Socialized Medicine, A Crisis We can't Afford to Ignore

I have been absent from the blog most of this week, because I have been trying to fight the upcoming Health Care 'Reform' bill. As many of you know, this bill will do nothing to improve the health care industry or curb costs. It is just as cumbersome, invasive, and regulatory as any other socialized program. With the programs in Cuba, England and Canada crashing down upon their heads, one has to wonder why our own government would attempt to foist the same monstrosity upon us. It amounts to the same thing that it always does with government programs - power. This is not about choices, options, improvement or the common good. It is about the government telling you what you can have, when you can have it, and at what point your life becomes economically unfeasible. Even the New York Times is giving some of the opposing information without their typical spin.
Yesterday, I attended a rally at my Senator's office. For those of you who don't live in my district, Saxby Chambliss is one of those worthless 'Conservative' turncoats who does enough to get re-elected, then leaves us twisting in the wind. I have yet to understand why he continues to win re-election after voting for the Medicare Prescription Entitlement bill, the Bush Stimulus that led to the Socialism of the banking and auto industries, and various affirmative action bills. He is also a proud proponent of Congressional pork and bi-partisan efforts to help the less fortunate. In short, he is a Blue Dog Democrat who signed up with the Republicans because he's too 'moderate' for the Progressives and Liberals running the Democrat Party. Even so, the old ladies at the rally yesterday were crooning about how 'he's got our backs on this one" because he's a 'Conservative'. I guess if you repeat a lie enough times, it becomes an acceptable imitation of the truth.
Chambliss's office sent a representative, Mr. Kendall, out to speak to us, so we wouldn't crowd the reception area. Although we met outside the building in the courtyard, we were informed by the representative and security, that we were to move from the area to a park across the street. We were not being loud or unruly, and there were not enough of us to crowd the space, but he was just doing his job so we complied. Conveniently, the park was not only across the street, but below street level, so we were effectively invisible at that point. When the representative from Chambliss's office came down with the security guard to speak to us they looked as though they were nervous. Maybe they're not used to protests, or they have an overblown perception of how people behave, because I don't find a crowd of senior citizens with two moms and a toddler threatening. Maybe the fact that they made us stand out in the sun for an hour before giving us 10 minutes to ask questions had something to do with it. Or perhaps, we looked like a bunch of homegrown terrorists. Your guess is as good as mine.
To be fair, Mr. Kendall, did offer to take us up to the office, but insisted there wouldn't be enough room for us all. He also brought us water - thanks. So, we finally put the question to Mr. Kendall: Does Senator Chambliss support or oppose this bill? Mr. Kendall's response was that he opposes it, but I suspect he is only giving us half the answer. That may be the true reason for his nervous demeanor - Chambliss's record does not support the assertion that he will oppose the bill if he is offered something he wants in return. The other reason I smell a rat on this is the lack of response I have received from their office on this issue. I have sent several letters recently on various issues, and health care is the only one they did not respond to.All of this is bad enough, but this morning I got an article from regarding the Health Care Bill. It says that Obama has given up his attempt to get 60 votes on the bill and instead has decided to use the budget reconciliation procedures to push it through with 50. I'm not an expert on how this works, so please do your homework and verify this claim. Then, do whatever you can to raise awareness of this new tactic to ram government health care we don't want down our throats.
For information on the body of the as well as those not yet up for a vote, please visit the Library of Congress
For information on the voting record of you Congressmen, please visit Project Vote Smart

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.

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

Let's See What Congress is up to

Make Congress pass DownsizeDC.org's “One Subject at a Time Act”
Most Americans probably believe a bill has to have majority support in Congress before it can become the law of the land. Sadly, this common sense expectation is totally wrong. Congressional leaders routinely pass laws that a majority opposes. DownsizeDC believes every bill should have to stand or fall on its own merits. Toward this end we have crafted the “One Subject at a Time Act” (OSTA).

Please go to the DownsizeDC website and check out all of their efforts to reign in government. If you are wondering why you should care, take a look at what Congress is currently working on (see list below), then judge for yourself whether or not they even know what their jobs are any more. The list of Bills is courtesy of Liberty Maven. You can get detailed info on individual Bills at GPOAccess.gov.

HR1296 - To achieve access to comprehensive primary health care services for all Americans and to reform the organization of primary care delivery through an expansion of the Community Health Center and National Health Service Corps programs.

HR1295 - To mitigate mortgage foreclosures, facilitate and include fairness in housing recovery, and combat mortgage fraud, and for other purposes.

HR210 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that providing breakfast in schools through the National School Breakfast Program has a positive impact on classroom performance.

HR1316 - To provide for appropriate notification of communities and homeowners of establishment of flood elevations for purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program.

HR1297 - To establish the Hawai’i Capital National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.

HR1253 - To require that limitations and restrictions on coverage under group health plans be timely disclosed to group health plan sponsors and timely communicated to participants and beneficiaries under such plans in a form that is easily understandable.

HR1259 - To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the distribution of the drug dextromethorphan, and for other purposes.

S-525 - A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.

HR1298 - To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.

HR1262 - To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds, and for other purposes.

HR1256 - To protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products.

HR1303 - To require the Attorney General, through the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice, to establish a 5-year competitive grant program to establish pilot programs to reduce the rate of occurrence of gun-related crimes in high-crime communities.

SR64 - A resolution recognizing the need for the Environmental Protection Agency to end decades of delay and utilize existing authority under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to comprehensively regulate coal combustion waste and the need for the Tennessee Valley Authority to be a national leader in technological innovation, low-cost power, and environmental stewardship.

HR1313 - To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 so that any local educational agency receiving funding under part A of title I of such Act or public charter school is eligible for a Troops to Teachers participant.

HR1310 - To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify that fill material cannot be comprised of waste.

HR1309 - To codify the definition of terms used in subheading 1604.14 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, relating to tuna products.

S-523 - A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish pilot project offices to improve Federal permit coordination for renewable energy.

HR1307 - To authorize improvements to flood damage reduction facilities adjacent to the American and Sacramento Rivers near Sacramento, California, and for other purposes.

S-522 - A bill to resolve the claims of the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska to land adjacent to Salmon Lake in the State of Alaska and to provide for the conveyance to the Bering Straits Native Corporation of certain other public land in partial satisfaction of the land entitlement of the Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

HR204 - Congratulating the American Dental Association for its 150th year of working to improve the public’s oral health and promoting dentistry, supporting initiatives to improve access to oral health care services for all Americans, and emphasizing the benefits of prevention of disease through support of community prevention initiatives and promotion of good oral hygiene.

HR203 -Expressing support for designation of a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”.

HR1290 - To allow for permanent residence of Kumi Iizuka-Barcena, a 42-year-old Japanese woman with breast cancer, and whose husband was killed in 2004.

S-519 - A bill to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to implement pesticide-related obligations of the United States under international conventions.

S-518 - A bill to establish the Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission

S-517 - A bill for the immigratory relief of Alejandro Gomez and Juan Sebastian Gomez.

S-516 - A bill for the immigratory relief of Majan Jean.

S-514 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance vocational rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

HR217 - Recognizing the week of March 15 through March 21, 2009, as “National Safe Place Week”

HR215 - Congratulating the Minority Business Development Agency on its 40th anniversary and commending its achievements in fostering the establishment and growth of minority businesses in the US

H214 - Recognizing the efforts of the countless volunteers who helped the Commonwealth of Kentucky recover from the ice storm of January 2009.

HR213 - Urging the establishment and observation of a legal public holiday in honor of Cesar E. Chavez.

HR211 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Women’s History Month

HR1372 - To allow for special treatment of Vicente Beltran Luna with regards to immigratory status.

HR1371 - To require the establishment of regional consumer price indices to compute cost-of-living increases under the programs for Social Security and Medicare and other medical benefits under titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act.

HR1370 - To improve the protections afforded under Federal law to consumers from contaminated seafood by directing the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program, in coordination with other appropriate Federal agencies, to strengthen activities for ensuring that seafood sold or offered for sale to the public in or affecting interstate commerce is fit for human consumption.

HR1366 - To protect innocent parties from certain fees imposed by depository institutions for dishonored checks, and for other purposes.

HR1364 - To amend the Social Security Act and the Public Health Service Act to provide for sex education, substance abuse treatment and prevention, and for other purposes.

HR1363 - Establishes the GothamCorps program. Directs the Corporation for National and Community Service to provide, through such program, for the award of grants to certain units of local government to carry out volunteer projects. Requires local government units to provide each participant in a volunteer project with a scholarship equal to the cost of one year’s tuition at a local public college. Authorizes grant funding from amounts made available in the National Service Trust.

HR1362 - To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of permanent national surveillance systems for multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease...

HR1361 - (also S-538) To increase the recruitment and retention of school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists by low-income local educational agencies.

HR1359 - To amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide for take-back disposal of controlled substances in certain instances, and for other purposes.

HR1358 - To reaffirm and clarify the Federal relationship of the Burt Lake Band as a distinct federally recognized Indian Tribe, and for other purposes.

HCR69 - (also SR65) Honoring the 100th anniversary of Fort McCoy in Sparta, Wisconsin

HR1346 - To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to liability under State and local requirements respecting devices.

HR1341 - To amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to provide the Special Inspector General with additional authorities and responsibilities, and for other purposes.

HR1340 - To provide for the admission to the United States of certain Tibetans.

HR1339 - To amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans provide coverage for treatment of a minor child’s congenital or developmental deformity or disorder due to trauma, infection, tumor, or disease.

HR1337 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the United States domestic energy supply.

HR1332 - To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply.

HR1330 - To amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and title 5, United States Code, to require that group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans and Federal employees health benefit plans provide coverage of colorectal cancer screening.

HR1329 - To amend title 49, United States Code, to support efforts by States and eligible local and regional entities to develop and implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, and for other purposes.

HR1327 - To authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran’s energy sector, and for other purposes.

HR1326 - To prohibit the conducting of invasive research on great apes, and for other purposes.

HR1325 - To require financial literacy counseling for borrowers, and for other purposes.

HR1324 - To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to improve the nutrition and health of schoolchildren and protect the Federal investment in the national school lunch and breakfast programs by updating the national school nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of school meals to conform to current nutrition science.

HR1322 - To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide emergency protection for retiree health benefits.

HR1321 - To provide affordable, guaranteed private health coverage that will make Americans healthier and can never be taken away.

HR1319 - To prevent the inadvertent disclosure of information on a computer through the use of certain “peer-to-peer” file sharing software without first providing notice and obtaining consent from the owner or authorized user of the computer.

HR1356 - To reduce foreclosures of residential mortgages.

HR1355 - To amend the National Labor Relations Act to require employers to provide labor organizations with equal access to employees prior to an election regarding representation, to prevent delays in initial collective bargaining, and to strengthen enforcement against intimidation of employees by employers.

HR1354 - To make the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available at a discount to certain veterans.

HR1353 - To extend the registration and reporting requirements of the Federal securities laws to certain housing-related Government-sponsored enterprises, and for other purposes.

HR1352 - To amend title XVI of the Social Security Act to clarify that the value of certain funeral and burial arrangements are not to be considered available resources under the supplemental security income program.

HR1351 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat computer technology and equipment as eligible higher education expenses for 529 plans, to allow certain individuals a credit against income tax for contributions to 529 plans, and for other purposes.

HR1350 - To provide for research on, and services for individuals with, post-abortion depression and psychosis.

HR1349 - To establish the Federal Accounting Oversight Board to approve and oversee accounting principles and standards for the purposes of the Federal financial regulatory agencies

HR1347 - To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment and implementation of concussion management guidelines with respect to school-aged children, and for other purposes.

SR66 - A resolution designating 2009 as the “Year of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the United States Army”.

HR1343 - To provide immunity from civil liability to first responders engaged in lawful efforts to prevent acts of terrorism, and for other purposes.

HR1342 - To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to provide for the reduction of greenhouse gases

S-533 - A bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to establish a grant program to ensure waterfront access for commercial fisherman, and for other purposes.

HR1338 - To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to States for assistance in hiring additional school-based mental health and student service providers.

S-530 - A bill to extend Federal recognition to the Muscogee Nation of Florida

S-529 - A bill to assist in the conservation of rare fields and rare canids by supporting and providing financial resources for the conservation programs of countries within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare felid and rare canid populations.

HR1334 - To provide for livable wages for Federal Government workers and workers hired under Federal contracts.

S-541 - A bill to increase the borrowing authority of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

S-540 - A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to liability under State and local requirements respecting devices.

S-539 - A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to require the President to designate certain geographical areas as national renewable energy zones, and for other purposes.

S-536 - A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to modify the definition of the term “renewable biomass”.

S-534 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain non-institutionalized full-benefit dual eligible individuals.

S-532 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a business credit against income for the purchase of fishing safety equipment.

S-531 - A bill to provide for the conduct of an in-depth analysis of the impact of energy development and production on the water resources of the United States, and for other purposes.

S-527 - A bill to amend the Clean Air act to prohibit the issuance of permits under title V of that Act for certain emissions from agricultural production.

HR221 - Recognizing and honoring Johnny Grant for his work as the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, California for more than a quarter of a century.

HR220 - Urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

HR1381 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend existing elective tax treatment for Alaska Native Settlement Trusts.

HR1380 - To establish a grant program for automated external defibrillators in elementary and secondary schools.

HR1379 - To prohibit the commercial harvesting of Atlantic striped bass in the coastal waters and the exclusive economic zone.

HR1378 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to develop guidelines to be used on a voluntary basis to develop plans to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood education programs, to establish school-based food allergy management grants, and for other purposes.

HR1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility

S-543 - A bill to require a pilot program on training, certification, and support for family caregivers of seriously disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces to provide caregiver services to such veterans and members, and for other purposes.

HR1376 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Waco Mammoth National MonumentTexas. in the State of

HR1373 - To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a resource study along the “Ox-Bow Route” of the Butterfield Overland Trail in the States of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and for other purposes.

SR68 - A resolution recognizing the contributions of the Pennsylvania National Guard in service to the Nation.

HR1374 - To prevent the abuse and exploitation of older individuals.

HR1289 - To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance program, and for other purposes.

HR1287 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a partnership with the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission regarding the use of the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center as a visitor center for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and for other purposes.

HR1286 - To amend the Act titled “An Act to provide for the establishment of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and for other purposes” to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to accept donations of lands that are contiguous to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and for other purposes.

HR1285 - To establish the Commission on the Foreclosure and Mortgage Lending Crisis.

HR1284 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 West Main Street in McLain, Mississippi, as the “Major Ed W. Freeman Post Office”.

HR1271 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2351 West Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach, Florida, as the “Elijah Pat Larkins Post Office Building”.

HR1281 - To provide for the return of the Fresnel Lens to the lantern room atop Presque Isle Light Station Lighthouse, Michigan, and for other purposes.

HR1278 - To posthumously award a Congressional gold medal to Shirley Chisholm.

HR1275 - To direct the exchange of certain land in Grand, San Juan, and Uintah Counties, Utah

HR1274 - To permit employees to request, and to ensure employers consider requests for, flexible work terms and conditions, and for other purposes.

HR1273 - To honor Susan B. Anthony by celebrating her legacy on the third Monday in February.

HR1270 - To reauthorize community development block grants, and for other purposes.

HR1268 - To amend the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit issuance of residential mortgages to any individual who lacks a Social Security account number.

HR1265 - To restrict the use of offshore tax havens and abusive tax shelters to inappropriately avoid Federal taxation, and for other purposes.

HR1264 - To amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to provide for the national flood insurance program to make available multiperil coverage for damage resulting from windstorms or floods

HR1263 - To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic enrollment of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and to clarify the method for computing certain annuities based on part-time service; to allow certain employees of the District of Columbia to have certain periods of service credited for purposes relating to retirement eligibility; and for other purposes.

HR1261 - To protect the public health by establishing the Tobacco Harm Reduction Center within the Department of Health and Human Services with certain authority to regulate tobacco products

HR1258 - To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit manipulation of caller identification information, and for other purposes.

HR1257 - To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require the disclosure of information relating to the fair market value and safety of damaged motor vehicles.

SR70 - A resolution congratulating the people of the Republic of Lithuania on the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania and celebrating the rich history of Lithuania.

HJR39 - Recognizing the 188th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and American democracy.

HR227 - Recognizing and appreciating the historical significance and the heroic human endeavor and sacrifice of the people of Crete during World War II and commending the PanCretan Association of America.

S-554 - A bill to improve the safety of motorcoaches, and for other purposes.

S-553 - A bill to revise the authorized route of the North Country National Scenic Trail in northeastern Minnesota to include existing hiking trails along Lake Superior’s north shore and in Superior National Forest and Chippewa National Forest, and for other purposes.

S-552 - A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make their land available for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under programs administered by States and tribal governments.

S-544 - Provides for special immigratory treatment of Ashley Ross Fuller, despite the rules of the Immigration and Nationality Act to the contrary.

S-550 - Provides for special immigratory treatment of Francisca Lino, despite the rules of the Immigration and Nationality Act to the contrary.

S-549 - Provides for special immigratory treatment of Simeon Simeonov, Stela Simeonova, Stoyan Simeonov, and Vania Simeonova, despite the rules of the Immigration and Nationality Act to the contrary.

S-548 - A bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas distributors, and for other purposes.

S-547 - A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for enrollees of Medicaid managed care organizations by extending the discounts offered under fee-for-service Medicaid to such organizations.

HR226 - Recognizing the plight of the Tibetan people on the 50th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama being forced into exile and calling for a sustained multilateral effort to bring about a durable and peaceful solution to the Tibet issue.

HR224 - Supporting the designation of Pi Day, and for other purposes.

HR223 - Honoring the life, achievements, and contributions of Paul Harvey, affectionately known for his signature line, “This is Paul Harvey. . .Good Day”.

S-545 - A bill to develop capacity and infrastructure for mentoring programs.

HR230 - Recognizing the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

HR1388 - Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act: To reauthorize and reform the national service laws.

HR1415 - To provide for a demonstration project regarding Medicaid reimbursements for stabilization of emergency medical conditions by non-publicly owned or operated institutions for mental diseases.

HR1413 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow certain public employees a deduction for distributions from governmental plans for health and long-term care insurance, and for other purposes.

HR1412 - To increase public confidence in the justice system and address any unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal process.

HR1411 - To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a Primary and Public Health Scholarship Program.

HR1410 - To provide assistance to improve the health of newborns, children, and mothers in developing countries, and for other purposes.

HR1409 - (Also S-560) To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

HR1408 - To require all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and town houses to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with disabilities.

HR1407 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain non-institutionalized full-benefit dual eligible individuals.

HR1406 - To direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to reinstate the “uptick rule” on short sales of securities and to suspend the application of mark-to-market accounting principles.

HR1405 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Head Start teachers the same above-the-line deduction for supplies as is allowed to elementary and secondary school teachers.

HR1404 - To authorize a supplemental funding source for catastrophic emergency wildland fire suppression activities on Department of the Interior and National Forest System lands, to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a cohesive wildland fire management strategy, and for other purposes.

HCR70 - Expressing support for the District of Columbia school scholarship program.

SR72 - A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding drug trafficking in Mexico.

HR1425 - (Also S-564) To establish commissions to review the facts and circumstances surrounding injustices suffered by European Americans, European Latin Americans, and Jewish refugees during WWII

HR1424 - To name the front circle drive in front of the Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility in Iron Mountain, Michigan, as “Sergeant First Class James D. Priestap Drive”.

HR1422 - To reauthorize through 2014 certain programs under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.

HR1421 - To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide Medicaid coverage of drugs prescribed for certain research study child participants.

HR234 - Expressing support for designation of a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”

HR233 - Recognizing the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honoring them for their many contributions to the Nation throughout its history.

HR232 - Recognizing and commending the Toys for Tots Literacy Program for its contributions in raising awareness of illiteracy, promoting children’s literacy, and fighting poverty through the support of literacy.

HR231 - Supporting the goals and ideals of “Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month” and “National DVT Screening Day” and supporting efforts to educate the public about deep vein thrombosis, in memory of former Representative Jennifer Dunn.

HR566 - A bill to create a Financial Product Safety Commission, to provide consumers with stronger protections and better information in connection with consumer financial products, and to give providers of consumer financial products more regulatory certainty.

HR565 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide continued entitlement to coverage for immunosuppressive drugs furnished to beneficiaries under the Medicare Program that have received a kidney transplant and whose entitlement to coverage would otherwise expire

S-563 - A bill to direct the exchange of certain land in Grand, San Juan, and Uintah Counties, Utah

S-562 - A bill to require accurate and reasonable disclosure of the terms and conditions of prepaid telephone calling cards and services, and for other purposes.

S-558 - A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to nutrition labeling of food offered for sale in food service establishments.

S-557 - A bill to encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert plans throughout the United States, to authorize grants for the assistance of organizations to find missing adults, and for other purposes.

S-556 - A bill to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to modernize the process by which interstate firearms transactions are conducted by Federal firearms licensees.

S-555 - A bill to provide for the exchange of certain land located in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

HR1451 - To amend title 23, United States Code, to allow an exception for the weight limits for certain towing trucks.

HR236 - Urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

HR1452 - To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into negotiated rulemaking to modernize the Medicare part B fee schedule for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests and to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust the fee for collecting specimens for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests under the Medicare Program.

HR1450 - To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to counterfeit drugs

HR1449 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the qualification standard for exterior windows, doors, and skylights.

HR1445 - To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require nationally registered statistical rating organizations to provide additional disclosures with respect to the rating of certain structured securities

HR1444 - To establish the Congressional Commission on Civic Service to study methods of improving and promoting volunteerism and national service, and for other purposes.

HR1443 - To ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets and highways

HR1441 - To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow States to permit certain Medicaid eligible individuals who have extremely high annual lifelong orphan drug costs to continue on Medicaid notwithstanding increased income.

HR1438 - To prohibit any Federal agency or official, in carrying out any Act or program to reduce the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change, from imposing a fee or tax on gaseous emissions emitted directly by livestock.

HR1435 - To amend the National Trails System Act to clarify Federal authority relating to land acquisition from willing sellers for the majority of the trails in the System, and for other purposes.

HR1432 - To reduce youth usage of tobacco products, to enhance State efforts to eliminate retail sales of tobacco products to minors, and for other purposes.

HR1430 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit physical therapy services to be furnished under the Medicare Program to individuals under the care of a dentist.

HR1429 - To provide for an effective HIV/AIDS program in Federal prisons.

HR1426 - To amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the issuance of permits under title V of that Act for certain emissions from agricultural production.

S-575 - A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to develop plans and targets for States and metropolitan planning organizations to develop plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, and for other purposes.

S-573 - A bill to improve the efficiency of customs and other services at the Wild Horse, Montana port of entry.

S-572 - A bill to provide for the issuance of a “forever stamp” to honor the sacrifices of the brace men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart.

S-571 - A bill to strengthen the Nation’s research efforts to identify the causes and cure of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, expand psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis data collection, and study access to and quality of care for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and for other purposes.

S-569 - A bill to ensure that persons who form corporations in the United States disclose the beneficial owners of those corporations, in order to prevent wrongdoers from exploiting United States corporations for criminal gain, to assist law enforcement in detecting, preventing, and punishing terrorism, money laundering, and other misconduct involving United States corporations, and for other purposes.

S-568 - A bill for the relief of Sali Bregaj and Mjaftime Bregaj.

And lastly, for a change of pace, here’s a bill that we can all get behind:

S542 - A bill to repeal the provision of law that provides automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.

Senators http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Representatives https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Did Ayn Rand have a premonition of Obama?

Some of these quotes are amazingly eerie, in their description of characters resembling Obama. Although he claims to be the agent of 'Change', he is quite the personification of socialist dogma. He is Elsworth Toohey in his arrogance and quest for power, and Peter Keating in his whiny
For those of you who are new to my blog, thanks for joining me. These installments are research for future paintings, and the answer to a friend's request for more Rand.

...His thinking is muddy enough to [demand] an absolute obedience to those ideas from others, but not from himself. He isn't above...accepting money when doing so is quite safe although not quite clean, and forgiving in his "friends" the crimes for which he would destroy an "enemy".

He is a very prominent figure. Especially popular among the semi-literate lower classes... rather indifferent themselves, but will not tolerate any disrespect or disbelief of his authority...

He hates all successful people. A successful man, in any line, is his personal enemy. He rejoices at every failure and at the fall of every idol.

The human herds. All the gatherings of average humanity which have but one aim: to ruin all individuals and individuality, to put "we" instead of "I" everywhere, to have a herd of submissive insiders against everyone outside who "does not belong", everyone who has the courage and conscience to walk alone. The tyranny of number, of multitude, of the average. Communism already established - unofficially.

A mob's feeling of omnipotence is its most jealously guarded possession and therefore a dangerous thing to wound. The mob can forgive any insult or crime except one: challenging its ultimate power... but to see a man who has freed himself from it entirely, who has nothing in common with it, a man who does not need it and who openly disdains it - this is the one crime a mob can never forgive.

...He made an unintelligent speech, full of common platitudes, showing a complete lack of imagination or originality. He had the nerve to speak in defense of the people, the country, the world and soon!...

Everything centered around one idea - one propaganda - and that idea fed to the people until they mentally suffocate.

A terrific machinery crushing the whole country and smothering every bit of life, action and air.
A picture of the state, strangling the individual. A picture of the masses showing who and what those masses are, their ideas, and their rise against the unusual and higher man.

Kira: "But there is a life, a life that I saw, that I was waiting for - and I have a right to it. Who is taking it away from me and why are they doing it?"

The All-Pervading Propaganda: It's ridiculous, far-fetched connections. Its intentionally vulgar,"popular" style and artificial bravado. Glorifying of the drudgery and the "everyday". Its main methods: employment - enforced meetings, "social activists", demonstrators, enforced deductions of pay for "patriotic" enterprises; and schools - enforced study of unscientific "social sciences", a "red" angle on all activities.

The individual against society and a time when society is at its worst and makes itself felt most strongly.

This made me smile...

So I decided to pass it on.
http://americantruckersatwar.com/2009/01/18/dear-american-liberals-leftists-social-progressives-socialists/

The Federal Government should institute this system on a national level

I just read a good article addressing the issue of welfare abuse. Because I have long felt this is an important issue that needs to be addressed, I have decided to post a link to the article with my response.
Too many people are afraid to say that a person should work for a living instead of turning to the government for a handout. Too many people think the rich owe them something or have cheated them in some way. I understand that bad things happen and people run on hard times. I grew up poor and still remember how it feels. I'm better off now than I was as a child, but I intend to do the best that I can for myself and my family.
The thought of accepting what the government would give me rather than work hard is absurd. Also, the government is the last place someone should go for help.Family, charities, and churches should be the first step. You should know the person who is helping you and appreciate their willingness to help you. Taking money from a vague entity like the government, which takes that money from someone else, is stealing. The person who earned that money has no idea how it is spent.They are not given the courtesy of deciding if you merit the help.
Link: National Summary Article Verifying need when dispensing welfare
My Response: I just wanted to congratulate you for having the nerve to address this issue, particularly in a time when it is in vogue to be a ward of the government. I have long wondered why the government makes it so easy to get a check and literally pays people to stay home and have children. The answer, of course, is buying votes. I find it sad that people would rather accept what they are given by the government than work for what they could have. That is no quality of life by my standards. As a Libertarian political artist (www.machinepolitick.com), I know how hard it is to stand up to the accepted ideas of your peers. Good luck and good work. The article was very well written and stands as a great example of a very important issue.

The Fairness Doctrine Looms on the Horizon Part 2

I was recently asked to look into the Fairness Doctrine by a friend of mine on Digg. The result is the two posts I have written for my blog, this being the second. I will also include links at the end for all the articles I had time to read. Clearly, I have a bias against the Fairness Doctrine. If you have a problem with that, I suggest you stop reading now.
I have no doubt Obama considers The Fairness Doctrine a priority. I know he will pass it if it gets through Congress. All Americans should be concerned about this. As a Conservative* political artist and blogger, I have alot to worry about from the Fairness Doctrine. Some of the same people supporting this are also calling for regulation of the internet. It is looking pretty scary.
It takes alot of work on things like this before I even start a painting. Now that I am trying to get into the habit of blogging, I have even less time. If you're interested in seeing my work, the site is: http://www.machinepolitick.com/. You will understand pretty quickly how the Fairness Doctrine will affect me if it extends to the internet. More importantly, it is yet another attack on the Constitution and our civil liberties.
There are some people out there screaming about the Fairness Doctrine and its repercussions. I fear that there are not enough of us, and no one else is listening. We are just a bunch of bigoted wing nuts after all.
I'm glad some people understand that America was not founded on Socialist principles. I was starting to wonder. Now we have to figure out how to educate the masses before we are silenced. I used to think all this Orwellian Big-Brother talk was a bunch of conspiracy nonsense. Now I am not so sure. Clearly, our government no longer cares what we think. McCain-Feingold was passed under the premise of making politics more transparent. We all know it really keeps the big guys in office and shuts up the rest of us. Then the bailout was passed with an overwhelming outcry against it by the people because government knows best and we’re supposed to think they’re looking out for our best interests.
Sorry, I tend to digress and address multiple subjects in a rant. Please bear with me.
I have a question concerning the Fairness Doctrine: Why is it that people who talk so much about freedom of expression and conservative war mongers always support use of government suppression? Things like the Fairness Doctrine are the first step of a repressive government to control the people. Our government has already betrayed us and the Constitution with McCain Feingold, the Patriot Act, the bailouts, etc. We need to take a stand now, while we still can. Make your voices heard people.
There are plenty of communist and socialist countries in the world. It's time for these people to move there, and let the rest of us restore America to the free country it used to be. But wait, Communism doesn't work. Maybe their true objective is to be in charge so they can enjoy the spoils of our labor. We all know when the wealth gets spread around everyone ends up poor because the government sucks up most of the goodies.

* (Note: by Conservative, I do not mean Republican. If you must label me use Libertarian or Objectivist, they are better fits. I may decide to do a self-description at some point in the future. Clearly, I also need to write an article on the real meaning of the word Conservative.)

That’s it for now. Here are some articles you can read:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27566&page=4&viewID=668648
http://www.google.com/search?q=democrats+fairness+
http://www.thomas.gov/home/gpoxmlc109/h3302_ih.xml
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=110-h20071018-47&bill=h110-2905 http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2905 http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27566#continueA http://www.google.com/search?q=democrats+fairness+doctrine&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a