWIII

ARE YOU READY?

 

Can you comprehend the concept that the world is heading, at breakneck speed, towards the next major war?  World War III is a logical conclusion to the vast array of serious issues that are causing many parts of the world to be aflame, right now.

Across the Pacific, China and Japan are at odds over an uninhabited island.  Both countries lay claim to the island that lies out in the sea.  Threats have been flying between the nations who have a history of enmity.  The island is located in a strategic position as the waters that surround the island carry importance as to which nation owns control.  The USA has a mutual protection treaty with Japan.

North and South Korea continue to be on edge with the continuing aggressive actions and unending threats spewing from North Korea.  The USA has a mutual protection treaty with South Korea. 

Meanwhile Russia has been sliding towards increased hostility towards America and flexing their muscles (not referring to Putin posing without his shirt) by threats towards some neighbors and making alliances with others, such as Iran.  Their relationship with America appears to have deteriorated over the past few years.  President Obama has backed down, under Russian pressure, to follow through with a missile defense shield for Eastern Europe.  A new version of START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is being worked out between Russia and Obama’s administration.  Obama expressed his desire for a nuclear free world and promised to set an example by a drastic reduction in our warhead inventory but without a similar requirement for Russia to also reduce warheads.

Iran continues to defy the United Nations and the United States.  As they proceed in the development of nuclear warheads to be attached to the missile delivery arsenal they already possess, they continue to issue threats against Israel (the Little Satan) and America (the Great Satan).  Multiple times Iran’s president has stated his desire to wipe Israel off of the face of the map.  The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu stated in the past few days that he believes Iran is within a few months of having a nuclear warhead.  With the well-founded belief that Iran will use the weapon once they have it (as they have stated such) Netanyahu has been preparing for a preemptive strike against Iran.  As this issue escalates towards a boiling point; America, along with several other nations, has been busy positioning Navy ships in the Persian Gulf in hopes of keeping the waterway open for the shipment of much of the oil that supplies the rest of the world.  Iran has promised to shut down the waterway and attack American bases in the Middle East if Israel launches an attack against them.  Iran possesses the capability of launching missiles which could take out large ships. 

The war in Iraq is mostly over but we still maintain a military presence in that country.  The people of Iraq, to a large degree, do not appreciate America and have recently been expressing anti-American sentiment.

Afghanistan is a continuing battleground due to insurgency by the Taliban.  We continue to lose the lives of Americans in that country each week.  We are in the 11^th year of this war.  The country appears to be becoming less stable as we get closer to Obama’s stated withdrawal date of 2014.  The various factions are attempting to position themselves to fill the vacuum when we depart.  This country will continue to have shedding of blood as a common practice.

Neighboring Pakistan has lost the cooperating attitude they once had towards America.  Not only was Osama Bin Laden hiding in plain sight in Pakistan, when we found and killed him; they have imprisoned the man who helped point out his location to the U.S.  Taliban forces routinely find safe haven within the borders of Pakistan as they depart Afghanistan and the fighting there.

Syria has been in a state of constant revolution for almost one and a half years with many thousands dead.  Russia and Iran are backing the dictator of Syria and his military in their attempt to put down the unrest (in other words, kill all the opposition).  With Syria having a large stockpile of chemical weapons, neighboring Israel is worried about the potential of these weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of their enemies.

Lebanon, another of Israel’s neighbors, is also ramping up the rhetoric against Israel.

Egypt, to the other side of Israel, just went through an overthrow of their government and has installed a new president who is from the Muslim Brotherhood, a known sponsor of terrorism and a group which is very outspoken about their hatred for Jews.  The new president has informed his people to prepare for war with Israel.

Libya has not settled down since they also overthrew their government last year.  Various factions are fighting for control of the country and for positions of importance in a new government.  During the past few days, terrorists in Libya stormed the American Embassy with the result that four Americans were killed, including our Ambassador.  This was a coordinated attack on the anniversary of 9/11.   

At the same time our embassy in Libya was being attacked so was our embassy in Egypt.  Since then, over the past few days and continuing, many more American Embassies in other countries have been marched upon with some demonstrators burning American flags and climbing over our walls causing security concerns for the Americans within the compounds.

Egypt is now permitting Iran to use the Suez Canal to bring navy ships into the Mediterranean Sea.  Russia has their navy off of the coast of Syria as support for its leader and to protect the port Russia has been allowed to use in Syria on the sea.

While many Muslim countries are in riot mode and acting out against America and Israel, many European countries are facing problems with Muslims within their borders and at the same time, facing financial calamity over their spending and their social programs.  Several of these countries have had riots, with violence, of their own over the past several months.  The financial situation is heading towards, if not already standing on the edge, of a giant cliff.  Measures being taken in the EU – European Union – appear to be trying to put off the collapse as long as they can, but the results appear to be almost inevitable.  A European court recently requested the leaders of the EU to do whatever it found necessary to avoid financial collapse in Europe, including the placing of leaders in various countries.  Greece is bordering on pulling out of the EU, which some say would cause a chain reaction resulting in the total collapse of the EU and the Euro currency.

Some South American countries have been aligning themselves with countries such as Iran and Russia, as well as China; who all agree on a common enemy, the US of A. 

Meanwhile, back at home, Obama is being seen as very weak in foreign relations and foreign policy.  There is much bark (make that whimper) and no bite.  The rest of the world has lost any respect they once had for America and now sees us as a target for at least ridicule.  We have Russia, China, North Korea and Iran; not to mention other Muslim nations, demonstrating anti-American sentiment from within their countries and governments.  As we disarm by reducing our nuclear weapons, cutting back on Navy ships and Air Force planes; as well as reducing the number of troops we have while we cut the military budget; the rest of the world (at least that portion which is anti-American) is busy making themselves stronger and preparing for war.

Presently, the world is a tinderbox and flames have already been lit in various countries.  The tension is so high on various fronts that the situation exists where small events can trigger major consequences.  Once these escalate, the rest of the world can fall like dominoes into a war mentality.  Opposing sides, on multiple issues, are finding no common ground for compromise and peace does not seem to appear in their vocabulary. 

As the song says, “War!  What is it good for?  Absolutely nothing!”  (“War” by Edwin Starr)

We may detest war, but war keeps finding us and every generation or two, the world reshuffles the deck of life and power.  The world has all the signs that it is heading back in for another round.  This time, will the good guys win?  Their white hats look dingy grey and their soldiers are a little tired. 

Do not pray for God to be on our side.  Pray that we would repent and be on God’s side. Many in America have turned their backs on God and subjected Him to ridicule.  This time, it may just be time for judgment.  God will not be mocked!

The reset button is about to be pushed!

QE4-Just Around the Corner

QE4

JUST AROUND THE CORNER

The Federal Reserve just announced what their latest attempt will be to help rescue the American economy.  It is being called QE3, for Quantitative Easing 3.  Quantitative Easing refers to the policy of creating more money and injecting it into the economy in hopes that the additional dollars will stimulate the economy and cause a growth in employment. 

QE1 began four years ago, right at the time of the last presidential election (11/2008).  By the time QE1 ended in 3/2010, the Fed (Federal Reserve) had purchased $1.25 trillion in mortgage backed securities (MBS) and another $175 billion in government debt.

When this failed to solve the problem, they tried it again with QE2.  This round began in 11/2010 and ended in 6/2011.  During this time, the Fed purchased $600 billion in treasury bonds.  The US Treasury Department is responsible for the funds needed to run our government.  They raise additional money by selling Treasury Bonds, which amounts to an IOU from the government to the buyer of the bonds (national debt).

We are talking about “real money” here as the Fed has injected approximately $2.3 trillion into the U.S. economy since 2008. 

The latest announcement (9/2012) by the Fed is that they are beginning QE3.  The first two attempts did not solve the problems in the national economy, so they want to try again, expecting different results.

QE3 will have the Fed buying $40 billion in MBS each month going forward until they decide the employment situation has improved to an acceptable level of stability.  In other words, the Fed is beginning an open-ended, monthly injection of $40,000,000,000 into the money supply.  At that rate, another half trillion dollars will be added each year until they decide to stop.

Investors.com just published an article by Sen. Jim DeMint, where he discusses QE3 and what it means.  He refers to this policy as QE4-ever as it is an open-ended, monthly event.  But, that is not why this article is named QE4.

QE3 will do what most of QE1 did, buy MBS.  These mortgage backed securities amount to bundles of real estate mortgages.  The Fed will gain ownership of $40 billion of additional mortgages each month, on top of the inventory they already own.  These purchases are adding hard assets to the balance sheet of the Fed.  The Fed has also been busy buying gold over the past few years, which is another hard asset.

So, where does the Fed get so much money to do all of these purchases?  They must be very rich.  Well, they are, but that is getting the cart before the horse.  They are not doing all of these purchases with their accumulated wealth.  (Remember, the Fed is not a government agency or department.  It is a private corporation.)  The Fed has been charged with the duty of printing U.S. dollars.  Since dollars are no longer backed by gold or silver, or anything else for that matter, the Fed is in a position to just print money as they feel the need to do so.

It is this freshly printed (or electronically generated) money that is used to make the purchases of these bonds and hard assets (gold and MBS).  Just in case you have not pieced this together in your mind, the Fed makes up new money and then uses that money to buy hard assets and to lend money to the Treasury (at interest, of course).  Over the past couple years the Fed has become the largest buyer of Treasury Bonds and now is the largest holder of U.S. debt.  So, yes, the owners of the Fed are rich.  They transform paper and ink into money which they use to enrich themselves by us paying them interest or by becoming the owners of hard assets.

It is sort of like the position a counterfeiter would hold as he printed money and used that money to buy goods or make investments.  Well, there is one difference; where it is a crime for the counterfeiter, it is legal for the Federal Reserve.

You may be asking yourself, “Why does this concern me?”  The continual playing with the supply of money has a direct and very real effect on every person living in this country and many people elsewhere.  It relates to “supply and demand” and has to do with the supply of dollars in the system.  As the supply increases (through the printing of more dollars), the price of the item in demand changes.  This concept is called “inflation”.  A greater supply of money causes higher prices for goods and services.  Every time the Fed adds more dollars to the economy, the value (purchasing power) of your dollar diminishes.  It now takes more dollars to buy the same products than it did a few years ago. 

Since 2008, the Fed has and will continue to pump approximately a half trillion dollars into the economy on an annual basis.  This policy cannot help but cause additional inflation.  The goods and services you require in the future will cost more than they do now.

But, what is QE4?  It is my speculation that there is additional quantitative easing taking place on an unannounced basis by the Fed.  The policy for QE3 has to do with the purchase of MBS, not Treasury Bonds.  As mentioned above, the Fed has become the largest buyer of U.S. debt (bonds).  Do they plan on going cold-turkey with the bond purchases?  I do not believe they will or can stop, at all.  So, where will the dollars come from for future bond purchases?  I believe the Fed will magically generate more dollars for the bond buying, just as they will for the MBS buying.  The Treasury Department needs the Fed to buy the bonds.  This helps keep the interest rates lower for those bonds.  If the Fed stopped buying, the Treasury would have to offer the bonds at a higher rate in order to attract other investors.

So, as the Fed launches QE3, they will continue to buy bonds with a quiet QE4.  The money supply will take a double hit as trillions more dollars will be added to the supply over the next couple years.  You don’t like paying $7 for a hamburger now.  Just wait; it will be $10 pretty soon.  Oh, and by the way, you probably will not be getting a raise to make up the higher costs you will incur. 

THE DEBT WALL

For those of you who have been around for awhile, you may remember earlier articles about the "wall of debt".  In an attempt to translate the utter size of our national debt, I tried to relate the amount in means other than dollars.  The dollar amount is staggering and incomprehensible.  The "wall of debt" consists of dollar bills, laid flat and end-to-end, stacked on top of each other and stretching around the world at the equator.

On 01/04/2011, I wrote "How Much Do You Owe?"  Our national debt had just passed $14 trillion ($14,000,000,000,000) for the first time.  This amount relates to a 19' tall "wall of debt".  It was equal to a debt of $45,000 per citizen.  If we were to pay off the debt, one dollar per second (with no more borrowing and not paying any interest), it would have taken 448,000 years.

On 06/19/2011, I wrote "The 20' Wall of Debt".  The national debt was $14.437 trillion and the "wall of debt" had reached a height of 20 feet.  At that time, it would have taken 457,797 years to pay it off one dollar per second.

UPDATE!  We are now crossing another infamous milestone.  This week, our national debt will cross the $16 trillion mark.  Our current budget year is not yet over, but we already passed $1.2 trillion in budget deficit for the year.  This means that we are adding to the total debt at well over a trillion dollars each year.  (Trillion is equal to a million times a million.)  It will now take over 504,000 years to pay off the debt, one dollar per second.  The debt per citizen is over $50,000 and the debt per taxpayer is over $140,000. 

The annual interest on our national debt was $454 billion for fiscal year 2011, which was up $40 billion from the year before.  These amounts take into account the low interest rates we are having to pay.  Based on these numbers, for 2012, the interest could be near one half trillion dollars.  The government is borrowing around 40 cents of every dollar it spends. 

Unemployment has been above 8% for just about all of President Obama's first term.  And that does not include the number of workers who have given up looking or have jobs with minimal pay.  We have over 45,000,000 people on the food stamp program and nearly half of the country does not pay any income tax due to low income. 

Our country must have drastic changes to spending in order to survive.  ALL of the above in not sustainable.  The government is predicting deficits each of the next several years of over a trillion dollars.  Even if interest rates do not go up on our debt and even if we froze spending at current levels (which no one is attempting to do), our national debt will reach $20 trillion in five years.  This also does not take into account the added cost of Obamacare which will be hitting our budget by 2014. 

"Hope and Change" was a cute slogan four years ago.  Hope for change is essential now!

Many politicians support the BBA (Balanced Budget Amendment) as a solution to this problem.  The BBA is not solution at all.  Even if it were constitutional and a good idea, which it is not; it would not take effect until our debt has risen to the area of $20 trillion.  It has no feature for paying down the debt, but instead, has a feature to allow additional borrowing in order to pay the interest payments.  It could be exempted during any year the U.S. is involved in a serious military conflict (which is every year for the past ten).  It could be voided for any year the Congress gets the sufficient number of votes to increase spending.    The BBA is a farce and a smokescreen.  We do not need another amendment, we need people that have the backbone to drastically cut government spending - NOW!

If you do not see that this coming election is the most important in your lifetime, you do not understand the difference between liberty and slavery. 

RESTRICTED LIBERTIES

RESTRICTED LIBERTIES

Some things involve “shades of grey”.  “Should we do this or do that?”  But, there is not a “right vs. wrong” argument in every decision we make.  Our days are filled with such choices.

However, there are other areas where we are dealing with black and white situations; is it right or wrong, moral or immoral?  Is it okay to steal from your neighbor?  No, it is not!  We do not have to debate the question and weigh the consequences; the clear and obvious answer is “No”.  There are some areas where society has turned morality upside-down.  What should be considered as clearly wrong, is now accepted behavior.  Does this make it right or moral, now?  No, it makes society wrong and immoral.

How about “freedom”?  Does this subject fall under the shades of grey or the black and white?

Definition from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:  LIB'ERTY, n. [L. libertas, from liber, free.]

1. Freedom from restraint, in a general sense… A man enjoys liberty, when no physical force operates to restrain his actions or volitions.

2. Natural liberty, consists in the power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature. It is a state of exemption from the control of others, and from positive laws and the institutions of social life. This [natural and unlimited] liberty is abridged by the establishment of government.

3. Civil liberty, is the liberty of men in a state of society; or natural liberty, so far only abridged and restrained, as is necessary and expedient for the safety and interest of the society, state or nation. A restraint of natural liberty, not necessary or expedient for the public, is tyranny or oppression. Civil liberty is an exemption from the arbitrary will of others, which exemption is secured by established laws, which restrain every man from injuring or controlling another. Hence the restraints of law are essential to civil liberty.

The (civil) liberty of one depends not so much on the removal of all restraint from him, as on the due restraint upon the (natural) liberty of others.  [Words in parenthesis added for clarification, bold added for emphasis].

“Freedom” or “Liberty”, in its truest sense would most line up with the first definition, which states, “A man enjoys liberty, when no physical force operates to restrain his actions or volitions.”  “Natural liberty” would closely resemble this concept.  It is the state where someone does as he pleases without anyone to restrict him.  As soon as a government is added to this state; some portion of natural liberties, formerly enjoyed, are taken away.  In other words, a man’s actions now face some form of restrictions due to the government.  People who experience natural liberty, in its fullest sense, would exist in a society where there are no laws and every man is out for himself – doing whatever he wants.

Under some forms of government, “civil liberty” resides.  “…the liberty of men in a state of society…, so far only abridged and restrained, as is necessary and expedient for the safety and interest of the society, state or nation.”  [Italics and bold added for emphasis]

America was founded and the Constitution was written to provide a country falling under the concept of “civil liberty”.  When the Declaration of Independence was written, they acknowledged that our “rights” come from God; not from man, not from government and not from the laws of man. 

From the Declaration of Independence (DOI):

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” [Bold added for emphasis]

When the Constitution was written, it was still understood that “rights” come from God.  The Constitution did not grant “rights” to the people.  The “Bill of Rights” was not added to the Constitution to endow the people with the stated list of rights.  These ten amendments spell out restrictions upon the government to not trample on the rights of the people.  The government could not grant us rights that we already possessed and which were given to us by God.  By “unalienable rights”, is meant that these rights (given to the people by God) cannot be taken away by others or by government.  As our rights pre-existed the Constitution, they are clearly not granted by the Constitution or by some federal court. 

The government of the United States was fashioned to protect the rights of the people.  The Constitution, which was created by the people, was written to provide clear and precise limits and restrictions upon the government which would be formed under the Constitution.  The country was formed under the concept of “civil liberties” (as defined above). The people submitted to the supreme law of the land and granted a government the power to perform the specified list of duties contained in the Constitution.  For these specific areas, the people would voluntarily have their liberty restricted for the sake of a civilized society.

With the liberty enjoyed by the people in America, a new sense of freedom was found on the Earth.  No country in history had been established by the people and for the people, where the people maintained the sovereignty over the government.  Hence, “…Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” (DOI).

From the beginning of our newly formed government, there existed a concern among the founders, that due to the nature of man (greed and lust for power), that liberty would be under attack.  America and “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams.  Their concerns were well founded as the exact thing they worried about began to take place, almost immediately.  For over 200 years, the leaders in government have been adding burdens and further restrictions on the people which were not authorized in the Constitution.  We have expanded well beyond the portion of the definition for “civil liberty”, which states; “…only abridged and restrained, as is necessary and expedient for the safety and interest of the society…”

We no longer live under the concept of [civil] liberty.  That was abandoned long ago.  We now live under a concept of restricted liberties, which is not freedom and is not liberty.  Our society now resides under a form of tyranny.

From Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:  TYR'ANNY, n.

Arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; the exercise of power over subjects and others with a rigor not authorized by law or justice, or not requisite for the purposes of government.  [Bold added for emphasis]

America has passed from unrestricted freedom in a civil society to unrestricted government operating outside of the limits of the Constitution.  We have a government that is out of control.  Under this government, we have lost our liberty.  What we now have is a system where those in power dictate the minutest parts of our lives. 

So, what happened to “individual sovereignty”?  It is a vanishing cloud of vapor.  What about the concept of “individual rights”?  We are guilty of giving them away for one purpose or lie after another.  We have traded our liberty for a promise of safety or security.  Whether it was for protection against an enemy from abroad or for the supposed security granted by social programs; either way, we are guilty of falling for the rhetoric of those who have ulterior designs against us, the ones they are supposed to be serving.  Through our laziness, ignorance and lack of attention; we now enjoy restricted liberty, which is bondage.

The Declaration of Independence; which claimed, on our behalf, freedom; also provided the remedy for when our government has gone too far and will not come back. 

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Is this the next step to be taken?  I do not believe we are quite there, yet; though we are speedily heading in that direction.  At some point, in the near future, if we cannot gain the attention of those in Washington; we will have to make a choice.  We can either step up and take our country back from those who have an agenda to destroy its basic foundation and form, those whose greed and lust for power are more important to them than the survival of the United States as a federation of free and independent states; or we can cower and submit, handing over the last shreds of our God-given rights. 

America is not in a state of “shades of grey”, we are facing a crossroads of right or wrong, good or bad, freedom or bondage.  As Patrick Henry took his stand, he made the following statement: 

“Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Can we bring our government back from the brink of our destruction, before it is too late? 

To Be Free!

By: Mike Foil

            July 4, 1776; was like any other day across the thirteen colonies along the eastern part of North America.  For most people, who were subjects of the British Crown, it was business as usual.  There was a level of tension at various locations among the colonies, such as in Boston; but to the majority of the population, it was an ordinary day; that is, with a most notable exception.

            In Philadelphia, a gathering of men were reading over the final version of a document which had the potential of setting their world on fire.  These men had concluded that the only way for them, their families and friends, and fellow countrymen to experience self-government and liberty was to declare the colonies to be free and independent states.  It was, in fact, a declaration of war with England.

            The Declaration of Independence launched what became known as the “American experiment.”  It set America on a path unlike any prior nation.  Central to this experiment were the concepts of inalienable rights and self-government.  They not only ventured into unexperienced territory, politically; they declared that the truths, on which the foundation was being built, were obvious and undeniable. 

            These men acknowledged that God, the creator, is the source of their rights; and that these rights, as such, cannot be taken away by another.  Among these inseparable rights are the right to life, the right to live free and the right for individuals to be free to pursue their own happiness.

            In order to protect the individual’s rights, the people formed a government which would obtain its limited powers only by the consent of those people it would govern. 

            These men acted out of conviction as each was keenly aware that by affixing his signature to that declaration, it could cost them everything.  Still, they willingly pledged to each other, “our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”  Why would they take such a dangerous step?  Because, they trusted in God for their protection and believed He was leading them in the pursuit of liberty. 

LOST IN THE FOG

LOST IN THE FOG

By:  Mike Foil

Do you have a good sense of direction?  Many of us believe that we do.  How well does your “sense” work when you find yourself in an unfamiliar setting in the dark?  How about in a dense forest when there is a thick cloud cover?  Have you ever been lost in the fog?

There are times when we just lose our way.  No matter how hard we try, we seem unable to summon that old reliable “sense of direction” that has always been there.  The first time that happens to you there is almost a feeling of amazement.  You have trouble accepting that you are actually lost! 

I remember the first time I experienced a complete lack of awareness as to the directions.  When I believed I was driving north, I was going south.  In spite of the signs along the road telling me which way I was traveling, I had trouble believing them – “I have a good sense of direction and I know that I am going north.”  This was a venture into an unknown city, far from home.  My cousin and I decided to go see the sights of Washington D. C. for the first time, even though it was the middle of the night during a cold January trip back east.  Without a map, but with a “good sense of direction” we headed out from Quantico, VA to find the monuments.

It must be a similar situation when a pilot stops believing his instruments and relies upon his senses.  Whether it is a night flight or a trip during a storm, he convinces himself that the cluster of instruments covering the dashboard of the plane have all quit working.  He knows what it feels like to fly straight and level and in spite of the artificial horizon and his speed indicator telling him otherwise, he knows best.  If, by chance, there is a split second of consciousness of his error in judgment, just prior to slamming into the ground; I wonder what flashes across his mind.  My thought is that his first reaction would be denial – this cannot be happening, I felt I was right!

There is another vivid memory of being lost in the fog.  Being from Arizona, the opportunities to drive in a heavy fog had been few by the time I was in college.  During my first trip to see my brother in Santa Barbara, after leaving the Los Angeles area and heading along the coast I was baptized into a real “fog”.  Barely able to see the white lines beside by car and only faint, red tail lights for the car just ahead of me a few yards; the traffic flow slowed from around 70 mph to around 60 mph.  I did realize that I had to stay in the flow, could not slow down, could not pull over to the side, and could not take an exit (as they would be past me before I could see them).  It was dark and the fog was so thick that I had no idea where I was or where this string of cars was taking me.  I wondered to myself, what if the first car goes home and we all follow?

There is certainly a sense of helplessness when we find ourselves lost.  It has helped me to realize that even I can lose my way.  When we deny that we are vulnerable, we make ourselves more so and can become dangerous to those who rely on us.  If we recognize the reality that we can be led astray, can take a wrong turn, can get lost in the fog, and can be fooled by our own sense of right and wrong; it should help us be on guard to the potential so that we are better prepared when it happens. 

None of us have a built-in compass that will never fail us.  Each one of us is capable of getting lost.  That is why it is so important for each of us to learn to place trust and confidence in a reliable instrument of direction. 

Currently, America is lost.  We, as a whole, have abandoned our compasses.  We lack the leaders who have a good sense of direction.  We are surrounded by the “blind leading the blind”.  As America has rejected the God of the Bible and the road map of the Republic – the Constitution, we have become a nation with no moral or religious compass and a people with no set boundaries to guide us.  We are controlled by our own opinions and led astray by those who desire to use us for their own purposes.  Many of us have become “useful idiots” and pawns for those seeking more power and control over our lives. 

It is the law, whether God’s law or the Rule of Law, which establishes the healthy boundaries wherein we live in peace.  Without the law and these boundaries there is lawlessness and anarchy.  When we each establish a law unto ourselves, a civilized society ceases to exist.  Freedom from the law is not more freedom, but less.  Too many, today, believe that they have a right to do whatever they want.  When that happens; they, exercising their “rights”, infringe upon the “rights” you have chosen for yourself.  The “free love” of the 1960’s did not bring liberty, but resulted in a breakdown of morality and a lack of respect for authority.

America, maybe now more than at any time since the War Between the States, is lost in the fog.  We will not find our way until we find our compasses.  The compasses are not lost, we are.  The Bible and the Constitution sit on the shelves gathering dust while we have a front row seat for the decline of the nation which has been the World’s best hope of liberty.  We were a light on a hill and we did offer the American Dream to many who could only wonder what it felt like to be “free”.  But, for some reason, the vary guides which established us have been rejected and are now openly ridiculed.  God will not be mocked!  Liberty will not survive anarchy!  It appears that either we have been or are being turned over, by God, to our own evil devices.  We will reap His judgment as a nation and as a people. 

CULTURAL TRADITIONS - Honor Killings in America

CULTURAL TRADITIONS

Honor Killings in America

As more Islamists come to America, more of their cultural traditions are being manifested in the public forum.  Many of these traditions bring with them concepts that are as foreign to many citizens as is their traditional mode of female attire.  America has always been a “melting pot”, probably more so than just about any nation on Earth.  Apart from the Native American tribes, everyone else has roots to other nations. 

It is to be expected that with the immigrants from each part of the earth, many customs and traditions accompany them on their relocation.  This mixture has resulted in a wide variety of races, religions and backgrounds. 

For the past 300 years America has offered something that has attracted people from every corner of the Earth and it was not always a decision to immigrate for the sake of an easier life.  In the beginning, coming to America involved considerable risk; but offered considerable opportunity for reward.  Also, in the beginning, it was not always the purpose in obtaining greater freedom in reaching the New World.  The colonies were under the rule of England until 1776.

There were so many who desired to relocate to America that it became necessary to establish quotas in order to have an organized and controlled influx.  This country has welcomed the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, the brilliant and the ignorant.  We held out open arms to the Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Protestants, Catholics and even the atheists; as well as people from any other religious background.  With the arrival of multitudes from various races and religions, there naturally formed areas where those who were like-minded would gather.

In general, there seems to have been a common motive for most immigrants - the desire to have a better life and future for themselves and their families.  To those around the world, “the American dream” offered opportunity in a variety of areas.  Regardless of one’s origin, they were free to enjoy rights only dreamed about back home.  One right has existed as the main purpose for many coming to America, the right to freely exercise the practice and worship of their chosen religion. 

Once here, whether your religion blended into the community or attracted attention, you were free to practice it as long as your enjoyment of your right did not infringe on the right of others to enjoy their rights.  This has contributed to cultural and religious clusters, whether a neighborhood or a community.  Traditionally, as those who practice a religion gained dominance in particular areas, it became more convenient and easier to not infringe on the rights of non-believers.  This held true to a great extent until recently when Muslims have not only desired to freely enjoy their religious practice, but have gone beyond that to expecting to also operate under their prior legal system. 

America has worked as the “Great Experiment” partly because one thing was commonly accepted by the masses of immigrants.  When you get to America, you become an American.  You are free to enjoy your family traditions, bring aspects of your culture with you and practice your religion of choice; but, you were always expected to assimilate into the American culture in public and to operate under the laws of our nation.  It is the operation of the country, under this framework, which provides equal opportunity for anyone who works hard.  It is this opportunity which was the attraction. 

When one group not only brings with them their traditions, culture and religion; but also expects to be treated under laws different than everyone else, the system begins to break down.  America was founded as a nation of laws.  Within the practice of your religion, follow those laws and you will also enjoy the protection of those who enforce those laws.  Expect special rules and unequal enforcement of the laws and society will fracture. 

Not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs.  Probably not all Muslims expect to live and operate in America under Sharia law, but many do.  We have been instructed that Sharia is just a part of the Muslim religion and we cannot deny them their Sharia practices.  It could be said that Sharia practice is only the desire of extremist Muslims; but, nevertheless it is here and gaining ground in various parts of our country. 

There are communities where city councils are dominated by Muslims.  There are areas where the police have been instructed to respect Sharia law when dealing with Muslims.  There have been instances where non-Muslims have been detained by police because they were doing something in a Muslim dominated area which Muslims find offensive but would otherwise be normal in the rest of the country.  One state recently passed a law forbidding the judges in that state from considering Sharia law when rendering their legal opinions and judgments.  That law was struck down by a court as being unconstitutional.  As the extremist Muslims have achieved victory and continue to gain ground in their self-proclaimed “right” to operate under Sharia law and be exempt from the laws of America, some of their practices have become more public and newsworthy. 

Americans have been exposed to stories in the news that many of us never expected to take place within our borders.  One of the most extreme situations falls under the concept of “honor killings”.  To most of us, that is an oxymoron.  As most of the “honor killings” take place with members of a family murdering another member of the same family, we have difficulty finding how any civilized people or religion could consider that a matter of honor. 

The following are summaries of some recent “honor killings” which took place in America:

·       A father of two teenage girls shot both of them to death in the back seat of his taxi.  He believed that they were causing dishonor to him and his family because they had become too westernized.  They were dressing like typical teenage girls and at least one had found a boyfriend. 

·       The father of a grown daughter used his vehicle to run over his daughter and a female friend of his daughter in the parking lot of a store.  His daughter died of her injuries.  Her crime was also that of acting like an American.

·       A father, his son and his second wife have recently been accused of murdering the first wife along with his three daughters.  They appear to have been murdered by being drowned and then placed in a car and driving the car into a lake to make it appear that they had drowned in an auto accident.  The father believed the daughters were not respecting his strict religious beliefs and the first wife had failed to provide him with a son. 

·       A current story reports that a mother has been arrested for the beating of her daughter.  The news states that the police are still investigating and there may be further arrests of other family members.  When arrested, the mother was at the hospital to see her daughter.  It is reported that she admitted to participating in the beating and understood that it was against the law in America, but that it was not against Sharia law.  The beating was the result of the grown daughter finding a boyfriend and talking to him on the phone.  When the police informed the mother that she would be arrested, she was shocked and did not believe she had done anything wrong.  Additional police were called to help subdue her in order to place her under arrest.

·       There are others just as unbelievable as these.

In our society, not only do most of us not see any form of honor in the murder of your own child, but we cannot even comprehend how this could be an acceptable practice by those who claim to be Americans. 

Make no mistake when you hear someone promoting Sharia as an acceptable addition to Muslims living in our country.  These practices and beliefs are opposed to the American way of life and our legal system.  This extends beyond, by a considerable amount, a cultural difference or tradition.  Americans are fascinated by various cultures and traditions, but repulsed by aspects of Sharia and their so-called “honor killings”.