My Hopes for 2011

As we turn the page on 2010 and head to 2011, here are my hopes for America (note, I've purposefully limited these to thoughts about our country, leaving off personal hopes).  I know some are more likely than others, but, hey, one can hope:

1. A return to our Founding (i.e., Conservative/Judeo-Christian-based) Principles.  We must defeat Obama and the left's continued attempts at Fed. Gov't takeover/assault on personal freedom & state's rights. www.wallbuilders.com has great info on this.
2. A resurgence of State's rights.  America's 'grand experiment' was supposed to be a way for individual, sovereign states to compete for citizens, who could vote w/their feet if they didn't like a state's policies.  Great new book on this: www.jasonlewisbook.com.
3. Cutting the Federal Gov't (spending, departments, and employees) by significant levels.  Say, 90%.
4. Stopping the bailouts.
5. Reducing taxes on everyone, especially the "rich" (i.e., job-producers) & businesses which will increase freedom & economic prosperity for all.  Eliminate the death tax and capital gains tax.  Reduce or eliminate corporate taxes.  Support the Fair Tax.
6. Repealing Obama-care.   If we don't do this, we are literally doomed, collectively and, for many who will experience Obama's death panels, individually.  Institute free market principles in the healthcare market (i.e., buying over state lines the kind of policy you (not the Fed Gov't) want).  Stop the Republicans who want to force Insurance companies to cover "pre-existing conditions" (as Rush says, that's not insurance, it's welfare).
7. Return of Family Values.  This includes a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage as one man/one woman.
8. Stopping the outrageous regulations Obama's imposing, such as regulating the Internet, Food Industry, Energy Sector, transportation, guns and everything else.  Get the gov't out of the way.  If it's not their job to do, it shouldn't be done, period.
9. Dramatically fewer abortions.  COMPLETELY defund Planned Parenthood.
10. A willingness of conservatives to fight on all levels to save America.  If this requires marching in the streets, so be it.
11. A national awakening to the Truths contained in the Bible, and to the perils of embracing any other teaching.
12. A willingness to take on and protect ourselves from radical Islam.
13. Seal the border physically and virtually.
14. Make it easier to find & deport illegal immigrants, especially ones who use our benefits (i.e., healthcare system), have broken the law in other ways, etc.  Let states require proof of citizenship.  Make the USA in-hospitable to illegals.
15. End the "anchor-baby" policy.
16. For a rock-solid, conservative, freedom/America-loving, Reagan-like leader to rise to prominence who will fearlessly reinvigorate a love in America for our Constitutional Freedoms.
17. Repeal the ban of regular light bulbs and protect ourselves from government-mandated, mercury-filled, hazardous & more expensive florescent ones.
18. Defund/eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, NPR (National Public Radio), The Department of Education, just for starters.
19. Stop the ability of Federal employees to unionize.
20. Eliminate the TSA (Transportation Security Admin) and let the airlines run their own security.
21. Implement a strong-dollar policy instead of the weak-dollar policy of the Fed.
22. Let Fannie & Freddie go bankrupt and get the Fed Gov't out of the money/lending business.  Stop requiring them to give loans to people who won't pay them back.
23. Confront, militarily if necessary, Iran & North Korea to protect our interests & allies.
24. Keep up with, even re-surpass China's intense military investments/developments.
25. Drill baby drill.  Lift the ban/restrictions on off-shore drilling.  Make on-shore drilling much easier.
26. Let clean coal and clean natural gas flourish.
27. Let states and/or private businesses build as many nuclear energy reactors as needed.
28. Ensure that illegal community activist/voter-registration activities by groups such as ACORN are prosecuted and defunded permanently.
29. Fix the bureaucracy in the Pentagon so our troops & commanders get what they need more quickly & more efficiently.  Improve (i.e., make more free-market) Veteran healthcare.
30. Fix Social Security.  Allow individuals to direct their own contributions.  Stop Congress from continuing to raid the money being paid in.
31. Work to reduce the ranks on Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, Food Stamps, etc.
32. Reduce the minimum wage.
33. Dramatically reduce unemployment benefits and require those on it to legitimately seek work.  Also, look at requiring them to repay all/some of their benefits.
34. Stop all attempts to make gun ownership & carrying by law-abiding citizens more difficult.
35. Require all Congressmen to personally read each and every bill prior to voting on it.
36. Require all current and new Congressmen to regularly read and be tested on the contents of the U.S. Constitution/Declaration of Independence.
37. Stop the destruction of private property rights (i.e., eminent domain, smoking laws, fat/salt laws, etc.).
38. Require all new citizens to speak English.
39. Permanently extend the Bush Tax Cuts
40. Implement Strategic Missile Defense and upgrade our nuclear arsenal.  Repeal the START treaty.
41. Reinstate Don't Ask Don't Tell
42. Withdraw from the United Nations, stop all funding of it, ensure that they exert NO control over anything the US or Americans do (i.e., internet, taxes, energy, etc.), and see if we can expel them from the US.
43. Eliminate all taxpayer funding for abortions here and abroad.

Have anything to add?  Feel free to comment!

Tyranny

This article by Thomas Sowell is an immediate (short but powerful/true) MUST READ.  

 

Sowell writes: "In our times, American democracy is being dismantled, piece by piece, before our very eyes by the current administration in Washington, and few people seem to be concerned about it."

Tyranny is defined as "a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)."

We are literally watching the rise of tyranny in the USA. 

Do we want Obama to be able to shut down the Internet?

A bill being promoted by Sen. Joe Lieberman will give President Obama the ability to literally take-over/shut down the Internet without prior approval in some situations.  Do we really want Obama, or any President, to have a shutoff-switch on the internet?

This is more proof that this Congress and Administration is promoting the most anti-freedom, anti-American/Founding/Constitutional principles since FDR.

Is there anything this Administration DOESN'T want to control??

Enjoy the free press & internet while we still have it

Obama and his pals at the FTC are on a mission to quash the free press & replace it w/even more gov't directed "news." Shameful. Can our country make it to 11/2012??  Will we really allow the government to take over/regulate all media content?  Who is standing up to this?

'The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness…This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when the first appears to be their protector." - Plato -

 

 

MSNBC Admits Obama Care Increases Costs

Even the radical left admits ObamaCare will increase costs.

Mexican President Misrepresents AZ Law While Admitting His Laws Are More Strict

Mexican President Calderon admitted on CNN with Wolf Blitzer last night that if they find people in the country without permission, they "send them back." 

Yet earlier in the day, Calderon said the Arizona law, which simply enforces a federal law, was "terrible."

Calderon says that Mexico has changed/relaxed some of its immigration laws and will continue to do so (but, notably, it's still "illegal" to enter Mexico illegally, and they will deport you if found).  Great...so now they'll have even MORE criminals coming through their country, often on the way to the U.S.  This is all the more reason to secure our borders ASAP.

By the way, Amnesty International released a report last month that concluded that tens of thousands of legal/illegal immigrants coming into Mexico face epidemic abuse in the country, and that even  "public officials turn a blind eye or even play an active part in kidnappings, rapes and murders!"  Over 5,000 of them in just 6 months!


So which is more humane?  Having a police force & justice system that actually kidnaps, rapes and murders immigrants?  Or one that doesn't do these things, but does ask suspected illegals for documents they're already required (by Federal law) to carry?  Obviously, immigrants would rather be asked for 'papers' than raped, kidnapped or murdered in Mexico, or they wouldn't have left Mexico.

If You're Against AZ Immigration Law, You're FOR Illegal Immigration.

Having actually read Arizona's new immigration law (unlike the mainstream media, or even Eric Holder, Janet Napolitano, or State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley), I can say unequivocally that anyone AGAINST this fair/common-sense/desperately needed law is FOR Illegal Immigration, whether realized/intended or not. Period. And anyone FOR illegal immigration is literally AGAINST "America," in that a nation that doesn't enforce its border is no nation at all.

That may sound harsh, but it's inescapable truth.

"One must differentiate between one’s thoughts and one’s emotions with full clarity and precision…No discussion, cooperation, agreement or understanding is possible among men who substitute emotion for proof." – Ayn Rand

Ask yourself who in our country is the master of emotion right ...now.

Obama's National Security Policy - Hope we get Lucky

Not sure if you're a fan of Ann Coulter's "polically incorrect" humor, but this made me both laugh out loud & cry (because of how true/dangerous the facts are). I found it very well done. "OBAMA NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY: HOPE THEIR BOMBS ...DON'T WORK" at http://www.anncoulter.com/

"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites on the labor of the industrious." Thomas Jefferson, 1816.

Want to Get Rich? Work for the Feds.

We're in trouble. According to the Washington Examiner, "As of 2008, the average federal salary was $119,982, compared with $59,909 for the average private sector employee...In other words, federal workers are paid on average salaries that are TWICE as generous as those in the private sector, and they receive...benefits that are FOUR times greater...Public sector pay and benefits at all levels should be reduced to make it comparable to the wages and benefits earned by the average working taxpayer. *****The first politician to propose a five-year plan for this purpose is likely to be cheered mightily by taxpayers!"*****

WHO'S WILLING TO STEP UP?? Political consultants who advise their clients to stay away from cutting gov't spending, and yes, jobs, should be fired. This is a winning issue. And part of the only way America can avoid a Greek-like disaster.

"No matter how worthy the cause, it is robbery, theft, and injustice to confiscate the property of one person and give it to another to whom it does not belong." – Walter E. Williams

Rush on the Race Card & Tea Party

Here's a great, true & well-written Op/Ed from Rush in today's WSJ summarizing what motivates the Tea Party -- Love for America.

2/3 Say Americans are Over-taxed!

Great news! 66% of Americans believe we're overtaxed. 75% believe the maximum tax (Fed/State/Local) for average Americans should be just 20%! New poll from Rasmussen. Some other interesting results as well.

Obama Disregards Media

Even the Washington Post admits that Obama's "disregard for [mainstream/world] media reaches new heights at nuclear summit."

Overtaxed

According to Rasmussen, 66% of Americans believe we're overtaxed. 75% believe the maximum tax (Fed/State/Local) for average Americans should be just 20%! Glad America's got this one right.

Pull the Plug on Obamacare! Change or Chains??

Why LOWER Tax Rates Actually HELP Government

In addition to the myriad of taxes we'll face under Obamacare, Obama's preparing to tax everything that uses energy.  Future tax rates under Obama spending are sure to skyrocket for just about everyone (that last link from ABC says that Obama will increase taxes over $1.4 TRILLION in the next 10 yrs.  And that doesn't even count Obamacare or the energy taxes).  

With that in mind, it's important to recall an irrefutable fact of history:  the lower the tax rate, the more the Government collects.  It's that simple. Heritage.org did a great analysis on "The Historical Lessons of Lower Tax Rates" Summary here and the full article here.  They're worth a read.  

If Obama & his advisers really wanted to increase gov't revenues, they'd listen to history.  Unfortunately, I fear they have other motives (i.e., to destroy the private economy among others).

Multimedia message

At Palin Bachmann rally!

New Minnesota Twins Stadium - One Reason I'm Not That Excited About It

Great guest OpEd on the new Twins Stadium by Jason Lewis here. Definitely a contrarian/controversial viewpoint to all of the media and many fans' enthusiasm, but one I must agree with. I wish more people did...

To me, if the emotion of being a fan (which I am) is set aside, it is/should be one of the most 'no-brainer' "conservative," and factually supported principles out there, and one on which all consistent fiscal conservatives should agree. Hopefully Minnesotans will stand up and support legisators who are willing to say NO to the next stadium request.

There is also some good audio here from the Podcast of the radio show of the author of above article. Here and a little more here.

ObamaCare = Redistrubtion of Wealth

The truth comes out: ObamaCare ("healthcare reform") supporters admit it was partly intended to "redistribute wealth." Wonderful. Good grief, does anyone need more evidence that Obama & the Dems are trying to destroy the free market/capitalism/freedom and impose socialistic, oppressive government, with as many people dependent on them as possible?

Response to "Had to Share This: This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US Department of Energy..." advocating government/socialism

There's a little essay that's been floating around the internet and Facebook since at least 2009 that details many supposedly good ways gov't is involved in a person's day.  Here it is (my response is below):

"This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US Department of Energy. I then took a shower in the clean water provided by the municipal water utility. After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC regulated channels to see what the National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like using satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I watched this while eating breakfast of US Department of Agriculture inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.

At the appropriate time as regulated by the US Congress and kept accurate by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the US Naval Observatory. I get into my National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved automobile and set out to work on the roads built by the local, state, and federal departments of transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the Environmental Protection Agency, using legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve bank. On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to send via the US Postal Service and drop the kids off at the public school.

After work, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to a house which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and fire marshal's inspection, and which has not been plundered of all it's valuables thanks to the local police department.

I then log on to the internet which was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration and post on freerepublic.com and Fox News forums about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can't do anything right."

My thoughts:

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety [security], deserve neither liberty nor safety [security]." - Benjamin Franklin

So a monopoly is good when it's the government, but bad when it's private?  I see...

Is there ANYTHING the gov't SHOULDN'T do??  I'd love to hear an answer from supporters of this essay, and it'd be interesting to ask Obama this question in a debate.  I bet he wouldn't be able to come up with anything, because they're already doing almost everything!

I actually found the essay very depressing.  Going through a day dominated by gov't involvement is just not the way it was supposed to be.

It's a wonder our Founders were able to explore and found the best country in the history of the world, and draft a Constitution, and fight a war -- all *without* all of that "wonderful & necessary" government-provided stuff!  How in the heck did they do it??

No, of course this article makes the fallacious assumption that what the gov't does, the private sector (free people) wouldn't do better.  Obviously we know that's ridiculous given the results of almost every gov't program ever (yes, including public education). 

But even IF the gov't does something "better" doesn't mean it should! 

The only way fed gov't does anything is to TAKE BY THREAT OF FORCE from someone else.  We're now at a point where HALF OF AMERICANS DON'T PAY ANY FED TAXES and the top taxpayers have over HALF THEIR INCOME TAXED.  The top 5% of taxpayers PAY 55% OF ALL TAXES IN THIS COUNTRY!  Think about that.  When you're not entitled to the fruits of your labor, what do you really have??  Private property is a fundamental founding principle.  Is it OK to basically enslave some for the benefit of others?

The gov't was never intended to take/redistribute wealth or provide/control goods & services.  It should be there to protect its citizens and their rights, period. 

I guess the divide between the two sides today boils down to this:  one side trusts individuals and wants the gov't do as little as possible for them so they can freely pursue life, liberty & happiness.  The other side trusts the gov't more than individuals and wants the gov't to do as much as possible for them and their neighbors.  That's really the essence.  Personally, I side on freedom.  I side on not trusting gov't, just as our Founders.

The fact that we depend on government for literally almost everything is wrong, inefficient, oppressive to millions, and not at all what our Founders had in mind. 

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."  - Thomas Jefferson

"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious."  -Thomas Jefferson

"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."  -Thomas Jefferson

"If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare... they may appoint teachers in every state... The powers of Congress would subvert the very foundation, the very nature of the limited government established by the people of America." - James Madison

"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -Patrick Henry 

There are more good comments here.

Top Political Contributions/Special Interest Groups Show Overwhelming Bias to Democrats

The non-paritisan Center for Responsive Politics publishes public data on political contributions.  If you think you know which party benefits the most from "special interest" groups (cash), then their list of the "Top 10 Heavy Hitter Contributors" to federal political figures since 1989 will blow you away.

It shows that 7 of the 10 top donators are UNIONS who gave overwhelmingly to DEMOCRATS.  Would you believe they gave $263,500,000 to Democrats?  That's an average of 82% to them and just 18% to Republicans.

Of the top 10, only AT&T, Goldman Sachs and the Realtors Assn are the non-union groups, and wouldn't you know it, 2 of those 3 have given more to democrats, and the other is equally split.  Six of the other top 7 groups gave over 90% to Democrats, the other one gave over 64%!

What a shame, but it explains some of what's going on in Washington.

The following is a summary of what each of the top 10 groups has given since 1990:

#1 AT&T averages 45% to Dems/55% to Repubs but gave almost evenly (49%/51%) in election 2008 and is 50%/50% so far in 2010. 

#2 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) - 99% to Dems!  Over $41 million to Dems, just $550,000 to Republicans!  How sick is it that a gov't workers union is spending millions to perpetuate their gov't jobs?

#3:Realtors:  48%/51%

#4  International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW):  98% to Dems, over $30 million.  Who would have guessed they were the 4th largest special interest group?

#5: Goldman Sachs.  Surprise, surprise.  Wouldn't you know it - this "evil bank," gave an avg of 64% to Dems!  Over $20 million compared to $11m for repubs.  Oh, and in 2008, the "year of the bailout," they gave over $4.4 million to Dems and just $1.4m to repubs, a 75% to 25% spread.  That's their biggest gap in 10 years.  Interesting.

#6. American Association for Justice (AAJ).  Formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA).  91% to Dems (over $28 million), and since 2006, it's been over 95%.  And you wonder why we can't pass Tort Reform.

#7. National Education Association (NEA).  The teachers.  93% to Dems.  Over $28m.  Wow, just wow.  Let's hear it for a balanced education.  Now you know why we can't reform schools.

#8. Laborers Union, 92% to Dems, over $26.7m.

#9. Teamsters Union, 93% to Dems, over $26m. In 2008, it was 97% to dems.

#10. Service Employees Int'l Union (SEIU).  The largest & fastest growing union in the country. Note, its head is Obama's #1 White House Visitor.  96% to Dems, over $26.7m.  Interestingly, in 2010 so far, they've given 100% to Dems and -1% "-$5,000" to Repubs (negative money).   Who do you think was one of the biggest supporters of ObamaCare?  And who do you think has some of the most goodies thrown to them in ObamaCare?   Yep, SEIU.  Liberty Chick has a great article about that here.

The full list of the top 100 is here and it gets even more interesting.  

Of the top 100, only ONE group, Amway, #88 on the list, has given over 90% to Republicans (they've given 100%), totaling $8m.  Whereas, 21 of the top 100 groups have given OVER 90% TO DEMOCRATS!!  Including 12 of the top 20 groups!

The first group on the list to give significantly more to Repubs in the last 10 years is #13 is the American Medical Assn, but since 2008, they've given 56% to Dems.  Overall w/AMA, there's only a small gap of 40% to Dems and 60% to Repubs.

The hated Nat'l Rifle Assn (NRA) is #37 on the list, giving 82% to Republicans, a far cry from the % the top 20 give to Dems.  Since 1990, BTW, NRA's total contributions to Republicans is $14 million, about 1/3 (33%) of what AFSCME has given to Democrats in the same period. 

Freddie Mac, a government-created/regulated mortgage company, has spent $9m since 1990 to lobby the legislators who regulate it.  Nice.  While they average 43%/57% Dems to Repubs, so far in 2010, they're giving 81% to Dems.  Can you say "bailout cash??"

24 of the top 100 are unions.  Every single one of them gives significantly more to Dems.

Overall, the top 100 gave nearly $1 Billion to Dems and $625m to Republicans. 

So, just who is beholden to special interests?????????

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