Based on the past, I have been fairly quiet lately as far as posting blog entries about political issues. It is not that there was nothing to write about; more accurately, it is that there was so much to write about that it literally became somewhat overwhelming. Well, I opened a new bottle of ink and am ready to write again.
1. Remember "Climategate" from last year? This is where the British scientist was humiliated when some email account was hacked and he and others were exposed for fabricating statements and stretching the findings in order to further support the hoax of man-made global warming.
Well, he is back in the news. It seems that after being embarrassed and demoted, he has found Jesus (not literally). After just one year of additional data added to what he had last year, he now finds that the "true" evidence is over-whelming that man-made global warming is in fact a reality that must be solved.
A year ago, his data did not support this strong of a conclusion and the 15 years of data showed a 90% probability. But, adding year 16 to the data, now the average is 95%, which is the needed minimum for scientists to label a theory as a fact. I find one thing that does not seem to add up right. If you have 15 years with a 90% average of certainty and you add one more year to the mix and it raises the average certainty to the desired 95%; that 16th year would have needed 170% of all measures to agree in order to change the average by 5% for the prior 15 years. Basically, that is impossible as you cannot have more than all - 100% in any year.
So, in order to redeem his name in his circle of experts and to attempt to regain his position of authority at his university, he has toed the line.
2. The more that we observe BO and what he does concerning the Middle East, not counting the things he is doing and saying behind the scenes; I say that he needs a good dose of Grecian Formula. His Muslim roots are showing. It is time to add a level of disguise to his true intentions.
BO has issued an ultimatum to Israel. He has told them that they have 30 days to accept the terms he laid out in his speech a couple weeks ago. You remember, that is when he laid the foundation for a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. He is demanding that Israel go back to the 1967 borders and begin negotiations from that point. He is also in favor of the new nation for Palestine having control of all of Jerusalem.
BO's plan would weaken the defense capability of Israel and prohibit Jews from visiting the Temple Mount. If Israel does not surrender to this plan, BO claims that the U.S. will not be able to help them during the U.N. meeting in September, as the rest of the united world calls for a nation of Palestine at the expense of Israel.
Israel is being set up by BO and his administration, as well as many other countries, to find themselves in a no-win situation. He seems to believe that they will have no choice but to agree to do whatever he has decided is best for them. There is just one problem, Israel seems to have a mind of their own and appears to believe that they are in best position to determine what is best for them and they do not like the BO plan.
When they refuse these terms, the U.N. will unite against Israel and use the same excuse as was used to attack Libya - "the need to protect". This will be the battle cry for the anti-Semites as they come against the Jews and support the Arabs.
Speaking of Arabs, did you hear that the Muslim Brotherhood has a new name? They are now the "Freedom and Justice Party". That makes me feel much better.
3. Do you remember a couple years ago when Washington was wanting to crack down on AZ and it's open gun laws. They claimed that because of our laws, people were buying guns in AZ and sending them to the drug gangs in Mexico. There, these guns were being used for violence. I wondered at the time just how it was that BO knew that the guns in Mexico came from AZ. Well, it turns out that he was right, the bad guys were openly buying guns in AZ and transporting them across the border. But, now we know the rest of the story. Our dear BO administration, through the BATF, was setting up the sells and fully aware of the illegal buyers and watching them take the guns to Mexico. They made no attempt to stop this crime, for some reason. Now, they are under investigation by Congress because one of these guns was used to kill a border patrol agent.
4. I have previously written about our national debt. If you read those posts, you might remember that I compared the debt ($14.3 trillion) to a wall of $1 bills, end-to-end, circling the earth at the equator. This wall of dollars would be 20 feet tall. Yes, it would stretch all the way around the world and be a wall of flat dollar bills that would be 20 feet tall! The current budget being debated in Congress, which was proposed by BO, has an additional deficit which would add another two feet to the top of that wall.
5. I have also written about monetizing the debt. That is where the Federal Reserve prints money and uses it to buy Treasury Bonds. The Fed refers to this policy as QE-quantitative easing. We have had QE1 and at the end of this month QE2 will end. QE2 was where the Fed bought about $600 billion of our debt over the past several months. They say that they are not going to do that again, right now.
China is trying to sell off a lot of the debt that they previously purchased from us as they appear to believe that it may become worthless or at least be paid back with highly inflated dollars. Actually, there is a very good reason for them to worry about this. When a country gets in debt like we are (actually, no country has ever been in debt like we are), with Washington continuing on an out-of-control spending spree and adding more debt each year (lately at least one trillion each year); there are two very possible results: first is that we would default on paying our debt; and second, we would intentionally inflate our dollar so that we would pay back the lenders with worth-less paper money. The later appears to be the path we are taking.
Every time the Fed prints more money and adds it to the money supply, our dollar loses part of its value. Recently, they have been printing gross amounts of extra cash which was used for QE2.
If the Fed sticks to their statement of no QE3 and when China has decided that they want out from being our lender, what will happen? Our government is frequently selling bonds in order to get more money to spend. Remember, a bond is just an IOU. They cannot control their spending and stay within a budget where expenses do not exceed income, so they print another bond and sell it to an investor. When the Fed and China are not going to buy more bonds, who will the investor be for our next bonds? As with any financial risk, the more the risk, the higher the interest rate. In order for the government to sell bonds, they will have to offer them at higher rates of return for the investor.
So, our choices are: 1. default on our national debt; 2. stop spending more than we take in; 3. sell more bonds at higher interest rates. We will not take door number 1 and default and Washington is addicted to spending money they do not have so we can rule out door number 2. That means that we will issue and sell more bonds, increasing our national debt and pay the investors a higher rate in order to attract those with the money.
When this happens and these bonds have higher interest rates, that will have an effect on mortgage interest rates in the U.S. The record low rates we have been experiencing recently will be gone and in order for the secondary mortgage market to be able to attract investors in mortgage backed securities, they will have to have a higher interest rate for a better return. If mortgage rates do not go up, investors will tend to buy Treasury bonds with the higher rate of return. So, either mortgage lending will dry up or rates will go up. When the rates go up, fewer potential buyers will be able to buy a home and it will be harder to refinance your existing house. This will further slow down the real estate industry, will slow down home construction, and will cause another wave of foreclosures. These will tend to further drive down market values.
About the only thing that will delay the above from happening real soon is if the Fed changes their mind and does QE3. This act will tend to hold mortgage rates down but will be an additional pumping of extra cash into the money supply, causing further inflation. This move will also only delay the inevitable. At some point in time, the Fed will not buy more debt, rates will go up and the economy will be further repressed. On this part, our choice is now or later. With BO looking to get re-elected, I would expect there to be some arm-twisting with the Fed. BO can write off four more years if interest rates jump up, causing a more depressed economy, killing the housing industry and driving more into unemployment. So, our economy will probably be artificially propped up for a brief time so that BO has a chance of winning in 2012. But, after the election, as the saying goes, "all hell will break lose".
In the near future, we will either have higher interest rates hurting the economy; or we will continue with a very weak economy and have accelerated inflation, making everything cost more.
6. This good news leads to my last part. Take heed! Do what you can to prepare your family for an economy that will continue a downward spiral. We have all witnessed higher food prices. Gas prices have been much higher this year. BO promised that under his plan, "utility rates would necessarily skyrocket." We are heading into harder times. Nationally and internationally, there are signs that could lead to food shortages. We are flooding our farm lands and those will not return to production next year. Other countries are already having food shortages. If you can, stock up on non-perishable food. Try to have a supply of items you may need in case of an emergency.
If the U.S. got to a point where there were some food shortages, there would be a run on the stores and riots in the streets. During a situation like that, you should not expect the government to be there to supply your needs. There will be many with no extra food on hand. If you have more than enough for you and your family, then you will be able to help others who are desperate.
What's the worst that can happen? You did not do what was needed to prepare. What's the best that can happen? You prepared and we averted an emergency, setting you up to have food that you can eat without making a trip to the store to buy higher priced items.
One last thing - Who is in charge?
God is in charge! That does not mean that we will not suffer hard times, but it does mean that He will help you. Be a light on a hill for those in darkness. Many in our country have forsaken God. If things get really bad, some will be seeking a source of hope. Be ready to point them to God.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Steal My Soul
Steal My Soul
Lord, how will you create the day, the one which steals my soul away?
And how will it begin and end, the day like no other has been?
Will sleep rapture away from me, as light draws to eternity?
Or will I wake and sense you near, with a peace over all my fear?
Will angels catch me when I fall? Will others know I’m gone at all?
Before the dawn will I see, the eyes of Glory at peace with me?
This special day, how will it be when the Son of Man calls for me?
Mike Foil
May 29, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A Solution
"A Solution"
(This article is a response to a comment made following the recent CFP article "The Shaft")
I appreciate your response to the article on CFP "The Shaft". If you read the other comments, both before and after you posted your response; you will see, as I am sure you are well aware, that your frustration is felt by many. As I was not sure whether your challenge was issued to me personally or in general, I accepted it as a personal challenge to offer some solutions. I thought about your question, "What can we do about it?"
Last night I sat down and began writing a follow-up article, "The Solution". As the problem has many aspects, so the answer will also need to have many approaches and directions of attack. I began by introducing one problem and then offered what I felt like was a solution to that problem. I have said before that we must be willing to endure short-term pain in order to have long-term gain. The solutions to many of our problems will probably make the economy worse before it gets better; but, in the long run, if we did the hard things now, we would be better off. Be mindful that I am well aware of my shortcomings and limited understanding of these issues, but on the other hand, some of this is just old fashioned, common sense.
As I wrote about several issues I began to notice a trend, which is exactly the opposite of what you are looking for. Our problems are with our government and in order to have fast solutions to some old problems, it would take our government taking action against what it has previously done. Our frustration is largely due to this dilemma. We keep trying to send people to Washington to fix the problems and we continue to see nothing being fixed.
It seems that we the people have two choices; either we can continue to attempt to make change through elections and keeping pressure on those elected, or we can take to the streets.
The first option is peaceable and the widely accepted method of making change. Promote candidates who are conservative and not just Republican. Find some who are not professional politicians and actually want to go get the job done and then come back home. Under normal circumstances, where there is a difference of opinion as to the direction our country should take, this has worked in the past. But, we are not under normal circumstances, in my opinion. This method of change is slow and unsure, based on past history. We have to ask the question; do we, as a nation, even have that much time before much of this mess becomes irreversible. Maybe not!
The other obvious option is for the people to rise up and take the government back, by force, if necessary. This clearly has many drawbacks as it would likely either result in a civil war with extensive bloodshed in the streets of our cities or those who actually take the first steps out of the shadows to rise up would quickly be put back down through force or arrest. Who knows, it may actually take some patriots sacrificing themselves as the first targets of the Leftist government in order to generate a widespread uprising. This option is not only very bloody but also very likely to fail. Our Founding Fathers warned us against such a situation as we find ourselves. They told us that if and when our government ceases to act as our representatives and our servants (our creation) and instead acts as our lords and kings who dictate how we are to behave; that the time would come when the people need to take back the government and establish, once again, a system of the people, by the people and for the people.
The trillion dollar question is whether or not the People have reached the point where they believe the only solution is to retake the headship by force? As the Left has been at war with America much longer than we were awake to their actions, the Right is far behind. The Left has been successful at indoctrination of the youth for decades and establishing a broad base of voters who feel entitled to other people's money. I believe that there is a portion of our population who is willing and able to take up arms against the socialists (and worse) who are quickly destroying our country. But, I also believe that they are in a great minority as far as action and not just words or emotions. Is there a similar minority as there was for the first Revolution, approximately one third of the population? I doubt it because most people are not educated to the point of understanding the harm being done and how it will not be corrected by the next election.
The Left had all their ducks in a row and were ready to hit the water when the perfect storm arrived. This all came about with the election of Obama. That is why they were ready to hit us with multi-thousand page bills that were too urgent to have time to read. These bills were not written after the last presidential election, they were ready to go. The first two years of Obama were like a whirlwind of bills, with the Left intentionally not giving us a chance to see what they were doing or have time to respond or catch our breath.
There are other things that we can do without having to wait for another one or two elections and hoping things improve and also without taking to the streets. If you are not familiar with the articles written by Publius Huldah and posted on Canada Free Press, take the time to read them. They are excellent documents of constitutional education. Especially, take notice of the articles on Nullification. The following link will take you to the archive of her articles:
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/members/1/Publius%20Huldah/
Maybe option three is, instead of physical warfare or just waiting for elections, we educate the population. We win the battle of ideas and work on our states to each nullify the unconstitutional laws and regulations being dumped on us from Washington. We double-down on the pressure on our Representatives and Senators to actually make progress in reducing the size of government and reign in spending. We take to the streets, not in violence, but in promotion of solid conservative candidates for an election that is just next year. The 2012 election can further strengthen the conservative position in the House, can gain Republican control of the Senate and I pray will dethrone Obama and replace him with a servant of the people who loves the Constitution.
(This article is a response to a comment made following the recent CFP article "The Shaft")
I appreciate your response to the article on CFP "The Shaft". If you read the other comments, both before and after you posted your response; you will see, as I am sure you are well aware, that your frustration is felt by many. As I was not sure whether your challenge was issued to me personally or in general, I accepted it as a personal challenge to offer some solutions. I thought about your question, "What can we do about it?"
Last night I sat down and began writing a follow-up article, "The Solution". As the problem has many aspects, so the answer will also need to have many approaches and directions of attack. I began by introducing one problem and then offered what I felt like was a solution to that problem. I have said before that we must be willing to endure short-term pain in order to have long-term gain. The solutions to many of our problems will probably make the economy worse before it gets better; but, in the long run, if we did the hard things now, we would be better off. Be mindful that I am well aware of my shortcomings and limited understanding of these issues, but on the other hand, some of this is just old fashioned, common sense.
As I wrote about several issues I began to notice a trend, which is exactly the opposite of what you are looking for. Our problems are with our government and in order to have fast solutions to some old problems, it would take our government taking action against what it has previously done. Our frustration is largely due to this dilemma. We keep trying to send people to Washington to fix the problems and we continue to see nothing being fixed.
It seems that we the people have two choices; either we can continue to attempt to make change through elections and keeping pressure on those elected, or we can take to the streets.
The first option is peaceable and the widely accepted method of making change. Promote candidates who are conservative and not just Republican. Find some who are not professional politicians and actually want to go get the job done and then come back home. Under normal circumstances, where there is a difference of opinion as to the direction our country should take, this has worked in the past. But, we are not under normal circumstances, in my opinion. This method of change is slow and unsure, based on past history. We have to ask the question; do we, as a nation, even have that much time before much of this mess becomes irreversible. Maybe not!
The other obvious option is for the people to rise up and take the government back, by force, if necessary. This clearly has many drawbacks as it would likely either result in a civil war with extensive bloodshed in the streets of our cities or those who actually take the first steps out of the shadows to rise up would quickly be put back down through force or arrest. Who knows, it may actually take some patriots sacrificing themselves as the first targets of the Leftist government in order to generate a widespread uprising. This option is not only very bloody but also very likely to fail. Our Founding Fathers warned us against such a situation as we find ourselves. They told us that if and when our government ceases to act as our representatives and our servants (our creation) and instead acts as our lords and kings who dictate how we are to behave; that the time would come when the people need to take back the government and establish, once again, a system of the people, by the people and for the people.
The trillion dollar question is whether or not the People have reached the point where they believe the only solution is to retake the headship by force? As the Left has been at war with America much longer than we were awake to their actions, the Right is far behind. The Left has been successful at indoctrination of the youth for decades and establishing a broad base of voters who feel entitled to other people's money. I believe that there is a portion of our population who is willing and able to take up arms against the socialists (and worse) who are quickly destroying our country. But, I also believe that they are in a great minority as far as action and not just words or emotions. Is there a similar minority as there was for the first Revolution, approximately one third of the population? I doubt it because most people are not educated to the point of understanding the harm being done and how it will not be corrected by the next election.
The Left had all their ducks in a row and were ready to hit the water when the perfect storm arrived. This all came about with the election of Obama. That is why they were ready to hit us with multi-thousand page bills that were too urgent to have time to read. These bills were not written after the last presidential election, they were ready to go. The first two years of Obama were like a whirlwind of bills, with the Left intentionally not giving us a chance to see what they were doing or have time to respond or catch our breath.
There are other things that we can do without having to wait for another one or two elections and hoping things improve and also without taking to the streets. If you are not familiar with the articles written by Publius Huldah and posted on Canada Free Press, take the time to read them. They are excellent documents of constitutional education. Especially, take notice of the articles on Nullification. The following link will take you to the archive of her articles:
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/members/1/Publius%20Huldah/
Maybe option three is, instead of physical warfare or just waiting for elections, we educate the population. We win the battle of ideas and work on our states to each nullify the unconstitutional laws and regulations being dumped on us from Washington. We double-down on the pressure on our Representatives and Senators to actually make progress in reducing the size of government and reign in spending. We take to the streets, not in violence, but in promotion of solid conservative candidates for an election that is just next year. The 2012 election can further strengthen the conservative position in the House, can gain Republican control of the Senate and I pray will dethrone Obama and replace him with a servant of the people who loves the Constitution.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
The Shaft
THE SHAFT
One republican politician after another, when asked “Will you vote to raise the debt ceiling?” has the same answer, “I am against raising the debt ceiling, unless we get something major as a concession.”
So, what is a major concession, in their eyes? To many it consists of the same prize, a balanced budget amendment (BBA). “If we could attach the vote on raising the debt ceiling to a vote on the BBA, then I would vote in favor.”
Let’s weigh what we give up for what we get. First, what we give up. We will concede that the debt ceiling will be raised. Currently the U.S. debt limit is $14,294,000,000,000 ($14.294 trillion, or $46,000 per citizen). It was last increased from $12.394 trillion effective in February 2010. At the time of this writing (the evening of 4/22/2011), the current national debt, subject to this limit, stands at $14.245+ trillion. During the next few days we will reach the debt limit.
For every $1 trillion added in debt each citizen will owe an additional $3,200. For some additional perspective, our current national debt number, measured in seconds, would equal approximately 450,000 years. If our current debt were dollars laid flat, end-to-end around the equator, it would make a wall twenty feet tall. Yet, Washington does not appear to grasp the severity of the situation.
So, for each of us to assume an additional chunk of national debt, what will we be receiving in return? Our gift will be a “proposed amendment to the Constitution”. That’s right, we would not be unwrapping an actual law prohibiting the government from spending more than the national revenue; no, we would find in our package a proposed amendment being sent to all of the states for possible ratification. Yippee!
In order for a proposed amendment to become part of the Constitution, three fourths of the states (38 of the 50) must vote to ratify. So, even if the legislature were to pass this measure and it be sent to the states, there is a chance that it would not receive the required number of state approvals. Typically, the states are given seven years to complete the debate and voting for ratification.
If at least 38 states ratified the BBA and it took seven years to do so, the new amendment would take effect the beginning of the second fiscal year following its ratification. If it went to the states for consideration this summer and took seven years to ratify. The BBA would take effect in the fall of 2019. If all of the required states ratified the BBA within the first six months, it would still not take effect until the fall of 2017 (according to the wording of the document – House Joint Resolution – HJR).
There are actually multiple versions of a BBA existing as HJR. The two with the most support are HJR-1 (130 cosponsors) and HJR-2 (219 cosponsors). The two are very similar with one major difference; HJR-1 would limit outlays to 20% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product, which is the total market value of all goods and services produced in the country during one year).
Ignoring the potential for 38 states to fail to ratify the BBA and also the fact that it would not take effect for several years, at the very earliest; what would the BBA accomplish if it did become part of the U.S. Constitution? In my opinion, almost nothing!
The BBA is full of loopholes that the government will use to exempt one year after another from falling under its limits. For instance:
Section 1 – the budget must be balanced unless 60% of the legislature votes to exceed revenue,
Section 2 – the debt limit shall not be increased unless 60% of the legislature votes to raise the debt limit,
Section 4 – bills to increase revenue (taxes) require a majority of each house,
Section 5 – Congress may waive the BBA in any year in which we are at war or when the U.S. is engaged in a military conflict causing an imminent and serious military threat to national security,
Section 7 – total receipts used in the BBA do not include amounts from borrowing and total outlays do not include repayment of debt.
In summary, we will be taking the very serious step of changing our Constitution by adding an amendment that will rarely take effect in any given year. If Congress does not vote to increase spending or raise the debt limit in some year, they can exempt that year due to a serious military conflict somewhere in the world. If the President cannot get Congress to vote to authorize increased spending in one year, all he needs to do is send our troops off to fight and get the spending increased through the back door.
We would still need to continue to borrow and increase our debt due to Section 7. Our government will spend what it brings in through revenue and need to borrow money to pay the debt.
We are trading a present increase in national debt for a potential limit in spending years from now. Note that even if the BBA had been in effect for the past ten years, we would have been exempt from its limits each and every year due to military conflict.
Do not be fooled. The BBA is not the solution to our fiscal problems. If our representatives were serious about stopping the out-of-control spending, they could do it without an amendment to the Constitution. Spending bills must originate in the House. If the republicans in the House would draw a line in the sand and refuse to cross it, they could control spending. No increase in the debt limit and no bill to raise taxes and no spending bill can ever become law without republican approval in the House.
One republican politician after another, when asked “Will you vote to raise the debt ceiling?” has the same answer, “I am against raising the debt ceiling, unless we get something major as a concession.”
So, what is a major concession, in their eyes? To many it consists of the same prize, a balanced budget amendment (BBA). “If we could attach the vote on raising the debt ceiling to a vote on the BBA, then I would vote in favor.”
Let’s weigh what we give up for what we get. First, what we give up. We will concede that the debt ceiling will be raised. Currently the U.S. debt limit is $14,294,000,000,000 ($14.294 trillion, or $46,000 per citizen). It was last increased from $12.394 trillion effective in February 2010. At the time of this writing (the evening of 4/22/2011), the current national debt, subject to this limit, stands at $14.245+ trillion. During the next few days we will reach the debt limit.
For every $1 trillion added in debt each citizen will owe an additional $3,200. For some additional perspective, our current national debt number, measured in seconds, would equal approximately 450,000 years. If our current debt were dollars laid flat, end-to-end around the equator, it would make a wall twenty feet tall. Yet, Washington does not appear to grasp the severity of the situation.
So, for each of us to assume an additional chunk of national debt, what will we be receiving in return? Our gift will be a “proposed amendment to the Constitution”. That’s right, we would not be unwrapping an actual law prohibiting the government from spending more than the national revenue; no, we would find in our package a proposed amendment being sent to all of the states for possible ratification. Yippee!
In order for a proposed amendment to become part of the Constitution, three fourths of the states (38 of the 50) must vote to ratify. So, even if the legislature were to pass this measure and it be sent to the states, there is a chance that it would not receive the required number of state approvals. Typically, the states are given seven years to complete the debate and voting for ratification.
If at least 38 states ratified the BBA and it took seven years to do so, the new amendment would take effect the beginning of the second fiscal year following its ratification. If it went to the states for consideration this summer and took seven years to ratify. The BBA would take effect in the fall of 2019. If all of the required states ratified the BBA within the first six months, it would still not take effect until the fall of 2017 (according to the wording of the document – House Joint Resolution – HJR).
There are actually multiple versions of a BBA existing as HJR. The two with the most support are HJR-1 (130 cosponsors) and HJR-2 (219 cosponsors). The two are very similar with one major difference; HJR-1 would limit outlays to 20% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product, which is the total market value of all goods and services produced in the country during one year).
Ignoring the potential for 38 states to fail to ratify the BBA and also the fact that it would not take effect for several years, at the very earliest; what would the BBA accomplish if it did become part of the U.S. Constitution? In my opinion, almost nothing!
The BBA is full of loopholes that the government will use to exempt one year after another from falling under its limits. For instance:
Section 1 – the budget must be balanced unless 60% of the legislature votes to exceed revenue,
Section 2 – the debt limit shall not be increased unless 60% of the legislature votes to raise the debt limit,
Section 4 – bills to increase revenue (taxes) require a majority of each house,
Section 5 – Congress may waive the BBA in any year in which we are at war or when the U.S. is engaged in a military conflict causing an imminent and serious military threat to national security,
Section 7 – total receipts used in the BBA do not include amounts from borrowing and total outlays do not include repayment of debt.
In summary, we will be taking the very serious step of changing our Constitution by adding an amendment that will rarely take effect in any given year. If Congress does not vote to increase spending or raise the debt limit in some year, they can exempt that year due to a serious military conflict somewhere in the world. If the President cannot get Congress to vote to authorize increased spending in one year, all he needs to do is send our troops off to fight and get the spending increased through the back door.
We would still need to continue to borrow and increase our debt due to Section 7. Our government will spend what it brings in through revenue and need to borrow money to pay the debt.
We are trading a present increase in national debt for a potential limit in spending years from now. Note that even if the BBA had been in effect for the past ten years, we would have been exempt from its limits each and every year due to military conflict.
Do not be fooled. The BBA is not the solution to our fiscal problems. If our representatives were serious about stopping the out-of-control spending, they could do it without an amendment to the Constitution. Spending bills must originate in the House. If the republicans in the House would draw a line in the sand and refuse to cross it, they could control spending. No increase in the debt limit and no bill to raise taxes and no spending bill can ever become law without republican approval in the House.
Monday, March 14, 2011
WDJS
What did Jesus see?
After nearly being whipped to death, after the lose of blood and the agony of physical pain, after having the crown of thorns pressed upon his head, after being forced to carry a heavy beam through the streets, following the ridicule and rejection; Jesus was thrown down onto the ground, across the same beam.
Even though He knew what to expect, still the adrenaline was pumping through his veins. The Roman soldiers were pulling on his arms and preparing to pound steel spikes through his wrists. Others were pulling on his garment and striping him bare. Some in the crowd were still yelling at Him, cursing and laughing. Others, including his mother, were crying.
The prior night’s prayer was over and the thoughts had progressed past whether or not there might be another way to accomplish the Father’s will. Resolve had not only set in, it was steadfast!
Lying there on his bloody back, which had the skin ripped open and splinters poking the raw wounds; Jesus, through eyes crusted with dry blood and salty sweat, looked upward. Immediately in front of him were the images of Roman faces, some with whiskers, all showing an indifference to His situation. To them, He was just another guilty Jew that they had to deal with before they got off duty.
Beyond their empty eyes were the helmets of dull metal and leather straps. He glimpsed the hammer being passed from one soldier to another holding down his right hand. At the exact time of hearing the metal-on-metal contact, a pain shot through his whole body and a cry rang out from his dry mouth.
After several seconds of wincing, His eyes opened again, this time to see beyond the bounds of Earth. The soldiers and crowds were a blur to His sight. The sounds were fading into the background of His conscience. Now, He was looking into the Heavens where His Father waited for Him and the angels were ministering to Him. The God-man repeated the thought, “Thy will be done!”
After nearly being whipped to death, after the lose of blood and the agony of physical pain, after having the crown of thorns pressed upon his head, after being forced to carry a heavy beam through the streets, following the ridicule and rejection; Jesus was thrown down onto the ground, across the same beam.
Even though He knew what to expect, still the adrenaline was pumping through his veins. The Roman soldiers were pulling on his arms and preparing to pound steel spikes through his wrists. Others were pulling on his garment and striping him bare. Some in the crowd were still yelling at Him, cursing and laughing. Others, including his mother, were crying.
The prior night’s prayer was over and the thoughts had progressed past whether or not there might be another way to accomplish the Father’s will. Resolve had not only set in, it was steadfast!
Lying there on his bloody back, which had the skin ripped open and splinters poking the raw wounds; Jesus, through eyes crusted with dry blood and salty sweat, looked upward. Immediately in front of him were the images of Roman faces, some with whiskers, all showing an indifference to His situation. To them, He was just another guilty Jew that they had to deal with before they got off duty.
Beyond their empty eyes were the helmets of dull metal and leather straps. He glimpsed the hammer being passed from one soldier to another holding down his right hand. At the exact time of hearing the metal-on-metal contact, a pain shot through his whole body and a cry rang out from his dry mouth.
After several seconds of wincing, His eyes opened again, this time to see beyond the bounds of Earth. The soldiers and crowds were a blur to His sight. The sounds were fading into the background of His conscience. Now, He was looking into the Heavens where His Father waited for Him and the angels were ministering to Him. The God-man repeated the thought, “Thy will be done!”
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Beware of the Balanced Budget Amendment
Currently, there are multiple Joint Resolutions in the House - 112th Congress, for a balanced budget amendment. There appears to be two which have the most support, H.J.Res.1 with 109 cosponsors and H.J.Res.2 with 178 cosponsors. They are basically the same but do have a few minor differences. HJR1 includes a Section about limiting spending to 20% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product - the sum of the production for the country in a given year) unless 2/3 vote for increase. #2 does not have this section. #1 requires 3/5 vote to increase taxes where #2 requires a majority. Other sections appear to be identical.
Many are pushing to get one of these through Congress and passed onto the States for ratification. Although it all sounds good, let's make sure we are doing the right thing before we add to the Constitution. Here are some of my concerns:
1. Most all sections of the amendment can be made of no effect by a vote of Congress. So, as tricky (or deceitful) as they have shown themselves to be, I would imagine they would find some way around the amendment when they wanted.
2. HJR1 limits spending to 1/5 of GDP. Just as the official inflation rate has been manipulated to look better by excluding fuel and food prices, and as the unemployment rate is massaged by excluding those not receiving jobless benefits, I would expect some sort of manipulation in the GDP number, also.
3. It still allows for a 3/5 vote to increase the debt limit. So, there is nothing that would stop Washington from borrowing more.
4. The President is to submit a balanced budget based on proposed revenues. We already see gross distortion in estimating income and expenses for the things they want.
5. The whole amendment can be waived in any year when war is declared, or when there is a military conflict which causes a serious military threat to national security. So, if this had been in effect for the past nine years, it could have been waived each year as we are at war. It would have done nothing to control the excess spending we are experiencing.
6. The real kicker - the revenue and outlay numbers for the "balanced budget" do not include limiting the borrowing of more money and do not include the payments on debt (interest). So, we could and probably would continually go further in debt each year; in fact, we would almost have to because they would be doing a budget where all tax revenue is spent on budget items, exclusive of the debt repayment. So, where do we get the money to pay the interest and principle for the debt? We would have to borrow it.
7. None of this would take effect until at least 2017. So, from now until then, if ratified, spending could continue out of control. Debt would continue to be increased.
I would love limits on government spending but for some reason, I do not trust this to actually work or do us any good for the next few years. It does not seem right to add an Amendment to the Constitution which is full of exceptions and built-in over-ride allowances. What we need are people filling the seats who will do the job we sent them there to do. Stop spending, NOW.
Congress controls the purse strings. There is nothing to stop them from demanding a balanced budget, right now. If getting control of spending is something they believe is good, "just do it!" NO waiting and NO excuses!
Many are pushing to get one of these through Congress and passed onto the States for ratification. Although it all sounds good, let's make sure we are doing the right thing before we add to the Constitution. Here are some of my concerns:
1. Most all sections of the amendment can be made of no effect by a vote of Congress. So, as tricky (or deceitful) as they have shown themselves to be, I would imagine they would find some way around the amendment when they wanted.
2. HJR1 limits spending to 1/5 of GDP. Just as the official inflation rate has been manipulated to look better by excluding fuel and food prices, and as the unemployment rate is massaged by excluding those not receiving jobless benefits, I would expect some sort of manipulation in the GDP number, also.
3. It still allows for a 3/5 vote to increase the debt limit. So, there is nothing that would stop Washington from borrowing more.
4. The President is to submit a balanced budget based on proposed revenues. We already see gross distortion in estimating income and expenses for the things they want.
5. The whole amendment can be waived in any year when war is declared, or when there is a military conflict which causes a serious military threat to national security. So, if this had been in effect for the past nine years, it could have been waived each year as we are at war. It would have done nothing to control the excess spending we are experiencing.
6. The real kicker - the revenue and outlay numbers for the "balanced budget" do not include limiting the borrowing of more money and do not include the payments on debt (interest). So, we could and probably would continually go further in debt each year; in fact, we would almost have to because they would be doing a budget where all tax revenue is spent on budget items, exclusive of the debt repayment. So, where do we get the money to pay the interest and principle for the debt? We would have to borrow it.
7. None of this would take effect until at least 2017. So, from now until then, if ratified, spending could continue out of control. Debt would continue to be increased.
I would love limits on government spending but for some reason, I do not trust this to actually work or do us any good for the next few years. It does not seem right to add an Amendment to the Constitution which is full of exceptions and built-in over-ride allowances. What we need are people filling the seats who will do the job we sent them there to do. Stop spending, NOW.
Congress controls the purse strings. There is nothing to stop them from demanding a balanced budget, right now. If getting control of spending is something they believe is good, "just do it!" NO waiting and NO excuses!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Garbage Can - Again
It has been quite awhile since the last "Garbage Can" posting so I thought I should do a catch-up. For those of you who do not know, these are conglomerations of various subjects (all political) rolled up neatly into one blog article.
1. The USA is fast approaching it's authorized debt limit of $14.3 trillion ($14,300,000,000,000.). Within the next few weeks one of two things will happen: either the government will have to stop borrowing more money and begin to control their spending, or Congress will have to vote to increase the debt ceiling. Who can be the first to guess which one will happen? tic toc tic toc - buzz!! We have a winner! Yes, Congress will vote to authorize additional borrowing. When President Obama gave his State of the Union (SOTU) speech last week, he talked about the necessity to control spending and get our debt under control. The very next day, the administration (that is Obama's branch of government) sent to Congress their next budget. This budget projects an additional $1.5 trillion deficit for this coming fiscal year. Guess what BO used as the title for the budget - "A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America's Promise". Makes me glad they did not decide to go the irresponsible route. BO also predicts, in the budget, that OUR debt will reach $20 trillion by the year 2015 and will equal the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020. He is definitely on track to reach his 2015 goal. He has mastered the art of massive spending, tripling and quadrupling what President Bush did in his record breaking, highest year; his first two years in office.
2. Congress (the "R"s and many of the Tea Party darlings and even a handful of "D"s) has proposed a Balanced Budget Amendment. This is referred to as "House Joint Resolution 1" (HJR1). What they are considering is passing in the House and Senate this resolution and presenting it to the States for ratification. If enough States ratify the amendment within seven years, it would become another Amendment to the Constitution. When you take a look at what it is called - "Balanced Budget Amendment", you have got to agree that it sounds mighty good. But, I have to be just a tad pessimistic. Basically, every aspect that would restrict government spending has a built-in loop-hole that can be used, by them, to exempt one year after another. It limits spending to 20% of GDP, unless they vote (66%) to override that in certain years. Expenses cannot exceed income, unless they vote (60%) different. The national debt cannot be increased, unless they vote (60%) to do so. The annual budget submitted by the President mush show that the projected income will cover the planned expenses (we all know they would not fudge the projected income numbers). Bills to increase taxes would have to pass by 60% of the votes.
Here is one I really like: Congress may waive (50% vote) having to abide by the amendment in any year war is declared or there is a serious military situation. (So, if we had this as an existing amendment, it would have been waived for the last nine years while we were at war and all the spending we are dealing with could have still happened.)
Now the real kicker: when calculating the projected income and planned expenses, which have to be balanced, these numbers do not include additional borrowing or payments of interest on our debt. So, it will establish a system whereby all projected income will be spent on expenses, without paying interest. This will mean that each year we would, at least, have to borrow an amount equal to our interest expense. So, it builds in an ever-increasing national debt into the system. The 2010 budget included $164 billion to pay interest (over $500 per person in the country), which was 18% more than the prior year. Since that time we have borrowed more money (trillions) so this number will continue to increase each year. And, as far as this amendment being the solution to our current, out-of-control spending in Washington, even if passed and ratified, it would not take effect before 2016 at the earliest.
3. New York is one of the examples of states that is in serious trouble, financially. NYC is just as bad. Still, Mayor Bloomberg just spent $100,000 of New York taxpayer money to send undercover investigators to Arizona to see if they could buy guns at a gun show. Money well spent - they came, we sold them guns. Now, for some reason, he is claiming some big victory for this venture. AZ is exposed! Individuals sold other individuals guns without a background check - Oh My Gosh! Just one problem with the "big" announcement, it is all legal.
4. Cannot forget about Egypt. The President of Egypt (Mubarak) announced that he will not seek, nor would he accept his parties nomination for re-election next September. This follows over a week of mass protesting in the streets of the main cities. There are so many people protesting that it amounts to 1 out of every 250+-, yes, about 0.3 percent of the population. It is another case of the squeaky wheel. The masses are demanding he leave, now. The country is in crisis - looting, robbery, burning, injuries, over 100 dead... Whether or not this began as an uprising by the real people in Egypt, it is being co-opted by Muslim extremists. They have learned what the Left in this country knows, "Never let a good crisis go to waste!"
The Muslim Brotherhood has muscled themselves into position as a "player" when the seat of government becomes vacant, which will probably be very soon. "Brotherhood" what can I find wrong with that? Well, they are already issuing a statement to get the Egyptian people ready for a war with Israel. The are a very radical faction of Muslims who vow that Jihad (holy war) is their way to get things done. They want Sharia Law to govern the world. If Egypt falls into radical control, they will control the Suez Canal, through which much of the oil headed to Western nations passes. Most of the rest passes through a narrow channel that can easily be controlled by Iran. If you think gas prices are high now, just wait.
4. Egypt is not the only Arab country in turmoil. Today, the King of Jordan dismissed his government. His country has also been experiencing protests over the past few days. These two countries (Jordan and Egypt) have been among the few in the region who have had decent relationships with the USA. The Middle East is in a state of transition, several nations are on fire and the direction they appear to be headed is even more radical. These two countries are the only border nations with Israel which have not been actively seeking the destruction of the Jews.
5. The BO administration keeps telling us the economy is in recovery mode. This, while unemployment remains well above 9%, gas prices are on their way up, food prices are increasing, many states are facing bankruptcy, banks prepare to release some of their "shadow inventory" of foreclosed homes onto the market, personal bankruptcies are high, more foreclosures are planned for this year, and our Federal Government cannot stop borrowing and spending more and more money. In spite of what they tell us, it appears that everything they are doing is geared at bringing our economy to it's knees.
Now the good news...
God is still in control!
Sleep well!
1. The USA is fast approaching it's authorized debt limit of $14.3 trillion ($14,300,000,000,000.). Within the next few weeks one of two things will happen: either the government will have to stop borrowing more money and begin to control their spending, or Congress will have to vote to increase the debt ceiling. Who can be the first to guess which one will happen? tic toc tic toc - buzz!! We have a winner! Yes, Congress will vote to authorize additional borrowing. When President Obama gave his State of the Union (SOTU) speech last week, he talked about the necessity to control spending and get our debt under control. The very next day, the administration (that is Obama's branch of government) sent to Congress their next budget. This budget projects an additional $1.5 trillion deficit for this coming fiscal year. Guess what BO used as the title for the budget - "A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America's Promise". Makes me glad they did not decide to go the irresponsible route. BO also predicts, in the budget, that OUR debt will reach $20 trillion by the year 2015 and will equal the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020. He is definitely on track to reach his 2015 goal. He has mastered the art of massive spending, tripling and quadrupling what President Bush did in his record breaking, highest year; his first two years in office.
2. Congress (the "R"s and many of the Tea Party darlings and even a handful of "D"s) has proposed a Balanced Budget Amendment. This is referred to as "House Joint Resolution 1" (HJR1). What they are considering is passing in the House and Senate this resolution and presenting it to the States for ratification. If enough States ratify the amendment within seven years, it would become another Amendment to the Constitution. When you take a look at what it is called - "Balanced Budget Amendment", you have got to agree that it sounds mighty good. But, I have to be just a tad pessimistic. Basically, every aspect that would restrict government spending has a built-in loop-hole that can be used, by them, to exempt one year after another. It limits spending to 20% of GDP, unless they vote (66%) to override that in certain years. Expenses cannot exceed income, unless they vote (60%) different. The national debt cannot be increased, unless they vote (60%) to do so. The annual budget submitted by the President mush show that the projected income will cover the planned expenses (we all know they would not fudge the projected income numbers). Bills to increase taxes would have to pass by 60% of the votes.
Here is one I really like: Congress may waive (50% vote) having to abide by the amendment in any year war is declared or there is a serious military situation. (So, if we had this as an existing amendment, it would have been waived for the last nine years while we were at war and all the spending we are dealing with could have still happened.)
Now the real kicker: when calculating the projected income and planned expenses, which have to be balanced, these numbers do not include additional borrowing or payments of interest on our debt. So, it will establish a system whereby all projected income will be spent on expenses, without paying interest. This will mean that each year we would, at least, have to borrow an amount equal to our interest expense. So, it builds in an ever-increasing national debt into the system. The 2010 budget included $164 billion to pay interest (over $500 per person in the country), which was 18% more than the prior year. Since that time we have borrowed more money (trillions) so this number will continue to increase each year. And, as far as this amendment being the solution to our current, out-of-control spending in Washington, even if passed and ratified, it would not take effect before 2016 at the earliest.
3. New York is one of the examples of states that is in serious trouble, financially. NYC is just as bad. Still, Mayor Bloomberg just spent $100,000 of New York taxpayer money to send undercover investigators to Arizona to see if they could buy guns at a gun show. Money well spent - they came, we sold them guns. Now, for some reason, he is claiming some big victory for this venture. AZ is exposed! Individuals sold other individuals guns without a background check - Oh My Gosh! Just one problem with the "big" announcement, it is all legal.
4. Cannot forget about Egypt. The President of Egypt (Mubarak) announced that he will not seek, nor would he accept his parties nomination for re-election next September. This follows over a week of mass protesting in the streets of the main cities. There are so many people protesting that it amounts to 1 out of every 250+-, yes, about 0.3 percent of the population. It is another case of the squeaky wheel. The masses are demanding he leave, now. The country is in crisis - looting, robbery, burning, injuries, over 100 dead... Whether or not this began as an uprising by the real people in Egypt, it is being co-opted by Muslim extremists. They have learned what the Left in this country knows, "Never let a good crisis go to waste!"
The Muslim Brotherhood has muscled themselves into position as a "player" when the seat of government becomes vacant, which will probably be very soon. "Brotherhood" what can I find wrong with that? Well, they are already issuing a statement to get the Egyptian people ready for a war with Israel. The are a very radical faction of Muslims who vow that Jihad (holy war) is their way to get things done. They want Sharia Law to govern the world. If Egypt falls into radical control, they will control the Suez Canal, through which much of the oil headed to Western nations passes. Most of the rest passes through a narrow channel that can easily be controlled by Iran. If you think gas prices are high now, just wait.
4. Egypt is not the only Arab country in turmoil. Today, the King of Jordan dismissed his government. His country has also been experiencing protests over the past few days. These two countries (Jordan and Egypt) have been among the few in the region who have had decent relationships with the USA. The Middle East is in a state of transition, several nations are on fire and the direction they appear to be headed is even more radical. These two countries are the only border nations with Israel which have not been actively seeking the destruction of the Jews.
5. The BO administration keeps telling us the economy is in recovery mode. This, while unemployment remains well above 9%, gas prices are on their way up, food prices are increasing, many states are facing bankruptcy, banks prepare to release some of their "shadow inventory" of foreclosed homes onto the market, personal bankruptcies are high, more foreclosures are planned for this year, and our Federal Government cannot stop borrowing and spending more and more money. In spite of what they tell us, it appears that everything they are doing is geared at bringing our economy to it's knees.
Now the good news...
God is still in control!
Sleep well!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Things I Value(d)
As I sit here thinking about what was important to me at various stages of life, I have to smile. I will give you a brief summary of the progression of my early "things of value":
Some of my very first memories include a homemade, wooden stool (painted white) with two steps. This was specially made for me (around age 2-3) by my Dad so that I could reach the sink in the bathroom. We had the stool for several years. Why was a stool valuable? Well, first of all, it was mine. Second, it was important for many years as I was too short to reach very many things. It also came in handy when I was around seven. I stood on that stool to wash dishes. Yes, I did wash dishes around that age. Without that stool I would not have been at that sink washing dishes exactly when one of Santa's helpers peeked in the kitchen window to see who was being good. Luckily, it was me!
When I was around three we rented a house while our next home was being built. We had to rent because my Dad had sold our prior house (the "flat-top house") all of a sudden. It seems that if a good deal came along, it was a sign to sell. While in the rent house, the two things I remember being important had to do with the next-door neighbors, the Whipples. Pete and Bryan Whipple were close in age to my brother and I. We spent quite a bit of time climbing in their apple trees, playing in the drainage ditch next to their home, and watching the hogs get slopped. The other thing was when Mrs. Whipple invited me in to have fresh, homemade bread. As they had their own cows behind the house, the bread was served with fresh cow milk - which never quite seemed as good or safe as the milk that came from the milkman.
During the years when I was between four and eight, we lived in "the 2-story house". We moved into this new house when it was just Mom, Dad, Ron (pronounced Wonnie-my older brother), Sharon (pronounced Shawon-my younger sister) and me. During these years two more sisters (Carolyn and Paula) were born and we will not get into whether or not either or both of them were "accidents". It was while we lived in this house that I was rewarded with the exceptional Christmas that was mentioned above.
These years were what I would refer to now, as a boy's dream. Ron and I had freedom to explore the general area, which included an old pit which had been used as a dump many years before and had old, rusty cars plus the normal items a boy would enjoy from the local dump (such as bottles to shoot with our BB guns). There was a small rodeo grounds nearby where Albert and I attempted to extinguish a small forest fire with our army shovels and canteens full of water. (No, we did not set the fire.)
To the south of our small subdivision (two square blocks) was the city park which consisted of a pavilion with it's large stone fireplace and the town's little league baseball park. The baseball field was dirt, it had no bleachers and above-ground dug-outs. People sat around the home and visitor sides on the hoods of their cars. If something really good happened, such as getting someone out at first, several horns would honk several times. I still remember that George's mom was really loud, all of the time - always finding something to scream about. It was at this field that Ron set the homerun record for Show Low. It was not surprising that he could do this because, from my perspective, he was a little short from being a giant for his age. Even though there were only two and a half years between us, there were several feet of elevation. He grew tall fast and I grew short slowly. Our Dad was the manager of the Cardinals so that is where Ron played and I was batboy and score keeper. Don't get me wrong, I did get chances to play. Whenever one of these opportunities came along, it made me more than a little nervous. I was afraid of the ball and consequently played right field - the safest place to put me if the team wanted to win. (At that time teams kept score and there were winners and losers.) Rarely did anyone hit the ball to right field, so I could stand out there in my over-sized white and red uniform and pray. Yes, I did have to bat. But I had an advantage that helped hide the fact that my eyes were usually closed while the pitch was being delivered. (If you close your eyes, the ball won't hit you in the face.) I was so short that my strike zone was only about six inches tall. In little league, the pitchers were not that good and I typically walked without having to ever swing the bat.
We each had our friends - one of mine I mentioned above - Albert. He lived across the street and was the son of the doctor in town. Albert and I got along pretty good. Maybe it was because we each had our own issues. His issue was that he had a wooden leg. There is not a lot of things that make a boy more curious than a friend's leg that comes off at night.
There were five other boys near the ages of Ron and I in the neighborhood. We would ride bikes, shoot our guns, explore the woods to the west and north, hunt for pottery and arrowheads, shoot frogs in the cow pond, catch polliwogs and watch them grow into frogs in jars on our carport. We had dogs and cats that had litters in the wood shed behind the house. We made ant farms in large jars and had the usual, small turtles which only lasted a few weeks after Easter. We dug foxholes and made tunnels in the field to the east of our home. We camped out in the lean-to we made from small pine trees and explored the two old log cabins in the forest. We were in Cub Scouts together, where we learned about how far a skunk can squirt.
There were no paved streets and when you crashed on your bike, you went home with cinders in your knees and elbows. This happened to me several times as my bike was a 24 incher and that is a little taller than I was at the time. In order to get started, I pulled my bike behind my Dad's green and black Dodge pickup and climbed on the bumper. It being a boy's bike, stopping was a delicate matter and required planning - or crashing.
We had all we could need and want. BB guns with a "block" of shells in the top of the coat closet, bows and arrows (both were fiberglass bows - Ron's was 35# and mine 25# - with $0.25 arrows from A&A Sporting Goods), pocket knives, army shovels, canteens, bikes, a hatchet, Ron's electric train set, and a bunch of friends. As I have previously written about the cross-bows Dad made for us, the afternoon naps for a wide-awake boy, and the daily enemas for a brief period, we will not go into those again, here.
I will bring up one story that includes the doctor mentioned above. One day Sharon stuck a BB up her nose. (Don't ask me why.) When Mom could not remove it, she loaded Sharon, Ron and I into our Ford station wagon and we headed to the doctor's office. Mom took Sharon inside and Ron and I waited in the car. (At that time you were not concerned about every passerby calling the cops on the parents due to leaving a kid in the car unattended.) As boys will get bored, somehow or another, by the time they returned to the car, a cinder had been placed in one of Ron's ears. Mom was excited that it was such a convenient situation, being still in front of the doctor's office - so excited that, as I remember, I was on the receiving end of a spanking when we got home. I still do not understand why I was to blame without a through investigation.
Sorry girls, but I don't really remember when Mom and Dad brought Carolyn and Paula home, but I do remember when they came home one night after trading in the '55 Ford blue station wagon for a "57 Ford blue and white station wagon. I also remember that around the time I was seven or eight, we got our first TV - black and white (of course). It had a converter box that sat on top which was used to fine tune the signal for the one station we received from Tucson, off of Porter Mountain, by way of the TV antenna mounted to the top of the house. I remember the crank telephone being replaced with a dial phone. Things were good!
Then, again, Dad came home one day after receiving another good offer. We were moving, but only to a house to rent in the same neighborhood.
Now, I have trouble remembering names of people, but our five friends were: Bobby Knox, Albert Armstrong, Kent Bunger, Mike Birdno, and Jimmy Welkner. Mrs. Birdno and Mrs. Welkner each had Den Mother duties at different times. It seems that the "short-term" memory is a factor but the long-term memories are priceless.
Some of my very first memories include a homemade, wooden stool (painted white) with two steps. This was specially made for me (around age 2-3) by my Dad so that I could reach the sink in the bathroom. We had the stool for several years. Why was a stool valuable? Well, first of all, it was mine. Second, it was important for many years as I was too short to reach very many things. It also came in handy when I was around seven. I stood on that stool to wash dishes. Yes, I did wash dishes around that age. Without that stool I would not have been at that sink washing dishes exactly when one of Santa's helpers peeked in the kitchen window to see who was being good. Luckily, it was me!
When I was around three we rented a house while our next home was being built. We had to rent because my Dad had sold our prior house (the "flat-top house") all of a sudden. It seems that if a good deal came along, it was a sign to sell. While in the rent house, the two things I remember being important had to do with the next-door neighbors, the Whipples. Pete and Bryan Whipple were close in age to my brother and I. We spent quite a bit of time climbing in their apple trees, playing in the drainage ditch next to their home, and watching the hogs get slopped. The other thing was when Mrs. Whipple invited me in to have fresh, homemade bread. As they had their own cows behind the house, the bread was served with fresh cow milk - which never quite seemed as good or safe as the milk that came from the milkman.
During the years when I was between four and eight, we lived in "the 2-story house". We moved into this new house when it was just Mom, Dad, Ron (pronounced Wonnie-my older brother), Sharon (pronounced Shawon-my younger sister) and me. During these years two more sisters (Carolyn and Paula) were born and we will not get into whether or not either or both of them were "accidents". It was while we lived in this house that I was rewarded with the exceptional Christmas that was mentioned above.
These years were what I would refer to now, as a boy's dream. Ron and I had freedom to explore the general area, which included an old pit which had been used as a dump many years before and had old, rusty cars plus the normal items a boy would enjoy from the local dump (such as bottles to shoot with our BB guns). There was a small rodeo grounds nearby where Albert and I attempted to extinguish a small forest fire with our army shovels and canteens full of water. (No, we did not set the fire.)
To the south of our small subdivision (two square blocks) was the city park which consisted of a pavilion with it's large stone fireplace and the town's little league baseball park. The baseball field was dirt, it had no bleachers and above-ground dug-outs. People sat around the home and visitor sides on the hoods of their cars. If something really good happened, such as getting someone out at first, several horns would honk several times. I still remember that George's mom was really loud, all of the time - always finding something to scream about. It was at this field that Ron set the homerun record for Show Low. It was not surprising that he could do this because, from my perspective, he was a little short from being a giant for his age. Even though there were only two and a half years between us, there were several feet of elevation. He grew tall fast and I grew short slowly. Our Dad was the manager of the Cardinals so that is where Ron played and I was batboy and score keeper. Don't get me wrong, I did get chances to play. Whenever one of these opportunities came along, it made me more than a little nervous. I was afraid of the ball and consequently played right field - the safest place to put me if the team wanted to win. (At that time teams kept score and there were winners and losers.) Rarely did anyone hit the ball to right field, so I could stand out there in my over-sized white and red uniform and pray. Yes, I did have to bat. But I had an advantage that helped hide the fact that my eyes were usually closed while the pitch was being delivered. (If you close your eyes, the ball won't hit you in the face.) I was so short that my strike zone was only about six inches tall. In little league, the pitchers were not that good and I typically walked without having to ever swing the bat.
We each had our friends - one of mine I mentioned above - Albert. He lived across the street and was the son of the doctor in town. Albert and I got along pretty good. Maybe it was because we each had our own issues. His issue was that he had a wooden leg. There is not a lot of things that make a boy more curious than a friend's leg that comes off at night.
There were five other boys near the ages of Ron and I in the neighborhood. We would ride bikes, shoot our guns, explore the woods to the west and north, hunt for pottery and arrowheads, shoot frogs in the cow pond, catch polliwogs and watch them grow into frogs in jars on our carport. We had dogs and cats that had litters in the wood shed behind the house. We made ant farms in large jars and had the usual, small turtles which only lasted a few weeks after Easter. We dug foxholes and made tunnels in the field to the east of our home. We camped out in the lean-to we made from small pine trees and explored the two old log cabins in the forest. We were in Cub Scouts together, where we learned about how far a skunk can squirt.
There were no paved streets and when you crashed on your bike, you went home with cinders in your knees and elbows. This happened to me several times as my bike was a 24 incher and that is a little taller than I was at the time. In order to get started, I pulled my bike behind my Dad's green and black Dodge pickup and climbed on the bumper. It being a boy's bike, stopping was a delicate matter and required planning - or crashing.
We had all we could need and want. BB guns with a "block" of shells in the top of the coat closet, bows and arrows (both were fiberglass bows - Ron's was 35# and mine 25# - with $0.25 arrows from A&A Sporting Goods), pocket knives, army shovels, canteens, bikes, a hatchet, Ron's electric train set, and a bunch of friends. As I have previously written about the cross-bows Dad made for us, the afternoon naps for a wide-awake boy, and the daily enemas for a brief period, we will not go into those again, here.
I will bring up one story that includes the doctor mentioned above. One day Sharon stuck a BB up her nose. (Don't ask me why.) When Mom could not remove it, she loaded Sharon, Ron and I into our Ford station wagon and we headed to the doctor's office. Mom took Sharon inside and Ron and I waited in the car. (At that time you were not concerned about every passerby calling the cops on the parents due to leaving a kid in the car unattended.) As boys will get bored, somehow or another, by the time they returned to the car, a cinder had been placed in one of Ron's ears. Mom was excited that it was such a convenient situation, being still in front of the doctor's office - so excited that, as I remember, I was on the receiving end of a spanking when we got home. I still do not understand why I was to blame without a through investigation.
Sorry girls, but I don't really remember when Mom and Dad brought Carolyn and Paula home, but I do remember when they came home one night after trading in the '55 Ford blue station wagon for a "57 Ford blue and white station wagon. I also remember that around the time I was seven or eight, we got our first TV - black and white (of course). It had a converter box that sat on top which was used to fine tune the signal for the one station we received from Tucson, off of Porter Mountain, by way of the TV antenna mounted to the top of the house. I remember the crank telephone being replaced with a dial phone. Things were good!
Then, again, Dad came home one day after receiving another good offer. We were moving, but only to a house to rent in the same neighborhood.
Now, I have trouble remembering names of people, but our five friends were: Bobby Knox, Albert Armstrong, Kent Bunger, Mike Birdno, and Jimmy Welkner. Mrs. Birdno and Mrs. Welkner each had Den Mother duties at different times. It seems that the "short-term" memory is a factor but the long-term memories are priceless.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Does God Know Your Name?
Where do you stand in your walk with the Lord? Are you one of the people in line to hear, (Mat 25:23 KJV) "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Or, do you feel like you might just be in the line that hears, (Mat 7:23 KJV) "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
From the context, it appears that the later group is surprised to hear that they are not being welcomed into Eternity with God. These people not only express shock, but back up their appeal with an argument claiming to have worked miracles in the name of Jesus. The preceding verse reads as follows: (Mat 7:22 KJV) "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Jesus responds by telling them that He never knew them.
It is passages such as this that should get our attention. I, for one, believe that many "Christian" churches in America have a large number of members sitting in their pews, believing they are "saved", when they are in great danger of spending eternity in hell.
In the past week I have been asked by two different believers, "Do you think I am going to heaven?" and "Do you ever question whether or not you are a Christian?" Maybe you have recently thought something similar. Maybe you have had your thoughts turned to eternity and forced yourself to refocus due to the uncomfortable feeling that followed a sense of insecurity. For a person to actually verbalize one of the above questions is a positive step in the right direction. Too many will not let themselves go that far.
If I may make a general statement (acknowledging beforehand that it does not apply to everyone), Americans have grown complacent. Is it that we are lazy, ignorant, deceived or just plain indifferent? The following is a definition of complacency, from Dictionary.com: "Self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies."
The glove fits many of our hands perfectly! Many Americans, regardless of the size of their bank accounts, feel fairly self-sufficient. This past week, I was talking to a minister who is leaving this week to work in Columbia. He told me that in areas of Colombia, where the people are generally poor and have no financial security, they are praying all of the time. They do not feel self-sufficient at all. They openly acknowledge their need and helplessness, accompanied with a dependence upon God.
This scenario seems to fit a situation where Jesus might come up with a parable to make His point, without actually stating the obvious. Between the poor Colombians who are praying always to God for deliverance and the comparatively rich Americans who rarely pray because they basically have all of their needs met by their own labors or the programs of government, which will be first in the kingdom of God? To make sure you are not confused, the answer to the parable is not for you to become poor and destitute on purpose.
In America, most of us who want them, have jobs with decent incomes. We have the ability to drive to the grocery store and buy what we want for supper. In fact, we can purchase the food our family will need for the next week and store it in our refrigerators. In those cases where Americans are unable to buy the groceries for their family, our government will step in and supply free food. If you lose your job, our government will step up and write you weekly checks. If you are sick, our government will see to it that you get necessary health care.
Many within our borders have become worshipers of government and it's welfare programs. It is Washington D.C. and the politicians who usurped a position where they have become idols in the hearts and minds of many citizens.
We, as a nation, are complacent, in general. We are too self-sufficient and self-satisfied. Why pray for needs when we have none? This brings up the last part of the above definition, "...unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies." I am no expert on theology, but from my perspective it would appear that many of us fall into the category of "unknowns" to God. We sit in our usual seats in churches on Sunday mornings, halfway listening to the sermon and halfway considering where to go for lunch (worried that if the pastor talks too long, the Baptists will get to the restaurants before we can). We stand and sing along with the songs, maybe even raise a hand while we sing. The bold ones will say an occasional "amen". We quickly shake a few hands in the front of the church and head to the parking lot, not to think about any of this again until it is time to set the alarm clock on the next Saturday evening.
When this pattern becomes our "Christian" experience, do we really believe that we will hear "well done, good and faithful servant..."? Somehow, I doubt that is in our future. These "beat-the-Baptists-to-lunch-Christians" would probably all (each and every one) claim to be a believer in Jesus. They, at some point in their lives, may have "walked the aisle" in response to an "invitation" and repeated "the prayer". After which, they were assured that they were now Christians, on their way to heaven, "once-saved-always-saved".
Sitting in the same churches, many times, are found those who will hear "well done" and "enter thou into the joy of the Lord". What is the difference? Where is the line drawn that divides the two groups? Theologians could preach a series of sermons on this subject, but let me offer a summary opinion. When we turn to God and accept Jesus, acknowledging our belief that He is the Son of God who died on the cross in order to offer Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, He comes as a package deal.
The complacent believer accepts Jesus as their personal Saviour and uses Him as their "get out of hell free" card. On the other side of the line are those who have fallen in love with Jesus the Saviour and welcomed Him as Jesus the Lord. The trouble is that Jesus is not divisible, you either have Him as Saviour and Lord or you do not have Him at all.
What does it mean for Jesus to be our Lord? Maybe it would help to think of Him as our King. If you lived in an earthly kingdom, you would be expected to obey the king and serve him however he commanded. So, with Jesus our King and Lord, he expects us to follow Him as he leads each of us.
Two other verses from the same passage as quoted above (one just preceding and one just following) are as follows: (Mat 7:21 KJV) "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Mat 7:24 KJV) "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock".
If you believe in Jesus and have accepted Him as your Saviour, it is time to accept the rest of Him - LORD! "All hail King Jesus"! We will never regret anything that we gave up, lost, or sacrificed in this life in order to be invited to step across the welcome mat into heaven.
If you are one who has been thinking a question about your place in eternity, good! That shows that the Holy Spirit is working on you. Yield to the Spirit of God and submit your life to serve Him. That is where you will find assurance.
From the context, it appears that the later group is surprised to hear that they are not being welcomed into Eternity with God. These people not only express shock, but back up their appeal with an argument claiming to have worked miracles in the name of Jesus. The preceding verse reads as follows: (Mat 7:22 KJV) "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Jesus responds by telling them that He never knew them.
It is passages such as this that should get our attention. I, for one, believe that many "Christian" churches in America have a large number of members sitting in their pews, believing they are "saved", when they are in great danger of spending eternity in hell.
In the past week I have been asked by two different believers, "Do you think I am going to heaven?" and "Do you ever question whether or not you are a Christian?" Maybe you have recently thought something similar. Maybe you have had your thoughts turned to eternity and forced yourself to refocus due to the uncomfortable feeling that followed a sense of insecurity. For a person to actually verbalize one of the above questions is a positive step in the right direction. Too many will not let themselves go that far.
If I may make a general statement (acknowledging beforehand that it does not apply to everyone), Americans have grown complacent. Is it that we are lazy, ignorant, deceived or just plain indifferent? The following is a definition of complacency, from Dictionary.com: "Self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies."
The glove fits many of our hands perfectly! Many Americans, regardless of the size of their bank accounts, feel fairly self-sufficient. This past week, I was talking to a minister who is leaving this week to work in Columbia. He told me that in areas of Colombia, where the people are generally poor and have no financial security, they are praying all of the time. They do not feel self-sufficient at all. They openly acknowledge their need and helplessness, accompanied with a dependence upon God.
This scenario seems to fit a situation where Jesus might come up with a parable to make His point, without actually stating the obvious. Between the poor Colombians who are praying always to God for deliverance and the comparatively rich Americans who rarely pray because they basically have all of their needs met by their own labors or the programs of government, which will be first in the kingdom of God? To make sure you are not confused, the answer to the parable is not for you to become poor and destitute on purpose.
In America, most of us who want them, have jobs with decent incomes. We have the ability to drive to the grocery store and buy what we want for supper. In fact, we can purchase the food our family will need for the next week and store it in our refrigerators. In those cases where Americans are unable to buy the groceries for their family, our government will step in and supply free food. If you lose your job, our government will step up and write you weekly checks. If you are sick, our government will see to it that you get necessary health care.
Many within our borders have become worshipers of government and it's welfare programs. It is Washington D.C. and the politicians who usurped a position where they have become idols in the hearts and minds of many citizens.
We, as a nation, are complacent, in general. We are too self-sufficient and self-satisfied. Why pray for needs when we have none? This brings up the last part of the above definition, "...unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies." I am no expert on theology, but from my perspective it would appear that many of us fall into the category of "unknowns" to God. We sit in our usual seats in churches on Sunday mornings, halfway listening to the sermon and halfway considering where to go for lunch (worried that if the pastor talks too long, the Baptists will get to the restaurants before we can). We stand and sing along with the songs, maybe even raise a hand while we sing. The bold ones will say an occasional "amen". We quickly shake a few hands in the front of the church and head to the parking lot, not to think about any of this again until it is time to set the alarm clock on the next Saturday evening.
When this pattern becomes our "Christian" experience, do we really believe that we will hear "well done, good and faithful servant..."? Somehow, I doubt that is in our future. These "beat-the-Baptists-to-lunch-Christians" would probably all (each and every one) claim to be a believer in Jesus. They, at some point in their lives, may have "walked the aisle" in response to an "invitation" and repeated "the prayer". After which, they were assured that they were now Christians, on their way to heaven, "once-saved-always-saved".
Sitting in the same churches, many times, are found those who will hear "well done" and "enter thou into the joy of the Lord". What is the difference? Where is the line drawn that divides the two groups? Theologians could preach a series of sermons on this subject, but let me offer a summary opinion. When we turn to God and accept Jesus, acknowledging our belief that He is the Son of God who died on the cross in order to offer Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, He comes as a package deal.
The complacent believer accepts Jesus as their personal Saviour and uses Him as their "get out of hell free" card. On the other side of the line are those who have fallen in love with Jesus the Saviour and welcomed Him as Jesus the Lord. The trouble is that Jesus is not divisible, you either have Him as Saviour and Lord or you do not have Him at all.
What does it mean for Jesus to be our Lord? Maybe it would help to think of Him as our King. If you lived in an earthly kingdom, you would be expected to obey the king and serve him however he commanded. So, with Jesus our King and Lord, he expects us to follow Him as he leads each of us.
Two other verses from the same passage as quoted above (one just preceding and one just following) are as follows: (Mat 7:21 KJV) "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Mat 7:24 KJV) "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock".
If you believe in Jesus and have accepted Him as your Saviour, it is time to accept the rest of Him - LORD! "All hail King Jesus"! We will never regret anything that we gave up, lost, or sacrificed in this life in order to be invited to step across the welcome mat into heaven.
If you are one who has been thinking a question about your place in eternity, good! That shows that the Holy Spirit is working on you. Yield to the Spirit of God and submit your life to serve Him. That is where you will find assurance.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
How Much Do YOU Owe?
If you like numbers, you will love this posting... This is a snapshot of the United States and where we stand, financially.
For the first time ever, last Friday, on 12/31/2010, the U.S. national debt passed $14,000,000,000,000. That is $14 Trillion. With a U.S. population of 310,586,200; the debt equates to $45,000 per person - every man, women and child in the country. If you are paying attention to current events in Washington, one issue is an upcoming vote as to increasing the debt ceiling for the government. Currently, the law limits the national debt to $14,294,000,000,000. That is expected to be reached in three months.
The national debt was at $5,774,546,000,000 eleven years ago. That is a 143% increase since 2000. We increased the debt by one trillion dollars since June 1, 2010. Three years ago it was at $9,249,122,300,000. That is a 50% increase in three years.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects the debt to be $16,971,879,000,000 in four years. But, based on the current rate of spending, it would be $22,037,502,000,000.
The official number of unemployed is 15,450,000. The is 5% of the total population and 10% of workforce. We have 20,500,000 government employees. Almost 45,000,000 are on food stamps.
The GDP - Gross Domestic Product stands at $14,672,543,000,000. The debt to GDP ratio is 95.45%. As the economy continues to suffer and the government spending remains out of control, before long, our debt will surpass our GDP. This means that the U.S. will owe more than the gross amount of everything produced in the country for a year.
Currently, $4.4 trillion of our debt is held by foreign countries. The estimated unfunded liabilities for the country add up to $112 trillion, which equates to $1,012,648 per U.S. taxpayer (110,587,000 taxpayers).
This is not just a national problem. Many of our States are facing a similar crisis. Many foreign countries are also in a financial crisis. The price of a barrel of oil has just passed $90 and is heading up. The average price of a gallon of gas is over $3.00 and rising. The price of gold has passed $1,400 per ounce and silver has passed $30 per ounce.
Now for a little perspective. The current national debt of $14,005,232,800,000 amounts to a stack of dollar bills, laid flat and end-to-end, extending around the world at the equator, being 229 inches or 19 feet high.
A million seconds is 12 days. A billion seconds is 32 years. A trillion seconds is 32,000 years. If we stopped borrowing and began paying back our debt, interest free (which it is not), one dollar per second; it would take 448,000 years.
(Some of the above numbers were found on USdebtclock.org)
For the first time ever, last Friday, on 12/31/2010, the U.S. national debt passed $14,000,000,000,000. That is $14 Trillion. With a U.S. population of 310,586,200; the debt equates to $45,000 per person - every man, women and child in the country. If you are paying attention to current events in Washington, one issue is an upcoming vote as to increasing the debt ceiling for the government. Currently, the law limits the national debt to $14,294,000,000,000. That is expected to be reached in three months.
The national debt was at $5,774,546,000,000 eleven years ago. That is a 143% increase since 2000. We increased the debt by one trillion dollars since June 1, 2010. Three years ago it was at $9,249,122,300,000. That is a 50% increase in three years.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects the debt to be $16,971,879,000,000 in four years. But, based on the current rate of spending, it would be $22,037,502,000,000.
The official number of unemployed is 15,450,000. The is 5% of the total population and 10% of workforce. We have 20,500,000 government employees. Almost 45,000,000 are on food stamps.
The GDP - Gross Domestic Product stands at $14,672,543,000,000. The debt to GDP ratio is 95.45%. As the economy continues to suffer and the government spending remains out of control, before long, our debt will surpass our GDP. This means that the U.S. will owe more than the gross amount of everything produced in the country for a year.
Currently, $4.4 trillion of our debt is held by foreign countries. The estimated unfunded liabilities for the country add up to $112 trillion, which equates to $1,012,648 per U.S. taxpayer (110,587,000 taxpayers).
This is not just a national problem. Many of our States are facing a similar crisis. Many foreign countries are also in a financial crisis. The price of a barrel of oil has just passed $90 and is heading up. The average price of a gallon of gas is over $3.00 and rising. The price of gold has passed $1,400 per ounce and silver has passed $30 per ounce.
Now for a little perspective. The current national debt of $14,005,232,800,000 amounts to a stack of dollar bills, laid flat and end-to-end, extending around the world at the equator, being 229 inches or 19 feet high.
A million seconds is 12 days. A billion seconds is 32 years. A trillion seconds is 32,000 years. If we stopped borrowing and began paying back our debt, interest free (which it is not), one dollar per second; it would take 448,000 years.
(Some of the above numbers were found on USdebtclock.org)
Paul Revere - My Story
Paul Revere – My Story
Introduction
For some reason, Boston just seemed to attract controversy. It is not that we wanted to be the center of attention, knowing it would bring the wrath of the King upon the people and our little town. But, nonetheless, trouble continued to find us and the center of a revolution is where we found ourselves.
I, though politically minded, was just a businessman. Living right in Boston in a three-story home, I operated a silversmith shop that was only a couple blocks from my home. Being somewhat of a perfectionist, my wares were sought after and I was able to make a decent living for the support of my family.
It may have been that my business being prosperous was one of the reasons I envisioned the unlimited potential that existed in the Colonies if only His Majesty would allow us to pursue our dreams less hindered. And, it was not just me, many of my friends and acquaintances were also growing restless concerning a steady barrage of regulations, restrictions and taxes being levied on the Colonies by England.
Several of us would routinely meet over a meal or drink and the subject would inevitably resort to politics and liberty. Most of us; including John Hancock (merchant), John Adams (lawyer), Benjamin Edes (journalist), and Sam Adams (a natural leader of protesters); were middle-class people. We, and many others at the time, were experiencing a surge in the concept of independence for the Colonies. This wave was spreading throughout most of the thirteen regions and the restlessness was growing among the common people.
Don’t get me wrong, everyone was not in agreement as to the direction that should be taken. Looking back, it seems that around one third wanted to leave well-enough alone and let England rule. Another third were so busy surviving and tending to their business that they chose to remain neutral in the controversy. It was just that the last third of us were keen on the idea of an experiment in freedom that was foreign to the modern world.
There were many “what ifs” running through our minds and bouncing across the tavern tables. What if the Colonies were to break away from England and declare their independence? What if we actually chose our leaders and they were responsible to answer back to us? What if England took all of her soldiers home? What if the burden of taxation was lifted and the level of regulation was gone so that we could prosper according to our ability and hard work?
It seemed that the more we shared ideas, the bigger the dreams became. Once the fire of freedom is set in the hearts of men, there is no happy retreat back into any form of slavery. The amazing thing is that if the King had recognized the direction England’s subjects were taking, he could have compromised and both sides could have been content. It was not a hatred of England that drove us, but a desire for freedom and self-rule. If he had let us have more say in the selection of our governors, more input concerning our laws, less burden under taxes, and a general level of respect from across the Atlantic; war probably would have been prevented. He would still have his colonies as the widespread support would not have grown for separation and we would have enjoyed an increased level of liberty. But, “win-win” was not in the cards being dealt.
Background
For you to better understand my story, it would be prudent to understand who I am and how I came to be the one telling you this portion of our history.
I am a man of average size and possess what is slowly turning from brown to gray hair. My father was sent from France in 1715, at the age of 13 and arrived at Boston in 1716. Back then, he still used his French name of Apollos Rivoire. Being a young man in a new land, he found work with John Coney, a local goldsmith. Upon the death of Mr. Coney in 1722, my father set up his own shop in Dock Square.
Sometime during the 1720’s he took on, what he later described as his “American name”, Paul Revere. My father was proud to live in the New World and learned, early on, that the limits as to what he could do would only be established by he, himself.
In 1729, he married my Mother, Deborah Hitchbourn. They both worked hard, enjoyed each other’s company and soon started a family. The first-born was my sister, Deborah, born in 1732. I was next in line, born in December of 1734. Yes, both of us were named after our parents as that was customary then and still is now. There ended up being seven more children born into the family, but only seven of us lived to become adults.
Another custom was for the children, as they reached sufficient age, to begin helping the parents – girls at home and boys either in their father’s business or on his farm, etc. My family was no exception and as a teenager I began working in the shop, learning the trade of being a goldsmith and silversmith. I also attended school at North Writing School.
When I was 19, my father passed away. This left me, the oldest son, to be the main support for the family. I took over the family business and continued to operate as a silversmith. I not only learned the value of being a hard worker from my father, but I learned to follow the character he demonstrated in his life. He, being Protestant by faith, saw that we attended church and I continued this practice with my family.
In 1756, a couple years after the death of my father, I volunteered to fight the French in the French and Indian War. Being a man of character and being a hard worker, my superiors offered me a commission and I served as a second lieutenant in the colonial artillery. We entered battle at Lake George, New York.
Soon, I was back home to Boston and married Sarah Orne in 1757. Prior to her passing in May of 1773, our eighth child (Isannah, who also died in September of 1773) was born. One other had also passed away in her first year.
Being a widower and having six children, the oldest being 15 (Deborah) and the next 13 (Paul); I married Rachel Walker in October of the same year (1773). Rachel and I also had eight children. Only the oldest (Joshua) was born prior to the beginning of the war. Later on, as we had the other seven children, three died while very young. I was determined to have a son named John. Two of the babies who died young were each named John and it was not until 1787 that I had a son who lived and carried that name. Another son was named after one of my dear friends and co-patriots here in Boston, Joseph Warren.
While married to Sarah, we moved from a small home along Clark’s Wharf to a two-story home with a three-story addition. The frame home was near my shop on the North End, over-looking North Square. Not only was this convenient but it was also a home that would house a large family. This home was near the water of the harbor.
As my reputation improved, my business grew and I soon employed help. We produced a quality product for a fair price. I also took up printing in my shop. One of the most important times for this ability was right after the Boston Massacre. I printed a flyer showing an engraving of the scene where the British soldiers fired on the residents of Boston gathered to protest the actions of England. Five of my countrymen, most of which I knew very well, died as a result. We distributed the flyers around the general area and they helped to convince the colonists to take sides against the occupying army. This event took place on March 5, 1770. Over the next few years the tension grew, not only in Boston, but in the colonies, in general.
(The above mentioned flyer showing the Boston Massacre, which I printed and sold, brought a shadow upon my character. One, Henry Pelham, had drawn the same scene and presented it to me. While I studied the drawing, I became aware of the potential this scene held for uniting the people behind the resistance. Based on Mr. Pelham’s drawing, I did another etching which I could use for making the prints and proceeded to use them as intended. When Mr. Pelham discovered that I was distributing the flyers, he became upset and accused me of taking advantage of him and his work.)
You are probably well aware that this same tension reached another point on December 16, 1773; when we held a little party for the tea-drinking British. We, the Sons of Liberty in Boston, had gathered at the Old South Meeting House earlier in the day to discuss the Tea Act and decide what to do about the three ships docked, full of bundles of tea. As we listened to speakers and had several discussions, we received a message from the Governor that the tea was to be unloaded. This was all we needed to determine our course of action. Samuel Adams delivered the line, “This meeting can do nothing more to save the country.” Some adorned Mohawk Indian attire and many of us proceeded to Griffin’s Wharf where the three ships were docked. We succeeded in tossing 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. You can imagine what the soldiers, who were camping at our Boston Commons, thought the next morning as they woke to find empty tea cases floating in the harbor.
I mentioned the “Son’s of Liberty”, which met at the Green Dragon Tavern. Sam Adams was instrumental in the organization of the men into this group. Our roles, as members, changed somewhat over time. The Boston group became only one, though the most famous, of many similar groups in other towns that served as an organization for action and a source for information. Sam Adams and John Hancock became two of the most vocal of the local men. Each of them also served on the Provincial Congress, with Hancock as the president, once it was organized in October of 1774. They began to gain unwanted attention of the British and the more things escalated, the more the officers wanted to silence them both.
We also formed the “Committee of Correspondence” which was responsible for disseminating written and verbal information, from Boston to patriots in other towns. I was not only a part of this committee, but had the job of being one of the riders who would deliver the information. William Dawes was another of the riders and we each had made several deliveries over a time span of a few years. I had been called on to make deliveries of letters to New York and Philadelphia, multiple times. I also took correspondence to Samuel Adams while he attended the Continental Congress in Massachusetts. There were several other rides that I made to various communities.
One message proved to be very important as later events unfolded. The British had ordered that there were to be no more shipments of gun powder or military stores to the colonies. England also had sent ships to reinforce Fort William and Mary at Portsmouth. As we learned of such events, I was sent to warn the patriots in that area of the need to storm the fort and seize the gun powder stored there, before the ships arrived with more troops. This trip produced the desired results and the men in the area were successful in obtaining a large quantity of gun powder. This proved very important as there were limited supplies, other than that, for use when the fighting broke out.
I mentioned that I named a son after a friend. Dr. Joseph Warren was another of our leaders here in Boston. On March 6, 1775; he delivered a speech to a gathering of men at the Old South Meeting House. The occasion was the fifth anniversary of the Boston Massacre. This event helped stir up the patriotism in our hearts and our countrymen, but also further upset the British command.
In early 1775, at the age of 40, I was one of thirty men who formed a committee and accepted the responsibility to secretly watch the British in Boston. In pairs, were would take turns watching the troops and patrolling the streets. We sought intelligence as to the plans of the enemy.
This finally paid off around midnight on Saturday, April 15th. It was noticed that various groups of soldiers were preparing for some sort of assignment. There was movement in some of their ships in the harbor and smaller boats were positioned near Boston Commons.
The Ride
The “ride” you are waiting to hear about was not the first made with similar warnings. On Sunday, April 16, 1775; Dr. Warren sent me to Lexington to deliver a message to Samuel Adams and John Hancock. At that time, they were both staying at the home of Rev. Jonas Clarke, who was married to a niece of John Hancock. Both were in that area due to attending meetings of the Provincial Congress that met in Concord, only a few miles further from Boston.
The message dealt with the expected movement of British troops (Regulars) and the expected goal of arresting or killing both Adams and Hancock and/or seizing the arms and supplies in Concord. With this warning, a group of around ten armed men guarded the home where they were staying and notice was sent to Concord to move as much as possible out of town, which they proceeded to do over the next couple days.
On Tuesday, April 18, 1775; General Thomas Gage issued orders to his men to march to Concord and seize and destroy the arms and supplies stored there. As General Gage and his troops were stationed in Boston and camped at Boston Commons, the secrecy of the mission was overcome and word got out that the troops would be on the move very soon.
As a part of the Sons of Liberty and being riders for the Committee of Correspondence, William Dawes and I were contacted to ride and issue a warning. About ten o’clock, Dr. Joseph Warren sent a messenger who found me at home. My wife, Rachel, understood the urgency of the situation and knew that I was the main rider used for such purposes as what was ahead of me that night. She, along with the older children, also realized the seriousness of my assignment. As we said goodbye, we both understood that before the night was over, I could be arrested or killed.
When I arrived at the home of Dr. Warren, he told me the intelligence indicated the British possibly had two missions. First, march to Lexington and place Samuel Adams and John Hancock under arrest. Second, march to Concord to seize and destroy the weapons, ammunition and supplies hidden there for use by the Minutemen.
As we were not absolutely sure as to what avenue of departure the troops would use to exit Boston, I had earlier come up with a signal to be used to let various people know whether they would be taken by barge to Cambridge, over Back Bay or exit Boston by way of Boston Neck. Most of Boston is located on a peninsula with the “neck” being the isthmus connecting it to the mainland. If the troops were to be ferried across the water to Cambridge, to the west of Boston Commons, it would actually be faster than if they marched around to exit the town by Boston Neck. Since one of the reasons to leave during the night was the desire to have a surprise arrival at Lexington, not marching out of town was another reason we believed they would go by water. Late in the day it had been observed that many soldiers had been gathering near the lower end of Boston Commons. This was further indication that they were preparing to leave and would go by boat across Back Bay.
There were two friends designated to row me across the Charles River to Charlestown, where I would depart on horseback, I desired to know for sure, by the time I departed Charlestown, which avenue the troops were taking. Plus, others had been made aware of the signal so the warning could be issued if I were arrested before leaving Boston. William Dawes was riding with the same message from Boston, exiting town on the neck. In order to improve the odds that at least one of us would make it to Lexington, we were to take different paths.
My plan was for a signal to be made from the steeple of Christ Church (also called the North Church). Robert Newman would hold one lantern if the troops were marching out of Boston by way of Boston Neck or two lanterns if they were crossing by water. As I was being rowed to Charlestown, the signal was given, using two lanterns.
Once across Charles River, we landed near Charlestown Battery and I proceeded into town where I met up with Colonel Conant, along with others. I explained what was happening. A horse was supplied from Deacon Larkin’s barn for me to use. Richard Devens, who was on the Committee of Safety, told me that earlier in the evening, he had witnessed nine or ten mounted officers going towards Lexington. After he returned to Charlestown and saw the signal, he had already sent a messenger to warn various men, including Adams and Hancock.
By the time I was able to begin my ride, it was about 11 o’clock and the moon was bright. I set out for Menotomy and Lexington, which was about ten miles away.
When I was just about past Charlestown Common, heading towards Cambridge, I noticed two mounted soldiers under a tree. One headed my way and the other went to cut me off further up the road. Both of them were armed. I cut my horse short and turned about. I rode as fast as I could, the horse at a full gallop, for Mistick Road. One soldier followed me about 300 yards before giving up the chase.
I was able to ride on to Lexington, through Medford and Menotomy spreading the warning that the Regulars were coming. In Medford, about 11:30, I woke the captain of the Minutemen and then alarmed every house on the way to Lexington. I finally arrived at Lexington where I gave the alarm to Mr. Adams and Col. Hancock around midnight. About half an hour after arriving, William Dawes arrived. I learned that the British officers who had been seen earlier in the evening heading towards Lexington had passed through town around 10 o’clock and went towards Concord. Rev. Clark told me that three men, from Lexington, had been sent to watch the movements of the officers.
Mr. Dawes and I then set off for Concord, which was another nine or ten miles. Soon we met up with a young man named Dr. Samuel Prescott, who was a high Son of Liberty from Concord and was heading home. We decided to warn the inhabitants along the road. Dr. Prescott knew many of them and they believed the warning we issued. About half way to Concord both of the others stopped at a house to warn the occupants and I went ahead. About 200 yards down the road I saw two officers who were armed with pistols and swords. I called back to William and Dr. Prescott to hurry and come. At that time, I saw four officers who rode up to me with their pistols drawn. They ordered me to stop. One said, “If you go an inch further, you are a dead man.” When William Dawes saw what was happening he turned his horse and rode back towards Lexington. Dr. Prescott caught up and the two of us attempted to get past them, to no avail. They ordered us into a pasture and said that if we did not go, they would blow our brains out. We proceeded to go into the pasture, through the opening in the fence they had made by removing the rails. As soon as we entered, Dr. Prescott said, “Put On!” and he took to the left, jumped a stone wall and made his way to Concord. I took to the right. My plan was to make it to the edge of the woods and flee on foot into the trees. About the time I reached the bottom of the pasture, six mounted officers appeared, seized my bridle and put their pistols to my chest. They ordered me to dismount, which I did. One of them, I assumed him to be in command, in a gentlemanly manner asked me where I came from and I told him. He inquired as to when I left and I told him. He appeared to be very surprised I had made it that far that fast. He wanted to know my name, to which I answered, “Revere”. He questioned, “Paul Revere?” and I told him that I was. As the other officers began to abuse me, he reassured me that I would come to no harm. Feeling fairly bold, I responded that they would miss their aim. He, feeling in complete control, assured me that they would not miss.
He then told me that they were waiting for some deserters that they expected to be coming down the road. I told him that I knew better and that I had alarmed the people in the houses all along the road. I told him I would have 500 men there soon, to which one of them told me they would have 1,500 men. The one in charge rode off to the road and told the ones who stopped me what I had said. They came back at a full gallop and one of them (who I was to learn was Major Mitchel of the 5th Regiment) put the barrel of his pistol to my head. He informed me he would ask me some questions and if I did not tell the truth he would blow my brains out. I told him that I was a man of truth. I asked him what right they had to stop me and make me a prisoner. He proceeded to ask me his questions and I answered him the same way I had before. After they searched me for pistols, he had me mount my horse. Once mounted, the Major took the reins from my hand and gave them to an officer on my right. He then ordered four other men that they had stopped, which included the three men from Lexington sent to watch them, to come out of the woods and then all of us were ordered to march.
Once on the road, the officers surrounded the prisoners and we headed towards Lexington at a quick pace. After about one mile, the reins were given to a sergeant who was ordered to shoot me if I tried to run. About half a mile from the meeting house in Lexington, we heard a shot, which I told the Major was a warning shot. He ordered the other four prisoners to dismount. The saddles and bridles were cut from their horses and they were told they were free to leave after their horses had been chased off. I asked the Major to dismiss me, but he refused and ordered us to begin marching again.
When we were close enough to see the Meeting House, we heard a volley of guns fired, which I supposed to be from the tavern as an alarm. The Major ordered us to halt. He asked me the distance to Cambridge and other questions. He had me dismount, gave my horse to the sergeant to ride, cut the saddle off of the sergeant’s horse and then they rode off down the road. This was about two o’clock in the morning of the 19th of April.
I went across the burying ground and some pastures to the house where I had left Mr. Adams and Col. Hancock and told them what had happened. Their friends advised them to leave the area for their own safety. I and Mr. Lowell, who was a clerk to Mr. Hancock, went with them for about two miles where we reached the house where they intended to stay in Burlington. After resting, Mr. Lowell and I returned to Buckman’s Tavern at Lexington. At the tavern we were told by Thaddeus Bowman that the troops were within one half mile. We went into the tavern to get a trunk of papers belonging to Col. Hancock. From a window I saw the troops and we hurried down to leave with the trunk. While passing through the militia gathered on Lexington Green (which is a triangle of open area bounded by roads) behind the Meeting House, I observed what looked to be 50 to 60 Minutemen gathered. As I passed through them I heard their commanding officer, Captain John Parker order the men to let the troops pass by without molesting them and “Don’t fire unless you are fired on, but if they want a war, it may as well begin here.”
When the troops appeared behind the Meeting House, they halted and then formed lines for engagement. Major John Pitcairn shouted for the militia to “Lay down your arms, you damned rebels, and disperse!” I heard one gun fire, which has later been called the “shot heard ‘round the world”. Then a British officer shouted, “Fire, by God! Fire!” Almost immediately, I turned my head and saw smoke in front of the troops as they opened fire. Several of the Minutemen had scattered and some were taking positions behind a stone wall. The troops ran a few steps and then a large group fired again. Then there was irregular firing and then more as I supposed it was the platoons. By this time I was not able to see the militia as a house was between them and me.
I later found out that of approximately 7-800 British troops which had left Boston, the battle at Lexington was between the Minutemen and around 200 of the troops which were leading the way towards Concord. These troops were under the leadership of Major Pitcairn, who may have fired the first shot with his pistol. During this battle, which only lasted a few minutes, there was one wounded and there were no deaths of British but eight of the Minutemen were killed and ten were wounded, some by gunshot and some by bayonet. Among the dead was Captain John Parker, who was cut down while reloading. By the time the battle was over, the rest of the troops had reached Lexington and all of the British troops marched on to Concord, where they had their second battle of the day.
Samuel Adams and John Hancock were protected from arrest and were safely away from battle on that day. This success, along with the British failure to destroy most of the powder and supplies in Concord, was due to the work of several of us, not just my ride on that night. As the King’s troops made their way back to Boston, they proceeded to burn homes, destroy property, abuse residents and even kill some. The Minutemen continued to attack the troops throughout much of their march. The troops were reinforced near Lexington by about 1,000 additional soldiers. By the end of the day the British losses were 73 killed, 174 wounded, and 26 missing for a total of 273 casualties. The Americans lost 49 killed, 41 wounded and five missing for a total of 95 casualties.
Even though it was not safe for me to return to Boston, the next day Mr. Warren, the president of the Committee of Safety, hired me to be in charge of the outdoor business of that committee. I returned to Charlestown and sent message to Rachel for her to gather the important belongings and the children and join me in Charlestown. We resided there during the siege of Boston.
On June 17, 1775, the battle of Bunker Hill took place. In this battle, two of the notable men in the above story were killed. Dr. Joseph Warren, age 34, a Bostonian was shot through the face and his body mutilated by British bayonets. On the British side, Major John Pitcairn was killed.
The British evacuated Boston in March of 1776, after General Washington ordered an attack on the British ships in Boston Harbor. During these months I was employed to design and print money for the government. Soon afterwards, when we had moved back into our home in Boston, I was given a commission with the assignment of helping to protect Boston from enemy attack.
(By: Mike Foil, based on various sources and stories from books and found on the Internet)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Fight for Liberty?
In the background on my computer screen is a World War II poster. It shows some contemporary soldiers marching in front of some colonial militiamen. The caption reads, "Americans Will Always Fight for Liberty". There are two words that stuck out to me. They are not "Americans" and "Liberty", but are "Will" and "Always". During WWII, there was no doubt that the saying on that poster was true.
Since the 1940's, it seems that every few years America has sent her young men and women to fight for someone's liberty. This is not to neglect the honor due to those prior to the 40's, but since that time, it has been one fight after another, in one country after another. American blood is mixed with the water in the oceans around the world and has soaked into the dirt and gravel of countless countries. There are white crosses that adorn green fields on multiple continents. One thing that has been for sure, is that America will send her best and brightest to answer the call of the weak to oppose the oppressor. When the work was done, we have come home, leaving freedom as our signature.
Why do you believe that we do that? I do not believe it is some ego trip that one president after another is riding. I do not believe that our citizens produce a superior human that cannot be matched by offspring in other countries. I believe it is because we, here in America, cherish freedom. We have been blessed to be a part of the most amazing experiment - the one where the people are free and the government works for the common citizen. With this rare perspective, we have not sought to be unique, but have fought to spread liberty around the world so that other people in other nations can enjoy what we have.
Even today, Americans are stationed around the world with the purpose of spreading freedom to some and protecting liberty for others. We are watching as one war winds down in a newly democratic country and one war continues on the soil of a neighbor of theirs. We are helping to guard the line between the north and south in Korea, as tensions mount.
But, even with all of this evidence, I am left with those same two words catching my attention, "Will" and "Always". Is it still true that "Americans Will Always Fight for Liberty"? Will we? Always? With a sadness in my heart I must admit that I do not believe that poster would be accepted as gospel in America, today.
I am not saying that all Americans fit into any one category, for sure, they do not. The diversity in Americans is becoming more clear and with wider chasms over the past several years. There are many who are now fighting and others who would fight for liberty. But there appears to be a growing number who would not. Our freedom has been taken for granted and the quality of our liberty has been under attack for several decades. Many of our current citizens do not recognize that what America now is, is not what America once was. Many of us still speak of our freedom, but a giant chunk of liberty has disappeared from right under our noses during the past 100 years.
America is still sending troops to fight in other nations for the liberty of others. We continue to produce men and women who volunteer to risk everything for the sake of some people they probably have never met and cannot even speak their language. Somehow, we find that the "Greatest Generation" keeps reproducing themselves.
But, what about here at home? Will Americans fight for liberty here? We seem to understand that gaining liberty for strangers is worth a fight and it's value is worth some blood. We spend hundreds of billions of dollars fighting wars in other lands. We bury thousands of our sons and daughters and watch many more come home with life changing wounds, physical and emotional. But securing our liberty, which was bought with much shedding of blood, does not seem to have the same importance with a growing number of Americans.
I believe this is partly due to an indoctrination being carried out by our government on the citizens and also, that the stripping away of our rights and freedoms has taken place in incremental stages. We are guilty of allowing the socialist foot to get in the door, just a little bit here and a little more there. Once they gained a foothold, there was a full-frontal assault against the Constitution and the freedom and rights we have valued so highly.
At the current time, all three branches of our Federal Government are heavily influenced by those who have a disdain, or even a hatred, for the principles of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. They are not only unwilling to fight for liberty, they appear to be fighting against it. We the People of America, over the past 100 years have allowed this to take place. They have been very good at distracting us with the right hand while the left hand is stealing from our bundle of rights. In some ways, we have been lazy, not willing to do the work of holding our politicians accountable. This they have viewed as weakness and they have exploited us.
Over the past few years, the grassroots Americans have been waking up. After rubbing our eyes for a brief period, we began to take stock in our situation. The more we saw, the madder we got. Now, they have stirred up a nest of hornets and we are just plain p----d o-f! It's too late to spend time asking, "how did this happen?" We must jump in with both feet and get busy. There is no time for retrospective contemplation. The longer we watch, the further behind we get.
As we begin 2011, we must not relax. All of us have to be vigilant and keep watch on Washington. Each and every one of them MUST be held accountable.
This American has not had to fight for freedom in the past, but I will now! I do not want to be a part of the last generation who set there in ignorance while liberty disappeared from the shores of America. The following generations, at least those who learn what America once was, rightly will look back with anger at this time and a shame will rightly fall on those who let liberty slip away without so much as a fight.
"This American Will Always Fight for Liberty". Will you?
Since the 1940's, it seems that every few years America has sent her young men and women to fight for someone's liberty. This is not to neglect the honor due to those prior to the 40's, but since that time, it has been one fight after another, in one country after another. American blood is mixed with the water in the oceans around the world and has soaked into the dirt and gravel of countless countries. There are white crosses that adorn green fields on multiple continents. One thing that has been for sure, is that America will send her best and brightest to answer the call of the weak to oppose the oppressor. When the work was done, we have come home, leaving freedom as our signature.
Why do you believe that we do that? I do not believe it is some ego trip that one president after another is riding. I do not believe that our citizens produce a superior human that cannot be matched by offspring in other countries. I believe it is because we, here in America, cherish freedom. We have been blessed to be a part of the most amazing experiment - the one where the people are free and the government works for the common citizen. With this rare perspective, we have not sought to be unique, but have fought to spread liberty around the world so that other people in other nations can enjoy what we have.
Even today, Americans are stationed around the world with the purpose of spreading freedom to some and protecting liberty for others. We are watching as one war winds down in a newly democratic country and one war continues on the soil of a neighbor of theirs. We are helping to guard the line between the north and south in Korea, as tensions mount.
But, even with all of this evidence, I am left with those same two words catching my attention, "Will" and "Always". Is it still true that "Americans Will Always Fight for Liberty"? Will we? Always? With a sadness in my heart I must admit that I do not believe that poster would be accepted as gospel in America, today.
I am not saying that all Americans fit into any one category, for sure, they do not. The diversity in Americans is becoming more clear and with wider chasms over the past several years. There are many who are now fighting and others who would fight for liberty. But there appears to be a growing number who would not. Our freedom has been taken for granted and the quality of our liberty has been under attack for several decades. Many of our current citizens do not recognize that what America now is, is not what America once was. Many of us still speak of our freedom, but a giant chunk of liberty has disappeared from right under our noses during the past 100 years.
America is still sending troops to fight in other nations for the liberty of others. We continue to produce men and women who volunteer to risk everything for the sake of some people they probably have never met and cannot even speak their language. Somehow, we find that the "Greatest Generation" keeps reproducing themselves.
But, what about here at home? Will Americans fight for liberty here? We seem to understand that gaining liberty for strangers is worth a fight and it's value is worth some blood. We spend hundreds of billions of dollars fighting wars in other lands. We bury thousands of our sons and daughters and watch many more come home with life changing wounds, physical and emotional. But securing our liberty, which was bought with much shedding of blood, does not seem to have the same importance with a growing number of Americans.
I believe this is partly due to an indoctrination being carried out by our government on the citizens and also, that the stripping away of our rights and freedoms has taken place in incremental stages. We are guilty of allowing the socialist foot to get in the door, just a little bit here and a little more there. Once they gained a foothold, there was a full-frontal assault against the Constitution and the freedom and rights we have valued so highly.
At the current time, all three branches of our Federal Government are heavily influenced by those who have a disdain, or even a hatred, for the principles of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. They are not only unwilling to fight for liberty, they appear to be fighting against it. We the People of America, over the past 100 years have allowed this to take place. They have been very good at distracting us with the right hand while the left hand is stealing from our bundle of rights. In some ways, we have been lazy, not willing to do the work of holding our politicians accountable. This they have viewed as weakness and they have exploited us.
Over the past few years, the grassroots Americans have been waking up. After rubbing our eyes for a brief period, we began to take stock in our situation. The more we saw, the madder we got. Now, they have stirred up a nest of hornets and we are just plain p----d o-f! It's too late to spend time asking, "how did this happen?" We must jump in with both feet and get busy. There is no time for retrospective contemplation. The longer we watch, the further behind we get.
As we begin 2011, we must not relax. All of us have to be vigilant and keep watch on Washington. Each and every one of them MUST be held accountable.
This American has not had to fight for freedom in the past, but I will now! I do not want to be a part of the last generation who set there in ignorance while liberty disappeared from the shores of America. The following generations, at least those who learn what America once was, rightly will look back with anger at this time and a shame will rightly fall on those who let liberty slip away without so much as a fight.
"This American Will Always Fight for Liberty". Will you?
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Shoot the Lame Duck!
When a horse goes lame, we shoot it and put it out of its misery. Why? Because it is understood that a lame horse cannot be fixed and is no longer good for any practical purpose.
Here in the U.S.A. we treat fowl better than we do the much loved horse. Why? There is no logical reason or good answer to explain why we would ever put up with a lame duck. What good is a lame duck, or for that matter, what good is a duck that still waddles?
For a country full of citizens who have a great deal of pride in being Americans, we have somehow accepted something that is completely stupid! Who ever came up with the idea of having the U.S. Legislature hold sessions during the lame duck period?
"Lame Duck" defined: "an elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of a successor" - Merriam-Webster.com
Our current situation could not be a better example as to why these sessions should never be allowed. Our system of government has three branches with the design being that each has checks and balances on each other but none holding power above the other. In other words, none of the three branches of government are responsible to either of the other two. When we elect Senators and Representatives, they are supposed to be accountable to us - we the people back home. How do we hold them accountable? Elections. When they stray from the positions and standards that we expect them to hold, our main recourse is to replace them in the next election. Remember, they work for us and are elected to serve us (at least, that is the way it is supposed to function).
What is wrong with these fine men and women holding session during a lame duck period? Once the election is over, there are those who have been holding office who have now been replaced by the voters exercising their right to hold them accountable. But, they do not lose their position until January 3rd. They have two months during which they are back at work, voting and passing legislation for which they have no accountability. The citizens have lost their right to leverage any influence over a lame duck politician. These men and women have already lost their re-election bid and are on their way out of office. There is nothing anyone can do to stop them from passing bills which the people back home do not want.
This process needs to be abandoned! Our Legislature needs to learn to do all of it's business before the election, in the light of day, when they can still be held accountable. If it does not get done by the first Tuesday in November, then it should have to wait until January when the newly elected men and women will be starting work. We cannot afford unaccountable politicians. The accountable ones are bad enough!
Here in the U.S.A. we treat fowl better than we do the much loved horse. Why? There is no logical reason or good answer to explain why we would ever put up with a lame duck. What good is a lame duck, or for that matter, what good is a duck that still waddles?
For a country full of citizens who have a great deal of pride in being Americans, we have somehow accepted something that is completely stupid! Who ever came up with the idea of having the U.S. Legislature hold sessions during the lame duck period?
"Lame Duck" defined: "an elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of a successor" - Merriam-Webster.com
Our current situation could not be a better example as to why these sessions should never be allowed. Our system of government has three branches with the design being that each has checks and balances on each other but none holding power above the other. In other words, none of the three branches of government are responsible to either of the other two. When we elect Senators and Representatives, they are supposed to be accountable to us - we the people back home. How do we hold them accountable? Elections. When they stray from the positions and standards that we expect them to hold, our main recourse is to replace them in the next election. Remember, they work for us and are elected to serve us (at least, that is the way it is supposed to function).
What is wrong with these fine men and women holding session during a lame duck period? Once the election is over, there are those who have been holding office who have now been replaced by the voters exercising their right to hold them accountable. But, they do not lose their position until January 3rd. They have two months during which they are back at work, voting and passing legislation for which they have no accountability. The citizens have lost their right to leverage any influence over a lame duck politician. These men and women have already lost their re-election bid and are on their way out of office. There is nothing anyone can do to stop them from passing bills which the people back home do not want.
This process needs to be abandoned! Our Legislature needs to learn to do all of it's business before the election, in the light of day, when they can still be held accountable. If it does not get done by the first Tuesday in November, then it should have to wait until January when the newly elected men and women will be starting work. We cannot afford unaccountable politicians. The accountable ones are bad enough!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Symbolic???
If I hear one more politician tell me that some proposal to cut government waste and over-spending is only "symbolic", I believe I will pull my hair out. As you know, I cannot afford that.
We have been told that the new Speaker of the House (R) will not use Pelosi's private jet, but will fly commercial, but that is symbolic. If he did not make that choice, there would have been a mass uprising in the conservative ranks.
We are told that freezing government wages, no matter how limited that might be, is symbolic. Our government has been out of control with spending for years. Sure, these will not make a huge difference, only because the whole picture is so massive. But, don't tell us that when you stop wasting a billion dollars, it is just symbolic. For us back home, a billion dollars is still worth saving.
Then we were told that that vote by House Republicans to prohibit port-barrel spending amendments from being added to bills, is only symbolic. Do they think we have forgotten that they have added hundreds of millions of dollars on some individual bills for their favorite projects back home?
I say, do all of these "symbolic" cuts and then do a bunch of those you view as not just symbolic. We'll appreciate each and every million you stop wasting.
We have been told that the new Speaker of the House (R) will not use Pelosi's private jet, but will fly commercial, but that is symbolic. If he did not make that choice, there would have been a mass uprising in the conservative ranks.
We are told that freezing government wages, no matter how limited that might be, is symbolic. Our government has been out of control with spending for years. Sure, these will not make a huge difference, only because the whole picture is so massive. But, don't tell us that when you stop wasting a billion dollars, it is just symbolic. For us back home, a billion dollars is still worth saving.
Then we were told that that vote by House Republicans to prohibit port-barrel spending amendments from being added to bills, is only symbolic. Do they think we have forgotten that they have added hundreds of millions of dollars on some individual bills for their favorite projects back home?
I say, do all of these "symbolic" cuts and then do a bunch of those you view as not just symbolic. We'll appreciate each and every million you stop wasting.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The "Bone Yard"
I like to go to my parents home to see how I might be able to help them around the house and yard. They live in a 50 year old home and have a fairly large yard to maintain. Typically, there are some chores that need to be done and something that may require minor repair. Behind the house is a small workshop where my dad works on his various projects.
My parents had their home built and have lived in it all of these years. During that time, my dad has accumulated a stock pile of odd-and-end pieces of material that just might come in handy some day. Besides all of the wood material stored in the rafters of the workshop, or those that bulge from the shelves and from behind most every stationary tool in the place, there is a pile out in the yard, near the back fence, that is special.
This is the "bone yard"! It has a little bit of just about anything you can imagine. Over the years, as I have worked with him on fixing things, it seems that we always need some part to replace what is broken. I used to automatically think that we will have to run to the hardware store, but I have learned better. Whether it is a piece of wire, conduit, screen, sheet metal, drip flashing, hinge, latch, piece of pipe (of just about any diameter, lead or plastic), elbow, joint, "T", junction box, piece of steel, etc.; that we need, he always suggests that we first check the "bone yard". Over and over again, to my amazement, we will go out to that pile of junk and after scavenging around for a few minutes, we find either exactly what we are looking for or something else that we can "make work". It may take some elbow grease with a wire brush before we can use that old, lead elbow, but we eventually have just what we wanted.
Most of the stuff in that pile, most of us would have thrown away years ago. But not him! He keeps teaching me how some old piece of junk, saved for 20 years, will save me a buck and a trip to the store. But, it is more than the dollar saved, it is a lesson in being thrifty and using imagination. Every time we walk away from that pile with something in our hands, there is a smile on our faces and a sense of satisfaction - even victory, as we have just conquered a problem without spending a cent. I think that to him, it is a personal challenge to fix things without leaving the back yard. He also enjoys the look on my face as we pull out of the dirt just what we went to find.
Some of the lessons have begun to catch-on, over the years. Now, in each corner of my garage I have an assortment of various items (junk to most eyes). I have shelves and an old dresser full of the miscellaneous things that I just might "need" some day. In the crawl space, under my home, is my lumber "bone yard". I have lived in this house for almost five years since having it built and am still using the left-overs from construction for my projects.
I just hope that some day I graduate to a level where my "bone yard" is anywhere close to my dad's. I will be using it to teach my kids and grandkids some familiar lessons on life.
My parents had their home built and have lived in it all of these years. During that time, my dad has accumulated a stock pile of odd-and-end pieces of material that just might come in handy some day. Besides all of the wood material stored in the rafters of the workshop, or those that bulge from the shelves and from behind most every stationary tool in the place, there is a pile out in the yard, near the back fence, that is special.
This is the "bone yard"! It has a little bit of just about anything you can imagine. Over the years, as I have worked with him on fixing things, it seems that we always need some part to replace what is broken. I used to automatically think that we will have to run to the hardware store, but I have learned better. Whether it is a piece of wire, conduit, screen, sheet metal, drip flashing, hinge, latch, piece of pipe (of just about any diameter, lead or plastic), elbow, joint, "T", junction box, piece of steel, etc.; that we need, he always suggests that we first check the "bone yard". Over and over again, to my amazement, we will go out to that pile of junk and after scavenging around for a few minutes, we find either exactly what we are looking for or something else that we can "make work". It may take some elbow grease with a wire brush before we can use that old, lead elbow, but we eventually have just what we wanted.
Most of the stuff in that pile, most of us would have thrown away years ago. But not him! He keeps teaching me how some old piece of junk, saved for 20 years, will save me a buck and a trip to the store. But, it is more than the dollar saved, it is a lesson in being thrifty and using imagination. Every time we walk away from that pile with something in our hands, there is a smile on our faces and a sense of satisfaction - even victory, as we have just conquered a problem without spending a cent. I think that to him, it is a personal challenge to fix things without leaving the back yard. He also enjoys the look on my face as we pull out of the dirt just what we went to find.
Some of the lessons have begun to catch-on, over the years. Now, in each corner of my garage I have an assortment of various items (junk to most eyes). I have shelves and an old dresser full of the miscellaneous things that I just might "need" some day. In the crawl space, under my home, is my lumber "bone yard". I have lived in this house for almost five years since having it built and am still using the left-overs from construction for my projects.
I just hope that some day I graduate to a level where my "bone yard" is anywhere close to my dad's. I will be using it to teach my kids and grandkids some familiar lessons on life.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Solution to TSA's Crotch Grabbing Policies
Airport security measures have become a hot issue over the past few days. There are heated arguments on both sides of this issue. Do we want the best airport security and passenger scrutiny or do we want our privacy protected? When listening to each side make it's points, you would think that it must be one extreme or the other - either we have safety on airlines or we enjoy light security measures and more privacy.
I believe there is a simple solution which accomplishes both goals.
First, you have to analyze the basic goal of our current policies used by TSA to manage airport security. Our government has established a priority in the goal of finding each and every item and/or tool which has the potential to be used by a terrorist to take over a plane or bring damage to the plane and it's passengers. This approach becomes very difficult as the list of potentially dangerous items is constantly changing. This leaves TSA with an almost impossible responsibility of catching and stopping each and every item before it gets onto an airliner.
It was not long ago that you could bring, in your carry-on luggage, bottles and tubes of liquids and gels of any size. When it was determined that dangerous liquids and gels could easily be brought aboard, the public was restricted to very small containers which must be in a small, clear plastic bag. Not long ago, no one considered shoes as weapons of mass destruction. Now, since some guy tried to use his shoe as a tool, we all have to take our shoes off and have our them scanned. More recently, underwear has become a weapon to be used against the passengers. So, now the TSA has resorted to hand searches of the underwear and areas adjacent to underwear.
Can you see where this is going? The government is always one step behind the terrorists. What will be the security measure when someone boards a plane with a fake, false tooth that is filled with nitro, etc.? Will TSA resort to dental x-ray exams in the airport? What if the bad guys found a way to make a non-toxic fluid which could be exploded? A terrorist could drink the fluid prior to passing through security and once on the plane, detonate his stomach. Would TSA then require pumping of stomachs before flying?
We cannot play this game, their way. The problem is not that TSA has airports full of incompetent employees or people who enjoy grabbing the private areas of passenger's bodies. The real problem is in the goal set by TSA and Homeland Security. We will never be able to keep all instruments and tools, which have dangerous potential, off of planes. To make this the goal is automatically a losing proposition.
The goal must shift from tools to terrorists. The list of items we are no longer allowed to bring onto an airliner is extensive and constantly growing. We are dealing with an enemy who is crafty and has the advantage of imagination. On our side, we cannot take all necessary steps to make us secure from anything they may dream up. We must change our approach to something more realistic and secure.
The object of the goal must change to stopping the person who poses the risk from ever getting onto the plane. Once we accomplish this goal, we do not have to worry about nail clippers, etc. The people on the planes will have been determined to not be security risks. We will not care if they need to have a quart bottle of shampoo in their bag, they are no threat to anyone.
If we focus on the potential passengers and reach a comfort level with each one, this will be easier and more successful than always trying to second guess the imagination of the enemy and never quite catching up with their latest plan.
Why would anyone believe this changed approach could work? Because there is a country that does just this and has been very successful. When you fly out of Israel on EL AL airlines, the airport security consists of very well trained individuals who are using intelligence data to screen the passenger list and determine which individuals should be questioned. Their agents will keep you there until you have convinced them that you pose no risk.
They do not use the methods we use because they are not focused on items. They do not feel (pun intended) the need to do open handed breast exams in the airport lobby. They do not grab the crotch of teenage girls and boys just to randomly make sure this 13-year-old girl, who is already self-conscious of the changes taking place in her body, is not hiding a bomb between her legs. They are not subjecting random passengers to radiation in the full-body scanners which basically undress the person in the images being watched on monitors by various TSA employees. They are not engaging in government sponsored sexual assault on innocent people who are just wanting to get from Phoenix to Boise for a family visit.
The security in Israel is focused on people. They do not allow anyone who they are not comfortable with, aboard the plane. Once you have been allowed to board, they are not very concerned with items you may have because they already believe you pose no risk. They do not have to stay one step ahead of the terrorist's latest trick gadget. They just have to use their brain and common sense to screen the people. They do not waste time on random passengers who clearly pose no danger, but focus on those who raise a level of suspicion.
Let's change from an impossible goal to a realistic approach that has been proven to be effective.
I believe there is a simple solution which accomplishes both goals.
First, you have to analyze the basic goal of our current policies used by TSA to manage airport security. Our government has established a priority in the goal of finding each and every item and/or tool which has the potential to be used by a terrorist to take over a plane or bring damage to the plane and it's passengers. This approach becomes very difficult as the list of potentially dangerous items is constantly changing. This leaves TSA with an almost impossible responsibility of catching and stopping each and every item before it gets onto an airliner.
It was not long ago that you could bring, in your carry-on luggage, bottles and tubes of liquids and gels of any size. When it was determined that dangerous liquids and gels could easily be brought aboard, the public was restricted to very small containers which must be in a small, clear plastic bag. Not long ago, no one considered shoes as weapons of mass destruction. Now, since some guy tried to use his shoe as a tool, we all have to take our shoes off and have our them scanned. More recently, underwear has become a weapon to be used against the passengers. So, now the TSA has resorted to hand searches of the underwear and areas adjacent to underwear.
Can you see where this is going? The government is always one step behind the terrorists. What will be the security measure when someone boards a plane with a fake, false tooth that is filled with nitro, etc.? Will TSA resort to dental x-ray exams in the airport? What if the bad guys found a way to make a non-toxic fluid which could be exploded? A terrorist could drink the fluid prior to passing through security and once on the plane, detonate his stomach. Would TSA then require pumping of stomachs before flying?
We cannot play this game, their way. The problem is not that TSA has airports full of incompetent employees or people who enjoy grabbing the private areas of passenger's bodies. The real problem is in the goal set by TSA and Homeland Security. We will never be able to keep all instruments and tools, which have dangerous potential, off of planes. To make this the goal is automatically a losing proposition.
The goal must shift from tools to terrorists. The list of items we are no longer allowed to bring onto an airliner is extensive and constantly growing. We are dealing with an enemy who is crafty and has the advantage of imagination. On our side, we cannot take all necessary steps to make us secure from anything they may dream up. We must change our approach to something more realistic and secure.
The object of the goal must change to stopping the person who poses the risk from ever getting onto the plane. Once we accomplish this goal, we do not have to worry about nail clippers, etc. The people on the planes will have been determined to not be security risks. We will not care if they need to have a quart bottle of shampoo in their bag, they are no threat to anyone.
If we focus on the potential passengers and reach a comfort level with each one, this will be easier and more successful than always trying to second guess the imagination of the enemy and never quite catching up with their latest plan.
Why would anyone believe this changed approach could work? Because there is a country that does just this and has been very successful. When you fly out of Israel on EL AL airlines, the airport security consists of very well trained individuals who are using intelligence data to screen the passenger list and determine which individuals should be questioned. Their agents will keep you there until you have convinced them that you pose no risk.
They do not use the methods we use because they are not focused on items. They do not feel (pun intended) the need to do open handed breast exams in the airport lobby. They do not grab the crotch of teenage girls and boys just to randomly make sure this 13-year-old girl, who is already self-conscious of the changes taking place in her body, is not hiding a bomb between her legs. They are not subjecting random passengers to radiation in the full-body scanners which basically undress the person in the images being watched on monitors by various TSA employees. They are not engaging in government sponsored sexual assault on innocent people who are just wanting to get from Phoenix to Boise for a family visit.
The security in Israel is focused on people. They do not allow anyone who they are not comfortable with, aboard the plane. Once you have been allowed to board, they are not very concerned with items you may have because they already believe you pose no risk. They do not have to stay one step ahead of the terrorist's latest trick gadget. They just have to use their brain and common sense to screen the people. They do not waste time on random passengers who clearly pose no danger, but focus on those who raise a level of suspicion.
Let's change from an impossible goal to a realistic approach that has been proven to be effective.
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