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

Painting With My Apprentice

I just posted an article about my recent painting day with Avery. For those of you who don't know me, he is my son. It was a rainy day and he enjoys painting with me. I thought it would be nice to post something nonpolitical for a change.
Here are some additional pictures of Avery's artistic creations. Bear in mind that he is four, so they may seem a little bizarre. I did not help him with any of his work. If any of you have kids, you know they don't appreciate being helped.

Two new ModCon posts

Conservatives need their own message.
We're helping Liberals invalidate our own philosophy.

Thank You for Your Service

I just read a very moving article at American Thinker. It's sad that people have to go to Europe to get perspective on the sacrifice of our soldiers. It's worse to think we have a President and First Lady who only see our servicemen as political pawns.
I think the author's tradition of honoring a fallen soldier every year is a very touching and fitting tribute to the huge sacrifice they made in the name of freedom.
My disdain for Michelle Obama is only surpassed by my feelings toward her husband.

Liberals Say Pffft! I say Bring it on!

Just a quick note on my latest at ModCon.
I've been slacking a little on the blogs lately. Please forgive me for having a million projects going at once. There are some links to some awesome artists in the article.
Those of you interested, should also look into the National Tea Parties. There are a couple coming up.

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