Klavan on the Culture's Guide to the Elections

Marxism in America

A candy "buy back"

A group of dentists have set up an organization, Operation Gratitude, to "buy back" kids' Halloween candy, then send it to US servicemen deployed in harm's way. It's a good cause, getting sugar out of the mouths of American kids and giving a treat to our GIs. The GIs, in turn, typically share the candy with children in the communities where they're posted.

In a way, the project reminds me of the efforts of the "candy bomber," Gail Halvorsen, way back during the Berlin Airlift in the late '40s.

However, I take issue with the term, "buy back." How can the dentists "buy back" something that they never owned?

The "buy back" term has its roots in the gun-control movement where anti-gun zealots typically exchange small amounts of money or gift cards for heirloom guns that white-haired widows inherited from their long-gone deceased husbands. The zealots think they are doing something about crime. But, think about it, why would a career criminal trade his $500 work tools (guns) for a $20 gift card?

The "buy-back" concept comes from the aristocratic notion that everything belongs to the king (big government) and he graciously allows us peasants to use it on the condition that he can take it back anytime he wants.

I applaud Operation Gratitude and encourage everyone, especially parents and children, to participate. However, I'd like to see them use a term other than "buy back."

Stop funding National Public Radio!

The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 crated what now is the present system of public broadcasting. Like virtually all government-funded projects, "public" broadcasting has grown into a more-than-billion-dollar monster which is virtually free of accountability to the taxpayers who are striped of hundreds of millions of dollars to keep it on the air and competing against private-enterprise broadcasters.

Originally conceived to provide educational programming the system has festered into a taxpayer-subsidized political indoctrination tool for leftists -- although it still produces a bit of worthwhile educational programming.

National Public Radio (NPR), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) have been feeding at the public trough for far too long. Their intolerance of honesty and diversity of opinion, as manifest by the recent termination of Juan Williams is inexcusable. National Public Radio fired Mr. Williams because he admitted on Fox television to becoming nervous when he sees Muslims on airplanes -- for saying what we all feel!

It is interesting to note the hypocritical difference in how NPR views disparaging remarks about conservatives. Last year, Sarah Spitz, a producer for National Public Radio affiliate KCRW, said that she would "Laugh loudly like a maniac and watch his eyes bug out" if she saw Rush Limbaugh having a heart attack; Spitz was not fired. In 2001, NPR's Bill Moyers called conservative Americans "the right-wing Taliban" and conservative legislators "the ayatollahs in Congress"; Moyers was not fired. In 1995, NPR's Nina Totenberg commented that if there was "retributive justice," conservative former Sen. Jesse Helms would "get AIDS from a transfusion, or one of his grandchildren will get it"; Totenberg was not fired. Also in 1995, NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu declared about fundamentalist Christians, "The evaporation of 4 million who believe this crap would leave the world an instantly better place"; Codrescu was not fired.

NPR, PBS, and CPB must be de-funded, but not because they fired Juan Williams. If NPR was privately-funded their editorial and staffing decisions wouldn't be any of my business. Instead, I would simply be a consumer, free to listen, or not listen to NPR. But, thanks to the busy-body know-it-all politicians in Congress, everything NPR does is my business, because I'm taxed to subsidize NPR. I don't appreciate being forced to pay for other people's "viewpoints," "journalism," or "art" (Don't get me started on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) which uses taxpayer money to pay "artists" with little or no talent to produce garbage and even profane insults on our sensibilities.).

Of course, any private business should have the right to fire its employees. But NPR, PBS, and CPB (and their many public broadcasting stations) aren't any private business -- they get millions of taxpayer dollars every year! In other words: every taxpayer is paying for leftist talk radio and censorship of non-politically cleansed (AKA politically correct) speech -- content which has been a proven failure in the free market of ideas!

I have written Congress several times over the years insisting that these organizations no longer receive funding from the taxpayer. Where is the Constitutional authority for this spending and for this competition against private enterprise?

I cannot tolerate a government-funded entity competing against private enterprise. And, I certainly cannot tolerate and form of government influence over any source of news or commentary.

These programs
- Violate the First Amendment by forcing me to subsidize other people's speech
- Violate the Ninth Amendment by attacking my freedom of conscience
- Violate the Tenth Amendment because these subsidies aren't authorized by the Constitution.

All federal funding of speech and the arts should be terminated immediately! The must be required to compete in a free market like any other broadcaster!

Barbara "Call Me Senator" Boxer

Outrageous! Foreign nations want control over US States!

Yet another deadly gun-free zone

Once again, two gunmen have proven the absolute folly of "gun-free" zones such as schools, churches, federal buildings, court houses, post offices, and even military installations. This week, the "gun-free" killing zone was a post office in Henning, Tennessee.

Ironically, post offices, where this shooting occurred, are well-known for being excessively restrictive on firearms in the hands of responsible people -- even employees and patrons who have been trained in the safe use of firearms and who have been certified by the FBI and their States as responsible, law-abiding persons.

Weapons and explosives. No person while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, or store the same on postal property, except for official purposes. -- Postal Regulation 39 CFR 232.1(l)

How were two miscreants able to gun down two defenseless women? Because policy- and law-makers seem to believe that regulating an inert piece of steel and plastic somehow makes criminals behave! Because the government thinks its better to keep it’s citizens unarmed!

Unfortunately, like all restrictions on law-abiding people, this ban does not affect criminal behavior -- it only leaves responsible people defenseless. I cannot understand why creators of "gun-free" zones don't understand that simple concept. Those who favor and establish gun-free zones need to rationally reconsider their restrictions on the right of good people to defend themselves.

Here's a thought: If signs are so effective in curbing criminal behavior, why not simply post a sign that says, "No criminals beyond this point"? Ya say it won't work? Now you've proved my point! So, why post a sign that bans responsible, peaceful, law-abiding adults simply because they are prepared to defend themselves against the very criminals that disobey your anti-gun sign?

The courts, including the US Supreme Court, have repeatedly ruled that the police have no obligation to protect individuals or even groups. In fact, it is not reasonable or wise to expect them to do so. Violent crimes are typically over long before police have a chance to respond as was the case in today's tragedy. All the cops can do is collect evidence and maybe find the attacker. Additionally, we don't want a nation where police are so prevalent that they can stop all crime before it happens.

One of our most basic human rights is our right to protect ourselves and our families from harm. "Gun-free" zones (ie military installations, most schools, most churches, federal buildings, many businesses, and even court houses) by definition deprive law-abiding citizens of the most effective means of self-protection -- a gun. These disarmed potential victims are left completely vulnerable to attack by those who, by definition, disobey laws such as gun bans.

Experience and reason clearly indicate that "gun-free" zones do nothing but assure criminals and terrorists that they will find unarmed victims defenseless against a homicidal rampage. The only people who have guns in "gun-free" zones are criminals, members of the elite (who create special rules for themselves so they can carry a gun or have armed bodyguards) and maybe a cop or two.

I can't quite decide whether "gun-free" zones are an illusion or an hallucination. But I do know they are evil. I hold the authorities who establish "gun-free" zones just as accountable for the deaths and injuries as the shooter himself. It is reckless and foolish to assume that disarming good people causes bad people to behave as they should. It is my firm opinion that any person, government, agency, business, school, church, or any other entity that creates a "gun-free" zone must also provide absolute security and safety for all who enter therein.

Utah's legislature is one of countless government entities that have established "gun-free" zones and/or have provided for businesses, churches, and government agencies to establish "gun-free" zones. I believe every State legislature and Congress must promptly pass legislation requiring all entities that establish "gun-free" zones also provide absolute security to include armed guards and full screening for weapons.

We must no longer tolerate any attempts to disarm law abiding citizens with silly schemes that criminals will never obey. Tragically, there will be shootings in "gun-free" zones again, but they will happen with, or without any gun laws anyone can think of. Disarming victims is not the solution! Fortunately, enlightened businesses understand that simple fact.

Congress must show proper respect the US Constitution and the Second Amendment by abolshing all unconstitutional laws, regulations, policies and agencies including the regulation (39 CFR 232.1(l)) which facilitated the murder of two defenseless postal workers this week. Those who created this monstrous regulation have blood on their hands as do those who allow it to continue.

Life is too short to allow our government to interfere with our right and ability to defend ourselves and our families.

The voters are the problem

Let me begin this rant by claiming that 53% of all statistics are made up.

Given that disclaimer, I have determined that:
• One-third of voters get their news and information through careful study of issues and political candidates through newspapers, radio and TV news, non-fiction radio and TV programs, books and magazines and discussions with other voters (including persons with opposing viewpoints) on a variety of issues.
• One-third of voters get their news and information from Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Bill Maher monologues; Hollywood sages (ie Barbara Streisand, Sean Penn, Pamela Anderson, Whoopie Goldberg, and Michael Moore); professional racists (ie Kweisi Mfume, Louis Farakhan, Al Sharpton, Cynthia McKinney, Ray Nagan and Jesse Jackson); and Marxist anti-American college professors and government school teachers.
• Finally, one-third of voters don't get any news or information at all!

Consequently, the two-thirds of voters who make poorly informed choices in the voting booth are out-voting those of us who put in a little effort before voting. That is the primary reason we have our terrible government with excessive taxes and corrupt politicians. Too many voters cast votes based on their personal selfish interests as opposed to what is best for the nation as a whole. We have the democracy we deserve.

Perhaps this problem can best be fixed with a voter test. The questions need not be difficult. For example, if you don't know your mayor's name or who pays for welfare handouts (working people and other taxpayers) or who is next in line for the presidency if both the president and vice president die, you don't get to vote. My voter test would help to reduce the number of ill-informed votes that cancel the voice of responsible voters every election.

If nothing else, each voter should be asked one simple question about his/her prefrred candidate: "Why?"

Leading up to the 2008 presidential election, I asked that one-word question, "Why?", of several would-be voters. Every McCain voter could articulate a reasonable reason related to the McCain's experience, stands on issues, and voting record. No Obama voter could tell me anything about Obama other than the color of his skin and used some variation of "I think he'd be a good president" or "We need a change from Bush." (Note to the clueless Obama zombies: Bush wasn't running for office in 2008 so a "change from Bush" was already guaranteed long before anyone even thought to run for the Whitehouse.)

Some argue that such a test would be discriminatory. Yup -- against ill-informed voters. If more people of one race fail the test than another, that is not a race problem, it's voter-preparedness problem! If an immigrant needs to pass a basic civics test (in English) to become a citizen, why shouldn't I be expected to also pass a basic civics test to vote?

In the Declaration of Independence, our nation's founders affirmed that all men are created equal. By that, they meant that we all have the same God-given rights and that there should be no aristocratic class nor commoner class. Specifically, their declaration was directed to the King of England and their view that he was nothing more than another mortal man with no right to enslave his subjects.

Like King George III, the self-anointed kings and aristocrats in US political office, bureaucracies, and courts believe they are better equipped to make our decisions and impose government programs (at our expense) to deny us freedom to make personal choices. At the same time they seek to build and preserve their own power and wealth -- just like King George.

In the Declaration of Independence, our founders declared

That to secure [our God-given] rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed....

If voters understood this simple concept, that governments exist to protect our rights -- not to provide cradle-to-grave comfort by taking from the producers and giving to the non-producers, they would vote very differently.

The Declaration of Independence continues:

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.

Our founders not only were involved in an insurrection against the established and tyrannical government (Great Britain), they were advocating revolution whenever the people see it is necessary to protect their rights and freedom.

Now, consider this: The founders wrote a Constitution that gives us an opportunity for rebellion and change in government every two years. We call that opportunity an election. Every two years we can throw out the entire House of Representatives! But, we don't -- even though we all despise the work they're doing (or not doing). Every four years, we have the opportunity to change the President and the entire top leadership of his administration thereby profoundly changing the way bureaucrats treat our rights. But, we often don't -- even though we all despise the work they all are doing (or not doing). Every two to four years, each State has the opportunity to vote out a senator. In six years, we can purge the entire Senate! But, we don't -- even though we all despise the work they're doing (or not doing).

Our founders gave us the tools needed for a peaceful and orderly overthrow of a tyrannical government. Yet, the uninformed and selfish among us keep electing and reelecting the wrong people!

I hear people always whining about the conspiracies of the Federal Reserve and the Bilderberg Group, out-of control government spending, government waste, unconstitutional laws and wars, bailouts, debt ceilings, cash for clunkers, judicial activism, etc. But, nobody seems to understand that we voters have the power to fix all that in less than six years with wise and informed votes! I guess it is easier to watch Oprah, American Idol, Survivor, and Jerry Springer and then whine about the government we have chosen.

Freedom comes to those who know truth and live its standards. Every man has the right to be free from enslavement, free to make his own choices in life and suffer the consequences thereof as envisioned by the founders. Everyone should have the blessing of freedom. But they have no right to harm the rights of others.

I see voting as a mixture of a right and a responsibility -- just like using a firearm or driving a car. Those who cannot or will not exercise the right responsibly must have that right restricted in order to protect the rights of everyone else. Restricting the right of irresponsible persons to vote (defined as those who don't study the issues and candidates enough to make an informed choice) would ensure that they do not harm the rights of everyone else by their poor choices.

Unfortunately, it'll never happen because certain politicians (ie Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Cynthia McKinney, Harry Reid, John Conyers, Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, John Kerry, Dianne Feinstein, Richard Daley, Joseph Biden, John McCain, etc.) rely on a constituency consisting of a sizeable portion of idiots to stay in power.

Many people fret about low voter-turnout. Personally, I think that's a good thing. If a person is too lazy to vote, he's also likely too lazy to have an informed opinion. Some propose some sort of incentive to vote such as a lottery as proposed in Arizona a while back. I think that's a bad thing. Again, if a person needs to be bribed to vote, he's likely too lazy to have an informed opinion. Inducing people to vote for the purpose of entering a lottery is contrary to the civic rights, privileges and duties inherent in our citizenship.

I shudder when I watch Jay Leno's "Jay-Walking" excursions wherein he explores how utterly ignorant many Americans are.

Congress has the lowest approval rating of any entity imaginable. Yet, we persistently reelect over 90% of the most corrupt, anti-Constitution, anti-liberty, big-government incumbents we all disapprove of! Many people call for term limits in an effort to get the government back under control. But, as another writer said, this is a cop-out. The fact that some politicians remain in office too long is no reason to also boot out the statesmen our nation needs. We voters have a profound moral obligation to elect and reelect only the best to public office. We are failing in that role.

I predict that even the most corrupt members of Congress will be reelected in November, 2010. Perpetual non-statesmen incumbent congressmen who have been in office far too long, yet who will be reelected include Barbara Boxer, John Conyers, John Dingell, Barney Frank, Jesse Jackson Jr, my own congressman Jim Matheson (who although he claims to be a "Blue Dog" conservative Democrat votes with ultra-leftist Nancy Pelosi 93% of the time), Nancy Pelosi, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid, Maxine Waters, and Don Young. The voters are idiots!

If the next centennial does not find us a great nation, it will be because those who represent the enterprises, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces. — James A Garfield

Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If the people be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand those high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. — James A Garfield

I honestly don't care if a well-informed voter makes a carefully reasoned vote that is contrary to mine--we need everybody's good ideas to make democracy work best. But those who don't know or understand the issues or the consequences of a candidate's agenda really need to stay home on election day for the good of the country.

Judeo-Christian Voter Guide

Vote Freedom First

American Family Association Election Guide

Eagle Forum Election Guide

Politicians, Taxes, Subsidies, and Renewable Energy

A candidate for the office of Iron County Commissioner spoke at a recent American Legion meeting in Cedar City. I was pleased to see that the number one issue listed on her flyer was "fiscal responsibility at all levels of county government...."

However, the third issue she listed causes me concern: "encourage renewable energy advancement...." On www.ironcountygop.org she answered a related question in a way that further concerns me:

Q - What do you believe is the best solution for Iron County's energy needs?

A - Based on my discussions with our economic development personnel, and supported by their overall research, our best solutions for renewable energy sources would be 1) solar, 2) geothermal, and 3) wind.

Sadly, at least two other candidates for the Iron County Commission also favor pushing the County into the alternative energy boondoggle.

It doesn't take much study to learn that the technologies Mrs. Bulloch and her advisers aspire for are expensive and are not economically viable in a free market. If "green" energy is such a good idea, why hasn't any power company already established wind or solar farms at its own expense? Why is their decision always to build new energy plants that use carbon? It's because they know that rational consumers (that's the overwhelming majority of us) won't consiously pay more just so they can brag about using "green" energy -- energy that can't even be relied on to produce heat or light or work when needed.

Without substantial government subsidies at taxpayer expense, none of these technologies would exist except for remote off-the-grid applications. (In 2007, American taxpayers subsidized government-preferred energy sources to the tune of nearly $17 billion!) These technologies cannot survive in a free market and are only in the market because the government has forced them into the market -- and we have local "leaders" who are eager participants in that force!

A typical "renewable energy" project is the 17-acre, 100-kilowatt "SunSmart" solar farm that the "leadership" of St. George imposed on their citizens. After the project was complete, authorities admitted that it would never pay for itself -- even after collecting taxpayer-funded federal and state subsides!

In the early days of his administration, Obama inaugurated a new $100 million solar project at Nellis AFB near Las Vegas. That project allegedly will save the base $1 million in electric bills per year. Do the math -- 100 years to pay for itself -- and it'll only last 20 years!

The irrational cost of solar projects isn't the only problem. They only work when the sun is shining. And, the production of the solar panels is one of the nastiest industries in the world with regard to the toxic waste that is produced. They simply displace the pollution somewhere out-of-sight-out-of-mind. They call that "green."

In my extensive travels around the nation and the world, I've seen a lot of wind farms. They're far uglier and more intrusive than almost any other human intrusion on nature. I got to spend some time talking about them with a project supervisor who is working on the wind project in Milford county. He described the project's huge demand on fossil fuel for the energy needed to fabricate the turbines, towers, new power lines, etc. Each tower's foundation alone requires many tons of concrete which, in turn, requires tons of fossil fuel to create. Then, there is the heavy demand on fossil fuel to run the equipment to put the things in place. (When you really need to get some work done, you need fossil fuel to do it.)

In similar fashion to solar systems, wind turbines only produce electricity when the winds blow -- and they only produce their rated capacity when the winds are above 30 mph (well above the average wind speed). Actual output is generally less than 20% of rated output. Only a person completely ignorant of the facts or a person who stands to gain financially could support such a system. Like the solar systems, wind systems have a short lifespan. Being mechanical devices, they wear out. A drive between Barstow and Bakersfield, California is all it takes to discover the poor reliability of wind power technology -- a substantial portion of those wind turbines are inoperative. Our politicians are generous with taxpayer money to subsidize new projects. However, maintenance is not subsidized and the turbines don't produce enough electricity to pay for repairs. So they are essentially abandoned. What a waste!

Both solar and wind power are so unreliable that traditional power sources (coal, gas, hydro, nuclear) must be sized to provide 100% of the energy needs of the customers. California's infamous brownouts are a natural consequence of trusting the wind to blow and the turbines to not break down. You might remember that, shortly after St. George proudly inaugurated their 100-kilowatt solar project, it installed a new 40 megawatt gas turbine (which covers only a few hundred square feet) to meet the growing electrical needs of St. George because they can't trust the solar project to meet those needs. In addition to being reliable, the electricity produced by the gas turbine is substantially cheaper than that produced by the solar farm.

Similar arguments can be made against bio-fuels (including ethanol), geothermal energy (except in a few regions where Earth's molten core is close to the surface such as Iceland), and electric/hybrid cars. (Has anyone in the "green" movement given thought to what happens to all those toxic batteries when they're worn out or has any electric/hybrid car purchaser considered the cost of replacing them?)

According to Robert Bryce, author of Power Hungry: The Myths of 'Green' Energy, "One nuclear power plant in Texas covers about 19 square miles, an area slightly smaller than Manhattan. To produce the same amount of power from wind turbines would require an area the size of Rhode Island. This is energy sprawl." To produce the same amount of energy with ethanol, another "green" fuel, it would take 24 Rhode Islands to grow enough corn. How can anyone say that's a good idea?

"Green" energy advocates like to talk about the jobs that their agenda creates. There are, indeed, steady jobs in manufacturing alternative energy components such as solar cells and wind turbines -- in other countries such as China. However, a substantial portion of the remaining "green" jobs are transient. I met the above-mentioned wind-farm project supervisor while he was commuting from Utah to his real home in another state. He said most of his workers live in RVs or motels. Few workers -- even temporary help -- are hired locally. Then the workers move on to install a another project in another site. The "green" people like to count the jobs at each site as a new set of jobs -- even though it's the same group of workers moving from site to site! The only real impact on local jobs is a temporary bump in motel occupancy and burger sales. If "green" technology is such a great place to work, why can't they at least count the jobs honestly?

There is a reason why so-called "renewable" or "alternative" energy technologies are subsidized: They can't even produce enough power to feed the industries that create them! I am unalterably opposed to subsidizing or bailing-out any industry -- including so-called "green" industries. I am even opposed to my city and county governments accepting federal and state subsidies, as St. George did, and Iron County is about to do, to help fund such a boondoggle.

Any person or entity that seeks or accepts government subsidies to fund so-called "alternative" energy schemes is a thief. Some might say that is a strong accusation. Consider this: Every dime that the government gives away has to come from somewhere. The only place government can get that money is by taking it from someone else, by force or threat of force. That makes any recipient of that theft an advocate of, and complicit in, said theft. What difference does it make for one person to steal money to pay the cost of his solar array or hybrid car (There's a $7,500 tax-payer-funded subsidy for Chevy Volt buyers!) or have someone else (the government) steal it for him? I'm getting really tired of involuntarily paying someone else's bills. Shouldn't everyone be getting tired of involuntarily paying someone else's bills?

These technologies would not exist outside the lab (where they still belong) without taxing the people to force these technologies into the market. If wind and solar power were practical or profitable, entrepreneurs would invest in it without the need for government to take money from taxpayers and give it to people pushing green products.

Perhaps, some day in the future, the cost of traditional power sources will rise to a level that justifies the use of the "alternative" energy resources without the need for subsidies -- especially if politicians continue to place unreasonable restrictions on oil, gas, coal and nuclear development. Until then, if a technology cannot stand on its own in a competitive free market, it needs to die.

People who favor these "green" scams don't seem to care about science, don't seem to understand economics, won't do the math, and enjoy having the government force other people to pay their bills for them. Few politicians have the sense to take the time to study the issue before committing taxpayer money to these money-pits. It is time for politicians, journalists, environmentalists, and voters to learn something about science and economics and muster the courage to say no!

All government subsidies of "alternative energy" scams such as solar and wind power and electric and hybrid cars must cease immediately. I even oppose government subsidies for research and development of conventional power.

It's both logically and historically fallacious to conclude that, because something is desirable, government should subsidize it. -- Don Boudreaux

If politicians can't muster the courage to cut off subsidies for "alternative energy" schemes, they must, at least, mandate placards on all subsidized products that clearly specify the amount of subsidy -- and that placard must be visible at a distance of at least 20 feet and permanently affixed (removal prohibited unless the purchaser refunds the entire subsidy to the taxpayer).

It doesn't matter whether the money for government projects comes from local, state, or federal taxes -- it ultimately is money that was extracted from hard-working taxpayers who very likely could do a better job of spending that money than the politicians. I expect my elected officials, and the bureaucrats they hire, to be good stewards of my tax dollars. "Investing" in alternative energy is not a wise use of taxes!

The decision to use so-called "green" technology must always be a business decision made in a free market -- never a decision imposed upon taxpayers and consumers by naive, idealist politicians and activists.

Congress is too generous!

It's bad enough that the dead in Chicago still vote, but in Congress, the dead continue to receive a paycheck!

It is tradition in Congress for family members of a congressman who died while in office to receive the equivalent of one year’s pay for the congressman. There is no constitutional authority for this generosity.

The family of the late Senator and Klansman Robert C. Byrd will receive $193,400 through the recently-passed temporary spending bill.

In Byrd’s case, that amount came to $193,400. The money is to be equally distributed among Byrd’s children and grandchildren (all of whom are surely as poor as a West Virginia coal miner), according to the text of the amendment.

Where we commoners work somebody passes a hat to collect money to help out the family of a deceased or seriously ill coworker. I expect Congress to do the same -- pass the hat -- not steal money from the people so they can give it to their deceased buddies.

I am pleased that our congressmen are so generous. But, they need to be generous with their own money -- not mine -- it's not theirs to give!

Are you a felon? Probably!

The following is quoted from an article by the Heritage Foundation, Fighting Back Against Arbitrary Government Rule (I recommend you read the entire article.):

"....a very real problem that is currently undermining the civil liberties of all Americans. Between 2000 and 2007, Congress created 452 entirely new crimes, a rate of over one new crime every week. By the end of 2007, the U.S. Code included more than 4,450 federal crimes, with an estimated tens of thousands more located in the federal regulatory code. Civil liberties attorney Harvey Silvergate estimates that the average working American unknowingly commits three felonies a day. Heritage Foundation Senior Legal Research Fellow Brian Walsh explained to last week’s Judiciary Committee hearing why this is happening:

"Placing thousands of vague, overbroad criminal laws in the hands of government officials means that no one is safe from unjust prosecution and punishment. Many of these criminal laws punish conduct that the average person would not guess is prohibited. The body of criminal law thus fails to meet one of the primary requirements of due process: providing individuals with fair notice of what conduct can be punished criminally."

The last time I counted, we had at least 57 federal law enforcement agencies (there are probably more than that now) to go along with the plethora of federal crimes.

So-called "tough on crime" policies and laws actually make things worse for otherwise law-abiding citizens by creating new crimes.

Congress and the Whitehouse must immediately commission a full audit of all federal legislation, regulations, executive orders, and treaties and purge every law, rule, policy, order, treaty, and agency that violate the authority granted to the federal government by the people through the US Constitution.



Related books:

Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent


Go Directly to Jail: The Criminalization of Almost Everything


Flawed Justice: When Our Unalienable Rights Are Ignored

Pension Devastation

I receive a small monthly retirement check from the PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation). Because that pension is not indexed to inflation, it will never change in its dollar amount, but inflation will certainly reduce its value.

Because of outrageously reckless federal spending over the past several decades (which has accelerated astronomically over the past couple of years), I fear that inflation will soon soar. Consequently, I expect my modest but hard-earned PBGC pension to be worthless long before I die.

The Congress-caused economic troubles have also devastated my 401k account which is now worth less than half what it was just 2-3 years ago -- and even then, it wasn't much. While a corrupt Congress throws trillions of dollars at dubious "stimulus" projects and morally-destructive social programs (all of which defy the Constitution), those of us who actually worked hard to take care of ourselves and our families over the past 30-40 years are in serious jeopardy.

Since Congress, abetted by generations of presidents and a secretive Federal Reserve, is at fault for its unwillingness to control spending -- especially to support the nations human parasites -- I demand that Congress take immediate steps to make whole those of us who have actually earned our way through life. I earned every penny of that PBGC pension and every penny that used to be in my 401k account. I demand Congress to immediately protect the value of PBGC pensions by providing the funds necessary to index them for inflation. Those funds must come from their own pockets -- not the taxpayers. I also demand that Congress immediately restore a tax and regulatory environment where free enterprise can again flourish so that my 401k can recover quickly.

Where should the money come from? Directly from the pockets of every Congressman, and his heirs, who has introduced or voted for any unconstitutional legislation over the past 100 years.

Another, better, alternative is for Congress to comply with the restraints imposed by the Constitution on Congress and the federal government.

The NRA-ILA and NRA-PVF Political Candidate Selection Policy Is Broken!

I’m an NRA Patron Life Member and I’m saddened and I’m angered by The NRA-ILA (Institute for Legislative Action) and the NRA-PVF (Political Victory Fund)!

In his recent interview with National Review, Chris Cox, head of the NRA-ILA said, "One of the primary reasons that the National Rifle Association and gun owners continue to have success at the federal, state, and local levels is because we’re a single-issue organization. We have our longtime election slogan of "Vote Freedom First," which obviously means we're hopeful that our members and gun owners put Second Amendment issues at the forefront when they make those decisions.”

I follow Chris's admonition, "Vote Freedom First." And, like the NRA-ILA and the NRA-PVF, I am a single-issue voter. My single issue is freedom!

Cris continued, "Those decisions have allowed us to build a bipartisan majority now that has proven to be not only beneficial but, I would argue, invaluable to protecting and promoting the Second Amendment....We are a non-partisan organization, and we don't base any grade or any endorsement on a party affiliation."

Although I am registered as a Republican, my voting is generally non-partisan. Much to the annoyance of my bride, I also am willing to vote for non-incumbents and for candidates of other parties because, as you know, not all Republican candidates defend freedom and the Constitution to the extent demanded by their oath of office.

Chris also said, "Sometimes it can get a little more difficult from a political standpoint because we have a very incumbent-friendly policy. Our commitment is applied regardless of party, whether it's Congress or the state legislature. It's important for us to stand with those who stood with us."

Standing with a politician who does not fully embrace freedom and the Constitution to the extent demanded by their oath of office simply because of one issue – gun rights – or because he's an incumbent or because he got funding for a nice shooting range is inconsistent with freedom – especially when that incumbent faces a challenger who better fits all aspects of freedom.

I welcome the NRA-ILA's and NRA-PVF's stand as single-issue organizations. I acknowledge that this is thier job. I expect the NRA-ILA and the NRA-PVF to endorse and financially support candidates who clearly are on the side of the Second Amendment – in word and in deed. However, if the full record of an incumbent is inconsistent with freedom as a whole, I also expect the NRA-ILA and NRA-PVF to have the sense to either stay out of the race altogether, or throw its weight behind a challenger if his Second Amendment record is at least as strong as that of the incumbent.

I have long sensed that the NRA-ILA and the NRA-PVF tend to avoid getting behind candidates with a poor or marginal likelihood of winning an election -- no mater how strong they are in fighting for freedom. Chris' comments confirm that. I understand why – it gives the NRA-ILA and the NRA-PVF the appearance of being a king-maker. But what is the cost of that image? We keep getting NRA-endorsed politicians who suck away our overall freedom!

Because many Republican candidates and many in the Republican Party leadership tend to ignore the principles of freedom described in the Republican Party Platform and protected by Constitution I have stopped sending money to my Party. Instead, I donate directly to individual candidates who are single-issue candidates (ie they "Vote Freedom First").

The same principle applies to my support for organizations such as the NRA-ILA and the NRA-PVF. Because the NRA-ILA and the NRA-PVF endorse and financially support candidates who, while satisfactory on one issue, are otherwise hostile to our other freedoms and because the NRA-ILA and the NRA-PVF fail to endorse challengers who are at least as strong on gun rights as the incumbents and who are stronger in all aspects of freedom, I can no longer, in good conscience, donate to the NRA-ILA and the NRA-PVF. Instead, my money will go directly to the best overall candidates such as Sharon Angle (Nevada) and Morgan Philpot (Utah) because, in spite of the NRA's past and present support for the incumbents, the challengers are far better for freedom. I tell my friends and relatives to do likewise. Having to do so makes me sad.

It appears that I am not alone. The NRA-ILA and NRA-PVF are apparently getting a lot of pressure from gun-rights activists who are unhappy with the NRA's endorsement policy. We don't like seeing our donations go to support gun rights and destroy all other rights.

I'd like to move up to Benefactor Life Membership in the NRA, but doing so would also be financing an organization that does not fully support my freedom. That makes me sad.

I vote freedom first – in the polling booth and with my checkbook.

Among others, I support:
• Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
• Gun Owners of America
• Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership
• National Association for Gun Rights
• Second Amendment Foundation

All that said, I still support the other efforts of the NRA and urge all gun-owners and other freedom lovers to join.


Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist


Neal Knox: The Gun Rights War


Out of Range: Why the Constitution Can't End the Battle over Guns

Uniform laws regarding arms

Both the US and Utah Constitutions protect the right of individuals to own and use arms. I think it is significant that both constitutions specify "arms" (arms are defined in my dictionary as "weaponry: weapons considered collectively") -- rather than the more restrictive "firearms." Therefore, I suggest that appropriate Utah laws that address "firearms" be amended to substitute the word "arms." In my opinion, the most critical of these Utah laws to be amended include 53-5a-102, 53B-3-103, 63-98-102, and 76-10-500.

Since knives and archery equipment are included in a wide variety of what we commonly know as "arms" they are protected by both the US and Utah Constitutions. The legislature therefore, needs to take steps to ensure that local lawmakers don't make laws that make travel around the State difficult with any constitutionally-protected "arm."

An example where this change is necessary would be where some Utah jurisdiction follows New York City's example and bans certain pocket knives. Since a pocket knife is such a common tool, such local laws could put an innocent person in legal jeopardy should he cross some invisible political boundary.

We have more than enough laws to punish negligence and bad behavior. It is generally unnecessary, in my opinion, to regulate inanimate objects such as "arms."

So, you think that calling 911 will save you?

Related reading:


40 Reasons to ban guns


Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self-Defence


More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition


Armed-Citizen Solution To Crime In The Streets: So Many Criminals, So Few Bullets


Shots in the Dark: The Policy, Politics and Symbolism of Gun Control

Highlights of the NRA Annual Meeting 2010

Speaker Newt Gingrich:







Commentator Glenn Beck:











Thune



Keene



Governor Sarah Palin:

Gun-free zones kill again!

Once again, a bad guy has proven the absolute folly of "gun-free" zones such as schools, churches, federal buildings, court houses, and even military installations. On 20 September, the "gun-free" killing zone was a US Army post, Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas.

Ironically, military bases, where this shooting occurred, are well-known for being excessively restrictive on firearms in the hands of responsible people -- even soldiers who have been entrusted with guns during combat.

How was a retired serviceman able to gun down two defenseless women? Because policy- and law-makers seem to believe that regulating an inert peice of steel and plastic somehow makes criminals behave! Because the government thinks its better to keep it’s armed service members unarmed! That’s right. Our military men and woman are banned from carrying the weapons they are trained and trusted to use in the heat of combat. President Clinton authored this asinine policy back in 1993 when he declared all military bases "gun-free" zones. But because of Clinton’s ingenious policy of unarmed armed forces, this psychopath was able to shoot innocent people before could arrive on the scene.

Unfortunately, like all restrictions on law-abiding people, this ban does not affect criminal behavior -- it only leaves responsible people defenseless. I cannot understand why creators of "gun-free" zones don't understand that simple concept. Those who favor and establish gun-free zones need to rrationally reconsider their restrictions on the right of good people to defend themselves.

The courts, including the US Supreme Court, have repeatedly ruled that the police have no obligation to protect individuals or even groups. In fact, it is not reasonable or wise to expect them to do so. Violent crimes are typically over long before police have a chance to respond as was the case in today's tragedy. All the cops can do is collect evidence and maybe find the attacker. Additionally, we don't want a nation where police are so prevalent that they can stop all crime before it happens.

One of our most basic human rights is our right to protect ourselves and our families from harm. "Gun-free" zones (ie military installations, most schools, most churches, federal buildings, many businesses, and even court houses) by definition deprive law-abiding citizens of the most effective means of self-protection -- a gun. These disarmed potential victims are left completely vulnerable to attack by those who, by definition, disobey laws such as gun bans.

Experience and reason clearly indicate that "gun-free" zones do nothing but assure criminals and terrorists that they will find unarmed victims defenseless against a homicidal rampage. The only people who have guns in "gun-free" zones are criminals, members of the elite (who create special rules for themselves so they can carry a gun or have armed bodyguards) and maybe a cop or two.

I can't quite decide whether "gun-free" zones are an illusion or an hallucination. But I do know they are evil. I hold the authorities who establish "gun-free" zones just as accountable for the deaths and injuries as the shooter himself. It is reckless and foolish to assume that disarming good people causes bad people to behave as they should. It is my firm opinion that any person, government, agency, business, school, church, or any other entity that creates a "gun-free" zone must also provide absolute security and safety for all who enter therein.

Utah's legislature is one of countless government entities that have established "gun-free" zones and/or have provided for businesses, churches, and government agencies to establish "gun-free" zones. I believe every State legislature and Congress must promptly pass legislation requiring all entities that establish "gun-free" zones also provide absolute security to include armed guards and full screening for weapons.

We must no longer tolerate any attempts to disarm law abiding citizens with silly schemes that criminals will never obey. Tragically, there will be shootings in "gun-free" zones again, but they will happen with, or without any gun laws anyone can think of. Disarming victims is not the solution! Fortunately, enlightened businesses understand that simple fact.

Note: I am a retired Army officer, so I have standing to rant about silly military policies.







Related reading:


40 Reasons to ban guns


Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self-Defence


More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition


Armed-Citizen Solution To Crime In The Streets: So Many Criminals, So Few Bullets


Shots in the Dark: The Policy, Politics and Symbolism of Gun Control

Secure the border!

Our entire political system is so corrupt that it does not have the integrity to even protect the nation from invasion.

Arizona's Governor Brewer and Arizona's legislature are struggling with this invasion and many other States are joining the fight -- against the arrogant wishes of the federal government whose job it is (according to Article IV, Section 4 of the US Constitution) to protect the States from invasion.

Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution:
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against invasion....

The "leadership" of this nation is surrendering our nation's sovereignty and identity to foreign invaders. Rather than defend the nation against invasion, Obama and his administration have plans that include the issue of executive Orders and departmental pronouncements that limit the ability of law enforcement to do its job and a re-tasking of federal agents and bureaucrats to other "more important" duties and not take action to secure the border. Meanwhile an estimated 3,000 new invaders cross our borders very day and eight percent of births in the US are to parents who are here illegally!

It is estimated that ten percent of Mexico's citizens now lives in the US! Fifteen percent of Mexico's labor force is working in the US! In 2005, Mexico received a record $20 billion in remittances to family members from migrant workers living in the US! That is equal to Mexico's 2004 income from oil exports and dwarfs its tourism revenue!

History proves that amnesty in any form only encourages more waves of illegal aliens. Please remember that past amnesties for illegals -- the "one-time-only" amnesty of 1986 for nearly 3 million illegals and the six subsequent amnesties -- did not solve anything!

The most important job Congress and the Whitehouse have to do right now is to defend this nation from invasion!
→ Secure the border! Mine the southern border if necessary!
→ Enforce all immigration laws!
→ Train and deputize all local and State law enforcement officers to assist federal officers in enforcing immigration laws.
→ Deny all federal money from any and all cities and States that give sanctuary and other special considerations to illegals.
→ Prohibit assistance to all illegals except for assistance necessary to prolong life long enough for them to leave the country.
→ Terminate the nation's "anchor baby" scam.
→ Abandon the scam known as “guest-workers.” This term has only been developed to obfuscate the fact that our government has been grossly negligent in controlling an invasion by foreign nationals.
→ States, Congress, the Whitehouse, and government agencies must take down all Spanish-language government websites except for sites related to legal immigration, tourism, and international trade. There is absolutely no legitimate reason for any US politician to have a website in any language other than English. The mere existence of congressional and Whitehouse websites in Spanish is proof enough that US politicians hold no loyalty to US citizens and legal voters.
→ Establish English as the official language of the United States and ban all government business in any other language except for business related to legal immigration, tourism, and international trade.
→ Impeach judges, congressmen, and presidents and terminate bureaucrats and political appointees who oppose, resist, or delay the full application of Article IV, Section 4 of the US Constitution.
→ Require the man occupying the Whitehouse, and all future candidates, provide unimpeachable proof of natural citizenship.

Politicians love to talk about immigration reform. Our immigration laws do not need any reform. However, the administration's immigration policy does need reform -- reform to bring policy into compliance with the law!

I don't understand why I should have to, but I must remind the President and every congressman that they each swore an oath to the US Constitution -- all of it -- including the Constitution's mandate to defend the States against invasion!

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution:
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution....

One essential, beautiful, and inspired difference between the United States and other nations is that our government officials owe their loyalty to the Constitution -- not to any person, political party, special-interest group, and certainly not to the nation's invaders!

Addressing Poverty in America

Today, the news includes a story which claims that 1 in 7 Americans live in poverty. Another article reports, "the number of people living in poverty rose by 3 million in 2009 to 44 million, the highest level in the half-century that the government has kept track."

Isn't it interesting that, after dumping trillions of taxpayer dollars on the poor, they remain poor? Why can't the do-gooders see that imitation charity doesn't work?

Having traveled to 124 countries over the past 40 years, I can say with complete confidence that we Americans do not really know what poverty is other than some arbitrary number established by bureaucrats and politicians. Very few in the US live in the profound poverty seen in much of Asia and Africa.

The few Americans that truly are poor are in two general categories:
1 – Those with a mental defect that renders them unable to make competent decisions about their own welfare and
2 – Those who should know better, but make poor decisions about their welfare.

We, as a society, have a moral obligation to help those in category 1 by providing adequate facilities to care for them -- through charity, not government -- and, as appropriate, prepare them to rejoin society.

We also have a moral obligation to stop bailing out those in category 2! Most Americans who are below that arbitrary poverty line are there because they make bad decisions and our feel-good social programs insulates them from the natural consequences of those bad decisions.

Most American homes in category 2 has, at a minimum, a car, a television, and the latest in cell phones. These families have shelter, furniture, appliances, food and health care -- all paid by expecting government agents to extract money, by threat of force, from productive citizens. They have all the street drugs they want at prices they can afford. They adorn their bodies with tattoos, gold, and designer jeans. They elected the President of the United States and a substantial portion of Congress and thereby control much of the political agenda of this nation as well as who gets nominated to the federal courts. Yet, they want more from those of us who earn our way through life.

We must stop expecting and allowing government to usurp our individual obligation to be charitable.

We must stop paying people who don’t work.

We must stop giving “earned” income tax credits to, or otherwise subsidize, those who are underemployed.

We must restore traditional marriage and old-fashioned famiies as the foundation of society. Marriage is America's greatest weapon against child poverty.

We must abandon policies and attitudes that discourage mothers from staying home to raise their own children.

We must stop paying single girls and women to have babies.

We must end government policies, legislation, and regulations that financially punish families with unemployed and underemployed fathers who stay with their families.

We must restore the First Amendment by ending the ban on religion, and the moral compass it provides, from the public square.

Welfare is another of our major problems. We are a humane and generous people and we accept without reservation our obligation to help the aged, disabled, and those unfortunates who, through no fault of their own, must depend on their fellow man. But we are not going to perpetuate poverty by substituting a permanent dole for a paycheck. There is no humanity or charity in destroying self-reliance, dignity, and self-respect...the very substance of moral fiber. — Ronald Reagan

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. — Reverend William JH Boetcke (1873-1962) German-born Presbyterian clergyman, 1916 (often erroneously attributed to Abraham Lincoln)

Your money does not cause my poverty. Refusal to believe this is at the bottom of most bad economic thinking. — P. J. O'Rourke

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. — Dr. Adrian Pierce Rogers (1931-2005)

You can't get rid of poverty by giving people money. — P.J. O'Rourke

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. — Benjamin Franklin (On the Price of Corn, and Management of the Poor, London Chronicle, Nov 1766)

Free enterprise has done more to reduce poverty than all the government programs dreamed up by Democrats. — Ronald Reagan

The liberal view is America in a permanent state of decline. They want everybody to believe that everybody else in this country is barely hanging on, and that the only solution is more and more of what has created the poverty circumstances. Because it is liberalism that creates poverty, promotes poverty, extends poverty, and spreads it -- and they want eight more years of power to keep doing it. — Rush Limbaugh, 6 Jun 2008

In order to avoid poverty, just do three things: finish high school, marry before having a child, and don't have a child until you're at least twenty years old. Only 8 percent of people who do all three of those things wind up poor, but a staggering 79 percent of those who fail to do them wind up in poverty. — Bernard Goldberg, Arrogance, p 12

In our attempt to blame poverty on prejudice, we have taught the poor to be prejudiced against the basic values necessary to sustain a free and civil society....We've taught them there are no real absolutes to the human condition -- except perhaps that the highest value in life is to acquire things. — Star Parker

Related reading:


Do-Gooders: How Liberals Hurt Those They Claim to Help (and the Rest of Us)


Never Enough: America's Limitless Welfare State


Uncle Sam's Plantation: How the Welfare Bureaucracy Enslaves America's Poor and What We Can Do About It


Trickle Up Poverty: Stopping Obama's Attack on Our Borders, Economy, and Security


Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism