The Meaning of Veterans Day- How and Why

Through the tears we shed today for our veterans who are gone from this life, but not from our hearts, we bow our heads in remembrance of what our military do for us-- always and all ways. Thank you to my own gentle giant who rests sweetly.

Thought you'd enjoy this glimpse into the history of Veterans Day:

How and Why We Honor Veterans Day

/24-7/ -- Veteran's Day is a day designated to honor the men and women who have fought and died for our country. The freedom that you have today is hard won by these soldiers who paid the ultimate price. They are the reason that you are free today. You can live where you want, work where you want, worship however you want, travel wherever you want, wear whatever you want, say whatever you want. Freedom isn't always free. It comes at a steep price. This is a day that is intended for giving thanks and reflecting on what has been sacrificed for our freedom.

In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, an armistice was signed. The "war to end all wars" was over. November 11th was set aside as Armistice Day in the United States, to remember the sacrifices that men and women made during World War I in order to ensure a lasting peace. On Armistice Day, soldiers who survived the war marched in a parade through their home towns. Politicians gave speeches and held ceremonies of thanks for the peace they had won. Congress voted Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938, 20 years after the war had ended. In 1953 townspeople in Kansas called the holiday Veterans' Day in gratitude to the veterans of their hometown. Soon after President Nixon declared it a federal holiday.

Americans still give thanks for peace on Veterans' Day. There are ceremonies and speeches and at 11:00 in the morning most Americans observe a moment of silence, remembering those who fought for peace.

Veterans of military service have organized support groups such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. On Veterans' Day and Memorial Day, these groups raise funds for their charitable activities by selling paper poppies made by disable veterans. A Poppy is a red flower which is worn to show others that you are remembering those who died for their country. The Poppy was chosen because it reminds us of a place called Flanders Field in Belgium where many soldiers from the first World War died in a bloody battle in a field of poppies. The poppies grow there between the crosses that mark their graves.

How to celebrate Veterans' Day:

-Fly an American Flag from your flag pole at your home or business.
-Observe a moment of silence. Concentrate on remembering those who have died defending the cause of freedom.
-Wear a poppy.
-Go to a cemetery and pay respect to a fallen soldier.
-Locate an American Legion near you and listen to the stories of men who have served for our country.
-Write a letter to a soldier who is currently serving our country and give thanks to them.

Matt Knowlan of http://www.aflag.com is an expert on flag etiquette and resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Round About Talk on Penalty for Not Having Mandated Health Care

Health care insurance could be too costly even after reform? Why, gee whiz. Hasn't America been saying that? Penalties are appropriate says the Prez. Will that include jail time? Hard to say.

He tried to suggest the penalty for not having health insurance was similar to that of auto insurance mandates. When was the last time you knew anyone who had to go to jail, or was even threatened, for not having auto insurance? Hmmmm.

Just wondering......






Well, at least the new taxes proposed by the current health care bill won't be hidden. We'll all see them taken out of our paychecks years before the "affordable" healthcare kicks in!

Celebrate American Heroes as Marine Corps turns 234

What can I say? I am, and always will be, a military brat, no matter how long ago it was.......

Happy Birthday Marines!!!

Honored to Have the Patriots of Fort Hood Defend Our Nation,

America watched in horror as the news came out of Fort Hood yesterday.

American patriots rose quickly to the chaos surrounding them and protected the lives of others, even as they were attacked without being armed. Thank you to the brave patriots. America is honored to have you defend her.

When Obama finally spoke, his opening light hearted comments were so wrong. How could our President not have offered support to a nation who was in shock FIRST?

Just wondering... and apparently, so is this report out of Chicago....

Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting
By Robert A George

President Obama didn't wait long after Tuesday's devastating elections to give critics another reason to question his leadership, but this time the subject matter was more grim than a pair of governorships.

After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas, the nation watched in horror as the toll of dead and injured climbed. The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance....http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/A-Disconnected-President.html

Tons of New Taxes in House Health Bill for All Americans

Thanks to the Americans for Tax Reform for getting this information out so we the people can read it and see all the wonderful new taxes that we were promised not to get. And we thought this year was bad for the economy?

COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL TAX HIKES IN HOUSE GOVERNMENT HEALTH BILL

Employer Mandate Excise Tax (Page 275): If an employer does not pay 72.5 percent of a single
employee’s health premium (65 percent of a family employee), the employer must pay an excise tax equal to 8 percent of average wages. Small employers (measured by payroll size) have smaller payroll tax rates of 0 percent (<$500,000), 2 percent ($500,000-$585,000), 4 percent ($585,000-$670,000), and 6 percent($670,000-$750,000).

Individual Mandate Surtax (Page 296): If an individual fails to obtain qualifying coverage, he must pay an income surtax equal to the lesser of 2.5 percent of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) or the average premium. MAGI adds back in the foreign earned income exclusion and municipal bond interest.

Medicine Cabinet Tax (Page 324): Non-prescription medications would no longer be able to be
purchased from health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), or health
reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). Insulin excepted.

Cap on FSAs (Page 325): FSAs would face an annual cap of $2500 (currently uncapped).
Increased Additional Tax on Non-Qualified HSA Distributions (Page 326): Non-qualified
distributions from HSAs would face an additional tax of 20 percent (current law is 10 percent). This disadvantages HSAs relative to other tax-free accounts (e.g. IRAs, 401(k)s, 529 plans, etc.)

Denial of Tax Deduction for Employer Health Plans Coordinating with Medicare Part D (Page
327): This would further erode private sector participation in delivery of Medicare services.

Surtax on Individuals and Small Businesses (Page 336): Imposes an income surtax of 5.4 percent on MAGI over $500,000 ($1 million married filing jointly). MAGI adds back in the itemized deduction for margin loan interest. This would raise the top marginal tax rate in 2011 from 39.6 percent under current law to 45 percent—a new effective top rate.

Excise Tax on Medical Devices (Page 339): Imposes a new excise tax on medical device manufacturers equal to 2.5 percent of the wholesale price. It excludes retail sales and unspecified medical devices sold to the general public.

Corporate 1099-MISC Information Reporting (Page 344): Requires that 1099-MISC forms be issued to corporations as well as persons for trade or business payments. Current law limits to just persons for small business compliance complexity reasons. Also expands reporting to exchanges of property.

Delay in Worldwide Allocation of Interest (Page 345): Delays for nine years the worldwide allocation of interest, a corporate tax relief provision from the American Jobs Creation Act

Limitation on Tax Treaty Benefits for Certain Payments (Page 346): Increases taxes on U.S.
employers with overseas operations looking to avoid double taxation of earnings.

Codification of the “Economic Substance Doctrine” (Page 349): Empowers the IRS to disallow a
perfectly legal tax deduction or other tax relief merely because the IRS deems that the motive of the taxpayer was not primarily business-related.

Application of “More Likely Than Not” Rule (Page 357): Publicly-traded partnerships and
corporations with annual gross receipts in excess of $100 million have raised standards on penalties. If there is a tax underpayment by these taxpayers, they must be able to prove that the estimated tax paidwould have more likely than not been sufficient to cover final tax liability.

10/29/09 For more information, contact ATR Tax Policy Director Ryan Ellis at rellis@atr.org

Are States Starting to Stand Up for States Rights?

States rights. What a concept. If I recall, history has shown that disagreements over states rights can lead to unrest. Remember the states rights which were fought over in the War Between the States? History has shown us in Union and Confederate blood that states really don't like being told what and how to do it by those who aren't walking in their proverbial shoes.

Thought you'd be interested in this story as some states are beginning to flex their rights against mandated federal government healthcare.

Nineteen States Move to Defend Individual Health Care Choice
By Susan Jones, Senior Editor

Regardless of what the U.S. Congress decides about health care reform, a growing number of states are standing up for individuals’ freedom of choice when it comes to purchasing – or not purchasing – health insurance.

Several Kansas Republicans have introduced a state constitutional amendment that would protect the right of Kansas residents to make their own health care choices. That makes Kansas the 19th state.....http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/56144

National Emergency Defined

It's all over the news. President Barack Obama has now declared a national state of emergency due to the H1N1 flu outbreak. It is being reported it is for the benefit of hospitals as they try to treat the population who needs it. Really?

The very definition of a national emergency allows for the government to suspend citizens' normal lives, and as a result of this, can allow the government to suspend civil liberties. The government has the power under a national emergency to confiscate property, order martial law, control all communication and restrict travel, among other powers.

The question is why is the outbreak of a flu during flu season considered a national emergency. According to the CDC, around 100 children have died in America since the first onset of the H1N1 flu in the spring of 2009 with about half of them dying in September and October. The CDC continues to call the flu a pandemic. The government ordered doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine are slow in being delivered to the states.

So why the National Emergency? What is the real agenda? Just wondering.....

Czar or Master? It's Not the Name that is the Question

I enjoyed the comment by Chris regarding my last post about the power of the czars. Chris is so right when he stated the Keith Feinberg is the Special Master for Executive Compensation and it is his job to keep the bailed out bank executives in line. And Chris is so right when he says I wouldn't want bailout companies to place taxpayer money in the executive pockets. Agreed.

However, the term czar is used by mainstream media in referring to Mr. Feinberg and the presidential advisors. So, yes, they are commonly known as czars. Actually, Mr. Feingberg is quoted in an October 20, 2009 article and refers to himself as "pay czar", although he made it clear he doesn't like the term.

So, my question remains for czars in general. How many of them are supposed to be just advisors? To my knowledge, less than half of the advisors or czars were confirmed by Congress. How much power are they wielding? And why is it that these czars are now in the center of the executive branch and in the news? It seems to me that in the past, when they were talked about in the news, they were described as "presidential advisors" - no matter who the President was at the time.

Is it because I watch the news more now? Or is it because so many of them have pasts that appear, well, appear not so sunny? Just wondering...

Where Does Any Czar get the Power Over the People?

Here a czar, there a czar, and now they have the power? The power to what? The power from whom? Under what Constitutional section?

I just don't understand how a czar appointed by Obama can appear to do just what he pleases with no oversight by anyone-- including the President.

This story clearly demonstrates how bizarre our land of the free has become.....

Unbelievable! Pay Czar cut executives’ compensation without White House approval

From Fox News:
White House pay czar Kenneth Feinberg was the driving force behind the move to order steep pay cuts from bailed-out executives, and did not even seek the president’s approval before making his decision.

The Treasury Department is expected to formally announce in the next few days a plan to slash annual salaries by about 90 percent.....http://politicalintegritynow.com/2009/10/unbelievable-pay-czar-cut-executives-without-white-house-approval/

Remember the First Amendment? Looks Like it Could be Just a Memory

Saw this and wondered why there has been minimal buzz on the subject. You remember the first amendment with freedom of speech and freedom of religion?.....


Just say no to blasphemy laws

Perhaps in an effort to rehabilitate the United States’ image in the Muslim world, the Obama administration has joined a U.N. effort to restrict religious speech. This country should never sacrifice freedom of expression on the altar of religion.

By Jonathan Turley

Around the world, free speech is being sacrificed on the altar of religion. Whether defined as hate speech, discrimination or simple blasphemy, governments are declaring unlimited free speech as the enemy of freedom of religion. This growing movement has reached the United Nations, where religiously conservative countries received a boost in their campaign to pass an international blasphemy law. It came from the most unlikely of places: the United States.

While attracting surprisingly little attention, the Obama administration....http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/10/column-just-say-no-to-blasphemy-laws-.html