In Economic Hard Times, the Government's Solution is to Waste Money

Harry Reid wants you to pay for subsidies to the tourism industry. I won't go into too much detail on this because the title is self-explanatory. I will simply include the short letter I sent in response:

I oppose any legislation to support government funding of any business or industry. Like the bailouts and the nationalization of banks and auto dealers, this is a gross violation of the Constitution. Put simply, it is wealth redistribution and fiscal irresponsibility at a time when the government should be cutting waste.

Ignorance is an Amazing Thing

The following is from my recent article on Liberatchik:

...The shirt reads: Freedom is great. While, on the surface, that seems innocuous and easily defensible, let me address the reason it irks me. This woman, having voted for Obama, has no true concept of freedom. Putting the shirt on a child who will bear the burden of paying the bill and suffering the consequences of his mother's vote is the irony. I hesitate to call it cruel, because I don't believe she is knowingly selling her child into serfdom, but it is certainly ignorant. Further, Obama and the current Congress have no interest in Americans being free.
In closing, I will leave you with an excerpt and a link. The fact that this is coming out of Russia should scare the pants off of you.

..."The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record-setting, not just in America's short history, but in the world. If this keeps up for more than a year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe. ...The proud American will go down into his slavery without a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker."

This quote is an excerpt from an article by Stanislav Mishin @ Pravda.RU

Graphic Novels aren't Just for Kids Anymore

This week's featured artist at Liberatchik is a graphic novelist named Bosch Fawstin. Much of his work deals with the subjects of terrorism and Islam. As an illustrator, I have an appreciation of his technical abilities above the aesthetic of the work or the story line, both of which are amazing on their own. The clean, bold imagery of his characters is reminiscent of WWII propaganda posters. Having an affinity for that aesthetic, I am drawn to his work.
Fawstin's message is both patriotic and aggressive. He makes no apologies for his opinions, nor should he. The facts back up his position. In an artistic genre that often glorifies anarchy and belittles the 'evils of capitalism', Fawstin's work stands apart. He has created a hero for the 21st century with a clear vision of morality and justice. His work supports freedom, pays tribute to our troops who fight on our behalf, and shreds the propaganda in defense of Islamic terrorism...

The Making of an Art Movement.

Now that the Decarationist Movement and Liberatchik have launched, I thought people might like to know how we got started. Christopher of Modern Conservative contacted me via email late last year, and together, we have combined our creative talents and our passion for freedom to build this site. As we add new members, the face of the project may change, but the underlying philosophy and goals will remain constant - Liberty is superior to tyranny; the State is our enemy; Freedom of Speech includes all points of view; individuals, not government, are the creators of wealth and freedom...

To read more, visit Liberatchik.

Thanks to Daily Uprising

I'd like to pass on a short article at Daily Uprising. They were kind enough to put up a link for Liberatchik without being asked. It feels good to know people are out there supporting us.

Declarationist Art for Libertarians and Conservatives

New Posts @ ModCon

Here we go again. Obama, the great promise of Change, Hope, and an end to racial tension proves himself to be just another Socialist hack. We all know nothing he said about equality and diversity on the campaign trail was true, so I'll get to the point. His recent Supreme Court nominee is proof, yet again, that he has no intention of following the rule of law or adhering to the Constitution. I will provide a link to Sotomayor's quote, because I have no interest in addressing that in great detail at this point. I will go so far as to say that her comments were not, by definition, racist; but no less disturbing for that fact.
If you care about individual Liberty, you should fear her for reasons I will address in a future article. On to the point of this post. The art for this week's featured slot on our page is by Alvaro Alvillar. It is an installation that addresses the issue of racism in America. In particular, it addresses the fact that it is universally acceptable to be racist against whites while speaking of diversity and ending racism. It speaks also to the victim mentality and the power wielded in it's defense that is the driving force behind the acceptance of blaming whites and holding them to a different standard than 'minorities'. Finally, it addresses the political power gained by the use of these tactics as well as the guilt many whites feel as a result.

As promised, I am back to explain the real issue behind Obama's nomination of Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Everyone under the sun is going on about her remarks being racist. Because they were not, in fact racist, the entire argument has been rendered invalid. Her comments were, however, inappropriate as well as revealing of a larger and more important issue. She is clearly more interested in ruling based on her feelings and opinions rather than the rule of law and that should be the reason to oppose her nomination.
I don't think her feelings or experiences make her any more qualified for the position than her race. These are not even subjects we should be discussing when nominating a judge to the Supreme Court. We should be examining her record as a judge and the fairness of her rulings as defined by law. She should neither be influenced by international opinion, nor foreign law. The Supreme Court is a branch of the United States government, not a tool for promoting globalism.

For those of you who have not heard, Liberatchik has launched with the help of ModernConservative.com. Please take a minute to check it out and learn more about the Declarationist Art Movement now under way. We have recently been joined by some very talented artists. Weekly updates are made to feature Conservative art, music and film. Links are also provided to our signatory artists. New articles a posted 3 or more times a week, which is why I have become scarce around here. Finally, we are working on a FaceBook page. I hope you like what we're doing, and invite you to join us. Any level of help or support is greatly appreciated.

Integrity

"Integrity can neither be lost nor concealed nor faked nor quenched nor artificially come by nor outlived, nor, I believe in the long run, denied." Eudora Welty

A good friend of mine sent me this quote one day as a compliment. I'm not sure if I always live up to it, but I do the best I can. This is a difficult path I've chosen, although I wouldn't have it any other way. I work very hard, and it helps to know that someone has so much faith in my efforts and abilities.I am not just an artist, although that can be difficult enough. I am a political artist, which sometimes makes people uncomfortable or angry. I am also a Conservative, which is a very unpopular viewpoint in the art community. That is why I have teamed up with Modern Conservative to start the Declarationist Art Movement and Liberatchik. We want to create a place where artists, like myself, from all genres can come together for support and encouragement. We are creating a place where we can be recognized for our talents, but more importantly, supported in our ideals. All of this is being done with the goal of creating a larger community, awareness by the average American, and eventually patronage by those who are willing and able to help us in our endeavors. I look forward to the day when artists can express their thoughts through their talents - openly, and uncensored.
Meanwhile, I am a mom and wife. I struggle to balance my passion for my art and politics with my love for my family. My days can be long sometimes, and I often want to take a break. Sometimes, I don't feel like staying up late to write. I just want to paint, or sleep, or play with my son. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought I'd be blogging regularly. It's time consuming, requires me to be on the computer instead of painting, and I didn't consider myself to be a writer. Then Christopher approached me with this project, and within 6 months, we've launched it. Currently, I'm working on a guidebook and planning to set aside time to start approaching other artists.This project isn't just about me or Christopher. Yes, I want to make a living from my work. I can't continue to work on this project or stay home to paint without money. However, I know from experience how hard it is to get started as an artist. I hope I can help and inspire other artists out there to get involved and be active politically as well as artistically. I genuinely believe that the future of our country is being shaped by media, culture and the arts. Marketing is everywhere and influences everything we do on a subconscious level. If we are to combat the Liberal stranglehold on entertainment and our culture, we have to fight back on a creative level.
I know from speaking to people that they want to be entertained by something meaningful. They want art that they like because they agree with it, not because it's the latest trend. They want to see movies that don't stereotype them as evil, listen to music that doesn't berate them, and see to a comedian who isn't insulting and demeaning them. We can give it to them. It takes the simple qualities of strength and integrity to take the first step in that direction. Stand tall, make a statement, back it up with facts, and have the strength to stand firm. One step at a time; we can do this.
If you are an artist, who shares our views, get in touch with me. You can participate openly, or not. Just knowing you are there is encouraging. If you know someone in the arts who qualifies, send them the link. We'd love to see their work and get in touch with them. If you know people who collect art, and share our views, let them know we are here. Word of mouth is one of our biggest tools. Once we have the support, we can start organizing shows and raising awareness on a grand scale. In the meantime, I am working with my friend Alvaro to put on a show. I'll keep you updated as we get closer to achieving that goal. Thanks to all of you who are showing your support for us before we are 'cool'. We greatly appreciate it.

This article is cross posted at Liberatchik.

Why do we honor our soldiers?

The answer is simple. We honor them because they keep us free. Regardless of how you perceive the government, the brave people who defend our freedoms deserve our thanks. On Memorial Day, I would like to leave you with some quotes from the Declaration of Independence to remind you why they fight, and why America is great.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. ...

On Memorial Day

Flags by Alvaro Alvillar

In honor of Memorial Day, I am posting some of Alvaro's flags. My sloppy photography does not do them justice. However, I am fortunate enough to own Hope and Honor, and I can tell you no photo could do them justice. I am posting them as tribute to all of our fallen soldiers, those still serving, and those who have returned to civilian life. Thank you for your service. It is greatly appreciated. I am thankful for the freedom you have preserved.

This tribute is cross posted on Liberatchik

Breaking Down My Philosophy, Installment #1

Liberty is not a Utopian Fantasy

This is a new article for the Liberatchik project. There will be several entries on the subject as the necessity for, and justice of, Liberty over statism will require a lengthy argument. Many view Liberty as a burden and prefer security, regardless of limitations. I will endeavor to explain why I prefer to take on that responsibility.

Liberatchik has launched!

For those of you who know me, you have probably noticed I've been visiting your blogs and websites less than I used to. The reason is, I've been working on a huge project that is now up and running.
In a joint effort with Modern Conservative, I have been working on a Conservative art project. It is our goal to make the Conservative view point as successful and main stream as the Liberal. In addition, we intend to launch an aggressive campaign to combat the Liberal monopoly on political propaganda and gallery exposure. I hope to see a day when all artists can find representation based on their merit, rather than their views. I want to end the black listing and the fear of reprisal that artists like myself face from the art community at large.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the artistic revolution, please contact me at frances@machinepolitick.com. If you are not willing to risk exposure, but would like to encourage our efforts, join as a friend. If you Prefer to remain anonymous, there are ways you can help as well. We are not here to brainwash or intimidate you. We are here to set you free. Participate at your comfort level, and good luck to you in all that you do.
For more information, please visit Liberatchik, and become informed.

My friend Alvaro, has a few words for Janeane Garofalo

Acceptable hate mongering?
Yeah, I think I get it. If you’re a media personality of mediocre talent and dubious intelligence like...uh...gee, there’s so many to choose from. Oh, I know, let’s go with Janeane Garofalo now that she’s decided to be a spokes-puke for the party of “love, openness and diversity” again. Anyway, apart from proving you’re not smart enough to keep your mouth shut, what happens if you’re a media personality of mediocre talent and dubious intelligence? And, you openly preach the most vile form of inflammatory hatred towards an entire group/race of people in today's politically correct climate?
You get a pass and high fives from the MSM of course, but why? The answer is complicated, but I did cover one of the reasons in my “Formula for Hate” piece in one sentence: “Politically, it’s OK to hate the white man!”Especially if you’re an over-paid, protected, elitist and self loathing, 'guilty for the sins of others' white American actress. Who also has the backing of a more than willing, biased media with the journalistic standards of a totalitarian state at your fingertips, providing you with the largest platform in the world to spout your unbridled disgust for people of differing opinions. This, anytime your little mind and huge ego coupled with an inferiority complex desires some instant gratification, while some host comes as close to stroking it for you as possible, considering how close you are not willing to get to another human being. And, when your needs have been satisfied because you’re a selfish, self-centered, angry and hate-filled excuse for a human being with absolutely no consideration for others, you turn your back, walk away and return to your lonely little world without ever having to look back or in the mirror. Thank your higher power!
Her talent is questionable. What is not in question about her and far too many of these so-called “artists” is their ability to memorize lines. And, quite frankly, how hard is that? That is why I have no problem questioning Garofalo’s much-touted intelligence, or was that just Bill O’Reilly doing that? Why people feel the need to pander to these low-lifes is beyond me. Just get on with the interview and be done with it? I have seen no proof of her “intelligence” unless prepared hate speech rhetoric that goes unchallenged by other geniuses, like Olbermann, is proof of that. Yeah, she kinda/sorta looks and sounds smart in an MSNBC cool kids on the same block kind of way, but how would she do without the approving nods from the yes-men she seeks out? Who, would gladly get on their hands and knees to provide her a soapbox to climb onto from where, up high, she can preach to the choir? It’s easy to look and “act” smart when you recite your lines in front of like minded followers and simpletons knowing full well that no one in the room will question your bullshit! Wow, isn’t it inspiring how courageous these traitors to the truth are? What’s worse: the bold-faced lies they tell or the fact that some of these intellectuals believe this stuff? I know which one is more pathetic but, either way, they must be called out on it every single time, from now on. There is no statute of limitations on hatred. She does not get a free pass because the moment has passed.
I happen to know a few people who attended those tea parties and without reservation I can say that they are the furthest thing from ignorant redneck extremist racists that I can think of. This Ya’mean Garofalo has made this personal and you don’t get to “move on” as far as I’m concerned. If she’s considered talented, then I have a young tea party attendee and artist friend who is obviously a freaking genius when compared to the likes of her. And, she can easily wipe the floor with Garofalo in a debate about politics, culture and the arts. I think it would be very clear who the ignorant bigot would be in that encounter.Come to think of it, since you mentioned someone else by name, Janeane, why don’t you step up to the plate and have a one on one with Michelle Malkin, without a liberal moderator and a liberal audience stacking the deck and see who is more informed about the Constitution, The Boston Tea party, taxes, immigration, civil rights, politics, racism, history, congress, the law...you name it! No moderator, no time limit, no crib notes and no interrupting the other as they speak. Well, to that end, there would have to be some kind of guideline about give and take considering the provable fact that liberals love to use their weapon of choice...debatus interruptus. They can’t help themselves. They do it constantly and speak longer while, saying less, knowing full well the conservative penchant for being courteous, even when it’s to their own disadvantage. To that I say, conservative talk shows, it’s time to get a pair and stop letting Ann Coulter (thank you) do all the heavy lifting. Your need to look and sound fair is getting in the way of doing what you’re supposed to do, which is get the message out and prove these lemmings to be the uninformed “lying liars” they are, especially when they lie to your face. That’s their job and apparently they deserve a raise while you deserve to be replaced...”you’re fired!”
Change”?: LIARS!!! Try it...say it out loud! I am tired of you talking-heads going on these television debates just to sit there while these people make you look like fools because you don’t want to appear unkind. ”How’s that working for you?” There is too much to lose and the fact that most self-described liberals seem to be unaware of it because they can’t think for themselves is more the reason to state the facts and let the people decide who is telling the truth. After all, it’s easy enough for anyone listening to do some research and find out, but they won’t even know to try if you don’t give them a reason to. Don’t waste those valuable opportunities by trying to be decent to people who couldn’t care less about decency, reason, discourse, the truth, or us the “little guys” they so profess their love and care for!These people are on a mission and they’ve been winning for so long now that they are delusional and don’t even care about appearances anymore. Especially now that they are, in fact, in charge of appearances. Right or wrong, their agenda, and therefore, their message is all that matters to them and you’re on the front lines and close to being the only thing standing between them and the truth. This is not about converting those angry old never-worked-a-day-in-their-lives, upper middle class entitled career students/educators/politicos and their militant left-wing strong arm wannabes.
MOB RULE” detail: This is about giving an informed “choice” to all the young people who are starting to watch, listen and learn because their lives are being affected by the political going-ons in this country and the rest of the world. Give them the chance to learn and participate, don’t let these cowards of discourse win fourteen out of every fifteen rounds you go with them because you don’t want to come off as unreasonable or worse...”not very nice!” Rope-a-dope tactics clearly aren’t working for you, give it up while there is still more than enough of us to keep this fight alive in this sovereign nation with all the liberties we have enjoyed for over two hundred years. We cannot afford to lose this fight because our elected officials will not stand up to bullies. Do you really want to wake up some day and say, “If only I had...?”What are you gonna do then? By that time the fight will seem like it was lost a long, long time ago and my kids will be grown up and living in what will feel like some distant galaxy compared to the beautiful (yes, we have are faults) country I grew up in. And, all because somewhere along the way Americans forgot where they came from and what made this the greatest nation on earth (ever) and lost it in less time than anyone could have imagined. Whether you are religious or not, something divine happened here when those great men convened and drew up the Constitution of the United States of America and it’s time to fight to preserve it, just like they fought and died to make it possible. It is timeless and so dead-on, that only power-hungry bottom feeders would need to reinterpret it because in the real world, they would get their asses kicked every time. These people are incapable of winning on an even playing field. Can you say Air America? So, they must “CHANGE” the rules and “yes we can” stop them.
What they have learned well is that if they promise enough sheeple that they can have everything everyone else has without the struggle and hard work, they will get their votes and they (Franken) can steal the rest. Then they can change the laws and what the ignorant voters don’t understand is that when their saviors are in charge that nothing (their promises) or no one (people who voted for them) matter any longer. They never did!
INFECTIOUS” detail: Nothing else matters but power, just look at Hugo Chavez, los Castro’s, Kim Jong-il, the puppet masters who pull Mahmoud Ahmadejinad’s strings and their mentors: Hussein, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and numerous others, all of them recent history. Haven’t we learned yet? Instead, today’s mouth-pieces spend their time and energy focusing on pointing out the absolute evil that is/was Bush because it works. The idiots bought it. Did you “assistants to crack whores” notice what happened to the monster that was Bush?He graciously put aside his plans for world domination and then passed the baton to the opposition in a post election ceremony...hmmm? “Only in America” could that happen. That just proves that this is still the one place on earth where that kind of freedom of speech (so far) is still not only tolerated, but defended by all of us who are aware that everyone, no matter how ridiculous, vile, inflammatory or stupid they may sound, should be able to speak their mind. It’s the only safe solution to a serious problem and there are laws on the books for those who cross the line from trash talk to violence. However, since there seems to be an argument against certain types of speech, from the left, of course, let me say that the freedom to speak your mind doesn’t mean that those who disagree with you should shut up, go away and/or die. Ya wanna be stupid and hateful in public, go ahead. But the days of media whores slipping away afterwards and the double standard where they try to outlaw (Fairness Doctrine) that freedom from those who disagree with them is over. Although not related directly to the current re-emergence by the democrats to shut down talk radio (for now, who’s next?) through nefarious means, the Dixie Chicks are a good example of what I mean. Remember them? The lie that they were “victims” of censorship was laughable considering they loudly complained about their loss of free speech in every major magazine, newspaper, television show, news network, radio station, music venue, awards ceremony, mini-mall and gas station in this country and around the world. “Only in America!” All this free publicity came about because in their effort to be liked even more in front of an audience in England, one of them spoke her true feelings and water cooler wisdom on Bush. Fine, that’s her right. In turn, their (up to the moment they got wind of this) fans in the good ‘ole USA responded with their own truth and their pocketbooks and suddenly it was an issue about censorship and they (the Chicks) became victims. Cry me a pop/rock/country song! I’d also like to say that in all of the interviews they gave I never once heard a single informed remark by these chicks in defense of their views. It would become the “Bush is stupid and I should know” syndrome, which seemed to be the pandemic of the time.
What is happening is that we have the majority of all media virtually in lock-step with the Democrat Party and a Republican Party that acts like being demonized by the media for speaking their mind is a new weapon. It seems they have not noticed that this modus operandi has been going on for several decades and their pathetically slow reaction has cost them, and more significantly, their constituents a lot of ground while the democrats (hypocrites) get away with calling the republicans the control freaks. Oh, and these liberal politicians are so nice about it, aren’t they? Promising to save everyone from those mean old nasty rich (dems are richer) status quo (again, dems) white (ditto) power hungry (yeah) political devils with equal opportunity, freedom of speech, the pursuit of happiness...wait a minute, isn’t that what the Constitution is all about...who needs any of them?The liberal progressives or “make ‘em do it our way” party is actually promising a utopia in a world that they themselves have painted as full of humans who are incapable of caring for their fellow man, because it’s the nature of the beast (no evolution there) and there's nothing that can be done about that! They say that on one talk show when it’s convenient, and then go right next door to another studio and tell everyone there how, with them in, charge we can all be one big loving family (instant evolution) and live happily ever after. “Yes We Can” and all you have to do is vote for them! I’ll vote for them when one of them can tell me one place and time that anything like socialism, communism, nepotism (ok, that one works), togetherism or any other ‘ism has ever worked out? Just once?
Sadly, enough people are falling for this bread and circuses campaign while they go about their busy Dancing with the Stars, American Idol and Obama worship and text messaging days while fearing the latest MSM (traitors) distraction (pandemic) from the real dangers (loss of our sovereignty) as they fill up on change, hope and unity ramblings from politicians who have done very little in over two-hundred years to truly change the plight of the underclass. Nothing has ever worked better than allowing people (individuals) the ability to make it on their own terms, to keep their earnings for themselves and their families and to share it with their neighbors as they see fit, not as some government employee sees fit.With obvious exceptions like the civil rights movement, not a whole lot has changed for the better recently and it’s gotten worse in the last one hundred plus days now, that’s for sure! It’s time for those of us who are awake to take this fight anywhere, anytime and “by any (peaceful) means necessary” so long as those who would put their hands on us control themselves. But make no mistake, we will not be intimidated by the ramblings of celebrities or by the fear mongering of those in power. This is our country, not a select few's and we will not go quietly into the night!
LOCK ‘N LOAD”: This is not only “A Call to Artists” or conservatives, liberals, libertarians, independents, moderates or others who think they already have a dog in the fight, but want better than this constant in-fighting. It is a call to all of us who love diversity as it already exists in the world and that will surely disappear if anything that reeks of “one world” dogma takes hold and the freedoms already given to us by our founding fathers slip away. It is our duty to pass on to our children what has finally worked and is already ours, not what has failed repeatedly throughout history!

Alvaro's art can be viewed and purchased at his web site.

A little constructive criticism for President Obama

One day I will find the time to get my new computer organized. It seemed such a simple thing. You buy a computer, you set it up and transfer files, then you get to work. It's more efficient and you find yourself enjoying sitting down to work. If you're like me that's true. Then you discover how disorganized you were for lack of time on the old machine. Duplicate files, email addresses from god knows who, in no particular order and files you haven't opened in years, not to mention the inability to find things in all the clutter. And to think I was under the impression I'm organized. I guess I should be glad I'm busy enough for it to be a problem.
So, on to the point of this post. I found my tax day letter to Obama, so as promised, I am posting it. A couple of weeks ago, I posted a similar letter to my Congressmen. Hopefully, someone is listening.

President Obama,

I am writing you this letter in the hope that you will give me a few minutes of your time to understand my point of view. When you ran for President, you promised hope and change. You said that you wanted to know what each and every American had to say about the state of our country and our expectations of our government. That is the point of my letter, and I hope you will accept it in the spirit in which it is written.
I know you must be proud, after all, you have made history. I congratulate you on your marketing team and your ability to convince the American people that you will do the job well. Unfortunately, you are proving yourself to be just another status quo politician. You talk about the failed policies of the Bush administration, while escalating the massive spending and regulation that defined your predecessor.
Because I know you are a busy man, I will not burden you with criticism and diatribe. I will simply give you some suggestions to do with as you will.

1. I suggest you read Atlas Shrugged. I am sure you're sick of hearing about it, so in the interest of brevity, I am including copies of the more important pages from my own edition of the book. Ms. Rand left Communist Russia because of the tyranny and poverty imposed on the people by her government. She saw first-hand what an over-bearing government does to its people.

2. Please take the time to read some history. This will back up the points made in Ms. Rand's book. Collectivism does not work, and you cannot make it work. It sounds great as a sound bite to say you want to 'spread the wealth around', but what gives you that right? Are you going to spread your own wealth around in the interest of fairness? I find it very disconcerting that my President is willing to hurt the economy in the name of fairness. I'm quoting you from the campaign, by the way.

3. Making everyone equal only brings people down. Who do you expect to keep the country going when we are all equally poor? You can print money all day, but we all know that makes things worse. The only way government has to generate income is through taxes. You can talk about the evil rich all day, but it is everyone who will bear the burden of paying for the bailouts that just passed. And you continue to call for more.

America is a great country, and I would like it to stay that way. You were elected to do a job, not enforce your personal ideology. I hope you will take a moment to evaluate your actions and the consequences they have for the rest of us. I would also like to suggest that you stop fear mongering every time you speak. Please consider putting forth some real solutions that will instill the American people and the world with the confidence we need to move forward in a positive direction.
My suggestion to you is that we need less government, not more. Less regulation, not more. America was founded on the principles of individual liberty and freedom. It is time to reacquaint ourselves with the concept. The Fair Tax would be a good place to start. My second suggestion stems from another of your campaign promises: eliminate all inefficient and unnecessary government programs and departments.
Thank you for your time and consideration, Mr. Obama. I hope that you will not simply disregard my letter because you don't like what I have to say. Whether you agree with me or not, I have a right to my opinion. I respect you as the President of the United States, for better or worse. I hope you will extend me the same respect as a citizen under your governance. We both have a huge responsibility as Americans. I hope you prove yourself worthy of that distinction.
Sincerely,
Frances
frances@machinepolitick.com
www.machinepolitick.com

Hate Crimes, Extremism, and Free Speech

What do these three things have in common? Aside from the fact that they now make you a terrorist in the eyes of the government, they are all issues that define individual Liberty. Before you get twisted up, hear me out... for more, go to my new ModCon
article.

Quotes of the day:
"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." - George Washington.

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell

To sum it up: When the people in power define and redefine the meaning of words to suit themselves, beware. When those same people make and enforce the laws, beware. When their fear and insecurities dictate punishment, beware When you make those people feel threatened, you become their target.

I'm going to start passing on some quotes

I'm not sure how this will go, but the goal is to put something up every day. When I have time, I will also post a comment or information on the historic significance of the quote in question. Since this is the first installment, I will provide two related quotes. Both were sent to me in emails from Downsizer DC.

"A socialist is somebody who doesn't have anything, and is ready to divide it up equally among everybody." George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish comic dramatist
"Being the state means never having to say you're sorry." -- D.A. Ridgely (Source: Positive Liberty blog, March 23, 2009)

Both of these quotes are exceedingly relevant to the current situation in America. The general populace has been convinced that the government is the source and creator of all wealth and security. When something goes wrong, ironically, it is blamed on the evil rich. The government is expected to step in again, and do something to correct problems that were created by the government and blamed on the private sector. It sounds so absurd, I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it happening every day. I'm beginning to be afraid to listen to the news any more.
The quote by Shaw is particularly interesting in the fact that I see it's application everywhere. Our President talks of wealth redistribution knowing that the only outcome will be to bring the people with money down to the level of those with none. That may sound good on the surface, but in reality it is evil and detrimental to all involved.
First, the majority of rich people got that way through hard work. If they inherited the money, it was because someone who cared about them worked hard. With the rare exception, rich people don't get that way by taking advantage of the rest of us. Someone told me recently that ,"You don't dictate policy on extreme cases". Too bad our government hasn't heard that one.
Second, where do you think your job came from? Did it magically appear by the grace of government, or did someone create it for you through their own hard work? If you take everything they have and divide it up in the name of fairness, will you have a job left to go to? If you work for yourself, do you think you owe a job to someone who is unemployeed because they 'need' it?
Third, most poor people remain poor through bad decisions and lack of initiative. If you can't make it in America, you're doing something wrong.
Forth, as the quote implies, socialists are typically looking out for themselves. If they want wealth redistribution, it is to get more money without earning it. If they already have money, they are looking for power. If Obama and Congress were really concerned about helping the 'poor', they would redistribute some of their own wealth. I'd like to see the hypocrites lead by example for once. As with everything else a politician promises, 'charity' comes out of our pockets, not their own.
As for charity, it can't come from government. The government has no source of income other than taxes. Confiscatory redistribution is not charity. You have to own the money and give it willingly to call it charity. I also think the person receiving help should look their benefactor in the eye and be grateful for their charity. The anonymity of government handouts leads to people thinking someone owes them something.
The Ridgely quote is a good summary of my argument. If you don't have to apologize for your actions or take responsibility, you are free to do as you please. Ironically, Liberals bemoan the dispassion and cruelty of Capitalism. However, the real cruelty is in punishing success, then blaming the successful for your own inadequacies.
I'll take freedom over comfort and security any day. Nothing is free. The government, like the mob and the unions, expect something in return for 'helping' you. Are you willing to hack off your pound of flesh when the time comes? Should you have to?

Know Yourself and Stand Firm

I feel in my heart that our nation is at an epoch of epic proportions. We are on the verge of surrendering every aspect of our existence to our government. We are being led by politicians whose main goal is the accumulation of power. Most of them are wealthy by the standards of the average American, but they berate us about paying our 'fair share'. They have a superior health and benefits package while strangling the 'private' insurance and health care industries with regulation. They fly around in jets and ride to events in limousines while berating us for our fuel consumption. They speak of corruption while pandering to lobbyists. The list goes on. Need I say more? Will you spend the rest of you life merely complaining, or will you finally take action?

Conservatives complain about the Liberal majority in Washington, Hollywood, the arts, and education, but do nothing to change it. They bemoan the Liberal stranglehold on political discussion, but do nothing to fight back. They belly ache about the Liberal majority in Congress and our Socialist President, but bear the responsibility of having put them there. They complain about political art depicting Bush as the devil in an SS uniform, but produce nothing to counteract the propaganda. They complain about a government that does not represent the people, is rife with corruption, and continue to vote for the same 'Republican' turncoats and fence-riders. They complain about the Liberal propaganda in film and music, but do nothing to produce or support Conservative values. They complain about the Liberal dogma in our public school and universities, but sit idly by when a professor begins a speech by saying "I wrote this to piss off all the Conservatives in the crowd". Merely being angry is not enough and is, in fact, a reward to the Left. It is their intention to make us angry. They revel in and applaud themselves for it.

Most Republicans have been brainwashed and intimidated by the PC Squad. Is this how you exercise your freedom of speech? Do you have so little faith in your own principles that you will not fight for them? Do you have so little confidence in your own opinions that you will allow them to be stifled? Does your self-esteem mean so little to you that it is maintained by the approval and acceptance of those who would have you censored?

Liberals in power and those who are celebrities have no intention of paying us the level of respect we deserve. Why do we extend them our blessings and our tolerance in return? There is a huge chasm between being a good person and rolling over for the enemy. Why do you fling yourselves into the abyss?

I have found that it is impossible to discuss differing political points of view with the average person. For some reason, most people, regardless of perspective cannot have a discussion based on reason and facts. They are always reduced to emotions. Republicans think Libertarians are pot smoking anarchists, when in fact, most are people who simply want a Constitutional Republic instead of a theocracy or a democracy. Liberals think anyone who opposes big government is a fascist, although this does nothing but indicate ignorance. There are varying degrees of irrationality on all sides and the lack of interaction has led to factionalism and intolerance. Now we have reduced ourselves to single issue voters and purveyors of political correctness or victims of hate crimes. When did Americans become so pathetic?

I do not pretend to be either a source of news or wisdom. I am often guilty of intolerance. However, I do not force people to accept my point of view. I am a propagandist, and proud of it. I have an opinion and lack the fear to state it openly. I live by my principles and expect others to do the same. You have the ability and the right to be a Socialist if you choose. However, do not pretend that you are concerned for others unless you redistribute your own wealth. Do not pretend that your system can work without infringing on the rights of others. Do not condescend to tell me that you know what is best for society. Do the rest of us a favor and remove yourself from our company. Contribute all you have to your Utopian dream and encourage others to join you if they choose. I wish you the best of luck, and good riddance to you as well.

I am not always eloquent, and therefore, endure criticism that I am ignorant. I am an artist, not a scholar, and I pretend to be nothing else. However, I am confident of the knowledge I have acquired and will not be discouraged by insults from people who can not tolerate a difference of opinion. At the end of the day, much of what we encounter in politics, media, and education is boiled down to an opinion. We should respect each other for having the conviction to state them openly in the face of opposition. Freedom of speech does not protect you from the things you don't want to hear. It gives you the right to present your own views in contrast.

One of the hardest things to do is stand up for yourself when you are in the minority. You should neither fear reprisal, nor stifle opposition. Stand firm in your principles and accept no compromise. If you are not willing to fight for them, they are not worth having.

This article is cross posted at Modern Conservative

Playing Catch Up

Hello everyone. I've been incredibly busy, but the dust is starting to settle and my focus is sharpening. Thank you all for being patient with my frequent absences from machinepolitick and lack of comments on your own sites. I am preparing to move forward at full steam and hope you like what I have in store for this blog. There are a couple of projects that I am working on and I will let you know when they are launched. For now, I will leave you with a tardy posting of my pictures from the Tax Day Tea Party in Atlanta on April 15th. I hope you were able to attend tea parties in your cities if you were so inclined.
To those of you who are new followers, thank you for your support. I am glad to see so many freedom-minded people coming out in support of Liberty.

My Tax Day Letters to Congress

Yesterday was an extremely busy day. As a matter of fact, I am still recovering. I have the unfortunate habit of working too much, and all the late nights have started to add up. Regardless, I rattled off some letters yesterday to my Representatives in the Senate, as well as President Obama. I seem to have misplaced Mr. Obama's letter, so I will add it in a later post. It is similar enough to this one that you will get the point. To Mr. Linder, my Representative in the House, I sent a thank you card. He does a good job and seldom disappoints me. I am willing to excuse the approval of Hillary to Obama's cabinet in view of the fact that it removes her from the Senate. It is one of the few things the President has done right in recent months. So, without further ado, my letter. Make of it what you will. Rumor has it I'm a Right Wing Extremist.

Mr. Chambliss and Mr. Isakson,
I am writing you this letter in the hope that you will give me a few minutes of your time to understand my point of view. I have long been disappointed with your performances as my representatives in the Senate. You do not uphold the Conservative principles of limited government and individual liberty that are the cornerstones of Republicanism. To be fair, you are not the only guilty parties in Congress. However, you are the ones who represent me and I feel it is past time to make my opinions clear to you. You have not only lost my vote, but I will make sure every Republican I know is aware of your voting record and the affect your decisions have on the lives of the people. You have been in office too long, and signed off on too much spending and regulation. It is time for you to be replaced in the Senate by truly Conservative politicians who will fight back against the Democrat majority and represent the views of the people. Because I know you are busy men, I will not burden you with criticism and diatribe. I will simply give you some suggestions to do with as you will.
1. I suggest you read Atlas Shrugged. I am sure you're sick of hearing about it, so in the interest of brevity, I am including copies of the more important pages from my own edition of the book. Ms. Rand left Communist Russia because of the tyranny and poverty imposed on the people by her government. She saw first-hand what an over-bearing government does to its people.
2. Please take the time to read some history. This will back up the points made in Ms. Rand's book. Collectivism does not work, and you cannot make it work. It doesn't matter why you want an earmark or an entitlement, the results are the same -bigger government and higher taxes.
3.Making everyone equal only brings people down. Who do you expect to keep the country going when we are all equally poor? You can print money all day, but we all know that makes things worse. The only way government has to generate income is through taxes. I appreciate that you opposed the recent bailouts. However, you supported Bush's stimulus package which was both unnecessary, and unfair to the people who have worked hard and made the appropriate decisions in their personal lives. It is not government's job to help people or redistribute wealth. By supporting the stimulus, you helped open the door for the current round of bailouts and regulation. It is hypocritical for you to say that you support one and not the other. Both were wrong.
America is a great country, and I would like it to stay that way. You were elected to do a job, not enforce your personal ideology, or to try to help people. I hope you will take a moment to evaluate your actions and the consequences they have for the rest of us. Please consider putting forth some real solutions that will instill the American people and the world with the confidence we need to move forward in a positive direction. My suggestion to you is that we need less government, not more. Less regulation, not more. America was founded on the principles of individual liberty and freedom. It is time to reacquaint ourselves with the concept. The Fair Tax would be a good place to start. Thank you for your time and consideration, Senators. I hope that you will not simply disregard my letter because you don't like what I have to say. Whether you agree with me or not, I have a right to my opinion. I respect you as my representatives in Congress, for better or worse. I hope you will extend me the same respect as a citizen under your governance. We both have a huge responsibility as Americans. I hope you prove yourself worthy of that distinction in the future.

After I wrote the letters, I stood in line at the post office for 45 minutes to mail them. After all, everyone was trying not to pay those nasty taxes just yet. After getting my son from school and taking him to a friend's house, I was on my way to the Tea Party with 15,000+ people, where I was happy to hear that some of them had sent similar letters and copies of Atlas Shrugged. There's hope for this country yet.
More on the Tea Party later...

Make your voice heard

I am providing a link to a letter to Congress, in the hope that it will inspire you to write your own. Regardless of your point of view, or level of agreement, you should not sit idly by while our government runs roughshod over our lives and the future of our children.
http://www.spinpolitico.com/forum/topics/letter-to-the-houses
I am currently writing my own letter to Congress and President Obama, in protest of the rampant escalation of government interference in the market and our private lives in an absurd attempt to 'correct' issues caused by government interference in the market and our private lives. I am also enclosing pages from Atlas Shrugged with important quotes and passages underlined so the people who can't even read a Bill that affects the future of our country, won't be forced to read the entire book. There is a campaign going, http://go-galt.org/, that is encouraging people to mail copies of Atlas Shrugged to Washington. Since I cannot afford to buy so many copies, and my husband assures me that they will end up in the trash, I have decided to send the most important parts in an effort to preserve my extra copy for the more important purpose of loaning to friends.
If you feel as I do, that our government is out of control, do something about it. We may not agree on all issues, but we can work together to change the things that are causing us mutual concern. The most important issue at hand is the loss of our individual liberties and the unconstitutional expansion of government. America is a Republic. God forbid it ever become a Democracy. Do you want to be at the mercy of mob rule? I don't!
More to come soon, in the mean time here's an excerpt from the letter mentioned above....

Posted by SavantNoir at http://www.spinpolitico.com/
Unalienable rights were not conferred by Man, they were bestowed by a Creator, nor was it ever intended that they be taken by Man. Our individual rights operate within the sphere of a civil society that recognizes our individuality and right to discover and exercise our potential so long as it remains tempered in such a way as to not infringe on another’s rights. Although all men are created equal in the eyes of the law, we all remain unequal in character, temperament, aptitude, drive, and spirit. Legislature that seeks to homogenize man will erode a civil society and undermine industrious productivity.

Unalienble rights are the basis for a Moral Society and the fabric of National Unity. Each individual is granted the freedom to practice their spirituality in any manner they deem fit, so long as they respect our cultural heritage. Immigrants refuse to be assimilated into our country and the Liberals tear our foundations to shreds as they deny America so as not to offend others. History has shown repeatedly that once a Society loses all moral ground, the culture disintegrates and fails. Ironically, the primary reason Terrorists seek to destroy us is because in their eyes we are morally decadent and a blight to humanity. In our own country, morality is eschewed for ever-changing hedonistic perversity which is to be accepted as normal, while religion and spirituality are deemed the new perversity. Without underlying connectivity of a Moral Code that is strengthed by the ability to communicate effectively with Societal members sharing a common language; we to will soon implode from within.

A civil society is maintained by a rule of law that is known, just, predictable, and applied equally to all people. The framework for these laws is set forth in the Constitution, which preclude the use of arbitrary manipulation and the abuse of power that such manipulations result in. The arbitrary manipulation of these laws undermines freedom of enterprise and erodes financial markets. How is it possible for a company or individual to plan for tomorrow when there is no legal certitude of what that tomorrow may bring?

Our modern Utopian Liberal leaders believe in the power of Government where the few are dictating to the many. With total abandon they seek to negate the equal opportunity of the individual to explore and benefit from his/her own unique potential, by illegally suppressing individuals into a state of equality through manipulation of the law and authoritarian pressures never intended by our Founders.

The Constitution is clear in delineating Federal power, and specifically enumerates the confines it should operate within. Beyond these narrow parameters the power remained with the states and the individuals. The Liberal’s thirst for power constantly manipulates public perception via their endless litany of false pretexts and grievances that incessantly demonize the industrious, the earnest, and the successful as the perpetrators of civil inequity that they use to rationalize further government intervention. The goodwill of unfettered man can be demonstrated over and over again in our history, and although not perfect, the benevolence of his nature that is born within the womb of freedom outstrips greatly the animosity and discord created via legislated constraints. Will a small business owner feel goodwill towards an employee he is forced to endure and compensate despite a lack of contribution, simply because of compliancy to Union contracts?

We Americans are outraged watching our Leaders commit political and economic schizophrenia. We will no longer tolerate the greed, corruption, collusion, incompetence, and manipulations. The Liberals are drunk with power and the cathexses of their impoverished and tarnished soul plays out in our Society in self-defeating contradictions. Let’s consider in small part how Government intervention and the Liberal hyperbole have undermined this country...

Freedom

Among other things, I recently read an article over at ModCon, that set me thinking about the subject of Liberty. The article was about picking your battle and the vantage point from which to fight for your ideology. It got me thinking about Liberty in a personal sense, such as my own ideology, as well as the broader ramifications that affect society at large. It is a subject we would all do well to address before it is too late. If this sounds like another conspiracy theory to you, I advise you to stop reading now. For the rest of you, please bear with me, as I may ramble on. I've been feeling a little testy of late. Given the current state of our government, I hope you will not blame me for my, let's be honest, fit of rage, in recent months. Though to be fair, this has been building for years. I did register as an Independent out of high school because I recognized that the problems in our government stem from all branches and both of the major parties. However, I digress.

The following are excerpts from Miriam Webster and Wikipedia. Please feel free to read the entire text on their respective sites.

Freedom: 1. The quality or state of being free as a: the absence of necessity, or coercion, or constraint in choice or action b: liberation from a slavery or restraint or from the power of another: Independence c: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous... 2. A political right

Political Freedom: absence of interference with the sovereignty of an individual by the use of coercion or aggression. The members of a free society would have full dominion over their public and private lives. ...refers solely to the relation of humans to other humans...

As an individual, I feel that Liberty is both a blessing and a right. It is not a burden as the Left would have us believe, although it does require a great deal of personal responsibility. In the event that people have a lapse in their judgment and acceptance of personal responsibility, it is the government's job to step in and prosecute justice upon the aggressor as defined by the law. It is not, however, the job of the government to be our nanny or our conscience in matters that affect no one but ourselves. Even the slightest infringement upon Liberty opens the door to abuse of power and suppression of individual rights. Governments tend to work in matters of degrees. If the populace is not attentive and diligent, the little things begin to add up into larger issues, or the multitude of trivialities obscure the larger infringements on personal freedom.

I will go into depth in future articles on the subjects of fighting back and making the concepts of freedom and individuality more mainstream. To close out this article, I will leave you with some links to recent events and articles that have inspired me to pick this hill to stand on, rather than to succumb to the oppression of my government.

Compulsory Volunteerism, The evil of Democracy, The Fed, The Left

This article is cross-posted at ModernConservative.com